Barack Obama: Will the Wound Heal?

It began as the non-troversy of the holiday shortened week: the accusation that Barack Obama had plagiarized part of a stump speech from Mass. Governor Deval Patrick

He hadn't. And even if he had lifted or borrowed or co-opted a couple of lines, does anybody really think the post-modern politician expresses a single word that isn't team scripted and focus group tested before it's uttered in the public square?

The plagiarism jab left barely a scratch on Obama. But sometimes even the slightest wounds can fail to heal.

As I was making the rounds with the cable newsers this past Tuesday before the primary, I witnessed first-hand a theme develop. Almost to a person the newers I spoke with dismissed the plagiarism rap, but wondered aloud about Obama's rhetoric. The word rhetoric being flipped from asset to pejorative. Was there, they wondered, more to Obama than his rhetoric? How far, they asked, would his rhetoric take him? When would his rhetoric be replaced by specifics?

The Obama/rhetoric question is not new.

And some of the hectoring over Obama-mania is coming from the usual suspects. But the Chris Matthews/Kirk Watson interview was fuel on the fire, and in the days since the chorus of "give us more" seems to have increased rather than diminished.

Certainly some of this hectoring can be attributed to the media news cycle looking for a new drum to beat, if not some old fashioned player hating for the new Democratic front runner. But for those who think the questions of rhetoric are limited to MSM hacks with sharp knives, it is not. The BBC World Service ran a piece on Obama openly wondering if his rhetoric is becoming a liability. I can't say as the BBC would be particularly partisan in this instance.

Ultimately, if there is this sense that Obama is all sizzle and no steak, it is certainly not the fault of the man himself. At this late stage of the primaries, the media has had every opportunity to give the guy a good shaking out. If the newsers feel Obama isn't forthright with specifics, it's their responsibility to ask the questions they'd like answered. There is little doubt Obama could answer them. He may be relatively new to the national political scene, but he is hardly a neophyte. More importantly, we all benefit when the candidates have their mettle fairly tested in the media glare.

The larger question going forward is: do specifics really matter? To quote Mike Tyson: the best fight plan in the world only lasts until you take the first punch in the face. Similarly, the best political ideas only last until you get them before a divided and ineffectual Congress.

Perhaps, more than specifics, we need a leader who can inspire people to pressure their reps to bend to the will of the new. What is rhetoric if not a call to action?

Perhaps that's a question someone would care to ask of Barack Obama.

Comments

[TiffShelton]

I watch Morning Joe each morning and I cannot tell you how happy I am that John Ridley is no longer on the show.

I thought he was the most annoying person ever. I actually think he should be on The View. Their entire cast is annoying and he would fit in just fine.

[ParadiseDiva]

Classy.

[awb]

its the cynic in us

Can this guy be real?
Is he too good to be true?
And now that reality is setting in and Obama will be the democratic nominee the media do not want to be complacent to his getting the nomination --

Well it's too late for that - and Obama is the best candidate for many reasons -- and not all related to steak of sizzle

To me - as the parent of an 18 year old - one of Obama's greatest achievements so far is making it cool to be engaged in politics and government -- Until Barack Obama the growth years of my daughter's generation tuned out the fights and diviseness of politics, they saw it in their parents friends and their friends parents --

They didn't get it--
but they get Obama -- and he has swelled the roles of democratic voters and once he is President he will have and I think live up to - his obligation to keep these new voters and soon to be adults in the political process

When my daughter woke us up a few weeks ago and said "guess what - today is Super Tuesday"- as a former teen worshipper of RFK-- I realized "Yes we Can"

Obama '08

[mig991]

Nailed it!

[OneAmerica]

As Barack said last night, the voters can see the reality of what's going on in Washington. We know the game. Everyone knows specifics are never discussed in the primary. It's discussed in the general once the party's platform is developed.

Republicans need to be careful what they prayer for. Let's start talking about the specifics of record deficits and corruption.

Don't worry, Dems will prevail.

