The New Dirty Politics McCain
The Arizona senator is running a barnyard demeaning campaign even comparing Senator Obama to Paris Hilton, lying about Obama's record of visiting our wounded warriors and lying about Obama playing the "race card." Denouncing the new Dirty Politics McCain, McCain's own former strategist, John Weaver said to Newsweek: "Its hard to imagine America responding to 'small ball' when we have all these problems."
McCain is going to lose this election. And the way he loses will take the Republicans down with him.
As a former Republican activist who, as late as 2000, was campaigning for John McCain against Bush, today I am a dedicated supporter of Senator Obama. Yes, I changed my mind. But that isn't the point. My point here is to ask how the Republicans will define themselves by the means they use to try to define and defeat Obama.
By the very way the new Dirty Politics McCain is fighting his losing election he has disqualified himself from the presidency. Simply put: Republican strategists who think that business-as-usual -- i.e., the slanderous politics of the past 30 years -- will take care of matters this time around, are deluded.
A few more lies about Obama, silly comparisons to celebrities, lies about him "not visiting" our troops, B.S. about Obama "introducing the race card" and the Republicans won't recover. That is too bad, because we need a two-party system.
Will the Republicans sacrifice themselves to vindicate the ego of one man?
The reason to vote against McCain, paradoxically, is not just McCain's flip-flop on the use of dirty politics but also his military career. He is an old warrior willing to do anything to win. His military experience and the sort of arrogance that goes with being a self-proclaimed hero, is working against him.
The problem is that the new Dirty Politics McCain doesn't see himself as a civilian. He sees himself as so honorable that he can do no wrong. That was why he felt free to abandon his first wife and his children to chase a young blond who had 100 million dollars. He was a hero! He deserved a good lay and a good bank account! Why should he put up with a wife who had had a disfiguring accident! And these days why should he lose to an uppity black man who never belonged to his private military club?
It is time for America to draw a line under the Bush years of dirty tricks, not add to them. All over the world people who have thought ill of America are now thinking better of us, simply because Obama has become a serious major party candidate. All over the world our country, which has sunk to its lowest level ever in the public's view under Bush, suddenly looks immeasurably better because we have grown up enough to embrace a black candidate, our fraught and sordid racial history notwithstanding. We might even be setting an example in spite of ourselves. All over the world people who have despaired of their old friend America are taking a second look.
In our own country millions of new voters, especially young voters, are coming into the political process that, before Obama, they had either ignored or written off. And the African-American population that has been the victim of the racism which has dragged on and on relentlessly is taking a deep breath and considering a new future.
The Republicans must say NO to the new Dirty Politics McCain's ego-driven scorched filthy games. Here is what the Republicans and others can do to come out of this contest alive and well with their future bright, whether they win or lose this election.
1. Categorically repudiate and denounce the sort of McCain slime attacks that are being mounted against Obama and his wife.
2. Refuse to go along with the snickering half-wits at places like FOX News.
3. Pay homage to what Obama means to America and what his candidacy stands for in the same way that Obama pays homage to McCain's Vietnam War service.
4. Don't let McCain be too clever by half. Play even the hint of the race card, no matter how cutely or while pretending innocence -- for instance with the bogus claim that Obama is playing the race card! -- and you're toast.
The fact that McCain has -- in the course of one campaign -- turned from an American legend into a compromised shill for the far right, the religious crazies, the neoconservatives, the warmongers and corporate America -- he even wants to lower corporate taxes in wartime while the middle and working class serve and die! -- is astonishingly sad. Some future Shakespeare will write the play about McCain's tragic fall.
In 2000 Jack Kemp (former congressman and Bob Dole's vice presidential candidate) told me, "McCain is a war maker, and I'm a peacemaker, so is George Bush. McCain would be too dangerous as President." (By the way, I noted this conversation in my book Crazy For God long before McCain was running for President in 2008 -- and therefore before Kemp's statement was topical.)
Jack and I were arguing on the phone about the then Republican primaries. I still had Jack's home number from back in the 80s when I was a right wing activist and regular guest in his home.
These days Jack Kemp (just like the rest of the Republican establishment) is supporting McCain. But in 2000 the Republican establishment's suspicion of McCain was overt. McCain -- went the word in the insider's Republican network -- was "unstable." And the dirty tricks they used against him worked.
McCain learned the wrong lesson: he's gone and hired the crew who took him down in 2000 to take Obama down now. But it's not going to work. Obama is bigger than McCain ever was, bigger in spirit, bigger in intelligence and bigger in significance. And that is what is driving McCain batty: he is jealous.
Now that the new Dirty Politics McCain is the Republican's man of the hour, Republican heavy hitters are conveniently forgetting that for years they have regarded McCain as mentally unfit for the presidency. Back in 2000 I thought they were wrong and just didn't like McCain because of his "maverick" label. They were right.
