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bigtree

(85,917 posts)
Wed May 2, 2012, 01:32 PM May 2012

'Cool' Means He's Communicating

Last edited Wed May 2, 2012, 04:59 PM - Edit history (3)




A number of conservatives have gone public with their heightened (if not contrived) anxiety over President Obama's perceived or actual 'coolness.' They suggest that it's just another slick facade which masks the president's supposedly objectionable or vacuous agenda. Still, they're so concerned with that perception of theirs that they've completely validated the notion by expressing their own comfortableness in looking less 'cool' than our Democratic rock star.

Let me say from the outset that, in comparison to most politicians of any stripe or position, Barack Obama is a very dynamic and compelling figure.

Fact is, his persona, character, and interests reflect more of America than any president in my lifetime. Much is made about Bill Clinton playing sax on Arsenio as candidate, but this president has displayed contemporary cool in office with his embrace of electronic and social media; his public embrace of contemporary music and musicians; as well as his interest in sports from the major leagues to his frequent games of one-on-one b-ball.

More importantly, though, President Obama has embraced many of the progressive issues of our time and presented their resolution or disposition as imperatives for the immediate future. That's a marked difference from the traditional caution of our political establishment. To be certain, many politicians are now challenged to come forth with positions and action on issues they thought they could slow-walk through the political process until they were dead or forgotten.

Even in the midst of our present financial disaster/recovery-- maybe even because of it all -- this president is pressing for action and accomplishment to counter the typical, deliberate cynicism many in our national legislature have worked to engender in our expectations of the government we've made them responsible for.

'Cool' for this president isn't just an attitude; it's a persona derived from his sincerity and commitment to those things which Americans feel characterize the best of what we are and what we aspire to become. Folks recognize that commitment to our national, social, and political advancement and want to identify with that sentiment and effort. Barack Obama inspires Americans on a real level; on a plane where Americans actually live and exist.

That brings us to conservatives' objections. It certainly may be that republicans want to be seen as 'cool,' as well. Curious though, that they would be arguing that Obama's cool doesn't cut it.

Conservative columnist, Kathleen Parker at the Washington Post, argues that republican candidate Romney's best chance of defeating the president is 'being proudly nerdy.'

The GOP is obviously mindful of the coolness gap and has issued a video ad in response to Obama’s late-night foray titled “A Tale of Two Leaders.” The ad juxtaposes Obama’s slow jam with Romney’s general election kickoff speech that is both earnest and heartfelt. It does not hurt that Romney’s voice at times could be mistaken for Ronald Reagan’s. Implicit in the message (and the voice): Take your pick. Grown-up or cool dude?

The answer should be obvious except for the fact that many consider the president grown up enough. His play-alongs are just for fun, after all, though overplaying one’s cool hand is risky as the very adult business of economic survival looms ever-more ominously.


All of that ridicule of President Obama's messaging suggests that conservatives like Parker believe it's having some success in promoting his agenda. Even Parker admits that 'slow-jamming' his college loan agenda on Jimmy Fallon's show wasn't necessarily an ineffective strategy. After all, effectively communicating that agenda is the president's primary challenge and responsibility.

What conservatives seem to actually be lamenting is that the relative lameness of their appeal to the American public has gone stale; perhaps from the inherent flaws in its acceptability. What they seem to long for is a return to the distance they've enjoyed between their legislative offices and the people they purport to represent. They're 'up here' and their constituents are 'down there' and couldn't possibly understand their supreme rationale in blocking initiatives and actions which are intended to sustain us with their petty and opportunistic obstructions.

What conservatives are anxious to do (since the beginning of this democratic presidency) is to define this president as outside the American mainstream. What they've actually succeeded in doing, so far, however, is to highlight their own institutional and aspirational uncool.

Conservatism is uncool. That's a message I'm certain they'll proudly carry into the election and beyond.
23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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'Cool' Means He's Communicating (Original Post) bigtree May 2012 OP
You're spot on once again bro' madokie May 2012 #1
kick bigtree May 2012 #2
and to top off his "coolness" lillypaddle May 2012 #3
and don't even get me started on his singing..... a kennedy May 2012 #4
lol,I know! wendylaroux May 2012 #6
I hear ya! whathehell May 2012 #9
Oh my dear aunt Fanny! wendylaroux May 2012 #12
I knoooooww! whathehell May 2012 #13
Agreed! whathehell May 2012 #7
Romney is NOT "Proudly Nerdy" ThoughtCriminal May 2012 #5
Romney is not bright enough to be a "nerd." BlueMTexpat May 2012 #17
The pukes would give virtually ANYTHING to have a candidate that was HALF as cool as ours! whathehell May 2012 #8
K&R. young but wise May 2012 #10
edit: conservatism bigtree May 2012 #11
kick bigtree May 2012 #14
Nice post, bigtree! pacalo May 2012 #15
Sorry, Kathleen Parker, but nerdy is not a term I'd use for Romney. Rozlee May 2012 #16
Spot on treestar May 2012 #18
"Cool" is fine, but actually he's just a good man DaveJ May 2012 #19
The President is cool unclouded May 2012 #20
President Obama is the ultimate cool, classy cool rury May 2012 #21
K & R Scurrilous May 2012 #22
What they mean is that he doesn't do batshit crazy. saras May 2012 #23

