Posted by
Matthew on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 12:45:12 PM
Senator Obama is spending a lot of time explaining how superior the amount and type of experience he has compares to that of Gov. Palin.
The Senator has a legendary ability to focus and ignore things he calls "distractions." I'll not attempt to list all of the things that have been dismissed as distractions in this political season, since that list would be a distraction in and of itself, but I'm sure you've heard the term "distraction" thrown about once or twice regarding things you thought might be real issues.
However, he does not seem to be able to find that focus, that inner voice, when it comes to the comparisons between himself and Gov. Palin.
He is fixated.
He has to keep coming up with examples of how he is better than she.
His campaign staff has a budget 36 times that of Palin's mayoral town. He manages 1200 people - she only managed 60-ish, maybe.
Ignoring the issue that he has a campaign manager and chief of staff who are primarily responsible for the things he is taking credit for handling, and that she is a governor now (not just a small-town mayor), it still fascinates me to watch his responses.
One does not respond so vorasciously out of casual dismissal; one does it out of fear.
So what fears could there be that would explain this behavior?
- Mysogyny has to be a major suspect. The idea that anyone could compare him to this woman, and maybe give her some respectability in the balance, might be more than he can take.
- His own need to prove himself is a driving force. There was an interesting article in the Chicago Trib last week about how Obama is always requiring more of himself ("Must do better" was the catch-phrase in the piece), is very driven to rise to the top of whatever arena he enters. He has a right to this presidency. He is supposed to walk up and just claim the throne, because he is smarter, better-looking, and more urbane than his opponent. And now people dare to compare him to this backwoods, gun-toting, fisherman's wife-beauty queen? How dare they.
- His inner voices/doubts, which are usually behind both mysogyny and an (artificially) high level of personal drive, could be a factor. When he selected Joe Biden as his running mate, many saw an indication that he saw his own weakness in experience and foreign policy. His introduction of Biden as "The next President of the United States" was also seen as a Freudian slip, as if to say, "I know I'm not worthy; how about this guy?". Most people who are subconsciously unsure of themselves eventually turn to tearing others down in order to make themselves look better, or at least to feel better. I sense a lot of that in his attacks on Palin.
If I didn't already find Palin's candidacy just the right tonic for the McCain ticket, this would seal the deal for me. Any time you can get a presidential candidate to keep comparing himself to your veep choice, that's a good thing - especially if that Presidential candidate is already struggling with appearing presidential. Obama is off message, and is beginning to show some desparation in his attacks. I don't think Mr. Obama can stop himself.
No He Can't.