Posted on 05/30/2008 10:35:39 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A new narrative seems to be developing about Barack Obama; that he is smart but also a "gaffe machine." The WSJ's John Fund writes:
"As smart and credentialed as he is, Sen. Obama is often an indifferent speaker without a teleprompter. He has large gaps in his knowledge base, and is just as likely to dig in and embrace a policy misstatement as abandon it. ABC reporter Jake Tapper calls him "a one-man gaffe machine."
Let's be honest, when you talk as much as presidential candidates must, some gaffes are unavoidable. Others occur when a candidate is tired. But Obama's gaffes seem to be the result of a candidate who is in over his head -- who has gotten by on style points -- not the substance.
To me, this is the real story -- that Obama's gaffes actually reveal something more dangerous than a candidate who merely "misspeaks." That his gaffes are the product of someone who is not quite ready for prime time...
Of course, going from the Illinois state senate to being a presidential frontrunner is a lot of ground to cover in just a few years ...
Another interesting thing to consider is whether or not this lack of historical understanding is uniquely due to Obama's inexperience -- or if his lack of knowledge is actually a cultural phenomenon.
While Obama is a child of the 80s, he seems to have a lot in common with today's generation. In his new book, The Dumbest Generation, author Mark Bauerlein says this phenomenon is true of most "Millenials." In short, Bauerlein argues today's young people are great at using the internet to retrieve information, but that they lack knowledge of history. Might Obama's emphasis of style over substance be a result of the era in which he was raised? Is it unique to him? Or is it merely a product of a young man who is still finding himself? These are all interesting to ponder.
Consider the Reagan vs. Obama contrast. When Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980, he had lived through The Great Depression, WWII, Vietnam, The Civil Rights Movement, etc. He had also achieved success in other areas of life. For this reason, he did not need the presidency to give his life purpose. Of course, being compared to Reagan is never a good thing for the person being compared.
Still, it's fair to say that Obama has been playing "over his head" for quite some time. He's like a young football team who starts off winning a lot of games. Deep down, you always suspect it won't last.
It's also interesting to note that Obama has really won few contests in the last several months. To over-extend the football metaphor, he's like a football team who "backs into the playoffs". One wonders if McCain will be facing the Obama of February -- or the Obama who got his clock cleaned in West Virginia.
There is no doubt he has run a surprisingly smart primary campaign. But because he and Hillary agreed on most major policy issues -- he was not forced to defend his political philosophy. That is about to change. McCain will challenge him, and most likely, this will create "forced errors."
At least, Obama appears to be demonstrating that he is, in fact, human.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
President Osama is a real American as he smokes Cigs, and doesn't take any crap off of white ladies!
You and 99.99% of native-born Americans are better qualified to be President than any/all current candidates.
I contend that I could find better candidates in anywhere, even if chosen at random.
It is just so hard to keep track of just how many states there are.
You know the Clintons are going absolutely, totally, completely, madly, uncontrollably, insanely CRAZY.
“At least, Obama appears to be demonstrating that he is, in fact, human.”
I can only assume this is supposed to be in contrast with The Hillabeast?
I’m 38—born in the same decade as Obama, the 60s—and graduated at the top of my class in high school, and I have a MA from Georgetown University, but I still didn’t just *know* right away last week that it was Russia who liberated Auschwitz and not the U.S.
And I majored in political science! I should have known that. . .and certainly the President of the U.S. should know that kind of history as well.
Well, I know it now! (Thanks to the Freepers here who educated me.)
I suspect that people born in the 60s might not know WWII history as well as those born earlier.
I didn’t even learn about Jonestown until this year! Fascinating stuff, the 1970s.
But why didn’t he marry a white lady. I guess thats for his 2nd marriage. They always go for the Trophy blond.
He's like a skinny teenage high-school kid who can woo all the girls but his grades are low and he's lazy...a year after school he's working as a janitor.
One big huge gaffe in the general and people see that he's really Dumbo. It will happen in the foreign policy arena.
I've seen it a hundred times. It's the consequence of affirmative action.
>>How is he qualified to lead our nation?
It’s a really, really frightening thing, and even his supporters can’t give good answers when pushed on your question.
Obama’s gaffes don’t just reveal a man who is tired or confused. His worst gaffes reveal someone who leans towards ‘white lies’ in order to make himself attractive to one group or the other. It’s a good thing Alaska doesn’t have more electoral votes or we’d be hearing about his Innuit half-cousin who died in a horrible polar bear accident while trying to liberate arctic seals from oil spills.
Well, I was born the day before Obsama (honest) and I know enough to know If I’m giving a speech, my facts better be right.
I also know, lying is not an option.
Obsama has no excuse.
Um .... care for some grape Kool-Aid? ;^)
I’ve seen it a hundred times. It’s the consequence of affirmative action.
::::::
Actually, I would say it is a consequence of the most deadly, dangerous and damaging force at work in America today — LIBERALISM.
Because it operates without consequence, accountability, or rational sanity. It only serves blind, monolithic empowerment.
the midstreams liked to pile on Reagan for his gaffes. But his biographer noted that in the late 30’s Reagan would meet with State Department and military officials and he astounded them with his detailed knowledge of foreign affairs
He’s not. Just look at his constituency groups and you’ll see why he’s a Democratic candidate.
It’s naivete and identity politics at its worst.
Harumph, well, I for one predict a landslide for Barry in all 64 states.
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