Thinking back to Sarah Palin’s RNC address, she refused to even once state Obama’s name. She merely referred to her “opponent” as if NAMING him gave him a deference that she wouldn’t allow. At the time, I noticed it and thought how petty that behavior was. It almost seemed like cloaked racism, but I knew Barack Obama would never pull that race card and stoop to the level of the current Republican campaign.
Now, during the first presidential debate in Mississippi, Senator McCain made a point of not looking at Obama, even when asked to address each other by Lehrer. He looked at the darkness that was the crowd and made a plethora of faces as Obama made statements to Lehrer, to the crowd and to John McCain himself. He blinked as if confused, smirked as if he was hearing nonsense, rolled eyes and shrugged as if Obama’s words were “just silliness, my friends,” made hand gestures of time wasted on lies.
He basically was dismissive and condescending to someone who took the time to be respectful and courteous, even when objecting to a perceived misstatement. McCain interrupted more hastily and spoke to Lehrer and the crowd as if Obama was as inexperienced as Palin. He paid no attention to Obama’s work in South Chicago, his “constitutional law” experience (when he cited the desire for any Supreme Court Justices he might appoint to be “strict constitutionalists on The View”. He ignored Obama’s state senate effectiveness (other than to bash earmarks) or his U.S. Senate time as having any meaningful use brought to the table of experience. He acted as if Obama is a flubbering novice and he is an expert on both foreign policy and the economy, though he’s been proven otherwise and even admitted his own flubs in the past.
I think when Obama saw the strategy that McCain was using, he changed his own. His early aggressiveness morphed into calculated sportsmanlike conduct, to frame McCain very clearly as the aggressor: a testament to McCain’s ill temperment. Obama stepped back and behave the gentleman and leader: eloquent and confident, gracious and graceful. He hit home where needed: that Spain is an ally, McCain’s Bomb Iran song, and on Iraq saying “You were wrong. You were wrong. You were wrong.”
He showed comprehension by simply following Lehrer’s request to address the candidate. This showed respect to Lehrer’s wishes and he also complimented and respected McCain, while showing disagreement on the issues.
He showed true bipartisan appeal by addressing his common ground with McCain BEFORE stating the fundamental differences. Though the McCain campaign tried to present this as weakness, on the contrary, it shows his appeal to future peace talk negotiations and humanitarianism efforts in the global issues.
Also, I believe he knew that this was supposed to be McCain’s strongest debate. He met him head on and equally, but did not overtake and overdo an aggressive stance. That was a good first strategy, though it has disappointed many staunch Democrats. As a black man, race is still a factor in this race. He may not address it publicly as an outcry, but he has to deftly walk the fine line that he allows to remain invisible, but sees quite clearly.
He has to be wary of aggression and evangelical passion. His polished, very calm, informed, jovial confidence will go well to winning those who were concerned he was a Jesse Jackson type in sheep’s clothing.
I believe he did win over some undecideds with his stable demeanor and he allowed McCain to “act out” if you will, showing the cantankerous, condescending, dismissive, pandering flip-flop king his negative attacks to be his only strength. McCain will be called out for this sharply, by the press and by the people. Obama was placing himself in the catbird seat and can quietly sit back and let the people attack. Then, deftly, he can place appropriate ads showing the reactive and destructive McCain being so out of touch, he cannot even debate with eye contact or say the words “middle class.”
I see good things ahead. Last night was the continuation of the plan that allows McCain to dig his own political grave while Obama merely steps into the Presidential role during the campaign, subliminally getting the voter to see it as the inevitable and only choice for true change: no condescion, no double talk, and a strong, proactive and productive leader at the helm.
