Obama camp responds to criticism of “temple” stage by … attacking McCain’s wealth
posted at 6:43 pm on August 27, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Just in case you were wondering if McCain’s the only candidate willing to use the same meme over and over in increasingly ridiculous contexts to deflect criticism.
On the flight from Billings, Montana, to Denver, Colo., Obama senior strategist David Axelrod responded to the criticism.
“I know that Sen McCain and his people have been shooting barbs about the ‘opulence’ of our convention from the mountaintop at Sedona at the McCain estate. I don’t think it warrants a response.”
Well, no, it’s not that the setting is “opulent,” it’s that it’s a manifestation of the olympian mythology surrounding The One. (Replete with Greek chorus!) As I write this, the tu quoque is already being made, with Ben Smith dutifully reporting that George Bush spoke before practically the same backdrop in 2004. Judge for yourself. The columns are fewer, set far back, and (apparently) lacking the frieze in Obama’s set, suggesting to my jaded wingnut eye not so much an actual building as something “stately” an unimaginative set designer decided to toss in there to fill out the space between the flags. Regardless, though, if it’s true that Obama’s getting a harder time about this than would other politicians if they used the same set, it’s only because the scenery plays into his own image as something more grandiose and timeless than a mere presidential candidate. Seeing Joe Biden on that stage would feel absurd; with Obama, it’ll feel like psychology.
Even Democrats think it’s a mistake. But to the extent Bush’s set does glancingly resemble Obama’s, I’ll happily concede the left’s point: Yes indeed, it certainly is embarrassing to make fun of the opposing party’s nominee over something your own nominee four years ago was just as guilty of. Exit question: How many hundreds of millions of dollars will be onstage tonight? By my tally, just one.
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The only way the Onion will be able to satire the Omerica is to have a seemingly, straight story regarding him and his campaign.
carbon_footprint on August 27, 2008 at 8:12 PM
AND IT’S IN A FREAKIN’ FOOTBALL STADIUM with 80K Mindless Minions hanging on every word!!!! (I’m not yelling at you, BD - just unbelievably frustrated)
This guy - and his mouthpieces - think they could justify it if NASA shot him to the moon to beam his speech back.
Wait - now there’s an idea.
tru2tx on August 27, 2008 at 8:13 PM
I really don’t see the “he’s a bigger millionaire than me” tactic resonating.
twoarmman on August 27, 2008 at 8:16 PM
well I suppose that the distinction that can be made is that the McCain’s estate comes from the McCain’s money.
Obama’s opulent staging is financed from other peoples money.
Pretty big difference.
jharada on August 27, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Will costumes be provides from wardrobe for the cast of Caligula or of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum?
onlineanalyst on August 27, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Californians won’t have to worry about wealth soon.
lorien1973 on August 27, 2008 at 8:21 PM
This just in, after hitting that three pointer in Iraq, he will run out of the tunnel and kick a 65 yard field goal on his way to the stage.
flyoverland on August 27, 2008 at 8:23 PM
I don’t understand the demonization of success.
What is wrong with being successful? Isn’t that the American Dream that Michelle Obama spoke of the other night?
I’m so confused.
bridgetown on August 27, 2008 at 8:24 PM
you didn’t read the fine print you need to give a good portion of your wealth to charity like the Obamas do to his bbrother….
erm uh uh uh
Cindy was a junkie…..
/donk
sven10077 on August 27, 2008 at 8:27 PM
You so easily, thoughtlessly, dismiss the concerns of people here. I know, for myself, I’ve explained my reasons for concern, yet you so quickly say that this “is useless debate about a meaningless ‘controversy?’” This, in my estimation, is either blatant arrogance in thinking that you’re above the thinking of others and feel no need to explain yourself, or sheer ignorance to the potentiality that some may see problems with the the DNC’s decision at hand here. Here are my comments related to Obama’s communication style and his image. Now, if you read these or any of the other comments on this thread expressing issues with Obama’s image, I’d love to hear your response to such issues.
Send_Me on August 27, 2008 at 8:28 PM
AP, you are exactly right. Don’t you think when they say such dumb things (the opulent characterization), the obtuseness is intentional, designed to put us on defensive and redirect the debate from difficult grounds.
petefrt on August 27, 2008 at 8:31 PM
all hail The One ObamaMessiah
Mojack420 on August 27, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Do you think he is doing this so he can make fun of the way McCain has been calling him the One? It’s the only think I can think of that isn’t crazy, stupid and unbeliveable!
CCRWM on August 27, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Class envy is divisive and defeats any image of the one who claims he is a uniter. I see the cries of racism as divisive and not post racial as claimed by the candidate. The “opposition” offers fear while the one offers hope? Obama scares me far more than someone who recognizes the dangers in the world and talks of plans to defend our nation. The uniter wants to pit the poor against the wealthy and the black against the white and that is not a win for America.
Pat in NC on August 27, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Well said, Pat in NC.
onlineanalyst on August 27, 2008 at 8:41 PM
TOGA! TOGA! TOGA! [/Bluto
They’ve officially beat The Orange Bowl for over-the-top extravagance, something many of us thought to be an impossibility.
