Political Jiujitsu - Obama & Biden, McCain & Palin
August 29, 2008
With just 60+ days left in the presidential race, various media outlets have been using “political jiujitsu” (a term coined by political scientist in 1973 Gene Sharp that basically means to throw your opponent off balance with a strategic political tactic or maneuver). Among the more surprising “techniques” that created a buzz in media were the candidates’ VP nominations of Sen. Joe Biden of Deleware and governor of Alaska Sarah Palin. Some political analysts believe that the nominees were chosen to sway independent voters and to compensate for their weaknesses as described/marketed by the opposing party. Another “technique” that made headlines was how Sen. McCain used Sen. Obama’s outstanding public speaking ability against him; pegging Obama as a “celebrity” and a candidate who is “all talk.”
How do these strategic maneuvers affect the Asian American voting block? As of now, who are Asian Americans voting for? Does McCain’s nomination of Sarah Palin win more votes of Asian American women? Does Obama’s nomination of Joe Biden win the working class vote?
AsianWeek would like to create a healthy platform for multicultural discourse on issues that affect our community. As an integral part of the Asian American community, we would like to know how you feel.
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3 Responses to “Political Jiujitsu - Obama & Biden, McCain & Palin”
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Dear pswing:
Once more we meet in the shadows ot journalistic boonies here online.
Political jiu-jitsu? I think Machiavelli was there first, or was it Tsun-tzu? Never mind, nothing’s “original.”
But in today;s “blockbuster” Palin headlines I am bemused by at least three possibilities:
1: Palin is MORE qualified tomorrow than Cheney was yesterday?
2: Are the Rovian cynicisms here self-defeating? As in how contemptuous can they be of the electorate:? In this play to Saturday Nite Live and Jay Leno?
3: This “woman” vis-a-vis Hillary is “pro-Life” as in a Petri dish, or the instant of conception, and is more of a “bombshell” in the Gollywood sense than political. Surely, they must be jesting.
On the other hand, if Emil’s resurrection of the “Bradley effect” holds true for Nov. 4, then maybe McCain’s advisors, such as they are, are simply enjoying their shoo-in candidate, who would, by said Bradley hidden vote factor, be an odds-on favorite in Lost Wages.
Frank
Brilliant move by McCain. McCain waited for Obama to make the first move, and when the Democrat made a fatal mistake by not naming Hillary for the VP spot, McCain countered by naming the first female VP nominee of the Republican Party.
I think most women voters are more concerned about diversity and inclusion, and prefer to vote for a successful woman with strong leadership traits, whether Republican or Democrat. Women, especially white women, now have an excuse to vote for McCain en masse.
As an Independant, this past DNC Convention showed convincingly that real Hillary supporters were not staunch feminist groupies voting “tit” over tat, but real Americans who adored the ideologies and politics of the former first lady. By bringing a woman onto the ticket with barley a couple years of Governance and experience as a Mayor of only 9,000 citizens, doesn’t give real Hillary supporters a reason to vote Mccain in my opinion. Palin is anti- abortion and has some misconceptions on how social security policies really affect women. She is no comparison to Hillary, and with Mccain only meeting with here twice before choosing her, shows his motivations that the pick was more election based, rather then policy based. As media “pundits” have said, she would be a heart beat away from presidency. This establishes an issue towards VP picks. Since the public is not allowed to vote for the Veep, then shouldnt there be more stipulations as to who may be qualified to be chosen by party nominees? Should the Veep be someone who was at least a participant in the primary elections? Would this eliminate the Potatofied “Quaylee Effect”?