An Election on the Issues
As I was reading Arianna Huffington’s post today, I realized that she put into words what I’ve been thinking for weeks. Instead of talking substantively about the issues, we’re talking about McCain making an ad where he used Britney Spears and Paris Hilton to make a point that Obama is too much of a celebrity to be president. Now we’re all talking about Hilton’s response to McCain’s ad. (And the shame of it is that she seemed more mature than the Republican presidential candidate!) And McCain’s spokeshole says that Hilton’s energy policy is better than Obama’s.
McCain’s campaign loses on the issues. He’s running an undisciplined, uninspired campaign. The candidate himself appears so wooden that he could have been carved from an oak. So he has nothing left but to obfuscate and try to paint Obama as unpresidential. McCain has gone negative, although he said he would not. Why did he do that? One reason only — because it works. (An aside — to his credit, Obama has not gotten negative. That probably will have to change. Fire sometimes must be fought with fire.)
The media are playing a large part in this, though. The constant reporting on every political ad magnifies them over and over, far beyond the media buy that the campaign made. The media report on polls and wonder why Obama hasn’t run away with it. (I’ve asked this question too; I’ve been distracted.)
This campaign — especially this campaign — needs to be about the issues that really matter. We’re fighting a highly unpopular war in Iraq that was sold to us by lies (and indeed, maybe forgeries, according to Ron Suskind’s new book). Our economy is sinking, the financial system is in major trouble, and home values are dropping like stones. Energy prices are rising. The Supreme Court will matter as privacy rights, gay rights, and a myriad of other issues come up to be decided.
I’ve posted on distractions before. It’s all a great charade, really; “goofy,” Huffington calls it. She’s right. As I said, I’ve been distracted as well — with polls, ads, McCain’s woodenness. We have to stay focused on what matters: the issues and moving the country forward.
Obama put out an add now attacking McCain’s “Maverick image” by showing how McCain is really another Bush. I don’t blame him for putting out this ad. The ad even has McCain footage which shows McCain saying he’s voted with Bush 90% of the time. Which is true.
I think we’re going to see more and more attacks by McCain. Obama’s going to have to counter some of them.
Personally, I can’t wait till Nov. 4th when all this is over. Hopefully with Obama having won and ready to turn America around.
P.S. Nice new blog look.
Nope … I don’t blame him either. I think Obama may have to start swinging too. Attacking McCain’s image as a Maverick is a good start.
I would love nothing more than to stay focused on the issues. Obama wins every main issue hands down. He wins globally, domestically and socially. You are absolutely correct – The only way McCain can win this election is by distracting us from these issues. If they can just conjure up some new wedge issue.
The problem is, as you mention, the media. Their obsession with the distractions means that we have to defend against them. The issues are boring – especially when presented by McCain. So the media is trying to spice up the election process in order to keep us interested in this year and a half marathon.
When I saw Obama speak in May, he said that after continuously getting hit – every so often you have to smack back.
This is a contact sport. Obama has to keep hitting McCain on the issues – nothing below the belt. But if Obama keeps pounding McCain on the issues it will be a knock-out. McCain has no response to real issues.
You can fight hard AND clean and be dirty at the same time. :-)
And yes we all have to stay focused – this is too important an election. Faith!!!
Deanna, first let me say how refreshing it is to see a liberal blog on WordPress that does not attract a horde of conservatives shooting you down, at least for this post. It’s not that I mind the give and take on my blog (in fact I quite love it) but I do notice a paucity of liberals giving me any defense.
I think for once, the Veep choice may be important this year. Barack is an intellectual and fighting does not come easy to him. He needs someone like a Joe Biden who can go after McCain hard while Barack maintains a more civil approach.
great post…I’m as bad as anyone for being distracted by the shiny non-objective objects and ads. great responses from your readers also
Rutherford, where is your blog located? I’d like to go give it a read. I agree that the VP choice will be important. I’m not sold completely on Biden (or Bayh) but an attack surrogate is needed, I think.
The danger here for Obama is that he’s a relative unknown — no one knew anything about him 4 years ago. So he can’t let McCain and the RNC define him. He needs to define himself and fight back when McCain tries to define him.
Hostess, I get distracted too. I think I’ll be coming back to the focus theme all fall.
Deanna, if you click on the name in my comment, it should take you to my blog but here is the address anyway:
http://rutherfordl.wordpress.com
Thanks, Rutherford. I’d tried clicking your name but there doesn’t seem to be a URL there. Thanks for the link … I’ll drop by. :)
If people want to really understand McCain on the energy issue, they should read this:
http://thebruceblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/mccain-himself-missed-two-key-energy-votes-get-back-to-work-you-get-back-to-work-senator/