(Danville, California)
I was jealous. The two Democratic candidates for president were in Philadelphia tonight. I won't be there until Monday. Oh well, such is the nature of scheduling in a political campaign. But, as I watched the debate, I wished I had a front-row seat.
OK, it's the city where the "Rocky" movies became legend, so I will skip the overdone sports analogies, except for this bit of philosophy: "It is better to take a punch, than to throw a punch." Or, in Biblical terms, it is better (though not easier) to turn the other cheek.
On that point alone, Sen. Barack Obama wins tonight's debate. He is, after all, ahead in the race. It's much like my advice to the Republicans in 2000. "You are ahead in the votes, so act like you've won." It's a simple, but subtle, rule of thumb in politics. "Look like a winner, and people will think you're a winner!"
In the weeks since the Texas and Ohio primaries, Obama has committed two major political missteps: He did not quickly disconnect from his controversial pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and he has failed to reconnect with the rural voters he simplistically called "bitter!" In both cases, he was "tin eared" and out of touch. In fact, he was so off the mark it could cost him the White House. That said, it would have been easy for him to get defensive in the latest debate and to start swinging wildly at Sen. Clinton. Obama resisted the temptation tonight, and that tells us he has enormous qualities of patience and perseverance.
It must have been so tempting to swing back against Sen. Hillary Clinton! I mean, those missing Rose Law firm billing records just magically reappeared in the White House one day? Man! I got religion, too! Talk about "manna from Heaven!" But that's ancient history, and who remembers? The shelf life of a news story is three days, about the same as that of a loaf of fresh bread. Oh well!
So, instead of calling rural voters "bitter" tonight, Obama tried to clarify. "What I've also been struck by," he said, "is the frustration. They don't feel like they're being listened to!" Which so begs the question: "Do you want to be listened to if you're being spoken to in a condescending voice?"
But it was hard for Senator Clinton to make the argument. She and her husband made over $100 million dollars in the new century. It's hard for them to paint themselves as the "everyday, every man" that was so successful for them in 1992 and 1996. Gone are the days!
Senator Clinton simply had the better speech tonight, because Obama's latest mistakes were indefensible. She said, "There is a lot of concern across Pennsylvania and America. People do feel as though their government is not solving problems, that it is not standing up for them!" she added.
So she wins the fight on points; but he wins the fight on patience. He could have lashed back, but he's the front runner; and you have to maintain a certain level of dignity and decorum. Ironic, but that's how George W. Bush "won the hearts and minds" in December of 2000.
If you're in the lead, stay above the fray!
I'll be in the fray, beginning Monday in Pennsylvania. Check in at www.MarkCurtis.blogspot.com
Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.
No comments:
Post a Comment