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sandyobama.jpg
President Obama comforts a storm victim while touring damage in New Jersey. (AP image)

Should the hurricane pictures affect your vote?

BY Dave Ross  on November 1, 2012 @ 8:23 am (Updated: 10:04 am - 11/1/12 )

No question, President Obama's video has been more compelling than Mitt Romney's lately - Marine One flying over devastated beaches versus a political rally in Florida? No contest.

But is an undecided voter going to look at this and say "I'm so moved by Marine One, he's got my vote!"

There's a commentary on CNN today by former correspondent Frida Ghitis, who's covered disasters all over the world, and now works on her own as a consultant, and she lists a bunch of examples of leaders who looked great during disasters until they became disasters themselves.

She writes that in Thailand, the same prime minister who led the recovery after the massive Tsunami in 2004 and boldly rejected outside aid, won his election in a landslide, but then tanked and now lives in exile.

The Japanese prime minister who led the earthquake response there, and even dressed like a relief worker ended up resigning.

And she has similar stories about disasters in Peru and Chile.

Of course America is not Thailand or Japan or Peru or Chile. The President isn't jumping onto bulldozers. In fact, I heard him actually lowering expectations:

"I don't want anybody to feel that somehow this is all going to get cleaned up over night. We want to make sure that people have realistic expectations," Obama said after touring storm damage.

Photos from the tour

But her point is the election ought to be about the direction of the country for the next four years, not about who's best at commiserating with victims.

And she's right. But what's encouraging to me about the last few days and especially this mutual embrace between the President and Chris Christie is that at least it actually does seem like an authentic outbreak of bipartisanship. It's just too bad it took four years and a Superstorm to make it happen.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (25)


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  • ron prevost wrote...
    So much humanity - just like Jimmy Carter
    November 1, 2012 7:58 am
    Let's get him out of that current job of his.

    He needs to have the time to fully display his love of humanity. ... QUICKLY !!!!!!!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Bipartisanship is the key, but neither side really cares to exercise the concept
    November 1, 2012 8:06 am
    Back in the day, we sent people to Congress who felt that the most important issue at all times was the general welfare (in a Constitutional sense) of the people of the United States.

    Now we send Republicans and Democrats who sincerely believe the most important issue is keeping their own political party in total control of all aspects of government. If in power, the goal is to make sure the rival party gets nothing done. If in the minority, the goal is the same.

    Each side loudly and emotionally blames the other, but it usually boils down to; "You bet we believe in bi-partisanship! And in fact, as soon as the other side starts seeing everything exactly the way we do, we'll be happy to work with them!"

    That's before the lobbyists get involved of course, at which point we get buy-partisanship.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    of course that't the key, Chuck.
    November 1, 2012 8:16 am
    But short of exhuming Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill, how are we going to achieve cooperation and compromise in this day any age ?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Good question, Ron. Here are a few starters;
    November 1, 2012 9:55 am
    1)We all need to reject voices with an entirely negative message, even when those voices seem to agree with our personal political perspectives. When every phrase, every sentence, every item dwells on how *evil* anybody is who has a different viewpoint or opinion, that's just good old fashioned propaganda in the finest tradition of the Third Reich or the Soviet Union. Listening to all that negative and hateful crap, just to have your politics reinforced, is like agreeing to be infected with AIDS in order to take a vitamin.

    2) We need to look for the many points where even political rivals have some basic agreement, and expand upon those. Congratulate the opposition on its sincere desire to serve the country, and look for ways both parties can advance the common interests.

    3) We all need to independently study the issues and not be fearful of deciding that the Democrat talking points make more sense in some cases while the Republican talking points make more sense in others.

    4)Accept that politics is a matter of civic opinion and preferences, rather than a question of good vs evil on some imaginary, Biblical scale. Realize that people who disagree with us can do so without some conscious desire to scuttle the country.

