February 20, 2008

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE MCCAIN:

The Triumph of Narrative: Of all the things Barack Obama has done right this campaign, none may be more important than the fact that he has told a story perfectly keyed to the current moment in history. (Paul Waldman, February 19, 2008, AMERICAN PROSPECT)

[O]bama has been telling a story perfectly keyed to the current moment in history.

As Obama tells it, the country is held hostage by a political class that sows partisan and cultural division, making solving problems ever more difficult, while the country yearns for a new day of unity. As the youngest candidate, the only post-boomer candidate, the only bi-racial candidate, and the one candidate with a preternatural ability to obtain the good will of those who disagree with him, he can bring all Americans together and lead us to a future built on hope.


His narrative is essentially an argument for a McCain presidency. If the premise of your campaign is that you hope to one day be the kind of leader who gets things done in bipartisan fashion, then why shouldn't voters just choose the guy who already is that leader?

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 20, 2008 6:00 AM
Comments

It appears the Dems are going to drink the Kool-Aid again, and nominate McGovern II. Perhaps they can't help themselves, and we know they are blinded by their hatred for George Bush, but 1972 wasn't that long ago (nor was 1984, and 1988). If they wanted a black candidate, why not persuade John Lewis to run? He at least has the respect of many whites. Obama has earned nothing in public life (yet).

One wonders what the down-ticket candidates think about it. We heard lots of chatter that rural Dems in the South and West were afraid of running with Hillary at the top, but what about Obama? Will he help or hurt in states like AR, LA, NM, VA, and MN? I'll bet Jon Tester is glad he was elected in '06.

"Preternatural"? What is it with these guys? Even in Reagan's heyday, no Republican writers fawned like that.

Posted by: jim hamlen at February 20, 2008 8:48 AM

"ability to obtain the good will of those who disagree with him, he can bring all Americans together"

So he's going to get everyone to come to agreement on gay marriage and abortion? Riiiiiight.

Just another wet behind the ears kid who thinks history began when he opened his eyes.

Posted by: ray at February 20, 2008 10:38 AM

And so we marvel not that the thing is done well, but that it is done at all. If that is not racism, nothing is racism

Posted by: Lou Gots at February 20, 2008 10:13 PM
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