Obama needs to 'show up' at debates

President Obama must have forgotten there was a debate Wednesday night because he sure didn't show up. It is an understatement to say Mitt Romney outshined him.

There has been a lot of discussion about why the president seemed so stymied.

I think it has to do with the kind of deference given to presidents (and even former presidents). They are kind of like American royalty, so they don't experience the kind of critical interaction one would normally get.

When someone disagrees with them aggressively, they tend to be stunned.

They are probably thinking, “Hey, I'm the president. You can't say that to me.”

It has happened to other incumbent presidents in presidential debates.

If President Obama wants to remain competitive in this election, he is going to have to get over that. Voters do not like a president who is passive or disconcerted when under attack.