Will Obama be the Democrat's "Teflon President"?

[Bonobo]

The answer is yes.

Why? There are probably many, many reasons. I will offer a few. Maybe others can come up with more.

1. He has consistently offered a positive message of hope and change. So any time someone gets negative on him, it makes them look nasty, negative and like "more of the same nastiness". So it only serves to contrast his more positive message and appearance.

2. He has a wonderful hip, self-deprecating sense of humor. Even to the point of poking fun at his cult phenom status. He acknowledges it and deflects it. "Wow, I gotta admit some of my speeches were pretty darned good." This type of humor makes him look fresh while at the same time deflecting the criticism.

3. Repuke opponents will have to walk on eggshells because they want to appeal to racist sentiments but the potential backfire factor is also big.

Any other thoughts?

[Lint Head]

1. I think Ray-Gun and the Bush Wacker used up all of the available

supply of Teflon. :dem:

[maddiejoan]

2. I think the concept

of having a "Teflon President" is a horrid one.

Bush is a "Teflon President".

Reagan was a "Teflon President"

"Teflon Presidents" are dangerous to this country.

[Bonobo]

4. I disagree.

"Reagan was a Scorpio. Reagan was dangerous. Obama is a Scorpio. Obama must be dangerous."

[maddiejoan]

5. Not the same

A President who can't be criticized?

Not American.

[Bonobo]

8. Never said "can't be criticized". That's a mischaracterization to score a point.

What mechanism prevents him from being criticized? None.

Merely that he is resistant to criticism does nothing to impugn his character.

It is merely an observation that he is a powerful force for persuasion and leadership.

[maddiejoan]

18. Look at your point #3

[Bonobo]

21. Yeah and?

It is a fact. It may even be an unfair fact from some people's vantage point.

The same would be true if it were Hil, by the way. People would want to attack her for being a woman but would face a similar risk of backlash for appearing sexist.

The biggest truth is that if Hillary were more immune to criticism, though, you would be the first one to applaud it. I think you are being contrary because you do not really like Obama.

[maddiejoan]

24. Not at all.

First --it's not true --sexism is far more acceptable in this nation than racism, so that's not necessarily true.

Your point was that people would be afraid to criticize Obama, lest they be labeled as racist.

Secondly -- I would not applaud this if it were true about Hillary. The fact is, that if this were true about Hillary I'd be less likely to support her.

Thirdly --You are correct on one thing only. I really do not like Obama.

[Bonobo]

25. And your dislike of Obama colors every thing you say, rendering it questionable.

[maddiejoan]

27. as does your hatred of Hillary

[Occam Bandage]

12. There's a difference between

"immune to criticism" and "immune to character assassination."

[TwilightGardener]

13. Bill Clinton was Teflon--left office with fairly high approval ratings. When people

like you, you have a hell of a lot of leeway. People like Obama in much the same way.

[maddiejoan]

17. Bill was not Teflon

[TwilightGardener]

31. He was. The only way the scandals and mud hurt you is if the people

who elected you care. And by and large, his constituents did not let that stuff influence their opinion of him as a President--again, he left office with a fairly high approval rating, and is still fondly remembered. That's the definition of Teflon--not smears, legal charges, or ethics charges sticking, but whether or not the public believes the stuff, or cares.

[maddiejoan]

32. I disagree

The fact is Bill Clinton had one of the most honest administrations in recent history --and yet he is still thought of as a liar.

That's not "Teflon"

[TwilightGardener]

39. He's thought of as a liar because he lied. BUT--his dishonesty

didn't destroy him in terms of public opinion. People can acknowledge that he lied, that he fucked up, and still like him and think of him as a good or competent President, overall--most folks aren't looking for perfection in their leaders. And the Whitewater stuff never did stick to him--most Americans didn't care. Again, MY definition of Teflon is not that your enemies can prove you fucked up, and make charges and accusations stick--it's whether or not those mistakes and charges DAMAGE you forever in the eyes of the people. Clinton is not regarded as a national disgrace, the way Nixon was, the way Chimpy will be. Sorry, he's Teflon--he has built up enough goodwill among the American people that they still think favorably of him, despite the turmoil and mistakes. We'll just have to agree to disagree here.

[maddiejoan]

41. Right.

Sure.

I've read some of the most repulsive lies about Bill Clinton on this progressive forum.

They sure seem to stick to that "Teflon"

[Bonobo]

19. Bill was not teflon. He was a cast-iron skittle. When hot, he cooked beautifully.

But that shit stuck like crazy on him.
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/08/19/frypan,0.jpg

[jakem]

34. lol. nice one.

[SayitAintSo]

14. I agree whole heartedly

Being the teflon candidate has not been a positive either... early vetting has it's place.

