NFL Owners Fumble Ball with New Anti-Protest Edict
The new NFL policy issued yesterday by Commissioner Roger Goodell and unanimously approved by all 32 team owners, bans on field player protests but allows players to remain in the locker room during the national anthem as a form of protest. The policy, which was developed without any player input, is the clearest indicator of whom the real patriots are and what the owners truly value. The owners' position is the NFL is their business and as business owners their bottom line is what is important. The owners in fact do have a right to implement the policy. However just because you have the right to do something doesn't mean that you should. Issuing a unilateral edict does not generally bode well for employee-management relations. They have successfully shaped the perception that the player protests are against the flag and by extension the U.S. military and the country. The perception has been aided and abetted by President Trump, right wing conservatives, FOX News and others that see the protests as the perfect tool to crank up their voting base. The owners are intelligent people that clearly understand what the protests are all about so their must be something else at work.
While I am certain that there are some owners that are more progressive in their thinking and actions, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie comes to mind, the thought that most of the NFL owners are wealthy, white, old and male and have a "good old boy" mindset cannot be minimized as a factor in their actions during this era of protests. The argument that the player protests resulted in lower ratings, lost revenue and other ills for the league during the 2017-2018 season, is a red herring argument at best and a straw man argument at worst. In case you missed it, even though ad revenue was down 1.2 % last season, the owners recently inked a record breaking $3 billion broadcast agreement with FOX to broadcast its Thursday night games for the next five seasons according to CNBC. Thursday night games are usually the lowest rated of all NFL broadcasts, so imagine what the NFL and its owners are raking in for their more highly rated broadcasts. So clearly the financial bottom line is not an issue for the owners.
The owners real bottom line is what conservative pundit, Laura Ingraham said best and I paraphrase , shut up and tackle. She actually said "Shut up and dribble" in reaction to a LeBron James comment on a social issue. It reflects a long held mindset that permeates throughout the history of race relations in America. The idea that highly paid, "pampered", "spoiled" African American athletes should use their high profile sport to "complain" is an outrage! They are disposable bodies that come and go and owners are in charge. After all despite playing a dangerous sport that may cause brain disease, it's the owners that take the "real " risk--financial. So shut up and do your job. The ridiculous idea that African Americans should be grateful for an opportunity that they really didn't earn is present in all aspects of American society from the office to the gridiron. So the idea of an athlete, an African American athlete that makes more money in a day than most Americans make in a year has the audacity to speak about an police brutality,an issue that some Americans don't see as a real problem, is perceived as a bridge too far. In fact, in an unguarded moment, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair compared the players to inmates during last season. It appears that the owners don't see the players as their equals so how dare they express an opinion or champion social justice especially while wearing the NFL shield.
Still there are others like New Orleans QB Drew Brees, that openly agree with the players message but wish to tell them when, where and how to protest. In other words don't interfere with my life with your issue. Don't mess up my commute to work, my night in the city and definitely not my football Sunday. This position is as old as the protests. It was heard during the civil rights demonstrations in the 1960's and in Ferguson, Missouri recently. The very purpose of a protest is educate the public, get make enough people uncomfortable until they react and help bring about change. Sorry Drew.
So I return to the question, who are the true patriots? In a country founded on protests and continually made better by civil unrest, is it those that risk their careers (see Eric Reed and Colin Kaepernick et al) by peacefully protesting to make the country better or those that seek to stop them because the protests don't fit their agenda? The answer is obvious. The players protest because they love America and know it can be an even better country for everyone. The real bottom line which the owners and every American should embrace is that racism is everyone's problem. Until the majority of white Americans including powerful people like the NFL owners, not only see racism, social injustice, police brutality as their problem and decide to take fundamental steps toward real change by their words, deeds and votes, America will continue to suffer. Right now in 2018, after nearly 243 years of existence, after many great accomplishments we still don't have it completely right. The curse of racism is holding America back. We are not tapping into the potential of every citizen. That core belief is at the very heart of the players protests.
