How McKayla Maroney helps Obama
Call it being relatable, call it being in touch. But however we describe that hard-to-define but know-it-when-you-see-it "cool factor," it's a real reason why Obama won 60 percent of the 18-29 year old vote.
How McKayla Maroney helps Obama
There he was, the tall, increasingly gray-haired President Obama, posing with the diminutive 16-year-old gymnast McKayla Maroney. Together, they mimicked the impudent “not impressed” facial expression Maroney made famous after winning only a silver in the vault, the event that was supposed to be her crowning moment at the London Olympics last summer. Together they pursed their lips and twisted them to the side in the universal sign for “is this really it?” The Obama-Maroney photo, taken in the Oval Office as she and fellow American gymnasts visited the White House last week, back-flipped its way through social media over the weekend.
My first thought was that Obama was finally showing us how he really felt during his first debate with Mitt Romney.
My second was that the photo captured a major factor that has separated Obama from his presidential rivals: cultural sensibilities are very much of and in the moment, while he’s faced opponents who have felt very much like the past.
Friends who follow politics only casually all offered this reaction to the picture: it’s nice to have a president with a sense of humor. Call it being relatable, call it being in touch. But however we describe that hard-to-define but know-it-when-you-see-it "cool factor," it's a real reason why Obama won 60 percent of the 18-29 year old vote.
That might not be one of the top five reasons why it’s Obama in the Oval Office and not Romney or John McCain – but it’s up there. We don’t choose our presidents based on who has the best playlist on their iPhones, but we certainly want someone who can break free of the presidential bubble and seem real. Obama, who plays hoops and listens to Jay-Z and now playfully poses with a cultural phenom, dominated that measure against McCain and Romney and before them Hillary Clinton.
The result? Obama has owned the Colbert vote.
Can you see McCain trying the same pose with Maroney? How about Romney, who is only 65 but seems like he just emerged from a 1950's time capsule? (Yeah, he campaigned with Kid Rock, but can anyone picture Romney driving one of his Cadillacs, windows down, belting out “Bawitdaba”? If so, I’d love to see that YouTube video).
In his 2008 primary run, facing criticism from Clinton, Obama mimed the “dirt off your shoulder” brush off Jay-Z popularized, sparking a YouTube hit. Clinton has many skills, but making spontaneous rap references probably isn’t among them. (Her husband, meanwhile, gave us another pop-political landmark in ‘92 when he played the sax with Arsenio, grabbing a decided edge in cultural cachet).
It seems, though, that Republicans are setting a different course for 2016. Paul Ryan, 42, can talk up his work outs and Rage Against the Machine playlist. Chris Christie has a genuine, open-hearted love of Springsteen that reveals a grown man who has held onto something important from his youth, and the kind of fandom most of us can relate to. Over the weekend Christie was on Saturday Night Live, playing his Jersey guy persona for self-deprecating laughs. It will only help him.
“After you take oath of office, you're presidential. But while you're campaigning for that office, and especially when you’re campaigning for Millenials, you have to be cool,” wrote Newsworks columnist Dick Polman. “Christie this weekend was cool. And with those voters in mind, the SNL gig might have been his opening salvo for 2016.”
If so, Democrats better have a plan to open up their ranks. Right now Clinton is the name that tops pundits’ list of 2016 hopefuls. Joe Biden is considered another possibility. Is it possible to come up with two Democratic names more tied to the past?
Republicans have a new generation preparing to fight to be the candidate of the now, an ephemeral, intangible and fickle title that can change hands in a cultural moment.
It is not just being cool but being able to relate to many different people.
I don't think it has come naturally to Pres. Obama but he learned it along the way (I remember his awkward moments trying to drink beer in a Penn bar or his reference to arugula salad in 2008).
It came very naturally to Pres. Clinton and he has worked it for Pres. Obama in 2012.
In 2016, I believe it will help Gov. Christie who seems to be getting better over time and controlling some of the name calling that will put off some of the Independents!
