Debate-about-Debates - Dueling Political Spots - Motive and Form
"After 18 debates, with two more coming, Hillary says Barack Obama is ducking debates?
It's the same old politics, of phony charges and false attacks."
With these words the Obama campaign answered Clinton's Wisconsin debate spot . This post examines the Obama counter in the debate-about-debates, how it changes the interpretive frame, and responses among political blogs.
The Clinton spot has largely been described in the press as a "negative ad" attacking Obama for failing to discuss his issue proposals. It is more difficult to characterize the Obama spot.
The Obama ad is in part positive, outlining his position on health care and the mortgage crisis (claims that have received some criticism; citing their own campaign as authority) but the essence of the argument is more "descriptive" neither positive or negative nor "comparative" in the parlance of categorizing political spots. The ad's form is a listing of fact, reinforced by visuals of 18 debates; essentially there have been lots of debates, enthymatically "enough is enough."
It is, of course, more than a statement of fact, illustrating the art of response spots; more than denial and counters, a fundamental shift in the interpretive context.
Below fold: Three elements merit attention.
