Judging by what pundits focus on after a debate — who came off aloof or sincere, which candidate delivered the best one-liner — you'd think the match-ups were acting competitions. Yet history demonstrates that a debate performance can make or break a candidacy. It's not what they answer, but how they answer.
Get Flash to see this player.
So which characters will take center stage come Friday? McCain will be playing the role of scrappy fighter while Obama will star as the youthful man of reason. The New York Times looked back on the candidates' debate records. Over 30 debates, McCain has proven that he is "an aggressive competitor who scolds his opponents, grins when he scores, and is handy with the rhetorical shiv." Obama debates with an inconsistent style, and "he tends to the earnest and humorless when audiences seem to crave passion and personality."
Obama may be the "celebrity" — but who do you think has the acting advantage? Will you tune in Friday for entertainment or education?
Playtex
Paul & Joe
Top Studio
McCain used to be good at this sort of thing.. but he also can let his temper slip (not very Presidential to look like the old guy yelling at the kids to get off his lawn). So we will see.
Obama always stays calm and dignified but I am curious to hear his answers..
I didn't think I would ever see someone who likes the sound of their own voice more than Biden but Palin may give him a run for his money.. damn she talks and talks.. not much substance in what she says but a never ending barrage of words (unless you are a member of the press and not Sean Hannity). They will be more interesting then Obama and McCain.
1Obama doesn't always stay calm. I saw a video of him getting pretty mad at an older lady asking about national security.
2I am nervous. I think McCain is a better extemporaneous speaker. He seems to have well rehearsed lines he can go to, while Obama stammers. I think they'll both do about the same content-wise, but I don't think Obama will come off was well.
3http://teamsugar.com/group/974220/blog/2057180
4That clip is so spliced and diced it's ridiculous, Mich.
If you want to see a candidate sounding ridiculous without being edited, check this one out. (link in next comment in case it's flagged)
5I loved that video until I saw Bush.
6Ha, TORG! Love the little yellow 'torg' on your apple! Genius!
I have to say, the back ground music on this video made it difficult to pay attention to the content of the video. It was wretched!
7http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFWnxFiFNh4
8LOL -- you believed that clip. I work in video -- that clip was completely hacked up. The boys and I got a good laugh out of it.
9FYI -- if you don't want your links to get flagged -- embed them in a blog post -- just a tip
10Neat!
http://teamsugar.com/group/1950914/blog/2071237
11And if you want to see some videos of McCain loosing his cool -- youtube
12I think McCain calling Obama's argument about something 'chicken sh*t' on TV would be hilarious. Thanks for the links!
13The Obama video is about as believable as his one...
14the obama video is about as believable as this one circulating about John Mccain....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCXOZpwT2ek
15
16Please go back to the blog to see what I wrote. I didn't post the whole video and never claimed too. I posted the parts where he was yelling and where the MSNBC commentators mentioned it. If you were interested you can go do your own research. This pettiness is just ridiculous here. No one said this is a play by play of every second of the meeting. It was clearly labeled. And glad to repay the favor dream.
17GS, I've lived long enough to realize that you can learn from anything.
I'm particularly intrigued by how we can live in an "information society" and still some people cling so strongly to their beliefs that they cannot see truth. I see it every day at work.
A few corollaries:
The more vehemently a person clings to their beliefs, in general, the less substantive their foundation.
The more a person impugns the intelligence of those with opposing viewpoints, the more likely it is that they are insecure about their own intelligence.
Frequently, when an "enthusiastic discusser" nitpicks details of another person's evidence, it's because theirs is swiss cheese.
...just to put it in perspective....
18You're a smart lady laine!
19I've been looking forward to the debate for weeks. I can't wait.
The debate video was very cool and my favorite line was, "Jack Kennedy is a good friend of mine and Senator you are no Jack Kennedy."
20Debate Over!!
I'm really looking forward to the debates, so that the candidates themselves can perhaps shift the discussion away from whose attack ads are dumber and dirtier. McCain definitely has a strong debating style--he's quite engaging no matter what you think about his content--and it'll be interesting to see the two of them head-to-head.
21Simmer down -- you're at a 10 -- you need to be at a 1!
You guys nit pick everything we say -- and again another targeted "anti-Obama" post in your blog (funny how they all seem to be public post). Spare me the phony outrage.
I'm not the only one saying the video was shotty.