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  • Roark wrote...
    Definition of bi-partisanship
    November 1, 2012 11:22 am
    For Democrats, the definition of bi-partisanship is "you agree with us".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • logical open mind wrote...
    How about the fed's cutting enough out of the budget to FUND FEDERAL CAMPAINS FROM TAX REVENUE.
    November 1, 2012 9:52 am
    Getting rid of lobbyist and money from unions and corporations will make the system less corrupt and pork barrel. Read "Republic Lost" EVEN YOU LIBS, IT WAS WRITTEN BY A FORMER D congressman. Libs wont, they will just watch MSNBC to form opinions.
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    logical open mind
    November 1, 2012 11:45 am
    You was on to something until you started calling people with different views names. Shameful that you could have gotten support until you started calling people who might support your views names. I guess that is the jack boot way.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Guru
    November 1, 2012 1:54 pm
    That made me laugh! Have to agree though, with Liberals, that tolerance thing is a one way street!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sportsguru wrote...
    maplefish
    November 1, 2012 2:55 pm

    I have to disagree with you on that maplefish, I think the extreme right and the extreme left is as you indicated. I think most people are somewhere in the middle and we get pulled whatever way that we might be leaning on certain issues.

    Your a republican and I consider myself to be independent who leans left on social issues, I am willing to bet that there are a whole bunch of things that we can agree on, it's those issues that we hold firm to that make you feel the intolerance for and not the things that we probably have in common and that is sad.

    I have a bunch of friends that we always argue about politics but forget them as soon as we start shooting hoops or talking about work etc, we get along fine and help each other when needed and don't even give it a second thought. Extreme right or left hate your guts if you don't agree with certain view and would never ever give themselfs a chance to agree on anything past what they hate your guts for.

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  • clevesside wrote...
    Ignore the obvious.....
    November 1, 2012 8:53 am
    ...opportunities there are in rebuilding the east coast, and you wonder why things are the way they are. If Obama won and spent the next term doing nothing but rebuilding, that's a great way to be remembered. But the reality of it is that it is most likely fantasy; this is, after all, 2012.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Never let a good crisis go to waste.
    November 1, 2012 9:05 am
    It really works. It's the only thing that could save him. Some could forget what the fool has done for the last four years and base their decision on the last week of the campaign. Not me.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Zoeller wrote...
    "but then tanked and now lives in exile".
    November 1, 2012 9:10 am
    That about sums up where Obama should be, after 4 years of tanking our country.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fishnpol wrote...
    Acts like a President for two days
    November 1, 2012 9:23 am
    The problem is you're president for four years! He has done nothing but this article try to pull on or heartstrings by showing him hugging a crying lady and all of a sudden we're supposed to forget about the whole he's put this country in with his policy's. Lets hear about what he did in Benghazi or more about the mess his adminisration made of fast and furious. No the mainstream media (you)gives Gives Obama A complete pass on that. The informed will not be fooled. Be informed, be smart, vote O out of office. Don't be fooled. Obama is not good for this country.
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  • fishnpol wrote...
    Sorry
    November 1, 2012 9:25 am
    The hole he's put this country in not whole.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mpgunner wrote...
    Obama confirms government is the problem, right?
    November 1, 2012 9:40 am
    He promised/challenged to remove all of the "normal" government issues (red tape, slow response, ...). So Obama now supports Mitt's position.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • MittensRomney wrote...
    I dont get it? I waited two days before I denounced Obama, why do they like him so much?
    November 1, 2012 9:49 am
    Cant the people see that the ocean tornado (what we southerners call a hurricane) was an act of God, to remind people how important it is to elect a president based on TV and Radio news....oh, I get it now, the power is out, no TV to guide them with the lights off.
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  • dori monson fan wrote...
    chris christie is playing this beautifully
    November 1, 2012 10:45 am
    think about it. you don't get to his level in politics and NOT want to become president. he didn't refuse offers to be nominated this time around because he doesn't "feel ready" to be the president; he just knew it would be nearly impossible to beat Obama. at this point obama winning the presidential election would be ideal for christie since obama is definitely gone in four years. if mitt wins in 2012 mitt would obviously be running for re-election in 2016. if obama wins in 2012 christie could very well be the republican candidate for president in 2016. so of course christie is going to do everything he can to get obama elected next week. and he's nailing it. christie is praising obama and more or less giving him his endorsement, while at the same time looking very presidential himself and displaying his ability to reach across the aisle. he is apeasing the republican party while simultaneously winning the election for obama. brilliant! this storm gave christie a very good shot at president in 2016.
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