Barack Obama’s real killer punch: he’s the better man
Michael Seitzman has written a great piece on The Huffington Post about Obama’s performance last night. Called Barack Obama And The Return Of Grace, here’s an excerpt (my bolding) -
“Watch Barack Obama in that debate and you see a man who is confident but not arrogant - hence the regular acknowledgment of his opponent when they agree. He is sure of himself, yet thoughtful in the way he explains his position. He is more than capable of being Commander In Chief, yet just as interested in being Diplomat In Chief. Standing on that podium next to a walking shadow of our past, Barack Obama stands as a clear signpost to our future.
McCain is his own history book, more interested in listing the stamps on his passport and forcing our collective groans at every mention of his maverickness and his POW imprisonment, than he is in providing us a vision of any real future under his leadership. Never mind the new cold war John McCain promises us with our enemies, what about the one he promises to perpetuate with our fellow Americans? Ask yourself this question, can you even imagine that kind of mannerless, undiplomatic, insulting discourteousness from Barack Obama? Not a chance. Obama’s unwillingness to display anger may be something that his critics see as proof of his inability to win, but it happens to be the very quality that proves he can lead.”
Indeed. And about those two bolded points:
As I wrote last night (well, this morning): John McCain was the living embodiment of the status quo and of the past last night; Barack Obama was the living embodiment of the future. Interestingly, in over 90 minutes, McCain only uttered the word “change” - his mantra of recent weeks - once. Is this a reversal of strategy? Has he realigned himself with Bush and the Republican administration? I think this might be the case. John McCain certainly came across as ‘the old guard’ last night - and I don’t see how he can change that frame, now he’s put himself back in it.
Secondly: while many of us knew about Obama’s mild manner, his thoughtfulness, his calm and measured approach to issues and style of delivery - all adjectives that could never be applied to McCain - last night was, of course, about millions of Americans watching this, properly, for the first time.
So the more I think about it, the more I realise that Obama didn’t need to deliver those killer punches that we lily-livered, bleeding heart, liberal egghead communists so wanted him to deliver to McCain. Obama just had to be himself: intelligent, gentlemanly, capable, rational, confident, positive, knowledgeable, reasonable, gracious.
Because while he may not have been tougher, or angrier, or made his points in a punchier, more memorable way, Barack Obama ultimately came across as the better man last night. And in doing so, I think he potentially reached the hearts and minds of the American people far more effectively - and on a far more important level - than he could have done with any killer-punch soundbite.
Tags: barack obama, debate, debate analysis, huffington post, John McCain, presidential debate
September 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
What debate was this bloger watching it was clear McCain won this debate, not a grand slam,t there was Pool how much Obama jhow much he was going to stammer and stutter obama was on the ropes most of the Night,
Click this link to see Obama The Movie
http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/barack-obama-the-movie/#comment-3152
Debates are one and so far in the first Half hour, he stuttered 9 time, He is agreeing with McCain alot on issues just like he did, with Hillary before and stole and adopted all her agenda,
Now they are talking about Russia,
and Obama has the first question , he nervous he does not know what to say, because the NEED CNN to give him all the question last so he can agree and or copy some of McCain issues.
I am sure Campbell Brown wolf blitzer, Anderson Dick lip, will agree Obama will still do a great job then say Obama was not treated fair,
Obama Really wishes CNN is doing this dabate, so they can give Obama all the answers a week before the debate, ,, than make sure Obama was comfortable, and give McCain all hard question, ,,,, watch how CNN use it secret weapon Cambell Brown the New Kieth Oberman to attack McCain and Palin, now stopl CNN so funny no bias no bull ,, and CNN the best political team for Obama should be there slogan, what is with the Obama campaign texting everyone to watch CNN for the debats,, Like they said in the real news,, CNN is on Obama Payroll
September 27th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Wow! What debate were YOU watching? Concensus is the debate across America today was that it was an Obama “win”.
McCain is an old politician, outdated in his approach and as someone said to me this week a hammer who wants to hammer every nail he sees. Hes a fight picker, scrappy, not terribly diplomatic, testy, impulsive and can be tempermental. If you like this -thats ok but being articulate, polished, cool and calm is in this humble voters mind ..A VERY BIG PLUS and a very clear and easy choice for President of the United States-OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!
September 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Jody V - as an outsider watching the American mainstream media daily, and seeing so many potential McCain and Palin stories going uncovered, I can assure you: the MSM is *not* biased in Obama’s favour. CNN and MSNBC are nothing like Fox when it comes to bias, and they certainly don’t tell outright lies like the latter.
As for who won the debate: well, as you’ll see in my original assessment, even as an Obama supporter who obviously thinks he is a million times the man McCain is, I thought it was, objectively, a draw. It has been widely reported across all news channels as a draw or a victory for Obama; and you only have to take a look at the snap polls to see that undecided voters also thought he won it.