Debates - John McCain Will Be Declared The Winner Because He Is A Walking Soundbite

[Median Democrat]

You too can speak and debate like John McCain. Remember these (unoriginal) beauties:

1. National Security - "I will follow Osama bin Ladin to the gates of hell"
2. Energy Policy - "Drill here. Drill now. Pay less."
3. Integrity - "Straight talk" and "My reputation as a maverick."
4. Russia - "In the 21st century nations don't invade other nations."
5. Spending - "I will veto every single bill with earmarks. I will make these bills famous."
6. Abortion - "I will be the right to life President."
7. Anything Else - "Can I tell you a story? (Insert war story)"

That's it. Whether it is the Rick Warren forum or a townhall meeting, that's John McCain. Carlin had the seven dirty words. McCain has the seven deadly soundbites. He is a black belt in Soundbite Fu.

If you have heard John McCain once, you have heard him a hundred times. The man is a walking soundbite. However, in a debate, many people will have not heard John McCain before, so his catch phrases and war stories will sound fresh. His quickness in answering questions will make John McCain appear assured and decisive.

Barack Obama is many things, but he is not really good at speaking the soundbite-ease that is needed for a general election debate. For example, his speeches don't have the traditional applause lines and pauses that most politicians rely on. This is what makes Obama special, but again this does not lend itself to quick short soundbites.

If you listened to the Hillary and Obama debates, overall, they were pretty nuanced, since Hillary and Obama did not disagree much on the issues. Seriously, how much daylight is there between them on abortion or energy policy? So, the Hillary/Obama debates are poor references for how Obama would do in a debate with McCain. Hillary is wonky and the issue with her was that she loved to delve into the minutieu of her proposals. That is not McCain.

I don't think Barack Obama should try to learn to speak soundbite-ease, because that will make him sound un-authentic. Obama is a very thoughful dude, who is very analytical. He actually listens, and tries to answer questions, as the townhall meetings demonstrate. However, John McCain treats debates as a means for him to get out his soundbites, and the press will eat this up despite the fact that he has delivered these lines a hundred times during the campaign, and they don't mean squat.

So, lets be realistic about the debates. The pundits will probably declare John McCain the winner based on the ease and speed with which he delivers the above seven lines.

[LSparkle]

1. Obama is a quick study ... he can learn to speak "Soundbitese"

I just watched his 2004 convention speech again this weekend, and
as good as it was, I think he's definitely mastered the TelePrompTer
since then. He can probably easily pick up a few debate tricks
before he faces off against Bomb Bomb. All he needs to do is
watch a tape of himself this weekend (the way aides did to Al
Gore) to see how he needs to "course correct."

[Median Democrat]

4. Don't Think Obama Can Master Soundbite Fu - Its Not Him

I was listening to Obama in New Mexico on the CNN Live. Obama listens closely, and tries to answer often six-part questions. His answers were very thoughtful, and he asked the person if he had answered all of the multi-part questions. Obama was very patient with questions that had a long wind-up.

I like this in a president, but not good mastery of Soundbite Fu.

[LSparkle]

12. But it's like being "multilingual" -- he should be able to do it when required

If he's in a "soundbite" crowd, he needs to speak their
language. I also appreciate long, scholarly answers, and
I think there are places where they're warranted, but
in debates especially -- when you have only limited
time to make an impression -- he needs to learn to
speak in shorthand.

[Median Democrat]

13. The Risk Is Sounding Contrived - Obama Lacks McCain's Ease In Reciting By Rote

Of course, as the cross in the sand story, repeating a story without thinking does have a downside. Still, McCain's ability to snap off sound bites will give him an advantage in a debate.

Obama's strength, on the other hand, is his ability to listen, analyze and respond. That is what makes him special as a candidate. There may be a risk that he comes off as fake if starts rattling off little 15 second campaign soundbites like McCain.

I think McCain will be judged to have won the 1st debate. However, the second debate will be the test, because McCain will need new material, and people will have heard the soundbites once before.

[FARAFIELD]

2. "bottled hot water to dehydrated babies"

And actually he said that he will "VETO EVERY BEER"

[Median Democrat]

6. Forgot to add that each soundbite must be preceded by "My Friends..."

Add the "My Friends..." and you can fill-in for John McCain.

[grantcart]

3. I disagree

the main difference between the debates and Saturday's forum is that there will be follow up.

So Obama will know what the initial 'soundbite' will be, as you point out and then will respond with a devistating response.

"think conception starts at birth so you would not be for abortions in the case of incest or rape"

"did you think it was proper for Georgia to use military force to try and compel its citizens to capitualate? Isn't that what the Chinese did at Tinneman Square?"

Etc.

Also these lines are generally very effective the first 2 times you hear them but lose a lot of power when overly repeated which he does a lot of.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. In a REAL debate, that would be no problem.

Obama would simply ask him to expound on it - "what, exactly, do you MEAN by 'drill here, drill now, pay less'?" and then demolish the arguments one by one. Soundbites do not survive under scrutiny.

Obama is sharp enough to not let the soundbites stand, and tough enough to force the debates to actually address them.

He learned a lot about how the MSM handles debates during the primaries, and I don't think he's going to let them get away with the shit they pulled then.

[Johonny]

7. McCain puts me to sleep

[Thrill]

8. Worked for Bush

[Youphemism]

9. That's also his biggest weakness...

Aside from the facts that most problems don't have a soundbyte answer and most people know that, McCain has an impulse control problem with those things he says.

"Define rich. What constitutes being someone who's rich?"

" Five million in income "

These comments will catch up with him and, in a real debate with a skilled moderator and followup questions, McCain will foist himself on his own petard. However, I think there's a good chance that his fumbling and confusion will lose him even more votes. He gets lost in the middle of sentences a lot. I suspect that will happen during future debates, and it will cost him.

[Median Democrat]

10. True - McCain's Biggest Gaffes Come When He Needs To Expound...

Beyond his seven deadly soundbites. He is like Mike Tyson in that the seven deadly soundbites have a great immediate impact. However, if the questions last into the later rounds, he can be peppered with a jab of follow-up questions requiring him to explain or expound, and he can get worn out, then he starts making mistakes like discussing the need to secure the Iraq Pakistan border.

Still, this depends on whether the questioner is willing to follow up and ask what does McCain actually propose to do regarding Osama bin Ladin or is he literally intended to search for the gates of hell.

[Youphemism]

11. Yes, there was an obvious followup to the Bin Laden comment...

"President Bush has had the military unsuccessfully searching for Bin Laden for 7 years. How can you promise you would do any better than he and the military have done in that time? Is there something clearly wrong about how he and the military are hunting Bin Laden? If yes, why haven't you spoken up about it before. If no, how can you make any promises now?"

Also, it's not just a matter of him getting "worn out," though getting confused is probably his bigger weakness.

But when you try to distill your position on every world event into a short, simple comment based on having the moral high ground, you're bound to screw up, because that sort of simplicity is not the way the world works.