Ed Rendell compares Obama to Adlai Stevenson; says "he is not the easiest guy to identify with"

[TeamJordan23]

Rendell Compares Obama to Adlai Stevenson
By Jonathan Weisman

DENVER -- Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell captured the jitters of the Democratic Party today when he conceded that for all Barack Obama's gifts, "he's not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with" and urged the presumptive nominee to start punching back against Republican attacks.

In a wide ranging interview, Rendell insisted that while Obama still has not won over perhaps 30 percent of Hillary Rodham Clinton's voters, he will have locked down 95 percent of them by midnight tonight, after Clinton speaks to the Democratic National Convention here. But Rendell, a strong Clinton supporter during the primaries, made it clear he thinks Obama still has work to do with the white, working class voters who backed her.

"With people who have a lot of gifts, it's hard for people to identify with them," the governor said. "Barack Obama is handsome. He's incredibly bright. He's incredibly well spoken, and he's incredibly successful -- not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with."

For a politician cut from a rougher cloth, Rendell may have offered a back-handed compliment when he compared Obama to Adlai Stevenson, the failed Democratic candidate from the 1950s who captured the imagination of American intellectuals but not the electorate at large.

"He is a little like Adlai Stevenson," Rendell mused. "You ask him a question, and he gives you a six-minute answer. And the six-minute answer is smart as all get out. It's intellectual. It's well framed. It takes care of all the contingencies. But it's a lousy soundbite."

"We've got to start smacking back in short understandable bites," he said, noting "Everybody is nervous as all get out. Everybody says we ought to be ahead by 10, 15 points. What the heck is going on?"

For all that worry, Rendell's prognosis for Obama is good, at least in his crucial state. The addition of Scranton-born Joe Biden to the Democratic ticket probably pads Obama's thin lead by two percentage points, Rendell said, and the economy will ultimately persuade people to look beyond personality, background and race to focus on policy. Obama needs to make his economic proposals more understandable, and to show some real anger, especially about issues like the United States financing Iraq's reconstruction while the Iraqi government holds an oil-fueled government surplus.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/26/rendell_compares_obama_to_adla.html

[book_worm]

1. Another HRC surrogate who has to criticize the nominee

That isn't helpful.

[islandmkl]

6. '..Rendell captured the jitters of the Democratic Party today.'....

yeah, that good old DLC Democratic Party...yeah, the triangulators and appeasers are nervous...how could they let their 'second place pays nearly as much as first place' participation in the congress get so 'in jeopardy'....even merely potentially?

there are a lot of nervous dems in denver...they aren't ready for a change...not fighting the repubs has been GOOD for them....

probably only a couple of more opportunities exist to get the party back on track...and who knows?

maybe after november even those opportunities will start to fade....

[Zenmaster]

2. Cliff Notes version: Ed Rendell "Americans are stupid"

And Ed is, of course, right on that point.

[FrenchieCat]

3. So to Ed Rendell,

Most people can't identify with handsome, bright, well spoken, and incredibly successful people...because what, Ed....they are not? Geeze, you talk nice about the people you govern.

Does that mean that Ed is ugly, stupid, inarticulate, and unsuccessful? :shrug:

[rebel with a cause]

27. Ed is just out of touch. And maybe ugly stupid, inarticulate .....

Most of us are sick of sound bites. I would rather have a explanation of something more than a rehearsed sound bite that gets thrown out but really tells you nothing. Personally, I am burned out on sound bites.

And let him come to Illinois and say anything negative about Adlai Stevenson. There are still people here that think this country would have been better off if Adlai had won at least one of those elections where we ran for president. Illinois is proud of some of our presidential candidates we have provided: Lincoln, Stevenson, Simon, Mosley Braun, and now Obama.

I don't know what state Jesse Jackson ran from, so I did not include him. If there were others, then I apologize for their omission.

Don't give me a glib answer, respect my intelligence and speak to me as an equal and not just a face in the crowd. (my motto)

[sasquatch]

4. Go fuck yourself Rendell you dumb boomer

[City Lights]

5. Fuck off, Ed.

You're either part of the solution, or you're part of the problem, and Ed, you are definitely not part of the solution. :mad:

[Raineyb]

7. Yo Rendell,

STFU will ya?

Damn!

