Would Barack Obama bringing an end to the Gary McKinnon case spell the final end of Gordon Brown's chances of winning a fourth election?
In truth, Barack probably wouldn't do it. For a start, what does he care, he has his own polling problems to think about and letting off the hook a man who hacked into the great US military system won't play too well with the right-of-centre crowd the President needs to enjoy a healthy 50-60% approval rating.
But Obama didn't get to the White House by playing the same political game that his predecessors have for decades.
Maybe, just maybe, Barack will heed Mrs McKinnon's pleas, maybe he will look at the UK/US extradition treaty and decide that, just like Guantanamo Bay, it has long outlived its usefulness, if ever there was one in the first place. Maybe he will grant Gary McKinnon a reprieve.
And if such a moment comes to pass, Gordon Brown will look weaker than he did on the 10p tax debacle, weaker than he did on the General Election that never was and weaker than he did when Cabinet members were abandoning him in droves.
The low 20s would be as good as it gets for Labour between now and May 2010.
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6 comments:
Well, I hadn't thought of that.
Indeed, perhaps Obama could, via international relations, be the Frank Field to Gordon's Thatcher.
Not that either Obama or Brown could measure up to Thatcher or Frank Field, mind ;)
"But Obama didn't get to the White House by playing the same political game that his predecessors have for decades."
Er yes he did. The only difference between him and all previous candidates was the creation of a legendary identity for him by an absolutely supportive media.
You don't understand the US well if you think only right-wingers want to see someone who hacked into US military systems punished...
i do not doubt that mckinnon was interested in aliens.
but the fact is he took an interest in a whole lot of other things.
after the 2nd world war many enemy scientists from germany were reprieved as they had some value.
obama could offer the guy a job in the states, advising he is that good if he worked for us he could help big time.
obama would by this action have every other country worried about their systems and how to keep the quirky scotman out.
Agreed redcliffe62, someone needs to buy Obama 'Catch me if you can'. Maybe next Gordon Brown visits he can repay the dvd-buying favour.
Costello, maybe I was a bit strong in suggesting Obama totally ripped up the form book and political anoraks will ponder his campaign for years to come. My impression is that he thinks a bit differently to many who have gone before and, cosnequently, an unexpected move on someone like McKinnon is more likely.
Anon, I don't claim to know much about American Politics but I would imagine the left wingers are similar to The Guardian bunch over here and, consequently, would at least be sympathetic to Gary's plight.
Either way, Obama's concern about how it plays with voters may be reason enough for him not to act, if he's even thinking about this issue at all (it's probably not on his radar)
If Barack needs a motive to stick it up comrade Brown, how about the news that our continued ownership of the banks is funding heavy lobying in the US AGAINST the kind of banking regulations needed both here and in the USA, the kind of regulations Obama is keen to bring in (much to the chagrin of Brown). That and Browns constant toadying to the financial serviceses, in contrast to the pledges made to introduce regulations and to attack tax loopholes and tax avoidance schemes at the G20 conference in April, should provide some ammunition for Obama.
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