THE PROBLEM WITH ARTICLES ABOUT OBAMA’S GOO-GOO APPEAL
I can usually dig on Brendan Nyhan; he’s a pretty consistent voice on the political scene, and tends to be able to see through a lot of BS. Today, though, he can’t seem to avoid it, as he gets caught up in the traditional media narrative on Barack Obama:
But substantively and politically, the problem is that Obama’s appeal is still rooted in a goo-goo approach to politics. Most people who are supporting Obama, going to his rallies, etc. have no idea what he stands for besides opposition to the war in Iraq.
This has become the “Al Gore says he invented the internet” media talking point on Barack Obama; he’s heavy on rising rhetoric yet non-existent on substantive policy. As this post off Obsidian Wings pointed out last Fall, that’s a bunch of phooey.
Maybe people don’t really know what Obama stands for because careless journalists and bloggers alike write long articles about his candidacy without once mentioning any of his policy positions. It’s not like these positions aren’t out there, or Obama has been hiding them. What’s to say folks won’t support Obama because of his legislative success on earmark reform and government transparency? Or his even-handed approach to nonproliferation, avian flu, and medical malpractice? The public likely won’t get a chance to learn more about any of those positions, cause no one will find the time to write about them.
Nyhan also brings up an interesting column from Ron Brownstein from the LA Times last week, commenting:
What Obama needs is to get out of the Tsongas/Hart box and engage in a serious debate over policy with Hillary and John Edwards. Soon. It will change his profile and engage downscale voters who don’t care so much about process.
I guess I can recognize the argument that many of Obama’s supporters are more drawn to his even-handed, non-cynical approach to politics than they are to his specific policy objectives (although this will likely change as the campaign moves on). But in the wake of a midterm election where “corruption” topped the list of electoral concerns, I don’t buy the notion that “downscale” voters don’t care about process, just policy.
UPDATE: For more on the laziness of Obama press coverage read here.
Even more here from Glenn Greenwald.
on 19 Apr 2007 at 4:26 pm # The Daily Squid » OBAMA ON VIOLENCE
[…] The political punditry at large (as best exemplified by lazy analysts like Brendan Nyhan) seems to be under the impression that Obama’s tendency, and unique ability, to explain America’s problems through the use of broad themes is something that will hamper him during the upcoming primary, particularly with regards to blue-collar Democratic voters (a contention I just can’t understand). But watching a clearly shaken Obama address an attentive and appreciative audience in the midst of a national tragedy, nobody can doubt his sincerity. […]