Attack Teflon Barack, and You'll Be Sorry

Foes offend, apologize; Obama polishes his halo by forgiving
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 28, 2008 12:33 PM CST
Attack Teflon Barack, and You'll Be Sorry
Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., delivers a statement of apology to the news media after local radio host Bill Cunningham made disparaging remarks about his Democratic opponents on stage prior to McCain's arrival at a campaign rally at Hamilton County Memorial Hall in Cincinnati,...   (Associated Press)

Barack Obama has accepted a lot of apologies this election cycle, and each has made the Democrat stronger, notes Politico writer Ben Smith. From Joe Biden’s “articulate and … clean” gaffe to Bill Cunningham’s attempts to accent his middle name, opponents are always stepping over a line with Obama, and with every apology he appears more gracious, rising above the fray—and foes.

Most of the gaffes are linked to Obama's heritage, proof that race is still a touchy subject in America, Smith writes. By whole-heartedly accepting the apologies, Obama is reinforcing his campaign’s post-racial image and unification message. “It’s simple. He’s Teflon,” one Democratic consultant said. “It goes to his core integrity, the way he projects it … and that’s enormously important.” (Read more Obama 2008 stories.)

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