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Political commentator Mark Shields began his career as a campaign manager in 1968, when he helped to organize Robert F. Kennedy's campaign for the ...
Read more about Mark Shields.
Political commentator Mark Shields began his career as a campaign manager in 1968, when he helped to organize Robert F. Kennedy's campaign for the ...
Read more about Mark Shields.
Obama Should See This Play
Mark Shields
Thanks to Boston political commentator turned playwright Dick Flavin
and to gifted actor Ken Howard (television's "White Shadow" and the
excellent movie "Michael Clayton"), who uncannily captures the warmth,
humor and compassion of the late House speaker, I had a totally
fulfilling theater experience laughing and tearing up at "According to
Tip," a one-man show drawn from the spoken wit and street-corner
wisdom of Massachusetts Democrat Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill.
It's a shame Barack Obama has not seen this play. He's a smart fellow, and he could learn a lot about being a presidential candidate and maybe about being a president.
The play reminds us of when politics was fun and human. O'Neill was House speaker from the last days of Gerald Ford's presidency through Jimmy Carter's one White House term and most of Ronald Reagan's two. Noting the similarity of his own and the Gipper's backgrounds, two Irish-Americans from humble roots on whom Fortune had smiled, the Democratic speaker could never understand how the Republican president was able to, contrary to O'Neill's defining values, "forget where he came from."
Recounting how, despite his political disagreement with House Republican leaders on issues, he had always been friends with them, Tip told president-elect Reagan that the two of them could follow that same example and observe "the six o'clock rule," when political antagonists could relax and be friends.
A call from President Reagan in the White House to Speaker O'Neill would often begin this way: "Hello, Tip, is it after six o'clock?" to which O'Neill would respond, "Absolutely, Mr. President."
O'Neill, a stranger to self-importance, loved to play golf. He was not a great golfer, shooting in the 90s. But what is jarring in this current era of entitlement, when so many public officials think privilege and perquisites are their special prerogative, is that House Speaker O'Neill played -- often with his friend, House Republican leader Bob Michel -- at Hains Point, a Washington, D.C., public golf course. He called himself "not a save the whales liberal," but rather "a save the jobs liberal." It's all there to enjoy and reflect upon in this theatrical gem, "According to Tip."
But what's this got to do with the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee? This week, he told a small fundraiser, "The odds of us winning are very good." On his recent trip overseas, he spoke about meeting foreign leaders whom "I expect to be dealing with over the next eight or 10 years." In a meeting with House Democrats, he was quoted as saying, "I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions." Self-assurance in a candidate is good. Cockiness is not good.
Here is what Barack ought to hear from Tip: The night before Election Day in his first campaign, O'Neill's across-the-street neighbor, the high-school elocution teacher, Mrs. O'Brien, told the candidate, "Tom, I'm going to vote for you tomorrow even though you didn't ask me to." The young O' Neill protested: "Mrs. O'Brien, I cut your grass in the summer. I shovel your walk in the winter. I didn't think I had to ask you."
Mrs. O'Brien gave young Tip a piece of advice he would repeat several thousand times to his fellow Democrats everywhere: "Tom," she said, "let me tell you something: People like to be asked."
It's just as true today, Sen. Obama. People don't like to be taken for granted. Mr. O'Neill reminds us in "According to Tip" that people like to be asked!
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To find out more about Mark Shields and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. Distributed By Creators Syndicate Inc.
Copyright 2008 Mark Shields
This news arrived on: 08/02/2008
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Posted Comments:
08-07-2008 16:36
phyllba wrote:
Obama's view of history
I agree that Obama is trying to tell people instead of asking. But he's also running to the middle too fast for people like me. I have been disillusioned about politics since Johnson; I always knew it wasn't a truthful game; I just didn't think it was so deceitful.
Clinton, I think, was more deceitful than Obama; that's why I voted in the PA primary for Obama.
His handlers should let him rest in Hawaii for a few days; then they should stop telling him what to say.
He would be a better President than McCain who might not even be able to finish his first term.
That's probably why I will vote for him and actually gave him a few dollars in July.
Clinton, I think, was more deceitful than Obama; that's why I voted in the PA primary for Obama.
His handlers should let him rest in Hawaii for a few days; then they should stop telling him what to say.
He would be a better President than McCain who might not even be able to finish his first term.
That's probably why I will vote for him and actually gave him a few dollars in July.
08-04-2008 21:09
Joda wrote:
Obama
I find myself agreeing with Crone about this man Obama. He has turned his back on Hillary and her supporters who number at least 50% of the Democratic party. I would vote for him if he got on the ball and added Hillary as his VP. He is young and doesn't know as much as he would like to think. I am one out of many who will not be voting this year. Obama is simply not prepared to be president. With Hillary's help he could have learned to be outstanding! His way is apt to eventually make him appear ignorant, which we have already had for the past eight years.
08-04-2008 11:06
Outsider wrote:
As a non-USA resident - have been watching with slack jaw. Can't belive you are all falling for this - the man actually has to govern - what will you all do when he messes up?
08-04-2008 09:00
Texas Katie wrote:
Tip
Crone, that is cutting off your nose to spite your face! If you think McCain isn't arrogant, pay attention! He is angry because he thinks he is owed this election.
Show me a leader who isn't full of self-confidence, and I'll show you a real loser. Having said that, Obama would be stronger with the voters if he would keep asking for our votes.
Show me a leader who isn't full of self-confidence, and I'll show you a real loser. Having said that, Obama would be stronger with the voters if he would keep asking for our votes.
08-04-2008 08:53
Jim wrote:
Obama: Arrogant or self confident!
If you want an example of arrogance, check the currrent occupant of the White House. That's arrogrance to lead us down, not the path of righteousness, but all kinds of dispair.
If you want an example of arrogance, check the currrent occupant of the White House. That's arrogrance to lead us down, not the path of righteousness, but all kinds of dispair.
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