I understand that the NFL has pledged $90 Million to help with various causes that are important to NFL players but what a powerful day yesterday could have been if Commissioner Goodell and all of the owners in conjunction with the NFLPA, announced that in addition to dedicating a month to a great and deserving cause like breast cancer awareness, they were also going to join in an ongoing partnership with the Players Association, legislators, law enforcement, community activists and others to champion the cause of social justice or begin throw their considerable power behind changing minds and hearts and educating people about racism. Sounds impossible but when America has worked together, we have found cure for diseases and yes landed men on the moon. What a powerful message would be delivered if on opening day, high profile white players like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and JJ Watt following the example of Eagles defensive end, Chris Long joined with their protesting African American teammates in a show of solidarity. Those ideas when put into action would go a long way toward creating greater unity and equity and a much better America which after all is what almost every American wants.
Michael S. Nixon
Copyright PolitiComm 2018
Thursday, May 24, 2018
Friday, July 28, 2017
McCain Embodies Country First , Please Take Notes POTUS and GOP
Senator McCain's Vote on the GOP Skinny Repeal Bill Demonstrates He Puts Country First. It's Past Time for the President and Other GOP Member to Do the Same
Each of us have defining moments in our lives. Those moments are the times when choices can be difficult and possibly life altering. Make choice 1 and it might benefit you and open the door to financial gain or popularity. Select choice 2 which we know is the right choice and we might feel better morally because we did the right thing but what have we sacrificed? Yes we've all been there or somewhere close by. Our defining moments are usually private matters that have little or no effect on anyone other than ourselves. So we make them and go on with our lives. Whether it's fate, karma or his choice, John McCain's defining moments have all seemed to be played out in public on the biggest international stages. Amazingly, the senator from Arizona seems to usually make the right choice even when it's not to his benefit.
As a POW during the Vietnam War, McCain's captors offered him the opportunity to be released before his fellow POWs. Despite severe injuries and living in deplorable and inhumane conditions, his injuries left untreated and being continually beaten, McCain refused to accept release until all those captured before him and all enlisted men were freed. On July 4, 1968 the North Vietnamese offered McCain a virtual "get out of POW camp" card. It was the same day McCain's father became U.S. Commander in the Pacific. McCain, seeing that a propaganda tool for his captors, turned it down. Despite having several opportunities to be released, McCain would spend more than 5 1/2 years as a POW, including 2 years in solitary confinement.
During the brutally contested presidential election of 2008 against Barack Hussein Obama, many supporters of Senator McCain believed that Senator Obama was a Muslim. A candidate's religion should not be of any consequence, well at least in theoretical America. That was not the case in 2008 where it was common to hear racial epithets and other slurs directed at the Democratic nominee that posed a real threat of becoming America's first black president. While some candidate's in a close race would seize on such raw emotion to get a few more votes, John McCain's action less than one month before the election would demonstrate once again that he puts country first. During a campaign event in Minnesota, an elderly woman seized the microphone and insisted that Senator Obama was an Arab. Instead of agreeing with her or remaining silent, McCain rescued the microphone from the woman and said" No ma'am, No ma'am. He is a decent family man, a citizen who I just happen to have serious differences with on fundamental questions." In that key moment, John McCain might have lost some votes but he gained the respect of millions of people, many of whom had fundamental differences with his political views.
May 28th 2017 U.S. Senate floor
Life seems to be unpredictable and random yet everything we do seems to push us on the road to our destiny. It's rather strange really.
McCain was one of the most high profile critics of the Affordable Care Act or as some prefer to call it Obama Care. It is the signature legislative accomplishment of his 2008 presidential opponent, President Barack Obama.
McCain, like most Republicans used the war cry, repeal and replace to win a closely contested Senate race in 2016. The GOP controls the House, Senate and the White House so repealing such an "unpopular law would be a walk in the park. After 7 years of promising their hardcore supporters that Obama Care would be repealed the GOP and President Trump fell short. After being diagnosed with brain cancer about one week ago, Senator McCain triumphantly staged a return to the Senate and admonished his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done.
