Much better. Obama is king of

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:04:44 +0000

In reply to Ah, fair enough Genghis. You

Much better. Obama is king of apepal.

Ah, fair enough Genghis. You

Doctor Cleveland — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:09:10 +0000

Ah, fair enough Genghis. You got me.

How about this: Harris, like most of the press, has had a hard time crafting an anti-Obama narrative that will stick, because they miss or misunderstand important elements of his apepal.

Reasonable and cynical are

acanuck — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:23:17 +0000

In reply to Good piece, as usual.

Reasonable and cynical are synonyms, Genghis.

Good piece, as usual.

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:47:08 +0000

In reply to Mister Hope Is Secretly Mister Reliable

Good piece, as usual. Harris's treatment is certainly facile, but I don't think the idea that "storytelling" plays an important political role contradicts your contention that fictional stories about Obama will fail to persuade voters. The most effective political narratives are those that fit the facts. Indeed, Harris notes that the pro-Obama narrative in 2008, featuring "an almost mystically talented young idealist who stood for change in a disciplined and thoughtful way" was more effective than the anti-Obama narrative, "featuring an opportunistic Chicago pol with dubious relationships who was more liberal than he was letting on." Though Harris doesn't say why, I read him as implying that the latter simply didn't ring true.

When you describe Obama as "your studious buddy that your parents liked, because he was a safe driver and might be a good influence on you," you are also telling a story. You make a character of him just as much as Harris does. But it's a good story because it rings true, and I think that you're right that most voters will feel the same.

But many will not. They will be persuaded by other stories that better fit their perceptions of his presidency, and I find Harris's attempt to present those alternatives to be a reasonable if cynical exercise.

dagblog - Comments for "Mister Hope Is Secretly Mister Reliable"

Much better. Obama is king of

Ah, fair enough Genghis. You

Reasonable and cynical are

Good piece, as usual.