Everybody Just Calm Down

I just watched Barack Obama's latest campaign ad. It's him, talking straight to the camera, mainly about the economy, for two minutes. Compelling and reasonable, he says nothing we haven't heard him say before, while looking and sounding, 'presidential'. In a normal year the ad may have been criticized or ignored because of its' lack of pizzazz, but to me it is thrilling, and I suspect that it will work extremely well, especially among that most eagerly sought after group; the undecideds.

There is a consistent story out of the Obama campaign. It goes like this: an attack is launched by one of his opponents. The attack appears to be working. Poll numbers change. A gap widens, or narrows. Dismay starts to surface as the candidate and his closest advisors don't seem to be doing anything. Eventually, there is a meeting, or a conference call. Suggestions of how to respond come in thick and fast. Voices clamor to be heard. Then, through the noise comes this directive, "Okay, let's everybody just calm down. Here's what we're going to do." The conversation quickly goes from clamorous to orderly, from strident to strategic, and the campaign moves forward. Since Iowa, remember Iowa!?, this has been happening. Yet it seems that with each new punch thrown by the opposition, his most avid supporters, especially those on the chattering Left who supposedly know better, seem to forget... that Barack Obama is GOOD AT THIS.

When he finally called the McCain ads examples of "Phony Outrage", even I had begun to worry that his silence was a sign of the old Democratic strategy called 'how to lose a presidential election by being nobly high-minded', which was employed so gosh darn effectively by Kerry and Gore. Instead, what he did was the following: He paused to think about it. Then he paused a little longer to let the electorate think about it. And then he paused a little longer to build some suspense, before giving it a name: Phony Outrage. Wow. Simple, cool, and true. And actually "phony" is a much better word than 'lies' or 'distortions' or 'smears', because it is dismissive, without being contemptuous. It's mature, authoritative, and reasonable. And it made McCain look immature and silly. Not bad for a man young enough to be his grandson.

I don't know how long it took Obama to come up with that phrase. Maybe it was on the tip of his tongue as soon as he heard the attack, (maybe he even knew the attack was coming!) but he understands something that so many people on the Left can't seem to get their heads around; most Americans, Democrats, Republicans, even swing voters, are moderate, reasonable people.
They -- check that -- We, are not poised in front of the TV listening for ideological buzzwords that confirm our ironclad beliefs. We are actually listening for something beyond politics: confidence, reassurance, leadership, in language that we comprehend and appreciate.

Obama knows that the stridency and dismay coming from the Left, is as phony as the outrage and mean-spiritedness coming from the Right. Sarah Palin is a dreadful candidate, chosen for cynical political reasons. But, that doesn't mean that anyone who listened to her speech, and found reasons to like her, had suddenly taken leave of their senses. Can we please admit that, for a fairly long time, Obama himself was (intentionally-ssshhh, don't tell anyone) pretty light on substance, and those people that dared to say so had not been sent to the surface by Beelzebub! They were simply listening, and had not yet been convinced. Let's also try to admit that the women who remain angry at how Hillary Clinton was treated are not crazed harpies with fangs. Nor are Undecided Voters sub-literate morons more interested in choosing America's Next Top Model than the leader of the free world. This is a politically moderate, idealistic, and instinctively non-intellectual country. But as one not-too-shabby president once said, "..You can't fool all the people all the time." A good way to alienate them, however, is to be scornful and impatient.

Obama seems to understand this better than John McCain, and he has demonstrated extraordinary discipline through the many provocations and distractions he has had to answer. That discipline will be put to the ultimate test in the next 49 days, so it might be a good time for everyone who wants him to win, to "Calm the f*** down", and take a long steady look at how this candidate does politics. There are swing voters out there. They are still deciding, and that doesn't mean there's something wrong with them.

Here's my list of best guesses regarding how Obama got where he is. 1. He listens (or at least appears to be listening, which is a very reassuring quality). 2. He finds common ground(or at least uses words that make him seem reasonable and empathetic). 3. He works toward consensus(which means that, heaven forbid, he sometimes makes overtly political decisions, kind of like -- gasp -- his opponents). 4. He chooses moments and words carefully(could McCain have been right about his use of "Lipstick on a Pig"? Was our Barack actually setting a trap!? Hmmm.). 5. He points out differences while emphasizing commonality (and he means it, the man is a Centrist, only in America could Obama be described as a Liberal). And finally, this is just a guess so it doesn't get a number; I strongly suspect that he would prefer his supporters to stop asking exasperated questions that make them sound like snooty limousine liberals, or wild-eyed kooks. It is neither helpful nor fair to question the sanity of anyone who hasn't yet made up their mind.

A case in point: The man that lives next door to me, in the house with the McCain/Palin yard sign, is the only person in our neighborhood with a key to my front door. I trust him. We hang out. We even talk politics. He and his wife watched both conventions, thought about it, and made a decision. I think I can persuade them to reconsider, but either way, I'm not going to ask for my key back. We're neighbors, after all.

