Are we paying attention now?
August 23, 2008
Although I am pretty certain about who I will vote for in November, I still listen to what both Obama and McCain are saying. I doubt if many people have paid too close attention to the race so far, but columnist Peggy Noonan writes that They’re Paying Attention Now.
It’s hard for our political class to remember that Mr. Obama has been famous in America only since the winter of ‘08. America met him barely six months ago! The political class first interviewed him, or read the interview, in 2003 or ‘04, when he was a rising star. They know him. Everyone else is still absorbing.
This is what they see:
An attractive, intelligent man, interesting, but—he’s hard to categorize. Is he Gen. Obama? No, no military background. Brilliant Businessman Obama? No, he never worked in business. Famous Name Obama? No, it’s a new name, an unusual one. Longtime Southern Governor Obama? No. He’s a community organizer (what’s that?), then a lawyer (boo), then a state legislator (so what, so’s my cousin), then U.S. senator (less than four years!).
There is no pre-existing category for him.
. . . And over there is Mr. McCain, and—well, we know him. He’s POW/senator/prickly, irritating John McCain.
Traditionally, the election campaigns begin after Labor Day. and the talking heads will see to it that we don’t forget that an election is coming up. I’s up to us to supplement the media spin with some independent reading, and Peggy Noonan is always worth reading.
Dave, who may be letting his GOP prejudice show a bit.
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