If John McCain wants to offer a striking – and illustrative – contrast of his own to Barack Obama’s glitz-and-flash approach, next week offers a perfect opportunity. On Friday, he should simply step to a podium and tell voters whom he has selected. No feeding frenzy, no twee statements, no hint dropping, no lash-fluttering at the press. That, “my friends,” is the way that adults make important decisions.
Americans have enough drama in their own lives. They neither need nor expect politicians to supply them with more of it. Obama’s apparent need to hype his every major move – from an overseas trip to his veep selection to his nomination acceptance speech – has begun to raise the troubling suspicion that his pursuit of the presidency is less about addressing voters’ public priorities than meeting his own need for attention.
Certainly, Barack Obama has already received his fair share and more of media coverage. As the final stretch of the campaign begins, let’s hope there’s an opportunity to discern whether he deems the incessant glare of the spotlight a necessary evil, or an all-too-welcome end in itself.
Carol Platt Liebau
Carol Platt Liebau is an attorney, political commentator and guest radio talk show host based near New York. Learn more about her new book, "Prude: How the Sex-Obsessed Culture Hurts Young Women (and America, Too!)"
here.