Kobe vs. Obama: Who’s the Deeper Celeb?
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This weekend Team USA basketball player Kobe Bryant was interviewed by NBC’s Chris Collinsworth about playing in the Olympics. The LA Lakers star displayed tremendous poise and confidence in describing his pride at wearing the colors of his nation. Bryant’s words, delivered in a nation with which the United States has had a tenuous relationship at times, seemed to me in stark contrast with the type of sentiments expressed by many Democrats on much friendlier soil.
At one point the questioning broached the question of patriotism and Kobe responded like this:
Collinsworth: Where does the patriotism come from inside of you? Historically, what is it?
Kobe: Well, you know it’s just our country, it’s… we believe is the greatest country in the world. It has given us so many great opportunities, and it’s just a sense of pride that you have; that you say ‘You know what? Our country is the best!’
Collinsworth: Is that a ‘cool’ thing to say, in this day and age? That you love your country, and that you’re fighting for the red, white and blue? It seems sort of like a day gone by.
Kobe: No, it’s a cool thing for me to say. I feel great about it, and I’m not ashamed to say it. I mean, this is a tremendous honor.
Compare those heartfelt thoughts to the words and actions of Barack Obama, who recently went to Germany and proclaimed himself not an American, but a “citizen of the world.” Analysis of Obama’s words and actions reveals sympathy for a viewpoint towards America that questions our leadership in the world and believes that America must change to be more like other countries. It is a view that, as Collinsworth points out, scoffs at the idea that our nation is the greatest force for good in the world.
When celebrities like Paris Hilton and Kobe Bryant begin displaying a deeper grasp of issues than the Democratic candidate for President, something is very wrong.
H/T: Newsbusters.org for the transcript
Chris, you’re incorrect. If you look at the whole quote, Obama proclaimed himself both. What he actually said was:
Such insidious lefty language, it reminds me of something someone else once said:
Who was this person with such disturbing language and views? President Ronald Reagan, addressing the UN in 1982.
Jeremey, can you blame Chris? I bet he came to this conclusion because he watched the forum last night. Without a teleprompter, how can we expect 0bama to say what he honestly means?
McCain has been consistent in his message during this race, while 0bama has shown that he is highly prone to gaffes that tend to show what he honestly believes when he has to speak without the benefit of written word. 0bama has already shown a few times that he may not be the proud United States citizen he claims to be.
On a side note, a lot of people have seen this question by Cris Collinsworth as an attempt to sound anti-American, a la Olbermann. However, everything I’ve seen and heard, that is not what Collinsworth would try to suggest (I also hear he doesn’t really like Olbermann). I’m glad to see that you are taking a different perspective on this Chris.
CR, just curious, what gaffe was it in last nights forum (or before) that you think showed Obama’s “true beliefs?”
McCain did well last night, but he had it easy. Its simple to be direct when you adopt a position thats tailor-made for your audience. A couple of seconds of red meat is all thats required. Thats why he addressed them (the audience), his words were all directed at them. Obama was coming from a position very different from many in the audience on a lot of the issues covered. He had to not only explain his position, but try to find a common ground. That (IMHO) is why he tended to focus more on Pastor Warren than the audience - approach it as a one-on-one conversation.