The newly diminished McCain suffers by comparison because in Senator Obama we have a real alternative, the most inspiring person to run for the presidency in my lifetime, not to mention someone who (unlike McCain) was right about -- and told the truth about -- the Iraq war from the start.
In a McCain presidency the United States faces disaster. The new Dirty Politics McCain, as opposed to the old "straight talker" McCain, will turn eight years of Bush/Cheney into twelve to sixteen years. This is something our country might not survive economically, politically or in terms of our standing in the world. If he wins by lies and deceit he'll govern that way. McCain will make Nixon look sweet. When it suits him McCain will do to us what he did to his first wife, just as he has abandoned his promise of taking the high road in this election.
Frank Schaeffer is coauthor of HOW FREE PEOPLE MOVE MOUNTAINS-A Male Christian Conservative and a Female Jewish Liberal On A Quest For Common Purpose and Meaning. He is also author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back.
Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer
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More lies from McCain dispelled
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
McCain claims in an ad released today that "Obama voted to raise taxes on people making just $42,000. He promises more taxes on small business, seniors, your life savings, your family."
But when it comes to promises, it's worth pointing out that, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center's analysis of both candidates' proposed plans, Obama would cut taxes for those making in the range of $38,000 to $66,000 three to almost eight times more than McCain would.
Under Obama's plan, according to the center, by 2009, those making $37,595 would see an average increase in their income of 3.6%, or a tax cut of $892; those making an average of $66,354 would see an increase in their income of 2.4%, or a tax cut of $1,042.
On the other hand, Under McCain's plan, those making $37,595 would see an increase in their income of only about 0.5%, or $113 tax cut; those making $66,354 would see only an increase of 0.7% in their income, or a tax break of $319.
Frank ~ you are such a wonderful writer and good citizen of the world.
Speaking of writing, I think the Obama campaign should be writing up a job offer to you right now.
Until then - thanks for using your powerful ink!
It's easy to see that McCain and the Republican party are green-eyed with envy, but explain to me why the media goes along with this?
Why do they not tell the truth? (Well, very darn few of them tell the truth).
The media went with the circus atmosphere of smear and delivered us Bush for goodness sake and now they are trying to do it with McCain!! Explain this to me. Is the media so darn dumb to not see how this country has been nearly destroyed in spirit and economically? How can they, in good conscious try to sway the voters so much? It's not just Fox News, though they are the worst, it's darn near all of them.
I just don't get it. Are they afraid of the Republicans?
So we must operate within a political system of ignoramuses that are exploited by the realist Rovians. and the ignoramuses don't and won't and can't see they are dupes.
Yet here we sit speaking a foreign language. "The issues" and "reasoned debate" and "rational discussion" and "trusting in the fundamental goodness of the American people" might as well be phrases from an extinct language. The Ignoramuses don't understand it.
You don't overcome realist Rovianism with the ideals of Jesus or Ghandi or the reasoning of the European rationalists. You have overcome Rovianism by becoming better at playing by its own rules.
That necessitates discarding idealism and its morality, because in the realist world of Rovianism, none of that matters. What matters is getting and keeping power, and the means whereby that is done by exploiting and manipulating the American electorate.
We have to throw not only the kitchen sink but upend the dumpsters. Cane Toad Mack must be painted in such a light, and in overwhelming force, that he is seen as worse than a Manchurian Candidate. Tell lies, half-truths, distort his record, twist his words - whatever it takes, because that is the realist Rovian road to power and is how the Rethugs are playing the game.
So let the smears begin. Let the 527s free. Keep plausible deniability for Ob.
If you dislike this, get used to saying "President Cane Toad Mack". You'll need it!
I whole agree we need a two party system, and I believe and a three party system would be even better. However, if the second party is to be the Republicans of the past 20 years or so, then maybe it is time for a single party to run things for a while. Just sayin'
Wow! This is exactly how I've been feeling as I watch and listen. Well said.
While this analysis is correct, it falls mainly on deaf ears. Too many voters are literally stupid and will fall for the easy sucker line every time. Sadly, fear sells. The challenge is to sign up voters who never got involved in the political process before and that is thankfully being done by the Dems. The next major hurdle will be to make sure that everyone votes. If there were a law mandating voting in this country (as there is in Austraila), the GOP would never hold office again.
As for the smears, I know what to expect. Here's a piece from Rick Davis in 2004 "Anatomy of a Political Smear". It's effectively their current playbook. As Sun Tzu said "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer"
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frank dear, we WANT the republicans to keep this up so they can lose BIG TIME
I think you're failing to account for the millions of Joe Sixpack voters in this country. I traveled and lived among these sorts and the inputs into their mentalities are very limited. They are culturally backward. For example, there are millions of people like this scattered through rural Florida, a swing state. Its ignoramuses that decide elections, I'm afraid, which is why we've had Bush of 8 years and Europeans look at us wonder how we can be so stupid. We are stupid. People really do make decisions based on fears and basic, trivial impressions about candidates, and never do dig into "the issues". Faux News and Sean Hannity is all they listen to, and they've been brainwashed to see opposing views as Enemy Pinkie Commie Socialist Takeover by the Liberals who the country would be much better without.
booksnmore, I know what you are saying is true. I lived in the bible belt all my life until recently.
