Monday, September 08, 2008
So Many Differences
To me, though, another significant gap has become more obvious to me - that associated with each ticket's authenticity, on the one hand, and perceived arrogance, on the other. Obama has managed an extraordinary campaign. We should give him his due for having emerged as an unknown freshman Senator from Illinois and, in response to a yearning for a credible alternative to the Clinton dynasty, leveraging his political skill, oratory and tactical execution in the Democratic primaries.
However, in the course of the long campaign, his authenticity has been eroded. To me, the initial loss of authenticity came on the heels of the Pastor Wright imbroglio, when, after first expressing his devotion to Wright, he was forced to "disown him." This completely undermined the virtue and passion of his speech on race which defended his relationship with Wright, and, to me, damaged his standing with many voters of his own party. This is without really a significant exploration of his relationships with Ayers and Dorn or Rezko, which also delegitimize him. Finally, Obama's emphasis on "change" has been traded for Joe Biden and the perception of foreign policy experience. That trade damages Obama's message of reform and "freshness."
As to arrogance, Obama has managed his stage presence in a fashion intended to make him seem Presidential, larger than life. His campaign rather obviously viewed this approach as providing him greater credibility. In fact, it has heightened a general sense of the campaign's, and perhaps Obama's, particular Narcissism. Whether it has been faux "presidential seals", garish Greek columns or his desire to address Europe from the Brandenberg Gate, Obama has projected anything but humility in his quest for the Presidency. The more recent gratuitous bashing of Palin's experience has also exposed a certain arrogance from the Obama campaign which she managed to lance brilliantly in 2 ways - first, defending her resume as Mayor and then Governor; and second, exposing the metropolitan elitism in which Obama soaks when he talk about small towns, guns and bibles.
McCain and Palin, by stark contrast, are nothing if not authentic. No media criticism, no emphasis on McCain's present wealth, no assault of Palin's family can delegitimize their personal histories. A man who spent 5 years being tortured in a POW camp, refusing his release, is authentic; who's children serve in the military and go to fight the war he supports at home is authentic. There is integrity in that person's core and it is obvious. No amount of political nonsense can undo that. Similarly, Governor Palin is authentically of the American small town, the west, the frontier. She has 5 children, 1 with special needs. Her oldest son is in the military and on his way to Iraq. Her husband works 2 jobs. These people don't project arrogance. They project steel, strength, confidence, belief that they can. They project the persona of a winner. Obama and Biden project a sense that they know better than you; that the country cannot; they project a sense of victimization, not of themselves, but of the voters. They project a loser's persona.
The debates will be the last great opportunity for undecided voters to assess authenticity. It should be instructive.
10 Comments:
By 
Yishai, at
Mon Sep 08, 01:36:00 PM:
When are the debates happening?
By 
, at
Mon Sep 08, 02:12:00 PM:
This completely undermined the virtue and passion of his speech on race which defended his relationship with Wright, and, to me, damaged his standing with many voters of his own party.
Regarding damaging his standing with his own party's voters: perhaps. My take on it is that many more Democratic Party voters took the stance: whatever Obama says is fine with me.
By D.E. Cloutier, at
Mon Sep 08, 02:29:00 PM:
Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, who was named "Manager of the Century" by Fortune magazine in 1999: "Barack Obama with Pelosi and Reid — that's nothing but disaster."
Video link:
http://www.welchway.com/mediaPlayer.aspx?fileID=278
By D.E. Cloutier, at
Mon Sep 08, 03:19:00 PM:
To Yishai:
First presidential debate:
Friday, September 26
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
Vice presidential debate:
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Second presidential debate:
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Third presidential debate:
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Link:
http://www.debates.org/
By , at
Mon Sep 08, 03:44:00 PM:
Sir:
Buyers remorse. The media can only blame themselves. Nevr has a candidate gotten so many of what should have been campaign ending free passes. Sen Clinton would have been a more formidable opponent in the general. unfortunately she ran general election plank in a left leaning party primary. She wasnt left enough for the Kos crowd and lost the nomination to a relatively weaker opponent. She was also correct when she told the supers that Sen Obama was not electable.
Now were in the general and things are a little different. For the first time its the GOPs to lose. Love the Saracuda...
DNC ran an un-electable candidate in an un-loseable election. I guess the immoveable object isnt.
This one should be over pending serious gaffe in the debates. If the polls have McCain ahead by a couple, add a few % more for the Bradley effect. I silently add 3% in normal years for bias and am about right. this year I would say its more...maybe 5%. People uncomfortable with saying they are voting against the chosen one will have no problem throwing the lever in the booth.
V/r
Col M.
By , at
Mon Sep 08, 04:01:00 PM:
I hate to harsh CP's mellow, but Senator Obama has a nice jump shot, and goes to the basket pretty good for a 46 year old lawyer-Senator. I think he can take McCain one -on -one.
But frankly, Mr. Obama has run out of things to talk about. He talked himself out in the Democratic primairies. Now what? How much hopey-changey can he talk about? Since he's from Chicago, maybe he should talk about the Cubs??
-David
By , at
Mon Sep 08, 04:30:00 PM:
The only reason Obama can take McCain is the refusal of the MSM to investigate the serious irregularities surrounding Obama's associates. If there is no corruption there, an honest investigation would do Obama quite a bit of good.
By , at
Mon Sep 08, 05:17:00 PM:
One key difference is that if Obama is elected, the US will be attacked again and withing 3 months of his swearing in. The evil doers will identify themselves and demand that Hussein sit down with them with no US preconditions but with plenty of their own.
If the US is attacked after McCain is elected, there will be little talking and some people will get hurt and some things broken.
By , at
Mon Sep 08, 05:47:00 PM:
Authenticity is really the only issue that matters. Bush has it in spades, and that's what brought him and us so far over the last eight years.
McCain-Palin would bring four more years of that level of success. It's about time.
By , at
Tue Sep 09, 12:05:00 PM:
Hillary was killed by the Dems primary rules. if they had been using a winner take all system rather than a proportional awards system, as is used in the general election, then she would have smoked him in the delegate count.
Instead Obama won the various caucuses that are mainly attended by the activist core, while winning enough votes in the primary states he lost to keep H. from gaining much ground.
By most measures i think she would have been a much stronger candidate in the general election.
