Be a Mama’s Boy and Get Ahead

by on September 7, 2008 9

McCain is a mama's boy. His mother, the astonishing 96-year-old Roberta, said that was the secret in the video about him they played at the convention. His father seems to have dropped out of the picture a long time ago. Barack Obama is also a mama's boy. His mother was the strongest figure in his life, daddy walked away. His mother believed in him completely and utterly. She told her son that she gave him values, his father gave him his character. Well she gave him strength too. Men are weak. They need strong women. Observer editor Peter Kaplan used to say this was the big secret: All great men are mama's boys, MacArthur, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, Reagan. Mamas, believe in your sons, you're all we've got!

About Philip Weiss

Philip Weiss is Founder and Co-Editor of Mondoweiss.net.
Posted in Beyondoweiss, US Politics

{ 9 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. Leila Abu-Saba says:
    September 7, 2008 at 10:36 am

    I don't know if you want to count Bill Clinton as a great man, but his story was epic, and his Presidency was …. better than what we've had for a while. He was also a mama's boy. Remember his father died while his mother was pregnant. (Some rumors have suggested perhaps they weren't actually married by then). Then she married a man who was drunk and abusive. She was a tough, opinionated, colorful lady.

    Interesting theory. I will continue to express all my intense personality at my two sons, whom I love passionately… I have an old-fashioned streak that drives me to keep on them about their manners, and I spend quite a bit of energy fussing over their emotional and intellectual development. I don't do a lot of academic "pushing" and I'm really lax about sports & extra-curricular activities. But I adore them and I want them to do well. They are both very very attached to me although quite bonded to their father (my hubby!) as well. I know I'm a "Mediterranean mother" – extremely affectionate and possibly a little overbearing; I've decided to just accept it. HOwever I'm also a selfish, self-absorbed writer so I spend a lot of time thinking my own thoughts, and now I'm going off without them (or hubby) for nearly three weeks to tour Lebanon and Syria. So they get a healthy dose of independence; Mom doesn't live for them alone. I think that's good for them, too.

    However I'm not looking to raise a president… just successful human beings with good values and survival skills.

  2. Todd Gitlin says:
    September 7, 2008 at 11:29 am

    Phil:

    You really know nothing beyond the last news report, do you? John McCain was DEEPLY influenced by his father–if you read anything biographical or autobiographical on or by the man you'd know that.
    I know that you consider Jimmy a "great man" now that his anger over the survival of the Jewish people (and their failure to be superceded by "Jayzus") has manifested itself in anti-Zionism . . .but really, Phil, do you see him as a great man? If he took it all back and attacked the Palestinians tomorrow would he still be seen as great in your frightened mind?

  3. Paul Easton, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Belly Of The Beast says:
    September 7, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    MacArthur, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, Reagan. These are great men? Wow.

    Only MacArthur could swim against the tide, and then in the wrong direction, and he was supported by truely extraordinary self love. Kennedy and Reagan were also like that to a lesser extent. Eisenhower and Carter were good facilitators but not real leaders.

  4. samuel burke says:
    September 7, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Jimmy carter is a deeply commited believer in Yeshua the Messiah, he has been a great ambassador for the Prince of Peace since leaving the presidential office behind.

    say what you will about his presidency, his stance for the palestinians peoples is nothing short of brave.

    we all have seen what the supporters of zionism have been able to do world wide against any mortal who has taken a public stance against them…they have ruined the professional lives of many an individual.

  5. David Brown says:
    September 7, 2008 at 12:21 pm

    'MacArthur' was a great man? I don't think so. How about that 600K (in 1940's money) he took from the President of the Phillipines on his retreat from Corrigidor. He never reported the cash to the IRS. Eisenhower refused a similar offer and wrote about it in his memoirs. MacArthur was a failure as a general a man and a citizen. Period.
    It does make one wonder who is gettingwhat from the Iraq war? The first rule of diplomacy is bribery. Neocons beware.

  6. the Sword of Gideon says:
    September 7, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    What are you talking about. His retreat down the Bataan peninsula was masterful. Has was his subsequent drive from Austrailia to Tokyo Bay. Inchon turned things around in 1950. He was true military genius.

  7. Paul Easton, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Belly Of The Beast says:
    September 7, 2008 at 7:40 pm

    No one would ever have heard of Kennedy if not for his Daddys money. A rich Daddy is the most important asset a politician can have.

    If you want to list great men and women you should think about scientists, artists, and religious innovators, not FGS politicians.

  8. Michael Blaine says:
    September 7, 2008 at 10:18 pm

    Jimmy Carter right now would make a better president than any candidate who's run this cycle.

  9. Ralph says:
    September 8, 2008 at 7:53 am

    Why are you still talking about this 'election'? The winner was decided a long time ago:

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