Saddleback Civil Forum: Is McCain the Better Storyteller?

While the repetition of kitschy anecdotes is a campaign trail hallmark, a truly engaging story, told by the right person, can captivate an audience and change the news cycle. John McCain appears to have succeeded in this regard, speaking last night with Pastor Rick Warren at the Saddleback Civil Forum. McCain’s powerful storytelling has dramatically colored the media’s reaction to the event.

The Next Right’s Matt Moon describes CNN’s coverage. Dana Bash cues on McCain’s storytelling style.

In the post-forum coverage, Dana Bash of CNN had a great observation on the two candidates’ styles: Obama decided to have a conversation with Rick Warren, and looked at Warren in each of his answers, which probably contributed to his defensiveness. McCain decided to have a conversation with the audience, and in turn with the country, when he answered his questions.

Moon draws the same connection as I do, reflecting upon this.

McCain’s shining moments came when he told stories: the story of his decision to stay behind in Vietnam to allow a soldier who was captured before him to be set free; the story of his family’s decision to adopt a Bangladeshi daughter; etc. Which goes to this larger point: voters don’t connect with policy, nuance or academia; they connect with stories.

The left is putting its readings on notice. Talking Point’s Memo, in discussing the coverage, also focuses on the stories McCain told.

Some on-air pundits say McCain was the winner last night when both men appeared at the Sddleback [sic] megachurch in Orange County, California. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos said that McCain “solidified his ties to the evangelical community,” while Jake Tapper said that McCain “won over this crowd” with tales about his POW captivity — you know, the topic we keep hearing McCain is reluctant to discuss.

While not explicitly mentioning McCain’s delivery, the Washington Posts The Fix lauds McCain for his story selection.

A contrast that Republicans had to be happy about came when Warren asked each candidate for their most gut-wrenching decision in their lives. Obama chose his decision to oppose the war in Iraq. McCain said it was his choice to remain as a prisoner of war despite an offer from his captors to, in effect, jump the line. McCain’s life story is as powerful, if not more powerful, than that of any other politician in public life. While Obama’s answer was sound, it dealt with a challenge in the political arena; McCain’s decision served as evidence that he has lived his “country first” campaign slogan.

In a race that has seen both candidates accused of altering their views and platform in order to attract support, authenticity could become an important issue. The American public seems more willing to forgive someone who has had an honest change of heart than someone’s whose policy proposals change with the polls. The ability to compel an audience with the right story may be one way for McCain to seize the campaign’s narrative and edge Obama out on authenticity.

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