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I'm not buying it!
Michael Smerconish continues to flail away at his readers and (former) listeners in an attempt to justify his probable support for Barack Obama. His support rests on two premises: that Obama is more serious about killing Bin laden and that he is the great unifier. To borrow one of Michael's favorite expressions: it doesn't pass the smell test.
Putting aside Michael's romantic notion (his koom-by-ya moment I suppose) that all the world's children-of infinite colors and devotions-will come together and hold hands under an Obama administration, his support for the candidate is weak.
Michael's repeated references to a single speech of Obama's and two on air interviews as evidence of Obama's single mindedness toward killing Bin Laden borders on ad nauseam. Having tuned in on both occassions when Michael interviewed Obama, I can still hear the Senator being clearly prompted by Michael to discuss Bin laden. Michael virtually spoon fed Obama the answers he wished to hear. With a little imagination one can almost see Michael lovingly leading Obama down the path he wishes the young community organizer to take. Michael essentially asked Obama to talk tough and the soft Obama complied. In one interview Obama indicated that his philosophy on hunting Bin Laden had been shaped by his discussions with "troops on the ground". One problem with that explanation is that Obama had yet to visit either Iraq or Afghanistan at the time of the interview. But an adoring Michael was too filled with glitter and stardust to take the senator to task on any of his responses. Michael knew that Obama was desperate to strengthen his national security credentials due to his glaring lack of experience outside of Chicago's city limits, so any chance to highlight the senator's dubious foreign policy muscles must be used. Michael also cited Obama's March, 2008 speech to the Council on Foreign Relations as further evidence of Obama's ferocity toward Bin Laden; also included in that speech were statements indicating he was fully committed to surrender in Iraq no matter what the, "on the ground" information dictated. Add to that the numerous times Obama has stated his intention to downsize our military and reduce defense spending and one has to wonder how Michael has convinced himself that his hole ridden explanation for supporting Obama might ever pass muster?
But for the sake of argument let's take Michael at his word. Let's call it a draw between Mccain and Obama on the hunt for Bin Laden. After all, no one can honestly believe that Obama would do more militarily than McCain on any mission. On what other issues can the life long GOPer, Smerconish, find agreement with Obama?
Judges? Not on your life. The radical Obama voted against Justices Roberts and Alito. Both are nationally lauded jurists. In addition, Obama has questioned Clarence Thomas's qualifications for the Supreme Court. Imagine that? Obama questioning someone's qualifications! Pre-Obama Michael expressed great admiration for Justice Thomas. Pre Obama Michael might have asked the Senator in his interview to cite publications or journals where his philosophy on law might be read. But most of us know that while Obama has two memoirs already published in his short life, he has really no other written history. Obama served as Harvard Law Review editor, yet he was never published.
Doesn't Smerconish have any interest about that says about him? Or doesn't say about him?
Taxes? Please.
Health care? Does Michael really want a huge federal bureaucracy running our health care system? Not the pre-Obama Smerconish that's certain.
Pro life? Obama, one could reasonably argue, supports infanticide. No restrictions. He was one of a handful of Senators who opposed the partial birth abortion bill. That vote alone should make him unelectable to Smerconish. People contend that Sarah Palin's pro life stance is extreme, but if so, Obama's stance is as extreme on the opposing side, and that is chilling.
Add to this the serious questions about Obama's associations with men (I'll name them Michael) like domestic terrorist, William Ayers, and America hating preacher, Jeremiah Wright, and you have a candidate that an honest Michael Smerconish would deem unworthy of any public office, much less the presidency.
No, the reason Smerconish supports Obama is his own personal ambition. No pun intended, but Michael's support of Obama is the consummate example of 'brown nosing". Smerconish has set his sights on national syndication. He longs for the radio and TV gigs held by people like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. I suspect he sees the conservative jobs as pretty well staffed and believes he must create a unique niche for himself. Going along with the messianic theme the Media has created for Obama, Michael has had his St. Paul on the road to Demascus moment. He is the right winger converted to feel good liberalism by the Messiah (Obama). On MSNBC , Smerconish sells himself as the "conservative" analyst of its political coverage, but Michael spends most of his air time being critical of McCain and Palin and gushing over Obama and "Senator Joe". Liberal analyst, Rachel Maddow, considers praise to McCain or Palin blasphemy. But Michael knows that the best way to get air time on MSNBC ,and on occassion guest host Chris Matthews' "Hardball" is to be the GOPer who has come to his senses and finds virtues in the liberal candidate and flaws in the conservative. Michael knows Matthews would never allow him to fill in on his show if Michael were a loyal supporter of McCain. Never!
Smerconish has bet his chips on an Obama victory. He's all in so to speak. He's persona non grata in the Republican Party and he knows it. It's for this reason Smerconish, in a recent column, went so far as to suggest that an Obama loss will be partly attributable to race. This reasoning is nonsense of course and Michael knows it. Obama's the most liberal member of the US Senate. That's why he'll lose. But the accusation was made because Michael is beginning to feel the same heat the Obama campaign is feeling. Smerconish needs an Obama victory to make his dreams of sitting close to Matt and Meredith at Rockefeller center a reality. He has flip flopped his way into the latte drinking world of the cultural Left and has found he likes it there.
Smerconish's role this campaign season is that of Obama's loyal soldier in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He knows how important Bryn Mawr, Villanaova, etc, etc are to Obama's success in PA, so his morning show and columns will be a constant refrain on the wonders of the "Chosen One"! Maybe he's hoping for the Press secretary gig in an Obama White House? I predict Smerconish will become a more ardent supporter as Obama slips further in the polls; nastier to both McCain and Palin. Like the national media who have staked (and destroyed) their reputations in their service to Obama, Smerconish has no choice but to be similarly devoted. Where can he go if Obama loses? While he might not be a man without a country, he will be one without a party...or an audience!
Weston Ve
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