Editor’s note: Walt Amses is an educator and writer from North Calais.
Although Americans clearly express their disdain for negative advertising, research demonstrates that however much we protest, attack ads seem to be successful, which is largely why they inundate the airwaves. And even though it’s seemingly obvious that truth frequently takes a back seat to flair and dramatics, our sports-oriented, competitive nature consistently rewards eloquent dishonesty.
Winds of change have ripped through the electorate recently, largely based on a one-time, Oscar-worthy performance in the first presidential debate by Mitt Romney, predicated on a string of articulately delivered, deceits, which went unchallenged by a moribund Barack Obama. Voters once again demonstrated exactly how malleable we are as polls shifted toward a challenger whose positions in early October would have eliminated him from the Republican primary last summer.
Ultimately, the smoke and mirrors central to Romney’s chameleon-like character, allowed him to go from DOA to FDR in 90 minutes as liberals grumbled over a lost opportunity to put the election out of reach. Coupled with the unemployment rate dropping below 8 percent for the first time in four years later that week, conventional wisdom suggested a merely adequate performance by Obama would have been sufficient to seal the deal.
Conservatives – many of whom previously demonstrated little affection and slight enthusiasm for Romney – were suddenly intoxicated by his transformation, ignoring – at least for the time being — his abandoning right wing ideology like it was a burning building. It was borderline miraculous the governor remained conscious in light of the G-forces generated by his sudden lurch toward the middle.
With Romney flipping like a Romanian acrobat, the president’s demeanor was beyond his usual cool. So detached at times, he seemed shocked to look up and see Romney in the same room. Although the Denver altitude, the president’s focus on the presidency and everything in between has been dissected as the basis for Obama’s performance, there was no disagreement that he was AWOL.
Not so with Joe Biden. The vice president stalked into his debate with Paul Ryan in Kentucky like a lion looking for a gazelle and walked out seemingly well fed. Repeatedly, the administration’s designated hit man called Ryan out on topics ranging from the incredulity of the GOP’s budget numbers to their plan for turning Medicare into a voucher system.
However much conservatives squealed about Biden’s boorishness, interruptions and smirking as Ryan spoke, several things became abundantly clear: Obama’s second in command was passionate about the middle class — which would be decimated by the GOP agenda; Ryan-Romney are dangerously out of their depth discussing foreign policy — particularly the Middle East; and despite Romney’s disingenuous assertions to the contrary, Roe vs. Wade will be history with a Republican victory in November.
This tortured reasoning was expressed by Sarah Palin on Fox News, explaining the debate was like “watching a musk ox run across the tundra with somebody underfoot.” A triumphant image if ever there was one.
Several snap polls of undecided voters by CBS and NBC immediately afterward indicated that Biden had accomplished his mission even as news’ outlets on the right were attempting to simultaneously balance two contradictory perceptions: the vice president had mugged Paul Ryan while the Wisconsin senator nonetheless had handily won the evening.
This tortured reasoning was expressed by Sarah Palin on Fox News, explaining the debate was like “watching a musk ox run across the tundra with somebody underfoot.” A triumphant image if ever there was one.
The larger take-away, however, is that with three weeks and two presidential debates between now and Election Day, the entire political landscape is still up for grabs. Joe Biden, however lacking in delicacy, delivered a strong rejoinder to GOP double talk while unequivocally demonstrating to ordinary Americans that the Democrats have their backs.
His boss should take every opportunity available between now and Nov. 6 to do likewise.
