Painting Obama as Arrogant
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, RepublicansOne of the political tactics the Republicans are brilliant at is stamping Democratic presidential candidates with an undesirable character trait that sticks in the American psyche. Think about it. Al Gore the pompous windbag. John Kerry the aloof elitist. Even Bill Clinton, who managed two victories, was still successfully labeled as a slippery womanizer. Now, these work because they’re based in truth – the Republicans just expand the negative quality into caricature and then make that caricature the shorthand description of their opponent’s character. If the Democrats had spent more time painting George Bush as a bumbling fool (believable) and less as Hitler (not believable) they may have won in 2004.
So far, the labeling of Barack Obama has been inexact. Effete? Not quite right. He shoots hoops, he doesn’t wind surf. Maybe suffering from a messiah complex? No, that’s too over-the-top. How about: arrogant? That’s the one I see beginning to stick. It’s actually a brilliant label from a Republican perspective. It’s non-racial and it’s one of the most despised characteristics of the Bush administration. Who wants four more years of arrogant leadership?
Plus, it fits well enough. You can’t describe your nomination as, “the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal†without getting some catcalls about your lack of humility. Obama speaks in grandiose language, it’s not hard to assume he too is a bit pompous.
I really don’t know how Obama can fight this label. Perhaps by perfecting the Democrats own labeling initiative – the one that has McCain as McSame. Or as the angry old man. Heck, Bill Clinton escaped his labeling in 1992 by painting George H. W. Bush as out-of-touch and uncaring.
But, in the meantime, maybe Obama should just hold off on the healing the planet language.
This entry was posted on Friday, August 1st, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Maybe just a little bit messianic?
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
Jimmy — sure, but that’s the kind of label that resonates more with people already opposed to Obama. “Arrogant” could get into the minds of undecideds.