From "The One" To "That One": John McCain And (Not) Reaching Across Party Lines
Senator McCain likes to claim he will be a bipartisan leader. He likes to claim he will get things done once elected president, because he knows how to reach across party lines.
He may say this, but does Senator McCain "Walk the talk"? Does he really know how to reach across party lines?
No. He does not.
In tonight's presidential debate, Senator McCain failed big time in that most basic principle of bipartisan leadership: attributing inherent worth to his equal from the opposite side of the political spectrum.
Yes, I know that Senator McCain is behind Senator Obama in the polls. I know he needs desperately to change the dynamics of the campaign. I know his campaign put a commercial on the internet that accused Senator Obama of thinking he's "The One"... the messiah... almost Moses-like.
But, Senator McCain, tonight you referred to Senator Obama as "...that one."
Not "Senator Obama", "my opponent", or "he does" (which would have fit the context of the rhetorical question Senator McCain asked the audience in his previous sentence).
Not even "that man."
But "that one."
Who speaks that way about another person? Who calls a person "that one"?
Certainly not a future president... especially one who claims he knows how to work across party lines - (although every time he uses Senator Lieberman as his example of a Democrat who he works with, I feel like reminding him that Senator Lieberman is not really a Democrat any more) - and claims Senator Obama never has.
And, related to that, I think Senator McCain should talk to Senator Lugar (R - Indiana), because then he'd find out Senator Obama definitely knows how to reach - and work - across party lines.
It's a shame, Senator McCain, that you are so unaware of who you really are.... so unaware of your inability to respect that man who - if you were to be elected president - would be someone the American people would expect you to work with.
But that's okay. Even if you aren't aware of how little respect you have for Senator Obama, the American people are now more clear than ever about that fact.
The last question of the debate was "What don't you know and how will you learn it?" Well, Senator McCain, this is something you obviously don't know... about yourself. But about five weeks from now - when you are analyzing the reasons why you lost the election - I think this essential fact about who you are will be crystal clear to you.
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Oh, for those of you who missed this moment in the debate, here it is...
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Gotta Love McCain!!! Just when you think he can't get worse...
visit this site
www.wethepeoplemedia.org/archive/2005_FebMar/FebMar2005.html
Here is the article
At the town hall meeting, the newly elected U.S. Senator, Barack Obama (D-IL) proposed tax credits for workers, rolling back the inheritance tax and automatically enrolling workers into 401(k) plans with the option to decline.
“If they are automatically enrolled, statistics show that people end up saving more than they otherwise would have,” he declared.
To ensure the program’s solvency, Obama has two changes he wants to make. First, the government should raise the cap on payroll taxes. Currently, only the first $90,000 of income is taxed for Social Security. That means someone earning $100,000 annually would not have to pay the payroll tax for $10,000 of that salary. Increasing the amount of money that can be taxed under Social Security could ease the burden facing the program.
Second, the Senator suggested increasing the retirement age, a method he said was used in 1990 to address Social Security concerns.
Illinois Democrats Resist Social Security Privatization
Mary C. Johns, Editor-in-Chief
But didn't Barry once say.. "They are gonna say he has a funny name. They are gonna say he doesn't look like the other presidents."
Who is "They?"
I don't consider that a racist comment coming from Barry since his Mom is white. So why is "that one"
racist?
And to be fair and balanced. I do believe it was wrong of McCain not shaking his hand.
**** The World Fastest Lie ****
Watch Cindy McCain lie to Ann Curry ..saying John won’t go negative.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60k9IZ1LRC0
It's not racist but it dehumanizes Senator Obama. If Obama had done the same thing I hope other people would have called him on it.
Dehumanizes Senator Obama? What dehumanizes Senator Obama are the cruel and vicious attacks about Senator McCain NOT knowing how to type. The man can't type because he had alll of his fingers broken.
McCain patted Obama on the back and grasped his shoulder and forearm wiith his other hand; HARDLY a dehumanizing or racist gesture. Let's get back to the issues; then again, this is the first time I've been to a liberal blog. Is this how the game is played; blame this and blame that?
I noted that Senator McCain grasped him on the forearm and shoulder; is that not enough to make up for a lack of a handshake? Lordy, are we a bit particular, or what?