[JimGinPA]

23. Bill Clinton Was The Original Teflon President nt

[maddiejoan]

28. Uhm no

That was Reagan.

Judging from this board alone --even amongst Democrats --Bill was and is hardly "Teflon"

[tekisui]

3. He framed his candidacy as one of Hope, very early.

So, it appears, if you criticize Obama, you criticize Hope.

He and Axelrod are intelligent professionals who keep doing everything right. They've made an art at counter-attacking without so much as a swing.

[mac2]

40. That's a Kucinich campaign line wasn't it?

Kucinich hope and work toward the light...no fear, etc.?

[DURHAM D]

6. Is this your covert way of starting the Nader push on DU? eom

[Bonobo]

9. Huh? Are you taking heavy medication or something?

[eleny]

7. If he's teflon - then I hope he's bold

If he is teflon, I surely hope he uses it to get liberal ideals into practice. Anything that helps the working and middle class become strong would be great.

[NC_Nurse]

10. Good points and I hope he can use this to get his agenda through

Congress. I think it's one of his main advantages over Clinton, his ability to
deflect negativity and use his speaking skills to get people to take action that
can get us out of the messes we're in.

[jgraz]

11. It's not what's in the Teflon, it's what goes ON the Teflon

Chimpy and Unca Ronnie needed their Teflon to deflect the shitstorms from all their criminal activity. Obama will just need to fend off bullshit right wing attacks. You need a lot less teflon for that.

[sloppyjoe25s]

15. He takes on every attack head on - to easily defuse them...

Each and every time he is attacked with a new line - he starts quoting the attack
in his stump speeches - and he quotes the attack in responses at debates.

It seems counter-intuitive - like it might re-enforce the attack - but Obama does it skillfully to
sort of hold the attack up in his hand - rotate it around for all to see at multiple angles -
and then to thoroughly and artfully debunk the attack.

It is an excellent technique - epitomized by his line in Tuesday's debate that
"Hillary has been using the line 'Get Reaal'" quite a bit this week -
"The thinking is that everyone who is supporting me (including all the major papers in Texas) are somehow delusional"

It is this sort of skill in dealing with attacks, and shrinking them to nothing, that bodes very well for
his ability to win the general election.

[LiberalFighter]

16. What happens when Teflon is heated too much?

The nonstick coating used in DuPont’s Teflon pans has been found to release one or more of 15 different toxic gases when heated to certain temperatures. Which chemicals are released depends on the temperature of the pan. This outgassing is fatal to pet birds and can cause “polymer fume flu”, also known as “Teflon flu”, in humans.

Teflon flu creates flu-like symptoms of chills, headache, fever and nausea. Usually, symptoms subside within a few days, and chances are many people who have experienced it mistook it for the flu. However, there are also more serious risks.

One of the main chemicals used in the manufacturing process of Teflon and other nonstick pans is perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) also known as C-8. This chemical has led to cancer and birth defects in lab animals, and may have led to birth defects in DuPont plant workers. In 2005, an independent panel reporting to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared PFOA a likely human carcinogen.

[R_M]

29. Teflon on anyone is a bad thing.

:thumbsup:

[jakem]

35. a bit to literal there LF-

[LiberalFighter]

42. If Democrats had heated Reagan or Bush more they would had burned

[jillan]

20. I disagree - today in my paper, on all the Sunday talk shows - what were they talking about?

Michelle's comments added to the list that the rw has already compiled which
questions Obama's patriotism.

Don't flame ME - this is what they are talking about.

[Bonobo]

22. Thatr attack, like others, will not pan out and may even backfire.

Too McCarthy -like to be used very far.

[jillan]

26. As a Democrat that wants to win in November -

I hope and pray that you are right.

Guess I still have a hangover from 2004.

[cooolandrew]

30. He will have so many voters with him ready to defend his presidency.

[RestoreGore]

37. Regardless of what he does?

[RestoreGore]

33. I sure hope not....No 'president' should get a free ride on policy regardless of party

It is our duty as Americans to make sure they don't. I don't want a 'teflon president'
because that connotates he could continue the policy of unitary executive, signing statements, recess hijinx, enforcement of all the bills already passed to take away civil liberties that he has not stated he would work to repeal, getting us into another war, etc. and it would be approved by democrats simply because he is one. Howis that 'change?' and why would anyone worth their salt want that? Haven't we learned anything in the last eight years? I can't believe anyone would even suggest that regardless of who they support.

[ruggerson]

36. Governing is very different than campaigning

if he's elected, "hope" isn't going to cut it. Results will. I will be rooting for him to succeed, but he doesn't have the faux friendly grandfather thing that the evil one had. He has hip and cool, but hip and cool is a two edged sword.

[mac2]

38. Amen