On the May 25 edition of Meet the Press, Tim Russert asked Maureen Dowd about the contrast between a sharp exchange between Barack Obama and John McCain and a less cutting joke he told about Obama at a different event. Dowd's answer, which again demonstrates her amazing ability to read minds, is revealing of the way that she and pundits like her construct cartoon psychodramas: this exchange from the May 25 Meet the Press was revealing of the way that Maureen Dowd thinks:
RUSSERT: Maureen Dowd, is it two John McCains on display?
DOWD: I think we learn something very interesting from this exchange. For one thing, McCain really doesn't like Obama. And, you know, he thinks he's the punk who hasn't bled, as McCain people like to say, and doesn't deserve to be in this arena. And we also learn that Obama is not as intimidated by John McCain as he was by Hillary Clinton. He is much freer when he goes on the attack, much more confident.
Amazingly, Dowd's crystal ball has revealed that McCain "really doesn't like" Obama, thinks "he's the punk who hasn't bled," and that Obama "is not as intimidated by John McCain as he was by Hillary Clinton." But more importantly, note how her silly psychologizing substitutes for any strategic explanation of Obama and McCain's actions.
For instance, while we can't know whether Obama was intimidated by Hillary, a more likely explanation of why Obama aggressively attacked McCain is that McCain is that not a member of the same party. Primary campaigns are not the same as general election campaigns -- Obama needs Hillary's supporters on his side in November. Similarly, John McCain has to attack Obama aggressively because (a) the political fundamentals are so bad for the GOP this year and (b) the conservative base doesn't fully trust or accept him.
What's made Dowd such a phenomenon is this talent for stripping away context in order to interpret all conflict in politics as personal and psychological. It's the only way to churn out soap opera-style narrative week after week. And it's made her rich and famous.
I cannot bring myself to read Dowd, for the reasons Brendan gives. It amazes me that with so many columnists to choose from, the Times chose Maureen Dowd.
Posted by: David | June 02, 2008 at 02:48 PM