What’s the finish, Hillary gonna Evil Kenevil and jump the main stage on a rocket cycle?
SuperCool on August 27, 2008 at 8:42 PM
But…er… ah… Bush was already President when he used that stage. As President of the most powerful nation on earth, he is just a touch more entitled to a grandiose stage. Barry O… not so much.
Sugar Land on August 27, 2008 at 8:44 PM
There is a small but substantial difference…
Those columns are just an architectural detail. Unlike with Mr. Obama, they are not meant to impute the presence of a temple.
On the other hand, in Denver Mr. Obama has built a temple “prop“ ; like something out of a movie set-it is clearly a greek(or Roman) temple…
I guess Gaius Barrius is going to descend from Mount Obamus and bestow his wisdom to us plebs…
Oh Brother
RocketmanBob on August 27, 2008 at 8:46 PM
Will costumes be provides from wardrobe for the cast of Caligula or of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum?
onlineanalyst on August 27, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Caligula! LMAO! VERY GOOD! and Dittos to TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!
Plus, Sugar Land very much is correct in that Bush was already President and one President of these United States of America that saves the world, NOT Citizen of the World who wants to nuke the United States of America.
freeus on August 27, 2008 at 8:49 PM
Papier mache just like the candidate who going to speak from it.
jeanie on August 27, 2008 at 8:52 PM
He’s the damn President, for cripes sake.
And it’s a large podium, not the Temple Mount.
Cheez Wiz
drjohn on August 27, 2008 at 9:00 PM
LOL
- The Cat
MirCat on August 27, 2008 at 9:00 PM
I see this latest manifestation of bad taste and narcissism is just a distraction, but McCain’s houses or the types of shoes he wears is relevant.
Terrye on August 27, 2008 at 9:10 PM
Who the f*ck knows what “tu quoque” means (LOL)? Really though, AWESOME word!
lionheart on August 27, 2008 at 9:19 PM
Is it The Temple of Doom? Perhaps Spielberg will be there.
Hammertime on August 27, 2008 at 9:28 PM
Well, if his eyes flash white and he talks in a voice 2 octives below his normal speaking voice, I’m calling in Jack O’Neill
billhedrick on August 27, 2008 at 9:32 PM
Well, aside from the fact that he was the incumbent at the time (and, perhaps, a little more entitled to the “presidential” imagery), there were actually only 2 columns at the 2004 speech…..the other columns are actually on large video screens.
GWB’s speech is on video here.
If you watch up until about 35 seconds, you get some very good views of the backdrop images changing.
Using column elements on video screens as a static background for the actual speech, and 2 prop rental columns in the background is vastly different to building your own 30 columned temple.
taboo on August 27, 2008 at 9:55 PM
This is typical of the type of response one could expect from some like Axelrod, but then again, he being such a good little Chicago Democratic Machine creature, a response like this is of little surprise.
pilamaye on August 27, 2008 at 10:05 PM
The ocassional Roman emperor would dress up like Zeus or Hercules to impress the crowds. I would love to see Obamus Augustus don some garb for his gab that would remind us of the grandeur that was Rome.
NNtrancer on August 27, 2008 at 10:23 PM
I see now why they wanted to suspend arresting people for reefer smoking in
the Mile High CityDenver during the convention… worship of FauxBama will no doubt involve lots of ritual ganja use.Just how much would you have to smoke to want to vote for this dud?
electric-rascal on August 28, 2008 at 12:15 AM
Entelechy on August 28, 2008 at 12:25 AM
I predict that Axelrod will have to eat that entire temple.
Entelechy on August 28, 2008 at 12:26 AM
http://www.thekooksoasis.com/resources/democrats-convention.jpe
coldshot on August 28, 2008 at 12:47 AM
I really don’t think painting him as a celebrity or as some sort of elite will really fly this election. He seems to be a self starter rather than someone who merely inherited success or came across his position by accident. There are genuine weak points to Obama but Republicans would do better if they concentrated on their own basics rather than going negative.
lexhamfox on August 28, 2008 at 2:58 AM
Who would that be…Jesus Cripes? The Son of…Gosh? From the church of Holy Moly?
I don’t want to make fun. I don’t wanna go to Heck.
- Sean Morey
fossten on August 28, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Everyone is missing the real meaning behind this. It’s not a temple, it’s an attempt to recreate the facade of the Lincoln Memorial, therby tying it into the anniversary of the “I Have A Dream” speech. Which is even more sinister, since he’s now equating himself with MLK.
PJ Emeritus on August 28, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Looking at the “Obamacropolis” and thinking Barry hasn’t said to anyone to stop calling him the one. I’ll bet Zeus is pretty pissed about that…I’m expecting a lightning bolt may be incinerating the “One” halfway through the first set of “errr, ahhhh, ummmmm, hope, errr, ahhhm, emmm, change, errr, ahhh, ummm”…………
adamsmith on August 28, 2008 at 4:15 PM
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