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by Harvey Stelman

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Barack Obama, and change is an oxymoron! You may have to live in the state of Illinois to truly understand this. If you live anyplace else you probably think Senator Obama has always been the great charismatic orator he is today. I do live in Illinois, and I asked the same questions to most of my friends.

"Do you remember Barack Obama when he ran for the Senate?" All answers were either no, or kind of. The second question was to me the most interesting. "I'm sure you agree Senator Obama is a tremendous charismatic orator, did you view him that way when he ran for the Senate." The answer was a resounding, NO! I'm sure you find this perplexing. The thing that stands out about the Senator is his presence in front of an audience. Why then wasn't it not seen before. Even a far right wing Republican would have noticed this, what happened?

Obama's media consultant is a man named David Axelrod. Most people aren't familiar with his name. If you lived in Illinois you would have heard it many times. He is one of the men behind most major successful Democrats in Illinois. So what has this man done for Mr. Obama?

As a media guru, I believe Mr. Axelrod transformed the Senator. It's very easy to find speaking coaches, and professionals to teach you how to deliver a speech. Compare him today to the way he was during his successful campaign for the Senate. How he spoke then cannot be compared to how he speaks today. Credit Mr. Axelrod. His message of change was not there before his run for the Presidency. The media didn't go crazy over him, and his crowds were not mesmerized. His colleagues in the Illinois Senate didn't follow him. He took his lead from Emil Jones, President of the Illinois Senate.

Did state Senator Obama frequently cross the aisle to vote with the Republicans? Don't be silly, he voted with his fellow Democrats. He has followed his Illinois habits in the United States Senate. Why then do so many voters believe this tiger can change his stripes? Enter David Axelrod!

The seasoned, and crafty Mr. Axelrod has invented his version of "Frankenstein's Monster." But the bubble over Senator Obama may be bursting. Today the press changed the "light" questions they asked the Senator. Mr. Obama, not being accostomed to this form of questioning simply left the room. It was evident to me that Mr. Axelrod had not informed Mr. Obama how to handle this form of questioning. The bubble IS bursting!

What does change mean in all this? For that answer ask David Axelrod. He will be the one to tell this great orator how he, and his message must change. After all, politics is politics. The basic change in Senator Obama's platform is how he delivers his message, how he dresses and how he speaks of change. Does he have any idea how to implement this change, ask David Axelrod.

Learn more about this author, Harvey Stelman.

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