With the new Republican president's legislative agenda going nowhere, the vote on repealing parts of Obama Care could be a game changer for Trump and the GOP. When the roll call vote began at around 2 A.M.EDT, the tension was palatable. Vice President Pence was dispatched to the Senate floor by Trump to persuade McCain to vote for the bill. After all the fate of the bill was in McCain's hands. Despite the tension, the names and votes flew by quickly and predictably. Democrats voted no, Republicans voted yes except for Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and a harsh critic of what the GOP was offering to replace Obama Care. Her vote was a solid no as was Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican representing Alaska. Yes it would all hinge on the senator form Arizona. But let's step back for a moment and see how seemingly random events got McCain to this point.
McCain's journey to the Senate vote for this crucial vote can be traced to when he was a severely injured POW denied effective medical care by his captors. A man that nearly 50 years later candidate Trump, in order to score political points, said was not really a hero and when pressed by an interviewer reluctantly said McCain was "only a hero because he got captured."
The journey to this night continued when presidential candidate McCain rebuked the elderly woman in Minnesota for saying that his opponent was an Arab. Meanwhile the new president built his entire campaign by promoting the ridiculous and debunked notion that the same man was not a US citizen.
The final part of McCain's journey to this defining moment began when he underwent surgery and was diagnosed with brain cancer. The same type of brain cancer that killed his colleague, Senator Edward Kennedy, who was coincidentally an ardent supporter of McCain's 2008 presidential opponent and a champion of the health care bill that McCain could repeal. Seemingly unrelated and random events. What must he have been thinking as he awaited his name to be called? Was he reflecting on those torturous 5 1/2 years as a POW? Perhaps the 2008 election, his mortality, getting revenge on Trump?
KLOBUCHAR-NO,LANKFORD, YES, LEAHY,NO, LEE, YES, MANCHIN, NO
Each of us have defining moments in our lives. Those moments are the times when choices can be difficult and possibly life altering. Make choice 1 and it might benefit you and open the door to financial gain or popularity. Select choice 2 which you know is the right choice and you might feel better morally because you did the right thing but what have you sacrificed? Yes we've all been there or somewhere close by. Our defining moments are usually private matters that have little or no effect on anyone other than ourselves. So we make them and go on with our lives. Whether it's fate, karma or his choice, John McCain's defining moments have all seemed to be played out in public on the biggest international stages. Amazingly, the senator from Arizona seems to usually make the right choice even when it's not to his benefit.
Each of us have defining moments in our lives. Those moments are the times when choices can be difficult and possibly life altering. Make choice 1 and it might benefit you and open the door to financial gain or popularity. Select choice 2 which we know is the right choice and we might feel better morally because we did the right thing but what have we sacrificed? Yes we've all been there or somewhere close by. Our defining moments are usually private matters that have little or no effect on anyone other than ourselves. So we make them and go on with our lives. Whether it's fate, karma or his choice, John McCain's defining moments have all seemed to be played out in public on the biggest international stages. Amazingly, the senator from Arizona seems to usually make the right choice even when it's not to his benefit.
As a POW during the Vietnam War, McCain's captors offered him the opportunity to be released before his fellow POWs. Despite severe injuries and living in deplorable and inhumane conditions, his injuries left untreated and being continually beaten, McCain refused to accept release until all those captured before him and all enlisted men were freed. On July 4, 1968 the North Vietnamese offered McCain a virtual "get out of POW camp" card. It was the same day McCain's father became U.S. Commander in the Pacific. McCain, seeing that a propaganda tool for his captors, turned it down. Despite having several opportunities to be released, McCain would spend more than 5 1/2 years as a POW, including 2 years in solitary confinement.
During the brutally contested presidential election of 2008 against Barack Hussein Obama, many supporters of Senator McCain believed that Senator Obama was a Muslim. A candidate's religion should not be of any consequence, well at least in theoretical America. That was not the case in 2008 where it was common to hear racial epithets and other slurs directed at the Democratic nominee that posed a real threat of becoming America's first black president. While some candidate's in a close race would seize on such raw emotion to get a few more votes, John McCain's action less than one month before the election would demonstrate once again that he puts country first. During a campaign event in Minnesota, an elderly woman seized the microphone and insisted that Senator Obama was an Arab. Instead of agreeing with her or remaining silent, McCain rescued the microphone from the woman and said" No ma'am, No ma'am. He is a decent family man, a citizen who I just happen to have serious differences with on fundamental questions." In that key moment, John McCain might have lost some votes but he gained the respect of millions of people, many of whom had fundamental differences with his political views.
