Debate prep: My candidate is dumber than yours
By Jimmy Orr | 09.26.08
Although there are plenty of amusing moments during a presidential campaign, one of the most humorous – and eye-rolling – is when the campaigns start bashing their own candidates in order to lower expectations for an upcoming debate.
We’re seeing it now. Of course it started earlier this week. Then it took a time-out because John McCain suspended his campaign which, incidentally, never felt suspended. But then after announcing his confidence that a financial bailout package is likely, he unsuspended resumed his campaign, and both sides went back to flogging themselves.
Obama: McCain is great
A recent email from the Obama camp reads, “According to the pundits, McCain’s debating skills are unparalleled … and the expectations for him tonight are sky-high.”
“The centerpiece of John McCain’s campaign has been his more than a quarter century of experience in Washington learning about and debating foreign policy,” the email continues. “If he slips up, makes a mistake or fails to deliver a game-changing performance, it will be a serious blow to his campaign.”
Obama: I’m really terrible
The Obama camp also included a reference to an AP story that helped them denigrate their own candidate.
“For a man known as a powerful speaker, Obama has rarely wowed people in political debates. He can come across as lifeless, aloof and windy.”
McCain: You’re right
This led the McCain communications team to issue an email criticizing the expectations game.
On the “lifeless, aloof and windy” charge, McCain spokesman Michael Goldfarb said, “That is a better characterization of Senator Obama’s brief record in the United States Senate. He has never once bucked his own party in order to enact major legislation, he has never once taken real action when he had more to gain from speechifying, and he has never once risked his own political life in the service of a cause greater than winning his next election.”
McCain: Obama is great
But McCain got into the self-flagellation game, too:
“Look, have no doubt about it, the capabilities of Senator Obama to debate – I mean, he’s very, very good,” McCain told reporters earlier this week. “He was able to beat Senator Hillary Clinton, who as we all know is very accomplished, very accomplished. And he was able to, I think, with his eloquence inspire a great number of Americans. So, these are going to be tough debates. But I believe that on the substance, on the substance, I can convince the American people that I can reform government, restore prosperity and keep the peace.”
McCain: Obama’s pretty good
It’s not as though the McCain team can’t keep up in the self-mutilation of their own candidate. They can. It was just that campaign suspension thing got in the way. When discussing the goals for McCain tonight, campaign adviser Mark Salter managed to get in a little Obama-praise.
“To do well, against a guy who’s a pretty good debater, show presidential leadership, and be able to speak directly to the American people about what he believes,” he said.
Eye of the storm
It could be said we are in the eye of the storm right now. Just briefly, the attacks on each other are lightening up in order to play the lower-the-expectations game.
Enjoy it while it lasts. The eye will pass at around 9:30pm (ET) tonight. After that, it’s back to the attacks.
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2. Utican | 09.26.08
Really, McCain’s handlers should be ashamed of their machinations over the past couple of days. I have yet to hear about McCain’s sudden canceling of the debate, rush to DC (oops too late), and subsequent intention to appear after all at the debate without also hearing the word “stunt.”
3. HoboClown | 09.26.08
Is this the subtle bigotry of low expectations?
A third party would be beneficial for the American people.
Two ain`t gettin` it done
ANTI INCUMBENT 2008!
4. Paul T. | 09.26.08
I don’t think McCain “gets” how Obama inspires people. It is not through his soaring rhetoric (which has not really soared since his DNC speech years ago). It is through his ability to take in an opponent’s argument respectfully and then contribute more to the conversation without destroying the other guy.
At first Obama’s style can be very unsatisfying to people wanting red meat, wanting to see an opponent shredded. But at the end of the conversation, when you look around and realize he has given a lot of good reasons for a lot of good ideas without leaving the room in a bloody mess, you feel like he’s already made the world a better place.
5. Steve in TX | 09.26.08
Obama will mop the floor with McCain; the least intelligent
candidate any party has fielded in my lifetime.
