What Happened to McCain the Reformer?

Why is John McCain running such a fumbling, cautious, and message-free campaign when the message is right at his fingertips?

If I were McCain, upon sealing up the nomination I would have aggressively focused my campaign around domestic issues, building on my brand as a government reformer. Even if you don't care much about the details of, say, tax or fiscal policy, reform in the broadest sense clearly has a potent political appeal this year. From national security to environmental protection, the government has been badly misused by the Bush administration. Thanks to Iraq and Katrina, to many it appears all but broken. Moreover, even if you could erase the disasters of the past eight years, the government simply isn't set up to handle many of the problems engulfing us now. So reforms are not just politically appealing, but necessary.

McCain has credibility in this area -- he fought for campaign finance reform against his party and won. He recognizes the pernicious effect Washington's "permanent class" of lobbyists and trade organizations have on legislation and the executive branch. He really cares about these things too, for instance repeatedly making a point of stressing his personal horror at the big government breakdown in New Orleans. So all of this fits together very naturally for him. Even his strong advocacy for the surge in Iraq, seen in this context, was a reformer's move in the face of massive blundering. It was an tactical innovation that got things working right -- and showed they could work (work militarily, that is, as opposed to working politically or strategically -- but that's another argument).

The point is, if you're John McCain it shouldn't be hard to come up with a simple, compelling message that is a credible alternative to Obama's. Yet it's not happening.

Instead, McCain seems to be betting the farm on his politically inadvisable "stay in Iraq" policy, while in the domestic arena he has become an ever-more conventional Republican in a year when Republicanism is clearly on the outs. And he's constantly haranguing the media and Democrats for accurately reporting his own, inconvenient statements. Today, for example, he's pushing back against the idea he supports "privatization" of Social Security. Set aside the mind-numbing semantic debate. Why does McCain put himself in this position of supporting an idea that George W. Bush pushed so aggressively, and which was an utter political flop, and which was never a serious policy solution to begin with? Because he's bought the standard suite of Republican policy positions, most of which have already been tested in the political-electoral marketplace and failed. This may be the easiest way to get a position paper up on your website, but it actually makes the case against McCain: he doesn't know what the hell he's going to do if he wins.

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Comments

[Faith101]

McCain thinks he is above competing for the office of president. In his mind he thinks: They know me; I,m John McCain. I been around 30 years. He was too busy watching the democratic race and trying to imitate and get gotcha moments. He doesn't have a plan. Most of all, trying to straddle to fence with his base and independents, hoping that he wouldn't get found out. This man voted against equal pay for women. Women are some of the hardest workers in the world, in and out of the home. You have got to be kidding me. This man don't care about women issues, to say the least. If you are in that 3% of americans (wealthy) you might be pleased. But for the rest of us 97% of americans, John McCain is not the president for us, and definitely not the one that we can afford.

[jlmealer]

McCain’s WINNING Economic Plan
1. RETHINK: America must rethink the global views on what America is capable of in the current state of technology, engineering and the demands on such environments.
2. REFORM: America must rise to demands of a global economy, the need for higher quality and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components that will exceed the current standards of currently produced items.
3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world’s marketplace in the competitive manner as we have always been proud to rule.
AND,
1. By creating a group of retrained and skilled individuals with the knowledge of what any manufacturing employer must know coupled with the requirements of the employee, the USA will have a base of ready made and willing manufacturing firms.
2. USA made products with USA based jobs create a whole new infrastructure for additional USA companies, from Asphalt to Zoos. Manufacturing companies need outside support and America needs jobs.
3. Empty stores & factories across America become MC-3R schools & mini-manufacturing training centers. USA made products are sold & support the schools. Building owners write off the loss in taxes. More revenue comes from 10,000’s new jobs & investor profits.
4.Investor­s will once again invest into MADE IN USA products and companies and we will thrive on McCain’s Economic plan.
Take that to Obama and smoke it!

[Bettysdad]

Apparently you are not aware that Republicans have murdered America.

Your childish economic plan won't work because:

1 - the factories are gone, and

2 - the skilled workers that knew how to make things in them don't exist anymore.

This country is all about shuffling paper. No nation can exist on that.

[bhenry112]

Talk about vague rhetoric and expensive government promises! Is that McCain's plan, or something you think he should say?

[Bluesue]

Why are people posting articles telling McCain what changes he should make to win?

Let him flounder along.