May 28th 2017 U.S. Senate floor
Life seems to be unpredictable and random yet everything we do seems to push us on the road to our destiny. It's rather strange really.
McCain was one of the most high profile critics of the Affordable Care Act or as some prefer to call it Obama Care. It is the signature legislative accomplishment of his 2008 presidential opponent, President Barack Obama.
McCain, like most Republicans used the war cry, repeal and replace to win a closely contested Senate race in 2016. The GOP controls the House, Senate and the White House so repealing such an "unpopular law would be a walk in the park. After 7 years of promising their hardcore supporters that Obama Care would be repealed the GOP and President Trump fell short. After being diagnosed with brain cancer about one week ago, Senator McCain triumphantly staged a return to the Senate and admonished his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work in a bipartisan fashion to get things done.
With the new Republican president's legislative agenda going nowhere, the vote on repealing parts of Obama Care could be a game changer for Trump and the GOP. When the roll call vote began at around 2 A.M.EDT, the tension was palatable. Vice President Pence was dispatched to the Senate floor by Trump to persuade McCain to vote for the bill. After all the fate of the bill was in McCain's hands. Despite the tension, the names and votes flew by quickly and predictably. Democrats voted no, Republicans voted yes except for Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and a harsh critic of what the GOP was offering to replace Obama Care. Her vote was a solid no as was Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican representing Alaska. Yes it would all hinge on the senator form Arizona. But let's step back for a moment and see how seemingly random events got McCain to this point.
McCain's journey to the Senate vote for this crucial vote can be traced to when he was a severely injured POW denied effective medical care by his captors. A man that nearly 50 years later candidate Trump, in order to score political points, said was not really a hero and when pressed by an interviewer reluctantly said McCain was "only a hero because he got captured."
The journey to this night continued when presidential candidate McCain rebuked the elderly woman in Minnesota for saying that his opponent was an Arab. Meanwhile the new president built his entire campaign by promoting the ridiculous and debunked notion that the same man was not a US citizen.
The final part of McCain's journey to this defining moment began when he underwent surgery and was diagnosed with brain cancer. The same type of brain cancer that killed his colleague, Senator Edward Kennedy, who was coincidentally an ardent supporter of McCain's 2008 presidential opponent and a champion of the health care bill that McCain could repeal. Seemingly unrelated and random events. What must he have been thinking as he awaited his name to be called? Was he reflecting on those torturous 5 1/2 years as a POW? Perhaps the 2008 election, his mortality, getting revenge on Trump?
KLOBUCHAR-NO,LANKFORD, YES, LEAHY,NO, LEE, YES, MANCHIN, NO
Each of us have defining moments in our lives. Those moments are the times when choices can be difficult and possibly life altering. Make choice 1 and it might benefit you and open the door to financial gain or popularity. Select choice 2 which you know is the right choice and you might feel better morally because you did the right thing but what have you sacrificed? Yes we've all been there or somewhere close by. Our defining moments are usually private matters that have little or no effect on anyone other than ourselves. So we make them and go on with our lives. Whether it's fate, karma or his choice, John McCain's defining moments have all seemed to be played out in public on the biggest international stages. Amazingly, the senator from Arizona seems to usually make the right choice even when it's not to his benefit.
McCain-NO!
It was done and the bill was defeated. When asked by a reporter why he voted against the bill. McCain's response, "It was the right thing to do."
