Dr. Romney and Mister Hide
Who would have thunk it. What had been hyped as the most important presidential debate since Kennedy and Nixon came and went. By all accounts it was a triumph for Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor grabbed the ball, ran the court and performed an athletic slam dunk before anyone had realized what had happened. A bewildered Jim Lehrer, appearing like a refugee from an Alzheimer clinic, had lost control from the beginning and it all worked to Romney's advantage. Mr. Obama, the wizened professor, was left standing in the classroom with nobody to lecture. Once again the political party that doesn't believe in evolution, that doubts the truth of climate change, that wants to evacuate the Department of Education has proven itself to be more politically adept than its rival.
It was clear from the start. Twenty minutes of tax talk had put the massive television audience nearly to sleep -- so much so, that it hadn't noticed how Mr. Romney, the born again conservative, had suddenly begun changing his positions to appeal to more moderate voters. Democrats pounced, accusing Romney of hiding his true positions on critical issues. It was a case of Dr. Romney and Mister Hide, targeting independent voters and those undecided. By that time, the viewers were ripe for a classic GOP cocktail of hyperbole, distortions and outright lies. Suddenly all that mattered was who appeared to be winning the argument rather than the argument's content; all that mattered was who was forceful, confident, at ease; all that mattered was who appeared to be "presidential."
The Obama team had obviously watched the Republican primary debate (one of twenty) where Governor Romney tore into Texas Governor Rick Perry to gain control of speaking time. It was a deliberate tactic. At one point, Romney, the patrician businessman, appeared to be on the verge of fisticuffs with the tough Texan. He was shrill, caustic, domineering. He may not have had the best command of the issues, but he took the floor, claimed his territory and kept it. Surely if such a tactic were tried at the presidential debate, the wise response, reasoned the Obama crew, would be to avoid engagement, to elevate the president's stature by having him politely look down at his notes. By the time Romney attempted the in-your-face-attack with Obama, however, the viewing audience had already reached the limit of its patience with the jaw-boning of policy issues. They wanted blood and Obama gave them mayo.
The first presidential debate of 2012 saw Professor Obama taken to school by a lesser man. The next debate will be launched next week. Something tells me that we may see more of Mr. Hide. The question is, what lesson will we see from the professor?
It was clear from the start. Twenty minutes of tax talk had put the massive television audience nearly to sleep -- so much so, that it hadn't noticed how Mr. Romney, the born again conservative, had suddenly begun changing his positions to appeal to more moderate voters. Democrats pounced, accusing Romney of hiding his true positions on critical issues. It was a case of Dr. Romney and Mister Hide, targeting independent voters and those undecided. By that time, the viewers were ripe for a classic GOP cocktail of hyperbole, distortions and outright lies. Suddenly all that mattered was who appeared to be winning the argument rather than the argument's content; all that mattered was who was forceful, confident, at ease; all that mattered was who appeared to be "presidential."
The Obama team had obviously watched the Republican primary debate (one of twenty) where Governor Romney tore into Texas Governor Rick Perry to gain control of speaking time. It was a deliberate tactic. At one point, Romney, the patrician businessman, appeared to be on the verge of fisticuffs with the tough Texan. He was shrill, caustic, domineering. He may not have had the best command of the issues, but he took the floor, claimed his territory and kept it. Surely if such a tactic were tried at the presidential debate, the wise response, reasoned the Obama crew, would be to avoid engagement, to elevate the president's stature by having him politely look down at his notes. By the time Romney attempted the in-your-face-attack with Obama, however, the viewing audience had already reached the limit of its patience with the jaw-boning of policy issues. They wanted blood and Obama gave them mayo.
The first presidential debate of 2012 saw Professor Obama taken to school by a lesser man. The next debate will be launched next week. Something tells me that we may see more of Mr. Hide. The question is, what lesson will we see from the professor?
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