Regards

[truthisfreedom]

8. He may be right on the money. But let's see if this is part of Obama's latest strategy.

It could very well be.

[RagAss]

9. Fuck Ed Rendell....Who the fuck is he?

[AZ Criminal JD]

29. Someone who has a job much higher than you do

[Raineyb]

34. I find that the level of job is a good indicator of the level of the person

:sarcasm:

Regards

[RagAss]

42. So does Dick Cheney...

[AZ Criminal JD]

59. And I'm not asking who the fuck he is.

[Arnold Judas Rimmer]

10. Geezus... now he's flip-flopping twice a day.

Ed, just shut the fuck up and go away to where ever DLC scumbags go to die.

[rebel with a cause]

28. You can say that again.

I saw him earlier and he was right on. Now he is saying this crap!

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

11. More solid support from the Hillary camp, shocking.

[FVZA_Colonel]

12. How is this shit helpful?

Why doesn't he stop?

[Bullet1987]

13. Rendell doesn't like Obama and never has...this is very obvious

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

14. Rendell has been a walking gaffe machine for the last few months

Shut up, Ed.

[ErinBerin84]

15. They were just talking about this on MSNBC....

Why can't Rendell just use his mouth for good and not stupid comments? It's getting to be really annoying. He is good when he is on, but he has had many random comments like this lately.

[Liberal Dose]

16. I'm ashamed that he is my governor, but not for long. Moving to SC. nt

[sasquatch]

19. South Carolina?

The marines don't even want to be in that hellhole.

[Liberal Dose]

25. Job transfer. I need the money. Not looking forward to living in a red state, but we did survive

4 years in Florida. Miami-Dade County, no less. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it! :)

[dsc]

32. Yeah the gay hating bastard who is governor down there is so much better

glad you like him so much.

[sasquatch]

44. I know its so stupid

Look at what I posted.

[Liberal Dose]

50. It's stupid to move because of a job transfer?

Fuck you.

Edited to add: Were you too goddamned STUPID to notice that I said I wasn't looking forward to living in a red state? Double fuck you.

[sasquatch]

53. But what you originally posted sounded like you were looking forward to SC

If I were yu I'd seriously be considering a job change.

[Liberal Dose]

56. In this economy, there is absolutely no way I'd give up 15 years in a company just to avoid moving.

Besides, SC needs more liberals.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

52. Well I can tell you this much

We do have some shitty elected officials to be sure, but I've not found the people in this state on the whole to be as bad as the judgmental jerks in this sub-thread if that's any consolation ;)

If you're headed to the Charleston area let me know, maybe we can find something to talk about. I'm a transplant, been here about six years now. It's not perfect but I've been worse places. Good luck on your move.

[Liberal Dose]

61. The south needs more liberals!!!!

I was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA. I love this state. I'll be transferred to the Ft. Mill area with my husband. Thank you for the kind words. Let's have coffee :D

[Arugula Latte]

17. Will someone stuff a sock in Rendell's mouth and then duct tape his head?

Then, for good measure, throw him into the South Platte River.

This asswipe is supposed to be a Democrat?

[27inCali]

18. I'm not going to blame Clinton

for the dumb shit coming out of Rendells mouth.

but as far as I'm concerned, Rendell is no longer a Democrat.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

20. Wow, Obama is an intellectual. Oh the horror of it all

"...He's incredibly bright. He's incredibly well spoken, and he's incredibly successful -- not exactly the easiest guy in the world to identify with. ..."

And somehow all of that might be a drawback? Obama's not a primitive grunting chimp who can't form a complete sentence and has no knowledge of anything beyond Texas?

Personally, I love the idea of an intellectual being President. I don't want to identify with the President as someone like me. I want to feel somehow that the President has a superior intellect and education than I do. Although I was just a little bitty kid when Adlai Stevenson ran for President, I remember watching him on television and liking him.

[regnaD kciN]

21. Looks like Eddie's pissed...

...that he didn't get picked for V.P.

[MadrasT]

22. Damn it, Ed.

Sit down and STFU already. You are NOT HELPING YOUR PARTY, asshat.

:kick:

[BeyondGeography]

23. God Alfuckingmighty, Ed

Shut the piehole, for once.

[WinkyDink]

24. It IS difficult to "identify with"---as opposed to "admire"---someone as accomplished as Obama. That

is why HE should be PRESIDENT! HE'S BETTER than MOST!

