I take an interest in politics. I do, therefore, watch US politics as much as I watch the politics of anywhere else in the world. I don't particularly support or oppose any candidate in the US Presidential campaign - I don't think I have a right to tell Americans who they should have as their political leaders (although if any of them asked my opinion, I'd tell them they should avoid shallow politicians like Barack Obama like the lumpy plague - we've suffered horrendously through 10 years of presentation and no substance in a Prime Minister and another year of no substance and no presentation).
That's why I was surprised to see Kezia Dugdale organising the Scotland for Obama campaign. Kezia, being in the Labour party, is well used to shallow and insincere politicians but why she thinks she should interfere in the politics of another nation and tell them who to elect is beyond me.
The annoying thing is that Kezia is intelligent enough to know better - I hope she's not pitching for a job on the other side of the ocean, that would be Labour in Scotland well and truly stuffed.
Another aspect to this support for Obama (there's a rally tomorrow - lordy lordy lordy!) - in addition to the Secretary pointing out that it is a little presumptious for a non-US citizen - is the observation of Geordie that support from Europe is unlikely to be helpful to a US Presidential candidate. Is Kezia playing a double-bluff?
You know it is only 3 weeks since Wendy ranted thus...
ReplyDelete"Instead of posturing and preening on issues that are not in his remit, he should take a long, hard look at his own government's policy agenda and the serious issues closer to home that he should be addressing."
Not that anyone in the Labour party (or any other to be honest)listens to her anyway these days.
I beleive that Kezia Dugdale is attention seeking. If She belives in the Obama philosophy of Change and fighting for the underdog , she would be following his example of working quietly for the underprvliged in our Inner Cities.
ReplyDeleteCalum,
ReplyDeleteI am an SNP member of 8 years, but think you are wrong with this one. I am absolutely backing Obama during the campaign, and think he offers both hope and vision for a better order in America.
Indeed, Alex Salmond himself, has said he felt Obama offered a positive vision of hope.
I agree with Jeff above, that you are being a bit unfair to Kezia, and she is perfectly entitled to her views. Although I normally disagree with her, this is one area in which I am glad she is offering public support for.
Just a shame that her party were George Bush and the neo-cons allies in the illegal war in Iraq and for that reason alone, the Labour party cannot consider itself the natural backers for Obama.
Best Regards
Calum MacLeod
You have my sympathy with this one. There is something distasteful about the increasing readiness of remote and ill-informed commentators to pick a candidate to support in a foreign election. It's all very well having an opinion, but public cheerleading is ridiculous.
ReplyDelete