Biden's Debate Prep
It would be entertaining to be a fly on the wall during Joe Biden's debate prep sessions this week. He's in a very unusual position. Not only will his opponent be unlike anyone he's ever debated, but it's really hard to know what kind of performance to expect from her. Will the semi-competent candidate from the Alaska gubernatorial debates show up? Or will we see a repeat of the moose-in-headlights performance in front of Katie Couric?
Debating against someone who is struggling to be coherent requires a very different approach than debating against someone who is a little more polished and on point. Biden has to be ready for either possibility and adjust his game accordingly.
If Palin struggles, Biden needs to be careful not to pile on. On a core emotional level, many people will feel sorry for Palin. They'll feel empathetic embarrassment. The best way to respond to that is not to ridicule or mock your opponent, but to come to his rescue. There are ways to show your superior knowledge and experience without giving the impression that you are trying to further embarrass your opponent.
The analogy I would use is an adult playing a game of tennis or basketball with a child. You don't want to serve the ball at 100 mph or try to block every shot. You just want to play in a way that makes it obvious to anyone watching that you are intentionally taking it easy on your opponent.
What this means in concrete terms is that--if Palin struggles--Biden should play the role of the gentle teacher. When Palin gives a rambling answer, Biden should respond by say things like, "I think what the Governor is saying is _________, but in my experience, it just doesn't work that way, and here's why . . ."
Ironically, Biden should aim for exactly what Obama has been trying to avoid, sounding professorial. The contrast between someone giving inch-deep talking points (especially poorly delivered ones) and someone actually explaining an issue can be striking. The reason this would work better for Biden than Obama is because the stature gap runs in the opposite direction here. Palin can't get away with inch-deep answers the way McCain can because she doesn't have years of experience to rely on.
Debating against someone who is struggling to be coherent requires a very different approach than debating against someone who is a little more polished and on point. Biden has to be ready for either possibility and adjust his game accordingly.
If Palin struggles, Biden needs to be careful not to pile on. On a core emotional level, many people will feel sorry for Palin. They'll feel empathetic embarrassment. The best way to respond to that is not to ridicule or mock your opponent, but to come to his rescue. There are ways to show your superior knowledge and experience without giving the impression that you are trying to further embarrass your opponent.
The analogy I would use is an adult playing a game of tennis or basketball with a child. You don't want to serve the ball at 100 mph or try to block every shot. You just want to play in a way that makes it obvious to anyone watching that you are intentionally taking it easy on your opponent.
What this means in concrete terms is that--if Palin struggles--Biden should play the role of the gentle teacher. When Palin gives a rambling answer, Biden should respond by say things like, "I think what the Governor is saying is _________, but in my experience, it just doesn't work that way, and here's why . . ."
Ironically, Biden should aim for exactly what Obama has been trying to avoid, sounding professorial. The contrast between someone giving inch-deep talking points (especially poorly delivered ones) and someone actually explaining an issue can be striking. The reason this would work better for Biden than Obama is because the stature gap runs in the opposite direction here. Palin can't get away with inch-deep answers the way McCain can because she doesn't have years of experience to rely on.
posted by A.L. at 10:58 AM
11 Comments:
As much as I would like this woman to be called to account for her too numerous to count lies, I believe you are right. I even found myself feeling sorry for her while watching Katie Couric's interview. She is in way over her head and it will be obvious. I believe that Biden should switch it around to attack McCain, if any attacking is done. I often wonder, though, why no one ever asks what "winning, victory or success in Iraq" really means. When will winning become "won" and "victory" see its reward? What are the specific conditions to define "victory". We let them throw around those words too much without any consequence.
Sean Quinn over at www.fivethirtyeight.com has just just discussed this, can his advice can be summarized as:
"Just answer the questions, Joe!".
I think that is excellent advice. The debate format has been simplified to protect Palin so he should use it to the full. No "going after Palin" - quite the opposite, he should be sympathetic and respectful.
Biden comes across like a benevolent uncle so he should play the kind, elder statesman type. In fact, the nastier Palin becomes the more pleasant and respectful he should be.
Palin can hang herself by:
- trying too hard and committing a risible gaffe.
- being mean to nice Uncle Joe.
- ignoring him and being disrespectful.
