Thursday, February 9, 2012

News Feed Comments
You are here: Home / Editorials / A Spin on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: It’s all about temper

A Spin on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue: It’s all about temper

November 1, 2008 by  
Filed under Editorials

8 Comments

By: Kim Ngai, News Editor

photo credit: Associated Press

photo credit: Associated Press

There\’s only a few days before the election and that last debate on October 15, 2008 was McCain\’s last and only chance to quit lagging in the polls. He might have won. He could have won. He presented his case and he attempted to back up his arguments. And when he didn\’t succeed and Obama attacked his policies and also tried to side with Joe the Plumber, John McCain rolled his eyes, sighed, and clenched his teeth.

And McCain lost the debate.

There\’s more to winning a debate than just beating your opponent on the issues. It\’s how you present yourself to the American people. And if John McCain decided to skip over the rolling of the eyes and the gritting of the teeth, he might still have had a chance.

Obama didn\’t win the final presidential debate according to numerous polls from George Stephanopolous\’ to Gallup\’s because of his policies or arguments. He won because of the contrast viewers were able to see—thanks to the split screen on the TV—between his disposition and McCain\’s.

While McCain was fired up to the point of where you\’d ask yourself if there were limits to what you could do at a presidential debate, Obama smiled, nodded, and presented his argument. He didn\’t act “too cool” or seem “out of touch” with his audience. He didn\’t have a mini-tantrum or give the worst forced smile I\’ve seen in my life.

So why does temperament matter? If you haven\’t figured it out yet— well, just watch how the presidential candidates react to questions, comments, and current events for the next few days.

So of course, go ahead and vote for McCain. That is, if you want a fiery-tempered, volatile, and explosive president to—or be perfectly incapable of—handling our country\’s issues.

This is from the Baron Banner Blogs where it is a student is a public forum for student expression, and there is little to no editing.

Tags: ,

  • anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    I agree, McCain is not fit for the job.
    You can tell a lot about how he will handle issues if elected, just from how he reacts at these debates.

  • Misael

    Firefox 2.0.0.17 MacIntosh

    What the?
    Where’s the consistency in your articles? Biden did the EXACT same thing.
    Really, he did. And you said he won?
    What?!

  • Misael

    Firefox 2.0.0.17 MacIntosh

    Checkit:

  • Misael
  • http://home.earthlink.net/~losgaldamez/ E Galdamez

    Safari MacIntosh

    This article again lacks substance and facts. The correlation that the author makes between McCain’s “temper” and assertion that he lost the debate and thus not fit to be president is ludicrous. Did the author even watch the debate? First of all, did you watch Obama? There were several times that he showed contempt when he was pushed by McCain. Secondly, the author asserts that Obama won the debate because he calm when he answered and McCain lost it because of his disposition is non-sense. She also asserts that McCain didn’t back up his answers, basically he just acted like an temperamental freak instead of answering. Please! The assertion that Obama won the debate is disputable. In fact, McCains pole numbers increased immediately after the debate due in large to the fact that Joe the Plumber gave us a glimpse of the real Obama. Yes, I do agree with you that temperament does matter but it is not the ONLY thing that matters which is what the author is saying. Character and good judgment matters too, perhaps even more than temperament. We could have a long discussion as why Obama’s character and judgement is not presidential. Have you even read the people he has associated himself for more than 20 years? I can mention at least three or four which he denies any “real” involvement and played the “I really didn’t know them that well,” card. The assertion that voting for McCain is voting for “a fiery-tempered, volatile, and explosive president to—or be perfectly incapable of—handling our country’s issues” lacks ANY factual credence. When has McCain been “fiery-tempered”, “volatile” and “explosive”? It almost seems like the author is talking about the Hulk. So go ahead and vote for Obama if you believe the hyperbole expressed by the author. Or just look at both candidates’ character and judgment. Use objectivity and logic and do not fall in the prey of your own emotions. Looking cool and calm does not make a president.

  • tired of SPIN

    MSIE 7.0 Windows XP

    Do you realize how outdated your articles are.
    Seriously, Spin, this is OLD news.

  • kim ngai

    Firefox 3.0.3 Windows XP

    tired of SPIN,
    I’m sorry this article was put up so late. I wrote it a day after the debate. It may be that this was initially posted on Baron Banner Blogs and had recently caught the attention of an editor.

  • anonymous

    Firefox 3.0.7 Windows XP

    THIS ARTICLE IS REALLY GOOD, JUST CUZ U GUYS DON’T AGREE DOESN’T MEAN U SHOULD TRASH THE AUTHOR! BESIDES, IT MAKES SOME GOOD POINTS AND HAS A FIRM STANDING AND OPINION.