McCain to Obama: "You Can't Handle the Truth!"

Even before writing movies ever since I was a kid I have seen the world through the lens of film and TV. And as a writer I can't help but sometimes see the world metaphorically. So when Clint and Spike were recently spatting it depressed me because their old school name calling seemed to augur bad things for the presidential race.

But the better metaphor for Obama vs. McCain is A Few Good Men. McCain, like Nicholson's character, has a Teflon reputation in the media as a tough, straight-talking SOB. Obama in the Tom Cruise role (before he went totally nuts), is the brash young maverick.

What Obama needs to do in the upcoming debates is exactly what Cruise did to Nicholson: keep needling the uptight stuffed shirt, relentlessly but calmly picking at his canned answers until, "Kaboom!" he blows his top. McCain is famous for his fury, having called his own wife the C word in front of reporters. Obama needs to keep at him with a quiet, but insistent tenacity until he rips off the mask of civility and shows his authentic self.

We'll all see it coming. McCain's jaw will tighten, his face redden and then, finally, he'll erupt with something like..."Why you little bratty piece of shit!" and tear across the stage and try to take a swing at Barack.

-Trey Ellis

Comments

[KarateKid]

The contrast will be stark, and McCain will look old, his ideas will sound old. We need this to happen as he won't be able to Teflon his way out of his flip flops. At some point, he will also lose his temper, but Obama has to not play wimpy nice, like the Democrats are known for.

The Democrats always try to take the high road, then get their butts kicked by the Republicans who get in the gutter and swing away. The only two Democrats who won were Carter against the Pardoner Ford, and Slick Willy, who could talk anyone to death.

Clinton was able to contrast himself as the future against two old men, HW Bush and Dole. Obama needs to do the same. And Bill could sling the mud with the best of them.

[thejazz]

It'll never happen. The GOP probably has McCain all jacked up on prozac so he won't do that.

[wayoutleft]

barack- john debate transcript:
J: YOU CAN'T HANDLE FAKE HUMILITY!!
B: YOU CAN'T HANDLE FUNNY HATS!!
J: YOU CAN'T HANDLE LIME GREEN BACKDROPS!!
B: YOU CAN'T HANDLE AN OPEN COLLAR!!
J: YOU CAN'T HANDLE YOUR MIDDLE NAME!!
B: YOU CAN'T HANDLE NUT PREACHERS!!
J: YOU CAN'T HANDLE NUT PREACHERS!!
the esteemed panel of nonpartisan journalists- sean hannity, monica crowley, and michael savage- call it a draw.

[PAposter]

Brilliant analogy, I absolutely believe McCain's head is going to explode during a debate with Obama. That "my friend" is Reality TV, LMAO! I'll be front row center for that performance.

[pupbayer]

The only head that will explode is mine because neither of these guys can talk without a prepared script.

[McChimp]

Obama could out debate McCain with his brain tied to his back.

McCain needs LIEberman to correct his misspeaks and gaffes, and LIEberman won't be there to help him against Obama.

Face it: your arguments against Obama hold NO ground, just like Fox Noise, Rush Lumpbaugh, and the GOP elite. It's either Obama or nobody, those are your options come November.

[darthmaul]

Unless something terribly goes wrong with the Obama Campaign, he will annihilate McCain. Obama's got the money, the support and the organization. McCain has Bush and a discredited Republican administration.

[lizr]

LOL- that was hysterical, and I can totally see it happening!!

looking forward to it :)

[ebanks84]

I'm sorry. I can't stop laughing. That image is burned into my head. I'll probably go to sleep seeing it. Thanks Trey for "making my day".

[PhDiva]

Trey, as an African American, I say this to you with love: Learn how to punctuate. You need commas to make your writing coherent.

[Syco]

so glad i wasn't the only one to notice

[Billie]

Reread Justin Frank's post on "splitting." McCain is projecting. These repressive oppressive unconscious conservatives are tearing apart the world with their unresolved infantile defense mechanisms. Enough already! Can we please move forward and have some emotionally mature adults at the helm?

[MizLiz]

I don't know how many debates it will take to get McCain to this point, but it will happen. And I will enjoy every minute of it. The only way it won't happen is if his handlers medicate him so he just doesn't care. Of course, then he'll forget everything he was told to say, so that will be entertaining too.

[ebanks84]

I totally agree and can't wait to see that day. He is a hot firecracker ready to explode any minute now.

