PoMobama
Jonah Goldberg at USA Today argues that Obama is running a postmodern campaign.
The Obama campaign has a postmodern feel to it because more than anything else, it seems to be about itself. Its relationship to reality is almost theoretical. Sure, the campaign has policy proposals, but they are props to advance the narrative of a grand movement existing in order to be a movement galvanized around the singular ideal of movement-ness.
In Berlin two weeks ago, Obama’s speech was justified solely by the fact that he was giving it. He offered no policy and — not being a president — really had no reason to be there other than to tell people, essentially, “now is the moment.”
Postmodern or not, it seems to be working. Obama draws crowds that want to see Obama. McCain has to chase crowds that exist for some other reason, like the Sturgis motorcycle rally. People didn’t go to Sturgis to see McCain; McCain went to Sturgis to be seen.