Wag
"It is often said in politics that a candidate's strength is also his weakness," writes Matt Bai in a 10.19 N.Y. Times Sunday Magazine piece about Barack Obama and working-class whites. "Obama's greatest asset as a candidate, the trait that has enabled him to overcome both a thin resume and the resistance of his own party's establishment, is his placidity.
"Even more than through his ability to give a rousing speech (plenty of other candidates, from Ted Kennedy to Howard Dean, could do that), Obama has differentiated himself from recent Democrats by conveying a sense of inner security that is highly unusual in a business of people who have chosen to spend every day asking people to love them. He does not seem like a candidate who's going to switch to earth tones in his middle age or who's going to start dressing up in camouflage to rediscover his inner Rambo. Obama is content to meet the world on his terms, and something about that inspires confidence.
"And yet that same lack of pathetic neediness may in fact be a detriment when it comes to persuading voters who, culturally or ideologically, just aren't predisposed to like him. I once heard a friend of Obama's compare him with Bill Clinton this way: if Clinton sees you walking down the other side of the street, he immediately crosses over to shake your hand; if Obama sees you coming, he nods and waits for you to cross."
And by the same token, it can probably be assumed that if he makes a small mistake, Barack Obama would never stick his tongue out and go "aaaahhh!" like John McCain briefly did after last night's debate. This is a very appealing trait. It's a Republican/conservative thing to briefly wig out and be theatrical (like that awful female MSNBC daytime news anchor whom I can't stand) but it's also a loose, what-the-hell thing to do in front of a mixed crowd, and something in me responds well to this.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on October 16, 2008 at 8:37 AM
comment #1
moviesquad
says ...
"It's a Republican/conservative thing to briefly wig out and be theatrical"... apparently you've never seen Joe Biden.
Posted by moviesquad
at October 16, 2008 9:13 AM
comment #2
moviesquad
says ...
Or Nancy Pelosi for that matter.
Posted by moviesquad
at October 16, 2008 9:14 AM
comment #3
Michael
says ...
The simple fact of the matter is, a winning campaign doesn't include events such as the one pictured above. That's not what winners do.
Everyone knew Bob Dole was going to lose as soon as he fell off that stage. Same with Kerry and that unbelievably stupid picture of him in the powder blue space suit. Losers, all of them.
Posted by Michael
at October 16, 2008 9:16 AM
comment #4
kinks541
says ...
So glad you posted this pic, because it was boggling my mind last night. The old man did an entire vaudeville routine. I was honestly embarassed for him.
Posted by kinks541
at October 16, 2008 9:18 AM
comment #5
iamwhoiam
says ...
This pic worth 1000 words. Not much to say after you see it.
http://palinaspresident.com/
Posted by iamwhoiam
at October 16, 2008 9:29 AM
comment #6
JaggedUnderpants
says ...
Apples and oranges, no, this post and its coda?
But it's a reason to run that photo, which made me LSTM, heartily. So it gets a pass.
Posted by JaggedUnderpants
at October 16, 2008 9:37 AM
comment #7
Mr. Muckle
says ...
Totally disagree with your take on this, gruver. Barack does not feel it would be necessary to make such a grotesque expression upon making a small mistake, for many reasons. First, he does not pretend to be perfect and right in all things. Therefore, as is the case with everyone, small mistakes will happen and are correctible without a fuss.
Second, McCain's hyper-reactivity is characteristic of repressed, knee-jerk, ideologically hidebound conservatives. Life does not flow for them; they're trying to hold it back. Progress is anathema. Therefore when life and its imperfection happens, as is inevitable, a big fuss has to be made to cover up the fact that all along they were pretending (and hoping) it wouldn't.
Posted by Mr. Muckle
at October 16, 2008 10:22 AM
comment #8
Joshua Mooney
says ...
"Obama is content to meet the world on his terms, and something about that inspires confidence."
A generally fine article by Bai, but I don't understand what the above sentence means. We'd all like to meet the world on our own terms, right? But the world typically has other ideas. Didn't W. try to "meet the world on his terms"? Look how well that turned out. I've always attributed Obama's vaguely Zen-like calm, cool, collected demeanor (which certainly DOES inspire confidence) to his ability and willingess to accept that no one man controls the world or dictates the terms of its functioning. A failed leader (W., again) is one who's arrogant or clueless enough to set the world's agenda based on his own ego, is caught short by how that never works out (gee, what a surprise!), and is left scrambling to fix the mess caused by his myopic vision. I'm not talking about revolutionaries here-- John Adams, Albert Einstein, Jimi Hendrix. They're crucial too, God knows. I'm talking about a leader I can trust and respect. The ability to accept reality for reality is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary.
Posted by Joshua Mooney
at October 16, 2008 10:28 AM
comment #9
DarthCorleone
says ...
I'll criticize McCain for many things, but I didn't think his little tongue-wagging lurch seen here as he went to shake the moderator's hand is worthy of much analysis. If anything, I found the reaction indicative of a little self-deprecating humility, which is a good thing in my mind.
The photo is great, though, and very funny.
Posted by DarthCorleone
at October 16, 2008 10:31 AM
comment #10
Michael
says ...
Second, McCain's hyper-reactivity is characteristic of repressed, knee-jerk, ideologically hidebound conservatives.
Substitute people or politicians for conservatives and you have an excellent paragraph.
Posted by Michael
at October 16, 2008 10:40 AM
comment #11
tjfar67
says ...
I just found my new desktop wallpaper!
