McCain debate strategy: "Senator Obama doesn't understand"

[stray cat]

I got really sick of hearing McCain start almost every answer with Senator Obama doesn't understand or is naive or doesn't get it even when Obama clearly had a more in depth answer than McCain. It seems to me McCain was told to preach one sound bite over and over regardless of anything and everything - I actually thought it made McCain sound like an idiot by the 5th repetition but it appeared to be strategic. I'm sure Palin has also been coached to repetitively drive home a couple of phrases as well.

Did anyone else think his "doesn't understand" comments didn't fit with what he was responding to?

[TwilightGardener]

1. The problem is that people know Obama is smart. Even people who

don't like him know he's smart--they might think he's wrong, but they know he knows quite a bit. It didn't help him at all, because there was no kernel of truth to it that would have hit home.

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. It was a dumb strategy

Any reasonable person listening to Obama for 5 minutes gets that the guy is smart. You also have had a 2 month bombardment telling people he is too smart and aloof.

It was silly, transparent, and desperate, the product of an unhinged campaign

[Windy]

3. I thought his answers were confused and incoherent in many parts of the debate.

some of the commentators thought that it was bring obama back to the issues he wanted to talk about, however I thought he was just wandering off.

[mtnsnake]

4. Oh it's definitely strategy just like "the surge is working" we hear him spout all the time

and all the other redundant phrases he uses.

Unfortunately, it can be effective with some of the dumbass voters out there who will start believing anything if they hear it repeated often enough.

[hisownpetard]

5. Just another obvious and pitiful attempt to demean Obama in such a blatant way

that it just comes back in McCain's dumb face.

That, coupled with his refusal to acknowledge Obama by looking at him when Obama was
addressing him, was enough to reveal him as someone of despicable character, even to those
who may have considered supporting him.

This is the classic behavior of an abusive man, plain and simple.

[RichGirl]

6. McCain has set....

...a standard of judgement of what qualifies a person to be president. That same standard should be used for Palin, who he has chosen to be a heartbeat from the presidency. Palin will have to do BETTER than Obama in the area of foreign policy in order to meet McCains standard. Is he going to claim that "I see Russia" gives her the required understanding necessary????

He needs for HIS WORDS to come back and bite his wrinkled up old ass!!!!

[Gin]

7. since McCain co-opts everything Obama says.....Obama should use

the phrase "John doesn't understand" in the next debate..

[renate]

8. good point

That may have been a risky line to use over and over again (about someone like Barack Obama, no less!) when there is SOOOO MUCH his running mate doesn't understand.

Wouldn't that be a hilarious ad--"What Sarah Palin Doesn't Understand"? :rofl:

[texpatriot2004]

9. I found it very annoying. It seemed McSame was trying to bait

Obama. I am glad Obama didn't take the bait.

[Thrill]

10. Its condescending and arrogant.

And its a turn off. If Biden did the same thing against Palin. He would be crucified.

[backscatter712]

11. It's a racist dog whistle.

It's short for "Senator Obama doesn't understand he needs to know his place!"

"You're awful naive, boy!"

[Diamonique]

12. It just made McCain look desperate.

It doesn't matter how many times he repeated that stupid phrase. Every time Obama opened his mouth it was quite clear to everyone that he had an in-depth understanding of all the issues.