Without McCains worn out cliches, he is a total ZERO
6. GHM | 09.26.08
This is sooo funny. Great article.
PS– there is no teleprompter “Dan from Massachusetts”
I can tell you love and voted for Bush and now McSame. This republican created misinformation is hog or should I say Moose wash!
I hope McCain can remember the facts for once.
He so funny when he makes up thing and situations because he just doesn’t remember.
He really cracks me up!!
PPS I think you were talking about Palin when you were comparing Bush about “thinking on his feet skills”. It not her fault Palin just is not qualified.
7. Peet | 09.26.08
Dan—the Bush/Clinton comparison wasn’t well-thought out enough even to be considered weak. Debating is about both substance and style. If you’re already sold on McCain’s Bush-esque content, fine, but don’t confuse it with his speaking skills. And say what you want about Obama’s substance, you won’t find a better speaker in politics today. Save for Bill Clinton.
8. yabbi | 09.26.08
To Dan from mASS - Teleprompter? McSame can’t even think for himself w/o his handlers. We will get to watch McSame sweat, say something inane, and then go into a tirade. It should be very entertaining.
9. RUkidding | 09.26.08
If the candidates of the Democrat and Republican Parties are the only ones invited to the debates, what is the point in holding them?
10. Rohan | 09.26.08
21st century America, One of the candidates does not know how to use a computer.
My Father, 82, living in a remote corner of the planet surfs the web for fun.
Then McCain selected a Hunter gatherer woman as his running mate, all women are not created or equally cultural.
11. Rohan | 09.26.08
All women are not created equal or are of equal cultural level.
Those demagogues who plainly believe in creationism belongs in Timbuktu,not even there in this 21 st century.
12. nazcalito | 09.26.08
Obama is actually a lot easier to listen to than Gore, who bellows like a water buffalo, or Kerry, who looks and sounds like your local funeral director.
13. Anthony Acosta | 09.26.08
While I admire both canidates you have to wonder if they are insane for wanting to be the President of the USA. The Bush administration has burned every bridge, engaged in a war about something that doesn’t exist and destroyed a country becuase of it. Now we have the sub-prime disaster due to lack of oversight? They murdered innocent Americans after Katrina. The staff former and current that have been subpoenaed to appear before Congress didn’t show. I wonder what will come to light after they are gone?
I trully feel sorry for either canidate that wins this election because they are committing political suicide.
14. alexkreuz | 09.26.08
I don’t know why people say Obama can’t think on his feet. Have you guys seen the O’Reilly interview? I thought he handled it pretty well and O’Reilly didn’t go easy on him.
15. jefflz | 09.26.08
It will be interesting to see if McCain can hold it together. He is showing great stress and seems to be floundering. He has been having a tough time zeroing in on a clear message. In part this is because he has changed his message so often - he likes to copy what Obama says - and in part it is because he does seem a bit confused at times. Every time he tries to make a spontaneous remark - he puts his foot in his mouth so no more reporters on his bus. The numerous times McCain has fumbled or mumbled himself into a corner over these past many weeks is alarming - a week ago the economy was fundamentally sound for McCain. We saw many of these signs in Ronald Reagan when he needed extra help from his wife. His sharpness, or lack thereof, in the debate will be an important measure of his alertness and general stamina.
16. Mike F. | 09.26.08
@Anthony,
You really can’t lay the credit crisis at the feet of the Bush admin. They shoulder some blame, but so do Congressional Democrats who blocked GSE reform, so do homeowners, so does Wall St., etc.
But I agree with you that winning the election is a double-edged sword. Whoever comes out ahead in November is going to have one **** of a tough job, and isn’t likely to last more than one term.
17. David | 09.26.08
peet, and nazcalito you are right on brothers.
And, hope and pray Anthony Acosta is not right.
18. Simpleton | 09.26.08
Dan from Massachusetts,
You are deluded.
Obama is a better orator, a better debater, and easily a better thinker than either of the Bushes, or McCain.
