McCain Undone By Affect And TemperamentMcCain NewsLadder

Special Debate Edition

In the much-anticipated final presidential debate of the 2008 campaign season, the man who landed the greatest number of punches, say the commentators, ultimately lost the debate. Despite the invocation of a terrorist, it was a plumber who may have been McCain's undoing. Salon's Joan Walsh explains it this way:

John McCain promised to kick Barack Obama's "you know what" on Wednesday night. He hinted that he'd bring up former Weather Underground leader Bill Ayers and worse. Instead McCain bludgeoned Obama with Joe the Plumber, and the effect was more farce than fierce.

Indeed, one Joe the Plumber, "an apparently wealthy Toledo businessman who complained he'd pay more taxes under Obama's plan," according to Walsh, was cited repeatedly by McCain as the kind of regular guy who would suffer under several Obama proposals, ranging from income tax to health care. In fact, it was later discovered, Joe would only pay higher income taxes under Obama's if he netted $250,000 for himself, and would only incur a fine under Obama's health care plan if he was a large employer who refused to make "a meaningful contribution" to his employees' health care coverage.

But McCain just couldn't let go of Joe -- and then Obama got in on the act.

Live-blogging for Mother Jones, Johnathan Stein and Nick Baumann, initially began counting the JTP references, but by the half-hour mark, simply offered up this:

10:01: Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber Joe the plumber.

10:05: Do you think Sen. McCain's advisers told him to speak directly to the American people, and McCain thought they said he should talk directly to an American person? Thus the to-the-camera addressing of JTP?

[...]

10:15: Turns out, the plumbers were the first union to endorse Obama...

"Barack Obama is the choice of the UA because he has always fought for working people throughout his career and will do the best job of bringing badly-needed change to Washington. Obama will help us keep existing jobs and work to develop new, higher paying jobs here in America, reform our health care system, fix our ailing schools and make sure that the pensions of our retirees are safe."

All this Joe stuff from MoJo's liveblogging boy team clearly irritated the magazine's live-Tweeting girl team of Laura McClure and Elizabeth Gettelman, who said via Twitter, in essence, enough about Joe; what about the much more accomplished Josephine the Plumber?

The plumbing of the depths of inanity rather than economy led The American Prospect's Dana Goldstein to sum up the debate this way on TAPPED:

Thank God these horse-and-pony shows are done with, truly. "Joe the Plumber," if you exist, bless your heart, but I've never experienced a more irritating gimmick than your insertion into this debate. The economic crisis? It has been boiled down by moderator after moderator this season into a contest on which candidate is the more convincing budget hawk. But has anyone ever heard of Keynes or FDR? Infrastructure and social spending is what will create jobs in a recession. Unfortunately, the lessons of history have never been major topics in these debates.

Greg Sargent of TPM Election Central puts it this way:

[C]onsider McCain's frequent evocation of Joe The Plumber. This attack from McCain was clearly labored over heavily by his aides. But it fell flat for a very simple reason: It didn't change the basic underlying policy disagreements between the two men. It didn't change the fact that people agree with Obama's solutions to our economic crisis, and reject McCain's ideas. In the face of that overwhelming reality, the constant evocation of Joe The Plumber just came across like a stunt.

Of course, Joe is not the man we came poised to hear about. After weeks and months of accusations about the alleged role of a former member of the Weather Underground in Obama's career, we sat ready to hear the name "William Ayers" fall from McCain's lips. In the first two debates, McCain failed to utter Ayers' name, instead allowing his running-mate to invoke it on the campaign trail, alleging that Barack Obama was "palling around with terrorists". (And do note the plural.) Obama, before this debate, threw down, daring McCain to raise the issue "to my face." And so McCain did. David Corn of Mother Jones recounts:

Prior to the debate, there was much chatter about whether McCain would play the Ayers card. Judging from video of his recent rallies, it appeared that his base was demanding blood on this front. But polls indicated that these sorts of attacks have been hurting McCain with in-the-middle voters. So he faced a tough decision: ignore Ayers and upset the diehards or accuse Obama of being a pal of a domestic terrorist and alienate the indies.

McCain and his strategists came up with a hybrid approach: take a shot on the Ayers front and combine it with a traditional political assault. "I don't care about an old washed-up terrorist," McCain huffed, but then he went on to say, "we need to know the full extent of that relationship." Huh? If you don't care about Ayers, why do you care about the relationship?

