Key- you like Obama? OK.. I’m the white Obama!

33 comments on “Key- you like Obama? OK.. I’m the white Obama! ”

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1. randal 1

   1 September 2008 at 3:19 pm

   key is another twerp trying to twist anything and everything to his own advantage and besides Barack has his chance because presidential terms are limited after FDR scored 4 times in a row and it looks like is Helen Clark is about to emulate him. so key is unlike Barack Obama because for a start he is not going to win!
2. Glenn 2

   1 September 2008 at 3:19 pm

   Seeks to replace a leader who increasingly oversteps their mandate.
   Stands for change against the tired and failed policies of the past 8 years.
3. Tara 3

   1 September 2008 at 3:19 pm

   I think its time to develop a database of interesting Key-isms.
4. Steve Pierson 4

   1 September 2008 at 3:22 pm

   glenn. what changes does Key stand for?

   …tax cuts? well, um, larger tax cuts?
5. higherstandard 5

   1 September 2008 at 3:25 pm

   I believe the throw away comment was

   “I’m a bit like (Barack) Obama,” Mr Key, 47, told the Financial Times in an interview published today. “I am not institutionalised in Wellington”.

   The point being that he’s relatively new to the political scene.

   I thought you’d got over these kind of personality posts after your comments yesterday as below ?

   “It’s a world view that sees politics as about personalities, not how government should be used to improve the lives of people. It’s a ‘big-man’, as opposed to ‘materialist’, view of society. A view that comes from having a press gallery that is detached from the concerns of everyday people. Unfortunately, it seems to be the worldview through which the mainstream media analyses politics most of the time. ”

   [it’e Key who’s trying to get by on personality politics, I’m countering that rather pathetic tactic, note my contrasts are based on substantial politics. SP]
6. Crank 6

   1 September 2008 at 3:26 pm

   “glenn. what changes does Key stand for?”

   Steve, Judging on the last few days I would say that Key would change the levels of Ministerial accountability for the better.
7. Lew 7

   1 September 2008 at 3:26 pm

   Meanwhile – We have our own McCain as well.

   http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2008/08/spoooky.html

   (Thanks DPF)

   L
8. gobsmacked 8

   1 September 2008 at 3:29 pm

   They have got something in common. Got to be on their guard in case they get done in by an angry white man with a grudge, from the Deep South …
9. Daveski 9

   1 September 2008 at 3:32 pm

   HS Agreed

   I enjoy SP’s posts when he drops the personality politics. I made the same comment in a different thread when he clearly forgot his own mantra.
10. Steve Pierson 10

    1 September 2008 at 3:32 pm

    gob – brilliant

    glenn – how?
11. Felix 11

    1 September 2008 at 3:39 pm

    So he’s a bit like me too then (I’m not institutionalised in Wellington)

    And he’s a bit like Sir Edmund Hillary (not institutionalised in Wellington)

    And Neil Armstrong

    And Cookie Monster

    etc

    Tenuous at best. More like straight up bullshit though really.
12. had enough 12

    1 September 2008 at 3:42 pm

    What a stupid article,

    You can’t put stuff like “opposed Iraq war” in as a political achievement, without putting in stuff that John Key has voted for or against as well. For example he voted against Helen’s war on free speech by way of the Electoral Finance Law.
13. Dom 13

    1 September 2008 at 3:45 pm

    Key is actually a bit like John McCain in that both have breached copyright of songs for polical purposes (Key, of course, ripped off a Coldplay song for his promotional video while McCain has now twice used songs without asking the copyright holders).
14. Matthew Pilott 14

    1 September 2008 at 3:58 pm

    had enough, if that were the case then Key’s political achievement would actually be listed as “failed to get NZ troops involved in Iraq”. Clark opposed it, and it didn’t happen.

    While he made the comparison in the sense that he’s not a career politician, he’s clearly trying to hook into Obama’s popularity – as Felix noted, a lot of people aren’t institutionalised in Wellington – so it’s no coincidence he chose Obama.
15. Ben R 15

    1 September 2008 at 4:08 pm

    “while he made the comparison in the sense that he’s not a career politician, he’s clearly trying to hook into Obama’s popularity – as Felix noted, a lot of people aren’t institutionalised in Wellington – so it’s no coincidence he chose Obama.”

    And they’ve both got an election in the next few months. At least he didn’t say Sarah Paulin.
16. Stephen 16

    1 September 2008 at 4:13 pm

    A whole frickin table for “I’m a bit like Obama…I am not institutionalised in Wellington”. Overkill. Get a grip!
17. gobsmacked 17

    1 September 2008 at 4:16 pm

    Stephen: the table was done months ago, when comparisons were being made in the media.
18. Lampie 18

    1 September 2008 at 4:21 pm

    Bet Obama would think that Mr Key and his genitals would be the only thing in common especially judging by comments in the NZ Herald by all those readers
19. Tane 19

    1 September 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Stephen, the table’s recycled from an earlier post.
20. Dom 20

    1 September 2008 at 4:29 pm

    A big issue for me here is how clueless Key continues to be – comparing himself to a left-wing, charismatic, black man? Whether or not he intended it he is totally inviting comment on how right wing, bland and white he is. More proof that Key has no political common sense and that his advisors can’t seem to catch every one of his clangers before they drop!
21. Scribe 21

    1 September 2008 at 4:37 pm

    National’s victory over Labour will be larger than Obama’s win over McCain — if he wins at all, which is certainly not a foregone conclusion.