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Clinton Wins Debate but Trump Wins First Battle
Clinton Wins Debate on Policy But Trump Wins the Battle
By Michael S. Nixon
If we score last night's debate on the Marcus of Queensberry rules, by all objective measures, Hillary Clinton soundly beat Donald Trump in the first presidential debate. She was clearly well-versed on every issue and delivered her responses deftly which speaks to her preparation to hold the nation's highest office. Her performance was nearly pitch perfect if we are to look at the debate as an academic exercise. Unfortunately as we've learned throughout the history of presidential debates, performance rather than substance often matters most. Last night was one of those instances. Secretary Clinton's continuous directive to viewers to visit her website to find out her plans to battle ISIS or to fix the economy and her appeal to viewers to buy her book, demonstrated her inability or lack of understanding of how to to connect to the audience. Trump on the other hand with the possible exception of his answers about the Trans-Pacific Partnership and issues involving the economy, was bereft of any substantive responses. However in my opinion he connected with the viewers through the passion he displayed. That will play well with his base and more importantly with many undecided voters. Unfortunately as we all know in the age of the Kardashians, style often trumps substance, pun very much intended. Dismiss Trump's substanceless performance if you will. However if Hillary's goal was to disqualify Trump as a serious presidential candidate, she failed. Unfair as it may be to have much a lower standard for Trump, it is one of the unfortunate realities of this campaign. If this election were about issues , preparedness competence, policies or intelligence, Clinton would be winning this election going away. The fact that she is not speaks volumes about the mindset of the American electorate this year. Unfortunately in the age of reality television this presidential election is not about issues. Clearly for some voters it's a referendum on the style and personality of the candidates. Whichever candidate makes voters feel like he or she is speaking directly to them and hears their concerns will win this race. It is telling that this debate seemed to be a microcosm of the Republican primary presidential debates. I've watched the political pundits over the last several hours and it is clear that, with the possible exception of Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe, and Sean Hannity,most pundits believe Trump did not do anything to help his campaign. How many times during the Republican Presidential debates did we watch Trump give a similar debate performance, South Carolina comes to mind, and believe that Trump had lost the debate only to find out later that based on poll numbers an actual primary results that the voters saw it differently? As an ardent Hillary Clinton supporter it pains me to say that the same dynamic was at work last night. Fortunately for the Clinton campaign she will have two more opportunities to disqualify Donald Trump. To win this election, Secretary Clinton must ramp up the enthusiasm of her base of supporters. A bit of advice if I can be so presumptuous, Secretary Clinton please talk to the voters more directly and show a lot more passion. Both will serve you well. It's one thing to be measured in the tone of your answers to demonstrate that you have the temperament to be the commander-in-chief,it's another to come across as dispassionate as you did last night. Go after Trump even more aggressively in the next two debates. That is the only way to slay the Dragon. Secretary Clinton did a masterful job but failed to accomplish her goal. Trump is still very much in the race. I'm certain the polls post debate will show that. Let's hope that she doesn't make the mistake that 16 Trump opponents made...Don't underestimate Donald Trump at your own peril.
©Politicomm 2016
By Michael S. Nixon
If we score last night's debate on the Marcus of Queensberry rules, by all objective measures, Hillary Clinton soundly beat Donald Trump in the first presidential debate. She was clearly well-versed on every issue and delivered her responses deftly which speaks to her preparation to hold the nation's highest office. Her performance was nearly pitch perfect if we are to look at the debate as an academic exercise. Unfortunately as we've learned throughout the history of presidential debates, performance rather than substance often matters most. Last night was one of those instances. Secretary Clinton's continuous directive to viewers to visit her website to find out her plans to battle ISIS or to fix the economy and her appeal to viewers to buy her book, demonstrated her inability or lack of understanding of how to to connect to the audience. Trump on the other hand with the possible exception of his answers about the Trans-Pacific Partnership and issues involving the economy, was bereft of any substantive responses. However in my opinion he connected with the viewers through the passion he displayed. That will play well with his base and more importantly with many undecided voters. Unfortunately as we all know in the age of the Kardashians, style often trumps substance, pun very much intended. Dismiss Trump's substanceless performance if you will. However if Hillary's goal was to disqualify Trump as a serious presidential candidate, she failed. Unfair as it may be to have much a lower standard for Trump, it is one of the unfortunate realities of this campaign. If this election were about issues , preparedness competence, policies or intelligence, Clinton would be winning this election going away. The fact that she is not speaks volumes about the mindset of the American electorate this year. Unfortunately in the age of reality television this presidential