Barack Obama - All Sizzle and No Steak
I’m trying to stay in tune with the presidential campaigns but, like many, I find myself dozing off. The things I’ve been waiting to see — some “sizzle” from McCain and some “steak” from Obama — should have become more evident by now, yet remain obscured behind the media’s love affair with Obama.
As John Dickerson wrote in an article more than a year ago, the perception that Obama was “all sizzle and no steak” remained despite efforts by his handlers to change it.
“The huge crowds and stirring but vague reform rhetoric don’t give voters anything they can take home in their pocket. This has lead to some high-profile failures—at a health-care forum in Nevada and with firefighters in Washington—in venues where audiences wanted to hear specifics about ideas that will change their lives. Obama’s rhetoric makes this task more difficult. He presents himself as a paradigm-shifting candidate, which means people are expecting to be floored not just by his charisma but by his ideas.”
Dickerson pointed out that, in the polls, Clinton did far better than Obama on questions of experience, leadership, and capacity to handle a crisis, trouncing him by more than 30 points among Democrats looking more for strength and experience. Worse for Obama, when voters were asked the question in the abstract whether he had enough experience for the job, only 30 percent of respondents said yes in a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll. On the same question, Clinton scored in the 70s. Yet Obama received his highest marks in polls from people who thought he was new, fresh, and inspiring. In the end, Democrats chose the latter.
And not much has changed. Obama’s skill at eloquently “reframing the question” to convince Democrats that charisma trumps experience seems to be keeping his ball in the air. But an empty suit—albeit a charismatic one—is still just sizzle and no steak.
Which leads me to my latest bumper sticker, sent to me by James. It pairs well with my McCain sticker, don’t you think? Maybe I’ll stick them both in my side bar. Hmmmm…Reminds me of the 80s Wendy’s television commercial. “Where’s the beef?”
Doug
16 Comments
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (16)
Great article! I have wondered the same thing. All I see is rock star treatment by the press and no "meat". When will they start grilling him instead of lobbing him softballs he can toss back with well rehearsed sound bites and rhetoric? If you watch the media coverage, you wouldn't know there is another candidate running. And that isn't McCain's fault.
I gather you don't like either candidate so will you vote?
You bring up a good point: Where is some sizzle from McCain? Is it him (I admit he isn't "exciting") or is it our media who only wants to cover the apparent parade? I mean, even when someone points out the disparity in coverage, most media people answer by blaming McCain and raving on more about Obama. It seems clear the media wants Obama to win, but they are being more blatant about their slanted coverage than I have ever seen!
Exactly my sentiments, Doug! You hit the nail on the head. Everyone loves a parade, but we can't (shouldn't) elect the leader of the free world based on media hype of the biggest parade. It is the candidates' responsibility (and the media's) to give us the meat of their platform, not just "sizzle". I have heard meat from McCain with little coverage, and lots of sizzle from Obama with abundant coverage. We have to demand more from the candidates AND the media!
Wonder why the election hasn't turned into a referendum on John McCain given that George Bush is so unpopular?
It is because the criticisms that the McCain campaign are making about Obama ring true. People are asking if is he is ready to lead. So far, we haven't heard much from Obama to convince us he is.
On the other hand, the Obama campaign's attacks on McCain are pretty weak. McCain is famous for being a "maverick" who infuriates conservatives. Does anyone really believe he is going to be just another George Bush? Does anyone believe McCain is in the pocket of oil companies? Or that he is somehow going to keep us fighting in Iraq for 100 years? Stop and think America! Those claims are baseless.
The reason the election is becoming a referendum on Barack Obama in a year when some might expect the Democrats to win in a walk is because there are serious questions about Obama's competence, and so far his campaign has been unable to answer. Obama is ducking and dodging while Americans are demanding "Show me the beef!"
I love the bumper sticker! Know where I can order one?
I just Googled it and you can get them here.
Doug
I was talking to a co-worker this morning who told me she would vote for Obama because she is tired of seeing Bush the butt of jokes on late night TV because a camera always catches him when he bumbles. I told her they have always done that with all the presidents and will do it with Obama should he win.
What a stupid reason to vote for someone!
"I gather you don't like either candidate so will you vote?"
Of course. I'll play the cards I'm dealt, even If I don't care for them this hand. And I'll bitch and moan some. But I wouldn't be any better off sitting on the sidelines and watching, now would I?
Doug
Very wisely said, oh wise one. Guess I will vote too, though I was going to sit this one out. Hard to vote for someone you can't get excited about. But the poker parallel got to me. But I will 'bitch and moan' about it too!!
If Minnesootans will elect a guy like Jesse Ventura as their Governor, and Caleefornians will elect Arnold Schwarzenegger as theirs, don't be surprised if Obama Disciples vote for the Obama-siah for President.
ANYTHING is better than Bush! We can't get rid of him too soon! When he leaves office we should declare a national holiday!
There is an example of sound logic. Anything as long as it's not Bush. Joe the bartender? Lassie? Obama? Come on, you don't mean "anything". Or maybe you do.
I bet you will all be surprised when he wins in November. We really need a change and McCain is just a Bush clone.
Never seek "change" for changes sake. If the dems ran one of the Three Stooges, that would be a "change" but would you vote for him just because of that? No. So don't be caught up in the campaign rhetoric that any "change" is a good thing. What we all want is someone who will lead the country and make sound decisions through what is maybe the most difficult time we have faced since the period leading up to and through World War II. And that isn't some young socialist whose experience is limited to a few years representing poor blacks in South Chicago and a few years treading water in the Senate.
BTW, McCane is no Bush clone. If you check, he runs against the grain on both sides of the aisle. No one likes ALL of his positions, but he doesn't base them on polls and you know where he stands all the time. He also has a greater depth of experience pertinent to the job of Commander in Chief.
I like that! Let me guess, you are a McCain supporter.