Obama and McCain: A study in contrasts

[babylonsister]

A study in contrasts
One is 71, the other 46. One is a Vietnam War hero, the other was a child during the conflict. One is a longtime senator, the other a newcomer. One is white, the other African-American.

By Mark Silva | Washington Bureau
3:06 PM CDT, June 8, 2008

snip//

But arguably no race in modern times has presented a contrast as broad as that of the personal profiles of Obama and McCain, combined with their views on government at home and America's involvement in a treacherous world.

McCain, vowing to restrain government spending, wants to extend the Bush tax cuts. Obama, proposing new spending for health care, wants to boost taxes on wealthier Americans. McCain pledges to prosecute the war in Iraq to a conclusive victory. Obama promises to bring troops home in 16 months.

"These two individuals represent about as stark a choice as we've ever had in American politics," said Darrell West, professor of political science at Brown University. "Voters are going to get what Barry Goldwater long ago promised — 'a choice instead of an echo.' "

He added, "The biggest differences are age, race and philosophy ... Those are things that translate into different perspectives on public policy."

Even their campaign styles seem to come from different worlds. Obama electrifies large arenas, while McCain is far more comfortable in smaller gatherings. Possibly because of this, McCain on Wednesday challenged Obama to a series of 10 town hall-style campaign debates.

"What we haven't seen are these two candidates face-to-face with one another," said David Lanoue, chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama and author of "From Camelot to the Teflon President." "Clearly, Obama is a very inspiring, eloquent speaker. … He is best behind a podium with a prepared speech. McCain is best in a person-to-person situation with no prepared remarks."

"I think there is another dimension, and that is whether Barack Obama is seen as an elitist candidate," said Herb Asher, professor of political science at Ohio State University. "McCain will try to wrap himself in the mantle of change and present Obama as the agent of the wrong kind of change. ... It's really going to be a chance for Barack Obama to fill in the rest of his biography."

more...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-obama-mccain-differencejun08,0,1990638.story

[malaise]

1. At the beginning of the primaries Barack was too white for African-Americans

now he's African-American as defined by M$M. Barack Obama is of mixed race - African and European. Who defines bi-racial or even tri-racial people other than establishment racists.