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McCain's frequent reference to Obama's "eloquence:"

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Erin Elizabeth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:33 PM
Original message
McCain's frequent reference to Obama's "eloquence:"
Edited on Thu Oct-16-08 06:35 PM by Erin Elizabeth
I was talking to a fellow Obama supporter today. We were discussing the debate. She said what bothered her the most was how McCain kept saying Obama was using eloquent language to trick people. She's African-American and it made her think of two things: the "oooo you're so articulate!" backhanded compliment often doled out to African-Americans who speak English within a formal register and the old myth of the crazy trickster Negro, out to take *something* from you, whether it's your money or your wife or in this case, your vote, and uses some way of fooling you.

Do you think McCain is even self-aware enough to realize that's how he sounds?
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lisa58 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:35 PM
Response to Original message
1. I don't blame her...it really wasn't pretty...
...how come he never listens to Palin - she doesn't say anything.
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Erin Elizabeth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:35 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. LOL
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Brigid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:40 PM
Response to Reply #2
11. Love your kitty's T-shirt!
Too bad cats can't vote! :rofl:
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Erin Elizabeth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:41 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. I know, right? If they could, Obama would have FOUR more votes
just from this household. All my kitties are Obama lovers!
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DarthDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:36 PM
Response to Original message
3. No.

I don't think he has that level of awareness, no. If he did, he wouldn't have said "that one" or promised to "whip" Obama's "you know what."

The man is a senile old relic who is making Bob Dole look like Bill Clinton as far as campaign skills.
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jpgray Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:36 PM
Response to Original message
4. It's a bit like Obama saying Palin is "a great politician"--backhanded compliment
It implies negatives while remaining ostensibly positive.
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Erin Elizabeth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Yep, And then having to tack on that "her husband's a tough
guy, too." What kinda weird comment is that?

Would he have mentioned his running mate's wife if his running mate were a guy?
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Rosa Luxemburg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:37 PM
Response to Original message
5. for Mccain it was sour grapes because Obama was running rings around McMansions
Obama has more skill, judgement and intelligence than McCain.
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Boojatta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:38 PM
Response to Original message
7. By "eloquence", McCain means simply that Obama (unlike McCain) passes the Turing Test. e.o.m.
Edited on Thu Oct-16-08 06:39 PM by Boojatta
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Erin Elizabeth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Turing Test?
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Boojatta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:40 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. The Turing Test is a dialog conducted in ordinary written language
Edited on Thu Oct-16-08 06:41 PM by Boojatta
via something like an internet connection. To pass the test, the machine must persuade people that the machine is actually a person.
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Boojatta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:54 PM
Response to Reply #8
24. Sorry about my previous explanation.
One can have a machine or a person take the Turing Test. It's not just for a machine to make us think that it's a person. It's also for a person to prove that she's a person.
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TooRaLoo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:38 PM
Response to Original message
9. As I was watching I was thinking that, too. nt
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undeterred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:41 PM
Response to Original message
12. I think he is simply jealous.
Obama's speaking isn't perfect, BUT he doesn't let his emotions rule his responses, he has a lot of depth on every subject, he always pronounces things correctly, and he gets the facts straight. He may not have been around as long as McCain but he knows the history of the last twenty years and how we got here. I think McCain has become overwhelmed at how outmatched he is. He thought that this would be a walk in the park and along the way he found out that "that one" is a whole lot smarter than he is. It's gotta hurt like hell.
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The Wielding Truth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:41 PM
Response to Original message
13. He is hitting his talking points and he really just wants to stick it to
Obama anyway he can. If it's racial of slander or inciting violence this is not what concerns him.

He want to win. It's not us. it's not even Obama. It's not he economy or health care or even the war. He wants to win.

It's wrong in so many ways that he has sold out his loyal followers and his legacy as a maverick.
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Raschel Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:42 PM
Response to Original message
15. Actually the new code word is "smooth".
Used alot to describe Blacks who are intelligent, likeable, smart or many other intimidating things to bigots. The press is big on this one now.

Shieffer/Schaeffer called Obama, one "cool character" when remarking on his ability to focus and stay calm.
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steve2470 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:42 PM
Response to Original message
16. I think it was McSame's coded way of saying, " he's full of crap" nt
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Rosa Luxemburg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:43 PM
Response to Original message
17. McCain wishes he could be like Obama
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elkston Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:44 PM
Response to Original message
18. No, McCain is oblivious to the cultural impact of his statements. n/t
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lanlady Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:45 PM
Response to Original message
19. it was sheer, childish resentment
of Barack's superior skills and self-control.
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JimWis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:53 PM
Response to Original message
20. I suspect that McCain thinks the only reason Obama is winning is
because of his eloquence when speaking. He doesn't get that people prefer Obama for that, plus a million other reasons. McCain just never gets it, does he?
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Erin Elizabeth Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. Nope he truly doesn't get it.
I think he'd be happier with some applesauce and a nap.
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tpi10d Donating Member (291 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-08 06:56 PM
Response to Original message
22. It was by design-and no doubt brought up in strategy sessions.
Edited on Thu Oct-16-08 06:57 PM by tpi10d
"eloquence" is similar to "elitest" - attempts to paint Obama as over educated, and aloof. It was also a put down of Obama's answers-get away from the content of the answer. Typical republican anti-science, anti-education rhetoric. As said above it was a back handed complement.

It will probably fall flat in the 2008 environment.
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Boojatta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:53 PM
Response to Reply #22
23. "attempts to paint Obama as over educated"
Well, Obama is an American so we already know that in McCain's opinion Obama would never in his lifetime have picked lettuce for $50 (in 2008 dollars) per hour. Does McCain think that all Americans who have public speaking skills have too much education? For example, does McCain think that Reagan was over-educated?
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Arugula Latte Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:57 PM
Response to Reply #22
26. Yep -- That's how I took it. When he said it, I kept picturing his handlers telling him to emphasize
that word.

To me it's a dog whistle word connoting elitist and "uppity."
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Thrill Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:54 PM
Response to Original message
25. Its the Rove Playbook. Try to make your opponents strength, a weakness
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Essene Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
27. i think she's reading too much into it. Mccain's just mocking eloquent political talk
he's implying there is no substance behind obama and also that he's "hiding" his real intentions.
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AlCzervik Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
28. Heaven forbid we have someone who can actually string together words to form a complete sentence.
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treestar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:58 PM
Response to Original message
29. I hate the way they find a way to make a negative of a positive
There's something evil about that. What is wrong with being eloquent, McFootinMouth? It shows good thinking and clear expression and the ability to get ideas across.

And the fact that his running mate is more inarticulate than Boosh must bug him too.
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Guy Whitey Corngood Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Oct-17-08 02:59 PM
Response to Original message
30. What he meant is that "purdy" words are communist. nt
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