Read my latest flash, Venison, at 52|250.

Given that the three candidates the media deigns to allow to debate now that a few states have voted (presumably, the rest of us are not deserving of an equal range of choice) agree the vast majority of the time (even when they say they disagree, their records disprove this), it was inevitable that it would descend to the level of personal commentary.  Choosing between Clinton, Obama, and Edwards isn’t about choosing a set of policies: it’s about choosing a style, an image.

The result of this was clearest in the exchange between Clinton and Obama that is being played ad nauseum by various news outlets, but it’s essential not to pretend that Edwards was actually outside this game– or, as he would put it, above it.  Indeed, he merely created an image of being above it by referring to himself as a “grownup”.  (The implication that his opponents are acting like children is a personal attack.)

This is the sort of debate you get when you choose a candidate to support on the basis of being afraid that your team won’t win the Super Bowl who can win.  Once you make that your primary criterion, you force the candidates to focus on image because until you actually finish voting, the ability to win is only an appearance.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.