My point is that "Obama the Manchurian Candidate" is as preposterous as "Romney would tie us all to the roof". However, Obama is not socially awkward and so he's able to navigate the narrative minefields where Romney just keeps digging.

Which goes back to what is such an awkward person doing running for office, and how was the Massachussetts governor election he won different?

If you are not convinced, try it on someone who has not been entirely debauched by economics. — Piero Sraffa