Christine Smith's Blog

Obama’s Propaganda

 Bush was bad enough in his socialistic spending of taxpayer money and expansion of government, now look what we’ve got.  Ever increasing debt, gaining more and more power, Obama intrudes with more corporate welfare into industries and corporations which should be allowed to fail if that’s what the market dictates.  He will continue to try and gain greater government regulation of our economy by covering such damage and destruction of America with words that sound healing and hopeful.  He has successfully manipulated many people with his words. Propaganda has gotten him far. 

Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, was brilliant.  He knew the immense power in swaying the mass of public opinion through their emotionalism, and while others recognize just how important it can be to, few know how to implement it successfully as he. 

Obama for instance, because of his ability to speak a little better than Bush (as long as his teleprompter was handy), was hailed as a great orator.  But his words meant to inspire people, to create a vision for them to aspire their nation toward, to cause them to think that he could help move this nation from dreams of prosperity and peace into a reality of such, were all a lot of hot air.  Verbal delivery lacking sincerity is soon viewed as worthless. His has never been a voice of strength but of weakness.

So how were millions taken in by his words?  It certainly wasn’t because of any eloquence or brilliance in Obama or his staff (Hitler was actually a powerful orator buttressed with a propaganda minister who understood psychology well).  But Obama is no orator, and though his image packagers did a fair job, it didn’t require great expertise and skill to accomplish what they did.  The sentiment of rejecting Bush was strong, and people wanted someone seemingly as different from Bush as possible.

It was because the American people have come to accept mediocrity in its leaders, that one who appeared to be different, a bit of poise and pseudo-intellectualism, one who could speak, got their hopes up.  And he played it to the hilt.  After all, it’s easy to manipulate people who want so desperately to believe.

Being that so many Americans have been brought up feeling vulnerable and as if they’ve been victimized and deserve provisions from government, many were simply gullible when suddenly this politician appears promising them the world. 

The status of this nation during Obama’s campaign was one of a country filled with people stuck in the victim mentality.  “Victims” who felt hurt, manipulated, and stolen from.  And now, ironically, by choosing Obama for their president, I think they actually will be hurt, manipulated and stolen (taxed) from as never before.

Propaganda, be it true or false (often a cleverly deceptive mix of facts, fallacy, and half-truths), is meant to persuade a people to certain opinions and behavior.  Some propagandists are better than others. All try to appeal to emotionalism.

Obama though far from anything even approaching mastery of the technique when compared with others in history and politics, was adequate enough considering the deplorable country of childish adults he played to.  I say “childish” since to see adults behave as if they must be cared for, comforted, and encouraged or inspired by a politician and the government he promises, reminds me of a child (naturally and understandably looking toward his caretaker for such reassurance but only until he comes of an age to effectively do things on his own; in fact children from the earliest ages want to do things on their own free from our help – where is that craving for self sufficiency in the majority of adults?).

As children mature into young adults, they naturally and healthily seek to pull away from dependency on their parents in order to create a life of their own.  But something has perverted the American people from those healthy traits, distorting them into a mass of weaklings who crave a paternalistic government and its politicians who tell them everything is going to be alright – trust me – I’ll take care of you.  To this libertarian, any politician who espouses that message is sickening and disgusting. 

Who would ever want to encourage weakness in people?  Only a manipulator who seeks power.  For a truly caring and compassionate individual, just as a loving parent, seeks only to see those who previously depended on them go out into the world strong, independent, and free. 

Nobody who loves or truly cares for someone wants that someone dependent on them.  So it is with a nation.  An individual truly motivated altruistically in a concern for the republic would seek only to facilitate independence, not dependence, in the people.

Looking at Obama’s propaganda, it appeals to the emotional state many in America are in – one of hopelessness, despair, and as I pointed out already, he appeals to the feeling of being a victim (regardless of whom they blame).  This, then, is upon what he focuses, promising relief in the job market, the economy, industries, healthcare, education, and the environment.

Is there a similarity today to Goebbel’s  National Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda? 

Certainly we see the great fear Obama has of detractors, and thus he is already attempting to identify those who oppose him – even to the point of having citizens inform on other citizens.   His recent actions show, in my opinion, that he really would prefer you not read or hear anything that opposes his policies, why else would his office release the “Facts Are Stubborn Things” blog on the White House website which says, “…There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care.  These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation.  Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it …” 

What’s that about?  “Keep track of all of them”? For what purpose do they seek this information?  Why would the Obama administration dare ask for you to collect information for his White House that “seems fishy”?  Look at the ultra friendly tone, meant to disarm and make you give them the benefit of doubt?  The request in itself is a form of intimidation, not to mention how the information acquired may be used in the future.  The attempt at censorship of critics through intimidation has only just begun, as I believe we will see continued threats to our freedom of speech under Obama. 

Likewise, the prevalent reporting of his policies seems to me to most subjective (in his favor).

Similarly, Obama’s face and voice are everywhere.  One might think he a celebrity in film or music based upon the public show.  And his behavior is not that of a humble public servant (which at best a politician should be), it is of one, in my opinion, of arrogance.  This is the feeling I come away from his many “press conferences” and other appearances with. 

Take today’s (August 8, 2009) weekly address from Obama in which he said, “…And let me start by dispelling the outlandish rumors that reform will promote euthanasia, cut Medicaid, or bring about a government takeover of health care. That’s simply not true. This isn’t about putting government in charge of your health insurance; it’s about putting you in charge of your health insurance…”

But saying it doesn’t make something so.

He then outlined all the “consumer protections” he wants to force upon insurance companies such as requiring insurance companies “to cover routine checkups and preventive care”, preventing insurance companies from considering medical histories, making sure insurance companies must limit your out-of-pocket expense, and stopping insurance companies from placing “arbitrary caps on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime…” 

This is, in my opinion, essentially putting government in charge of your health insurance and will likely, I think, lead to a government takeover of health care (which I believe is his goal).  This is government regulation, yet again, on what should be a private industry, meaning government will control and be “in charge” no matter Obama’s verbal protestations to the contrary.

Obama is starting to get a taste of the American people’s awakening.  Some realize they’ve been duped again and they don’t like it.  Others are outraged over policies they anticipated he would advance as he moves fast to implement them.

Not as clever or intelligent as Goebbels’, but good enough for his audience for a time, Obama’s propaganda, though accomplishing him the office of presidency, is now failing.  When winning you over starts to fail, a propagandist turns to intimidation; watch for more. 

But I’ll give credit where credit is due, he said something I could agree with in today’s address, that “…There are those who are focused on the so-called politics of health care; who are trying to exploit differences or concerns for political gain.  That’s to be expected. That’s Washington…”

That’s Obama.