NEW COLUMN: RIGHT TURN AHEAD

By: Paul Lim
College Press Staff Writer/Columnist

Just how big are the egos of the Hollywood elite?  The majority of Hollywood celebrities never made a peep about who they liked politically before the first George W. Bush administration.  One can read from that as an indication of how the Bush administration has sparked people to take notice of politics, but it can also be seen as Hollywood glomming on to the headlines that people like Oprah, Ben Affleck, Barbara Streisand, and George Clooney get when they lecture about their "values".
 
I find it astonishing that these celebrities now feel they need to lecture America about economics and foreign policy.  Do Americans really fall for this sham?  I know, personally, I don't think Hollywood is better than me and I don't need them telling me who to vote for and make decisions for me; especially those, like me, who have a college education.  Are we unable to decide for ourselves?
 
Obama's celebrity supporters are flooding sites like YouTube, filling them with celebrities to get you to join the bandwagon.
 
Look, it's Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson, they're so hot, vote for Obama.
 
Look, it's Oprah, she's amazingly rich and has accomplished wonderful things for herself, vote for Obama.
 
Look, John Legend, he's awesome.
 
So many celebrities and there is no doubt it's an amazing turnout.  We can also see a lot of politicians have vowed support for Obama, along with some moving from the Hillary Clinton campaign to Obama.  There was also Texas State Senator Kirk Watson who appeared on "Hardball" on MSNBC and got a little tongue-tied when asked to discuss some of Obama's legislative accomplishments.  But is that even relevant when it comes to the Obama?
 
As much as I am not a Hillary supporter, I must say, she at least has some bearing on Washington and legislative process and policy.  Obama leads a commission in Congress on Afghanistan, a major part of the on-going War on Terror, as admitted by Obama, he's been too busy campaigning and has not held on meeting yet.  Obama, along with Republican Senator John McCain, have some of the worst attendance records in the Senate.
 
But, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.  It may be a Washington thing.  When Obama was in Illinois as a State Senator, he did vote; but a majority of his votes were not "Yes" or "No", but "Present".
 
"Yes We Can"… show up and do nothing.
 
People find most contention with the Bush administration on foreign policy.  Obama promises to end the United States involvement in Iraq.  Just when there is progress being made on the ground, we're going pull out the troops now?  Clinton and McCain understand the circumstance in Iraq and they appear to know that this war is constantly shifting.  It is like no war that has ever been fought.  The U.S. and its allies are fighting a border-less war with religious zealots who are willing to kill themselves in the hopes of killing anybody and everybody around them.
 
And Rosie O'Donnell compares them to Evangelical Christians?
 
Obama said he will unequivocally begin talks with North Korea, Syria, Iran, and the newly-governed Cuba.  The former Clinton administration opened talks with North Korea and even worked out a deal where the North Koreans would get millions of dollars to cease the manufacturing of nuclear weapons – that clearly has not worked.  The Syrians are creating an open border for al-Qaeda in Iraq and a getaway route for terrorists.  And to even imagine a man who has denied the Holocaust, wishes for the eradication of Israel, and had public executions for homosexuals – I'm not sure how some diplomatic discussion will squelch that fury.
 
And on the other hand, Pakistan has been an ally to the United States in the war on Terror.  Say what you will about Pakistan, I know I've had my moments, but they have provided air space and assistance to the United States military in fighting to destroy terrorism.
 
Obama wants to bomb Pakistan (am I to read that as Obama wanting to bomb Pakistan because they have provided assistance to the United States).
 
In a recent statement Obama said he would "cut tens of billions of dollars on wasteful spending", in Obama terms, he means military spending.  He did articulate his point on what he meant by "wasteful spending".
 
He said he would make "deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals" and "not develop new nuclear weapons".  Hopefully, he's also including Iran and North Korea in this agreement.  Maybe he talked with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-Il and worked out a deal already, I may be all wrong about Obama!
 
Obama goes on to say he will "slow our development of future combat systems", he also refers to the United States' missile defense system as "unproven".
 
Military spending and appropriations will no longer be advised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff or any kind of body like that, what Obama plans is a "defense priorities board", I'm not sure what he means by that.
 
With threats from al-Qaeda, Iran, North Korea, and even Venezuela and Cuba, the Unites States cannot afford to cut its defense so drastically.  People can say all they want about being unsafe in America under George W. Bush, but the United States has not been attacked since 9/11 (you know, the event that this year's "Best Actress" Marion Cotillard downgraded to a simple renovation) – before Bush, the Clinton administration saw attacks on the World Trade Center, American embassies in Africa, serviceman barracks in the Khobar Towers, the USS Cole…
 
With this type of military agenda and hopes of certifying million of illegal immigrants are United States citizens in place, the United States will be more vulnerable than the pre-9/11 days.  That's a guarantee.
 
But let's put that aside.  Obama has said he is very experienced in foreign policy because (1) he studied abroad and (2) he majored in International Studies in college.  I studied abroad in Kenya and majored in Political Science – can I run for President?  Maybe make me Secretary of State?
 
OK, let's get away from Obama and focus on what really matters, what the celebrities tell us.  Here's a sample of some of the thought-provoking observations of the less-than-one-term Senator from Illinois.
 
George Clooney: "He walks into a room and you want to follow him somewhere".  Wherever Obama is planning to lead us, I'm not sure I'd want to follow.  If he wants to turn the country towards a society clamoring for government subsidy, while destroying military defense as we know it, I doubt I will be able to learn Arabic that quickly.
 
Edward Norton: "I think he's got the goods".  Right on brother!
 
Lawrence Fisburne: "Barack Obama is someone who is optimistic".  Despite progress being made with the Iraqi government, the Iraqi military, and the huge housing boom going on in Iraq, let's withdraw the troops NOW. That's optimism!
 
Nas: "Obama is an exciting cat".  That's right!  There are no other cats running for President!
 
Emilio Estevez (I know, I wasn't sure if he was even relevant):  "There's nobody out there yet.  Obama, I think, has a ton of potential".  When there's nobody else, pick Obama!
 
Sharon Stone: "Bobby Kennedy went to South Africa during his senatorial campaign, Obama just went to Africa too".  I mean, like OH MY GOD! Totally! Right?!  Wait, I've been to Africa too!
 
Common:  "Why don't we impeach him [Bush] and elect Obama?"  Because if you impeach Bush, Cheney becomes President.
 
So America, let's let the celebrities pull the levers for us this year!