Ego as an Issue

The Boston Globe article The Audacity of Ego addresses a growing concern about the ego of Senator Obama.

Barack Obama always was a larger-than-life candidate with a healthy ego. Now he's turning into the A-Rod of politics. It's all about him.

He's giving his opponent something other than issues to attack him on: narcissism.

A convention hall isn't good enough for the presumptive Democratic nominee. He plans to deliver his acceptance speech in the 75,000 seat stadium where the Denver Broncos play. Before a vote is cast, he's embarking on a foreign policy tour that will use cheering Europeans - and America's top news anchors - as extras in his campaign. What do you expect from a candidate who already auditioned a quasi-presidential seal with the Latin inscription, "Vero possumus" - "Yes, we can"?

Obama finds criticism of his wife "infuriating" and doesn't want either of them to be the target of satire. Tell that to the Carters, the Reagans, the Clintons, and the Bushes, father and son.

There's no such thing as a humble politician. But when Obama looks into the mirror, he doesn't just see a president; he sees JFK.

In 1960, John F. Kennedy accepted his party's nomination with an outdoor speech at the Los Angeles Coliseum. But he waited until he was elected before going to Germany to declare "Ich bin ein Berliner."

Ego problems aren't just a matter of annoyance they speak to what type of leader a person will be. There is a stark contrast between the two candidates in this area, both in form and substance. Senator McCain is a 'town hall' candidate. He talks to people, he listens to their questions and concerns, and he answers those questions to the best of his ability. It's not that uncommon for him to be interupted by a protestor, or seriously criticized by an attendee. Yet he gives respect to people with opposing view points, and delights in the give and take of this environment.

Conversely, Sentor Obama is a speaker, and a good one. Much of his success is based on his ability to excite a crowd with soaring rhetoric. Certainly can't fault him for having this skill, but the problem is that this isn't an adequate substitute for substance. No critics are allowed anywhere near Senator Obama only adoring fans. There is no attempt to answer questions, he is content in revelling in these grandiose stage events. Large crowds and adoring fan are fine for a rock concert, but not always appropriate for politics.

Certainly no successful politician is short of confidence or ego, but Senator McCain's self-effacing humor and personal connection to the voters is starkly different than Senator Obama's stage show. Humor may seem like the last thing relevant to presidential qualifications, but the inability to take a joke or to accept criticism is a problem, particularly for a young and inexperienced candidate. Ego and politics have historically been a very dangerous combination. Yet big ego's play better on camera, leaving voters with the question of whether they want to elect the Elvis of politics, or chose a less superficial and highly qualified candiate.

Exibit A...
Movie Trailor for Hype - the Obama Effect

McCain Support Left, Right, and Center

Senator McCain is reaching across party lines in an unprecedented way to appeal to conservative Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. His most ardent Democrat/Independent supporter is Joe Lieberman who is heading up the group Citizens for McCain. He states,

I have worked with John McCain for many years in the U.S. Senate and know from experience that he can unite Democrats, Republicans and Independents like no one else in this country. He did it in the United States Senate and he can do it as President of the United States.

In addition, there a host of sites like McCain Indpendents popping up around the web. Here are a few...

A long-time McCain supporter and Blue Dog Democrat at Blue and New.

McCain Independents and Democrats Social Network

Started by some Hillary supporters Democrats for McCain are crossing party lines to unite behind John McCain.

Don't be a Good Democrat is challenging Democrats not to support Senator Obama.

Independent Jim is another example of a long time McCain supporter who has been both a Democrat and a Republican.

Independent Dude

McCain Democrats Yahoo Group

McCainocrats - the new Reagan Democrats

Purple People Vote the parent site of McCain Indpendents providing commentary from the perspective of a New Hampshire Independent.

Lieberman Explains McCain's Appeal to Independents

In a mailing from the McCain Campaign, Senator Joe Lieberman detailed his support for Senator McCain...

"Time and time again John McCain has put his country first. He refused early release when he was held captive in Vietnam. He continued to put his country first as a national leader in the U.S. Senate. He put country before party when he fought to pass campaign finance reform, sought a bi-partisan solution to the immigration problem, and consistently supported pro-environment policies. His courage to stand up to the failed Iraq war plan of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and lead the fight for a new strategy in Iraq will go down in history, and it saved American lives. These were not always the easy things to do. In fact, they were usually very difficult, and often threatened his political career. But John McCain did what was right."

Senator Lieberman is chairing a new organization called Citizens First for Senator McCain's campaign made up of Republicans, Independents and Democrats who support a McCain presidency.

McCain Political Cartoon

An Independent's Argument

There are some issues where Senator McCain breaks with the traditional Republican party line that as an Independent I appreciate greatly. First, is protecting the environment and addressing global warming. I'm still at a loss as to why this is a partisan issue, but it is an important issue. At a Romney town hall last summer a gentleman stood up to explain that in NH many Republican towns voted in favor environmental protections, and continued to explain that he was a good Republican and wanted a candidate that would address environmental issues. Senator McCain's cap and trade plan works both on an environmental level and on an economic level, by imposing regulations that are not burdensome while decreasing carbon emmissions each year.

His human rights record and definitive stand against torture is the second issue that I find compelling. I was very disappointed in the Republican party when Senator McCain was the only candidate to stand strongly against torture. He also has an impecable human rights record. He has a history of defending the oppressed whether in Darfur, Tibet, or elsewhere he consistenly voices his opposition to human cruelty.

The argument for Independents and Conservatives to vote for Senator McCain is two-fold. First his record is basically conservative, but he doesn't just follow the party line. Second, the Democrats are running on a far-left platform. For us middle-of-the-roaders, issue wise there is little moderation or compromise coming from the Democratic candidates. Senator McCain has worked across the isle numerous times, sometimes upsetting party loyalists. However, he gets things done and he sticks to his guns even when pressured not to.


From Purple People Vote