Comment: Obama's hypnotic effect
The Obama effect has had a strange impact on America
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Thursday, 13, Nov 2008 04:36
America: land of freedom, land of opportunity, one of the most powerful nations in the world.
Its people's upbeat mood following the events of last week epitomises Americans' ability to keep their outlook positive.
Nothing can prevent the US from being the powerhouse that the American people have built it to be, even if they do face an economic crisis.
Nothing, except that Americans are in a state of honeymoon after Barack Obama's win in the recent presidential election.
Mr Obama represents the American dream of the self-made man; he is charismatic and charming. The US public has found itself transfixed by his friendly demeanour and youthful appeal to concern themselves with the current US issues he is working on solving.
The relief of the new president elect veils the economic crisis, high unemployment, and that fact that the US is slipping into depression.
Americans are failing to confront the elephant sitting in the room.
Important Obama news the last few days has focused on his announcement of a new family puppy.
"Well, we have two criteria for choosing the puppy - one is that Malia is allergic so it has to be a hypoallergenic breed, and the other is we want to get a dog from a shelter - but most of them are mutts like me. But we'll work it out," he said in his first press conference as president-elect.
The public has been feeding into the media with the announcement that his two daughters will appear on an upcoming episode of the American TV series Hannah Montana, which stars teen icon Miley Cyrus.
And even Obama's cabinet has been removed from politics by online websites. Celebrity 'candidates' such as Ludacris, Oprah and P Diddy were suggested for his cabinet members.
The political playing field in the US has morphed into a farce, with appearances of Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
McCain's appearance on Jay Leno further solidifies that the public only wants to hear jokes rather than issues answers from politicians.
Last night Leno and McCain had a very political discussion about McCain's old age, Palin's $150,000 shopping spree and the fact that McCain has been "sleeping like a baby".
Obama's puppy choice? Will Tina Fey of SNL do another spoof on Palin? What are McCain's sleeping habits?
These should not be the top questions on the minds of US citizens at present. But somehow - despite the growing stormclouds - they are.
The economic crisis grows more damaging to the public's everyday lifestyle and the American dream every day.
If the American people do not begin to focus on the real issues that Obama is dealing with, the honeymooners might face some surprises in the future.
Jaclyn Bellows