Rav Casley Gera

I’ve come to the conclusion the ‘culture wars’ aren’t really about class resentment. People will elect and adore a toff if they think he’ll listen to them. The trick is to do just that - to listen. Not to pander, not to switch positions, not even to try to be like them - but to listen. And trust ‘em with the truth. Say, I know we disagree on gay marriage/abortion/lipstick/whatever, but we agree on the things that are most important right now, and I’m asking for your trust and help in turning them round. Obama’s stadium speech did that. He needs to do it more.

The truth is, it’s not ridiculous to prefer a less capable candidate who you feel gets you, to a more capable one you fear doesn’t. For people who don’t have time to read up on every candidate’s economic plan, or discuss in detail the success or otherwise of the surge, a candidate’s character has to matter. Obama has to swing it back to policy, because he won’t win on character. But he also has to acknowledge that people’s concerns about character are natural and legitimate, and pass a kind of minimum standard of honesty and humility, before policies can become the focus.