Eureka Moment - old politics vs new pollitics

[housewolf]

I think the following comment by Collegekid merits a replay:

I just had what was for me the Eureka moment. Here's the difference between the Old Politics and the New Politics, as personified in the first case by Hillary and in the second by Barack:

The old politics is all about the sham of oh-so-showy pretending that you do not understand and could not in a million years agree with any part of what your opponent is saying, that it's harmful, evil, ridiculous, reprehensible. This style is excerptable for sound-bite gotcha attacks. Perfect for Fox News news cycles.

The new politics is taking the chance to try to understand your opponent's discourse and responding with reason, clarification, and even admission that you can say your point better the second and third time you address the issue. Needs the long form, such as extensive re-viewing on YouTube, elsewhere.

The question is, do we want to walk around pretending we don't want to and do not have to try to understand what other people are saying, or can we move to new ways of discussing issues in news cycles?

Posted by Collegekid
April 12, 2008 12:05 PM
Originally at http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/hillary_hits_obamas_small_town.php#comments

[patrice]

1. Right! It's demonstrating that you have the Strength to encompass the complete truth,

the creative intelligence to make the (as nearly complete as possible) truth y/our own, and the honesty to talk and listen to ALL of us (not just about this or that sub-group to this or that other sub-group).

[housewolf]

3. One of Obama's great strengths is that he knows how to really listen to people

To the needs and desires behind the words

[patrice]

4. He has enough experience outside of the social class that he currently occupies to be able

to recognize THEIR spoken and un-spoken meanings (not just his, not just taking everything about others and turning it into something about himself, no matter how absurd. I loved his bowling; it showed he's not a pretender and not a hider; doesn't mind letting us know about the differences between us and him. This is reality).

[dbonds]

2. Agree.

We have 24 hour news and youtube, haven't we outgrown soundbites.