Obama Overseas! In Presidential Mode! Back Home, It’s McCain in a Golf Cart. (NYT)

[jefferson_dem]

Obama Overseas! In Presidential Mode! Back Home, It’s McCain in a Golf Cart.
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

It wasn’t a television blackout of John McCain; it was worse: split-screen contrasts that at times made it seem as if Barack Obama was on a state visit while back home his opponent chafed at the perks and privileges of an incumbent commander in chief.

On Tuesday, Mr. McCain held a town hall-style meeting in Rochester, N.H. In the shadow of the ancient Temple of Hercules in Amman, Jordan, Mr. Obama solemnly described his vision for peace in the region while standing at a lectern, the Middle East sprawling out behind him. Reporters were cordoned in front of him like the White House press corps — except that an audio snag kept their questions inaudible.

All three cable news networks carried Mr. Obama’s news conference live and in full. They showed only parts of Mr. McCain’s forum and focused mostly on his reaction to Mr. Obama’s statements. Even Fox News broke away from Mr. McCain midevent to cover the rescue of a bear cub wounded in a California fire and nicknamed Lil’ Smokey.

<SNIP>

But it’s not pro-Obama bias in the news media that’s driving the effusion of coverage, it’s the news: Mr. Obama’s weeklong tour of war zones and foreign capitals is noteworthy because it is so unusual to see a presidential candidate act so presidential overseas. Mr. Obama looks supremely confident and at home talking to generals and heads of state, so much so that some viewers may find the pose presumptuous — as if Mr. Obama believes that not only is his official nomination at the Democratic convention in August a mere formality, so is the November election.

<SNIP>

Mr. Obama’s stops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Jordan provided arresting video of the candidate being mobbed by American troops, surveying terrain by helicopter alongside Gen. David H. Petraeus and holding talks with Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq and King Abdullah of Jordan. When posing for an official photograph with a foreign leader, Mr. Obama often places his hand paternally on the other man’s arm, subliminally signaling that though a visitor, he is the real host of the meeting.

<SNIP>

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/us/politics/23watch.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

[saltpoint]

1. What a terrific post. Great pics, too.

:thumbsup: :hi:

[jefferson_dem]

2. Some are already referring to "McCain in the Golf Cart" as his "Dukakis in the Tank" moment...

Bwhahahah... :hi:

[saltpoint]

3. Good! Poppy Bush looks a bit deluded and dangerous at the wheel there,

too. More deluded and dangerous than his usual, I mean.

[KittyWampus]

4. "Property of 41" was the little sign on the golf cart windshield. LOL!

[BurtWorm]

8. "Hands off!"

What a family. :eyes:

[World Citizen]

5. needed caption--what is bush 1 saying?

[FSogol]

6. McCain & Bush the Elder: Keeping kids off America's lawns

:rofl:

[ginnyinWI]

7. pandering to the Old Codger vote. n/t

[JaneQPublic]

10. ROFL!!!

At least McCain found someone who makes him look younger by comparison.

Thanks for the laugh.

[Muttocracy]

11. LOL! DUzy worthy.

[trashcanistanista]

9. Kudos to Lil' Smokey for stealing

McCain's airtime!! And thanks to the California firefighter who made it possible.

[snooper2]

12. McAncient almost doesn't look so , well , ancient..

Sitting next to the other doddering fool :rofl:

[Hieronymus]

13. WTF is McCain doing in a golf cart anyway. He can't swing a club, in his

condition. Hell, he can't comb his own hair.