Posted by tjfar67
at October 16, 2008 10:57 AM
comment #12
Monument
says ...
Ugghh... I hate that gagging, tongue out thing that people do when they stumble over words. Is it really just that hard to just pause, collect your thoughts and resume speaking?
Posted by Monument
at October 16, 2008 10:59 AM
comment #13
chicagodad
says ...
I took it as a combination of self-deprecation and sheer relief that the debates were over. He was just so palpably uncomfortable in all three.
I'm by no means a McCain supporter, but I'm tired of this election being about why the other guy is bad. I'd rather focus on why my candidate of choice is good for me.
I think a lot of people feel that way, and that's why negative ads have tanked the way they have this cycle.
Posted by chicagodad
at October 16, 2008 11:22 AM
comment #14
T. S. Idiot
says ...
"I'd rather focus on why my candidate of choice is good for me."
All right, then, the top ten reasons I should vote for McCain.
1. He's older than me, and if the president is older, I must not be too old myself.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10
Posted by T. S. Idiot
at October 16, 2008 11:47 AM
comment #15
SaveFarris
says ...
And by the same token, it can probably be assumed that if he makes a small mistake...
Barack Obama make a mistake?!? What foul heresy is this?
Posted by SaveFarris
at October 16, 2008 12:08 PM
comment #16
Chicago48
says ...
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/mccainpalin-supporters-let-their-rac
This is why he won't win.
Posted by Chicago48
at October 16, 2008 12:42 PM
comment #17
Chicago48
says ...
Sorry, this is on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqcfqiXCX0&eurl=http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/mccainpalin-supporters-let-their-rac
Posted by Chicago48
at October 16, 2008 12:43 PM
comment #18
iamanerd
says ...
I heard a knock against Obama: professorial. As one who instructs college, I found it to be an interesting criticism. When my college hires new instructors, we are concerned with scholarship, research, experience teaching, etc. But what we most look for are certain traits and examples from references and that experience: patience, ability to multi task, and experience with pressure/deadlines. I find it comforting that Obama is professorial. He speaks as if he hasn't memorized; he speaks like he knows the things he says. Whether others would agree or argue those points doesn't matter. He owns the language he employs. And he is incredibly calm and collected. McCain's impatience, even in just waiting for his turn last night, gives me certain pause. He is not listening; he is just waiting for his turn to speak.
Posted by iamanerd
at October 16, 2008 1:17 PM
comment #19
Dan Revill
says ...
When McCain is listening, it's usually with a look of shock that "that one" is actually refuting what McCain just said.
Posted by Dan Revill
at October 16, 2008 1:36 PM
comment #20
Todd
says ...
OMG I thought that was a photoshop picture. If Mccain wins I guess the rest of the United States will be striking that pose.
Posted by Todd
at October 16, 2008 1:40 PM
comment #21
great scott
says ...
OFF TOPIC:
Anyone see that Roger Ebert gave W. four stars? Not even Jeff, who wanted to love the movie with every fiber of his being, would say it's worthy of that.
Posted by great scott
at October 16, 2008 2:00 PM
comment #22
Thrudvangar
says ...
"like that awful female MSNBC daytime news anchor whom I can't stand"
I can't stand the one on the weekend. Her eyes are too far apart. Freaky.
I love Mika though.
Posted by Thrudvangar
at October 16, 2008 2:05 PM
comment #23
dangovich
says ...
Bai's judgment is not to be trusted. He chastised bloggers for being too hard on poor widdle Joe Lieberman. And if he thinks more golem-like behavior from McCain is going to help the man's campaign, he's wrong again.
Posted by dangovich
at October 16, 2008 2:49 PM
comment #24
Joshua Mooney
says ...
Captain McCain! You look terrible! Let me see your tongue. [inserts cigar as thermometer] Oh no, no, here take your shirt off and tell me where it hurts. I haven't seen a case like this since I was in school, oh my goodness. Listen, Vollmer, tell them to prepare for major surgery, this is one case in five, I think I can save you , Captain.... Look, take one of these every half hour... Now get into your helicopter, and button up your shirt for crying out loud! You're in a military ARMY!
Posted by Joshua Mooney
at October 16, 2008 3:05 PM
comment #25
Deathtongue_Groupie
says ...
Meanwhile, a woman's Republican group right here in Southern California decided to help further run McCain's campaign off the rails by sending out a racist flyer that showed "Obama Bucks" with pictures of watermelons and Fried Chicken.
I shit you not.
Watermelon and fried chicken. The (white) woman responsible claims she though it was "just food."
It came to light because a black member of this group called attention to it.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_webbuck1.e7982b.html
Posted by Deathtongue_Groupie
at October 16, 2008 3:18 PM
comment #26
moviesquad
says ...
Anyone curious about Obama's "cool and calm demeanor" obviously hasn't spent much time in Hawaii. This sort of demeanor isn't at all unusual for people who grew up on the islands. In Obama's case, there's also an aspect of aloofness in it.
Posted by moviesquad
at October 16, 2008 8:25 PM
comment #27
Joshua Mooney
says ...
moo-squid? Uh, yeah, wh
Posted by Joshua Mooney
at October 16, 2008 8:50 PM
comment #28
dd
says ...
Everyone knew Bob Dole was going to lose as soon as he fell off that stage. Same with Kerry and that unbelievably stupid picture of him in the powder blue space suit. Losers, all of them.
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at May 11, 2010 12:59 AM
comment #29
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at April 12, 2011 5:49 PM
comment #30
janee
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at May 18, 2011 5:51 AM