I don't care for Obama, but he has a powerful and familiar effect on the less-informed

[jpgray]

Don't mistake me! You can be extremely well-informed and still choose Obama. Plenty of intelligent supporters of his here prove that every day. I'm speaking to the effect he has on those who -aren't- so informed on policy or platforms--it's a marketing effect, it's an image effect, and it's a media effect. I've hated this phenomenon ever since I grew wary enough to detect its presence, but it would serve our interests should Obama win the nomination. What is that effect?

"Character!" "Image!" "Personality!" And yes, all of those need to be in quotes. The media have long been the main source of dissemination for this effect, and they continue to play that role today. When the media like a candidate, any superficial "character" script can be pushed because it is wholly subjective. Facts in support of the script are elevated, while facts that disprove it are ignored. Those without the time or inclination to find those ignored facts lose their ability to make a fully-reasoned choice.

Remember 2000. Bush was the alcoholic "Americans want to have a beer with." Bush was the "plainspoken" fellow who lied baldly about his own tax plan in the debates, whereas Gore was the "compulsive liar" who made zero such false claims. Gore was the "phony" who honestly represented his personality and history, whereas Bush's "cowboy roots" were proven by his 1999 ranch purchase and fear of horses. The facts didn't fit the scripts, but it didn't matter. The media liked Bush, and they didn't like Gore.

The tragedy of that is that the media pundits aren't any more capable of forming a superficial "character" judgment than any average uninformed citizen. In fact they are -less- capable, because they lead luxurious, wealthy lives well removed from any normal American existence. That they choose to engage in favoritism (and it's quite clear they do) has hurt us often in the past, and helped us only rarely. Is this an artificial crutch for the GOP, a way to avoid discussion of their vastly unpopular policy? Seems likely to me, but I can't prove it.

So to Obama. He's getting this boost in a way that Kerry or Gore certainly did not, even this early in the game. And while I hate this effect, it could serve us well should he win the nomination. Even those who know little or nothing about his platform or how it stacks up to their own views -like- the guy. If he's the nominee, we are going to net a lot of apathetic Republicans and uninformed conservative Independents who actually -disagree- with most of Obama's platform. They don't really know they disagree, because a negative personality script for Obama doesn't exist, and those disagreements are not dwelt on as a result. It's the same phenomenon that roped in apathetic Democrats and liberal Independents to vote for Bush, I'd wager.

Anyone else notice this? What is the cause of this sort of thing in the media? Or is it not entirely a media effect? I'd rather it didn't exist, but since it does it could be to our advantage in his case. I don't want him to win the primary by any means, but has anyone else noticed this factor?

[Bread and Circus]

1. Actually his supporters are more educated according to reviews of the data...

[jpgray]

3. I would never make the claim that Obama supporters are generally less-informed

But I do think that people who actually widely disagree with his policy (Republicans and conservative Independents) are more likely to like Obama due to this factor. Am I making any sense at all?

[Bread and Circus]

23. actually that does make sense :)

[Mythsaje]

15. Educated doesn't necessarily equal "informed."

It entirely depends on where people get their information.

Certain aspects of "education" are very similar to indocrination. Free thinkers aren't any more welcome in many areas of higher education than they are anywhere else. Teachers, like anyone else, have their biases, and woe to those who see fit to disagree with them.

Thankfully they're not ALL like that. But some definitely are, as just about anyone who's ever been to school can relate. I loathe teachers of any kind who simply want their own notions spat back at them.

If you get into the meat of things, you realize that it's insane to allow many of the policies that have driven us for so long to continue as they are. They're ultimately destructive to everything we hold dear.

I hold out a hope that the voters can be enticed to see past the marketing and media blitz to the nuts and bolts of the campaign. To look beyond the call for generic change to determine precisely what MUST be changed if we are to thrive...as a nation and as a species.

[jefferson_dem]

2. I think the point is that Obama has a likeable personality.

That's very true and it will serve him well.

It is refreshing to have a Democratic candidate who people may see as more than just "the lesser or many evils"...

[eleny]

4. What a snobby subject header

Not that you're a snob nor have you ever been a snob or will ever be a snob.

Just sayin'.

[jpgray]

10. It sounds awkward, doesn't it? Let me try to put it a different way

Even those who don't know enough to realize they agree or disagree with Obama's positions tend to like him. That wasn't true with Gore or Kerry, as their policies in isolation were popular but the candidates were not. Make more sense that way?

