The Obama Likeability Gap

Thoughts from Dan Henninger.

I have to say that I’ve never found him that likeable. Of course, I saw through the con early on. I just didn’t realize how many others didn’t.

And I think he’s got this wrong, though it’s still the conventional wisdom:

In 2007-08, Obama’s high-toned, consistent persona was everything. What else was there? Barack Obama took a blank slate and wrote a masterpiece of a presidential campaign across it. From nothing, this fresh Obama persona defeated the familiar, experienced Hillary Clinton in the primaries. In the general election, he ran famously on “hope and change,” gave a stirring speech on race in America, and persuaded enough moderate and independent voters to turn 2008 into a “historic” American election.

I disagree that the campaign was a “masterpiece.” He beat Hillary because the Democrats wanted an alternative, and he beat McCain because he ran an awful campaign, and the voters were tired of Republicans after Bush. Not to mention the affirmative action factor. And as Henninger points out, 53% wasn’t exactly a landslide. Now that the voters have affirmed their non-racism by electing him once, they’ll feel no further need to validate it next year.

[Update a couple minutes later]

The Jurassic president.

4 thoughts on “The Obama Likeability Gap”

  1. Now that the voters have affirmed their non-racism by electing him once, they’ll feel no further need to validate it next year.”

    I sincerely hope you are correct.

    Personally, I can’t stand the sound of the man’s voice, and couldn’t from the beginning of that long campaign. It drips with hypocrisy, and obfuscation, and complete lies. Like his comment about the Ryan Plan: It’s radical, but not courageous.” What in the world does that mean? He’s just planting words/memes in the minds of the sheeple.

  2. “Personally, I can’t stand the sound of the man’s voice, and couldn’t from the beginning of that long campaign.”

    Obama is the master of voice. They way he uses his Urkel voice when talking about economics and the way he uses his preacher voice when trying to impart deep social lessons, is really to be admired.

    Why people don’t recognize the changes in voice or the significance of the changes much less listen to what he actually says, is something that should be studied.

  3. I can like a person without liking his politics – so long as his politics aren’t vicious.

    But I remember the moment I made my decision about Obama:

    It was after Palin’s great convention speech – where she ad libbed the “.. difference…hockey mom..pit bull…lipstick…” bit.

    Day or so later Obama was making a speech and he said, to the effect, “You can put put lipstick on a pig but it’s still a pig.”

    That was it. That was all I needed to know about this guy.

    I know politics is a rough and tumble business, and I imagine that Palin shrugged it off. But it offended my sensibilities regarding the way to treat treat and reference women. Ok so I’m old fashioned.

    It wasn’t necessary. He wasn’t refuting a political point. It was pure mean nasty and he was – and still is – a perfect bastard to say that.

    ..and a child.

  4. A friend of mine was in the running for the GOP nomination in the Illinois Senate race that Obama eventually won, he told me then that Obama seemed to “drip with integrity” and will likely become president. These days he seems to be dripping something else.

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