McCain’s Debate, Obama’s Exam
I think that about sums it up. As we wait for the pundits to tell us who won, it’s pretty obvious to me that many Americans care little for reality – they want a break from the toils of world leadership. Withdraw from Iraq? Equivocate on Russian aggression? Dismiss Iranian threats? Placate North Korea? Ignore South American tyrants? Subsidize Mexico? They would have us elect a man who has memorized the names and places over one who has met the names and been to the places. Can we afford to send a neophyte to the Oval Office? Do we have that luxury?
I was disappointed in John McCain’s performance at the debate concerning the economy, though I expected it. If we’re looking for our party candidate to defend Republicans, we picked the wrong man. For all the media talk about those mean Republicans, he came out looking to showcase his uniter credentials and got smacked in the face by candidate who just realized he’s in a fight. Republicans are greedy and misguided? Both men agreed. The Bush administration responsible? Both men agreed. Cut spending and increase regulation? Both men agreed. Appeal to envy and decry the fat cats who get big bonuses and bigger salaries? Obama nailed it, and for that reason won that part of the debate without having to get into the details. So far McCain has done nothing to change the narrative that deregulation and a corrupt administration are at fault for the debacle, instead he has chosen to straddle the horns while wearing the hat with the big ‘R’ on it. If he keeps sitting there, the ride’s over.
The foreign policy debate wasn’t lost by Obama as much as it was won by McCain – and he ought to have won it, it may be his strongest suit. A few weeks before the debate the Obama campaign began lowering the expectations for his performance. It worked. While McCain worked to make the scene one of the teacher lecturing the student, the student regurgitated his practiced sound bites well enough that if anything, we learned that maybe Barack can play a world leader on television. Will Putin fall for the act? Let’s hope we never have to bet our security on that.
Who won? I think it was a wash, and that doesn’t help John McCain. Barack Obama only has to hold it together for another five weeks. Republicans, John McCain especially, have to come out with a lot more passion if their going to burst the Obama bubble. Friday night’s fight was a lot of jabbing and too much smiling for the cameras. I take it as a national imperative that we find out if Barack Obama can take a punch. I’d rather find out now and be impressed then find out next February and be horrified.
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