[graywarrior]

5. Personally, I don't want to vote for a dream or be influenced by "hype."

I really like Obama, but sometimes voting for the one you like is not the best idea. I don't have any idea what Obama's platform because I can't get past the hype, which is my own fault. This entire process takes critical thinking--something a lot of us are not used to using--me included.

I'm nervous about the American Idol mentality...and believe me...I really like Obama.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

26. Beware of the media anointing anyone as a "rock star". That is a loaded term and a

back handed compliment.

I like him as well, and cringed when I heard that meme over and over on the corporomedia airwaves. That particular term carries a lot of underlying snark, although it doesn't appear that way on the surface. MKJ

[jazzjunkysue]

33. We assume that because he's black he'll enact policies that help

disadvantaged people and children. If he goes through with his intention to raise the social security tax limit on the middle class, he'll be hurting those blacks that are affected. I've also heard him make a couple of questionable statements about public schools. They indicate that he'd rather swing around a popular idea like school choice than really delve into the issue and find that public schools, as imperfect as they are, are still the best chance a disadvantaged student will get.

If he were the true supporter of black children, he'd do and say everything he could about supporting inner city schools, not subjecting them to GOP style sloganeering.

These are the ways the politicians profit from their image rather than an informed voter.

[AndyTiedye]

6. But Will This "Boost" Last Past the Convention?

Or will they go into full "Swift Boat" mode after the convention, as they did with Kerry?

[jpgray]

22. It's hard to say. Obama's been considered a major candidate for longer

Kerry was imploding almost right up to his IA victory.

[cali]

7. I think that's spot on.

The media has created a narrative for Obama- and fallen in love with it. However, that doesn't mean they won't spin on a dime and create a new less favorable one if he's the nominee. And honestly, some of the adulation out there for Obama does bother me.

On the other hand, I take some comfort from his record which seems to me to reflect good judgment and intellectual ability. He's not perfect by any means, but he's not a bad candidate.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. I think you make a very good point.

I think Obama's nebulousness makes him very appealing and unfrightening to a lot of people, so that they are able to project their own hopes and aspirations onto him. I wish he would be a little more concrete about who he is -- I don't feel like I "know" him, which is a little unsettling to me.

[AndyTiedye]

11. We Have to HOPE that He Will Do the Right Things When He is Elected

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Exactly.

And I've been "hoping" that presidents do the right thing for a long, long time. I guess I'm a little cynical at this point.

[DaLittle Kitty]

9. UNINFORMED POPULOUS... THAT Is The Problem! K&R!

:nuke:

[JVS]

12. Good post, but kind of a flame-batey title.

Having reviewed a voter's guide this morning, I have the feeling that these people are actively trying to have differences on issues be almost non-existant. But Obama's got plus points on war, and Edwards has plus points on labor.

[jpgray]

21. Both have negative points for lackluster freshman Senate terms

Edwards's free trade votes are just as troubling concerning his current rhetoric as Obama's war-funding votes.

[MADem]

13. The cause of this sort of thing? I don't know, but my cynical soul tells me that they're boosting

Obama up because he's perceived by them as easier to knock down later.

Clinton's shit has been aired, re-aired, and aired again. Even her ENEMIES say "Enough, already!" when they try to drag some old shit back up. Same with Edwards--yeah, they can do the "Oooooh, he has a big HOUSE" thing, but how much more can they make fun of his hair?

Obama's shit, on the other hand, is relatively NEW shit. It hasn't been lathered, rinsed and repeated over and over again for more than a decade.

Who cares that HE mentioned the drug use in his book....they'll bring that up like it's the scoop of the century after he's the nomineee--it will be a self-Swiftboating exercise, of sorts, if they market it appropriately.

I really think that's what they're counting on.

[jpgray]

19. It's possible the worm may turn, but I'm not sure any evidence is out there to support your theory

Other than it could happen, because it could. :)

[MADem]

27. Well, the only 'evidence' is the unjournalistic touting of Obama, and the unreasonable

piling on re: Clinton. It's to the point where it has gotten a little absurd, really--as if they don't really give a shit if the bias is out in the open. And when FAUX starts 'digging on' Obama, ya gotta wonder. I mean, come on! That's just not a believable viewpoint from those bums. You listen to Tweety, Fat Boy Russert, Wolf, all of the "Heads" and they're all parroting the same shit--damn near word for word--and ya gotta wonder. They can't ALL be copying each other, can they? Or CAN they?

I was getting tired of hearing the HRC "TOAST!" comments after Iowa, and the incessant OB "Rock Star!!" characterizations, without any discussion of platforms or what the candidates actually TALKED about at their campaign events.

And of course, Edwards was ignored. They just REFUSE to talk about that poor guy. No wonder his wife is pissed off.