[BUSHsurvivor]

This election is all about the AMERICAN IDOL.
Doesn't matter what meat is behind the candidate, knowledge and experience go out the window....it has become nothing more than a popularity contest/beauty contest. It is a very sad mark on American History...but the media has decided that it's all Obama...just wonder what happens in the general, when and if they'll begin to ask the what, when and how questions.

[sarajohns]

your future commander in chief:
(already the doubts at the Pentagon)

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2258358120080222?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

[TiffShelton]

It's kinda cute that you believe in the Pentagon.

Where have you been for 5 years?

[whimsicalpig]

I am sick and tired of this useless debate over hlary vs obama.

A pox on both their houses.

After 8 years in the wilderness these 2 lame candidates are the best we can come up with?

The MSM has up wasting all our energy slashing and each other over these 2 instead of asking..

What the **** happened and how did these 2 get to be our only choices.

we should be working on a way to stop this trainwreck before the convention or that angry grey man with the twisted psyche courtesy of the north vietnamese, will be taking us to a higher level of hell than we are in now.

[sarajohns]

your future commander in chief:
(already the doubts at the Pentagon)

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2258358120080222?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

[rmetz74]

Out of curiosity, I just looked at the front and main political pages of cnn.com and msnbc.com... There's no mention of this issue anywhere. (They're all about the officer who was killed in an accident with HRC's Texas motorcade, and Obama gaining ground in the polls.)

There is no "wound" to heal. The issue is getting no traction, and rightly so, as it's total nonsense. The only people who care are people who already oppose Obama, and are looking for ammo.

Let's step back for a minute and be objective. No primary candidate from either party has ever lost ten consecutive primaries and gone on to be the nominee. Like it or not, Obama is the candidate.

[evekendall]

Last night Hillary Clinton played the old New Hampshire trick. (And this is commander-in-chief material?) And, by the way, she played the trick using John Edwards words. Look up the two quotes.

Another point to make about the debate:

Imagine if Obama had said last night: "People always ask me how I do it" along with a little pitiful look in his eye like he was about to cry. He would have been criticized and mocked so badly in the press today, he would have had to resign from the race by the end of the day!!

[democraticjack]

Obama was right. It is silly season.

[ParadiseDiva]

Did you hear *his* close?

[Issak]

"Was there, they wondered, more to Obama than his rhetoric?"

NO.

[JamesinPG]

It's hard to believe that we've come to the point where we criticize a presidential candidate for being too inspirational or too eloquent

Obama has spoken in specifics many times, has outlined detailed plans in countless writings and has run a meticulously thorough and well-managed campaign. His "substance" is evident for any one with the slightest objectivity to see.

After seven long years of the most anti-intellectual administration any of us can remember we can be delighted that both remaining Democratic candidates have a respect for knowledge and the English language. Let's not fulfill the stereotype of the "dumb and dumber" American who is suspicious of anyone capable of using words of two or more syllables.

[rwe]

no we are criticizing a candidate with nothing but vaccuous rhetoric... And as far as the tired lib Pres Bush hating talking points spewed due to the Dems running WORSE and less intellectual candidates , remember George is smarter than Kerry and then you have Al , you still don't have a legitimate candidate.

[JoshuaZ]

Somehow this myth that Obama lacks specifics just won't go away. He is just as specific as Hillary Clinton. Is the guy supposed to recite proposed regs on stage? Even then, I can hear it now... Obama lacks substance! Where's the beef! It's absurd already.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

Is it ABSURD because you so label it so? Perhaps, you should reread ELMER GANTRY (or view the film); the parallels are obvious, and Obama is offering issue-wise something a bit short of salvation but bracketed by the same vaporous vagaries and sappy sonorities.

Would it be so un-"inspirational" for this godhead Obama to conDESCEND to push the Chinese to revalue the RENMINBI upward by 40%--closer to where it should have been ten years ago?