The only one who needs a teleprompter is Palin. But then, she can see Russia from her house, and is certified to be witchcraft-free.
This self-flagellation exercise is simply trying to lower expectations of a anticipated Obama rout, and to make the other candidate think.
Republicans hold the bar so low for their candidates, that it is no wonder the McCain has already posted web-ads declaring McCain the winner in the debate *which has not yet been held*!
But then, look at the main followers. They are basically mindless sheep who’ll regurgitate whatever Fox News or Limbaugh tells them.
19. Joe | 09.26.08
A) You don’t get a teleprompter in debates. Have you paid ANY attention?
B) McCain & co. use teleprompters, too. There was a story a while back praising Palin because she managed to finish her speech even though the teleprompter stuttered a tiny bit in the middle of it.
20. Ken | 09.26.08
McLame is a zombie (both in terms of appearance, and thinking/speaking ability). I keep waiting for him to turn that glassy stare to the camera man and slur out “braaaains….”.
21. David | 09.26.08
Mike F
I encourage you to look into the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 (aka the enron loophole act) in relation to our current crisis. I think they are missing from your laundry list you gave. It is not all bush, you are correct, but part of the picture you are leaving out is the Congressional Republicans.
22. RUkidding | 09.26.08
Ralph Nader and Cynthia McKinney could debate circles around these two war-mongering, Corporate/AIPAC-owned concubines, but they are not invited, since our Corporate/AIPAC-owned concubine press does not see the need to present anything other than Corporate/AIPAC-owned tools to the U.S. public, along with the illusion that we really have a choice here.
We appear to already have the government that we deserve.
McCain/Obama ‘08!!!
23. SNS | 09.26.08
Isn’t that nice that McCain decided to attend the debate. You know it is crucial to be able to multi-task especially if you’re trying to be the President of the United States. You could be involved in serious decision making that’s going on in DC, continue campaigning and also debate at the U of Mississippi, especially with all of the technology we have today. As Americans we should expect that our President be able to handle the job in it’s entirety. Not just one problem at a time.
24. William Kern | 09.26.08
There are some resemblances with the melting-down of the East European communist economies in the late 1980′ies, early 1990′es. Remember how the East German government in Berlin ran out of cash and couldn’t pay the wages for public servants, only were helped by Western Germany in a rescue effort? Now President Bush talks about “rescue” of the US economy, but what caused the crisis? Wasn’t it caused by tax-cuts and, at the same time, billions and billions of expenses for clueless wars? How can Mr. McCain possibly attract support to a continuation of the Bush era? And isn’t ot absolutely scary to think about Mrs Palin in the White House? Where are the ambitions for excellence and competence in the great american nation? Best wishes, W. Kern, Copenhagen, Denmark
25. Chrispy | 09.27.08
I thought both Obama and McCain did pretty well until the very end. I won’t stand for another politician that lies. When McCain said “I’ve always voted for alternate energy”, that did it. Why isn’t this being yelled from the rooftops!
In all his years in politics, he has never supported any energy form except oil. Perhaps it was a calculated mis-speak when he said ‘ alternate energy’ (as in alternate current electricity) instead of ‘alternative energy.
If he’s not familiar enough with the word to say it…and never voted for it in his entire career, then lies and says that he did…what is he going to do in the future?
Can’t wait to have an intelligent President. Imagine Presient Obama.
Can’t wait to see Biden give Suzy Chapstick enough rope to ..tie herself in a knot herself.
26. Sheila | 09.27.08
McCain started off in the muck: he invoked Ted Kennedy in the most egregious and blatantly canny attempt to drag the viewers by the heart into his camp.
McCain went on like a kicked dog through the rest of the debate, fearful of ever looking Obama in the face, even as Obama directed his comments straight at him. Never once did McCain direct a comment at Obama.
In every question, McCain seemed to get more flustered, and was even making sniffing sounds like he was ill near the end of the debate. Obama’s demeanor was always prim, calm, and intelligent. McCain’s was confused, ill-equipped, and angry.
