The Obama Honeymoon

09 Feb 2007 01:05 pm

It's over:

Obama's about to endure a going-over that would make a proctologist blush. Why has he sometimes said his name is Arabic, and other times Swahili? Why did he make up names in his first book, as the introduction acknowledges? Why did he say two years ago that he would 'absolutely' serve out his Senate term, which sends in 2011, and that the idea of him running for president this cycle was 'silly' and hype 'that's been a little overblown'?

In interviews, strategists in both parties pointed to four big vulnerabilities: Obama’s inexperience, the thinness of his policy record, his frank liberalism in a time when the party needs centrist voters, and the wealth of targets that are provided by the personal recollections in his first book, from past drug use to conversations that cannot be documented.

Inevitable, I guess. But I wish Obama the best. He's a fresh voice, apparently sincere, with an ability to speak bravely about tough issues with civility and insight. That's not en endorsement, I hasten to add. But it is a hope.

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