July 31, 2008
The Morning After
John McCain's latest ad comparing Barack Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears didn't impress me that much, but appears to have made an impression on all the right people.
Why is such a simple association gaining traction, when far more troubling aspects of Obama's life being ignored or swept away?
People don't want to think about the fact that Barack Obama has no executive experience, that this legislative accomplishments are meager, and that his resume is thin. It scares them to look too deep into what he hasn't been able to accomplish... and so they don't.
People don't want to think about the fact that Obama is the first presidential candidate in our nation's history with direct ties to domestic terrorists, or radical, conspiracy-mongering clergy... and so they don't.
They look at the commanding stage presence. They bask in his oratory, carefully scripted not to offend, or to ask too much. They indulge themselves in his promise that he can be everything they need. They set aside reason. They set aside details. In a swoon, they think only about how he makes them feel now.
While followers of Obama have often been compared to religious zealots, the comparison is a false one. Zealots—true believers—can tell you from rote memory the articles of their faith, the details, the specifics that touch their core, often by chapter and verse.
Obamaphiles have been challenged time and again to answer what Obama believes in, to provide the substance behind their devotion, to explain what makes Obama "the One."
Most supporters offer a blank look when asked about his substance. Others get confused, then angry, though they don't even know why. Some rattle off a list of party-held positions or personally-held beliefs. Some, like the candidate himself, simply wave off such requests for substance as a "distraction."
Rachel Lucas and others come the closest in accurately describing Obama lust. It isn't a religious experience. It's beer goggling.
After almost eight years of frothing media pounding on the Bush Administration in particular and Republicans in general, and the addled mumblings and several years of toothless bravado of Democratic leadership, continuous campaign chasers, and plenty of cheap shots, we're all tipsy, tired, and ready to fall into the arms of the first attractive thing that comes along.
Barack Obama sweeps in wearing a pretty smile. He tells us we're beautiful. He utters sweet nothings in our ears, telling us we are the ones we've been waiting for.
And as he smiles that beautiful smile, and it all sorta make sense if we don't try to dig too deep. He's trying hard to charm our pants off, and we're inclined to believe him, because believing is easier.
He's pretty, and he's glitzy, and he's popular, and he's hoping you won't realize the trainwreck he is until the morning after the election.
Paris. Barack. Britney.
It resonates for a reason.
you hit the nail right on the head cy,lets HOPE(that word again)they sober up in time. not holding my breath or anything.
Posted by: 1903A3 at July 31, 2008 11:10 AMTrain wreck doesn't even begin to describe the disaster that Obama would turn out to be for the American people if elected.
The only thing that will save our collective arses is that a Republican Congress gets elected. If the Democrats retain the majority or even expand it we are really effed.
1) Much higher taxes on more wasteful social programs like Socialized Medicine and the Global tax.
2) Higher fuel prices as he opposes drilling & nuclear. No he hasn't said he opposed to nuclear but "its something to look into" is tantamount to "I'll not implement it, at least not unless it will affect my re-election."
3) Terrible foreign policy, on a level with Carter.
Posted by: Reason at July 31, 2008 11:13 AMSo I guess the alternatives to Brittany and Paris were the pair of:
1) Sharon Tate and Charles Manson
2) Vickie Lynn Hogan and Norma Jeane Mortenson
3) Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson
The ad has gained traction for several reasons, some of which you inadvertently identify.
First, Paris became famous for being famous; she had no discernable accomplishments. Thus, she is a powerful symbol for pointing out Obama's threadbare record.
Second, Bonnie Fuller quite recently wrote (at Conde Nast Portfolio.com) that the Obamas have made a concerted effort to market themselves through celeb mags like People and US Weekly. Something about wanting to be like the Brangelina of politics. Thus, the ad plays to the demographic so targeted by the Obamas.
Third, as you note, what Obama runs on is his stage presence. The ad is making a direct attack on his strength. It is quite Rovian in that regard. It seeks to turn his strength into a weakness, much like what happened to Kerry and his military record in 2004.
Posted by: Karl at July 31, 2008 11:47 AM"It's different not because of me, but because of you. Because you are tired of being disappointed and tired of being let down. You're tired of hearing promises made and plans proposed in the heat of a campaign only to have nothing change."
“I swear I’ll pull out”
“Of course I’ll still respect you in the Morning”
“I would never lie to you baby… for real!”
“Of course I love you…”
And there’s a lot more where that came from. Any guy who’s ever tried to bed down some random chick knows the lines… Obama has just adapted them to his political campaign.
I don't know about you but if a guy tells me I'm beautiful I tell him to back tf away.
Posted by: Bandit at July 31, 2008 03:13 PMReally dumb ad when you consider he WAS getting donations from the Hilton family. Why not get out there and say it's ok to be a celeb but that's not a qualification for being president?
Posted by: Mark E at July 31, 2008 04:19 PMGee, Obama plays after a rock concert in Berlin, books a stadium in Denver for his nomination acceptance, and then gets ruffled when he's compared to celebrities?
Methinks he doth protest too much.
Posted by: C-C-G at July 31, 2008 06:58 PMThe song:
I never feel a thing is real,
When I'm away from you.
Out of your embrace,
The world's a temporary parking place.
Mmm, mm, mm, mm...
A bubble for a minute.
Mmm, mm, mm, mm...
You smile, the bubble has a rainbow in it.
Say it's only a paper moon,
Sailing over a cardboard sea.
But it wouldn't be make-believe
If you believed in me.
Sing it!
Posted by: Mikey NTH at July 31, 2008 07:03 PMHey, Mark E, why not actually check to see if Hilton Senior is torqued off or not? Last I heard the answer is "no."
In case you haven't grokked the vid, the point is that Barry is like Paris in that they both enjoy great fame without any genuine accomplishment.
"Third, as you note, what Obama runs on is his stage presence. The ad is making a direct attack on his strength. It is quite Rovian in that regard. It seeks to turn his strength into a weakness, much like what happened to Kerry and his military record in 2004."
I think a more accurate phrasing is "turn his apparent strength into a weakness." Kerry's military record wasn't really that strong, and let's remember that nobody has conclusively refuted the Swift Boat vets either, they just lied and said they did.
Posted by: Rick C at August 1, 2008 11:02 AMI think a more accurate phrasing is "turn his apparent strength into a weakness."
Perhaps. We're discussing advertising and marketing, so "apparent" is really assumed here. It's what Kerry was selling as a strength and his opponents took it head on to show it really was a weakness, much as the subtext of this ad is showing that Obama's strength (able to give a speech) is really a weakness (that's all he's got). When I call it Rovian, it's not intended as an insult or Leftist dog-whistle. It's merely a description of a technique Rove mastered.
Posted by: Karl at August 2, 2008 02:23 AM
