Media Xyndicate Blog

As the race for the next President of the United States heats up, Barack Obama has — consciously or otherwise — given us a lesson in public relations to think about.

Barack Obama is wearing a wristband in memory of a soldier killed in Iraq, given to him by a mother who said she wants the Democratic presidential candidate to keep others from dying.

Tracy Jopek of Merrill, Wis., gave Obama the bracelet at a rally Friday night in Green Bay, and Obama was still wearing it Saturday as he campaigned across the state before Tuesday’s primary.

The bracelet has her son’s name, Sgt. Ryan David Jopek, and the date the 20-year-old was killed in Iraq by a roadside bomb, Aug. 2, 2006. “All gave some — He gave all,” it says.

“She gave me this wristband, which I’m very grateful for,” Obama told the Green Bay audience, halting and lowering his voice from his normally upbeat presentation. “I meet mothers and family members all over the country who are still mourning their children but are also thinking about the young men and women who are still over there and wondering when it will end.”

Obama has not made a point of showing it to reporters or others on the campaign trail. A campaign staffer described it as black metal band with silver lettering.

Mrs. Jopek said she and her daughter briefly met the Illinois senator at the rally and showed him a picture of a smiling Ryan dressed for battle. She said the senator hugged her and her daughter, asked a couple questions about Ryan and told her how much he appreciated the bracelet.

(source: AP)

The world now has an impression of Obama as a potentially humanitarian, caring Commander-in-Chief of arguably the most potent military and economic force, one that is unlikely to send the sons of their land to yet another Bush-led war. And what a powerful image that is.

But here’s the real good stuff: by not making it “a point of showing it to reporters or others on the campaign trail”, Obama has truly captured our hearts. It reinforces the impression that he’s real, and he really cares! Compare this to Hilary Clinton’s PR efforts, which have been criticised for being too contrived.

When I walked into the office Monday, people were clustering around a computer to watch what they thought they would never see: Hillary Clinton with the unmistakable look of tears in her eyes.

A woman gazing at the screen was grimacing, saying it was bad.

Three guys watched it over and over, drawn to the “humanized” Hillary. One reporter who covers security issues cringed. “We are at war,” he said. “Is this how she’ll talk to Kim Jong Il?”

Another reporter joked: “That crying really seemed genuine. I’ll bet she spent hours thinking about it beforehand.” He added dryly: “Crying doesn’t usually work in campaigns. Only in relationships.”

Bill Clinton was known for biting his lip, but here was Hillary doing the Muskie. Certainly it was impressive that she could choke up and stay on message.

She won her Senate seat after being embarrassed by a man. She pulled out New Hampshire and saved her presidential campaign after being embarrassed by another man. She was seen as so controlling when she ran for the Senate that she had to be seen as losing control, as she did during the Monica scandal, before she seemed soft enough to attract many New York voters.

Getting brushed back by Barack Obama in Iowa, her emotional moment here in a café and her chagrin at a debate question suggesting she was not likable served the same purpose, making her more appealing, especially to women, particularly older women. (Source: IHT)

Noticeably, no dissenting voices are crying foul over Obama’s wristband-wearing nor calling it planned. His quiet act has clearly won over public opinion.

And if I were American, I’d vote for him too.