[rwe]

not a great argumetn teo elect a prograssive , who is more liberal and socialistic than ever

[democritus]

The plagiarism charge is stupid in the extreme--after all, Patrick works on the campaign. It's part of his job to come up with winning arguments. But, the reason it resonates is that Obama, though a quick study, appears to be a bit of a lightweight. The problem with that is he will end up being dependent on advisors and probably lack genuine strategic vision of his own. I was not a big fan of Reagan when he came in, because I was highly concerned about the tone of relations with the USSR. But in the end he proved to have the strategic vision to finally win the cold war. Does Obama know what to do about the war declared on the US by al Qaeda?


Because this is going to be a national security election (I don't think the Repubs will win standing on the economy) I personally think Obama could do far worse than bring Clark in as his VP. Clark has the strategic sense and authority to explain the hard truths to the American people: that the Iraq war is unwinnable, and that we should have gotten Osama and gotten out of Afghanistan and never been in Iraq.

Webb would be another good choice--he is more charismatic than Clark. But having Clark on board invites comparison between the prudent general and McCain the hotheaded pilot.

People have objected to Clark's style. War is not a Mayday celebration. Clark used the assets which he was given to coerce a fairly rapid end to an awful situation, without unnecessarily risking American lives. In doing so he demonstrated considerable military and political finesse in an impossible situation.

The US is in deep deep trouble and Obama needs to start speaking to the real issues at some point. Otherwise he's just another triangulator with no real ideas. Clark could help him break out of the "central front badly managed" frame to the "strategic blunder" "where's bin Laden?" frame. Team Obama could drive home the argument that Bush has endangered national security by lying about the motivations of bin Laden and being willing to spend over a trillion dollars to supposedly "bring democracy" to a conveniently oil-rich state which has yet to go through a Reformation and has historically outlasted and finally expelled all conquerors. Bush has spent the nation into a deep hole in order to enrich his cronies rather than finish the job in Afghanistan. If Obama can drive this argument home he could win a historic landslide victory. Or he could blow the national security argument and lose by losing older voters who will show up and vote long after the kids have turned their attention elsewhere.

Actually, his comment about bombing in Pakistan could be a real asset. I'm surprised that he didn't say "Of course I would send a missile after bin Laden or whoever if I knew where they were. I would protect America first and ask permission later. What about you Hillary?"

Anyway, the plagiarism charge, stupid though it is, points to the deeper problem with Obama. This is a historic opportunity. Is he smart enough to drive it home? Or is he just too polite?

[duck47]

Bravo - well said. I totally agree that the word plagiarism is inappropriate. What would you have said to explain what you meant? Lifting material? Anyway, Obama comes off a bit self rightous so didn't he sort of create this problem for himself. If Duval Patrick twisted his arm saying use my stuff and don't credit me, doesn't the extra honorable person have to say: Oh no that wouldn't be right.

Also, I think Pakistan has nukes and a very unstable government so I would really want to weigh the scenario you purpose carefully. The risk factor.

[ParadiseDiva]

"The plagiarism charge is stupid in the extreme--after all, Patrick works on the campaign."

Have you checked to see how Patrick's first year went...how his words translated?

[realpolitic]

No, Massachusetts is on the other side of the country. Is Patrick's performance indicative in some way of Obamas? Are they the same person? I have not seen them in photos together so they may well be.

[Heartlight3]

I think Wes Clark would be a good Secretary of Defense.
People who say Obama is all rhetoric and no substance are betraying their own ignorance and their lack of initiative to look up the facts. Why is the assumption that if he is eloquent and inspirational he has no substance. I don't think they are mutually exclusive.

[doxyluv13]

re:Barack Obama: Will the Wound Heal?

Sure if will heal; it's already formed a scab.

[hope4theflowers]

you republicans are desperate.Why dont you all just calm down and stop trying to create scandals where there arent any.Youre not going to find anything on Obama and you know it.You had your chance to smear him and its clear its not going to work.
Now remember,Obama isnt going to do anything to hurt you radical right wing corporatists or take your precious money away.So chill.