He just can’t help it: Daniel Hannan on Obama’s “exotic background”

When David Cameron promoted Daniel Hannan as the party’s law spokesperson in the European Parliament he must have hoped it would bring an end to damaging gaffes about abolishing the NHS and how great Enoch Powell is. But apparently not.

“Barack Obama has an exotic background, and it would be odd if some people weren’t unsettled by it.” – Daniel Hannan

He continues on his blog:

During the campaign, he made a virtue of his unusual upbringing. He was at once from the middle of the country (Kansas) and from its remotest edge (Hawaii). He was both black and white. He was a Protestant brought up among Muslims. He seemed to have family on every continent. Like St Paul, he made a virtue of being all things to all men. On one level, the strategy worked brilliantly. But it could hardly fail to leave a chunk of people feeling that Obama wasn’t exactly a regular guy.

Hannan isn’t thick. He is well aware that the parties, journalists and the blogosphere are watching him like a hawk and the reaction that praising Enoch Powell will receive. There must be a genuine fear within CCHQ that – sooner or later – Hannan may do something that will really damage the ‘detoxified’ Conservative brand.

Here’s hoping for a well-timed general election gaffe!

Hat tip: LabourList