Obama Underwhelms, McCain Patronizes

Well, for the first few minutes of the debate it was like watching a bad Dr. Phil show. "That was great -- now I want you to turn around and say what you just said, but now say it to him. Let him hear you."

It was well intentioned but goofy -- and the candidates sure didn't want to go there. Especially McCain, who by the end of the debate would not even dignify Obama with a look in his direction, or allow him to argue the misrepresentations of his views and statements that McCain kept tossing his way.

I keep trying to figure out why Obama -- who I so admire, seems to underwhelm in these debates. All I can come up with is that while everyone else aims up for these events -- they aim to score, to excite, to appeal -- Obama, who is so brilliant, has such understanding of the issues at play, such insight in how to re-shape where we are and how to proceed where we need to go... it seems like all his energy is spent pushing down: containing his thoughts. Suppressing the 20 sub-thoughts that follow each main thought. Speaking in measured tones lest he be perceived elitist or too academic. Keeping in check his healthy sense of the absurd -- like when he kept trying to get a word in with McCain plowing away - - actually saying , "John...? Uh John...? Like a guy who's lost the connection then just smiles and hangs up without re-dialing.

I hate to start sounding like all the blogs I read, but I have to say, I did want to see more fire. I did want him to let the anger loose. I did want him to slap back at McCain's endless patronizing tone. (I did like when Obama responded that he did indeed know the difference between a "tactic" and a "strategy" -- and even threw a pointed glance at McCain when he next used the word "strategy.")

But while I sure don't want to see him at this point be anything less than or different than who he is, I sure would like a little more fight. A little less patience. A bit less politeness. Did you see the moment when McCain tripped up pronouncing "Ahmadinejad?" Obama, nice guy that he is, offered a friendly elbow of support -- acknowledging, "that's a tough one," to comfort his colleague in a stumble. But it seemed like that ticked off McCain. Like he didn't hear what Obama said and thought he was busting his chops. He glared and repeated the already-corrected "Ahmadinejad" -- like "I already said it right!" It was a telling moment: Obama being the nice, considerate guy that he is, and somehow looking worse for it.

Was I disappointed by the debate? Yeah. But only because I know the fallout and spin that follows. Did it make me reconsider my vote? Of course not. Barack Obama continues to be an inspiring leader who seems to me to be exactly who this country -- and the world -- needs at this moment in history. If anything, tonight just reminded me that we may have to work a little harder to help him get there. But I am confident we can do that. As Senator McCain reminded us, the ingenuity and resilience of the American people is our greatest asset. Let's go use it.

Read more reactions to the first presidential debate from HuffPost bloggers, including Nora Ephron, Bob Shrum, Madeleine Albright, Arianna Huffington, Sean Penn, Sheryl Crow, and more.

Comments

[northwestnut]

Sarah be nimble
Sarah be strong
Sarah don"t answer
The questions wrong.

The Bush bar's so low
That it"s in the dirt.
Just wink and nod
And give a flirt

Say what you want
Regard not the question
It"s the way that you say it
With conviction and inflection

With Romper Room voice
You bring us pro-choice
Between McCain and Obama
I"d rather choose life
Than more pain from McCain

[zjemi]

Remember when George W completely failed the first debate with Kerry and then came back with a respectable performance the second time, but with expectations so low, that counted as a win? I'm worried about the same thing for the VP. No one expects SP to be able to deliver a coherent sentence so it will seem as a win if she can do so.

For this reason, I agree with rich_misty. We don't want Obama to completely overwhelm McBush the first time. Plus we should get used to Obama not getting nasty even when we want him to. The undecideds may not want someone who can deliver zingers, they want someone who is a really decent human being.

[GingersPawPaws]

where can i find my comments i am new here and apparently i am having a Palin/McCain moment
.there has got to be an easier way to do this?

[mingusman]

Excuse me, but this isn't tech support. It's for commentary on the above post.

[GingersPawPaws]

YES I know I was trying to be funny!..chill out

[James1]

How is this a debate? They are both for the Patriot Act, increased military, government bailout, big money power in politics, with different spins.

[UNCLEJOE]

Obama needs to do three things to win the Debate:
1) Smile a lot more;
2) Stick in short quips defining McCan's mendacity;
3) Stay cool and relaxed and friendly looking as he was on the Letterman Talk Show.

[pgurlatl]

Here is a great piece that explains part of the reason why Obama can't get angry and why it still boils down to race for some voters:

It was not that long ago that black people in the Deep South could be beaten or killed for seeking the right to vote, talking back to the wrong white man or failing to give way on the sidewalk. People of color who violated these and other proscriptions could be designated "uppity niggers" and subjected to acts of violence and intimidation that were meant to dissuade others from following their examples.

The term "uppity" was applied to affluent black people, who sometimes paid a horrific price for owning nicer homes, cars or more successful businesses than whites. Race-based wealth envy was a common trigger for burnings, lynchings and cataclysmic episodes of violence like the Tulsa race riot of 1921, in which a white mob nearly eradicated the prosperous black community of Greenwood.
Forms of eloquence and assertiveness that were viewed as laudable among whites were seen as positively mutinous when practiced by people of color. As such, black men and women who looked white people squarely in the eye " and argued with them about things that mattered " were declared a threat to the racial order and persecuted whenever possible.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/24/53224/2400

I urge everyone to read the article in its entirety.