I think he is learning the difference between straight talk and rude! If he keeps it up, I might think about voting for him!— EIK- The impotent rage from you conservatives is delicious.— jpj1421
- Its being able to relate to all age groups and education levels, and being in the moment. Its knowing what happened in the past how it affects the present and moving us into the future.— gibby58
- While Obama is doing this stuff to distract us, Senate Democrats are passing bills allowing the government to read our e-mails without a warrant.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- Oh well, Sounds like Bush/Cheney tactics and the Republican's Patriot Act. Remember Phillies, we're still in a war on terror. — CommonSense in Philly
- seriously? This article was more slurp slurp than Chris Matthews.— Northeaster
- Is this what we've come to? The uninformed(and usually disinterested)18 to 29 age group decides who to vote for based on YouTube Obama campaign advertisements. Time to raise the voting age to 30.— Falls Ed
- Chris Christie has as much chance of being the nominee for President as I do. Paul Ryan is the male version of Sarah Palin. He has absolutely zero intellect. Jeb Bush is the 2016 nominee and it won't even be close. He'll carry the state of Florida so that leaves just Ohio and Pennsylvania to worry about. The next four years will be all about those two states.— djack10
- Obama really is out first reality show President. He's been packaged and branded, but contains no substance. Enough already of the shooting hoops, meetings with Jay Z, Leno appearances, NCAA tourney picks, etc. Yes, Obama is a cool guy, I get it, but is that what America needs right now? I want someone who's working towards fixing America, not sitting back and hoping things don't get worse.— TyroneShoes
- Our president is an intellectual powerhouse. If you can't see that, it doesn't reflect we'll on you. You might not agree with all of his politics, but he is hardly an empty suit.
- I heard he is a lawyer? Is he? I never saw his credentials. We all took him at his word. I heard he went to Columbia and Harvard. Did he? I've never seen evidence of this.
An intellectual powerhouse does not flub the names of world leaders (more than once) like he did the other day. An intellectual powerhouse does not give a speech and refer to Navy corspe-man (insted of core-man) over and over and over again.
He's hardly a suit let alone an empty suit.— mephisto - Hey Mephisto: did you see Willard's credentials? I heard he was born in Mexico, and he's refused to show his birth certificate, college transcripts and tax returns. Did you see Willard's foreign tour back in June in the UK, Poland, and Israel? He crapped all over himself in all 3 of those countries. America dodged a bullet by kicking that cretin off the presidential stage. hehehehe. God Bless America, and God Bless President Barack Obama! — CommonSense in Philly
- Seriously? He was president of the Harvard law review, and he made your guy look like a fool on more than one occasion. This is just sour grapes. If you really don't see how intelligent the man is, then you're so deluded I can't help you.
- What insight and analysis! Time to go back to football Jonathan.— Mikell=Dawkins 2
- Stuff like this picture reinforces that Obama is a clueless, incompetent dope and it gives him a distraction from his failures all over the place. I bet he smirked like that when he was told about the embassy attack in Libya.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- We don't know what he did but we sure as hell know what he didn't do: sit there and read My Pet Goat for seven minutes while New York and Washington DC burned. — abendteuer
- The writer of this story nailed it. Dreams of my Father...Who could ever picture Romney driving one of his Cadillacs, windows down, belting out “Bawitdaba” smoking a dube with a little back-up blow in the glove compartment.— one sick chick
- When I was 18 I voted for the candidate who could play the sax and talked about his choice of underwear on MTV. You know why? Because when you're young you don't have a clue. Obama mugging for a photo op is same ol' same ol' and doesn't impress those of us who don't want a cool president, but an affective one. I'm hoping.— lulu
- Free thinker can't wait for an economic disaster so he can say I told you so. Another great patriot.— carl and sons
- Great more facetime for Obama. Perhaps a lot less celebrity and more leader would be helpful. For all the folks who think "they" won, in 5 years when our economy is still flat and we continue to lean more and more on the government for handouts, you will realize America lost. This isn't a sporting event, it is people's lives at stake.— LGbalsac
- I think you meant to say, "with magic underwear." — abendteuer
- The only problem is that reality hurts Barack Obama no matter how many issues of US weekly or People he reads. Just wait until unemployment gets back over 10%, and our deficit hits $20 trillion. He's still the same disaster he was in his first term.— freethinker88
- The only problem is that reality hurts Barack Obama no matter how many issues of US weekly or People he reads. Just wait until unemployment gets back over 10%, and our deficit hits $20 trillion. He's still the same disaster he was in his first term.— freethinker88
- Smirks pretty good but those ears are a dead giveaway...— MGuyW
- republicans continue to embarrass themselves.
