Obama’s latest ad suggests that McCain is old and out of step with his fashion and inability to do email. This follows last night’s televised protestations that Obama wanted a different campaign but would not agree to meet McCain ‘anytime, anywhere’ as he once promised in town halls (he will, if he falls further behind). This is not the hope and change we were promised. And it follows the earlier lines about McCain’s confusion and inability “any more” to know how many houses he has.
The problem with all this, as we saw with the lipstick quote and small-town mayor sneers, is twofold. Obama’s original charm for many was his Olympian other-worldliness and easy cool post-politics. Now he seems no different from, or nastier than most, any other candidate. (You saw another sort of that disconnect between divinity and reality when he chose a plastic Greek temple and outdoor stadium throng to deliver pedestrian wonkish points about spending priorities). In his defense, his thousands in media are doing him a disservice, and turning off the electorate in daily buffonish partianship.
Also, his recent attacks against an ‘old fish’ and ‘lipsticked pig’, and those of his supporters, come off as ageist and sexist and that can’t go well with a lot of voters. Yes, he is registering new voters, but since 2004, millions, to match them, have gone into their sixties and are “evolving,” as they say, in their views. Some may well identify with a feisty older McCain in the way middle America does with Palin. And when you add up the daily outbursts of disdain and condescension from Hollywood celebs, unhinged pundits, Biden’s daily fare, and the sneers of lower-tier Democratic politicians, the image is one of furor and panic, not calm governance. Another 2 weeks of this and I think millions are going to keep quiet, say they are “undecided,” but privately conclude that they have had enough of all this bias, and simply won’t vote for any more of Obamania.