Obama, Carter and the Politics of Passion Rhetoric and Empty Promises

While the connection between ex president Jimmy Carter and Barak Obama might seem far fetched, there are enough relevant links to merit that some attention be given to them.

It does not take many hours of listening to their methodology in the delivery of their speeches as well as analysis of their content to realize that we have here bothers in arms. Their passionate rhetoric on human rights and all issues deemed lofty by humanitarian standards, are strikingly similar. To them the White House would not be as much a decision center for the world's most powerful country, as much as a pulpit from which to preach the ideals that America stands for and the possibilities of the human spirit to stand above its circumstances and be lifted by inspirational hymns from their Christian fundamentalist churches.

They are what I would deem the politics of passion rhetoric and empty promises. Words, claims Obama, in a recent speech involved in controversy due to the accusation of plagiarism, empower and make for change. And so he borrows lines from predecessors and historical figures to illustrate the point. He does not mention that it wasn't the words that motivated the passion and the drive for change, but the actions behind these words. Carter also drew on the Christian faith based passion for inflamed rhetoric, to drive the point that we as Americans would hold the world to higher standards on human rights and the drive to democracy. Once in office the reality became much messier and among the many examples of rhetoric versus cold analytical global strategic maneuvering was his support of general Zia, a brutal dictator of Pakistan, who mocked the president into giving him what he wanted (remember the "that is peanuts" comment).

Carter and his good intentions never made for an effectual president that brought about the changes he so held close to his heart. The White House is not a place for idealists. It is a place for bold leaders and cold hearted strategists. We are an empire that is trying to maintain its ground and not be rendered powerless by the ineffectual rhetoric of dreamers and inexperienced presidents.