Comment E-mail Print Bio Archives

In America, those who exude a certain type of attraction or charisma are often christened with the sobriquet of 'rock star'. For those of us who've outgrown the allures of the brain-shattering, soul-stealing muck that has masqueraded as music for the last few decades, this term is not exactly a desirable one for those engaged in anything but narcissistic and immature pursuits.

Yet for many in this country, comparison to a rock star is the ultimate compliment and a cherished goal. Into this sad state of our country comes President Barack Obama, whom many have labeled our first post-Baby Boomer president and naturally, a rock star who can dance too!

Bill Clinton was the first Baby-Boomer president and he was followed by another, George W. Bush. Yet Clinton, who was also accorded presidential rock star status, was, by the time he reached the White House, an accomplished politician, having spent 15 years as Attorney General and Governor of Arkansas. Similarly, Bush was the twice-elected Governor of Texas.

But despite their differences in posture and policy, both were products of basically the same electorate; one still largely made up of those who recalled the tumult of the 20th Century and made the handling of serious issues a priority in choosing their leader. Obama, on the other hand is the product of another constituency; one who has no memory of the sacrifices and hardships endured by the Greatest Generation; one for whom a rock star in office is worthy of the supreme adjective: cool.

Baby Boomers were the first generation to be reared on television, but not to the extent of their children and grandchildren. The advent of cable and satellite technology brought 24/7 news, MTV and other so-called entertainment in a such way that television and those who make it, became the omnipresent arbiters of social mores. If TV was the babysitter of the Boomers, it became mother, father, teacher and preacher to all who came after.

So it's not surprising that two thirds of the biggest turnout of the vaunted 'youth vote' in years turned out to elect a man of scanty credentials and no executive experience at all. Since the 1960's, maturity is not considered cool, and most kids since that awful decade have grown up thinking that their goal in life is to clean up the messes made by their parents; the reasons behind them be damned. And Mr. Obama is the essence of that modern mantra: coolness counts most, and consequences be damned.

This is not to say that voters in this country have never favored style over substance before, but in the confluence of Obama's packaged persona and the adoration heaped on him by a fawning press, we have reached a truly frightening stage in our history. We have heard (web site) zombie-like children singing psalms to him and witnessed (web site) eerie loyalty oaths sworn to him; the testimonies of those who have promised to be better people simply because of his election.

>> Continued -- Page 1 2