Even if Palin gets in a few hits and enthuses her base, chances are the middle ground will not be impressed. "Victory" will be won not by brownie points but by being statesmanlike , and Biden has that, Palin has not.
Indeed, Obama has already won a victory - McCain and his team have to take almost a full week to prepare Palin for her debate. A minor campaign affair has suddenly become a "must draw" or a "must survive" event for him. That gives a free week for Obama to consolidate his lead in the polls. A reasonable performance by Biden will see the ticket win another week. At this stage, every week counts.
Biden just needs to focus on not been too garrulous and boring (its his main weakness). Let Palin do us all a favour and hang herself - Joe should just give her all the time she needs.
AL, I think being professorial risks coming off as condescending.
Here's my advice to Biden: forget Palin, attack McCain. She can't defend McCain well so you turn this into a 90 minute infomercial attacking McCain. There's nothing more effective than a cogent attack which only receives an incoherent reply. Be polite to her, treat her as if she were your equal (even though she's not), but let her implode on her own.
He should just ignore her except when she attacks Obama; then Biden must go after McCain.
Btw,
Pelosi could easily scare up enough Democratic votes to pass the bailout bill.
I think she showed real balls and guile to let the vote fail and put the onus on the GOP.
Bonus - The GOP Boehner and Blunt whine!
-----
Debate - Biden should rescue Palin in the manner that Kerry did with Bush in one debate 4 years ago.
Biden should only be negative againts Bush.
My prediction is that Palin will come out swinging and try to rattle and bait Biden with a bunch of neocon crap. What do they have to lose, so shake those dice one more time says John. She'll shoot for the moon with every nutty conservative idea in the book. No matter how crazy it is, their dumb base will cheer and get revved up for the last weeks of the race.
So I think Biden should state his case maturely, but be ready with a few zingers. Not over the line or impolite, but funny digs that people will get. Here is my candidate: "Obama said thanks but no thanks to the war in Iraq." Or maybe "I say thanks but no thanks to deregulation and zero oversight of Wall Street." Or "While Governor Palin is watching for Putin to come across her border we'll be hunting down Bin Laden in the front line on terror."
Every time Democrats decide to pussyfoot around and play nice we get screwed. In this case I admit it's a very fine line to draw, but with humor Biden can make the points and ridicule her without being offensive. He absolutely must go there.
Sitting back and being professorial is not the right game plan. Nor is helping her out ... just let her stew in her own juices. Gwen Ifill is not good at followup questions so Biden needs to be ready to widen the breaches.
ATTACK MCCAIN. Ignore and/or be polite to Palin.
Biden can make all of the aggressive arguments about how the GOP is "The Party that Wrecked America" that Obama cannot.
This debate will be hugely watched. Biden must tie McCain to the GOP and Bush relentlessly. It won't be hard at this point.
Biden is the pit bull. Obama is the concilliator who brings the country together after a long national nightmare. Their roles are perfectly chosen for them.
Attack McCain
Also - Biden - cool it with your over the top pre-praise of McCain's heroism.
Just say you honor his *past* service. Stop whining on and on about how great your pal is.
Then attack him.
The Republicans may be more crafty than we think, just remember the past so-called one sided debates. The expectations leading into the debate are so low that if she shows up at the debate and doesn't trip and fall she's already winning. Biden has no chance...
How incredibly condescending.
Be prepared for Palin to do better than a child-- you're way underestimating her.
And Biden has a deliciously terrible habit of making gaffes, and can easily come across as a chauvinist or smarmy elitist.
Anonymous @ 11:42PM unintentionally makes a good point. If Biden comes out trying the "kindly professor" role, I think the wingnuttia will once again discover their doublethink Sexism Outrage - foaming at the mouth about Biden being patronising and condescending to their tough, capable barracuda while simultaneously bristling with chauvinistic indignation at any shots he gets in, because she's a woman and have you no decency, Mr Biden? Are you not an honourable gentleman? Why are you being so sexist?
Sexism is to Palin as POW is to McCain.
Am I too cynical if I think Palin could be deliberately acting dumber than she is in order to lower expectations for the debate? It's a gamble to act this totally incoherent and clueless but if she brings the smart & feisty to the debate there'll be lots of "I told you so" from the right...
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