Everybody, just calm down.

Comments

[fedupwiththis]

I, of course, meant NOT genuine in the first sentence of my post. Sorry!

[fedupwiththis]

I would like to remind everyone that all the posters on this or any site are genuine. I suspect many of the supposedly "liberal" posters who criticize the Obama organization for everything from not responding quickly enough to not putting Senator Clinton on the ticket are actually McCain trolls trying to undermine our morale. Remember the McCain/Palin organization. has a bounty for the top posters to progressive sites who take pot shots at Barack. It's OUR job to trash them when they do. It is necessary to "take out the trash" on occasion.

[jpcline004]

his most adamant supporters HAVE NOT forgotten this. We never thought this was going to be easy. Why the heck do you think we work so hard? Nothing is taken for granted

[MoeB]

Thanks for this piece!

I've been trying to calm people down here for the last week or so. I mean, what's the purpose of having a leader if you don't trust him to get the job done? I've been stressing he hasn't made it this far by NOT knowing how to be successful.

I've also been saying that WE need to do more! If this is who we've chosen to lead us, WE need to make sure that he gets elected in order to lead. Being sad at the polls or angry at the ignorance of a good portion of the electorate is not going to help. Registering folks to vote will. Becoming an election judge will. Making sure people aren't being purged from voter rolls will. Telling uninformed friends/neighbors will. Honestly, I don't believe there are more conservatives than liberals in this country anymore. It's just conservatives VOTE and liberals, well...

[JayInDallas]

Having grown up in Philadelphia, the cradle of liberty for this great nation, I've often wondered what happened to the reverence for and sanctity of the documents that are the keystones to this democracy. For the last 8 years we've allowed the systematic dismantling of what the founding fathers fought so hard to establish and preserve. Now it appears that there is a resurgence in true patriotism. Not the subservient, government­-deferring­, compliant type we've seen being peddled by the Republican party, but the kind that demands the rights of and for all citizens. The kind that usurps the tyrannical policies and politics of the latter day King George and unequivocally demands freedom. I suspect that this is part of what most Americans sense but cannot fully explain. The time has come for us to stand up and demonstrate that we are ready to actively participate in the direction, policies and governance of this great nation and are no longer content to leave this in the hands of a select few. I look forward to the day when I can stand in the room inside Independence Hall where the Constitution was drawn and signed before the ghosts of those who gave us so much with the shame inside me replaced once again by wholehearted gratitude.

OBAMA '08

[tuttlemsm]

I share the author's view that Obama is a good politician, and is probably employing the right strategy overall, but I do not share his celebration of the anti-intellectual, empty vessel American middle.

"Nor are Undecided Voters sub-literate morons more interested in choosing America's Next Top Model than the leader of the free world. "

Are you sure about that? Are you really, really sure?

It may be that I'm far too cynical, and Obama is going to sail to victory. But if America actually does flunk its third quadrennial national I.Q. test in a row, I would say it might be because undecided voters are sub-literate morons more interested in choosing America's Next Top Model than the leader of the free world.

[Jamchinadian]

LOL! I respect your sentiments, but somehow I feel America will not flunk for a 3rd time in a row.

[Fudgefase]

In Scotland, a few years back, the omnipresent Labour (ruling) party put up, for election a candidate who had got there through virtue of being there longest. He was unskilled, untalented, and uneducated. He even had 'love' and 'hate' tattooed on his knuckles. His party joked that they could put an ass up for election, and as long as it had a Labour rosette pinned to it's bridle, the electorate would vote for it.
Guess what? He lost the safe seat.
The electorate had been taken for granted - and even the staunch Labour supporters of thirty and forty years standing, were offended at the candidate they'd been offered to represent them.

America - get off your collective backsides and make sure you do not let Palin and McCain (surely that's the correct way round for the ticket) anywhere NEAR the White House.
You have been played for fools too long, and too often.

[VAforObama]

Many have described him as "no drama Obama," and I agree. Also, he fights like Ali. Keep the opponent swinging and he'll finally tire out. He knows what he's doing and he knows how to gather others around him with the same expertise and habits. The question for us: what are we going to do to make it better for ourselves and our neighbors.

[cbat]

Thank you, I so sick of dems/liberals complaining about what Obama camp is doing or not doing, what the hell are you doing. This is not just Obama's election to lose, it will be ours also. The conservative pundits would love to report that dems/liberals have no faith in Obama. Remember Hillary under-estimated Obama.

[colette]

Fly like a butterfly, sting like a bee! Remember that, in relation to the great Ali?

I like the post, and also believe that Obama & his team know what the heck they are doing, as evidenced by: a) beating a "formidable" Hillary clinton in the primaries and b) managing to be tied (at least) with a candidate who, for all his obvious demerits, is an American folk hero.

