Feature story in "The Atlantic": Obama needs to avoid coming off as "Angry Black Man"

[sushilover]

... One more factor is working against Obama in the debates. When the economy is bad and an incumbent is beset, the challenger’s task is simplified. He doesn’t need to belabor the case against the incumbent. Reality has already done that; everyone knows what’s wrong with the president they have now. All the challenger has to do is say: “Look me over. I’ll be okay in this job. You can feel comfortable with me.” This is what Ronald Reagan did in 1980, and Bill Clinton in 1992. Meanwhile, the incumbent has to work twice as hard, in order to make two arguments at once. He must prove something about himself: that, while battered, he’s still energetic, visionary, and up to the job. He must also prove something about his opponent: that he is bad for the country, unready, and overall worse.

And he must do all this without seeming defensive or tense; while appearing easily in command to those who see images without hearing words; and, in Obama’s uniquely straitjacketed case, while avoiding the slightest hint of being an “angry black man.” ...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...gle_page=true#

[Terry K]

... One more factor is working against Obama in the debates. When the economy is bad and an incumbent is beset, the challenger’s task is simplified. He doesn’t need to belabor the case against the incumbent. Reality has already done that; everyone knows what’s wrong with the president they have now. All the challenger has to do is say: “Look me over. I’ll be okay in this job. You can feel comfortable with me.” This is what Ronald Reagan did in 1980, and Bill Clinton in 1992. Meanwhile, the incumbent has to work twice as hard, in order to make two arguments at once. He must prove something about himself: that, while battered, he’s still energetic, visionary, and up to the job. He must also prove something about his opponent: that he is bad for the country, unready, and overall worse.

And he must do all this without seeming defensive or tense; while appearing easily in command to those who see images without hearing words; and, in Obama’s uniquely straitjacketed case, while avoiding the slightest hint of being an “angry black man.” ...

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/...gle_page=true#

Will the recently released video from Hampton help?

[michiganjoe]

That's a really flawed analysis from Fallows. Obama is either tied or leading on the economy and Willard is the one that needs to show his economic vision will produce better results and his unwillingness to offer specifics makes that an almost impossible task.

[sushilover]

Do you think Hussein Obama's handlers have cut him off from the homemade White House brew at least 48 hours in advance of the debates?

We all know how angry Barry can get ... and to come off looking both angry and like Rodney King resurrected would be a double blow to Obama's desperate campaign, wouldn't it?

[sushilover]

Will the recently released video from Hampton help?

I don't think anything helped.

Barry Obama looked like a fool onstage at the debates.