election is not about issues. Clearly for some voters it's a referendum on the style and personality of the candidates. Whichever candidate makes voters feel like he or she is speaking directly to them and hears their concerns will win this race. It is telling that this debate seemed to be a microcosm of the Republican primary presidential debates. I've watched the political pundits over the last several hours and it is clear that, with the possible exception of Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe, and Sean Hannity,most pundits believe Trump did not do anything to help his campaign. How many times during the Republican Presidential debates did we watch Trump give a similar debate performance, South Carolina comes to mind, and believe that Trump had lost the debate only to find out later that based on poll numbers an actual primary results that the voters saw it differently? As an ardent Hillary Clinton supporter it pains me to say that the same dynamic was at work last night. Fortunately for the Clinton campaign she will have two more opportunities to disqualify Donald Trump. To win this election, Secretary Clinton must ramp up the enthusiasm of her base of supporters. A bit of advice if I can be so presumptuous, Secretary Clinton please talk to the voters more directly and show a lot more passion. Both will serve you well. It's one thing to be measured in the tone of your answers to demonstrate that you have the temperament to be the commander-in-chief,it's another to come across as dispassionate as you did last night. Go after Trump even more aggressively in the next two debates. That is the only way to slay the Dragon. Secretary Clinton did a masterful job but failed to accomplish her goal. Trump is still very much in the race. I'm certain the polls post debate will show that. Let's hope that she doesn't make the mistake that 16 Trump opponents made...Don't underestimate Donald Trump at your own peril.
©Politicomm 2016
Clinton.Wins Debate but Trump Wins First Battle
Clinton Wins Debate on Policy But Trump Wins the Battle
By Michael S. Nixon
If we score last night's debate on the Marcus of Queensberry rules, by all objective measures, Hillary Clinton soundly beat Donald Trump in the first presidential debate. She was clearly well-versed on every issue and delivered her responses deftly which speaks to her preparation to hold the nation's highest office. Her performance was nearly pitch perfect if we are to look at the debate as an academic exercise. Unfortunately as we've learned throughout the history of presidential debates, performance rather than substance often matters most. Last night was one of those instances. Secretary Clinton's continuous directive to viewers to visit her website to find out her plans to battle ISIS or to fix the economy and her appeal to viewers to buy her book, demonstrated her inability or lack of understanding of how to to connect to the audience. Trump on the other hand with the possible exception of his answers about the Trans-Pacific Partnership and issues involving the economy, was bereft of any substantive responses. However in my opinion he connected with the viewers through the passion he displayed. That will play well with his base and more importantly with many undecided voters. Unfortunately as we all know in the age of the Kardashians, style often trumps substance, pun very much intended. Dismiss Trump's substanceless performance if you will. However if Hillary's goal was to disqualify Trump as a serious presidential candidate, she failed. Unfair as it may be to have much a lower standard for Trump, it is one of the unfortunate realities of this campaign. If this election were about issues , preparedness competence, policies or intelligence, Clinton would be winning this election going away. The fact that she is not speaks volumes about the mindset of the American electorate this year. Unfortunately in the age of reality television this presidential election is not about issues. Clearly for some voters it's a referendum on the style and personality of the candidates. Whichever candidate makes voters feel like he or she is speaking directly to them and hears their concerns will win this race. It is telling that this debate seemed to be a microcosm of the Republican primary presidential debates. I've watched the political pundits over the last several hours and it is clear that, with the possible exception of Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe, and Sean Hannity,most pundits believe Trump did not do anything to help his campaign. How many times during the Republican Presidential debates did we watch Trump give a similar debate performance, South Carolina comes to mind, and believe that Trump had lost the debate only to find out later that based on poll numbers an actual primary results that the voters saw it differently? As an ardent Hillary Clinton supporter it pains me to say that the same dynamic was at work last night. Fortunately for the Clinton campaign she will have two more opportunities to disqualify Donald Trump. To win this election, Secretary Clinton must ramp up the enthusiasm of her base of supporters. A bit of advice if I can be so presumptuous, Secretary Clinton please talk to the voters more directly and show a lot more passion. Both will serve you well. It's one thing to be measured in the tone of your answers to demonstrate that you have the temperament to be the commander-in-chief,it's another to come across as dispassionate as you did last night. Go after Trump even more aggressively in the next two debates. That is the only way to slay the Dragon. Secretary Clinton did a masterful job but failed to accomplish her goal. Trump is still very much in the race. I'm certain the polls post debate will show that. Let's hope that she doesn't make the mistake that 16 Trump opponents made...Don't underestimate Donald Trump at your own peril.
