What is Patriotism?
Parade magazine got both Obama and McDole to write high school-esque essays on the question. I’d give them both an “A” on the assignment. They say pretty much what you’d expect them to say. McDole talks about the military, the military, the military, and Thomas Jefferson. Obama, on the other hand, writes about his personal experience and family history. Can you guess which essay is the bigger crowd pleaser?
Like it or not, crowd-pleasing is a huge part of running for president. And I don’t mean pandering; I’m talking about connecting with the audience. I remember watching John Kerry on the Daily Show, and Jon Stewart asked, “Is it true that every time I use ketchup, your wife gets a nickel?” Kerry answered, “Would that it were.” And I thought, “We’re going to lose because this guy can’t say ‘I wish’ like a normal person.”
McDole has the same problem. He’s stuffy, fussy, stiff, and awkward. He can’t communicate like he’s having a conversation. Try to get through the first paragraph of McDole’s patriotism essay. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Okay, see what I mean? It’s a chore. McDole’s speeches are the same.
A politician only has so much time before the audience (TV, print, live, or whatever) gets bored and tunes him out. Obama’s time limit is twice as long as McDole’s -- at the very least. Over the course of the campaign, that adds up.
Advantage: Obama.
And it’s a huge advantage.
- Calvin Rye
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