The Debate: The Prime Minister and the President

Barack Obama was running for prime minister and head of government in Friday night’s debate. He spoke with the precision of a parliamentary debater during question time. He had a three-point program for everything, but he didn’t deliver many memorable lines or offer the grace notes of leadership. When asked point-blank for his stand on the bailout plan, Obama gave a judicious non-answer: “We haven’t seen the language yet.”

John McCain was running for president and head of state. He was channeling Ronald Reagan, with all his talk about the evils of federal spending and government meddling with the health care system. He seemed almost to be emphasizing his age and gravitas. He wasn’t fluid or fast on his feet. He didn’t deign to respond directly to his opponent, or even look him in the face. He was fatherly. His voice quavered a bit, not with anxiety but a regal reserve. He looked like he didn’t want to be there.

Both styles were adequate; neither was entirely compelling. If you were adding up debating points, you’d give the contest to Obama. If you were counting only the emotional highs, you’d give it to McCain. The debate reinforced each man’s strengths and weaknesses. Obama had the most to lose, and he didn’t, so in that sense, by not losing he probably came out ahead.

What was troubling was that neither man rose to the challenge of the catastrophe that has seized the financial markets. On this issue, the two were bland, non-committal, uninspiring.

It has become a commonplace to say that we are heading into the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, but in the Friday night debate, at least, in neither candidate did we find a man of the stature of Franklin D. Roosevelt, whose governing style combined so well the roles of head of government and head of state.