The "bully dynamic"
One of the more interesting things that went on Tuesday night were McCain's plaintive cries, "stop calling me Bush."
After so many years of watching Republicans play the bully on Democratic contenders, it was pretty weird to watch McCain whine. And it's not the first time.
Look at some of the responses to McCain's gaffes. "We're down to pre-surge levels" turned into "they're just picking on me for misusing verb tense." "100 years in Iraq" turned into "they're misrepresenting my position."
The GOP worships strength and McCain is not broadcasting that.
After so many years of watching Republicans play the bully on Democratic contenders, it was pretty weird to watch McCain whine. And it's not the first time.
Look at some of the responses to McCain's gaffes. "We're down to pre-surge levels" turned into "they're just picking on me for misusing verb tense." "100 years in Iraq" turned into "they're misrepresenting my position."
The GOP worships strength and McCain is not broadcasting that.
posted by mikevotes at
7:52 AM
8 Comments:
Very insightful.
The GOP also worships winners and despises losers. If McCain doesn't deliver then his stature in the Party will be non-existent. The GOP has compromised on virtually everything to make him their candidate, though they are now hard at work making him a generic Republican.
If McCain's primary attack is going to be that Obama is a young, naive, "whipper-snapper", then that is going to backfire. Most people don't think of a 46 year-old man as a child. This isn't some twenty-something fresh out of college, full of crazy and impractical ideas.
By
Todd Dugdale , at 9:01 AM
I've been trying to figure out the language for what McCain's painting. I think it's be scary of the change from this strange, seductive black man. His idea of America isn't yours.
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mikevotes, at 10:48 AM
There is a segment of America that fears and loathes anything foreign (regardless how good) and blindly embraces anything "American" (regardless how bad). Their only policy is to celebrate and reinforce the parochial, and demonize and attack the unfamiliar.
This is McCain. This is his base.
While we may see international support for an Obama presidency as a wonderful, fresh and hopeful sign, McCain and his supporters -- by definition -- see this as a negative. The more the foreigners dislike you, the better, they say. They wear foreign contempt as a badge of honor and they'll actively seek it out.
Diplomacy: bad. National health care: bad. Gay rights: bad. Openness to other cultures: bad.
Blowing foreign stuff up: good. Every person for themselves: good. State enforced personal morality: good. Contempt for other cultures: good.
Everything Obama stands for is foreign to these people. It's scary. He's scary.
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-epm, at 11:42 AM
Political view by action movie.
It is a much simpler world to live in, though.
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mikevotes, at 1:33 PM
I've been thinking about the title "The bully dynamic".
The ageless advice is that if you stand up to bullies they'll back down. Bullies can dish it out but they can't take it. I've personally been frustrated with the congressional Dems seeming continual capitulation to Republican bullying. I get the feeling that Obama isn't one to back down so easily.
Ironically, the candidate who talks about unity and rails against divisiveness is also very likely to not cave in under a bully's pressure. I'm sure he'll compromise on things and engage in fair and legitimate give and take, but he won't be bullied into caving in.
I'm not wording this very well, but I hope I'm being clear enough. Just as there's a line between being a fierce advocate and a bully, there's also a line between honest compromise and capitulation.
I think Obama will be neither a bully nor will he abide bullies. And though McCain and the Repubs will try to pain Obama as a weak little milquetoast, I think this will backfire as Americans get a chance to see more of Obama.... and McCain.
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-epm, at 2:12 PM
That's one of the reasons I'm so affectionate towards Howard Dean. He is unafraid and thinks he's right.
I would disagree with your idea that the unity candidate is necessarily the stronger candidate because sometimes that unity message comes across as pleading instead of a stronger leadership. (Kerry v Obama for instance.) The first is not a strong position while the second definitely could be.
And, what Obama has done so well in the challenges he has faced to far is that he's talked past the direct "engage me" insults and managed to look like he's operating above them. I don't know if it can last, but the campaign has managed a pretty effective two track strategy so far with him up and above and the campaign lower, snarky, and fighting.
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mikevotes, at 3:34 PM
I understand what you're saying about being a "unity" candidate. I was thinking of Obama's "We are the "Unitied States" of America" line when I said unity. Not so much the pleading "can't we just all get along" as a call to uniting in common cause... that kind of unity.
But I get what you're saying.
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-epm, at 3:50 PM
Right. Difference in leadership vs whatever.
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mikevotes, at 4:28 PM
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