Barack Obama’s Secret Weapon
Andrew Sullivan nails it on Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s secret weapon — less what he does to Republican Sen. John McCain then what he holds back on doing and provokes McCain to do:
Obama’s not-so-secret weapon in an international crisis: his calm. McCain’s not-so-secret liability in a tense election: his hotheadedness. This race is about policy and the times. But it is also about temperament and character. That’s why, in my judgment, it has broken so clearly in Obama’s direction. He actually reassures and he manages not to take the bait almost all of the time. More to the point, he gets his opponents to destroy themselves, while he glides forward.
He then links to his Times column HERE.
Issues still matter in American politics, despite the belief of some who think personally going after candidates and even those who dare write things they don’t like or agree with is way to destroy a candidacy or “the messenger.” But IMAGERY still counts for a great deal in politics, just as it does in advertising products.
If you look at McCain’s early, post-GOP convention campaign, he was having trouble getting press attention as the press was focused on its new toy, Obama’s candidacy. McCain’s selection of Gov. Sarah Palin wowed the GOP and the press as well. Since then, McCain and his campaign have seemingly flitted around offering contradictory tones and specific messages. McCain himself has indeed appeared hotheaded, raising the question among more than one pundit: What would have happened if John McCain had been in the White House during the 1960s Cuban Missile Crisis?
But there is indeed a bit more. A LOT of Americans have truly had enough of the mega-partisanship epitomized by talk radio and permeating American’s political culture that name calls and demonizes politicians, a entire party, the press, and those who might report or write things not in keeping with the party line. They crave a return to a more thoughtful, deliberative and HEALING type of politics that brings people together. By not taking the bait (so far) Obama is appearing to be calm and the most unifying figure in the race.
Could this image disintegrate if he gets into office? Perhaps. But by not biting the baited polarization hook — and perhaps setting a few of them out there that McCain all-too-eagerly chomped on — Obama is emitting an image that is reassuring during a time of intense multiple crises.
To put it in another way: this election is shaping up to be like an election between the Prom Queen and the Drama Queen.
3 Responses to “Barack Obama’s Secret Weapon”
there is a new movie out – a bio on Lee Atwater, founder of the type of destructive politics that dominated for 20 years.
What has it brought us?
Inferior politicians who are about stuffing their pockets then the public good, no accountability, a shallow press corps., no discourse what so ever, a failed and incompetent president and a country is serious trouble.
Most people hate this style of politics but, it's all that is ever presented to us, the voters. So we werre left with trying to decide between 2 bads without adequate info.
The rise of blogs have helped alot because they not only, with the activism, forced the press to be stop being lapdogs, but, you have alot of access to alot of non partisan thoughtful articles and information.
It seems the only ones hanging desperately to the partisanship and smears are those of the far right. Even regular republicans are sick of it.
vw– I'm thinking that this style will become less and less effective as more people gain access to fact-checking sites and realize they are being snowed by clever political operatives. Its also good to see more and more of the media taking on this role during election years. Maybe after being revealed publicly as bald-faced liars– or losing at the polls—these politicians will curb their spinning.
If people have had enough of talk radio, they should complain about the content to the station and its sponsors. The problem is that millions will listen to Rush and Sean, but how many will fact check what they are being sold by their idols? I remember when Limbaugh was really just a freaky phenomenon— a joke really. People thought anyone who listened to him had gone off the deep end.
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