Chuck basically says that unless you pander in soundbites, you lose. If you show respect for your opponent's views, you lose. However defensible this is as analysis, it isn't part of the solution, is itI understand that sentimentalism is deadly for these guys, and that they have to be realistic about the electorate. But every once in a while it's good to be existential about your craft. Moreover, it helps to have some humility and remember how many times you've been wrong. It's like Hillary won, or something.
« Frank Rich cuts through the hyperventilating | Main | Jesse on Jesse » I generally like Chuck Todd18 Aug 2008 10:00 am
Mostly because he brings science to the gaggle of pundits who daily trying to play oracle. Still, Andrew is dead-on in checking him for basically saying non-pandering equals fail:
Comments (13)
Unfortunately, most of the electorate are low information voters (AKA vacuous dumbasses) and hollow pandering is what sustains them. The population has become so lazy and self-entitled they simply want a candidate to tell them only good news and easy solutions. At this point; if they keep gobbling this shit up, they deserve to see their standard-of-living plummet as idiotic economic policy bleeds this country dry. This is one of those cases where it will be 100% acceptable to say: They deserve to be poor. 
I think the nature of the forum required Obama to explain his view more than McCain. McCain agreed with a lot of the audience on abortion and the Supreme Court, so he didn't need to justify his stance.
Yo Ta Nehisi: I'm trying to find out if anyone has checked with John Lewis about what advice John McCain has solicited from him. At Saddleback, McCain named John Lewis as someone he would seek advice from, but somehow it doesn't seem to me that a man who worked so closely with MLK (Lewis)would have much to say to somebody worked actively to oppose the MLK holiday in Arizona and elsewhere McCain). I think McCain lied, but I don't see many references or speculation about this anywhere. I think he just said it to create the impression that he might consult with an African American. Your thoughts?
*blushes* I thought from the title you were promoting Chuck Todd as white spokesperson, which seemed a rather bland choice.
McCain frightens me. Everything is black or white in his world. I prefer shades of gray and thoughtful decisions in my world. Not instant decisions. I am not a Georgian!
I can't really blame Chuck. In the past, non pandering has equaled fail. This whole election is about whether that is still true or not. Whoa, Kat. I'm voting for Obama, but while he may not be pandering as much, there are instances where he's pandered hard. The Israeli one is maybe the strongest. Chris Todd is largely correct.
The Chuck Todd comment is really just another case of the MSM giving McCain the benefit of the doubt on all things in this general. Hell even Andrew seems to be drifting in that direction ala his cone of silence comment. (the world may end now) Instead of taking McCain to task for being thin on substance, light on details, dishonest, missleading, flip flopping etc....he says pandering in soundbites per audience is the way to go! Way to go McCain for figuring it out. Silly Obama actually thought words matters.. What shite.
It is absolutely necessary for any candidate to have a simple, memorable message, and to get it in the eyes and ears of as many people as possible. It's also important that they be able to drive their message through the national media, in the face of opposition. This is the primary political job of the President, and the campaign is a demonstration of it. "Pander and soundbite" is the method most often used these days. That doesn't mean it's the only way. Obama seems to have some different ideas, though in some ways they are old ideas in a new context. Furthermore, Obama strongly believes in the ground game, in grassroots organization. This is an entirely different channel than the national media. It was successful for him in the primary.
The Chuck Todd comment is really just another case of the MSM giving McCain the benefit of the doubt on all things in this general. Hell even Andrew seems to be drifting in that direction ala his cone of silence comment. (the world may end now) Instead of taking McCain to task for being thin on substance, light on details, dishonest, missleading, flip flopping etc....he says pandering in soundbites per audience is the way to go! Way to go McCain for figuring it out. Silly Obama actually thought words matters.. What shite.
"Furthermore, Obama strongly believes in the ground game, in grassroots organization. This is an entirely different channel than the national media. It was successful for him in the primary. Posted by Doctor Jay | August 18, 2008 11:41 AM" Good point. The national media seems to think their role at this point is to over-emphasize the role of the national media even while newspaper subscriptions go down and 24-hour news channels see their ratings drop. In national campaigns, local news outlets (and non-political publications when they cover political issues) have a bigger effect on voting patterns than the national media.
Chuck scores fairly well against his fellow pundits (which isn't saying much) in focusing more often on facts than campaign-issued talking points. It is too often ignored, however, that endless opining on "voter perception" of reality serves also to create that reality.
Todd's remarks are insulting to the electorate to be sure, but as has been said it's probably true. How else did we end up Bush twice? /gag That said, I keep repeating to myself over and over I can only hope there are more thinking Americans than not. Hopefully, Obama's ground game is circumventing the standard routes that Todd is privey to enough to reach those with a brain.
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I can't really blame Chuck. In the past, non pandering has equaled fail. This whole election is about whether that is still true or not.
Posted by Kat | August 18, 2008 10:03 AM