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Huey Long and Barack Obama - Political Kingfish


            Huey Long, also known as the "Messiah of the Masses," was a gifted orator who appealed to a poor, rural constituency due to his various social programs and his "Share our Wealth" plan. The "Kingfish," as he was also called, began his rise to the political forefront in 1918 when he was elected to Louisiana's Railroad Commission. In 1928, Long won the gubernatorial election and went on to rule Louisiana with an iron fist until he was elected to the United States Senate in 1932. Over the course of his political career, Huey Long began creating a political machine in Louisiana similar to the one that Obama implemented in Chicago many years later. .
             It's interesting to note the number of similarities between Huey Long and Barack Obama. Both came from humble beginnings. Huey Long grew up in Northern Louisiana with his family and lacked formal education. Despite taking classes, he never graduated from college or law school, although he did go on to pass the Louisiana State Bar Exam and become a fairly successful lawyer. .
             Born in Hawaii and raised in Indonesia, Barack Obama went on to graduate from Columbia University and Harvard Law School. When he went on the presidential campaign trail, he targeted young people who turned out in record numbers to support him. Long was popular among small town farmers and the rural population. Both are recognized for being great orators and for influencing people through their speeches. .
             Much like Obama's legendary ascent into the role of the world's most powerful man, Long's rise was quick and calculated. Huey Long had a chip on his shoulder and felt deep resentment toward those with concentrated wealth. His desire to level wealth among the people is illustrated through his policies and evidenced by his "Every Man a King" slogan. Like Obama, he spoke out against the vices of greed while, at the same time, living luxuriously.


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