The video below is flying around the internet, so you may already have seen it. Watch, then read on:
It is not produced by the Obama campaign. The description on YouTube makes clear that this was produced by volunteers, and without public school support. And yet ...
... it is eerie. What on earth are children doing praying to a political candidate? I'm not sure what bothers me most: Is it their glassy-eyed stares? Is it their Children of the Corn-fed good looks? Their hypnotized vibrato-less tones? (Note: the adorable opening soloist is not doing her own singing. She's lip-synching the voice of a homely young Chinese girl.)
Rest assured, if these children are ever successfully de-programmed, they will come to hate their parents. (And you thought the Yearning for Zion kids were in trouble?)
As I wrote in a recent post on Sarah Palin, elevating a candidate to the status of a religious figure is not just preposterous. It's dangerous. (Elevating them at all is dangerous.) Right now the candidates are on best behavior for us. That's because they want us to believe they deserve the keys to this (earthly) kingdom. Because with those keys comes barely imaginable power over us. It's our job to be as cold-eyed, dispassionate and skeptical as possible during these final 40+ days. After that we pretty much have to live with our decision.
Yes, Barack Obama has traveled a long way against some tough odds. That doesn't make him Moses. Yes, Sarah Palin courageously decided to birth a child with Down's Syndrome. That doesn't make her Mary. If we insist on treating these people like saints, only one thing is guaranteed: we will be disappointed.
So let's save the spirituals for after they've actually done something -- anything. (Sheesh, Eisenhower defeated Hitler before he became President and I don't think anyone ever prayed to him.) In the video above, Obama has apparently skipped beatification and gone right to canonization. (If only Mother Teresa had consulted with David Axelrod.)
The only special treatment we should give them? Judge them guilty until proven innocent.
Finally, if you're going to spiritualize something secular, do it right:
Reminds me of Hitler Youth. This is the road to perdition.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (3)
GregbeingFrank
1:40PM Sep 30th 2008
... it is eerie. What on earth are children doing praying to a political candidate?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
TJ, THE CLINTONITE
1:48PM Sep 30th 2008
SCARY STUFF!!! I ALWAYS SAID IT. FOR A FELLOW WHO HAS ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING, OPBAMA MUST HAVE "666" ON HIS FOREHEAD TO MAKE PEOPLE DO WEIRD STUFF LIKE THIS.. IT GAVE ME GOOSE BUMPS.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
NaNaNaNa
2:12PM Sep 30th 2008
Thank you Mo Rocca...finally, someone says it.
I also wonder about all the portraits of "Him" on buildings all over the country. Are those going to be painted over after he's president or just stay as is? I know I have seen that somewhere before...let's see...China? Cuba? USSR?
It's very disturbing.
Oh and Mo, if you have not been called a "racist" yet by the Big O's followers...get ready, it's comin' now.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
Ric Douglass
6:43AM Nov 5th 2008
Actually I thought what was more strange was that you see these children as vague eyed brain washed. I'm not sure it was appropriate to have the kids doing this and I'm sure they don't know what they are talking about. Its obvious some adult put them up to it but hey its better then the lets bomb iraq montra gw bush had so many people saying. And talk about wall eyed. Where are all the people who voted for Bush twice. Stand up and be counted
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
Marsha Bailey
2:25PM Sep 30th 2008
Mo, thank you. I hadn't seen this one yet. I'm not surprised it came out of California. The adults who did this to these kids should be ashamed of themselves. I think teaching kids that age to worship a political figure is a form of child abuse. Hitler youth indeed! Hopefully, by the time these kids are old enough to have a clue, Obama will be a very distant, faded memory for us all.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
BonBon
2:37PM Sep 30th 2008
Now I have seen it all! Just plain weirdos would put their children up to this. Embarassing for them.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
Betty
2:40PM Sep 30th 2008
Why is this being allowed in this country? Why is it not shown in the major channels so everyone is aware of what is going on!! Outrageous!!!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
Betty
2:48PM Sep 30th 2008
This is absolutely outrageous!! Why is it not ahown on the major channels so everyone can see what this person is all about. Dictator.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
HardcoreforObama
2:49PM Sep 30th 2008
