Did anybody else watch this?
They were both balanced, insightful looks into the rise of both as men and as Presidential candidates. While viewing it was also the moment when I truly realized that Obama really doesn't stand a chance to win this election.
McCain's life story is pretty straight forward and, for lack of a better word, interesting. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that he is an American hero and has been one of her better servants. His is a story that is going to connect with middle America more than any other. Even in his failings (his first marriage, the Keating five scandal) he comes accross more as a relatable man who makes mistakes.
Obama's story, on the other hand is more complicated and narratively complex. From his mixed race heritage to his faith, the picture painted is that of discovery and nuance. A person who is policy minded and truly wants to help the underpriviledged.
It is this complexity, I fear, that is going to cause a disconnect with the "common voter" and ultimately cost him the election.
Obama is a man of ideas, a man of policy. But he is a man that can be lacking when it comes to personal interest. That was his downfall when he went up against Bobby Rush for the Democratic primary for State Rep to Bobby Rush in 2000. That is when Obama learned that winning in the arena of politics hinges on many trivial matters, such as the cult of personality.
He has since done an admirable job of re-branding himself, but I don't think it is enough to change his convoluted, yet admirable past.
We live in a country that has an increasingly short attention span. If they don't hear what they want to in the span of a handful of minutes they tend to tune out.
Watching Obama's story tonight I can see a lot of people doing just that.
They aren't going to care about what a legendary figure his father was in Kenya, nor are they going to care about his mother's struggles. They are going to see a hippy and a foreigner and the son that they "abandoned" to live with his grandparents.
McCain on the other hand has a history that is, while admirable, one that can be written on the back of a matchbook: Son of military officers, served country, was captured and acted nobly in the face of danger, became a public servant.
There was a moment during the 2004 election that I realized that John Kerry had no chance of winning the election; it was during his acceptance speech when he described jumping off of his yacht to save his daughter's hamster.
I knew that story would help strengthen the GOP image of an elite East Coast liberal. It did just that in spades.
I feel the same disconnect for Obama's personal story. It just isn't "sexy" or simple enough for podunk America to accept.
Add to this problem, the Sarah Palin "reality entertainment" aspect of this election and it just exacerbates the problem.
America will vote for the man's personality over policies. They have proven that over the last eight years.
They were both balanced, insightful looks into the rise of both as men and as Presidential candidates. While viewing it was also the moment when I truly realized that Obama really doesn't stand a chance to win this election.
McCain's life story is pretty straight forward and, for lack of a better word, interesting. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that he is an American hero and has been one of her better servants. His is a story that is going to connect with middle America more than any other. Even in his failings (his first marriage, the Keating five scandal) he comes accross more as a relatable man who makes mistakes.
Obama's story, on the other hand is more complicated and narratively complex. From his mixed race heritage to his faith, the picture painted is that of discovery and nuance. A person who is policy minded and truly wants to help the underpriviledged.
It is this complexity, I fear, that is going to cause a disconnect with the "common voter" and ultimately cost him the election.
Obama is a man of ideas, a man of policy. But he is a man that can be lacking when it comes to personal interest. That was his downfall when he went up against Bobby Rush for the Democratic primary for State Rep to Bobby Rush in 2000. That is when Obama learned that winning in the arena of politics hinges on many trivial matters, such as the cult of personality.
He has since done an admirable job of re-branding himself, but I don't think it is enough to change his convoluted, yet admirable past.
We live in a country that has an increasingly short attention span. If they don't hear what they want to in the span of a handful of minutes they tend to tune out.
Watching Obama's story tonight I can see a lot of people doing just that.
They aren't going to care about what a legendary figure his father was in Kenya, nor are they going to care about his mother's struggles. They are going to see a hippy and a foreigner and the son that they "abandoned" to live with his grandparents.
McCain on the other hand has a history that is, while admirable, one that can be written on the back of a matchbook: Son of military officers, served country, was captured and acted nobly in the face of danger, became a public servant.
There was a moment during the 2004 election that I realized that John Kerry had no chance of winning the election; it was during his acceptance speech when he described jumping off of his yacht to save his daughter's hamster.
I knew that story would help strengthen the GOP image of an elite East Coast liberal. It did just that in spades.
I feel the same disconnect for Obama's personal story. It just isn't "sexy" or simple enough for podunk America to accept.
Add to this problem, the Sarah Palin "reality entertainment" aspect of this election and it just exacerbates the problem.
America will vote for the man's personality over policies. They have proven that over the last eight years.