madokie

(51,076 posts)
1. You're spot on once again bro'
Wed May 2, 2012, 01:41 PM
May 2012

You have a good grasp on what is happening and I'm happy you're sharing that with us.
President Obama is raising the bar higher than any of the pukes of today can even hope to reach. And their pissed about it. I say gObama and keep up the good job you're doing shining light on these cockroaches of life

lillypaddle

(9,580 posts)
3. and to top off his "coolness"
Wed May 2, 2012, 03:19 PM
May 2012

He's got a smile that can light up the night. It's always so natural and heart-felt, nothing fake about it.

Yeah, he's not perfect, but I adore this man.

whathehell

(28,969 posts)
9. I hear ya!
Wed May 2, 2012, 04:12 PM
May 2012

Recently, I received an email telling me I'd be entered into

a contest to win dinner with the president AND George Clooney!

Be still my beating heart!!!...Vapors indeed!

wendylaroux

(2,925 posts)
12. Oh my dear aunt Fanny!
Wed May 2, 2012, 05:12 PM
May 2012

I am pretty sure that I could not do PBO and George at the same time. I would go from the vapors straight to comatose! Good luck with the drawing!!

whathehell

(28,969 posts)
13. I knoooooww!
Wed May 2, 2012, 05:44 PM
May 2012

OMG...I'm imagining it right now!

and I'd feel the SAME!...But what could one do?

Bring a friend for support?...The entire DU membership?

A fainting couch?

Jeebus! I'll keep you posted!

whathehell

(28,969 posts)
8. The pukes would give virtually ANYTHING to have a candidate that was HALF as cool as ours!
Wed May 2, 2012, 04:07 PM
May 2012

They're a sad joke

pacalo

(24,721 posts)
15. Nice post, bigtree!
Wed May 2, 2012, 11:50 PM
May 2012

This would make a great signature line:

'Cool' for this president isn't just an attitude; it's a persona derived from his sincerity and commitment to those things which Americans feel characterize the best of what we are and what we aspire to become.




Rozlee

(2,529 posts)
16. Sorry, Kathleen Parker, but nerdy is not a term I'd use for Romney.
Thu May 3, 2012, 12:13 AM
May 2012

He doesn't have the mental depth to be classified as a nerd. You need to have a keenly analytical intelligence, or what the right-wing calls being an elite, to even have the ground work for nerdism. And nerds ARE cool. Can Romney even speak Huttese?

treestar

(82,383 posts)
18. Spot on
Thu May 3, 2012, 07:33 AM
May 2012

Yesterday in the gym I was watching the TV monitor for Faux/ it had a split screen showing Romney on one side and Obama on the other. Unintended by Faux, the visuals illustrated the difference. Obama walking across the lawn or coming down the stairs from AF1 vs. Rmoney looking dorky in various situations.

DaveJ

(5,023 posts)
19. "Cool" is fine, but actually he's just a good man
Thu May 3, 2012, 02:19 PM
May 2012

When someone knows they are right, they feel comfortable, they don't need to behaved in a contrived manner, and they express little inward anxiety. I'm not saying that some nervous anxiety is always bad. Sometimes it's the result of discomfort with a situation. But in the case of Romney, he has no message, nothing he feels passionate about.

unclouded

(12 posts)
20. The President is cool
Thu May 3, 2012, 05:44 PM
May 2012

For a party of liars and cheats, it must really suck to see President Obama make everything- from connecting with regular Americans to singing Al Green to winning the presidency on his first try- look effortless.

rury

(1,021 posts)
21. President Obama is the ultimate cool, classy cool
Thu May 3, 2012, 06:23 PM
May 2012

his own kinda cool.....just cool.
Oh, for the cool in him...I fell for the cool in him!!

OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!

 

saras

(6,670 posts)
23. What they mean is that he doesn't do batshit crazy.
Fri May 4, 2012, 12:14 AM
May 2012

He never loses it and lets out his "true" insanity - I imagine they're waiting for him to put his foot in his mouth and then shoot it, the way they like to.

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