McCain Talks 'Pork,' Voters Think 'Bush!'

In the first debate, John McCain said 'pork barrel' four times; in the second debate: three times.  In the economic 'plan' on McCain's campaign website, he repeats 'pork barrel' twice.  Chances are McCain will repeat 'pork barrel' in the last debate enough times for it to be noticed, probably three times, maybe four.  Somebody should tell McCain that his tactic will not work.  While McCain talks 'pork' in the debates, voters caught in the crash of 2008 are pounding their fists on the table while shouting, 'Bush!' 

McCain's 'pork barrel' hobbyhorse bespeaks an effort to reach so-called 'fiscal conservatives' that simply is not working.

By now, most Americans can see that by repeating 'pork barrel,' McCain is trying to convince voters that Barack Obama's would bring the wild and wasteful spending habits that Republicans attribute to the Democratic Party.  We all now the routine.  Republicans convince voters of their 'fiscal conservative' bona fides not by reining in spending, but  by accusing Democrats of 'raising taxes' and then 'spending your money.'   Up to this point in election history, it has been an effective Republican tactic -- which is not to say that the accusation is true, but only that the tactic won votes for GOP candidates. 

Nowadays, however, when Americans think about profligate spending, they do not think about Democrats.  Instead, when voters talk about grossly excessive government spending, they leave 'pork' out of the conversation and just talk about 'Bush.'

Given all the enormous expenses the current administration has racked up with all of its failed policies and ventures, it is not surprising that the word 'Bush' became a key linguistic signifier for 'wasteful government spending' quicker than grease through a goose. 

If I say, for example, 'the Bush tax cuts,' I am not just describing the author of a particular tax program, but an approach to taxation that includes huge giveaways at the risk of massive declines in federal revenues.

Likewise, if I say, 'the Bush war,' I am not just describing a failed occupation that destroyed thousands of  lives, destabilized a region, and emboldened Iran, but an approach to military spending that gives billions to private companies in no-bid contracts.

Or if I say, 'the Bush bailout plan,' I am not just describing a gift-from-God rescue package for investment bankers, but an approach to the economy based on the burning enormous amounts of tax revenue -- public funds -- to cover the losses incurred by private traders gambling in unregulated, high-stakes financial markets.

Just the other day, the famous Times Square Debt Clock hit at a number so high most human beings have no way of even understanding what it means -- $10,149,875, 434,832 (the first ten is 'trillion').  This event was widely reported in the media not for the sheer size of the our national debt after just eight-years of George W. Bush as president, but because the Debt Clock was not designed to allow for the debt to increase by any more digits.

In 1989 when the Debt Clock was designed to draw attention to way Ronald Reagan's economic policies were crippling the nation with debt, nobody imagined it even possible for the figure to get this high. So they only built enough spaces for a number with 14 digits.  Unfortunately, Bush's economic policies have rendered the Debt Clock obsolete.

McCain may be talking 'pork' in the debates, but voters fed up with the current economic disaster are shouting one word in frustration: 'Bush!' 

(cross posted from Frameshop)

 

Follow Jeffrey Feldman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/JeffreyFeldman

Comments

[lion1]

10:50 PM on 10/15/2008

McCain clearly is conducting a DUM DUM campaign, trying to undermine the intelligience the American electorate with a deceptive campaign.

McCain would always be running off the issue at question with no substance , and go onto something irrellevant.

Its a clear sign that McCain hasn't got the appropriate JUDGEMENT to be the next President of the United States, while Barack Obama stuck to the questions and the issues at hand and handled them thoroughly.

My fellow Americans, Barack Obama offers the only viable and correct direction for the future of the United States.

STAND UP on November 4 and vote for Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.

Barack Obama for President.

[wuzabobcat]

05:59 PM on 10/15/2008

When Barack discusses the economy at tonight's debate, all he has to do is point out that on teh day his economic proposal was made, the stock market rallied nearly 1000 points. On the day McCain made his, the market plunged 300 point and the day after an additional 700. Which plan do the market watchers have the most confidence in?

[Wonder11]

05:02 PM on 10/15/2008

My Republican brethren please to exit stage right. ...and take your lying, whining, thieving monkeybusiness with you! Your time has come and gone and your "target market" are all either in nursing homes or have had their children fill out the applications. CHANGE is in the wind and that wind is blowing away the fog that your party has been conjuring up for the past 8 years! To paraphrase a quote from GW, "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, Shame on all of us!"

[Ohg]

03:07 PM on 10/15/2008

Can McCain deliver a knock out tonight - not likely - he would have to hire Bill Clinton as a standing. Only a real master of communications could pull this off. ...............
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/15/can-mccain-win-the-debate/

[PacificGatePost]

12:27 PM on 10/15/2008

BUSH MAY BE A PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

TIME FOR A RADICAL CHANGE IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS

Taxpayers deserve independent representation with teeth. NOT suppliant gofers taking orders from special interests.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/10/electoral-process-urgent-change-is.html

[jakie]

12:19 PM on 10/15/2008

THE REPUBLICANS ARE THE BIG SPENDERS GEORGE W BUSH AND JOHN MCBUSH