My ex-girlfriend and I are still great friends. She's American and actually having some good time with her family and friends in Western New York and Boston. We talked on the phone last night, it was almost 2 in the morning here, and of course the campaign was one of the major subjets of our conversation.
What stroke me though, is that her mother, who I happen to know to respect and to love to pieces, who is a great person, loving and caring, and whose always done everything to be the best Mom she could be, doesn't want to vote Obama.
Not that she will vote for McCain either. She might not vote at all and just tells people she thinks Obama is arrogant.
First the obvious and disturbing question is (and it made me feel sickish to think about it but I couldn't help it): Is arrogant a new way to say... you know... well... Obama is humm... well, you got it right?
Her son had first told her that for to say this meant she was obviously getting most part of her information from TV and the MSM. Then he asked her if she meant arrogant in the sense of uppity which she denied.
She added she would vote for him for a second term if he does well during his first.
Now, believe it or not, but I've never been involved in politics before. I vote and that's it. But these days, I think what's at stake is so important that I have to take action to help someone get elected in a country that's not even mine. Someone I'll never be able to cast a ballot for. Go figure. (I gues 200000 Germans felt the same).
So this comment about Obama pissed me off a lot. Then I thought I should write her an email to try to convice her that Obama is not arrogant, or at least no more than anybody running for office (and what office!). Or that McCain is just vulgar, stupid, ignorant and dangerous (not that she doesn't know this). Or send her Obama's first book. Or ask for advice here.
The thing is, as good a person as she is, and believe me she's the kind of no B.S. kind of mother that would keep a full speed derailling train on track with her bare hands, she can also be extremely stubborn. And I feel that if her son and her daughter can't really make her change her mind, I can't really do much.
The other thing is, to her, there is no risk New York state will turn out republican and although that migh be true, I still feel this is some kind of lame excuse for not casting a ballot.
So what now?
Well, as I was riding my train to go to work this morning, still poundering the arrogant issue, i turned my iPod on and watched some good old West Wing episode.
And here is a dialogue that takes place after a debate between President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and his Republican opponent while they are campaigning for the next general election. Bartlet won the debate big time.
Will Bailey: I thought he (Bartlet) was gonna have to fall over himself trying to be genial.
Sam Seaborn (Deputy Communications Director): So did we. But then, we were convinced by polling that he was gonna be seen as arrogant no matter what performance he gave in the debate. And then that morning at 3:10, my phone rings, it's Toby Ziegler. He says : Don't you see that it's a gift that they're irreversibly convinced that he's arrogant cause now he can be." If your guy is seen that way you might as well knock some bodies down with it.
So, I don't know what you think about this, but maybe there are some ideas to get out of this. I hope Obama will look smarter and smarter every day. And that when McCain is trying to inflate a topless Paris Hilton actual size Doll to save gas at Miss Buffalo Chip pageant while trying not to lose his teeth in the process, Obama will remain focused on issues, on what matters for America and Americans.
Leo McGarry (White House Chief of Staff): Ok, what's next?