Gandhi hopejacking
The latest perpetrator of hopejacking — attempting to Obamafy one’s image by claiming association with him or co-opting his message of change — is Rahul Gandhi, general secretary of India’s ruling Congress party and scion of India’s Gandhi-Nehru political dynasty: “I think we have millions of Barack Obamas in India,” he said, about unleashing the ...
The latest perpetrator of hopejacking -- attempting to Obamafy one's image by claiming association with him or co-opting his message of change -- is Rahul Gandhi, general secretary of India's ruling Congress party and scion of India's Gandhi-Nehru political dynasty:
The latest perpetrator of hopejacking — attempting to Obamafy one’s image by claiming association with him or co-opting his message of change — is Rahul Gandhi, general secretary of India’s ruling Congress party and scion of India’s Gandhi-Nehru political dynasty:
“I think we have millions of Barack Obamas in India,” he said, about unleashing the powerful democratic spirit that lies within India’s 1.2bn people.
“It is the question of channelling [their energy], giving them voice and power. The reason I am opening them up is that I fully intend to give power to them,” he added.
The people-power sentiment is fine, if a little vacuous. But it’s kind of rich coming from a politician whose father, grandmother, and great grandfather were all prime ministers. I guess citing Caroline Kennedy wouldn’t be quite as inspiring.
Photo: PRAKASH SINGH/AFP/Getty Images
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
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