Democrats Implement Two-Pronged Attack On John McCain

With Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton still busy campaigning for their party's nomination, other groups have taken the initiative of crafting the strategy to be used against Republican John McCain. Their first goal will be to undermine the image of McCain as a "maverick;" the Arizona Senator is sure to use his reputation as a moderate to capitalize on his popularity among independents.

To counter this threat, Democrats have come up with two methods. First, convince voters that McCain is no centrist. Second, show that what is perceived as moderation is in fact opportunistic politicking. In short, Democrats want to make McCain into the mirror image of John Kerry: an out-of touch flip-flopper.

The first strategy is to portray John McCain as a fundamentally conservative politician, and Democrats believe their best argument is to hang the incumbent president around McCain's neck. "He is not offering people any kind of relief but more of the failed hands-off approach Bush has offered for the past seven years," said DNC spokesperson Damien LaVera. "That is not a moderate record. At the end of the day all he offers is Bush's third term. And that's the last thing voters want."

Whatever dissensions existed between McCain and Bush, Democrats believe that the Arizona Senator made himself vulnerable by cozying up to the White House in recent years. And on no issue has McCain has come to be associated with the Bush Administration as much as on the Iraq War.

Prominent Democrats used to call the surge strategy the "McCain doctrine." Now, they are stepping up attacks on other aspects of McCain's hawkishness, hinting that he would extend to Iran what Bush started in Iraq. His statement that the United States could stay in Iraq for a hundred years has already become one of the Democrats' favorite lines - and it is sure to haunt him all the way to November.

McCain's opponents are attacking the Republican candidate on a variety of issues beyond Iraq. NARAL, the pro-choice advocacy group, recently launched its own effort against McCain's solid pro-life record. Ted Miller, a NARAL spokesperson, explained that the organization is committed to helping pro-choice candidates beyond the presidential race. But McCain's maverick reputation made an intervention particularly urgent.

"There is a belief out there that McCain is moderate and we have to debunk that myth immediately," said Miller. He immediately points out that such a misconception is particularly dangerous when it comes to abortion. "When voters think of a moderate Republican they think he must be pro-choice," he added. "We want to educate people about how bad McCain is on choice."

NARAL created the website Meet the Real McCain (www.MeetTheRealMcCain.com), that asks visitors to learn about the Republican's record and send the information along to friends. "The REAL John McCain is not the "moderate maverick" the pundits like to swoon over," explains the website. "The REAL McCain has spent the last 25 years amassing one of the worst anti-choice voting records in Congress."

Inherent in efforts to portray McCain's true position as being at odds with his moderate reputation is the suggestion that the senator is unprincipled and opportunistic, the second part of the Democrats' offensive against McCain's maverick reputation. The flip-flopping charge was even brought up during his party's primaries, particularly regarding Bush's tax cuts (McCain opposed them in 2001 but he now wants them to be made permanent).

Democrats learned in 2004 that a candidate being associated with flip-flopping can transform his strongest advantage (a reputation as a pragmatist) into his biggest liability. Democrats also learned that getting the charge to stick requires it be leveled with compulsive repetition. And they will need to be even more repetitive this year. McCain, after all, is already well-known by voters, and that makes him that much harder to define. In 2004, few general election voters had a clear opinion of John Kerry and the multi-million spring and summer GOP spending spree introduced him to voters before he had a chance to develop his own narrative.

Accordingly, Democrats are already rehearsing their lines, and Obama likes to say that the "Somewhere along the line, the Straight Talk Express lost some wheels." The DNC is also doing its part to denounce McCain's inconsistencies, releasing a number of web videos centered on this theme.

"When voters look at McCain they are now going to see a pandering politician," said LaVera. He pointed to McCain's turning his back on the FEC and his relying on lobbyists despite his championing campaign finance as evidence of McCain's double-talk. "Only when it stood his political interests" did he take courageous positions, argued LaVera.

The DNC has also launched a website to drive its point home. 'McCain Debates' features the Arizona Senator debating (and contradicting) himself on a variety of issues. At the end of every "round" an image of Bush offers McCain a thumbs-up, in an attempt to tie the two Republicans together as tightly as possible.

At the end of the day, whether Democrats succeed in painting McCain as an opportunist rather than as a maverick crusader will depend on whether they open heavy fire early enough to prevent a poorly-funded McCain from responding. The successful duplication of the GOP's anti-Kerry strategy requires a quick implementation.

The McCain campaign did not respond to requests for comment on this article.

Comments

[CatholicJoe]

Why would anybody listen to the rants of pro-abortionists like NARAL. They continue to use the absurd and thoroughly discredited euphemism of "choice", and as such demonstrate their inability to argue their position in any rational manner. As William Donohue from the Catholic League stated:
"They [pro-abortionists] shun being labeled pro-abortion, preferring to say they believe in choice. What exactly it is they're choosing is never mentioned. Now at one level, everyone believes in choice: we choose what to wear, what to eat, etc. But by itself, choosing has no moral quotient—it is just a process. Morality kicks in when the object of our choice is determined. When the subject is abortion, as even those who believe in "choice" must admit, what is being chosen is life or death."
Sourced: http://catholicleague.org/catalyst.php?year=2007&month=January-February&read=2174
Of course abortion is just a way for people to avoid taking responsibility for the outcome of their choice to engage in sexual intercourse. It would be interesting to know under what circumstances Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama would oppose an abortion.

