Here’s a letter of mine appearing in today’s Washington Times:
I agree with every sentence of Steve Chapman’s essay on Barack Obama save this one: “But Mr. Obama came to public attention because of a speech, at the 2004 Democratic convention, that showed he was capable not only of a clear thought but of genuine passion” (“a ‘My Pet goat moment,” Commentary, Wednesday).
The most we can conclude from that speech is that Mr. Obama is capable of displaying passion that appears genuine to audiences longing to hear it, much like a soap-opera star is capable of displaying passion for an actress whom that star might hold in utter contempt the moment the tape stops rolling.
Let’s not confuse theater with reality.
DONALD J. BOUDREAUX
Chairman
Economics Department
George Mason University
Fairfax