The Dial Response Group ratings fell well below the mid-line every time McCain spoke, particularly that of the line which represented Independents, and typically rose well above the mid-line in response to Obama. In sheer mathematical scoring, the data will show Obama the clear winner.
Barack Obama won this first debate handily.
27. Blake Sterzinger | 09.27.08
Well, I’ve learned an important lesson. I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the mainstream media and their complete inability to impartially report the news.
Finally after last night’s debate, I remembered there was a news outlet recommended to me by a political science professor years ago, one that was as close to objective as one could come in the US. I’ve not been disappointed so far.
However, my expectation that the reasoned intellectual exchange would continue into the comments was proven wrong. These ridiculous, partisan platitudes and ad hominem attacks belong on dailykos or foxnews.
So ends my first and only foray into the comments sections of csmonitor.com
28. Anne | 09.27.08
Obama is like the Wizard of OZ characters, all rolled up into one. Maybe if he visits Oz he can receive a brain, a heart, and courage. A man that has to bring a teleprompter with him to a football game is an idiot, and I don’t want an idiot representing my country in foreign policy. He is also a socialist. Move to Europe if you want the government to control every aspect of your lives!!! Better yet, ask the Canadians how they feel about their healthcare system. Obama is not ready to lead. He has no experience. He couldn’t even remember who gave him a bracelet to wear. “I have a bracelet too, John, and it’s from um, uh, um, uh….” That teleprompter surely would have been helpful. Can you imagine him meeting behind closed doors with world leaders? “Um…you need to leave Israel alone because um, uh, uh ,uh, oh ****!! My teleprompter is broken!!!”
Dorothy: “How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?”
Obama: “Don’t lots of people talk that haven’t got a brain?”
29. Anne | 09.27.08
Oh yeah, one more thing. Wasn’t it interesting that Obama can’t make up his mind on what he actually wants you to think he believes? He agreed with McCain at least 10 times. Obama doesn’t even know the names of the world leaders. He misspoke constantly, and John McCain pointed out. Then he would say, “Oh, That’s not what I meant.” Remember his moronic comments about Pakistan? And let’s not forget who his close friends are or “were” before he began running for president. You can tell a lot about a person by the friends he keeps company with. Obama has a very shady past. McCain is a war hero and has been working in congress for 25 years or more. Obama has not even served a full term as senator. As for the economic mess we are in, the democrat-led congress has had one of the lowest ratings in history!! The president can only do so much. If you have morons like Nancy Pelosi in power, nothing will ever get done that is helpful for our economy. This is completely political. They don’t want to fix anything because people that don’t know how government works, automatically blame the president. The press would like you to believe this, too because they are in the democrat’s corner. Don’t continue in your ignorance. Study the government’s checks and balances more closely. Also, the Clinton administration did a lot of damage in its 8 years. Bush had to clean up as much as he could. When the dems came to power, there was somewhat of a stalemate so he couldn’t finish the job. Bill Clinton ignored the warnings that an attack would be coming. He was too busy with his girlfriends to bothered by such “triviality.” If he would have done his job, (you know, as president), then those attacks would not have happened. Obama may be focused on the future and McCain on the past. Isn’t that right though? “He who refuses to learn from history is doomed to repeat it.”
30. Bronis | 09.27.08
The debate showed that while McCain’s experience MAY be useful, his simplistic, belligerent, emotional, from-the-gut approach to making decisions is ineffective and frightening compared to Obama’s unemotional, get all the facts, talk constructively with your opponent and then make decisions in a calm and rational manner.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Dan from Massachusetts | 09.26.08
As long as the teleprompter is working Obama has a chance. His “thinking on his feet skills” make George Bush appear to be more eloquent then Bill Clinton. It just is what it is.
This debate business is a lot like a first date. Let’s just make sure that who we see and hear tonight is what we’re going to get as our President and not their “representative” (who they wish they were).