Obama has a key strategic weakness; he may not show anger. He cannot afford to be seen as an ‘Angry Black Man’. This severely limits his effectiveness when confronted with outrageous things; he mustn’t show outrage.
Romney exploited this weakness in the first debate; he told outrageous lies. He completely disavowed the core of his economic agenda; he said his proposed 20% tax rate cut would both be revenue-neutral and would not result in upper income Americans paying less because he’d eliminate ‘deductions and loop-holes’. It was the big lie on steroids and it was an OUTRAGEOUS claim - both completely impossible and completely nonsensical. It was impossible because there aren’t enough deduction and loop-holes big enough to balance the windfall of a 20% lower rate without punishing the middle class (who also benefit from those deductions). It was nonsensical because it suggested that a change which BY DESIGN would have no effect on the taxes paid by ‘job creators’ would simultaneously give them incentive to utterly change their behavior and massively increase hiring. People aren’t massively incentivized by ‘no change’.
MY reaction to Romney’s performance was anger and outrage, and it was frustrating not to have a surrogate on stage to express my outrage. But, it was a trap set for Obama, who must remain ‘No-drama Obama’ or allow the Rove attack machine to capitalize on the racist fears of the white population. I believe, in the situation, Obama did the right thing. He kept his composure. He gave Romney the rope to hang himself. He forced Romney to clearly own what can be shown to be obviously deceitful. And, he didn’t give ammunition to Rove for racist attacks because he didn’t show his anger.
Now, Joe Biden is not a black man; Joe Biden is a loveable galoot whose heart is in the right place. Joe Biden CAN show his outrage. He can dress-down the smirking, rich, know-it-all whiz-kid who wants to doom Grandma to trying to fight the big insurance company. He can blast the smug tycoon who dares lie to your face as he outsources your job and breaks all the agreements you made with the business owner he bought-out using your pension as collateral. He can stand up for you against those who lie in order to gain the power to give themselves million-dollar tax cuts.
The lies of the Republican Party demand a response of righteous indignation, but that is precisely the emotion that Barack Obama must not show. But, Biden can. I sure hope he does.