22Laine -- you're so funny
23Who's impugning anyone's intelligence here, Laine? Who's vehemently clinging to their beliefs to the point where they can't see the truth? This seemed like it was a debate about the authenticity of one obviously slice-and-diced video, nothing more than that.
24I only posted the fake McCain swearing video because I think it is funny, not as any kind of serious rebuttal. The sliced and diced Obama video just gave me an opening.
25I'm excited for the debates to finally get here. I can't wait to see how either candidate performs without a script.
26I only posted the video because he's not exactly "calm" in it. I didn't mean to get everybody all riled up.
27I LOVE Reagan (which may sound crazy coming from a Democrat) but I thought he was a great president, and he was also a very charismatic speaker like Obama (which isn't the most important thing, but it does actually make me listen to what they have to say). JFK was also very good in my book, too.
28I can't wait for the debates!
29"The more vehemently a person clings to their beliefs, in general, the less substantive their foundation."
Does that apply to theology and conservative political philosophy?
30No, but it does apply to liberal politics.
31I think it might apply to conservative political philosophy and theology. If you're clinging, there's no exchange of ideas, and you're not thinking. It's hard to have a substantive foundation of ideas if you don't consider all options.
32What's the difference between clinging and holding firm to your beliefs? How does anyone on the outside determine if someone else has given enough consideration to other options? Are there people among us who we can all be certain have considered the appropriate number of other options the appropriate number of times and therefore, can judge whether we are in fact clinging or holding firm? How many other options must one consider? Should we send our children to a variety of religious schools so that they can consider all the options before choosing a religion? Should we live in other countries before we choose a permanent home? Can we be trustworthy patriots if we haven't lived anywhere other than our home country?
It was a bold pronouncement.
33I think clinging is more desperate. To me, it would mean that you're unwilling to listen to other ideas. Although I'm not sure it matters what an outsider thinks, I believe one indication that somebody is clinging to a belief is when they mock anybody who thinks differently.
There is a big difference between considering other ideas (and, like your example, other places to live) and actually trying those other ideas. I don't have to move to Darfur to realized I don't want to live there. Just like I don't have to vote Democrat to realize I don't agree with their platform.
34>Simmer down -- you're at a 10 -- you need to be at a 1!
You guys nit pick everything we say -- and again another targeted "anti-Obama" post in your blog (funny how they all seem to be public post). Spare me the phony outrage.
I'm not the only one saying the video was shotty.
One, I don't think telling anyone to calm down has ever actually made someone calm down.
Two, can we avoid anything that starts with "you guys"? There are reasonable people and fanatical nutjobs on both sides and generalizing statements just piss everyone off.
35I'm a nutjob, right TS? (And you're right, being told to calm down just makes me madder, especially if I wasn't upset in the first place)
36Quick, someone get me a drink! I agree with stephly!!
JK
37You and I both, Mich. We are clearly the most radical and militant representatives of the left and right here.
38lol, Torg, I meam True, you are no where close to the most radical!
39And I mean that as a compliment!
40Whenever some one tries to get me to calm down when I'm mad, it makes me furious. If I'm not actually mad, I will be.
And I don't think generalizing helps anybody.
41"Whenever some one tries to get me to calm down when I'm mad, it makes me furious."
Ooh, that is the #1 fight escalator with me. I used to be with a guy who, every time I was mildly irritated about something, would immediately start saying, "Calm down! Calm down!"
Which was always like putting a lit match to a very short fuse on a very large bomb. That's when the true A$$ of Destruction emerges.
42I still remember, like, many years later, when this one guy suggested I go take a nap. I was FURIOUS.
43Actually me an GS have history and I didn't mean it to be polite - frankly.
44True Song, that's just
45And to be honest -- even though there were other people that commented on the sliced up Obama video -- she choose to call me out. She does this a lot and I'm a bit tired of it frankly.
46"Actually me an GS have history and I didn't mean it to be polite - frankly."
Me and GS have a history too. We violently disagree about just about everything. I don't think you should have to be respectful Dream -- Just sayin'.
47Love the av, org.
And yeah. GS and I have a "history" of butting heads too, but you don't see me telling anyone to "simmer down."
48I'm sorry to the other folks who are offended by my stance on the situation -- I really am - but when someone comes at you (almost) yelling and trying to tell you off -- you get the response you gave.
49GS and I have a history, too. But the details aren't to be shared in polite company.
50Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.