The Republican/Media machine excels at defining Democratic Candidates

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

The Republican/Media machine excels at defining Democratic Candidates

Barack Obama has special handicaps vis-a-vis definition.

By the standards of American national electoral politics, he is different... his age, background, race, and manner are all different.

His strength is his weakness. People hungry for difference see his differentness as refreshing and hopeful. People hungry for security will see his differentness as threatening, not because it ought to be seen as threatening, but because by election day, all Presidential elections become about security and trust.

Most problematic for Barack is that his greatest asset is his vagueness... he is all things to all people. The way you attract both extreme progressives and Tom Clancy independents is to NOT define yourself.

So, unable to define himself in a way that doesn't cost him support in one direction or another, Barack Obama is the politician most susceptible to Republican definition techniques I've ever seen.

That is why I view contemporary match-up polling with great skepticism. If we could hold the general election tomorrow, I'd say, "Let's run Barack." But the Barack Obama of November 2008 doesn't exist yet, and he will not be the beacon of hope we see today. The media-manufactured, defined Barack of November 2008 will be too young and too alien to trust.

This doesn't mean Barack cannot win. He probably can. But the reality I have laid out here makes it ridiculous to talk about how he is more electable than Clinton because he appears slightly more electable today.

The change candidate ALWAYS does well in spring polling! (In 1992 the change candidate was Perot, not Clinton.) And then the grind begins. The period between today and November is not optional. It is a reality of Presidential politics.

Human psychology: In tests of hope and fear, hopeful options are more attractive the further away a decision is. It is fine to say Barack is electable, but it is foolish to say he is somehow overwhelmingly electable based on how he is seen today. (And the converse goes for Hillary.)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. .

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. ..

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. That's absurd!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

10. Nailed it! n/t

[robbedvoter]

2. They think the MSM narrative will continue - because they really, really like him!

And I an so fucking tired of being Cassandra - no satisfaction in saying "I told you so" in the middle of a disaster (i.e - Iraq war)

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. I am haunted by the line from BROADCAST NEWS where

Holly Hunter tells her boss he's wrong, and he says, sarcastically, "It must be great always being the smartest one in the room."

And she says, "No... it's terrible!"

[robbedvoter]

5. Great movie and great line.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. People hate this thread

[Fermezlabush]

7. It's the kind of truth many do not want to face...made by the media - destroyed by it

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

8. Watching the media glee over insane Britany Spears...

I'm like, what did she ever do to you media people? You're the ones who made ME look at her all these years.

But someone on the way down is as good a story as someone on the way up.

The only non-story is somebody staying where they are.