The Grouch and the Gentleman

Two candidates walked on stage Saturday night. One of them walked off looking like the next President of the United States. And it wasn't John McCain.

American voters could not have been given a clearer choice. As this season's first presidential debate clearly demonstrated, John McCain is hot; Barack Obama is cool. John McCain shoots from the hip; Barack Obama speaks from facts and logic. John McCain represents the past; Barack Obama looks to the future.

Even their physical differences were striking. Obama is young, tall, thin, robust, and looked like he'd just come from working out in the gym, which he had. McCain is old, short, pasty, porked up from gobbling too many doughnuts on the campaign trail, and looked like he'd just walked off an airplane, which he had.

Perhaps the biggest difference we saw was that Obama came eager to debate, while McCain was clearly unhappy to be there. He never addressed Obama directly and never called him by his first name. In fact, he never even once looked at Obama.

Long-known for having the biggest ego in Congress (which is saying something!), McCain was obviously pissed at having to share the stage with a senate rookie, and he let everybody know it. Seven or eight times, he testily dismissed Obama's comments with a condescending "Senator Obama just doesn't understand." While, twice, Obama had enough self-confidence to observe: "John McCain's right about that."

On both the economy and foreign policy, Obama more than held his own. He cleverly tied McCain to the Bush policies of deregulation which caused today's Wall Street crisis. He very effectively undercut McCain's strange ranting about $18 billion in earmarks by pointing out that McCain himself proposes $300 billion in corporate tax breaks. And he nailed McCain for supporting the invasion of Iraq and insisting it would be a walk in the park.

McCain didn't make any game-changing mistakes, but he did have his embarrassing moments. Despite several comical attempts, he never did figure out how to pronounce "Ahmadinejad." He got the name of the new president of Pakistan wrong. And he strangely delighted in professing his 35-year friendship with Henry Kissinger, who is responsible for perhaps the worst foreign policy disaster in American history.

McCain, in fact, seemed to see the debate as an opportunity to stroll down memory lane: rattling off names of countries he'd visited and world leaders he'd met, quoting Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. It was all so 20th century. McCain even gloated that Reagan had ended the Cold War with "S.D.I." -- which left anybody under 50 wondering what the hell he was talking about.

In the end, McCain came across as just what he is: a senior senator who's been around forever and been in the Congress so long that he's locked in the past and incapable of taking the country in new direction. And Obama showed us who he is: a new face, a new leader with new energy, an agent of change, and ready and qualified to be president.

Not since Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy has there been a starker contrast between the two candidates on stage. Yet, even with his five o'clock shadow, Nixon looked better than McCain.

Comments

[Greg285]

Bill, your observations were right on the mark. McCain came across as a bitter old man, the type of old man who yells at the neighborhood kids for running across his lawn...

[gottacry]

I can't understand the persistent mantra everywhere in the media that McCain's strong suit is foreign affairs. His kneejerk reaction to most everything (which is in itself not only a weakness but highly dangerous); his simplistic, un-nuanced, back and white mistrust (and non-comprehension) of complexity and other world views; his militaristic rather than diplomatic approach toward dealing with any real or imagined adversary (which only breeds fear and hostility as a reaction).­..this kind of interaction with the rest of the world has been a chief failing in our foreign relations and image. It's essentially a bully mentality that reduces relations to "my way or the highway". It matters not whether he's been in all kinds of places, and met with legions of foreign dignitaries if he's closed-minded and has neither understanding nor respect for other cultures or views...of which there are many. His recent behavior prior to and during the debate has only dramatized how hazardous a player in world affairs he would be.

[JMcCoy]

Bill, your analysis was right on the money. The debate was very telling and if thinking people will analyze the debate with their head and not with emotional commitment to either political party, it would be unanimous that Senator Obama is the man that should lead our country for at least the next four years. He is intelligent, calm, gracious, inclusive and smart. Senator McCain came across very advesarial, mean and condencending. We need to restore our place in the world not treat other nation's (and the American middle-class) like advesaries. Senator McCain came across like most modern Republicans, self-righteous, mean-spirited and short-sighted. Please, no more!!!!! Some of us are tired of the negativity, bullying, lying, spinning, etc, just to get what you want. And let us not even think about what Sarah Palin would look like with a get-out-of-jail free card.

[neo1]

It was a pleasure looking at Obama and his presence was definitely presidential. McCain was creepy. His body language was openly hostile and negative. The difference between the two men was like night and day.

