Don't take Da Bait
Note to the President's debate team:
Don’t let Romney get away with confronting the President with questions designed to put him on the defensive. The Presidential debate has taken on a visceral life of its own. In the midst of all the facts and figures, all the charges and counter-charges, there is a gut reality. An example of this was demonstrated during the second debate. President Obama criticized the former Massachusetts governor for investing in companies that had outsourced jobs to China. Romney was well-trained and ready with a response. He tried to corner Obama about the President’s own pension fund having investments in China: "Let me give you some advice,” Romney said, “look at your pension.”
The President’s advisers should be well advised: don’t let your adversary appear to succeed in elevating his stature by issuing confrontational questions then waiting for a response. The President did come back with a humorous rejoinder: "You know, I don’t look at my pension. It’s not as big as yours so it doesn’t take as long,” Good for a chuckle, but the damage had already been done. Obama had a brief opening to challenge Romney on his Cayman Islands hypocrisy but he missed his chance. Romney succeeded in elevating his own stature by confronting the most powerful man in the world.
So a word to the wise: while we are busy focusing on policy positions, deficits, and the Middle East during the debate, lets not forget to be aware of land mines... it's a debate.
Don’t let Romney get away with confronting the President with questions designed to put him on the defensive. The Presidential debate has taken on a visceral life of its own. In the midst of all the facts and figures, all the charges and counter-charges, there is a gut reality. An example of this was demonstrated during the second debate. President Obama criticized the former Massachusetts governor for investing in companies that had outsourced jobs to China. Romney was well-trained and ready with a response. He tried to corner Obama about the President’s own pension fund having investments in China: "Let me give you some advice,” Romney said, “look at your pension.”
The President’s advisers should be well advised: don’t let your adversary appear to succeed in elevating his stature by issuing confrontational questions then waiting for a response. The President did come back with a humorous rejoinder: "You know, I don’t look at my pension. It’s not as big as yours so it doesn’t take as long,” Good for a chuckle, but the damage had already been done. Obama had a brief opening to challenge Romney on his Cayman Islands hypocrisy but he missed his chance. Romney succeeded in elevating his own stature by confronting the most powerful man in the world.
So a word to the wise: while we are busy focusing on policy positions, deficits, and the Middle East during the debate, lets not forget to be aware of land mines... it's a debate.
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