Chris Matthews

Wow. Did Chris Matthews really just ask if Obama was un-ethnic? Yes! He did. So I guess the implication here is that all black men act like Flava Flay.  Can you believe it kids!? He didn’t even use ebonics! A+! This reminds me of how all the pundits and bloggers are asking “why is Obama so cool, why doesn’t he get angry!” I think Eugene Robinson’s answer in the above clip pretty much answers that question. That is, Obama has to come across as the “least aggreieved black person in America”. There is a stereotype of the “Angry Black Male” that is pervasive. He can’t once, loose his cool. I think most minorites (well black folks at least) understand this.  But the punditry is mostly white, and they do not. But I garuntee if Obama start flailing his hands and getting in McCain’s face it would be a game changer. Just look at McCain’s debate perforemces. If Obama had done what McCain did, he would be minced meat. There is an invisible double standard that he must tread. Well maybe not so invisible to some.

~Beve

Post Debate Post

by Beve

Ok so I kinda sucked at liveblogging. My eyes were glued to the tv! Sorry Rudy, I think I deleted your comment. (Feel free to comment on this post though!).

A couple points:

1. McCain saying Obama “doesn’t understand” and calling him “naive” didn’t work and here’s why. Obama is smart. He’s been called professorial and long winded (b/c he has so much detail).  These are not traits of a dumb person who “doesn’t understand”.
2. I think an interesting post debate story is how all the pundits seemed to call it for McCain and yet when the instant polls came out–one from Fox News (!), and CBS and CNN mostly of independent voters they overwhelming thought Obama won–like by a lot. Seems as Nate Silver points out, McCain did well with reports because that was his intendend audience while Obama reached out to the people at home.