Obama is always a gentleman and gives credit where credit is due. McCain is a negative soul, in much turmoil inside and out. He could never give any credence to Obama for any reason. He feels superior over Obama and will never accept him on his level. What a shame McCain is to the human race for being no void of compassion.

[neo1]

race for being "so" voice of compassion. I meant to say.

[margardner]

Barack Obama will be a profound leader.

The best is yet to come.

[jean22]

McCain's extremely rude and dismissive demeanor towards Obama was not only glaringly unpresidential but also raised questions in the minds of many as to whether he's racist...t­hat idea only affixes him more securely to the past. People are looking for change and a brighter future.

[shubes61]

it might be a small thing, and it wasn't there too much... but obama's smile also made a difference­... when he smiled, he exuded calm and confidence­... when mccain smiled, it seemed fake, nasty or desperate ("please like me!").

that's a smile i want to see for the next eight years.

[neo1]

Obama's smile is so genuine and loving. He makes you smile just to see him smile. McCain's smile is sneaky, nasty, eerie, false, hideous and very uncomfortable. You want him to stop right away.

[phoenix8]

Great analysis. Obama has the stature of a President. He better be elected to that position or we are in great trouble.

[emr3857]

very good

[Ledlincoln]

Obama was being too careful to show his deference to War Hero McCain. In the next debate he should capitalize on the huge latent anger in the electorate, and he can do so without pointing his finger directly at McCain simply by saying that a vote for the Republican ticket is a vote to continue the policies that have resulted in:
1. failure to make any progress in the so-called "war on terror"; indeed, the squandering of the good will we once had around the world
2. domestically, people are losing their homes, dying because they cannot get health care, and dying because deregulation has allowed unsafe food and other products to enter the market
3. the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression
...the list goes on...

[clevelandchick]

I disagree. Obama showed the respect you show another human being you are debating. If McCain can't do that then that's exactly why you don't want him to be president. Imagine him sitting across the table from Putin. McCain proved he does not have the temperament or judgement to lead a nation by acting like a complete jerk to Obama. I have never seen that in any debate, not even from Dubya.

Maybe the Republicans or just John McCain are loathe to show respect for their colleagues in public service but it was striking how rude and condescending McCain acted towards Obama. For most people their first reaction would be to show the same animositybut Obama was smart and kept showing his basic human respect for another human while taking him on the issues.

Obama addressed the failure of 'the war on terror' and he addressed the case of middle class. Obama was the only one in the debate to even mention the middle class or education and job creation. McCain was obsessed with cutting out 1% of the budget in earmarks that goes to state projects while ignoring the other 99%.....50­% of which goes to the Pentagon.

[newsferret]

CChick - absolutely. This wasn't only about the questions it was about their statesmanship and character. Obama has both of these by the bucketload. McCain came across as a mean, spiteful old man - that's not what one wants in an American President.

Not once did Obama lower himself to McCain's level. He called him out for being wrong on issues but not once did he malign or disrespect McCain. That's the man you want at the negotiating table when diplomatic relations and global issues are getting tough.Not some angry little man who doesn't even have the courtesy to acknowledge his opponent.

[Ledlincoln]

I don't think we're disagreeing. I'm saying that Obama can maintain his deference and respect for his opponent in debates, but should keep reminding voters what the Republicans have done to the country.

[bluegreen]

the worst thing about it for me was that mccain was so contemptuous of his statesmanlike and skilled debate opponent and yet he wants us to believe his wacky VP selection is golden. go figure, grampa.

ps i'm old too but i know a good thing when i see it. and we'd be lucky to get obama; i hardly know why he wants it, with the mess we're in. but i'm glad he does!

[McMullen]

Did anyone else start to wonder if there's any place McCain hasn't been? I swear, if the debate had turned to putting men on the moon, McCain would have said "I've been to the moon, I know what it's like there."

[MPeter]

Thanks Bill. I turned to CNN when you were there as a contributor. I turned away when you left. I was always a fan and must confess that I missed your contributions on Huffpo when you stopped submitting. I hope you are back....ba­ck with a vengeance. I missed you, and I believe lots of progressives did. Thank you for your analysis. Please keep speaking up.

[sjmaureen]

Ah Bill...as usual..wel­l said.

[Nofsdad]

But no matter how it turned out, the Republicans will still claim victory and that McCain outperformed Obama on every front. You can't beat someone who is too damned stupid to know when they've been beaten.

[MeiLing]

No matter! No one ever believed that Obama would convert the truly deluded! He only has to win over the Independents and undecided! Polls show, he did that handily!