McCain's Burden of Proof
John McCain and Barack Obama have sparred so aggressively over the past few days that those without a calendar in hand might mistake the month of May for the month of October. What began as President Bush accusing Obama of appeasement while in Israel quickly spiraled into a back and forth between the candidates on the value of tough diplomacy. McCain was quick to imply that Obama's willingness to engage his enemies was, in fact, tantamount to appeasement, and suggested that such judgment was proof of his inability to lead.
To the relief of Democrats everywhere, Obama responded in a way uncharacteristic of past Democratic presidential candidates. Where Al Gore may have sighed and released a statement disagreeing, and where John Kerry may have taken to the podium more than a week later, with a long-winded incomprehensible self-defense, Obama instead reacted quickly, forcefully, and in ear-shot of the national press.
Using language he had otherwise reserved, Obama suggested that John McCain's vaunted toughness was phony and "extraordinarily naïve." He swiftly and succinctly tied McCain's foreign policy philosophy to George Bush, arguing that McCain has failed to distinguish his foreign policy vision from Bush's in any distinct way.
The content of Obama's comments was as strong as his tone, which was almost onomatopoetic in its insistence that he too could be strong on foreign policy. "This is what strong countries do," Obama commanded, "This is what strong presidents do... What is John McCain afraid of?"
What John McCain should be afraid of, and what is becoming unmistakably evident from the first major brawl of the general election, is that Obama is not like other Democrats. The playbook that brought praise to Karl Rove does not have the same impact today as it did four and eight years ago. What's more is that, in the argument about who would be the better president, the burden of proof clearly lies with McCain.
Having so intensely wed himself to the status quo, both in terms of policy and posture, John McCain is facing an election in which the policies he supports are dramatically opposed by the public he hopes will elect him. In almost every way, McCain has endorsed the policies of the most unpopular president in modern history, and has done so with the expectation that the voters wouldn't mind. With 81% of the people seeing the country going on the wrong track, John McCain is advocating that we continue full-steam ahead. His only hope is that he can convince Americans that Obama is so horribly unqualified for the job, that they would be better off choosing a man with whom they completely disagree, than the man who offers the vision they seek.
In dust-ups like the one McCain and Obama just experienced, and in the many more to follow, John McCain cannot win such an argument by merely going toe-to-toe. Instead, he has to be crushing, not just painting Obama as weak and inexperienced, but proving beyond all reasonable doubt that this is the case. Having chosen the status quo as his bedrock, the burden of proof lies with him. And when Barack Obama responds, as he did, with grace and strength, with power and an unwavering determination, it will be truly audacious for John McCain to maintain any hope at all.
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SENATOR HAGEL SHOULD BE ENDORSING RON PAUL.
RON PAUL IS AGAINST THE IRAQ INVASION BUT HE WOULD ALSO:
CLOSE OUR MILITARY BASES AROUND THE WORLD, SAVING A
TRILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, WHICH COULD BE USED TO
STIMULATE OUR ECONOMY, REPAIR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
SECURE OUR BORDERS AND PAY THAT OBSCENE DEBT TO
CHINA. CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL INTRODUCED H.R. 219,
"THE SOCIAL SECURITY PRESERVATION ACT", WHICH WOULD
PROHIBIT CONGRESS FROM RAIDING THE S.S. FUNDS. IF
SOMEONE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR DID THIS, THEY WOULD
GO TO PRISON. IF PASSED, H.R. 219 WOULD PROVIDE S.S.
FOR DECADES WITHOUT CUTTING BENEFITS OR RAISING
TAXES. RON PAUL DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THE BABY
BOOMER GENERATION CHEATED OF THE BENEFITS THEY
HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR ALL THESE YEARS. RON PAUL
WOULD REALLY SHRINK THE SIZE OF GOV'T, AS NEWT
GINGRICH PROMISED BUT FAILED TO DO.
I AM LIBERTARIAN AND I WILL WRITE-IN RON PAUL'S
NAME IN NOVEMBER. THANK YOU.
Don't screw Obama by voting for Paul. I believe in a lot of what Paul stands for (small government being #1), but to throw a vote away in this crucial election would be taking a risk we can't afford to take.
More like, don't screw America by voting for Ron Paul. Ron Paul has admirable qualities - but he won't win in November. I hope you really won't chuck your vote.
So, in other words, you'll throw away your vote in a futile one man political protest because the candidate you support didn't get the nomination.
I see Ron Paul as a principaled man who actually believes in small government and liberty unlike his party mates who pretend to in order to manipulate the masses into voting for them. Although I don't subscribe to most of his ideas I can recognize them as coming from a patriotic, sincere, and very smart individual. I respect him but I don't understand how he can be a republican today. If he believes so deeply in the constitutioin then he shouldn't belong to a party who wipes its collective asses with it. He needs to run third party or go back to being a libertarian. Its too bad he won't run in the GE.