[Liberal Dose]

26. I don't care if I can identify with the guy (even though I can). I want my President to be better!!

[rebel with a cause]

33. I can't identify with him.

My life is a mess and I am a mess. Obama is and has been successful in every thing he has done. I ramble on when I talk and lose focus sometimes. Obama gives precise intellectual answers and stays on point. I get angry, loss my temper and tell people what I think of them. Obama is cool, collected and keeps control of his reactions to those that attack him. I tend to get dramatic when I am upset but Obama says no drama.

Now do I want a president that I can identify with or do I want some one like Barack?

Go Obama! Go Obama! Go Obama! Go Obama! Go Obama! Go Obama! Go Obama!

[Liberal Dose]

35. Oh don't get me wrong. I don't want a president who is like me! Geez the country is fucked up enough

I can identify with his life experiences :D

[rebel with a cause]

36. I understood what you meant.

I was just looking for someplace to put my silly responce and picked your post. Aren't you the luck one. ;)

this country would change drastically if I was president. the people at the bottom would have it better and those at the top like the bushes and cheneys would be crying for mercy. I have an awful practice of being truthful, so the country would be both in a panic and an uproar because I would tell everyone the truth about what I found out about the government and then tell that 51% how stupid they were for electing gwb. Yeah, I never need to be in power. :9

[Liberal Dose]

39. I think I'd like to be your vice president. Or friend. nt

[rebel with a cause]

41. Hey friend.

:hi:

[Colobo]

30. Ed Rendell undermining our nominee. What a suprise.

[swishyfeet]

31. Thanks Ed. Your concern is noted. nt

[Cha]

37. Bullshit...Obama can give me a 6 minute answer

anytime he wants. eddie had a good speech at tonight but he's szchoid.

[Glimmer of Hope]

38. Poor Ed is just jealous.

[madrchsod]

40. .....well ed,if you piss off the guy that wins,

you have just screwed yourself

[WeDidIt]

43. This is not looking good

Surrogates count as the candidate in this.

Sorry Hillary. You made choices. Time to get your team in line. Your husband was the one who said you fall in love in the primaries, but in the GE you fall in line.

[bermudat]

45. Didn't Adlai Stevenson lose?

Faint praise.

[yellowcanine]

48. I think that is his point. Of course Stevenson ran against Eisenhower.

Even JFK would probably have lost to Eisenhower so I am not sure the comparison is valid. McCain is no Eisenhower and we are not 7 years removed from the end of a popular war where he was a hero.

[spanone]

46. thanks ed....love, john

stfu

[damndude]

47. Adlai Stevenson was a great man

who can forget "I'm prepared to wait for an answer until hell freezes over!"

[zulchzulu]

51. I'd like to stuff a dozen Philly cheese steaks down Ed's piehole

Ed still is wearing his PUMA sneakers...the fat fuck...

[polichick]

54. Rendell pisses me off sometimes, but as a PA resident I know he is saying...

...what a lot of my fellow residents are thinking. Both of these statements are correct imo:


"And the six-minute answer is smart as all get out."

"We've got to start smacking back in short understandable bites,"

[kennetha]

55. Facts are Facts

You have to go into a fight knowing what your assets are and are not. Obama has a certain appeal to certain groups and is ineffectual in other circles. He either has to get better himself -- and fast - or he has to let others do the heavy lifting for him.

This will not be an easy election. I think the primaries put in sharp relief Obama's strengths -- which are very considerable -- but also his weakness, which are also very considerable.

[AZBlue]

57. What happened to party unity, Eddie-boy?

[mmonk]

58. Give him something to do where he doesn't have to feed the animals.

[TheKentuckian]

60. Rendel is approaching being correct

I've said it for a long time. Democrats have complex answers to complex problems and it's very difficult to reduce those thoughts into the soundbites that a great many seem to think and process information in.

I don't know how to resolve that. I do the same thing and never feel my responses are complete, though many don't feel like processing what I did get out.

Still, overall I think Obama is being held to much higher standards than any candidate I can recall going back to Carter v. Ford. Obama is expected to provide all the nuts and bolts, while every other candidate is allowed to paint their picture in broad strokes. Then when he goes into detailed positions he isn't being direct enough.