[frank438]

Reformer? That does not exist anymore. Washington is made up special interest on both sides. There really is not much difference between McCain and Obama. Think about it, both want to raise taxes, one on the rich( what a surprise) and the other for so called global warming. One wants to take the profits from big oil and the other wants to take money from high paid CEO's. Obama has said in the past that he can not commit to pulling troops from Iraq. The way I see it, we have one very liberal Democrat and one very liberal Republican who both want to tax us. GOD HELP US.

[Snowball]

Not much difference between McCain or Obama? You must be kidding, especially in light of the most recent Supreme Court decision on Habeas Corpus. It is for certain that the next President will appoint the next Supreme Court nominee. Given that a critical decision concerning the Constitution and the rule of law verses a decent into a Kafkaesque nightmare where anyone around the world could be detained indefinitely without charges was won by only one vote, do you really think that it makes no difference who appoints the next Supreme?

[Annette]

Pretty shallow there aren't you. Check the actual tax policies. Obama, lower taxes for everyne making less than $250,000 per year. McCain lower taxes for the wealthy, not so much for the little people. IraqMcCain, We can be there forever. Obama, behaving responsibly not promising any more than can be delivered. McCain adhering to Bush's policies on everything.
You want promises, easy to give. Some one who will not promise what is politically expedient just to get elected has credibility. McCain changing positions every day to pander. No credibility at all.

[MourningDude]

And higher taxes on small businesses. That ought to help keep people employed..­.

Obama is so far out of touch on fiscal responsibility that it's scary. I mean, he's actually saying that he's planning to take "the Iraq money" and use it to fund all his domestic boondoggles. He would continue spending like we're at war, long after the war has ended.

If Obama truly wanted to utterly refute Bush's policies, he would start by balancing the budget, not by increasing the deficits.

[cowboyneok]

McCain new that if he fed the egos of the media and then cultivated a media image as "maverick" or "bucking the system" a long time ago that when he evolved into the typical Washington insider, and bullwark conservative, the media would hang on to the myth they helped build. He knows its not important what he truly is, but what the journalists write about him that really matters. As long as those people that attend his barbeques continue to gush in the national media about what a "maverick" he is then he can lie, cheat and steal his way into office. Its that simple.

[darker]

McCain never was "a reformer". And recently HE GOT BUSHED. He's a republican CROOK.

[JimR]

No, he actually pushed through a campaign finance reform package with Feingold. Unfortunately, it was shot down by the Supreme Court. But the fact that he got it that far is impressive.

[RevSpaminator]

The Reformer was the guy that could have stepped in and restored credibility and integrity to the Republican party. Even if he lost the White House, the roll of Reformer would have saved the party from implosion. Instead he caves to the right wing lunatic fringe that currently is in control. He doesn't remember what he has said from one day to the next. He is a mirror of the current White House directives and he has no will to stand against it.

McCain the Reformer is no longer with us. He left the contest long ago and has been replaced with the soul of a scared child. The scared McCain is afraid to take control of his party and lead it in a new direction. McCain the Reformer had his soul eaten by some Lovecraftian horror that came in the guise of the RNC.

[Snowball]

What do you mean by restore credibility and integrity to the Republican party? They haven't had either of those qualities since Lincoln was assassinated with the exception of Eisenhower. Otherwise, the party has been nothing but the political arm of corporations, the economic elite and maniacal religious cults.

[gurukalehuru]

Before Lincoln was elected to Congress, he was the attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad. During his administration, railroad executives and arms manufacturers got stinking rich. This has been the business party from the beginning.

[JimR]

"Otherwise, the party has been nothing but the political arm of corporations, the economic elite and maniacal religious cults."

True, though the Democrats have been muscling in on those first 2 groups.

[mairs]

The lantern-shuttered blinking of his eyes, the radioactive grin that doesn't match the rest of his face. His manner is disjointed and troubling, his short-term memory swallowed up in a rabbit hole, and half the country is ready to follow him as willingly as they followed Bush in 2000.

[LiberTLover]

Even if they came up with a message, the second someone criticised it he would instantly proclaim that it was never his message.

[Snowball]

The image of McCain as a reformer has always been a false one. While he was the go to guy to get Republicans on board feel good reform legislation, his contribution to campaign reform was to fill it with loopholes you could drive a truck through. Sad, but that's the only way Republicans could ever be brought on board with even the most tepid reform. His stature as a moderate maverick was always more a matter of carefully constructed PR campaigns, not of real substance.

[JTyroler]

McCain could be doing all those things mentioned if he was a man of principles. Apparently, he is not. He has cozied up to the people he rightly called "agents of intolerance" in 2000. He still has an undeserved reputation as a straight talker - even though he's flip-flopped on many things.