Many of these voters are Christians who genuinely desire closeness to God and who want to be obedient to Him. They have bought the lie that the Republican party is God's party and they have been manipulated by skillful powerfreaks who teach prejudice and hate and who monger fear - Pat Robertson, for example. No one can convince these unsophisticated faithfuls that their leaders are frauds and that an angry God won't lift "His veil of protection" again. Ann Coulter appears on the 700 Club regularly, as do many of the Fox reporters and anchors. They have that group of gullible faithfuls cornered. They understand their target market well. Such harm has been done to the face of Christianity by these hateful pretend Christians.
Christians are trusting people and are easily manipulated, unfortunately.
that is why.....
We have seen the need to regulate industries, especially financial ones to protect the innocent and ignorant who would lose their shirts to scam artists... I believe to protect America from the sham politics preying on the ignorant for votes, regulations must also be put in place on the voting process. You want to vote in America? Take the responsibility seriously enough to know the main issues, candidates' stand and for the various classes of Americans, which party system has previously received the most of their votes, i.e. 99% rich vote GOP, majority poor vote DNC.... similar to House of Lords and House of Commons... but make it more transparent and insist that there is a certain level of responsibility to vote... otherwise you could get scammed, and thus your vote wouldn't be one for responsible leadership
Thank you Frank for an honest, insightful article that confirms what many of us, both Republicans and Democrats have suspected about John McCain for some time. Like you and others I am genuinely concerned about Sen. McCain's mental status and find the prospects of a McCain presidency frightening.
You wrote:
"The new Dirty Politics McCain, as opposed to the old "straight talker" McCain, will turn eight years of Bush/Cheney into twelve to sixteen years. This is something our country might not survive economically, politically or in terms of our standing in the world."
I couldn't agree with you more.
Thank you for stating the obvious ... but why can't our media people point these facts out ... they laugh ... and guess what, this IS NOT funny. It is tragic. McCain is so jealous and consumed with ego that he will never have anyone call him a "hero" again ... (Actually, he never really was -- he was a survivor.) I really do not think he will be able to handle that at all. I just hope with all my being that our voters will do the right thing this time ... I agree, our country desperately needs Barack Obama ... McCain is a complete and utter disaster and totally unqualified ... for any office!
LJ, you hit the nail on the head! I sometimes think that our media folk don't understand how important this election is to the future of this nation...a
How, at this point, anyone can see McCain as a viable candidate is completely beyond me. Pretty much any good idea he has, was stolen at some point from Obama (withdrawal timetable.
Frank - have I told you lately that I love you?? It is very refreshing to read your blog and experience the election from a Republican's point of view.
A solidly leaning Democratic bi-partisan voter, I was a big fan of Gore's in 2000, but John McCain actually intrigued me. He was definitely a maverick back then. It is a shame that the Republican party, like the Democratic party, seems to expect their candidates to lean a certain way. The Democratic party, to it's credit, prefers a centrist view whereas, for some totally bizarre reason, the Republicans seem to demand a far right/conservative view.
I hate to say it, but I almost feel sorry for John McCain for being the Republican "patsy" this election. When he was good, he was very good; now he's simply awful.
I'm really glad you're on our side, Frank!!
Excellent, Frank. You're spot on, and, as a Republican, I hope somebody somewhere, even if it's in local elections, takes your points and starts changing the Party again from the inside. I, too, was a McCain fan in 2000 - just because he really was a maverick then. I think he had more self control then, too, although he admitted to breaking his own principles for the sake of ambition (Confederate Flag controversy in South Carolina).
I think a funeral for McCain 2000 would be a great event - with comparisons between McCain 2000 and McCain 2008 to show how far lost McCain 2000 is now.
As a fellow "reformed Republican" I agree with you completely. I voted for McCain in the GA primary and started following Obama to simply beat the Clintons and became engaged by the real deal Obama.,
7 straight Repub votes starting in 1980 - even though in my youth I worked in 1968 for RFK in In and at the Chicago convention for McGovern.
As a father of 3 - 26, 8 and 6 - 2 daughters - any man offering his wife for Miss Buffalo Chip (among all the other crap) scares the hell out of me.
As a 55 year old I do NOT want to leave my kids a world that is not better than the one we were given and McCain is the wrong answer.
Frank, could you work for the Obama camp, or surrogate or something? We NEED a thoughtful, rational and always spot on the facts guy like you to go around all the MSM and tell them how things really stand in this election.
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