Class and comfort in the UK election: Brown vs. Two Children of Privilege

[Captain Hilts]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/weekinreview/02lyall.html

Britons remain obsessed with the minutiae of social distinction, and the candidates have gone into elaborate contortions in their efforts to present themselves as ordinary working people. The Labour leader, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, whose father was a Scottish minister and who became a left-wing student leader at the University of Edinburgh, can plausibly get away with this. It is a harder act to pull off for David Cameron, the Conservative leader, and Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats.
...
Professor Fielding and others say that at a time like this, personality — particularly the kind that flourishes in heavily choreographed 90-minute debates — is the last thing the voters should focus on. “Glib fluency in front of the camera might win over TV viewers, but it is not an indicator of a politician’s genuine stature,” the columnist Leo McKinstry wrote recently in The Daily Mail.

The debates have changed the course of the campaign by reconfiguring the political landscape. Unexpectedly catapulted to prominence at the first debate by his earnest demeanor and smooth, fresh approach, Mr. Clegg has put his party on the map, successfully presenting himself as a viable alternative to politics as usual. Mr. Cameron has used the debates to hone his credentials as potential prime minister-in-waiting, assuaging the fears of some voters, at least, that he is too slick and callow for Britain’s top job.

But Mr. Brown, a naturally uncomfortable person, has fared poorly next to his self-assured opponents. The spin from his aides that being telegenic is less important than being serious hasn’t gained traction with the public. Told to humanize his campaign by interacting with ordinary voters, Mr. Brown sabotaged the effort last week when he forgot he was wearing a microphone, angrily dismissing a lifelong Labour supporter as a “bigoted woman” after she expressed worries about immigration.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Yes, Poor Brown ... so out of the loop ... so underprivileged? eom

[Jennicut]

2. People usually pick their leaders on the basis of how well they perform on tv.

And other times, with Bush, they just overlook the stumbling and bumbling and vote them in again anyway.

Brown has never been comfortable in front of the cameras.

[Captain Hilts]

3. He couldn't be a 'leader' anywhere else. I guess that's kind of archaic now.

Comfort before a camera suggests a certain minimum degree of poise in difficult situations, but the cause-effect isn't quite that direct or easy to determine.

Still love your kitty picture.

[Jennicut]

4. I am shy by my nature and very uncomfortable in situations with lots of crowds.

I wouldn't say I couldn't lead people. But then again, I would never run for public office. Ever.
The shyness started in childhood. I was the quietest kid in my class and in 1st grade kids teased me and told me "shhh" as a joke. I am just glad that my own daughters don't seem to have that problem. I do feel for politicians that seem not to be naturals in front of a camera but then again, they did choose to go into a role where being comfortable in public is part of the job.

My kitty has a friend. We adopted another kitty. His name is Blackberry and I am working on getting a pic of them together. He is 6 months old and terrorizing my house as we speak. He was a barn cat and his very wild.

[Captain Hilts]

5. I was the New Girl in school a lot, so....

I had to develop a certain thick hide. Such as, 2nd first day of school in 7th grade - Late October in Charleston, SC. I was introduced to the class and a guy in the back shouted, "Ugh! She's ugly!" At lunch a girl who had known me two years and two states before told me she was going to beat the shit out of me.

After that, most days have been easy. So being a TA in graduate school and teaching auditorium classes seems easy because I have a certain amount of control and have learned to be quick on my feet. It's an acquired skill.

You have to be a certain kind of person to do what politicians, singers and comedians do. On stage with only a microphone and your wits/talents to protect you. Barbra Streisand and Carly Simon decided they just couldn't do it any more, despite their obvious talent. Streisand would throw up before every performance. Streisand!

Very cool about the barn cat. They'll train each other on their worst habits!