In The Washington Independent, Ari Melber, blogging at the debate site at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., says:

Asked about his running mate's false charge that Obama "palled around with terrorists," McCain offered an indignant non-sequitur. He demanded that Obama condemn Rep. John Lewis's criticism of incendiary rhetoric at GOP rallies, which McCain said was unfair because it likened his campaign to America's segregation era. "That, to me, was so hurtful," he intoned. Yet within minutes, McCain busied himself with the guilt-by-association attacks.

Another line of attack pursued by McCain was his attempt to link Obama directly to ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. As progressives have redoubled efforts to prevent the sort of voter disenfranchisement seen in Ohio and elsewhere during the 2004 presidential election, Republicans have focused on the voter registration efforts of ACORN, which is active in communities of color. An acknowledged lack of quality control has led to false registrations filed in some states, usually at the hands of subcontractors who defrauded ACORN itself. When McCain raised the issue, Obama dismissed it rather handily. But on another question, Obama coyly challenged the ACORN and Ayers narratives by going after FOX News. As Ari Melber, writing on this aspect for The Nation reports:

Standing beneath a dark blue campaign sign in the "spin room" at the Hofstra gym, Obama communications director Dan Pfeifer said the campaign had determined that Fox was a "powerful infrastructure whose goal is to drive a cultural schism in America." Pointing to the channel's "calculated" efforts to "push issues like ACORN and Bill Ayers," Pfeifer said the campaign will confront "anyone who seeks to advance a false argument about Obama." Some reporters at Fox are "fair and admirable," he added, but "they're the exception rather than the rule."

Despite all the drama in McCain's attempts to paint Obama as a less than savory character, McCain's real undoing likely came on a subject that has plagued nearly every American politician for more than 25 years -- abortion. To please his base, McCain said he would appoint "strict constructionists" to the Supreme Court. Then, apparently to please independent voters, he offered a disquisition on how he would adhere to no "litmus test" in appointing justices. Pretty likely to tick off the base. Then came his sneering comment about provisions for the health of a pregnant women in abortion law. AlterNet's Don Hazen describes the moment:

Late in the debate was the clincher for McCain's demise. McCain lost it the most when discussing abortion, putting air quotes around "health of the woman," belittling women's health concerns as if it were a political slogan, This stage of the debate was infuriating, and will be remembered by millions of women. The notion that many women thought McCain to be pro-choice, is now ancient history.

At RH Reality Check, Emily Douglas gives us the McCain quote (remember the air quotes around "health of the mother") and explains:

McCAIN: Just again, the example of the eloquence of Senator Obama. He's for the health of the mother. You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything.

The health exception [to late-term abortion bans] allows women who are physically or mentally compromised by pregnancy to protect themselves by terminating. This means "almost anything?" This is "extreme?" Since when does ensuring protection of the health of women -- many of them mothers - when discussing abortion access become something to challenge or argue against? It's a testament to the anti-choice movement that their positions are so extreme and punitive that they need to resort to attacking women.

At the night's end, though, it seemed that McCain was undone more by his affect and temperament than any one thing he said. As The American Prospect's Ezra Klein cracked wise in his live blog:

10:04: Someone is going to create a vicious video of McCain's eye roles, neck bulges, sighs, head tilts, death stares, and evident moments of gastrointestinal distress.

The Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel adds, "[B]y halftime, punditocrats brayed in virtual unison, it seemed as if McCain needed anger management therapy."

Laura Rozen of War and Piece is more compassionate:

[O]ne can increasingly foresee McCain as a somewhat tragic figure, likely to be defeated in a way by his own party and the pressures to be his party's candidate and run his party's type of divisive, smear-filled, non-issue based negative campaign, against perhaps some of his own inclinations. McCain really comes across as increasingly embittered.

Despite the growing consensus that last night's debate was a win for Obama, The Progressive's Ruth Conniff isn't about to hedge her bets. Live-blogging, she put it like this:

Obama: the biggest risk we could take right now is to adopt the same failed polices and the same failed politics we've seen over the last eight years and somehow expect a different result.

But the American voter just might fit this definition of insanity.

Or maybe not.

Obama didn't play to his base. He remained unfazed when McCain took rhetorical shots, and delivered a performance that was so reserved as to be a bit of a snooze, thus shoring up the doubts his campaign has planted about his opponent's temper. However dull it looked on screen, Obama's performance in this final debate may be remembered as quite masterful.