    Obama and Key are both seen as outsiders in their respective spheres, but Obama has shown himself to be just like any other politician by changing his mind to suit himself and/or his electability.

    John Key isn’t as impressive when it comes to rhetoric. They’re both pretty shallow on details at this stage.

    [try actually going to Obama’s webpage, it’s full of policy. SP]
22. Scribe 22

    1 September 2008 at 6:20 pm

    SP,

    Fair call. His website does have a lot of policy. He never talks about policy on the stump much, though. He’s usually a lot of bluster with little substance in that environment.

    Despite that, and despite the fact he’s a hard-core leftie in a centre-right country, he’s a 50-50 chance (or better) of becoming the next POTUS.

    [remember too, running to be Pres is not like running to be PM. the systems are not alike – the Pres is just head of the exec and must make deals with congress to get laws passed, and the laws that can be made are limited by the constitution and the seperate power of the states. The PM is leader of her party, leader of the largest voting bloc in Parliament and head of the exec. A candidate for Pres can’t promise as much as a party and it’s leader because the Pres has less relative power in the legislative process. SP]
23. Graeme 23

    1 September 2008 at 7:32 pm

    How is ‘opposed war in Iraq’ a political achievement? It might be good, or a good reason to vote for someone, but it’s not an achievement.

    [got me there Graeme, I guess that means Key is the white Obama, well done. SP]
24. Brett Dale 24

    1 September 2008 at 7:51 pm

    Hes is like Obama, both are kinda outsiders, both have been very successful and what they have done, both are politicians of change,and both have vicious ugly, repulsive attacks form their opposition. Key had an Edwards type attack, where jealous little people from the left, complained that he bought a house.

    Its not working Steve, as much as Labour is going to lay it on thick with bigotry and fear. National will be the ones trying to help New Zealand.

    I will be bet anyone here, that during the election, Aunty Helen will go to a house in South Auckland, talk to an extremely overweight person who hasnt work for years, and say something on the lines “Labour will look after you, unlike the National party”
25. dad4justice 25

    1 September 2008 at 7:56 pm

    Oh great stuff. I rucked the crap outta NObama when he lay on the pill at Burnside Park and silly me I only thought I had damaged John Boy playing in the candy boy colours. Oh I miss the forward pack. Boot and ruck!!! Rugby was the winner on the day.
26. mike 26

    1 September 2008 at 8:01 pm

    “[try actually going to Obama’s webpage, it’s full of policy. SP]”

    Which is like Nationals and very unlike Labours.

    [because Labour is the govt, it’s policies come out through govt press releases, the Budget and announcements, additional to that it will announce election policies. SP]
27. Quoth the Raven 27

    1 September 2008 at 8:13 pm

    Here’s Cullen on it:
    John Key has a very high opinion of himself, but his claim to the mantle of Barack Obama is laughable.
    Mr Obama had turned down high-profile corporate jobs in order to work in his community, while Mr Key had spent decades as a currency trader.
    Senator Obama also opposed the war in Iraq from day one. Mr Key attacked the Labour-led government for not joining the war effort, saying New Zealand was `missing in action’.

    This bit in the article is interesting as well:
    The Financial Times described Mr Key as “young, smart and rich”, but warned that if he beat Helen Clark at the polls in the next 11 weeks, he would become the most inexperienced politician to lead New Zealand in more than 100 years.
28. Dean 28

    1 September 2008 at 8:39 pm

    Oh, SP.

    Not even a mention of Clark’s outburst regarding the SFO today?

    Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share on the subject?

    While we’re on topic for conspiracy theories, do you believe the WTC was demolished by controlled explosions from the inside?

    Are you SURE you don’t want to vote for Winston?
29. Inventory2 29

    1 September 2008 at 8:59 pm

    Steve – I’m beginning to worry that, in contrast to both Obama and Key, you HAVE been institutionalised in Wellington for too long! You need to get out more buddy 😉
30. deemac 30

    1 September 2008 at 9:55 pm

    how bizarre of Key to compare himself to someone that the right wing nutters who flame this site have been describing as a crypto-commie…
31. Phil 31

    2 September 2008 at 9:27 am

    I know one way that Key is exactly like Obama – both have a commitment to go through the federal/governmental budget, line by line, reduce the waste and cut the irrelevant spending from the budget. Obama gave that line to massive cheers at the DNC.

    QTR,
    A few months back, there was a great article in Time about ‘experience’ as a predictor for success in the role of POTUS. Their conclusion; it wins/loses you votes, but in terms of your ability to do the job, it means sweet FA.
32. Scribe 32

    2 September 2008 at 9:34 am

    I know one way that Key is exactly like Obama – both have a commitment to go through the federal/governmental budget, line by line, reduce the waste and cut the irrelevant spending from the budget. Obama gave that line to massive cheers at the DNC.

    If Obama wins, I’d love to revisit this promise in three years and see how he’s done on that score.

Links to post

1. More ways Key is like Obama « g.blog: posted on 2 September 2008 at 9:04 am

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