So Barack Obama gave a rousing speech to hundreds of thousands of adoring Germans today. There was a lot of speculation that John McCain would try to take the focus off Obama’s amazing photo op by announcing a narrowing of his Vice Presidential options (thus forcing the media to spend plenty of time hashing out the remaining candidates), but the diabolical McCain campaign folks had a much better idea. While Obama went to Germany and stood in the historic footsteps of Kennedy and Reagan, McCain went to Schmidt’s Fudge Haus (get it? Haus?) in Columbus, Ohio. So Barack Obama got an entire 30 minute address carried live on every news network and McCain got… well, he got shown talking to reporters at the Fudge Haus where some sort of ringing bells rang loudly enough the entire time to drown him out. Point McCain I think?
Seriously, who’s managing this campaign? I don’t know if Obama is a dream candidate, but John McCain is quickly proving himself to be a dream opponent. I mean, come on!!! Who was responsible for this photo op? Your candidate standing in front of a sign for the f’ing Fudge Haus?!?!? The guys who managed President Bush’s campaigns would be committing seppuku from the shame of it. That’s ritual suicide in case you miss the reference and think I’m talking about Sudoku. Take a moment to read this NY Times article from 2003 that illustrates just how meticulously Bush’s image is managed. Read that, then ask yourself whether McCain’s Fudge Haus moment rises to the level.
McCain’s only reaction to Obama’s ridiculously presidential-looking appearance in Berlin was to say something about how he would love to go to Germany, but he would rather do it as president than as a mere candidate. But at the end of the day, isn’t the real reason he didn’t make an overseas speech to a screaming crowd of hundreds of thousands because he would be lucky to draw hundreds, much less thousands. I’m not saying the presidential election should be strictly a popularity contest, but at some point doesn’t the discrepancy in their receptions… everywhere… mean something?
The McCain campaign and the GOP in general likes to talk about the media’s obsession with Barack Obama. To a degree that is true because of the historic possibility that he will become the first black president. But to an even greater degree, the media gives Obama more coverage because he does more news-worthy things. He makes moving speeches that grab news viewers’ attention. McCain makes speeches as if he’s trying to cripple the ratings for any television network foolish enough to carry it live. Obama draws huge adoring crowds. McCain draws only the reporters who themselves proved unlucky enough not to draw the Obama assignment. And Obama stands at a historic location in Berlin. John McCain stands in front of the Fudge Haus sign.
You’re welcome Jon Stewart.
