When I was a child, one of my favorite storybooks was Br’er Rabbit. He constantly outwitted Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear. In one particular story that many of us know, Br’er Fox caught Br’er Rabbit and our furry little friend pleads with his nemesis not to throw him into the briar patch, full-well knowing that the briar patch is the rabbit’s best method of escape. The dim-witted fox falls for it and Br’er Rabbit wins again.
I was reminded of that story when I saw Br’er McCain’s challenge to Obama to hold 10 joint forums last week. The McCain campaign thinks they are on to something with this idea. Given the lackluster performance of their candidate on Tuesday night, I don’t blame them. McCain is a horrible speaker. He uses a teleprompter like it’s a lifeboat. He is much better when conducting a town hall meeting and speaking extemporaneously. Conversely, though Obama isn’t bad at all in the town hall format, his strong suit is oratory given to thousands of people. The McCain campaign likes their chances that voters will prefer their guy when seen side-by-side with Obama.
Obama should lower the bar of expectations, protest about the town hall meeting briar patch and then let McCain throw him right into it. Contrary to what the Republicans may think, the town hall meetings will provide a contrast that only helps Obama. Right or wrong, John Kennedy was the first President to prove that image matters more than substance when creating a political perception. The image of the youthful Obama beside the older McCain only underscores the Obama message of change. Voters are not happy with how the last eight years have turned out and do indeed want change. Viewing the two candidates side by side, it is easy to see who represents change.
Obama should also let himself be thrown into the McCain briar patch of touring Iraq. To be sure, Obama would see that progress is being made, but not enough progress to justify a continued American presence there or additional loss of American lives. Going to Iraq would provide the world with a marked contrast in the two candidates. At a time when we don’t have many allies and much of the world thinks we are arrogant, which message is going to play better - “stay the course” delivered by an old guy, or, “let’s engage the world and fix this” delivered by a young, charasmatic guy? As Frank Rich so eloquently wrote in today’s New York Times,
“When the world gets a firsthand look at the new America Mr. Obama offers as an alternative to Mr. McCain’s truculent stay-the-course, the public pandemonium may make J.F.K.’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” visit to the Berlin Wall look like a warm-up act.”
PLEASE Br’er McCain, don’t throw us into that briar patch!!
2 responses so far ↓
Political Junkie // June 9, 2008 at 9:35 am
The pundits think McCain will do quite well during the town hall meetings…of course, let’s remember, they announced it would be a Hillary/Rudy match come November. I think Sen. Obama is a really quick study of what to do and not do or say, and if McCain’s handlers think Obama will not do well in the town hall type venue, because of a slightly bad performance during the last debate, they are sorely mistaken - Sen. McCain will look old and out of touch with what most Americans are thinking today. Just ask yourself, is America better off than it was just 4 years ago?
lillingtondemocrat // June 10, 2008 at 12:01 am
If Obama can just remember, “it’s the economy stupid”, link McCain to Bush constantly, tie Iraq to the economy issue, and rediscover his dualality as not only a Black man but also a man of Scot-Irish decent (if elected he will not only be the first man of African decent but the 14th man of Scot-Irish decent ever elected President) then he just might win! He’s got to show the voters that he isn’t an unknown quantity but just a regular guy out there trying to make life better for Average Joe. Town Hall meetings might be just the place to do that. Throw him into the brair patch!