Convention Perspective: McCain and Obama tread moral high ground
By Peter S. Canellos, Boston Globe Washington Bureau Chief
ST. PAUL -- This year's presidential nominees share at least one thing: A love of stark moral language. They are always eager to be seen as putting principle ahead of partisanship.
So John McCain seemed strikingly in command when he declared, calmly but firmly, that "I want to thank my fellow Republicans as we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats" to help the Gulf Coast prepare for Hurricane Gustav.
On Monday, it was Barack Obama's turn to take the high road, asking Americans of all stripes to "back off" of Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter, and reminding people that his own mother was 18 when he was born.
"Let me be as clear as possible," he intoned. "I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits."
The decisions to call off the first day of the Republican convention and to keep Palin's daughter out of the fray are political no-brainers: Any candidate would have made them. But McCain and Obama went out of their way to make it appear as though political calculations played no role in their decision-making -- that they are guided by morals and patriotism alone.
Both McCain and Obama offer a charismatic style of leadership in which all virtue and wisdom is represented by the decision-maker, who stands well above the normal give and take of politics. Charismatic leaders -- such as McCain's hero Theodore Roosevelt and Obama's hero John F. Kennedy -- are often risk-takers and mavericks, and are capable of big successes (like Kennedy's leadership in the Cuban missile crisis) and big failures (like Kennedy's leadership in the Bay of Pigs invasion.)
In this election, the pragmatic model of leadership -- more cautious and calculating, weighing pros and cons, building consensus -- was represented by Hillary Clinton. And its greatest exemplar was her husband Bill.
Before dismissing this style of leadership as morally bankrupt, it's worth considering its virtues: Decisions tend to be well-grounded in facts; there is a full consideration of alternatives; outside viewpoints are solicited.
Bill Clinton's pragmatism was probably why so many conservatives hated him -- thinking him to be opportunistic -- and why some committed liberals disdained him as unprincipled. But he can make a fair case that his presidency did much to preserve the economic viability and leadership of America in a changing world.
Clinton's predecessor, George H. W. Bush, was also a pragmatist, always seeking a "prudent course," and wary of giving offense. He, too, would have cancelled the start of the GOP convention but wouldn't have uttered McCain's line about "Republican hats"; too many GOPers might be offended.
Bush's cautious leadership style was on display in his fateful decision not to press on to Baghdad in the 1991 Gulf War. Bush reasoned that overthrowing Saddam Hussein would fracture the unprecedented international alliance behind the war, which he saw as a model for cooperation in the post-Cold War world.
His son, George W., apparently disagreed -- or maybe just wanted to be different from his father. At any rate, George W. Bush's decision-making style is harder to categorize.
For a while after the 9/11 attacks, he appeared to be a charismatic figure, a forceful moral presence in a time of confusion. But that was probably a figment of the national imagination: In their hunger for leadership, Americans felt reassured by rhetoric borrowed from the Cold War.
The later Bush seemed neither charismatic nor pragmatic, but something closer to an ideologue, stubborn in his commitment to a single path. His moral justification for the Iraq war, about furthering the God-given right to freedom and democracy, struck many as an ex post facto justification for a failed policy. But others took it at face value.
Now, those same people may see some of Bush's pride, determination, and righteousness in the upturned faces of John McCain and Barack Obama.
History offers one indisputable lesson, leadership styles aside: Americans should choose their presidents carefully.
"In this election, the pragmatic model of leadership -- more cautious and calculating, weighing pros and cons, building consensus -- was represented by Hillary Clinton."
This doesn't apply to Barack Obama? Really? Why not?
What was John McCain thinking? Did he know anything about Sarah Palin before he chose her to be his VP?
It sure doesn't seem like it...
Charismatic is not a leadership style, but rather one dimensional quality of a leader to rally, inspire people to a cause. One is either pragmatist or dogmatist or in the gray area between the two. The way i see it, a pragmatist leader looks at consequences of their actions before actually taking those actions. Bush jr., who certainly, is a dogmatist take their decisions emotionally according to some sets of believes and preconceive values. Dogmatists cling to their beliefs and never back down from them even when events or new information come to light.
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Hey: nice article James F. Smith. Looking forward to read more of you work.
Abortion "Above Obama's pay grade"
That statement makes me laugh how the Republicans try to use this as an attack line. For those of you who did not pay attention to Obama saying it, or the context in which it was said you may not understand how important this little line is. Obama was directly referring to God as the only person who can rightfully indicate if abortion is killing or not. He gave his personal views that he is against abortion and indicated that he is 100% for choice as any good Christian should be.
God gave us the ability to make choices including sins. Taking away this right goes against God.
I must admit that if John Mccain wins & checks out in office
we will have the first trailor park president , President Palin.
The only thing that will benefit is Nascar & bad dental fashion.
obama is the greatest thing to happen to america..i watched his denver convention....i think trying to play him down will mk him stronger..and amazingly he is much popular outside america than in the u.s..please go for this change..we love america..he said it,,it isnt about him.....about america....about u.......pls any discenin 1 shdnt paly the race card
WHAT WOULD JFK DO?
Governor Palin had the political courage to stand up to corrupt public officials, some of whom were in her own party. She exposed their corruption, took them on, and won.
Senator Obama, when confronted with racist rants coming from his own pastor, didn't even have enough political courage to disavow him. Obamaeventaully did disavow Pastor Wright but only AFTER Pastor Wright made disparaging remarks about Obama himself at The Washington Press Club.
Which of these instances would JFK have been more likely to have included in his book, "Profiles In Courage"?
Everyone finds it quite fashionable to compare Senator Obama to JFK. I remember JFK, and trust me when I say, "Senator Obama is No JFK".
Why anyone poor/middle class would vote Democrat is beyond stupidity! THey are raising your taxes, and you'll get nothing in return, nothing! They don't want to drill...They keep adding fees or new taxes....Bigger govt. means less rights...
September 2007: McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments. At the time, nearly 65% of people polled in a CNN poll indicted that "things are going either moderately badly or very badly in Iraq.
May 2006: McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.
April 2006: McCain was one of only 13 Senators to vote against $430,000,000 for the Department of Veteran Affairs for Medical Services for outpatient care and treatment for veterans.
March 2006: McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
A Military Hero, or McBush with 95% Bush Vote in Congress?
McCain "Supports Bush/Cheney Iraq War of Choice and Continued Oil Occupation... For Next 100 Years if Needed For Victory"!
McCain Does Not Support American Soldiers and Their Families.... Only Himself!
I saw a lot of Old VFW Codgers... none young Iraq Veterans?
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