Looking over the commentary on the contest between John McCain and Barack Obama at Saddleback, one troubling thing is becoming quite clear. Obama is not only being undermined by weak-minded hacks within his own party. The same strange urge that leads democratic congress-people to criticize Obama in public also seems to underlie the bizarre idea that Obama, in not having unequivocally won an audience he was never going to win, has somehow demonstrated his inability to win the election. This is utter nonsense.

Perhaps Obama is being made a victim of his own incredible potential. It has been a long time since there has been a candidate who broke the mold, who managed to convince most people (even his opponents) that he was a decent person. In fact, it’s been so long that his supposed supporters hold him up to an impossible standard, and begin to crow about the end of the world when he fails to walk on water.

Consider how McCain would have fared with an audience of progressives, and let’s say he was interviewed by Amy Goodman (in an equally lop-sided way). Would McCain emerge victorious? Of course not. More importantly, would his most ardent supporters begin loudly proclaiming his impotence because of this? Consider, if Republicans did so, most people here would be simultaneously shaking their heads and rubbing their hands. It would be a thrilling bit of lunacy, another example of the other camp’s basic insecurity and fragmentation.

Now would be a good time to show a little unity, wouldn’t it?

Now that I've watched the show at Saddleback, I'm not surprised that people thought McCain had the questions beforehand. He seemed so smooth and confident whereas Obama seemed tentative and always a little off balance (although the content of what he said was usually, after too much erring and ahhing, very good).

Why? Go back and watch a bit of it again. During Obama's entire hour, Rick is constantly sending him "wrap it up" signals. Usually not verbally, but by very impatient sounding "uh huh"s and so on. The general demeanor of the interviewer seems to be, "Don't try to put one over on me, buddy, I'm tired of all your rhetoric." If you don't believe me, please review the part where Obama actually says as much: "Oh, I'm getting the cues." or something to that effect. That kind of treatment can really put a crimp in one's style.

And what about McCain? He gets a big bear hug and the two of them sound like old straight-talkin' buddies.

With such obviously unprofessional and biased treatment, it's a wonder Obama came off as well as he did, and garnered so much applause with this audience.