The McCain Trap, and how Obama fell for it...
Obama was tricked tonight (Saddleback Discussion), and has been being tricked all cycle. They call him out for not speaking specifics, and then when he does, McCain goes all folksy answering nothing but telling stories.
GO BACK TO THE BIG EXCITING SPEECHES. Remember the youtube vid of
people parading though the streets in excitement after Obama's speech
(I want to say in out doors in Philly). That is what wins elections -
this was proof positive tonight. McCain says nothing and he gets
praised because he won the room. Obama has crowds eating out the palm
of his hand, impassioned, ready to change the world.
Obama has let McCain
define him and the narrative and it's a mistake. He's acting like he
needs to disprove he is a celebrity by talking about issues and only
issues - it was a perfectly set trap. Let the policy wonks read about
the issues on your website, this GE isn't about the issues. McCain
wants to tell stories and get people to vote for the old timer as a
feel good story.
The McCain Campaign has taken away Obama's strength and made it a "dirty word". Obama needs to reclaim it, and celebrate it.
Don't know if you noticed, Jonze, but the campaign season has not finished.
August 16, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't believe I implied it was. I'm saying he needs to go with what brought him to the dance, and that was excitement, inspiration. Barack and Hillary were very similar policy-wise, but Obama could inspire. Hillary started finding her real voice, but it was too late for her campaign.
I think what is happening here is what happened to Hillary, Obama is being too controlled and over-handled.
August 17, 2008 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
I get your point and it's a valid one. That said, I honestly believe Barack is going to shift into shock and awe mode with his acceptance speech going forward to November 4th. It will be an unstoppable force like none we've seen.
Rope-a-dope is a beautiful thing. It's the calm before the old dope receives the k.o. punch.
August 17, 2008 3:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Going into that particular forum, one which is in all likelihood, completely fixed for McCain, it's damage control. Obama did well and could not have handled that particular audience any differently. Just because the McCain/Rove camp goes after Obama's strength, (his crowd-inspiring speeches), doesn't mean it's no longer a strength. If Obama was "just words", the McCain camp might have made a dent in his image. The problem is, as my nephew puts it, "Obama's wicked smart". He's got the right temperament with nuance that is the very definition of diplomacy.
Comparatively speaking, McCain is like a blunt instrument, only less effective because at least blunt instruments make an impact.
August 16, 2008 11:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's no longer a strength if he doesn't give them anymore. Now of course he has one coming up at the convention, and maybe it's been a good idea to get away from the speeches to increase the impact when he goes back to them. I just hope he stopped doing them because McCain and Co. tried to frame it as a negative. I mean I don't believe there is a politician in the world who would tell you an excited and impassioned voter base and huge crowds is ever a bad thing, but that is what McCain and Co are trying to sell.
They have diminished Obama as nothing more than a wonky politician speaking issues, and then they attack with lies and catchphrases and gimmicks. And then tonight, when Obama goes in and answers questions thoughtfully and directly like a good little politician, McCain moseys in in with little substance and all folksy style.
They're tricking Obama into talking about the issues, when they know nobody votes on the issues anymore. It's about identity politics and cult of personality, so Obama is the politician and McCain is Grampa who will sit America on his knee and tell it war stories.
August 17, 2008 12:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jonze, I think you are right on.
Rove's strategy, I understand, is to attack the opponent’s strength. Make the subject / attribute toxic, off limits. Look at the attacks on Obama’s long history in the church (attack Wright), his long marriage and beautiful family (attack wife), his ability to articulate (attack him as elitist), or your main point, Barack’s inspirational, yes-we-can, speeches (attack his LEADERSHIP as whimsical).
In each of these cases I see the pattern. Hit first. Hit hard. Make Barack back away from what are his strengths. Make his campaign defensive.
Don’t back away. Embrace and celebrate Barack Obama’s clear strengths!
Barack Obama has deep-seated Christian beliefs. McCain has stories. Have you heard many truly religious men call their wife a C*nt?
Barack Obama is a family man. McCain walks out on his wife at a time of need and there’s talk of other indiscretions. Again, anecdotal, but come on… “C*nt”
Barack Obama is a professor of law and once President of Harvard Law Review. McCain squeaked through the Academy fourth from the bottom in his class.
Barack Obama will lead. McCain can only follow his lobbyist minders.
And that is the CHANGE I BELIEVE IN!
August 17, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
dude, are you totally clueless ???
have you never seen a presidential campaign before ???
we don't choose a president based on who won the first half of AUGUST
you do know the election is in November, right ???
so Obama takes a vacation, and the makes a good appearance in front of a hostile crowd, and you're gonna suppose that Obama fell into some kind of trap ???
mcsame pandered to the evangelicals, and Obama spoke to them as human beings
this ain't about the actual evangelical voters, it's about Independents who hate candidates who pander to evangelical voters
mcsame is the guy who fell into the trap last night.
there is a long way to go between now and the voting booth
oh, and by the way, Obama is STILL 4 points ahead nationwide, and would win about 300 electoral votes if the election were held today
so what were you whining about again ...
August 17, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quite so.
When your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
Obama needs to emphasise, in his wickedly-smart manner, just how f'n disasterous such approach would be for our country's future.
August 17, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
The speeches will come,starting with the convention, and Obama will practice how to handle the folksy say nothing McCain during the debates. (Or I should say, say nothing except to your base McCain.)
But as I have noted several times now, not to worry. Obama has a secret weapon. The Federation.
"Obama, Spock, and the New Star Trek Nation"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/obama-spock-and-the-new-star-trek-nation/
August 17, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it was very good that Obama went on the Saddleback panel. It is very important that his Christian faith has a showcase. It's an effective way to address rumors about him being muslim. I think he did well. McCain also did well. McCain gets his strength from the smaller discussion kind of setting. Obama needs to utilize these also to appeal to that same sense of familiarity. He has the oratory down and he will continue to do the larger speaches. Now he has to get more personal and let people get to know him better. It's so important because of his being relatively unknown on the national stage. He has to define himself beyond his larger message. People want the specifics.
August 17, 2008 3:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
The speeches will come, Obama proved that he wasn't just an airhead celebrity last night.
I wish Obama would attack McCain's strength by naming Clark as VP.
August 17, 2008 6:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Some good points. McCain does want to take away the "shock and awe" bit from Obama. I hope Obama saves it for the final stretch. McCain can snipe away, but Obama will be inspiring regardless. The trick for Obama is not to peak too soon, and to pull out all the stop at the right time. But in the end, Obama must return to his strong territory -- inspiring people. I think he will.
August 17, 2008 5:52 PM | Reply | Permalink