Dem strategist slams media obsession with Elizabeth Warren's 'likability' on CNN: 'It's not about ru

[turbinetree]

[Demit]

1. I also liked the reporter's pushback to the host's implied criticism of the DNA test.

[turbinetree]

2. Yepper, spot on......................

[Quixote1818]

3. There is nothing unlikable about Elizabeth Warren nt

[Honeycombe8]

4. There is to some people.

I have never liked her, personally. She grates on my nerves. The sound of her voice, her over the top reactions to things...it's irritating to me. That's not to say I wouldn't vote for her as the nominee, if she runs, and if she wins the debates. It's too soon. We don't even know who is running. But some people do find her unlikable.

[Quixote1818]

10. No one is 100% liked even by people in their own party

Some women think Brad Pitt is ugly. I would say Hillary had a much bigger issue of likability than Warren and she still won the popular vote.

[Honeycombe8]

11. True.

But what the media and others are referring to is generally being liked. Not a few people not liking the politician.

Former Presidents have generally been well liked within their party. And the more liked of the two candidates running. It's an important factor. That was a huge advantage of Obama's, BTW. He had it goin' on. He was very well liked. But like I said, almost anything can be overcome.

The thing about the likability factor is that, that generally can't be changed. People either like someone or they don't. You know how someone can see that an actor is a good actor and is famous. But he just doesn't like the actor, and never will.

But who knows...she may become well liked during the debates. You never know. She's not well known enough nationally to know whether she would be well liked or not. She irritates me, but I'm

As for Brad Pitt...come on, now. Objectively speaking, he's good looking. Model-level good looking. The symmetry of the facial features, the nose, the shape of the eyes, his face shape, his lips, his body, his height. Some don't LIKE him, and that probably affects their opinion of everything about him. I like the Pierce Brosnan look more, but even I have to admit that objectively speaking, Pitt is good looking. He just doesn't make my loins stir. Good actor, tho.

[Honeycombe8]

5. Not wanting to talk about it doesn't take away the fact that likability is a component....

of winning the Presidential election.

People tend not to vote for people they don't like. Then if they decide to, they are less likely to get out in bad weather to go vote for someone they know would be better than the other candidate, but who they don't like.

Likability is part of the whole people skills/charisma/trust thing. It's something that most leaders have.

Not being very well liked can be overcome. But you better have a basket full of other key components, if you're lacking that one. Because people are willing to believe in and overlook flaws in someone they like. That won't apply to an unliked candidate.

It's hard to say until these guys go through some debates. A consensus starts to form at that time, I think. Trying to prevent a candidate getting a reputation for something this early (I mean, she's not even sure yet if she's running!) is valid, though.

[unblock]

6. nixon was unlikeable, and he won 49 states in 1972. lbj was no peach, either.

plenty of presidents have been unlikable.

i agree that likability is a factor, more so particularly in the television/internet age.

but it's hardly the only one, and it also has a sorry history of being used to keep women out of politics.

in particular, unlikable men are often seen as tough and strong and therefore viable candidates, whereas unlikable women are usually dismissed as not viable.

then again, this doesn't explain ted cruz....

[Honeycombe8]

8. There are exceptions. But for the most part, Presidents were likable candidates.

LBJ doesn't count. He became President when JFK was assassinated, so was an incumbent. Nixon had also been Vice President before and had run for President before and lost to JFK (the very likable, handsome, and young and smart...and war hero...candidate).

Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Obama were all very likable candidates within their party. That's not the only characteristic in winning, but it's important.

You know how human nature is. When you like someone, you imbue them with all sorts of characteristics they may not have. You give them the benefit of the doubt. You think they're smarter than they are (studies show that coworkers who are well liked are perceived to be better at their jobs).

It's just one factor. It can be overcome. But I don't think it's wise to disregard things that we know voters go for. I don't believe in being blind to a candidate's flaws. They are human. They will all have flaws, just like we all do.

Still, it's too early to start stigmatizing possible candidates. These people haven't even announced they're running.

[McKim]

7. She is a great candidate!

Elizabeth Warren is a great candidate. She is outstanding on economic issues and she totally understands the economic impacts on today’s families. We need a president who will be a champion for families. Remember Al Gore saying that choosing a president is not like choosing who you might like to have a beer with?

No one is saying that Mike Pence has a likability problem! I smell a sexist rat here. This likability thing is just one way to put an accomplished woman down.

[Honeycombe8]

9. Yes, many jokes are made about Pence having no personality. A bump on a log.

And he's not even running. Besides, if Trump is taken away in the loony tune carriage, leaving Pence to run...he will be in a way an incumbent, being Vice President. He inherits some of the administration characteristics.

All candidates are discussed as being not likable, though the terminology may change. There haven't been many females, but males and females both are discussed. Gore was said to be stiff, not warm and fuzzy (codespeak...not likable). Dennis Kacinich...no humor, overzealous (codespeak...not likable). Jeb Bush...too serious and insecure. John Kerry. Michael Dukakis.

But we'll see. She may not run. Or she may do a great job at the debates. Maybe someone else will enter who will blow everyone else out of the water. It's just too early to sit in judgment, I think.

[YOHABLO]

12. We should be very very proud that we have someone like E.Warren that wants to fight for us.

I feel this way about all of our possibilities for Progressive leadership.