PrintNovember 1, 2008
Evita Peron Obama
When it comes to Barack Obama, fans of "Evita" have seen this show before.
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical, "Evita," tells the story of how Eva "Evita" Peron rose from obscurity to become the first lady of Argentina.
Remarkably, many of the lyrics of "Evita" apply equally well to Barak Obama, beginning with the Messianic adoration neither discouraged: "I'm their savior, that's what they call me," sang Evita. Or as the children's choir sang to her (just like they do for Obama):
Please, gentle Eva, will you bless a little child?For I love you, tell Heaven I'm doing my bestI'm praying for you, even though you're already blessed
Evita was all about inspiring emotions and creating moods, not describing policy details:
Instead of government we had a stageInstead of ideas, a prima donna's rageInstead of help we were given a crowdShe didn't say much, but she said it loud.
Similarly, Obama supporter David Frum said of Obama's July European tour: "Obama has risen to power by using a soothing cloud of meaningless words to conceal displeasing truths and avoid difficult choices."
Evita was not ashamed of taking money from the wealthy and giving it to the needy:
I promise you thisWe will take the riches from the oligarchsOnly for you, for all of youAnd one day, you too will inherit these treasures.
Or as Obama told Joe the plumber: "I think that when we spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody." Obama has certainly pledged to spread lots of wealth around. The Los Angeles Times reported that, as of July 8th: "The total price tag of Obama's plans, according to his campaign, is $130 billion a year. On top of that, Obama is proposing a middle-class tax cut of about $80 billion a year.
Since Argentina's rich were not a limitless source of funds, Evita seized considerable sums from the middle class in order to sufficiently spread the wealth around:
Eva's pretty hands reached out and they reached wideNow you may feel it should have been a voluntary causeBut that's not the point my friendsWhen the money keeps rolling in, you don't ask howThink of all the people guaranteed a good time now....
The lesson here is that Obama supporters would do well not to hold their breath awaiting his promised $80 billion in tax cuts for the middle class.
With lots of money at her disposal, Evita's favorites received their share:
And the money kept rolling out in all directionsTo the poor, to the weak, to the destitute of all complexionsNow cynics claim a little of the cash has gone astrayBut that's not the point my friendsWhen the money keeps rolling out you don't keep booksYou can tell you've done well by the happy grateful looksAccountants only slow things down, figures get in the wayNever been a lady loved as much as Eva Peron.
ACORN will love Barack Obama for the same reason Evita was loved: he will be the man who will keep their nest well feathered.
Both Evita and Obama proved willing to use intimidation tactics in order to ensure their nation benefitted from their leadership whether a majority agreed or not:
How annoying that they have to fight elections for their causeThe inconvenience, having to get a majorityIf normal methods of persuasion fail to win them applauseThere are other ways of establishing authority
When the National Rifle Association attempted to run television ads in Ohio and Pennsylvania accusing Barack Obama of wanting to ban certain guns and put a tax on others, the Obama campaign sent out a letter threatening to challenge the FCC license of any station which dared broadcast the NRA's ads.
Evita reached high office on the basis of style, not substance. Similarly, Barak Obama's resume is remarkably short for a potential U.S. president. Yet if the polls are correct, Barak will soon join Evita as "high flying adored." But "for someone on top of the world, the view [will not be] exactly clear."
Jim Boulet, Jr. owns all three versions of "Evita."
