Not quite ready for prime time Bush blinks over debates, then stumbles on the stump
By Jay Severin MSNBC CONTRIBUTOR
Sept. 4 — On Sunday, when virtually everyone in America except the candidates had taken a holiday from politics, one network anchor reported on the evening news that George W. Bush had "finally" responded to the presidential debate challenge. Normally, such a statement would be noteworthy only as another display of gross and/or unprofessional media bias. But this time, there was something more significant going on here: another sign that the Bush campaign was in trouble
IT IS AXIOMATIC that you announce on Labor Day weekend only those things you want nobody to hear about, that holiday period being perhaps the deepest black hole of media
coverage in the universe from which no air or light escapes. But that is the time the Bush campaign chose to address the debate issue. Such a strategy does not exactly suggest dealing from a position of strength.
And it shows. Sample some of the phrases used in the news coverage "…trying to end questions about his willingness to debate…" "…afraid of prime-time confrontation…" "…has looked
defensive…" and "…raising the question whether he (Bush) is up to the presidency."
Add to that the Labor Day gaffe in suburban Chicago, where Bush shared the podium at a GOP rally with running mate Dick Cheney. Unaware that the microphone was live, Bush pointed out New York Times political correspondent Adam Clymer in the crowd and referred to him as "a major-league ass——." Cheney was heard agreeing.
Not good.
This comes on top of reports, and universal suspicions, the Bush campaign has been emphatically resisting the three televised face-offs scheduled by the bipartisan commission on presidential debates. Odd, because just days ago W was quoted as saying, "I want as many people to watch our debates as possible."
Really, George? Because the New York Times quotes a Washington-based GOP strategist as admitting Bush is "concerned about filling the full two minute answer" in a formal debate.
Pardon me. I apologize for being so old-fashioned, but you are a candidate for president of the United States and you are concerned about filling a two-minute answer? And you wonder why some people question your ability and readiness?
As somebody who will vote for Bush (or Pee Wee Herman, so long as he is running against Al Gore), even I must admit this is poetic justice - George W. Bush's chickens coming home to roost.
Remember two years ago, when the Republican Party breathlessly declared, We've got a winner! His name is…Bush! Can't lose! Yippee. Then, a year ago, when we observed his modest political skills, the party said, Don't worry. He'll improve! Then, for the past six months, Don't
worry. He's running against Al Gore! You know, Bill Clinton's vice president. Gore can't win.
In other, legitimate, professions, this is what is known as "whistling past the graveyard." This is a horserace, and the Republicans may not have quite the horse they thought.
The fact is Bush appears frightened to debate Gore. This is owing to the nearly certain fact that Bush is frightened to debate Gore. And that sentiment is entirely appropriate - because, based on what we have seen of George Bush's oratorical skills, he should not be caught in the same zip
code with a debate with anybody.
The danger - and it is very, very real - does not derive from Al Gore's own modest speaking and thinking skills, but from the gruesome opportunity debates provide for Bush to deliver one or a series of Dan Quayle moments: an instant in which the public viscerally intuits that this guy is
not up to this job.
Al Gore has rejected the Bush proposal, insisting on participation in at least all three commission debates. Will Bush cave - or stick to his (pop) guns? There is a school of thought that holds the danger from the debates is far greater than the heat Bush might take for sitting out
debates.
"We're not stupid. We've been looking at this. Nobody knows who the commission is," a Bush advisor told the New York Times.
They had better be right. |