[Liberal2]

"Agents of intolerance" was McSame's test of whether the rethug party had a "reformer" constituency. His 2000 fade-away, proved it does not. 2004 proves it does not. 2008 and their choice of McSame proves it does not.

Maybe reform minded rethugs became independents. I don't know. But Bush simply ripped the covers off the true nature of the rethug party: corruption, perversion, lying, treason. In terms of quality of government, we have become what the Soviet Union was in the '70s and '80s; what the Roman Empire became, starting perhaps with Caligula.

[widowson]

None of the charter members of the Republican Crime Family are going to donate MONEY to a reformer. Without that corporate MONEY, McCain has no chance. It's tough enough as it is. He is way behind in fundraising, but he cannot allow that to completely dry up, so he must pander to the monied interests.

So he has to ditch the guise of the "reformer" and hug Bush.

He's between a rock and a hard place. No wonder he's confused.

[Balloonman]

Ditch what? McCAIN reformer? According to what consistent record really, widowson? CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM? Okay, but he wasn't stiff enuf to give it real legs. EARMARK dissolution? Please. He is an EARMARK himself considering the host of LOBBYISTS give him support, slipping him in credibility between corporatism counselors, foreign policy neocons, Reaganesque economic advisors, and of course campaign money from factions alien to people interest. Who you can bet trust him since he's BUSH HEAVY, far as self admitting he agrees with Bush on the "transcendant' issues. Please. Not four more years of ruination here, and dirtying more our face abroad. Killings. Okay then, IMMIGRATION REFORM? What's MCCAIN done to get illegals on path to citizenship? How far back to his early day vote record to prove he is long standing conservative Republican? Well, okay! Oh! Upgrade IRAQ vet GI BILL? Come again?

McCAIN between a rock and a hard place, sure. The thing is a candidate at core is what principle? Taking into account adjustments to keep your Senate seat. But monstrous about faces? Some politician types sell whateveri is left . Starts early career. Personality inclinations gravitate to what works and sell off too much of everything they conceivably stood for in the first place.

[ez14livin]

you are spot on, balloonman

mccain should have fought bush in 2000 the way hillary fought obama this year, instead of letting himself get swift-boated to the back of the bus

if he had any principles he would have stood up to the ludicrous actions taken by his party over the past 7 years.

if he was truly independent, he wouldn't have given a damn about getting the religious zealots thumping their bibles on his behalf

the term 'maverick' doesn't fit. actions don't match the words.

i'll chalk it up to this: eight years of watching bush fukk things up must have eaten away his soul; but that doesn't mean i'd vote for him if he was the only candidate on the ballot.

actions haven't matched the words, for a long time, if ever.

[JimR]

I think you just hit the nail on the head. If he wants money, he's going to have to kiss some right-wing and evangelical ass, and say the things he wants to hear. The kind of things that scare the hell out of me.

[speakyourmind]

McCain's campaign is ineffective because well...do we really need to state the obvious?

[MrKnuckles]

It think the question may not be why the seemingly rudderless John McCain can't seem to stop fumbling and just come up with a compelling message, though as you point out he has plenty of opportunities, and ample political fodder to do so. I believe there is distinct reason McCain appears to be ineffectual and rudderless, because simply, he truly is rudderless.

The question is more, what happened to the real John McCain that he is now essentially unable to be direct like his former Maverick self, or capable of declaring an individual position or message?

I think McCain's total political surrender to his former hated adversary and rival, George Bush, is what happened to McCain.

Not unlike a kidnap victim suffering from Stockholm Syndrome John may have psychologically abdicated too much of his personal self in his bid to safely align and bond himself to a President that McCain already knew, first hand, could be ruthlessly cruel to those who opposed him

The terrible, sad, price McCain has paid for surrendering so deeply and ethically to his former nemesis is that, psychically , McCain no longer has an independent self left to make choices with.

[MrKnuckles]

Uh... mangled sentence alert, among other flubs... I had meant to write:

The question is more, what happened to the real John McCain that he is now essentially incapable of forging a direction more like his former Maverick self, or of defining an individual position or message?

[Liberal2]

"...seemin­gly rudderless John McCain..."­, "...the real John McCain..."­????

