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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Obama's perceived gaffe is a blessing in disguise. For the first time in years these poor, economically downtrodden people will finally have someone that understands and speaks for them.
Don't be surprised if they all vote for him come next week.
Barack Obama has embarked on a profound sociological and political gamble. He gambles by offering the electorate a deep respect by quietly and firmly telling truths. His campaign, to a degree unparalleled in normal campaigning, constantly and repetitively gambles that voters of all stripes, indeed, can handle the truth. It must be at times agony to watch the 'gotcha' spin from opponents and the press while waiting to see if the American citizenry can make intelligent decisions faced with a cacophony of spin.
So far the voters have proved Obama's respect for them to be well placed. They have showed their common sense by ignoring mindless spin battles and continuing to vote increases in Obama's winning lead primary numbers.
Hillary has made herself into the politician's worst nightmare, a caricature of the pandering politician. This week I am against trade deals says she as she enters a post-industrial state. This week I am a bird hunter she advertises. Last week I was a policy wonk and before that Mrs. Experience and whoops I find myself in rural hinterlands so fetch me a shot and a beer.
Obama was thoughtful, honest and a bit perhaps too cerebral last week. He was thoughtful, honest and trusting of the electorate and a bit perhaps too cerebral the week before. He said his white Gramma distrusted black people and that she said bigoted things, which was honest, thoughtful, respectful of his listener's intelligence and a bit too cerebral the week before that. Pennsylvania's rural voters in the majority accept that there is bitterness and a penchant to be angry over race, guns and religion but Barack's delivery would have been better couched in more palatable down to earth terms.
It must be agony for Barack and Michelle to watch and listen to twaddle gossip cast as news, waiting and waiting to see if common folks respond with common sense to not particularly revelatory truisms, that widespread unemployment encourages bitterness and that racism at varying levels is part of America's culture.
I'd like to think that the Obama family is actually in a "win-win" situation. They will continue to rise above pandering political showmanship and tell truths, although perhaps in a voice a bit too cerebral. They will ask and tell the electorate that their understanding is required to define and tackle America's open sore problems in health care, job creation, a dollar driven Washington culture and the USA's international posture. If Americans in a majority can actually "handle the truth" we/they will stand with the Obamas when they inherit the White House and begin a brutal slog to "change." If, on the other hand, voters revert to distraction over race, religion, sexuality and Annie Oakley panderings then Barack's quest for truthful definitions to guide America will be seen as a bridge too far of an endeavor; a bit perhaps too cerebral.
I’ve read a few posts here postulating that this is a pro-Obama article. I beg to differ. While it is not the absurd slanted tripe we’ve been subjected to for the past two days, it is not really quite yet what I would call really Obama leaning. At best… it’s neutral. But I think there are several sly slants that still tip the scales toward HRC while posturing as candidate neutral.
“Folks agree with Barack Obama in at least one Pennsylvania trailer park. But will angry voters help or hurt Democrats in swing states this fall?”
Trailer park? Now that seems an elitist descriptive. Also the headline calls into question weather Obama getting the ‘angry voters’ all riled up will help Democrats. Not exactly pro is it?
“he'd be happy to go for Obama in November. (Or Hillary Clinton, for that matter.)”
Ah he’d go for Hillary too… nice to know that.
“If Clinton holds on to a big share of the blue-collar Democratic vote, as she did in Ohio last month, she'll win, as polls show she's on track to do.”
Ah good to know HRC is still winning… just like Ohio folks.
“So while Obama and Clinton fight on…”
Oh haven’t you heard? It’s over. She can’t win. The contest is finished.
“McCain's campaign is already planning to remind people, again and again, of this week's controversy. McCain also sent out a fundraising e-mail about Obama's remarks -- as did Obama, defending himself against attacks from his rivals. Clinton, for her part, has an ad about it on Pennsylvania TV stations.”
Well… there you go again…calling it a controversy. What controversy. HRC and McCain played politics and twisted what Obama said to hurt him. When Obama clarifies his point and voters nod in agreement the McClinton’s are the ones who look out of touch and elitist.
“he voted for Bush in 2000 but supports Clinton this time”
What… they couldn’t find ONE angry voter that supports Obama? They’ve been all over these threads the past few days.
“A lifelong Democrat, White says she'll vote for Obama next week. "It's a bad time in the world," she said. "People are bitter."”
Whew… finally in the last sentence an unabashedly pro-Obama supporter. Was that so hard?
Now what doesn’t this article say? It doesn’t say that HRC aligned herself with Republican talking points and methods to try to hurt Obama. It doesn’t say that his honest response is resonating with voters yet again (see latest national poll after this silly dust up), and it seems the whole falsely created controversy has backfired once more.
So Salon… nice try… I do give you a few points for this article not being in league with the bizzaro- world screeds of the past few days. Yet… try harder.
Maxwell House Coffee's ad firm anticipated Bittergate and should be in great demand for future political campaigns:
http://www.brewsomegood.com/
(Plasma TV icon in menu)
The ad illustrates expertly in words and iconography how the bitterness/hope dichotomy is foundational to our country's mythology and subsequent rhetoric. It's part of how we define ourselves as Americans and as individuals.
Obama now describes voters as bitter instead of hopeful because polls tell him he's successfully positioned himself as savior, restorer of hope. Now you think you need him to heal your American soul, even though a while back he told you that you're the one you've been waiting for.
Regardless of what polls say today, Obama's "unartful" words will have resonance. They're part of our nation's story now. He's made history by playing our collective psyche at both ends, with techniques not attempted before. Yet I prefer the ephemeral coffee ad --coffee can keep me up too late, but it won't let me down.
(PS I have no affiliation with anyone in advertising, coffee, or politics.)
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Salon headlines in your mailbox
