Obama Is No JFK (Or MLK Either)

Der Spiegel says all the hype isn't doing the candidate any favors
By Heather McPherson,  Newser User
Posted Jul 20, 2007 11:43 AM CDT
Obama Is No JFK (Or MLK Either)
Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, of Illinois, greets voters who stood in the rain for more than an hour to see him during a campaign stop, Thursday, July 19, 2007, in Sunapee, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)   (Associated Press)

On TV, the Barack Obama show works seamlessly. But " unplugged," the candidate is unexciting, even disingenuous, Der Spiegel’s Gabor Steingart argues. In a tough assessment, the political correspondent finds the ambitious marketing of Obama as the Democratic savior is undercut by the candidate's lackluster performance in person. 

Obama, overburdened with expectations that he's the next Kennedy or King, underwhelms in stump speeches and on campaign appearances. He stays safe, addressing the "comfort zone" of an audience, Steingart charges: "He talks of leadership but reeks of following." (More Barack Obama stories.)

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