- Who is this magical Republican Candidate? Clinton has memes about her that she responds too.— jonline
- hey snotty republicans, four more years.
- Yes because the first four where he increased the deficit, oversaw rising gas prices, spikes in government entitlements and unemployment, slowing GDP growth, alienating foreign allies, and lying about the death of an American ambassador were such great times for the American people. — freethinker88
- Four years to halt the ruination the GOP wrought on our great nation. And yes, the election IS over. Obama won by a landslide.
- huh? is the election over? thanks for the update I wasn't sure who won! — 420Phillie
- The celebrity president at it again. Good thing there aren't any pressing issues to attend to.— 420Phillie
- I hear all the time how "Obama likes to shoot hoops", but the only clip I have ever seen of him is embarrassing to say the least. And the one and only time he ever threw out the "first pitch" at a baseball game, he three-hopped it to the catcher.
A skinny metro black guy with no athleticism. Too cool.— Mr. Smith - You do realize that Obama regularly plays basketball with former NBA players for fun right...? On election day, while Romney was scrambling to do last-ditch campaigning in Pennsylvania in vain, Obama was shooting hoops with Scottie Pippen in Chicago.
http://www.sportsgrid.com/nba/president-obama-continued-his-election-day-basketball-ritual-with-scottie-pippen/— daxtremesolja - Well when they realize what they will be paying in taxes they'll rue the day they voted for Obozo.— tpizza
- Of you're talking about the top 2%, I see your point. Otherwise, the vast majority of Americans won't see their taxes raised.
- That's what America will be doing in about 24 months. What happens when the Great Campaigner has no campaign to run? He will be revealed as the Dullard-in-Chief.— 2ndNlong
- It's clear that Obama won because he had more Facebook friends and Twitter followers than Romney.
Too bad those 18-29 year olds haven't realized that they're not voting for Student Council President.
I think that after another 4 years in their parents basement maybe they'll grow up.— Crazybrave1 - Obama listens to Bob Dylan. the JayZ stuff is for show, fo sho.
- Obama is too cool. He is a President of the people,for the people and by the people.— CommonSense in Philly
- I'm so happy we elected a man (twice) who is nothing more than a community organizer that is well informed of the actions of a 16 year old gymnast.
All I wanted was someone versed in economics, finance, job creation and world politics. Hopefully the country will survive until 2016 so we can find someone like that.
For the next four years will have to put up with the bitcches and hos ballin' yo.— mephisto - I am soooooo happy too mephisto. American dodged a bullet with Romney! That's for sure. — CommonSense in Philly
- Kid Rock is less hip than Glenn Miller or Perry Como.
Ryan may like them but he obviously has no idea what Rage Against the Machine is ragin' about. He looks like your dad trying to hang out with you.
Joe Biden is at least genuine. And sorry, Hilary may have ties to the past, but she's cool, because competence and intelligence is always cool.
You should've stopped writing abouit 1/2 way through.
— carl and sons - or, at least stopped before name-checking Dick Polman and Newsworks — thermal321
Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s correspondent in Washington, where he follows the Philadelphia area’s interests and representatives. Tamari comes to D.C. after two years as a beat writer reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL (where, a political source once told him, there are at least rules against hitting below the knees). He previously wrote about politics and government from Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government.Jersey born and bred, Tamari now lives in the capital city, where he is looking for stories, places to run, soccer bars and good meals.
Reach him at jtamari@phillynews.com.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanTamari.