[NetProphet]

Heh "BEACHBOB" !

You're right on target when you said "McCain got shot down ...perhaps he wasn't a very good pilot" !

I'm with you.

IF YOU VOTE MC CAIN - YOU VOTE THE SAME (as GWB, that is!)

THERE.....­..........­got my 2-cents in!

[gardedan41]

The people on this blog are amazingly foolish.... I didn't realise how dumb the democrat party really was until this election cycle. Unpopular war, unpopular president, economic uncertainty, islamic terrorism... and still in many polls, McCain leads the two blind mice. What's the big idea! Let's swift boat him. You'll be playing right into his hands. With Kerry, all you had to see was his phony anti war activities, medal tossing behavior, not minutes after completing his military service, to know that he was a flip flopper extraordinaire. BeachBob, who obviously gets his history from comedy central, the facts are that McCain was on the flight deck getting ready to take off in an A-4 Skyhawk when a missile accidently fired from an electrical fault on an F-4 Phantom across the deck and nearly killed him and others, setting off a fire. McCain served in combat, was captured, had his legs and arms re-broken, received minimal medical attention, was tortured, as witnessed by others who were there, not like you Sbrownmiller, and he refused to be released early, not break ranks with is cellmates. That's a HERO.

[waynesmyer]

But! But! "I did not have sex with that blond lobbyist" "Bomb! Bomb! Bomb Iran" "Baby George is a really great kisser" "Only Hilliary and I can be the Commanderess In Chief" Johnny "Ride The Bomb" McCain
No! No! Billy, Hillary is not a lobbyiest, nor is she a true blonde! Sen. John "RTB" McSame

[rosal]

This is the way it should be done. How unfortunate, Hillary and her husband decided to praise MCSame at every opportunity. Now the Dems, and progressive organizations are going to work double to erase the image she is helping to create. According to her, he is experience, tested as a commander in chief, he loves his country, ready to anwer the phone. I saw today one of McSame's ads. On the backgroud, he has a sign "Ready on Day One". I'll never forgive her tactics.

[swkidder]

The single most powerful comment about McCain came from Obama ... "George Bush's 3rd term." There's no better way to frame McCain's candidacy ...

[UrbanInterloper]

Democrats don't need to make McCain look like an out-of touch flip-flopper, he's doing a pretty fine job of it himself. They just have to get out his way, and pressure the media to cover it. (Easier said than done, I know.)

[beachbob]

I've always wondered about McCain being a "hero." Let's see. Before he was shot down he became North Vietnam's leading ace when a live missile detached from his plane while landing, destroying all the planes on deck, killing dozens of sailors and nearly sinking his carrier. Some hero!

Then he got shot down. Wilth all due respect, perhaps he wasn't a very good pilot (see above).

I'd also like confirmation that Shrub ever actually flew a supersonic fighter in the Air National Guard. It seems way to complex for a guy like him.

Not to mention Bush Sr. It's possible he was shot down because his rear gunner was a friend along for a lark rather than his regular gunner.

Kerry on the other hand was a real hero. Anyone who served on a swift boat for more than one mission displayed incredible courage, as they were a target for every VC along the river bank.

BTW,. has anyone noticed that when people talk about "Democrat Wars" they never mention tthat America won WWI, WWII and stopped Milosevic without the loss of a single American.. Korea was not a Demoicrat War but a UN mission. And the Vietnam War resulted when the Eisenhower Administration cancelled the 1954 election because they knew Ho Chi Minh would win.

For that matter, wasn't the Civil War a "Republican" war?

[dumboldman]

Yes. As I remember it, a bunch of Yankees led by that Republican but-in-ski Lincoln didn't like the way we were treating our own property and we had to try to seceed from the union.

[whatsmyname]

I don't know because you never mentioned thee most recent union. No, not the rumor about McCain's wife and Florida Govenor. This is Romney, hooking up in Salt Lake City, with Mc Cain't, and them heading off down the trail towards Denver. Meantime, nobody has seen that Democrat Senator, errr ah oh yea, Lieberman since. All due respect Daniel Nichanian, but isn't THIS article about to grow mold on it? And, I disagree with your assessment of Kerry, because pure and simple from a (former) boxers perspective -he threw that fight. Yes, DN, he took a dive.

[MJ20]

Let's not forget the Supreme Court. Many of them, especially on what is remaining of the liberal judges are getting pretty long in the teeth. There will be several replacements in the next four years. All the right needs is one more judge and we are in BIG trouble. Roe v. Wade, habeus corpus, who knows where it will stop? A Democratic white house, be it Obama or Clinton is a must. The Democrats who are talking about supporting McCain if their candidate loses are out of their minds.

