It looks like I spoke too soon when I said that at least Clinton’s victory last night meant we’d be spared British politicians trying to draw none too subtle parallels between themselves and Barack Obama.
“I think he’s a brilliant speaker, I think his optimism and sense of hope for the future is inspiring a lot of people. It’s great to see. Too often [politics] gets down to hope and fear and I think it’s wonderful when hope wins… …I must say. I think he’s compelling”
David Cameron, jumping on the Obama bandwagon before it fell over.
I am really, really trying to resist writing a piece about how Clinton and McCain’s victories are a victory for steady, experienced leadership in a time of change. I’m trying to resist because it’d be utter nonsense and a load of old tosh.
Who wins American primaries has next to no impact on British politics. If it did, small armies of Historians would be writing theses on topics like exactly how the collapse of Ed Muskie’s 1972 campaign for the presidency showed Harold Wilson would never again hold the keys to Number 10.
On the other hand knowing that David Cameron was apparently inspired by Barack Obama (when he’s winning) makes it hard to resist taking the mick somehow, someway.
I mean, Barack Obama is running on a platform of more government spending on healthcare and education, tax increases for corporations, an increased minimum wage and a rapid withdrawal from Iraq. Cameron opposes all of those things, so I can see how he’d be totally inspired and jazzed by the guy who would introduce them. Makes total sense.
PS. I’m sure no malicious person would show a putative President Hilary Clinton a quote from Cameron implying she’s was candidate of fear ahead of our next General Election. Who would even think of such a thing?
1 Comment
January 10, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Well we’re all under the (false) idea that Obama is super-progressive (he’s not; even for a US politician) so of course Cameron wants to jump on the back of that, regardless of policy.