Pay Back

Many people find Barack Obama's meteoric campaign and Democratic nomination amazing.

This scenario could be one explanation. President Bill Clinton's escapades are one major factor. His administration's record is almost the opposite of President Bush II's record. Yet, his personal failings resulted in V.P. Al Gore's defeat in 2000, with the Florida government's assistance. The following horrendous eight years were the price the American people paid.

Barack Obama's amazing nomination did not just happen, it was planned, and Hillary Clinton was the sacrifice. Sen. Obama's ability to raise an unheard of $270 million for a primary campaign was initiated long before he announced he was running. That factor paved the way for him. These backers knew it was risky to challenge President Clinton, but they reasoned since the economy was so bad and the Iraq War was still a quagmire, Obama could still win the presidential election. Their stealth campaign was brilliant. Now the real campaign begins.

The media played a major role in both Sen. John McCain's and Obama's success. They applied the Swift boaters' formula, they jumped on anything the candidates said, twisted it, and distorted it, and pressured the candidates to explain why. The candidates had to explain something created and manipulated by the media. Then this was repeated over and over and over again. In the meantime, the public (regular folks who work every day trying to make ends meet; who don't have the time to watch TV or listen to the radio) heard only that, and assumed it must be true. Why else would the media be broadcasting it? Now we know.

Meanwhile, Sen. Clinton was "pronounced" the inevitable Democratic nominee. At the same time, Obama's supporters were pouring tons of money into his campaign to reach all 50 states to claim primary and caucus delegates while Clinton focused on the big states. As the old saying goes "The rest is history." The Republicans wanted Obama to win and helped his cause, figuring he would be much easier to defeat in November. They and the media are working on him now. It remains to be seen how this election turns out. Be prepared to duck.

Gabriel Read
Avon Park