Game Change: Obama
Comes Across as 'Non-Leader' (La Repubblica, Italy)
"He committed
no blunders and said nothing enormous enough to endure throughout American
history. He simply suffered the aggression of his adversary without reaction.
He kept his eyes down and flashed smiles too wide to have been sincere. He embarked
on long, complicated explanations and justifications for his actions in the
White House, which made him look like a president should never look: like a 'non
leader.'"
By Vittorio Zucconi
Translated By Alessandro Marsiglio
October 6, 2012
Italy
- La Repubblica - Original Article (Italian)
If President Barack Obama loses the November race for the
White House, he will have to look at his first clash with Republican Mitt
Romney as the event that marked his defeat. Everyone knows, having seen it in face-to-face
debates four years ago in the primaries against Hillary Clinton and for the
presidency against John McCain, that Obama isn't at his best during debates.
But the debate against a struggling Romney, who did precisely what a team coming
from behind must do - attack, attack, attack - surprised even the pessimists.
And it worked Obama's supporters into a rage. The night in Denver may have been
a "game changer" - the objective that transforms the match that Republicans
and the American right had been hoping for.
One couldn't imagine a worse gift for Obama’s 20th wedding
anniversary that what occurred at the debate. Obama absorbed Romney's blows without
hitting back, even when his opponent made himself vulnerable by denying to have
said what he has in the past about taxes, social security, and health care for
seniors and children, which have been cornerstones of his campaign.
Obama was afraid of coming across as too aggressive and unpresidential,
displaying a passivity confirmed even by his "body language," his
facial expressions, and unconscious gestures of his body. He committed no
blunders and said nothing enormous enough to endure throughout American
history. He simply suffered the aggression of his adversary without reaction.
He kept his eyes down and flashed smiles too wide to have been sincere. He embarked
on long, complicated explanations and justifications for his actions in the
White House, which made him look like a president should never look: like a
“non leader.”
The first polls carried out eagerly by TV networks, unanimously
showed Romney to be the winner. They will show over the next four or five days how
the most profound effects settle into public opinion, and whether they produce
any major shift in the polls. And we must never forget that professional
politicians and experts in "spin" don't get to decide the outcome of events
- neither of these duels nor the elections.
But no one expected an Obama this weak and passive, nor a
Romney who was so dramatic and passionately effective. The empty chair at the Republican
convention finally has a man sitting in it, just as the chair in the Oval
Office appears deserted.
Neither the acrobatics of numbers, formulas or promises are what
pierce the consciousness of viewers in homes around America. They are looking
for the sense of leadership communicated by the candidates, and Obama failed that
test. Every four years, Americans aren't voting for a property agent, economist
or ideologue. They elect the person who looks like a leader - someone who can
represent them, or at least pretend to.
Posted by Worldmeets.US
The only good news for the president is that there are two more
debates, the next on October 11th [between Vice President Joe Biden and Republican
vice presidential nominee and Congressman Paul Ryan]. And he can't possibly do
any worse that he did in Colorado.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
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El Mundo, Spain: Romney Lies About Government Expenditures in U.S. and Spain
El Semanal, Spain: Spain Asserts it has 'Little to Envy' in Regard to U.S.
El Pais, Spain: Mitt Romney and Spain: Is Ours a Failing Brand?
Le Figaro, France: U.S. Presidential Debate: Pro-Obama Media Suffers Major Defeat
Handelsblatt, Germany: For Germany, a Romney Win 'Would Have its Advantages'
Guardian, U.K.: U.S. Debate: No Zingers,
but Romney Finally Lifts Off
Guardian, U.K.: Combative Romney Comes Out on Top Against 'Lackluster' Obama
de Volkskrant, Netherlands: Why Should We Care About America's Presidential Election?
The Bohol Standard, The Philippines: We Filipinos Must Learn from the American Election
Huanqiu, China: China Must 'Strive to Influence' American Presidential Elections
La Voz Mundo, Venezuela: Facing Reelection Fight, Hugo Chavez Plays 'Obama Card'
The Independent, U.K.: Obama v. Romney:
'Greatest Political
Showdown on Earth'
Folha, Brazil: Only in America Could Romney Survive His 'Disastrous' Gaffe
News, Switzerland: Obama Bad; Romney Worse
FTD, Germany: 'Germans Cannot Grasp Why People would Vote Romney'
Rceczpospolita, Poland: Romney is the Better Choice for Poland
Izvestia, Russia: Obama: 'Not a God, But a Partner'
Global Times, China: America is 'Disrespectful' of Other Cultures
Die Zeit, Germany: Romney's 'Nostalgia' is Ill-Suited to a Fast-Changing World
Die Tageszeitung, Germany: Muslim Unrest Raises Stakes of U.S. Election Even Higher
La Repubblica, Italy: The Right to Vote Being Imperilled in America!
Al Mesryoon, Egypt: Romney: Can Such a 'Vacuous Figure' Lead the Strongest Nation?
Rzeczpospolita, Poland: Election in America: Romney Gives Poland an Opening
Neviditelny Pes, Czech Republic: If Romney Wins, He Can Keep His Radar!
China Daily, China: America's Unsettling Political 'Hate Speech'
News, Switzerland: Cows, Pigs, Women and American Conservatives
News, Switzerland: Ryan: Romney's Libertarian Trojan Horse May Bolt
Die Zeit, Germany: Ex-Mormon Missionary
Romney's Europe
Gaffes Were Calculated
Le Figaro, France: Why the U.S. Presidential Campaign Has Gone to the Dogs
Amal al-Oumma, Egypt: Egyptians Can Learn from American Presidential Race
Le Figaro, France: Ann Romney and Michelle Obama: The Battle for FLOTUS Begins
Gazeta, Russia: ‘Hysteria’ over Romney’s ‘Flattery’ of Russian Influence
Le Monde, France: The Misery of the 'Electoral Circus'
News, Switzerland: Study Reveals that Facts Don't Matter to U.S. Conservatives
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