[richw23]

The Grand Old Party - bring down that wall and it's all hearts and flowers - maybe they should have looked at world history a little so as to plan for the aftermath. Actually, they seem to be intent on stirring up trouble and making our enemies more implacable - all part of the plan or did they just get lucky? For conservative it's sometimes hard to distinquish unintended consequences from serendipity. They've certainly got another goon in McCain. Maybe it's just that the laws of entropy always work in their favor - brings a new meainging to KAOS.

[janvoght]

i am a registered democrat who believes much like the candidate barack obama...we absolutely need to reach across the aisle on these urgent issues, to include solutions that encompass any and all expertise and pertinent experience. our issues cannot be ignored due to partisan conflict. this would be much like a dysfunctional mom and dad, refusing to address the development issues of their teen, and allowing that poor abandoned teen to be ignored and fall possibly into deep trouble fending for themselves. if a man can unite diverse races in these days and times, their chances are very good if not excellent that foreign affairs would be successful! no one else is even looking to a vision that includes our children's and grand children's future in a real way, except barack. mc cain is highly respected by all for his military record, but is not good presidential material for the type of leadership we will need to heal the wounds in the middle east, and move on to a more global focus. hillary is a good person, her public service record speaks for itself. her chances of having even the wonderful success that bill brought in the 90's are slim to non! she simply is not bill, she is not a visionary...she has limited proven success in uniting - peace obama '08

[shelleybear]

How to swift boat McCain.

*cue the actor with the stentorian voice*
John McCain has done good service to his country.
That cannot be disputed.
But there are important things to consider.
For example, what do we know about the long term effects of torture and captivity (insert power point-like report here).
We know, for example that he is subject to rages and extreme emotional outbursts (statements from members of his own party) . That his political actions have shown themselves to be of (to say the least) questionable merit ("Keating Five") headlines. That he has had at least one divorce in his life, and has show very little loyalty to his current family (GQ interview excerpt).
And that he seems to lack public discretion ("bomb Iran" parody).
Yes, we do not discredit his service to his country. However, we must decide if his hand is the one we want guiding the ship of state."
Thank you for your time.

[grendl]

They don't need to paint McCain as an opportunist.

They need to paint him as a grunt. That's right a grunt, a soldier drone who does the bidding of his superior officers, who charges into country's gung ho, without questioning the moral, ethical or ideological ramifications in doing so.

Well we took the hill, Iraq. We took it. Now what? You want more men, because of sniper fire, okay, we'll send more men. What now? Where are you going?

He doesn't know. His father did. He was an admiral, of such high ranking they offered to release McCain from a POW camp, but he refused, staying loyal to his men. Admirable. Heroic. And the thinking of a grunt.

I understand he wants to stand behind our boys over there. But they don't even know why they're over there anymore. And Iraqis want a Democratic president. What does that tell us about their love affair with this mission? Thanks for killing the Wicked Witch for us Dorothy now get the fuck out of Oz and go back to Kansas. We'll handle it from here.

But he doesn't want to leave, just as he wouldn't leave that POW camp. Perhaps its a stubborness born of trying to please his father, but its misguided. And we need to pin him down and ask him...1,2,3, what are we fighting for?

[sbrownmiller]

Excuse me, I've never bought the torture story. I think it was his cover to explain why he was one of the first in the Hanoi Hilton to confess to war crimes. As for "hero," he was certainly doing what his country and his Navy Admiral father wished him to do, and he did endure years in prison for it, but flying 23 sorties over North Vietnam does not seem heroic to me-- not in *that* war that we had no business being in.

[WoodyGMJones]

The Swift Boat crew which trashed Kerry AND seven other veterans who backed him, including the quadraplegic vet who later was trashed in his bid to become a Congressman by the same group, LIED. They used innuendo, half-truths and lies to smear Kerry, who didn't want to (or couldn't) fight back. It was this same group which got into the middle of the fray about the Dan Rather report of Bush's failure to report for duty with the Texas Air National Guard, sowing enough confusion into the
boardroom at CBS that Rather was fired. I don't know how you can equate these typical Republican smear tactics - which have their origins in Richard Nixon's early CA political campaigns - with the truthful statements about McCain's militarism, his ties to the neo-cons who planned and executed (and I mean that literally) the failed Iraq invasion, and his consistently blow-in-the-wind adoption of whatever strategy or viewpoint he finds useful. He is MORE conservative than Shrub, by a factor of ten. You might compare him to Hillary, who is just as vacillating and truth-challenged, but certainly not to the Democratic strategy of countering Republican fiction with fact.

[whatsmyname]

EXCELLENT, BRAVO GRENDL, BRAVO... TALK ABOUT A REALITY SHOW? HEY, THIS WOULD BE PERFECT; GRAB SOME OF THE CAST OFF OF "LOST" IN FACT, CALL IT.....STILL LOST, a McCain't Production­..........­........

[Ironfox]

The "SONGBIRD" won't sing that!