Forward. It's an order, not an appeal. A command, not a call. It has been, throughout history, the language of the dictator.In the list of presidential campaign slogans in American history, Forward is the shortest and most imperative. Compare it to Grover Cleveland's chant "Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine, The Continental Liar from the State of Maine." And Eisenhower's "I like Ike."Obama's Forward is not aimed at his true believers who --- with cult-like adoration -- shed tears when he speaks, whatever he says. Nor will it have any play with those who've decided that his election defeat is critical to the future of the nation.
Obama's Forward targets the "marginal man," the "Undecided" voter, offering its collectivist connotations -- because we're all in this together. So let's all go Forward.This implied togetherness of Forward stands in sharp contrast to Obama's class warfare meme, in all its various expressions. But lest we assume that the "marginal man" will discern any inconsistencies, Ellul dispelled that notion.
"[T]here is not necessarily any continuity between opinion or fixed patterns and action. There is neither consistency nor logic, and a man can perfectly well hold on to his property, his business, and his factory, and still vote Communist - or he can be enthusiastic about social justice and peace as described by the Communists, and still vote for a conservative party...The skillful propagandist will seek to obtain action without demanding consistency, without fighting prejudices and images, by taking his stance deliberately on inconsistencies." (p. 35)
Consider this inconsistency: Billionaire Warren Buffett -- whose company owes taxes going back ten years -- is warmly welcomed at the White House as an Obama supporter. Meanwhile, Obama criticizes the Rich for not paying their "fair share" of taxes, and slams Romney for allegedly having an off-shore bank account. And what about this one: General Electric's CEO Jeffrey Immelt chairs Obama's Job Council while GE exports thousands of jobs overseas.
There is no demand from any quarter for consistency because, as Ellul wrote, "the skillful propagandist will seek to obtain action without demanding consistency".
So the call of the Obama campaign goes out to his loyal followers and to the undecided alike - Forward. Don't look backward. Don't even look too closely at what's ahead going Forward.Just march, and feel the emotion of motion moving Forward.
Particularly those of you with no clue as to what direction the nation ought to be moving.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/09/obamas_slogan.html#ixzz26AXktn6v
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