Duh! McCain is the perfect soldier: absoulute obedience to chain of command; no ideas considered unless authorized by an officer of higher rank; wars, no matter their morality, must be won; protect, at all costs, one's comrade (e.g. his current wife)

[DietrichMoody]

(corrected)
Why do you have to ask Why, sir. This isn't about John McCain. This is about continuing the same failing policies. He'll just be the cheerleader. That's why, the same group or think tanks or whomever that is selling us John McCain are hoping the American public is stupid enough to buy into John Wayne McCain the "plain guy." But once he is in office the will continue the same policies as Bush.


So you ask Why McCain is not standing up to these people and his alleged principles of the past. I'm starting to think, that the man never thought for himself. Just was angry and new how to play the game, to look like a "Maverick.­" Its amazing people in his own party for years so him as grandstanding and an opportunist. The McCain Feingold Amendment, has been enforced?


The problem I have with your post, is that you still assume that Senator McCain "has the ability to recognize.­" I'm starting to see through this campaign that he never had that ability. Yeah, if you are looking at the John McCain the press has sold us for years it would be simple for him to authentically come up with compelling message that is a credible alternative to Obama's. But John McCain has only played on Maverick on TV, the real one, well, you are getting now. Running for President reveals your soul.

[DietrichMoody]

Why do you have to ask Why, sir. This isn't about John McCain. This is about continuing the same failing policies. He'll just be the cheerleader. That's why, the same group or think tanks or whomvever that is selling us John McCain are hoping the American public is stupid enough to by into John Wayne McCain the "plain guy." But once he is in office the will continue the same policies as Bush.


So you ask Why, McCain is not standing up to these people and his alleged principles of the past. I'm starting to think, that the man never thought for himself. Just was angry and new how to play the game, to look like a "Maverick.­" Its amazing people in his own party for years so him as grandstanding and an opportunist. The McCain Feingold Amendment, has been enforced?


The problem I have with your post, is that you still assume that Senator McCain "has the ability to recognize.­" I'm starting to see through this campaign that he never had that ability. Yeah, if you are looking at the John McCain the press has sold us for years it would be simple for him to authentically come up with compelling message that is a credible alternative to Obama's. But John McCain has only played on Maverick on TV, the real one, well, you are getting now. Running for President reveals your soul.

[jlmealer]

Not exactly!
McCain’s WINNING Economic Plan
1. RETHINK: America must rethink the global views on what America is capable of in the current state of technology, engineering and the demands on such environments.
2. REFORM: America must rise to demands of a global economy, the need for higher quality and less restricted trade routes for Made in USA components that will exceed the current standards of currently produced items.
3. REINVENT: America and Americans must reinvent themselves to reach and maintain these standards and by sheer American ingenuity, control the world’s marketplace in the competitive manner as we have always been proud to rule.
AND,
1. By creating a group of retrained and skilled individuals with the knowledge of what any manufacturing employer must know coupled with the requirements of the employee, the USA will have a base of ready made and willing manufacturing firms.
2. USA made products with USA based jobs create a whole new infrastructure for additional USA companies, from Asphalt to Zoos. Manufacturing companies need outside support and America needs jobs.
3. Empty stores & factories across America become MC-3R schools & mini-manufacturing training centers. USA made products are sold & support the schools. Building owners write off the loss in taxes. More revenue comes from 10,000’s new jobs & investor profits.
4.Investor­s will once again invest into MADE IN USA products and companies and we will thrive on McCain’s Economic plan.
Take that to Obama and smoke it!

[Bettysdad]

Posting the same inanity twice won't help.

[icecrystal1972]

I used to have a lot of respect for John McCain and his "maverick" ideals and not towing to party lines. Then he started running for president and started pandering to the party and selling out just to get the nomination. It's sad. Really, really sad.

[PioneerKing]

JOHN:

Dude you have got to be kidding when you stated "...He really cares about these things too, for instance repeatedly making a point of stressing his personal horror at the big government breakdown in New Orleans." McCain is an opportunist and did not show concern for Katrina victims until after he had won his party's nomination. When Katrina hit McCain was partying hearty, and the day that Bush made his famous flyover McCain ate cake and did not mention the Katrina victims, even though he had ample opportunity to do so with the press present.
As far as McCain being a reformer that is a myth of the main stream media - please check McCain's voting record for the last 26 years. Oh, you want to talk about McCain-Feingold well look at what that bill really did - nothing, it was all good intentions but the greatest compromises in the bill were put there by Johnny boy, which led to weak and watered down legislation, that simply created a new class of special interest groups 527's!
McCain loves to say he is against ear marks but look at the pork on the bills that have come out of the committees he chaired.
McCain is far from a reformer, he is as slick as a snake oil salesman in the hot August Arizona sun.