You referring to him as Barry could be construed as someone trying to disrepect a man who was named after his father. Most men that are named after their fathers never have to defend their name as Senator Obama has. Disrespect.
That's what this statement is about. I don't care if you are on the left or right, there is and should be respect shown for your opponent.
McCain has been disrespectful in both debates. He refuse to look at or talk directly to Senator Obama in the first debate, now he refers to him as "that one" not that guy, that Senator, that man........that one. Its call dehumanizing him.
i used to respect McCain, even though I did not agree wtih him.
After that "other one" comment, I don't even respect him.
Why should we give him respect, when he doesn't respect others.
Any honor he once had, he has lost.
I believe that there is an undercurrent of racism in McCain's obvious and intense disdain for Senator Obama. The expression "that one" is very close to the derogatory epithet "boy" that used to be used with impunity just a few decades back. I believe that the analysts and the pundits are reluctant to inflame an already tense climate by expressing this. I see no other reason for one Senator to address another Senator, albeit a much younger one, by that term. Hierarchy by age has no place in a public debate, especially in a presidential debate. Respect for current position and possible future position is more important. I do not see him addressing Sara Palin by any disrespectful terms.
I can't really say if McCain is a racist as you would like, but I know this. There are a lot of voters who only play lip service to racial equality. Meaning they talk it up like they are the caring, understanding, tolerant and helpful for all people everywhere when asked. Oh, and yes, they'll filled with the love, joy, and hope for change with Barack Obama. But, when push comes to shove and no one can prove how they voted (secret ballots, ya know), many will vote for McCain or just stay home.
Why? Because race IS a problem for many of them.
Personally, I couldn't care less about someone's race. I just look at their record and what they promise.
Sen. Obama promises to raise taxes on the job creators and increase government spending by about $900 Billion. That will effectively kill any kind of job creation and economic recovery.
McCain promises to cut taxes on the job creators, cut pork barrel spending and balance the budget by 2012.
I think I'll vote for the one that wants to cut taxes. Besides, if we elect Sen. Obama and he has a Democratic US Congress (which he no doubt will) there will be nothing to slow his taxing and spending down.
McCain has made promises during this primary that he has not kept. How can you expect him to actually keep his promises as president. You might want to take a look at his voting record also.
Senator Obama's plans will raise taxes by more than $900 billion. The healthcare spending will be over $700 billion/year x ten years, and that's just healthcare. True, there won't be income taxes raised on individuals making less than $200,000; but most of America's small businesses fall in the category of making OVER $200,000.
Unfortunately, because taxes will be raised on them, to make ends meet and make those mandatory healthcare requirements, the businesses will have no choice but to pass on their tax burden to the consumer. So, expect to see higher prices at the pumps and all essential goods and services.
John McCain is AGAINST raising taxes and the only reason he wasn't for extending the Bush tax cuts is that there weren't governmental spending cuts that went along with them.
Barack Obama promises change, but he has already shown us how much like the rest of the 'Washington establishment' he is. Have you already forgotten how he reneged on his pact with Senator McCain about campaign funding?
Those were the same promises we got from GWB and look where we are. He voted for 4 out of 5 of his budgets. Explain how he will different?
WOW........have you been asleep the past 8 years. Republican President and a Congress of Republicans that have been in control since 1994. Joe Scarborough himself wrote a book based on his experience in Congress and how economically irresponsible his fellow republicans have been. George Bush Sr oversaw the largest tax increase in history.
Clinton on the other hand, balanced the budget and we had a surplus.
Bush promised low taxes and job creation. This year alone we have 9 consecutive months of job losses.
Unless you make $250,000 a year you will get a tax cut from Obama.
Although he wants the upper hand and is doing everything possible to gain it, I truly believe that McCain does not realize how dehumanizing his ways are.
In the instance of "that one", I will give him the benefit of the doubt by saying that he was acting like a family authority figure and using words he probably himself uses at home or heard in his own first family. Haven't you seen the same type of thing in your own family dealings?
But this is not an arena of his accepted authority on every subject; WE are determining. The problem of condescension is glaring, and it is clear that when push comes to shove, these attitudes are so ingrained within him that they are out of his mouth before he realizes it.
