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Campaign Film Shows 'Too-Perfect' Obama

Lack of passion in behind-the-scenes doc highlights problems with Obama's presidency

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 20, 2009 8:10 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama comes across as too perfect for his own good in upcoming HBO documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama, writes Richard Cohen. The behind-the-scenes look at the campaign shows Obama as cool and collected as ever, Cohen writes in the Washington Post, with no sign of him overcoming any huge obstacles or changing as a person. His victory almost seems like an anticlimax, complains Cohen, who admits the film moved him to tears twice.

The movie shows Obama as "something new and something young," Cohen writes, but never as the champion of any ideology or political constituency. This apparent lack of passion may not matter if Obama's presidency succeeds, Cohen writes, but if he fails on issues like health care reform, it'll show just being "the smartest guy in the room" isn't enough. "Warmth and commitment matter, too—a driving sense of conviction, the fulsome embrace of causes and not just issues. That is not something Obama has yet shown."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (2)]

In this Oct. 21, 2008 file photo, presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks at a rally at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon )

Presidential candidate Barack Obama addresses supporters during a campaign rally, Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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He is adored by his fans—the directors, Amy Rice and Alicia Sams, included—not for something he's done, but rather for something he is. So far, that has been a weakness in Obama's presidency. - Richard Cohen

Even the bitter primary fight with Hillary Clinton—all that ugly stuff about race and Bill Clinton, of all people, being accused of playing the race card —could have been happening to someone else. Obama observes his own life. He's not a participant. - Richard Cohen

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

cochiserocks

Oct 22, 2009 1:43 AM CDT

Maybe this is the new era - maybe personality politics has gone and things have moved into professionalism and what shrinks call 'I-It" relationship mode - In other words, like Tom Clancy always fantasised, the world is run by professionals who have their brains on and are efficient as opposed to passionate. This is not necessarily a bad thing because old mistakes of 'passion' or belief won't creep in - sounds like no matter what he does though, the media is looking for an angle - if he's too passionate, they call him 'Preachy' and naive - and if he is too calm and efficient they call him 'too perfect'. Hell - I don't think 'Too Perfect' is a bad thing when it comes to President's myself - considering the alternatives - and finally, given what was going on in the White House for the last few terms - anyone semi-conscious, literate or aware is going to come across as some kind of saint if only by comparison.

Carpediem4U

Oct 21, 2009 1:22 AM CDT

Richard Cohen is as far right as they come. His opinion only matters to the Crazies!

foodchain11

Oct 20, 2009 9:04 AM CDT

yeah, compared to Jim DeMint who saves "like a Jew" or the MS Rep who like to "shoot tree-hugging liberals"? You've got a true no brainer--if you get my drift.

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Campaign Film Shows 'Too-Perfect' Obama