I know he can’t do it, but I wish he would. Just once. Wouldn’t it be nice if Senator Obama responded sharply to Senator McCain’s efforts to paint him as inexperience – as the naïve young man who dared to run for the presidency? Last night I was initially annoyed and then angered by Senator McCain’s repeated use of the phrase, “You don’t understand.” It was condescending. And, more importantly, a mask for a hawkish foreign policy that eerily resembles George W. Bush’s first few years in the white house. Neocon nonsense! McCain’s use of the phrase rarely, if ever, reflected a moment of genuine naivety on Obama’s part; instead, the phrase worked to shut down conversation. It seems that if you substantively disagree with Senator McCain on foreign policy than you are naïve or you lack adequate understanding. I suppose he has ALL of the right answers to the problems of the world. No debate is needed. No substantive conversation required. All of this sounds too familiar.
I anxiously waited for Senator Obama to respond directly to McCain’s assertion that he didn’t understand. He could have said more forcefully that what McCain doesn’t understand is that policies like his have fundamentally lead to a decline in our standing in the world. He could have asked, after repeated mischaracterizations of his positions, when did McCain become afraid of the truth? He could have even said, in moments of obvious contradiction, that McCain simply has lost his way. But I know this is not the temperament of Senator Obama or it can not be his temperament. He has to be calm. He can not show any sign of annoyance or arrogance. He simply has to take the nonsense and respond with a smile.
But can we not serve as proxies for Senator Obama? Can’t we get angry at an economic and foreign policy that threatens our children’s future? Can’t we dismiss as nonsense the claim that experience in the wrong way of doing things constitutes the only experience needed to change the direction of our nation? Can’t we call out McCain for playing fast and loose with the truth, because we know that truth crushed to earth shall rise again? What Senator McCain does not understand is that we have grown weary of the kind of politics and policies evidenced last night. And if Senator Obama can not make that point forcefully, we need to state it loudly and clearly come election day!
posted September 27, 2008 at 11:09 pm
CAN WE GET A BIG AMEN TO THIS. MCCAIN’S CONDESCENSION AND SMUG ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY WOULD BEG FOREIGN LEADERS TO ATTACK US!
posted September 28, 2008 at 12:12 am
Yes! Personal experience can help but in McCain’s case he only focues on the things he knows. He is like the blind man who feels an elephant’s leg and says “My experience informs me that I am feeling a tree” McCain was one of the main movers who got us into Iraq and caused us the incredible loss of life, money and prestige around the world. That war was a horrible mistake and McCain doesn’t seem able to see it. And he wants to be president? while Obama might have been more forceful, he did definately say that it was the wrong war and that it was a distraction. Obama has a much wider focus and more comprehensive foreign policy perpective.
posted September 28, 2008 at 9:15 am
McCain used “he doen’t get it” in his video conference in Ohio. Clearly this is his attack. But it isn’t going to work. McCain doesn’t get it and refuses to recognize what a disaster the war in Iraq was and is. It was a distraction from the war on terror – a side show that he pushed for that was a horrible mistake. Obama has a much broader and mor comprehesive world view and is more capable of being our president – on domestic issues AND foreign.
posted September 28, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I do agree that Senator McCain was condescending in the way he addressed this to Obama, however I have to agree with his stance on these foreign policy issues. McCain has a great deal of experience and he is very well educated on foreign policy. Now I don’t agree with everything that McCain stands for, but Obama’s stance on some issues are disturbing. He’s a socialist….and it’s not good for America.
posted September 28, 2008 at 9:43 pm
What exactly do you mean by socialist John? By that do you mean Obama feels that if you make over 250,000 a year and have gained so much by living in this country that you have some obligation to shoulder the burden for the poorest? That is part of what it means to be part of a society that doesn’t simply crush the poor and the middle class in favor of the rich.
Obama believes that we should be a more caring nation, including the most vulnerable. That is not socialism – that is decency.
posted September 29, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I am on the same page with you as far as taking care of poor people and the oppressed. But the problem lies in the government. About 2 cents on every dollar of governmental revenue actually helps people. The other 98 cents lines their pockets or is wasted. What we need is a major overhaul. I give a substantial portion of my income to charities…but the thing is…I like to think that’s my right since I own the money. I wasn’t born rich..quite the contrary actually.
But believe me…there is nothing more important than giving. I back you 100% as far as that’s concerned. Truth be told…I’m not real impressed with any candidate…including McCain.
posted September 30, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I do have to agree with you on McCain’s condescending remarks. I watched the debate on my own, and in my Political Science class, we watched it again today and I was able to catch some things that I missed. I got really annoyed with McCain being so adamant about one-upping Obama on experience. He acted like the stereotypical grumpy old man in a lot of areas in the debate. And a lot of what he brought up as far as financial issues are concerned only seemed to go toward benefiting the people who are higher up in class, and not once did I hear him mention what he plans to do with people barely making it right now, as I heard with Obama.
But I, too, am not very impressed with either candidate. I would lean more towards Obama because of his stance on the American people in poverty, but the problem that I have with that is that I want to know where exactly my money is going when it comes to social programs, and whether or not it is being misused. In my opinion, it isn’t solely the government’s job to take care of the poor. Our churches should be more involved in this process as well.