McCain is NOT the steady one at the helm that this nation needs.
I've barely heard anyone talk about how rude it was when he stated to the young black man that he had probably never heard of Freddie or Fannie. I don't know if McCain realizes how he comes off either, but I think that is why he is losing. His constant use of "my friends" and his condescending attitude is not doing him any good. He also does not look good. It is difficult to compare him to the young and youthful Obama. The negative campaigning is only adding to this image and today Cindy is participating. How sad.
Where's the T-shirt ~ Guess who I am voting for - " THAT ONE!!! " :-)
Look on the cafe express site--they had them within two hours last night.
John keeps saying that Barack has never reached across the lines. Bush was on the other side of the aisle. Barack had no reason to reach across the aisle and macdisdain had every reason to reach across more. It amounts to Barack saying that macdisdain can't sink a 3-pointer.
How could this guy accomplish anything if Senate and House will be dominated by Democrats?
I don't see McCain providing the leadership needed to deal with a legislature that apposes many of his ideas. He might use that famous veto pen with what result.
I just don't see him working in a bi-partisan way to address the enormous challenges we face.
Did any one else see McCain refuse to shake Obama’s hand and shove Cindy McCain between them after the debate? Obama adroitly and diplomatically then shook Cindy’s hand as if that was what was intended all along. Drawing minimal attention to the incident.
This scene was very indicative of who will restore our international stature be able to pull coalitions of nations together. And who will create greater strife through out the world through impetuous and impulsive actions.
Barack Obama; Calm, Deliberate, informed.
John McCain, Hot headed, Reactionary, Un-informed.
One of the senators was taught to treat his elders with respect. Which one? "That one."
"Senator McCain failed ... in ... attributing inherent worth to his equal from the opposite side of the political spectrum". McCain, and all of those who are convinced that "truth" is their exclusive possession must look upon the "other" as a threat. This singular "Truth" has been revealed and not reached through a dialogue (a debate). It is given as a gift from some external power, such as God, a Sacred Book, or some other Supreme Leader, or even History itself ("It" tells us...) They cannot be tolerant or compromise since this is to be taken as a "betrayal" of the revelation of which they have been exclusively granted (e.g., Moses-Mohammad). Since this "truth" is self-related (unable to be contradicted) it never changes. From their perspective, "liberals" are skeptical, being too open to historical change and opposing views (e.g., in the first debate, when Obama reached out to McCain the gesture was seen by Conservatives as a sign of weakness) Conservatives, as McCain illustrates, cannot "recognize" an "inherent worth" to the opposition. To "look" at an opponent is a sign of doubt and betrayal of "principle". Pity him.
John McBush is not the one sensible people want in the White House!
This article brought back to mind how much spin can make us not believe our eyes and ears. Here are things that are true:
1. Lieberman does nothing like a Democrat and is even called Independent, but we still call him a Dem.
2. No one ever has to question whether Joe Biden shook someones hand... McCain declined to shake Obama's hand last night, but that will somehow be spun.'
3. No one with any manners whatsoever, and I'm sure McCain was taught manners, refers to another as "that one". McCain was raised by one of the highest ranking military officers in the Navy. McCain went to Annapolis. John McCain knows that it's rude to even point his finger at someone.
To speak of someone, pointing at them, not looking at them and for the love of God using the word THAT is as rude and dehumanizing behavior as a person could have demonstrated in that setting.
McCain is lucky his mother wasn't there to slap the taste out of his mouth the way my mother would have done.
In my humble opinion, the very big elephant in the living room this past week has been Governor Palin's and now Senator McCain's rather overt attempt to target the basest fears of Americans by making Senator Obama "not one of us". It's disturbing and frightening and smacks of McCarthyism at its worst. It encourages the racists and bigots of our society - how horrible and fundamentally un-American. It's an absolute disgrace.
It's an insult to all of us who live in small towns. I don't think like that. In fact, I cannot say strongly enough that "golly, gee Governor Palin is NOT like me at all." And I thoroughly repudiate the condescending attitude of Senator McCain in his use of "that one". That is not who I want to lead my country or represent me.
Also in my opinion, Senator Obama is superb at staying above the mud - cool, calm, collected and very presidential.
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