I watched the second presidential debate last night and I thought that it showed more of what the candidates were made of. At first McCain seemed tepid and unsure but he gained his footing as the debate progressed. Obama was cool and calm as usual; though he stuttered quite abit-not doubt evidence that he is not used to Town-Hall meetings.
Overall I liked what Obama had to say. I thought he was more civil than McCain because McCain kept referring to him as "That One". McCain still seems too much like a war-hawk to me and that scares me. McCain compared himself to TR last night and I don't see much of a connection. Roosevelt was a tough individualist with a deep well of creative ideas, I just don't see that in McCain.
I understand there are many reasons not to like Obama but I believe his framing story is fundamentally different than that of McCains. Brian Mclaren puts it well,
"centers in the narrative I believe he frames his life and work by, in contrast to the narrative John McCain frames his life and work by. To me, this issue of narrative means far more in a president than whether he claims to be liberal or conservative, religious or nonreligious, Christian or otherwise, Democrat or Republican.
Does anyone doubt that Senator McCain lives by a warrior narrative? This is the most consistent theme in his campaign. For him the world is clearly divided into us and them.
We are good; they are evil. We are right; they are wrong. We are about safety; they are about danger..."
Does anyone doubt that Senator McCain lives by a warrior narrative? This is the most consistent theme in his campaign. For him the world is clearly divided into us and them.
We are good; they are evil. We are right; they are wrong. We are about safety; they are about danger..."
..."Senator Obama certainly believes in a strong national defense. But I believe he leans toward a profoundly different narrative. It is a reconciliation narrative, a peace-building narrative, a collaboration narrative. He made it clear when he said he would change President Bush’s policy of not talking to our enemies. McCain and others tried to portray this alternative approach as cowardice and appeasement, but they were wrong. Instead of dividing the world into “us” and “them,” Obama’s narrative seeks to bring people together in a expanding us. While McCain’s narrative only offers enemies surrender and defeat, Obama’s offers them the possibility of reconciliation."
Here is an interesting article by Ron Sider the director of Evangelicals for Social Action:
2 comments:
I agree with you on McCain and TR. Not really sure where he's getting that from. Thanks for the article. I disagree with this fella on a few things, but an interesting read nevertheless.
By the way, check out www.thatone08.com. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it. Never underestimate capitalism at work.
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