Sen. Barack Obama's platform is his politics of "understanding." Obama has been careful not to define the issues upon which he runs; rather, he explains that it is time to "move forward," to discard "ideology," to reach a new "common ground" built on an "understanding" of broad-based values. Of course, this is pure Grade A pap, since Obama fails to define those values, except in broad generalities. Yes, he's for the flag (but not against burning it ? he voted against the flag-protection amendment), motherhood (as long as taxpayers foot the bill for day care and abortion on demand remains legal) and apple pie (he has not had to vote on apple pie). But where does he stand?
Obama is a liberal, and a rather radical liberal at that. According to Obama's new best seller, "The Audacity of Hope," Obama hates Ronald Reagan: He was "disturbed ? by Ronald Reagan's election in 1980 ? unconvinced ? by his John Wayne, 'Father Knows Best' pose, his policy by anecdote and his gratuitous assaults ... more of this article by Benjamin Sharip follows here