[McChimp]

Obama: "Senator McCain, you have flip flopped more times than anyone can count. You were against the Bush policies, and then you embraced them for GOP support. That's not change we can believe in, that's a third GWB term!" (Audience cheers)

McCain: "Senator Obama, you are an inexperienced twit and don't know what you are doing or talking about! If you are elected, you will let the terrorists win in Iraq by letting us surrender! We need to win in Iraq and stop Al Qaida, and I WILL let our boys win!"

[nancytheragingliberal]

It would be so funny to see McNut explode on my Tee Vee. He already went after poor Larry King. Larry, who was so low key and there was MCNut going off on him. It was so offensive to hear McNut raise his voice and no matter what Larry said, he could not put the McNut back in the normal person jar. McNut is certifyable and the sooner Americans see how crazy he is, the better.

[janvoght]

poor mc cain, he really is an american war hero, however a president for a nation as powerful as the USA, he IS NOT! he is all the republicans can muster after the last two horrific terms. a POW, with signs of PTSD, and some old, tired, ideas and solutions for some 21st century problems. unable to find his way around the internet, without the help of cindy (by his own admission), weak on economy, (haven't seen signs that he has taken steps to bolster that weakness...??vacation on gas tax??at the expense of our already fragile infrastructure?) a war first mentality, and a short temper for negotiating with some of the most gruesome leaders in current history? PLEASE, tell me my children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren, will have a better america to live in, with leadership that works in cooperation with the majority of international leaders in the same peaceful visions of safety, clean environment, and balanced economy of prosperity, and NOT A DESIRE FOR ABSOLUTE POWER, leading to corruption and loss of constitutional rights and freedoms.
obama '08

[YankeeCanuck]

The frightening thing is, it's possible for a candidate to lose the debate and win the election.
GWB
Be afraid.

[chronic]

I hate to say it but, EXACTLY!!

[BBackSoon]

What was McSame pressed on yesterday? I don"t really remember because I am getting McFlop fatigue but his answer was that he didn"t remember making that statement.

So it will go down as someone, anyone pressing McSame on an issue and what he said. He will say he does not remember and the other person will simply say, "I have the quote right here." The problem is it almost cannot be a reporter because of McSame"s ability to simply walk away.

Perhaps John Stewart could do it or someone else in a one-on-one interview. I don"t think a frontal attack from Obama would be a good idea. But perhaps a scathing rebuttal could elicit the desired effect.

I liked Obama"s rebuke of a couple of Bushco Neocons telling him how his views on the war on terror were all wrong, and Obama said he would not be lectured by someone that had not captured or killed OBL and got us mired down in Iraq.

[flatus]

Listen. Debates. Ha.

Bush vs Gore. Gore slammed Shrub.
Bush vs Kerry. Kerry wiped the floor.

Make any difference? Nope.

[wbramh]

True,
But beating Bush in a debate was like kicking a small puppy.
People felt sorry for the little thing even though it was bound to shit on their pillows.
Of course, Obama v. McCain could come off as Superior Intellect v. Poor Dementia Victim
That would benefit McCain since Stupid and Demented are considered positive Presidential characteristics among 50% of American voters.
But I believe it will come down to Ideas v Idealogy
If McCain's blow hole erupts, it should be great television.
Just think of explosion of The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man in Ghostbusters.

[McChimp]

Obama is not Al Gore or John Kerry, and this is not 2000 or 2004.

Once Obama has ONE debate with McCain, Obama will appear the clear winner and the more Presidential candidate. Obama is not Al Gore with Clinton baggage, nor is Obama John Kerry with a military record and a bunch of inconsistencies to be swiftboated on. All Obama has are the non-issues like Reverend Wright, his wife's REALLY proud comment, bitter remark, patriotism, etc etc.

McCain is a clear loser, I think even the Republicans know he's going to lose. I think they're running with McCain so that they can possibly find someone better in 2012, because NONE of the Republican candidates were that much better, with the exception of Ron Paul.

[poropo]

i'll like barack to follow this advise, for me i will like barack to belittle this mcwar till he get expose to all american public. good move barack. and i also think that he has already follow this step, like the way he made it public for the whole america to know that it is Mcbush that made us not to capture bin ladin

[poropo]

i like this advise for i will like barack to be little this mcwar till he will get expose to all american public. good move barack. and i also think that he has already follow this step, like the way he made it public for the whole america to know that it is Mcbush that made us not to capture bin ladin.