Carnal Reason

Obama on business and politics, via the NYT:

And he [Obama] repeated what he said a few minutes ago, that he believes there are two different views of politics. One involves sacrifice and public service, the other is that politics is a business, “you’re wheeling and dealing and what’s in it for me?” He noted that there are good politicians in Illinois.

If the allegations against the governor [Blagojevich] are true, he said, “this is sort of the far end of the spectrum, that business mentality of politics.”

Obama’s comments are revealing. He sees graft and corruption as examples of the “business mentality” in politics. Obama’s likens a criminal politician, precisely because he is a criminal, to the people who produce food and medicine. To the people who build homes and skyscrapers, the people who create computers and airplanes, the people who create the wealth that surrounds us.

A criminal, a businessman, six of one, half a dozen of the other. Who could possibly tell them apart? Not our new fearless leader.

Posted on December 11th, 2008 by pwyll
Filed under: politics