College Campuses and “Obamamania”

by Francisco Gonzalez ~ August 17, 2008

We, the authors of this book, have had frequent contact with youth on college campuses through our leadership positions of national organizations such as the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, The Leadership Institute and FreedomWorks. From this experience, we came to quickly realize that Obama is the candidate of choice among most college students today. Polls indicate this, but so do the emotions inside and outside the classroom.

However, we have also experienced an undercurrent on college campuses, comparable to the “silent majority” that voted for Richard Nixon in 1968 and 1972. We do not believe the anti-Obama movement on college campuses represents any kind of majority, but we do believe there are more young people, like us, that are troubled about the possibility of an Obama presidency. Most of them are just too nervous to speak out against Obama, due to repercussions on campus by their professors and their peers.

College campuses today are the epitome of what it’s like to be in the “Obamamania” circles. So, even if you’re not on a college campus, but find yourself within these kinds of circles, you’ll immediately realize what we’re talking about. If you find yourself in one of these far left bubbles, and you’re not voting for Obama, they will tell you that you must either be racist or you don’t want to be a part of history (because if you haven’t noticed, Obama would be the first black president). Never mind his ideology and his public policy positions: if you’re a college student and you don’t vote for Obama that would be comparable to not being a part of the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

When asked what Obama stands for, most who lend him credence can give no answer. Often, they simply say, “he’s for change, aren’t you for change?” When he flip-flops on positions, they go right along with him. Change is contagious, we suppose, even changing one’s positions on important public policy issues.

Some follow Obama’s mantra that he is not like other politicians and can “transcend” the usual conservative-liberal dichotomies. But a closer examination of his record and his votes shows that he is as far to the left as a politician can get. In fact, according to the National Journal’s 2007 vote ratings of politicians, Obama was rated the most liberal U.S. Senator. This is the same U.S. Senate that includes Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barbara Boxer, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Dianne Feinstein. Yes, he’s further to the left than a San Francisco liberal.