Cult or fan club? I like fan club. Cult sounds too nefarious, and I don't see that.
The reason Obama is getting rock star adoration from so many young people is the same reason rock stars get it: they make music young people like. I think he deliberately minimizes substance in his speeches in favor of "music" and popular lyrics to attract the politically deaf, which is how I characterize many young people. "We can do it", "time for a change", blah blah...works for them better than addressing issues in detail. Lines like "We need to fix social security; we need a medical coverage plan that covers everyone" etc. delivered in statesman-like tones don't work as well for them. Not that they don't agree; but it takes style to get their mojo going--the backbeat in the voice; the rising inflection; the rumble of ominous low notes and so forth.
Having said that and to stay out of trouble with the serious dems here, not all dems supporters of Obama are behind him for his musicality. He doesn't talk to the issues as much as Clinton does, but he does have positions and a record (mostly comprised what he HASN'T done, e.g. voted for Iraq) to attract more sophisticated dems.
Obama is definiately on top, but not because of style over substance alone. The temper of the times seems to call out for a wholly new spiritual (non religious) approach and he understands it.
The way to take some of the shine off him is to force him to spend more time talking issues and less on soaring rhetoric. "Yes, Senator, that was a mighty fine inspirational speech, but what about military spending, immigration, Israel-Palestine, Iran...etc?
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To be Truly ignorant, Man requires an Education. (Plato)
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