[angryveteran]

Every time Obama agreed with McCain, I envisioned McCain's handlers working on an ad for immediate release. I knew they'd use it against him. What bothered me more was McCain's refusal to look at Obama ... almost like Obama didn't earn the right to share the stage with him. In the pit of my stomach, I felt like McCain thought he was better than Obama ... a better man, a better person. Does this mean that McCain feels the same about me, my husband and my friends? One word comes to mind--disrespectful. My husband says Obama is a class act simply because he didn't tell McCain to "look at me like a man."

[parisblues]

Paul, Paul, Paul....you're smart enough to look at these things less emotionally and more strategically. If you need help in that regard, read James Fallows in The Atlantic on "tactics vs. strategy."

Obama did just fine.

[bdd]

no Obama did not do just fine.
He looked like he had a hat in hand and was trying to be mister nice guy to all.
THAT IS NOT AN INDICATION OF BIPARTISAN.
Obama's back slapping approval of mcain on some issues was most annoying.
I watched this debate and not once did mcain offer a back pat. So why should Obama ever go there?
When will Obama get some backbone????
After he loses this like Gore and Kerry?????

[GingersPawPaws]

Excuse Me, Obama has back bone he is gonna give JOHN a lesson in Strategy and Tatics
It will Come Be patient!!
He is going to serve up a Knock out Punch!!
McCains got one coming and Obama is gonna be the ONE to give it to him !!
In Honor of
WE THE PEOPLE
CAN I GET A wHoOpWhOoP

[grata2ude]

Debates as I understand them are not slap fests. The idea behind is point, counter point.

Obama won that hands down. He countered every lie and attack that McCain tried to put forth.

I just came over from another web discussion, there were over 2000 comments about last nights debates. They were in favor of Obama 7-1.

I saw alot of Independents saying they were voting for Obama because of his level headedness.

I saw Republicans commenting that after last nights debates they could not possibly vote for McCain but they are changing to Obama.

That to me sounds like a victory. This debate was McCains to lose. He was touted as the best debater. But he did lose.

[lainey]

I do believe that most bloggerss and armchair advisors have really missed the meaning of the word "change" as Senator Obama has described it to us. He is showing us what class looks like. Would you have felt better if he sighed as his opponent did, belittled his opponent by saying something like "aren't we all Georgian's now John"? Really, it is important to understand what the man means when he talks about creating a civilized government and country. I applaud his ability to refrain from demeaning remarks because that is always the easiest way out. I know that by training you are a comedian and therefore sarcasm and poking fun is how you are measured, but that is not the role of president. The role of president is to put forth ideas, make sound judgments and in this case, bring back a country that can debate without insulting. I think the younger people get it, yet to many of these posts are from those used to the same old thing. Think positive Paul, it is the new thing. And being polite is a virtue, not a weakness. Never should one perceive it as such.

[GingersPawPaws]

some of us bloggers and armchair advisors cant not get out there to do what we wished We Could! some of us are abandoned in our wheel chairs! or left to lay in bed! because we have no motor functions so our PC's are our only way of communication of our feelings about what is going on out in the real world, Now For those of us who can not get out there we also suffer from what I will call FEAR of losing our Benifits so we are on our PC'S doing as much as we can!, We are learning as Fast as we can! and we are DOING AS MUCH AS WE CAN! & we do have our opinions and those Opinions rather you functioning people like it or not COUNT!!!! So before you speak like that Please direct your comment to exactly who you mean! some might take offense to that!

[AntonBursch]

A leader is someone who by their actions inspires other people to act.

We are the ones we've been waiting for.

[Daly]

my commet did not make the cut; so again more pc

Paul, if Obama were dropped off in NYC and not recognized, he would not be able to get a cab

that is reality 2008 America.

[Rose52]

He would have no problem getting a cab in NYC.
West Virginia, maybe not.
We've come a long way and we're almost there.
Paul's right though. We need to work harder.

[Bobrobert]

Is there something wrong with this country calling itself civilized???

If you refuse to argue with an opponent you are weak and it is ok to belittle someone????

Go figure.

I am most thankful Obama is above such childish thing as this.

[anniegirl9]

People who already favor Obama and dislike McCain wanted to see him show more fire - throw more punches, but the ones Obama needs to win over would see this as tit-for-tat. CNN did a great experiment by showning DEM, REP, and undecided voters reacions to the debate as it was occuring. Everytime McCain said Obama didn't understand, the favorability of the Dems and Ind. went down.

Yes, we would like to see McCain bruised and battered, but this time I think taking the higher road may have payed off.

[jerseymaiden]

Obama just isn't going for the cheesy theatrics McCain is constantly pulling. He's letting clownie do his thing, and looking very effing presidential by comparison before he even opens his mouth. It's all good. The moronic half of The American People (TM) are going to vote for McCain no matter what, so you might as well get used to it, and just pray that enough of us end up voting for Obama that he squeaks thru. Or we are in for a *real* disaster.

[TenThings]

To answer your post

When someone LIKE, Obama, "Underwhelms" They have everywhere to go but UP. (remember this is the First Debate)

and,

When Someone with the facts of McCain "Patronizes", the are seen as disparaging, hubristic, and contemptuous D i C k.s ,

[newunderground]

I Know we all want to see Obama smack that smirk right off MCCainn's face. but je's gotta be careful and walk a narrow line lest he be characterized as the ANGRY BLACK MAN. Personally I've come to trust his superior instincts. He's got a great team, and believe it or not they know what they're doing. He didn't get this far by accident.