Daschle's dropout fallout

I was listening to Mark Steyn fill in for Rush yesterday when, in mid-discussion of Daschle's difficulties, Steyn announced the Breaking News that Daschle had withdrawn. I suppose when the New York Times editorializes that you need to withdraw your nomination, it's time to pull the plug; your support, shall we say, is cratering.

Of course, the analysis and the White House spin both commenced immediately. The most interesting few minutes of the day for me, though, were Chris Wallace's interview of Obama later that afternoon, that aired on "Special Report with Bret Baier" last night. Two points:

First, it was clear, even though Obama wouldn't outright admit it (but he did tacitly) that he and Daschle had come to some sort of understanding that Daschle had to withdraw, in spite of the fact that Obama had declared he "absolutely" supported Daschle just the day before. The only way I can explain this is that Obama and Daschle were clearly more friendly than Obama and Bill Richardson, for instance.

Really, what Daschle did or failed to do was not unforgivable in itself, if you ask me. If I ever make the money that Daschle has in the last couple of years, I would be helpless without an accountant and would certainly rely on him heavily! I'm sure Daschle is no different; yet, given that very situation, extra caution is constantly warranted, which Daschle clearly failed to exercise. THAT is what should disqualify him. If he can't be careful enough to manage his own personal finances, he shouldn't be running an entire cabinet agency. Pure and simple.

Back to the Wallace interview. I saw again last night how formidable the PR task of the GOP really is. I agree with Barack Obama on virtually nothing. But, he has such a deft touch and comes across as so likeable that in a media-oriented age, it is very difficult to combat. So different from the choleric Bill Clinton who lashed out at Rush Limbaugh in 1994, saying there was no "truth detector" to help him connect with the people while Rush had 3 unfiltered hours every day. Wallace questioned Obama about Obama's own Limbaugh comment a week or so ago, as well as a tossaway line on Fox News (something about "I can go home later tonight and watch Fox News and feel bad about myself"). Obama chuckled and questioned the wording on the former, but admitted that he had uttered the sentiment about Fox, then went on to say that he probably didn't get his most positive coverage on Fox, but this is the way democracy works, etc., etc. You cannot help but like him when you see him.


I realized last night what makes Obama effective. His media savvy is not contrived. He is a natural. Certainly, he has worked on his public speaking skills over the years, as many of us have and do. But, he has a natural gift for communication and personal relationship that makes him shine in these settings.

It is easy to see why talk radio will be an important asset to the conservative cause in the years ahead, as an unfiltered auditory medium. It is also incumbent on talk radio hosts to be sure to present arguments in context and in truth. And the ones I listen to (mostly Rush and Beck) rarely fail to do both, with a good amount of humor thrown into the mix!