©Politicomm 2016
By Michael S. Nixon
If we score last night's debate on the Marcus of Queensberry rules, by all objective measures, Hillary Clinton soundly beat Donald Trump in the first presidential debate. She was clearly well-versed on every issue and delivered her responses deftly which speaks to her preparation to hold the nation's highest office. Her performance was nearly pitch perfect if we are to look at the debate as an academic exercise. Unfortunately as we've learned throughout the history of presidential debates, performance rather than substance often matters most. Last night was one of those instances. Secretary Clinton's continuous directive to viewers to visit her website to find out her plans to battle ISIS or to fix the economy and her appeal to viewers to buy her book, demonstrated her inability or lack of understanding of how to to connect to the audience. Trump on the other hand with the possible exception of his answers about the Trans-Pacific Partnership and issues involving the economy, was bereft of any substantive responses. However in my opinion he connected with the viewers through the passion he displayed. That will play well with his base and more importantly with many undecided voters. Unfortunately as we all know in the age of the Kardashians, style often trumps substance, pun very much intended. Dismiss Trump's substanceless performance if you will. However if Hillary's goal was to disqualify Trump as a serious presidential candidate, she failed. Unfair as it may be to have much a lower standard for Trump, it is one of the unfortunate realities of this campaign. If this election were about issues , preparedness competence, policies or intelligence, Clinton would be winning this election going away. The fact that she is not speaks volumes about the mindset of the American electorate this year. Unfortunately in the age of reality television this presidential election is not about issues. Clearly for some voters it's a referendum on the style and personality of the candidates. Whichever candidate makes voters feel like he or she is speaking directly to them and hears their concerns will win this race. It is telling that this debate seemed to be a microcosm of the Republican primary presidential debates. I've watched the political pundits over the last several hours and it is clear that, with the possible exception of Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe, and Sean Hannity,most pundits believe Trump did not do anything to help his campaign. How many times during the Republican Presidential debates did we watch Trump give a similar debate performance, South Carolina comes to mind, and believe that Trump had lost the debate only to find out later that based on poll numbers an actual primary results that the voters saw it differently? As an ardent Hillary Clinton supporter it pains me to say that the same dynamic was at work last night. Fortunately for the Clinton campaign she will have two more opportunities to disqualify Donald Trump. To win this election, Secretary Clinton must ramp up the enthusiasm of her base of supporters. A bit of advice if I can be so presumptuous, Secretary Clinton please talk to the voters more directly and show a lot more passion. Both will serve you well. It's one thing to be measured in the tone of your answers to demonstrate that you have the temperament to be the commander-in-chief,it's another to come across as dispassionate as you did last night. Go after Trump even more aggressively in the next two debates. That is the only way to slay the Dragon. Secretary Clinton did a masterful job but failed to accomplish her goal. Trump is still very much in the race. I'm certain the polls post debate will show that. Let's hope that she doesn't make the mistake that 16 Trump opponents made...Don't underestimate Donald Trump at your own peril.
©Politicomm 2016
Monday, September 26, 2016
See Common for Free in Philly
International Superstar and activist, Common will perform a free outdoor concert in Philly on Saturday, October 8th as part of the Neighborhood to Neighborhood Festival. Location: 50th & Baltimore Ave. in West Philadelphia. Time: NOON . It will be a great day of family fun. See you there.
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