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12 November 2008

Professor Gil Troy

By Tomer Avital, (Sauvé Scholar 2008-2009)

McGill History professor, author and commentator, Dr. Gil Troy, came to Sauvé House on Nov 12th, in the week following the U.S. elections. Professor Troy, who was recently named one of the "Top Young Historians" by the History News Network, is a leading expert on modern U.S. political history.

His presentation offered penetrating insights on the campaign strategies of both Barack Obama and John McCain. He explained how Obama fumbled the traditional post-primary move to the centre. Lured by the money streaming in from private individuals, he violated a core principle by spurning public financing for his campaign. Meanwhile, he allowed other, constructive adjustments on national security and energy to be dismissed as flip-flops. McCain, on the other hand, used Russian aggression to remind Americans about the treacherous world they face. The more Americans worry about world affairs, the more they will prefer the experienced war hero, McCain hoped.

Dr. Troy emphasized the unique nature of Obama's web-based campaign and his methods for targeting minority voters.

Professor Troy also compared President-elect Obama with several former U.S. presidents. For example he showed how Obama learned from Reagan not to rely too much on big government programs, and to value family, faith, and community. Obama respects Reagan as a 'muscular moderate,' understanding the importance of leading from the center (a topic on which Professor Troy, the author of Leading From the Center: Why Moderates Make the Best Presidents, is certainly very familiar).

He then offered predictions for the new president's future in office emphasizing that Obama wants ambitious projects that harness American creativity, not big government bureaucracies.

Following the presentation Professor Troy engaged past and current Scholars in a lively discussion. Current Scholar Elizabeth Kistin reflected on her work with the Obama campaign, stressing the importance of massive field operations in swing states. Other Scholars raised questions about the significance of the Hispanic vote and the implications of McCain's concession speech.