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.
Are you sure you were born the day before Obama. Can I please see your Birth Certificate.
Oh, on second thought, let me get his first.
Did anyone catch this statement in the article?
About a year ago, Obama said of the Nicorette, “It’s working so far. You know, I’m doing all right. That shows you how scared I am of my wife, that I cut that out.”
Obama is a baby boomer, as am I. He gets graded on a curve cause he’s half-black.
He is a successful gigolo (just like JF'nK) though.
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Obama/Osama just needs a marxist Dick Chenney to use him as a sock puppet.
Obama is a product of affirmative action. He was President of the Harvard Law Review and never wrote an article for them. (Entitled. If it’s all about entitlement, Obama trumps Hill.) And, predictably, Obama isn’t qualified to be dog catcher, let alone President of the US. But he’s black. (And his remark the other day,:’typical white person’ is racist. If we said: ‘typical black person’, we’d be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.)
Correct. They're clues, omens.
Better start thinking about Plan B, America.
Poetic-justice alert.
Hitlery might end up in a Straight Jacket and Billy Boy would just resume trolling the alleys and back streets.
Every time he finishes up a speech from the teleprompter, he starts bowling a 37.
Thank YOU Lucy!!
Lets be honest, CHANGE HOPE AND UNITY can be reinvented many times over, HOPE CHANGE AND UNITY, UNITY HOPE AND CHANGE, HOPE UNITY AND CHANGE. Ya see, any one of these variations can bring a crowd to thier feet with new zeal and energy. EMPTY HEADS! WHO WILL SOON HAVE EMPTY POCKETS LIKE THE REST OF US. Anyone know how I can join that lost tribe they found in the amazon?
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Nice work potlatch!
That’s great!
Thanks devolve. We could already add 50 or so more I’m sure.
Imagine Hillary’s list!
You just know they just can’t believe they’re getting beat by this guy. That’s gotta hurt!!!
But Rupert Murdoch, said Obama was in like flint? My head is spinning from the he said and she said, what?????/Just Asking - seoul62......
Obama is the poster boy for Affirmative Action.
I’m with Gerry Ferraro, who says the only reason he is where he is today is because he’s black.
Old Rupert will eat those words.
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