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Obama's Bracket: The Politics of Nope
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ShareMarch 20, 2008 4:16 PM
ABC News' Rick Klein, Karen Travers, and David Schoetz Report: In a truly historic development in disclosure from a presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has released his NCAA Tournament bracket.
It is, in short, neither audacious nor hopeful. To Cinderella, it says, "No, we can't."
To view Obama's bracket click here.
For a man who purports to know his basketball, it is surprisingly free of unconventional picks. And he may have handed Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., a potent electability argument: Can America trust a man who, when he picks up that phone at 3 am, does not select a single 5-12 upset?
Bottom line: This is the bracket of a cautious politician who is not immune to political pandering.
First, the early rounds. Obama chooses a total of five first-round upsets, out of 32 games, with the boldest choice being No. 13 Winthrop advancing over over No. 4 Washington State (clearly thanking the voters of South Carolina, who launched his campaign into the stratosphere).
But then he has none of his low seeds advancing another round; in fact, he's predicting only one upset in the entire 16 games of the second round. Does that say, "Yes, we can?"
He even eschews a trendy choice by taking No. 3 Wisconsin over No. 6 University of Southern California in the Midwest region. (By the way, Obama carried Wisconsin and was beat soundly in California -- sensing a trend?)
Then there's his Final Four: Kansas, UCLA, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh. That's three No. 1's and one No. 4.
The Jayhawks? His mom was born in Kansas -- easy call.
Pittsburgh -- come on, Pittsburgh? Is anyone paying attention to the Pennsylvania primary? He has the Panthers beating Stanford to get to San Antonio -- thanks again for nothing, California.
He breaks his no-California rule by choosing UCLA, but who doesn't have UCLA going to the Final Four?
And to win it all, he picks the University of North Carolina. North Carolina, you may recall, votes on May 6, and while taking the Tar Heels may be writing off the Duke vote, that's the effete liberal cohort that's already in his camp. (And loyalty has its limits: Obama's body man, Reggie Love, won a national championship with Duke in 2001, but this is not as bad as Rudy Giuliani rooting for the Red Sox.)
Politics trumps all: UNC fans are clearly the white working-class favorite -- Obama's demographic challenge.
This is not a bracket we believe in.
UPDATE: Politico's Ben Smith e-mails to point out that choosing Pittsburgh was a flip-flop: Obama told a North Carolina radio station Thursday morning that he would be choosing Stanford OVER Pittsburgh to get to the Final Four. So he was against Pittsburgh before he was for it?
Rick Klein, ABCNews.com's senior political reporter, writes The Note every morning exclusively for ABCNews.com
March 20, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (70)
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check out McCain's.
Posted by: dl | Mar 20, 2008 4:20:40 PM
Come on, ridiculous analysis.
Posted by: Dem | Mar 20, 2008 4:25:31 PM
LOL @ this article. Are we grasping at straws here?
Posted by: Will | Mar 20, 2008 4:27:32 PM
I am getting tired of this primary... its going on too long so we get stories like this.
Posted by: matt | Mar 20, 2008 4:37:35 PM
Its. A. Joke. The whole bloody article.
People really need to take a breath.
Posted by: Mark | Mar 20, 2008 4:47:29 PM
It was funny too. It is rather pro-Obama if you think about it. He like to play basketball.
Posted by: hkeith | Mar 20, 2008 4:50:11 PM
The 'March Madness' is driving crazy every section of American life at the moment; so it makes sense that anyone who every went to a college (and is into basketball and sports as Obama is) would not want to be left out of the fun. lol
I'm not sure, though, of the attempt to psychoanalyze the Senator on the basis of his "March Madness" picks.
Posted by: New Yorker | Mar 20, 2008 4:50:43 PM
SENATOR OBAMA obviously relies on REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT for both spiritual guidance and basketball picks. OBAMA is not of presidential caliber.
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Mar 20, 2008 4:53:27 PM
Sorry but I just don't see any humor in it. You think this is funny? Careful, it cleverly introduces some catchy psychological dimunitions such as "Politics of Nope" and otherwise seems to deride Obama's genuine thought and language, and that makes this seem more like a cynical attack that crosses the line of irreverence into empty mockery. You want a "humorous" article with a political edge where folks actually laugh out loud? Pay me whatever they paid the writers for this and I'll deliver it.
Posted by: Sinclair | Mar 20, 2008 5:00:13 PM
FL-vet - you're right on! As a PA Republican, I am voting for McCain - just as Rush has suggested!
Go Operation Chaos!
Posted by: Nancy7 | Mar 20, 2008 5:00:35 PM
A JOKE!!! THE ARTICLE IS A JOKE!!
I can't believe that there's people out there that haven't figured that out...but then again, they are voting for Obama.
Posted by: Mike | Mar 20, 2008 5:00:50 PM
Actually this is not a joke that we need today. Give Obama a break please! How many perfect people do we have here including the writer, who has always something negative to say about Obama, jokingly or not. And to the Obama haters, you should thank him for finding a reason to vent your hate and allowing you to show your true colors:the color of evil hate.
Posted by: voter | Mar 20, 2008 5:02:00 PM
speech on race given by Obama appears to have had little effect on changing public perception. During a prepared This speech which was highly orchestrated and by invitation to mostly supporters, Obama went to great length repeating reasons for his continued association and friendship with his spiritual advisor Rev. Wright and his membership at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Obama said the pastor introduced him to the Christian faith and continues to perform God’s work.
See new pole: Hillary is up by nearly 20 points in PA!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHAME ON OBAMA!
Posted by: Rob-in-MI | Mar 20, 2008 5:03:09 PM
This article has no relation to Obama's pathetic speech, lies, and criminal activities.
I'm just elated that Hillary is up in national polls by 18 points!
Go Hillary-2008!
Posted by: Michael-CG7 | Mar 20, 2008 5:10:04 PM
Greta, apparently they find it hilarious, though I would describe it as false and flippant fluff that doesn't have the heart and soul of real humor. However, some here have claimed I have no sense of humor-- and you also, evidently. I suspend judgment and give it the benefit of the doubt, but it will be interesting to see what others think-- if anyone addresses my thoughts rather than turning this discussion into a SHAME ON OBAMA campaign, which is already happening. Oh well, so much for the humor, hehe.
Posted by: Sinclair | Mar 20, 2008 5:13:34 PM
Stupid move by Obama to hype this.
Posted by: DCVoter | Mar 20, 2008 5:18:18 PM
ABC, this obsession with Obama is going too far, let it go this is no news. Why not report on the economic plans of these candidates, the economy is heading to a recession if it is not and you think this is news that would interest us.
Posted by: Kim | Mar 20, 2008 5:24:28 PM
I can't believe this is a news story. Isn't there anything else in the world to report on? Come on, ABC!
Posted by: James | Mar 20, 2008 5:38:33 PM
This article is a joke! ABC can you find something worth wild to read! I wou;d like to see you guys run the NAFTA story as much as you Ran Rev.Wright's story. Youa are BIAS!
Posted by: Emilianna | Mar 20, 2008 5:41:54 PM
This article is a joke! ABC can you find something worth wild to read! I wou;d like to see you guys run the NAFTA story as much as you Ran Rev.Wright's story. Youa are BIAS!
Posted by: Emilianna | Mar 20, 2008 5:41:59 PM
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