Debate: How MSM Set Up Obama to Fail

Obama In Love

Romney (In the Real World)

Contrary to what seems to be the consensus, I don't think Mr. Obama was "off his game" in the first Presidential debate.  It's just that the game wasn't played by his rules.  MSM rules.

Obama at his best is prolix, stammering, pretentious and careless of fact, but his gift is a rare combination of rich voice, perfectly reinforcing gestures, facial expressions and cadence, capped by ex cathedra delivery that is mesmerizing and freighted with a strong hint of intimidation that discourages debate.  He is the uber elitist, perfectly miming the best features of the truly elite.  That he is profoundly ignorant in so many areas of common knowledge, thoroughly corrupt and intellectually vapid is not easily seen behind the persona of an accomplished man of letters.  Not seen at all by legacy-media types.


Behind the willing naivete of the Marxist press there is clearly an element of fear -- fear of being called out, challenged (they refuse to see it as bullying), ostracized, or outwitted.  Obama is thin-skinned and barely conceals his anger when questioned in a way not to his liking.  Consequently he can say what he pleases, no matter how dimly articulated, patently false, outrageous or redolent of ignorance.  By capitulating the press has left Mr. Obama unprepared for debate.  In that area they have done him no favors.

So, in my view, the Obama that showed up in Denver last week was the same Obama we always see, but under different circumstances.  He faced a man who not only was in command of the facts, but one who had the stunning temerity to contradict him in a public venue.  One has to wonder what were the President's expectations.

What will the man who, at the end of the first debate, found his butt so thoroughly galded do on his next outing?  Since the second debate is set for a townhall format, the president has an opportunity to do what he does best -- lie and pander to the crowd.  He will try to capture the audience as allies in intimidating his opponent.  He is undoubtedly prepared to be more aggressive, and I suspect he will ratchet-up every false claim in his book of "talking points" to the level of the Big Lie.  Big is better.  How successful will he be?

I have never attended a Mitt Romney campaign event, but a number of people have said and written that he draws much larger and more enthusiastic audiences than old media wants to acknowledge.  The stage is set for a contest between elite and elitist.  Person and persona.  About Mr. Obama, doubts have been widely sown, and fan-fatigue (fed by debilitating doses of reality) seems to be settling in.  The press will have already scripted the outcome, only leaving blank spaces for specifics, but I will not be surprised to see Governor Romney leave the platform with yet another stunning victory to his credit.