Negotiating/talking is only appeasement when you do it with Repugnicans.
Hamas? Sure.
Hezbollah? Perhaps.
GOP? You gotta' be kidding.
Pakistan and the Taliban just reached an peace agreement. Viewed as a victory for Bin Laden by the U.S. government.
Hezbollah and the Lebanese government just struck a deal which allows Hezbollah veto power over the Lebanese government .
And last but not least Isreal is in negotiations with Syria.
Can you believe this? Appeasement has broken out all over the MidEast. Maybe we need to rethink our Foreign Policy (or lack thereof)
After this election, OBAMA will be washing mccain stains off the soles of his shoes for months.
But hey, I heard formula #409 is good for hard-to-remove, toxic grease stains.
Have a nice day, righties! :)
You nailed it, Dylan...NOT THIS TIME...
I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but I don't think it's going to be even close in November...
Ladies and Gentlemen - The Democrats have a REAL candidate!!
About time! I was so dang frustrated with Kerry and Gore . . .
I know, didn't Vote or Die and all that BS seem so forced?? If only Bush would have shown more of his true colors (I know all the signs were there, but apparently the sheep didn't care to pay attention due to the terror threats).
I can't wait until pop culture's bully pulpit starts to become a more more active communication piece. Not because people need to see who a celebrity is endorsing, but rather because for 2008 the sentiment is that it's our right to stay informed and be involved in the process.
Exactly right. My now 47 year old son and I just could not believe the totally incompetent campaigns of Kerry and Edwards. Edwards may have been following marching orders but his not calling Cheney the scurrilous liar he is over the "I've never met you" remark was unbelievable. (If Edwards becomes Attorney General he may jail that bastard Cheney)
I could not believe Kerry's non-response to the Swift Boaters. If anyone called me a liar about my military service, I'd feed him a knuckle sandwich! BIG TIME ! My son and I began to suspect that a "fix" was in the fight.
Watching Obama warms my heart. His counterattacks are not just gutsy, they are BRILLIANT!
Obama packs the gear to win this thing, thank God!
You are right, Shamus. I totally agree with you.
Yay Obama! If there's one thing that man does, is learn from other people's mistakes. There will be no swift boating this year. And if they try, they will come crashing up against rocks of truth. :D
Talking is not conceding anything (appeasement). I can talk to you and not give you anything. Is that a difficult concept? To Bush & McSame it apparently is. Funny how now its coming out that Israel is finally trying to have reasoned discussions with its adversaries in the region.
Hopefully Israel will wake up and stop encouraging American recklessness be a requirement of "support". Occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan is weakening America and therefore Israel as well.
"Hopefully Israel will wake up and stop encouraging American recklessness be a requirement of support." ???
Israel has the same problem that the USA has : NEOCONS
I really appreciate Sen. Obama coming out swinging in regards to foreign policy and the concept of diplomacy. Too many Democrats have caved in and pandered to the idea that to oppose the type of war we are now in is to be considered 'soft'. Let it rip Sen. Obama. Hold nothing back and take no prisoners. Americans of all stripes are looking for a leader to help us move in another direction. So much for the concept of an 'empty suit'.
Yes, yes,yes, and the best thing about this is that this is not some calculated political pose set up by Obama. Obama is the real deal. He will not back down but he will always respond with poise. The proverbial iron fist in the velvet glove. Use Aikido tactics i.e. use your opponents strength against them and never let them know how you did it. Obama '08!
Yes, Obama is like a political Jiu-Jutsu master, redirecting attacks to harm the attackers. Would make a good sequel to "Crouching Liar, Hidden WMD's"
that's funny lmao
I can't wait to see McCain lose his temper because Barack won't cower to McCain's uniformed banter.
you and me both
and you KNOW it's going to happen. Obama's too cool. My man.
Please let it happen, that man is dangerous and everyone needs to see it.
Can't wait to see McCant implode on stage when he tries to debate Senator Obama...he'll be reduced to a oily little stain on the floor. He has no idea what he's in for, because he's too old and has lived too long in an extremely wealthy bubble where people rush around and try to find his slippers before he gets pissed off and starts calling them all the "C" word...or in this case, something much worse.
Be careful what you wish for. You are way over estimating the probability of McCain losing his temper - he got through the primary debate circus just fine. Obama's debate performace in the primary season was adequate but hardly stellar - Hillary and Edwards both kicked his ass a couple of times. He doesn't do nearly as well when knocked off his set piece generality laden speeches. Plus, maybe in the general election he'll actually have to answer some tough questions from the debate moderators.
Did you watcht he republican debates....McCain was by far the weakest. Obama learned a lot from debating Hillary, who would have made McCain look foolish as well. McCain's insincerity is shining through more and more everyday. A lot more people know what to look for than in 2004.
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