How dare you blaspheme against Obama. People in flyover states shouldn't even get a vote. You don't know what is best for you like those of us on the coasts do. We are more enlightened and have better schools. We live in high rises and live close to our jobs and talk to our friends and know what is best for the country. We know how to take care of the environment because we see it every few years on vacation. You people who live in the country don't love this land as much as we do. You are just stupid and hicks and cling to your guns and religion. Soon we will get rid of the fairness doctine and close down right wing talk radio and you won't even know what to think anymore. We will restrict your guns and free speech and within a generation American will be all that it should be. You conservatives are just holding us back. Marriage is an outdated principle. God is a figment of your imaginations. Government is the answer to all questions. Let Live, Let love, let those who think like us be free to live the lives we are entitled to. We need free medical care, we need to open up the borders so all can share in the wealth we will take. We need to manufacture only non-polluting 100 percent eco friendly products. We need to stop robbing the world of its resources and stop mining, drilling, and taking from America. We need to stop importing natural resources from abroad and stop exploiting them from America. We need to outlaw all uses of energy and grow our economy. No one needs a car or transportation. It is killing our mother earth. We need to take the assets of those who have accumulated them and distribute them to all so that all is fair and good. We need to sit down and talk to our enemies. That is the only way to reach true peace and harmony. They don't want to kill us, they just want our acceptance and love. What is wrong with you stupid neo-cons who don't see the light. It would all be so easy if we just love one another. Obama is the way, the truth, and the light. He is the only one who can save us from those who would do us harm. He has the answers and we should follow him blindly. He shields us from the storm. He is the one.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-2)
Getting it Right
2:52PM Sep 30th 2008
Susan Nation1:41PMSep 30th 2008
Dangerous.
Reminds me of Hitler Youth. This is the road to perdition. ______
You said it. My in-laws lived through WWII Germany and this is exactly how they said it started. I'm terrified.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (2)
JD
3:05PM Sep 30th 2008
These are freaks! Yeah. He's different! He's a new kind of politician. What crap. I take offense coming from a very religious upbringing. This is going too far. Let us pray that he doesn't win. I'm fairly confident that the people of America are actually seeing through this. If not, they deserve what they get.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
jrblucky
3:07PM Sep 30th 2008
People has been saying that Obama is the anti-christ. Does this prove it? Is this a sign of what to expect if he's elected? People has sold their soul to the devil in order to support this man. May God have mercy on us.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
Henry
3:10PM Sep 30th 2008
Dumbass wipes, the hole lot of ya. Pray to Obama, you only here this term coming from white's. For sure he is no JESUS, and no one to pray too. Keep praying, 36 more days you can hang out at the white house and kiss his ass as you pray.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
bystander
3:17PM Sep 30th 2008
Well, Obama DID tell Germany that "this is our time" and they cheered him on....
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
NaNaNaNa
3:20PM Sep 30th 2008
I do want to make one important distinction between the "followers" of Palin and Obama.
Palinites see her as someone "annointed" by a higher power. Obamabots see "HIM" as the higher power. It's a distinction worth mentioning and worth being very, very concerned about.
The very scary thing is he does NOTHING to discourage it. His campaign is encouraging this kind of thing. He should have said, please no billboards on buildings, no songs, no prayers, no tshirts, no concessions...did he?
If that one photo of the African father did not exist, I think they would be saying Obama was immaculately conceived.
It's jokeable and funny-creepy, but not really...it's just weird and scary.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (1)
tfitz1017
3:22PM Sep 30th 2008
The Mo Dawg is totally off the leash...that's good! But! Where is the praying, exactly? More like a "We love you Beatles" sort of thing. Look at your comments here, Mo. You are feeding the freaks. If you don't leave food out, maybe they will go away. Wait. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Just like the interracial dating thing you did. Man, that bought a lot out into the open. The Mo works in mysterious ways, his wonder to behold! I genuflect in your general direction now and maintain respectful silence.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
gecocat
3:23PM Sep 30th 2008
Hey!
Convinced me, alright!!!
Coca~Cola '08
(Well, kk, still voting Obama at this point... but that was... just weird, kinda cute but oh so wrong, imho, Lol)
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
jd
3:28PM Sep 30th 2008
I love it ! WOW! what a wonderful event!
Prasie God, Prasie God!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-1)
jd
3:25PM Sep 30th 2008
Peace and Love, you teach your children about peace and people coming together. If your childrens are racist and bigots and they learn from their parents. this is a wonderful song!