Apr 17 2008

Post-Debate Round Up (and looking beyond Obama’s bad night)

Posted by: Neocon in 2008 Race, Democrats, Hillary, Obama, Republicans

I didn’t get to see last night’s debate live, but I’ve mostly caught up thanks to soundbytes and transcripts. It sounds like Barack Obama had a really bad night, but we need to keep things in perspective here. Barack Obama should have already been having a bad campaign, so I’m not sure how much more obvious his inexperience and deceitfulness needs to be before the edges of the Obama faithful start to notice the tarnish on his halo. I don’t think they will be capable of realizing that their Messiah is anything but before it is too late.

That’s fine by me, but the question then becomes who will this debate performance affect? Ten million people watched last night’s Dem debacle, and the independents and already skeptical lefties had to be a good number among them. Once the embargo clears on Sunday, other networks will be able to show clips from the debate, and this poor excuse for performance art could potentially carry over into next week’s news cycle, exposing it to more passive observers (non-news junkies).

The ability to draw independents has always been one of McCain’s few strong points, and it is here that Obama’s real weakness is exposed. Notice that I’ve discounted Hillary because it is becoming more clear every day that she will not be able to pull off a convention upset, though I hope with a child’s Christmas Eve anticipatory delight that she pulls out all the stops as her ship sinks. Each ‘little’ Obama gaffe takes voters away from him. Despite the secular agenda of the Democrat party at large, the rank and file are at least spiritual (if not religious) and they want the best for their country. Even if they support gun control, they recognize the individual truth of the Second Amendment. Between Wright, conversations with kooky Californians, and his inability to explain himself on the fly, Obama is being exposed as the paper-thin predictably negative elitist that he’s always been. Michelle Obama is Heinz Kerry-esque icing on the cake. While she shouldn’t become the focus of the campaign, as we know from 1992 that attacking spouses (however shrill) isn’t very effective, she can serve as an early warning siren for potential Barack Obama gaffes and weaknesses. Her willingness to say what she genuinely thinks is true must be exploited.

The strategy of McCain and his surrogates should be to constantly demand clarification of Obama’s positions where we know he (or his close associates) has radical stances leading up to the general election debate. This has nothing to do with being underhanded, it is simply a line of attack to force Obama to 1) admit what he really believes or 2) moderate his position. The latter will, if current scandals are any indication, lead to alienation of his far-left base or create future inconsistent misstatements that can be used against him.

If his sparse record is combed through and the facts forced before the MSM, this tactic of confrontation could prove surprisingly effective against Obama so long as he isn’t given the time to adjust to it. The strategy’s simplicity both in design and implementation is key to its sustainability. As it stands Obama has been treated lovingly by the MSM for most of the campaign, so his skin hasn’t thickened, something that should happen to even inexperienced politicians throughout the course of the primary season. Without any respite from having his own beliefs brought before him, the vapid campaign of hope and change will become hollow and lifeless.

Already I know of left-leaning apathetics who were drawn into the political process by Obama and have since disowned him, recognizing that he is indeed just another empty suit instead of the Messiah persona that they had projected on him. These people come from all walks of life: young college voters, disaffected middle-agers, and ‘bitter’ types that gave up on the process long ago. They came for personality, not policy, and after they leave camp Messiah, they are open to McCain based on his character. They hate the Iraq war, but they don’t care enough about policy to write him off for it. They just want someone they perceive to be honest. If anything, especially when compared to a newly rusted Obama and Hillary throw-a-lamp Clinton, McCain comes off as genuinely believing and espousing his convictions.

There’s more I could go into, and I could have focused on the finer points of fumbling that occurred last night more, but I think that it’s time for a segment of our focus to shift forward toward how things will shake out in the general election. Besides, if you’re a conservative or even just a regular blog reader, you have been much more informed about Obama’s duplicity and subterfuge than the MSM is to this day.

Now that you’ve heard from me, enjoy the blogosphere’s analysis:

FullosseousFlap’s Dental Blog » The Nutroots Go Ballistic Over ABC Democrat Debate Coverage Last Night

http://www.qando.net/ - Debate - A chance to put those questions to rest

At the debate, Obama on the ropes with Ayers | Redstate

Sister Toldjah » Last night’s debate

Hot Air » Show of Democratic hands: How many of you will vote for McCain if your candidate loses?

Hot Air » Whither the superdelegates now?

Townhall.com: Obama and Buyers’ Remorse

Luntz Focus Group - More Evidence Of Democrat Deserters | Redstate

Hot Air » McCain slowly building the GOP coalition — and more

ABC Hosts Heckled After Debate: “The Crowd Is Turning On Me” - Media on The Huffington Post

The Daily Kos: Either Obama Succeeds Or We Have Another American Revolution! - Right Wing News