In today’s Washington Times Thomas Sowell asks, “Are facts obsolete?”

A look at the campaign trail may indicate the answer appears to be “yes.”

In an election campaign in which not only young liberals, but also some people who are neither young nor liberals, seem absolutely mesmerized by the skilled rhetoric of Sen. Barack Obama, facts have receded even further into the background than usual.

As the hypnotic mantra of “change” is repeated endlessly, few people even raise the question of whether what few specifics we hear represent any real change, much less a change for the better.

Dr. Sowell examines the false premise that “new” ideas for “Change” are anything but new. However, it is his examination of political positioning that I particularly enjoyed.

One of the most naive notions is that politicians are trying to solve the country’s problems, just because they say so - or say so loudly or inspiringly.

Politicians’ top priority is to solve their own problem, which is how to get elected and then re-elected. Barack Obama is a politician through and through, even though pretending that he is not is his special strategy to get elected.

Some of his more trusting followers are belatedly discovering that, as he “refines” his position on various issues, now that he has gotten their votes in the Democratic primaries and needs the votes of others in the coming general election.

And his conclusion:

Mr. Obama may gain similar popularity by advocating similar [to those of Neville Chamberlain] policies today - and his political popularity is what it’s all about. The consequences for the country come later.

Wake up people. Facts still mater.