Is That All You Got?

The third and final debate between John McCain and Barack Obama last night was certainly the most spirited and entertaining yet. As promised, McCain was combative and sought to pin the label of tax and spend Democrat on his rival.

But if McCain’s supporters were looking for a transcendent performance from their guy that would resuscitate his flailing campaign they were disappointed.

McCain threw a steady stream of jabs at Obama but few found their mark. Obama responded with poise and confidence deflecting McCain’s charges effectively. On the economy, on health care, on taxes, on abortion, and on the negative campaign, Obama was in control of the facts and gained points for appearing more calm and decorous.

McCain seemed to want to show anger without losing his temper and at times it seemed that his head was about to explode. His decision to use Joe the Plumber as a foil to call attention to Obama’s faults backfired. Under President Obama, Joe’s business would not face a tax increase if it generated less than a quarter of million dollars in profit. On health care, Joe’s small business would be exempt from facing higher costs. When McCain tried to appeal directly to Joe by sarcastically calling him rich, he actually supported Obama’s point.

Hey, Joe, if you’re making $250,000, you are rich. Our nation is fighting two wars, facing a trillion dollar budget deficit and an economy in a tailspin. So hitch your belt up a notch and stop whining. Your country is just asking you to pay your fair share.

Time and time again, McCain’s attempts to stick his finger in Obama’s eye left him appearing petulant and desperate. Meanwhile, Obama remained calm, almost Zen-like, and used McCain’s charges to make the point that the American people wanted to hear real answers to their problems and not the same, tired political attacks.

On PBS’s Charlie Rose Show, Washington journalist Al Hunt somewhat inaccurately compared the debate to the classic boxing matches between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier recalling that Ali withstood the wrath of Frazier’s blows. Actually, what made the fights legendary was that both fighters threw mighty punches at each other and were remarkably well-matched.

It reminded me more of the time when a fight broke out during a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox several years ago. Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer came storming out of the dugout and charged at Red Sox pitcher Pedro Martinez clearly determined to send a message to the much younger man.

Martinez took Zimmer by the shoulders and let his own energy drop him to the ground.

Obama seems at the top of his game with a sharpness of intellect, apparent limitless energy and infectious joie de vivre that makes it obvious that this is his time.

Don’t take my word for it. Have a look at this video where Obama urges Wisconsinites to vote early and see for yourself.

I know sports analogies make some people roll their eyes. This is politics, they may say, important stuff, not a mere game.

But we do teach our kids that sports offer important lessons about teamwork, leadership, and other values.

Last night, Obama took McCain to school. McCain appeared as hapless as the Washington Generals against the Globetrotters while Obama played the role of Michael Jordan in Game Six of the 98 NBA Finals.

Swish!!!

Twenty more days to go before the election and suddenly the drama seems to have evaporated.

Obama supporters need to keep their focus and get people out to the polls on November 4th (or earlier in states like Wisconsin where that is permitted).

Champions know it ain’t over ’til it’s over.