One of Obama’s great strengths is understanding how to frame an issue to make his argument stronger. Kos outlines an exchange between Obama and McCain over GI benefits. Obama expressed disbelief that McCain would think the bill Obama supported was too generous. McCain flew into a tizzy about Obama’s statement, calling him disrespectful. Obama responded in a way I thought framed things nicely by saying:
He should know that this is not about John McCain or Barack Obama – it’s about giving our veterans a real chance to afford four years of college without harming retention.
I expect Obama to repeat this sort of thing a lot, “Hey, it’s not about us; it’s about the American people.” This is one of the ways he will seek to deprive McCain of his biography and try to force him to run on his policies. McCain’s biography is all he has, but if Obama can make McCain look like he’s saying “ME ME ME ME ME” every time he seeks to use his biography, it could turn into a weakness. On the other hand, if McCain seeks to run on his policy ideas, McCain is screwed.
McCain was a complete ass in his response to Obama. He basically defined his idea of limits of debate by saying Obama couldn’t criticize him on veteran’s issues because he didn’t serve in the military.
On all other issues, McCain plans to say he is rubber, and Obama is glue.
I certainly hope that McCain continues with the “Me Me Me Me Me” approach to the campaign. If he does so, he may drive people to my blog Me Me Me Me Me and McCain is not my candidate of choice.
Now McCain, after previously distorting Obama’s “lost his bearings” comment into an “ageism” attack, has taken to repeatedly calling Obama a “young man of limited experience”. I was somewhat kidding in the post above, but it does appear that McCain is employing the “I’m Rubber, You’re Glue” ten year old boy approach to campaigning.
So when is MCCain going to explain specfically why he voted to veto the bill with GI benefits? McCain needs to explain that once GIs return and need the government for health care and social benefits it’s just more government socialism,but when they march off, it’s to glory and patriotism.Maybe McCain can come up with some other reason for his veto?
Obama needs to be relentless and back McCain into a corner on this issue and others,never being personal,always on task with issues,and McCain doesn’t have a chance.
If not, Obama himself will be made the only issue,and McCain will get a free pass,and no actual issues will be discussed. That’s the campaign plan of action of Republicans.
Yes,clearly framing the issues seems to be an Obama forte.That’s really new for everyone.
Yes,clearly framing the issues seems to be an Obama forte.That’s really new for everyone.
Shoot, Lou, Bill Clinton’s better, or was better in his prime, though I think Obama’s in his league. People tend to forget that Clinton mesmerized crowds where a lot of people had come to dislike him.
And I think Obama is strongest on the war and military matters, in part because that looked to be the single issue when his campaign was mapped out, plus you could pretty much anticipate what the Republican position was going to sound like regardless of the nominee. I do hope McCain continues this tack right up through election day.