One interesting aspect of a McCain-Obama race is that considering how briefly Obama's been in the Senate, he has a surprisingly longstanding and totally genuine feud with McCain. Michael Crowley reviews the history.
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Long Brewing
11 Mar 2008 04:32 pm
Comments (23)
No one who has to deal with McCain likes him. It's because he is a prick. It will make beating him that much more delightful. Of course, we can't start on that until HRC gets to Stage 5 and Accepts That She Cannot Win.
For all the hand-wringing currently going on about the prolonged Democratic race, I really think that unless Hillary does irreparable damage to Obama (and that's certainly within the realm of possibility), McCain will implode on the national stage once the glare of the national race really heats up. He's been somewhat sheltered so far since the Democratic race has basically sucked up all the available oxygen. But as soon as Hillary has been dispatched and the press can begin to turn its attention to the myth of his "maverickness" and ethical discrepancies, watch out. He'll go ballistic.
Gotta agree with SDinIA. And nothing's going to make him look worse than blowing up at a cool customer like Obama.
the press can begin to turn its attention to the myth of his "maverickness" and ethical discrepancies
I think I see the flaw in your plan.
If you read their dueling letters to each other, it really provides a remarkable contrast. On one hand, you have a bitter old man in McCain who is out to make enemies with those he disagrees with. And then you have a young idealist in Obama who is looking to avoid conflict and make friends with those he disagrees with in the hopes of working together for the good of the American people.
the press can begin to turn its attention to the myth of his "maverickness" and ethical discrepancies
I think I see the flaw in your plan.
Oh, it'll happen in some form eventually. The only questions are, 1) to what extent will it happen, and 2) how will the campaigns handle it - i.e., will Obama aggressively press the issue and capitalize on the narrative, or will McCain's campaign be able to effectively fight it off?
Or will he blow up and just draw more attention to himself?
The national media will be in the tank for McCain. Don't overestimate Obama's ability to control the message in the face of a hostile media. Remember well the lesson of Al Gore and defeat by a thousand small mockeries.
The national media will be in the tank for McCain. Don't overestimate Obama's ability to control the message in the face of a hostile media. Remember well the lesson of Al Gore and defeat by a thousand small mockeries.
I'm not sure sure the press will be "in the tank" for McCain. Lots of little stories chipping away at his maverick/ethicist credibility have come out lately, they just haven't gotten any attention because the media is so focused on Obama/Clinton. Likewise, Obama/Clinton are so focused on each other they can't attack McCain effectively either.
I'm sure McCain won't be "vetted" by the press nearly enough to satisfy most Democrats, but I don't think he'll skate through this, either.
Besides, presidential campaigns tend to be thematic anyway. So contrast those themes: hopeful, optimistic, young, and promising a new tone vs. old, bitter, and chained to George Bush.
Honestly, I think Obama's toughest opponents are Hillary Clinton and the right-wing slime machine. I'm not all that worried about the McCain campaign itself.
Miiiiister Crowley!
What went on in your head?
Miiiiister Crowley!
Did you talk with the dead?
Sorry, I just had to make the Ozzy Osbourne reference there.
There's a storyline about a man whose Presidential aspirations being deferred because of accusations about fathering bi-racial children being denied the Presidency by a candidate who actually fathered bi-racial children.
Crowley: Each sees the other as a posturing phony....
oy, what a fun race it's going to be.
(thanks for the link, very worthwhile.)
Besides, presidential campaigns tend to be thematic anyway.
Tru dat.
Who could forget 2000, when "strategery" trumped "lock box," albeit by a final tally of 5-4.
T least Barack uses his barbs against the Republican nominee, while H.C. uses hers against a fellow Democraat, and seemingly endorses the Republican nomineee.
McCain, with the help of the press, pwned Obama during the ethics reform dust up.
McCain is a Hall of Fame caliber posturing phony (Obama is a minor leaguer by comparison) but the press will never write that about St. John.
I expect no less from a true maverick.
Is he insane in the membrane?
McCain, a cranky insider who isn't well liked within his own party has a bug in his butt over a popular new comer who is smarter and as well liked by the media? Gee, I wonder why McCain doesn't like Obama.
It's a shame Clinton has been able to delay the inevitable, because McCain v. Obama is going to be an all-time classic. Get out the popcorn. Age v. youth. Military v. civilian. Nativist craziness v. first-generation bemusement. Emotion v. reason.
The question isn't if McCain will have any weird violent outbursts, it's how many.
Obama has a way of really bringing out all the weirdness in his opponent. To McCain's benefit, however, weirdness works for him in a way it doesn't for Clinton. Clinton's strange mannerisms and personality changes seem to highlight her phoniness. Conversely, people tend to see McCain's awkwardness and temper as signs of authenticity.
McCain is authentic, somehow, behind the posturing and rigid moral certitude. Obama somehow has to nudge the voter into seeing that, yes, while McCain is authentic, he's also authentically nuts, at least a little bit. I sure don't want that rigid old guy with his finger on the button at 3 am.
Sen Dog-
Actually, I would argue he's insane in the brain.
McCain = "Nativist craziness"? Time to put down the crack pipe. McCain can't get enough of immigrants -- the more unskilled, the better. He wants to make 20 million illegals citizens. He is so pro-immigrant he even adopted one from Bangladesh.
Stop picking on the NVA's best pilot. John McCain.
It will be interesting to see how the press reacts should McCain blow up in a debate. I remember how the press excoriated Gore for 'not being nice' to poor little Bush, who was just out-and-out lying or just plain ignorant. They ignored the obvious and frightening shortcomings of Bush and focused instead on Gore's response. I am trying to envision how the media will blame Obama for the outburst.
Comments closed March 25, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
A TNR commenter nails it:
There's a big difference between the two of them, I think: how they view those that disagree. John McCain tends to put political disagreements in moral terms -- if you disagree with him, you're corrupt and immoral. Obama's appeal to independents and Republicans is based on the opposite: his assumption that people who disagree with him might be wrong on argumentative merits, but are not morally wrong."
Posted by goethean | March 11, 2008 4:52 PM