I won’t go into detail on JTP because its been beaten beyond death. I did a diary about the impact of Obama’s plan on JTP (they are all of us) aspirational goals. And the B.S. of McCain’s argument. But let’s tie it to the polls.
Biden’s "gaffe" has also gotten a lot of play on Daily Kos & the MSM too. But, nothing really driven by what’s actually happening "on the ground."
What do voters in Wisconsin think about Joe the Plumber?
Who’s better? (WPR / St. Norberts Poll)
*Taxes (M33% O54%
*The Economy (M32% O55%
*Fixing the Problems with the Financial Institutions (M30% O49%)
*Understands What is Important to the Average Citizen [M26% O60%)
*Will Bring Change to Washington (M22% O54%)
MORE JOE THE PLUMBER PLEASE!
The Biden Gaffe: A Recap.
So, Biden said this-
Biden said in a fundraiser in Seattle this week that the world would quickly throw up a test for Obama, much as president John F. Kennedy was tested by the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
"Mark my words, it will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy," Biden said.
"The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America.
"If you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."
McCain said this-
The next president "won't have time to get used to the office," McCain said at a rally on Tuesday.
"I sat in the cockpit on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise off of Cuba. I had a target," McCain said, referring to the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis.
"I know how close we came to a nuclear war and I will not be a president that needs to be tested. I have been tested. Senator Obama has not."
During McCain & Palin’s interview with Brian Williams on NBC, McCain said Biden’s doubt says a lot about Obama’s readiness. Palin repeated that line by saying that this holds true to what Biden said during the primaries that Obama isn’t ready.
Of course, McCain and Palin (and Brian Williams) conveniently ignore the last part of Biden’s comment:
Biden, however, reached a different conclusion: He said Obama would fare well in such tests because he's "got steel in his spine.
"
Brit Hume on Fox News had a bit of a story on it too. It was pretty straight – showed how other new presidents got tested (Kennedy, Clinton, Bush II). Explained that Ike didn’t get tested because everyone knew he was a bad ass. Reagan didn’t get tested either because Iran was afraid of him or thought that he would be open to new policies. Fox News concluded by saying that whoever wins will get tested-
Obama because he perceived as young and inexperienced.
McCain because he is perceived as old and erratic.
Colin Powell, during his Meet the Press interview, said, "There’s going to be a crisis which will come along on the 21st, 22nd of January that we don’t even know about right now."
OK, so SOMETHING SCARY is going to happen to in January, February or March. What have the American people seen in this campaign?
Obama has been cool, calm, reassuring, consistent, deliberative, and thoughtful throughout the campaign, including during the economic crisis. Obama has not gotten angry when attacked. He has not overreacted. He HAS stood his ground. He HAS fought back. He HAS shown toughness.
McCain has been angry, erratic, and inconsistent. He has not been reassuring and has been pessimistic. He has not stood his ground (suspending campaign until it was fixed, and then unsuspending before it was fixed). McCain has panicked and started throwing Hail Mary’s too early in the game.
The American People are comfortable with Obama as a leader.
Here is some evidence for that claim. The WPR / St. Norberts poll asked this-
Who will better handle an UNEXPECTED MAJOR CRISIS? McCain 43% Obama 50%
Obama wins in a crisis. Joe Biden, you may have been "off message," but you are off the hook.