In today's Times Sarah Vine writes that voters want passion from their politics. I'd agree with that but Barack Obama has shown us the most important quality that a successful and radical politician needs is civility.
It's true that he has passion and charisma and a brilliant campaigning machine but it is his civility that has persuaded Americans to swallow his policy radicalism.
And, make no mistake, Barack Obama is America's most radical President of modern times. Yesterday, hardly noticed because of Michael Jackson's death, the House of Representatives approved very radical action on climate change. Next on Obama's 'to do' list is sweeping health care reform. He's already increased federal spending in the largest ever fiscal stimulus. He's already made massive changes to American foreign policy by pursuing direct engagement with the country's 'axis of evil' enemies.
Obama has demonstrated that voters are more persuaded by moderation and reasonableness of character than moderation of policy. Voters, as Sarah Vine suggests, don't take a lot of interest in policy detail. Obama won over middle America because of his generosity to opponents, his optimism, his image as a family man. Republicans have hated this and have gotten more and more heated, more and more angry in the process. Almost shouting now at the American people they cannot understand that Obama is getting away with enacting 'the Europeanisation of America' (which is what it is). This heated reaction is compounding Obama's advantage. Voters see the extreme language and temperament as the most offputting thing of all.
David Cameron has this moderation. Earlier in the week I was struck by Quentin Letts' remark that Cameron is "not one of life's haters". My hope is that the Conservative leader will use his Obama-style temperament to persuade Britain that he can be trusted with the radical action that will be necessary to put Britain back on track.