Recently Obama noted again that John McCain is widely known among Americans for his war sacrifice, his alleged "maverick" status, etc. We can't underestimate that, and neither has he! If you're a Democrat, you look at McCain and see one thing. Many others see someone else, a great guy who has weathered uninmaginable torments, and who speaks truth to power.

OK, the last part is bull. but that's what American politics have become. Obama is walking a fine line between advocating change, and not scaring people who still have an innate fear of "the other." He's been underestimated at every step. He's cool and centered enough to know who he is, and to adjust tactics when necessary without reinventing himself whenever things are tough.

And -- last but not least -- if we want to elect him then WE HAVE TO WORK FOR HIM. The candidate alone can't get out the vote, even if he's inspired millions to register. This is an election to save the soul of OUR COUNTRY, so let's pitch in and work together.

[CindyWV]

Finally, an article that speaks reason and reminds everyone to "Chill!"

Just yesterday on this site I read three articles that all had the same message: "The Republican sky is falling on us, so we'd best...dump Biden for Hillary...woo undecided Hillary women for votes by lying and subterfuge ("Yes, Hillary would've been the better choice after all, but, my, oh, my, now what else can we do but support Biden?")...wring our hands, gnash our teeth, pull our hair..." Good grief.

Close it may be in the end, but I have faith that Obama can manage anything that the GOP throws at him. His supporters need to remember what attracted them to him in the first place and act on it. If Obama has to baby-sit his supporters, too, how does that help to get him and Biden elected?

[lechatnoir]

You're right, it DID become quite frantic at some point. Only proves to show Rove-style scorched land anything goes Politics is part of the problem. Let's start by electing O, then we can strip corporations of their "person-hood", restore habeas corpus, void the John Warner Defense Authorization Act, and a couple more things like that.
I guess we'd all be more relaxed if O acted to pull out of Pakistan though;)

[21stCenturyMan]

I wouldn't ask for the key back either; that would be offensive. Just change the locks.

[GoodNews]

Good one!

[AnotherTry]

I just can't get excited about a guy that has such weak positions on gun control, subsidizing churches, abortion rights, capital punishment, marriage equality, wire-tapping, wars and now don't ask don't tell.

I know the opposition is ridiculous, but I don't care anymore. Democrats deserve to lose. And if we can survive Bush, we can survive McCain.

And if it gets REALLY bad, maybe a new democrat won't be afraid to actually hold democratic positions in order to win.

If Obama does lose, I can tell you exactly where he went wrong. It was the first week in June when he went from center to right of center. Why vote for a fake republican when you can have the real thing?

[tdpubs]

U.S. Politics 101. If the electorate wanted a lefty they would have overwhelmingly chosen Dennis Kucinich. This country is still in the emotional grip of Reagan hypnosis. A lefty is not going to get the nomination until a centrist does.

[AnotherTry]

What makes you think Obama is a centrist? He might as well be a republican. I would be happy with a centrist.

[RobertHenryEller]

Yes, Obama is "good at this." But as Obama says, "This is about you (US), not me."

We're worried about how good "WE" are.

Obama cannot do this alone.

When Obama has to tack and compromise, it's because WE have not done our job. "We the people" must understand exactly what Obama meant when he said "WE are the one WE've been waiting for."

"We the People." Remember?

WE have got to get off of this "Leader" obsession. We cannot leave it to our "Leaders" to know and do what's best for us. They're only going to do "what they're told," or "what they can get away with." If WE do OUR job, they do "what they're told." If WE DON'T do OUR job, they do "what they can get away with." Or worse, they do what someone else tells them to do.

Our Founding Fathers created a government based on their faith in US, not in our leaders! In fact, they designed our government the way they did expressly because they DID NOT TRUST LEADERS!

So, ask the right question: Are WE good at this?

Wake up America! Being a citizen of a Democracy is a serious job! Do your job!

[OutsideLookingIn]

"most Americans, Democrats, Republicans, even swing voters, are moderate, reasonable people. "

A comforting thought.

Then I thought of the numbers of Americans who, according to the polls, believe the Bible is the literal truth, support Creationism, believe Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11 and who STILL seem to think McCain/Palin would be a better Administration than Obama/Biden.

Forgive me if I hyperventilate again.

[rmacspen]

Yes, a lot of people in our country base their decisions on dubious premises, but I agree that most Americans don't believe that twaddle, and just because a lot of people do, doesn't mean we need to start tearing our hair out.

[annis]

I hyperventilate for a time almost every day. However, voting is done in the voting booth and is one voice at a time. And a lot of quiet people are going to vote. The loudmouths are the ones streaming over the airwaves (are we running out of airspace yet?). So, I'm hoping for the quiet landslide. More than hoping - if Obama wins by the landslide there will be hope; if not, well, maybe our time is just over the same as the Native Americans faced their decimation. There are bigger energies at work .... rise and decline .......

[vinny]

O was "good" at rallying the religious wingnut voters for McCain...

[LiberTLover]

Oh please, as if they would ever vote for anyone other than Rush or Bill or Hannity tells them to vote for.