[jpgray]

29. It's extremely frustrating. They dislike Edwards as well

And I don't support Hillary, but she does receive an awesome amount of biased vitriol relative to her platform's worth. Her platform is nothing to inspire me, but she doesn't deserve the extremely personal bias some commentators have (Matthews, anyone?). Still though, I'm not ready to claim it is all orchestrated to hand us defeat in the general election, certainly not yet.

[Justitia]

16. This is a pragmatic point & one we should use to our advantage if he becomes the nominee. -eom

[Jim__]

17. "... it could serve us well should he win the nomination"

Sure it could. I doubt it will. Especially if the media's heroic John McCain is the puke nominee.

[jpgray]

18. How McCain is still viewed as a straight-talking outsider is a complete mystery

It's like the respect Colin Powell still gets from far too many people.

[annie1]

20. It's very good for the GE and could help dems win more seats in congress....

if he brings the youth out to vote for him. It's also good for policy because he will have support from the public.

This is on my list of why i would like Barack for pres when i was trying to choose.

[ecstatic]

24. the only candidate I've ever been "passionate" about is Dean

I'm thinking with my head now, not my emotions.

[Withywindle]

25. It's hard to make a post like this without sounding like a snot, at least a little.

But good post, I think it needed to be said.

I think it IS OK to use this to our advantage for a change. Why not? There are politicians more progressive than Obama, but they've been unfairly rendered unelectable. There are also politicians far less progressive, and with far less scruples about using the celebrity factor (and before anyone's supporters jump on me, I'm looking at the other party here).

The thing is, Obama's appeal is not entirely a media effect. I've heard him speak in person, and his charisma really is off the scale. The overflow crowds everywhere are very real. People just like him and are drawn to him and enjoy hearing him speak, whatever it's about. I'm an Illinoisan, and I think even if the Republican party here hadn't hilariously imploded in '04, Obama would have beaten Jack Ryan easily.

The funny thing is, if you really pay attention to his speaking and writing that isn't in the deliberately poetic/inspirational style, turns out he's really quite the nerd. He's a law and policy geek of a similar sort to Gore and Kerry. Senate history, fine points of constitutional law--he's really, really into it! (This is a plus in my book - we bookworms gravitate to each other). He just has an "it" factor that makes "regular people" (again, potentially insulting, but I just mean people who don't have that obsessive researcher interest in the subject) want to hear about it from him.

We NEED to win this election. I think Obama can. I don't believe in letting the perfect be the enemy of the good anymore - I've seen too much of the real difference even a small improvement can make in real people's lives.

[jpgray]

28. He does have real charisma, and speaking ability. I don't like those being major factors

But I can't ignore their impact, which can be huge. And you're right that he has more real reason to have positive "character" coverage than the GOP candidates who get so much of it, I just don't like it when -anyone- receives that boost. I always want policy and platform to be the decisive factors of popularity, even if that's rather idealistic. :P If it has to happen this way (and it will) and he's our nominee, I will be thrilled if he gets that boost. It's long overdue and he is more deserving than all who have received it in the recent past. Certainly with regard to presidential races.

[Laurab]

30. A LOT of voters are "the less informed"

I've liked Obama for a long time, I've read both of his books - the first one was the one that impressed me the most, and I do feel like I kind of "know" him. His thinking, how he makes decisions, etc - those things are in there.

That being said, I do agree with your post. I think it comes down to charisma, plain and simple - just as Bill Clinton had, and his wife lacks. Plus he kind of LOOKS Presidential, and he obviously inspires people, in particular young people, to get involved. All of those things are important. I think it's a media effect, but it's helped by Obama, at his speeches, rallies, meetings with people. I think Biden had it too, to a lesser degree.

I definitely think it will be an advantage IF he wins the primary. I think he would coast to victory, whereas HRC would have the fight of her life. If Edwards doesn't do any better as time goes on, and it becomes a race between Obama and Hillary, I think he's the surer bet by far. If Edwards surges, I think he'd be a pretty sure bet. The only one I'm worried about is HRC - her negatives are just way too high, and despite what her supporters say, they WILL bring everything they've got, and more, after her in the general. And they've got a lot.

[zulchzulu]

31. Less informed about what?

The support for Obama has been well documented to be from people of all walks of life, but there certainly are many who are well educated that support him.

You allusion that Obama supporters are stupid, although tepidly cloaked as "less informed" needs a bit more proven analysis than what I percieve as an opinion blowing out of your arse.

[jpgray]

32. Did you read the post? I don't believe I said anything of the sort.