For those of us who have followed President Obama political career from when he became a US Senator from Illinois to the time he became President of the United States in 2008, clearly recognized the fact that, the Barak Obama who debated Governor Mitt Romney during the first presidential debate fall short of being the political juggernaut we all knew him to be.
During the first debate, his aura was recoiled, most often holding back with an absent minded appearance. To sum it all, the real President Obama was missing in action – as the assertive, warm, friendly, and upbeat Obama did not show up.
But let’s move on, everybody is entitled to a bad day, maybe he forget to drink his favorite smoothie or maybe the weather was not right for the debate. However, beyond the circumstances of the first debate, Americans, mostly, Democratic party base and the undecided voters in swing and battle ground states will appreciate seeing a tough debating and aggressive Obama on Tuesday night.
For Tuesday’s debate, there are guidelines the President Obama should follow:
The first and foremost, Let OBAMA be OBAMA. For the Tuesday’s debate, I hope to see President Obama rekindle his “HOPE” paradigm by being more assertive. He is a great speaker, who understood the plight of middle and working class Americans, a seasoned politician, and has been good in debates – he should be himself without the burden of trying to be too presidential, too polite and too nice. These qualities should be postponed for the presidential swearing in. As for now the American people want to see the feisty fighting Obama of 2008 to once again bring smiles to the American faces.
Bring Joe Biden’s debating template to the table: The vice president did a phenomenal and wonderful job; he was in charge and led the debate between him and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. President Obama should add to Biden’s debate template by bringing in his own personal quality without letting go of those fine theatrics displayed by the Honorable vice president Joe Biden – the smile, assertion and good old American confidence without apology.
The body-language factor, for it speaks a volume – this is as important as what a candidate articulation and mastering of the subject. President Obama’s must use his body-language to demonstrate the continuous rebound in the US economy, dropping unemployment rate, and to assure the American people of full recovery from eight years of Republicans fail policy that led the country into the greatest recession since 1929.
In all, President Obama must apply his personal charm and aura – most powerful of all, his big smile that always melt away any doubt and smooth away any rough edges. The upright looking and the big smile are always reassuring to the American people.
He should not allow any assertion by your opponent to go unanswered: At the heat of the moment, Governor Mitt Romney may throw in an assertion without specific; he should not allow him to get away with it – and make sure that such assertion is revisited in the next question before answering the question at hand.
Finally, this one works all time Mr. President: say your prayers and drink lots of water to calm your nerves; Paul Ryan is a testament to that.
Mr. Emeka Chiakwelu is the principal Policy Strategist at Afripol. Africa Political & Economic Strategic Center (AFRIPOL) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa. www.afripol.org strategist@afripol.org
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