Woolly situation for the GOP

By Max Orenstein
Collegian Editor
November 13, 2008

I couldn’t help but laugh while reading Adam Profitt’s commentary on the victory of President-elect Barack Obama last week in the Collegian (Nov. 6, 2008, “Is Obama ready to lead?,” 10).

You never would have known that his opinion piece was published two days after the presidential election, as he continued the spewing of superfluous attacks against Obama for his “socialist” views, “most liberal” platform in history, loose connection to a domestic terrorist, and relationship with a “racist” pastor.

It seems futile to address these attacks, considering anybody with a junior high education in government or politics is aware that the first two are woefully off the mark, and the American electorate has deemed the latter two irrelevant.

However, I would like to humor Profitt, who arbitrarily wrote that Obama received a free pass on these non-issues because of his relationship with Oprah Winfrey.

It’s all starting to come together for me! Obama was let off the hook by the conspiring liberal media, because it couldn’t get over how stylish the Oprah endorsement was back in December.

What I will take issue with among Profitt’s comments, however, are his condescending remarks concerning “the majority of people who voted for [Obama].” He wrote that a majority of Obama’s support stems from the notion that the candidate was “…hip and cool” and that this type of voter “…doesn’t know anything about the issues.”

These are some big accusations coming from the party that, for eight years, appealed to its base through fear mongering over the prospect of same-sex marriage. Many Republicans have demonstrated a superior grasp of the issues by voting against their own economic interests in order to keep gays from “compromising the institution of the family.”

To Profitt’s greatest consternation, I’m sure, Obama voters were “...just sheep being led to slaughter.” He also believed that, “Obama led masses of mindless sheep to the polls…”

And the sheep imagery didn’t end there: “…In this election, the sheep have been left out for the wolves, and may God help us,” he wrote.

Is it possible that Profitt thinks Obama is a wolf in sheep’s clothing? The president-elect will probably ruin the country in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. The American people got fleeced on Election Day. Where does it stop, Adam?

I would love to see some statistical evidence of this “mindless sheep” phenomenon. I have suspicion, however, that Profitt is just suffering from the early stages of denial and outrage at having the wrenches of power pried from the GOP’s gnarled and knotted claws.

Obama consistently delivered a message meant to build the country up, rather than divide and polarize. “Hope” meant that millions of Americans could believe they will be able to provide their children with healthcare for the first time.

“Change” meant redistributing the wealth back down to the many at the bottom, rather than the wealthy few at the top who have enjoyed unjustifiable tax breaks over the last eight years. To clarify, once and for all, there is not a single element of socialism in a progressive tax system.

It would be tragic if the fight against climate change and ending a corrupt war are reduced to idealistic causes belonging only to the “naïve.” It’s unfortunate that Profitt can be so cynical at such a young age.

During Obama’s victory speech on election night, he said, “To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn—I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too.”

The president-elect looked to embrace you. It remains to be seen if you’ll return the favor.

orensteinm1@student.lasalle.edu