--Adele M. Stan

This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting
about John McCain. Visit JohnMcCain.NewsLadder.net
for a complete list of articles on McCain. And for the best progressive reporting on two
critical issues, check out Immigration.NewsLadder.net and Healthcare.NewsLadder.net.

JohnMcCain.NewsLadder.net is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of 50 leading independent media outlets, and created by NewsLadder. Adele M. Stan is executive editor of The Media Consortium's syndicated reporting project.

Comments

[formerprosecutor]

I can't wait until President Obama and congress get busy on health care. My crystal ball tells me that Wal-Mart will pull out all the stops to de rail any health care coverage. Another problems will be tackling all those "legal loopholes" ALL the big boys use; such as the "full time" employment criteria. The woriking poor not only got without health care, but can't get TRUE full time jobs since many companies keep employees below that crieria of 19 , 29 and 39 hours to eliminate ALL benefits. The cards have been marked for the "big boys" for so long. We need a new, clean deck to play with.

[lvdragonlady]

Who is JM to demand anything?
Dems should demand he run an honest campaign instead to this current _____.

[tedbear]

I think Obama was FANTASTIC!

He was perfectly at ease ,and allowed McCain to make himself look like an idiot. Oh yeah, it was all about Obama's presence exuding calm and measured remarks. Obama knows how to handle people and situations, and if we all GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE FOR HIM, he will make a truly great President.

He just sat back while McCain struggled to keep from jumping out of his seat. McCain wanted a fight I guess, even though he hasn't the brains to rattle Obama. He is a joke of a person, and the people who take him seriously aren't anyone I know. I cannot imagine the mental state of a person who supports him.

[FlamingLibrul]

The debate was really hard for me to watch, because I wanted Obama to let loose and to let McCain Have It. I'm glad Obama didn't listen to his "Base," me included. I struggled with wanting to yell at my television, "Obama, SAY something- Troopergate, Keating 5, etc.!!" The longer the debate went on though, the more I felt Obama's "Zen state." As McCain bulged and sighed, rolled his eyes, flicked his tongue in the very strange manner he has... I began to realize it was all going to be alright.

Did anyone else notice, after the debate, the very first darn thing any of the pundits had to say (Especially John King- he must be a closet conservative), was that this debate was "McCain's Strongest."?? Coincidentally, John King and the other "Balanced" sycophants were among the first to backtrack once the viewing public's votes started coming in...

[jkminwa]

Most of them said, for the first half hour, McCain did a good job. McCain can only control his emotions for one half hour, and then became enraged at nothing, really. He lost control of his emotions, made stupid gestures and stupid comments, and lost the debate. I'm not sure who it was who criticized Obama for talking about abortion at length, Roland Martin, maybe, who I usually agree wih, but I think it was masterful. McCain had to make a decision: do I please the base, or please the moderate independents, tried to do both, but failed miserably. Did Obama know McCain would throw him a bone like the "health of the mother" disaster? Wow!

[glitterik]

Everyone remembers McSame declaring that he would not use an abortion litmus test for supreme court nominees, but has forgotten - or doesn't remember - that he went on to say that any judge who wasn't anti-abortion wasn't qualified to be considered as a nominee.

[tydicea]

Demeanor, temperament, condescending manner, lack of respect for his peer and opponent, absurd pick for VP choice, and basic clueless about the state of the economy and an appropriate response to manage it, rang the death knell for McCain.

[tm68]

I think Obama said it best when he said that everyone is prolife. I am prolife as well, but I also want control over my own body as guaranteed by the Constitution and Roe v Wade. Pro-lifers make it sound like anyone who is pro-choice is running out and getting abortions every time they get pregnant and didn't want to.

Obama has it right- invest in RESPONSIBLE AGE APPROPRIATE sex education- abstinence AND responsible use of birth control- and reduce the NEED for abortion.

[formerprosecutor]

I agree with "age appropriate sex ed"; though I wish the nomenclature would change back to the "facts of life"; which it what it really is. Opponents trot out that old "the are taecxhing our kids how to have sex" is totally inaccurate until those components enter the cirricculum after puberty. I KNOW that many a molested child and ruined lives could have been prevented if kindergarteners had more direct education. vagueries and metaphors just don't reach juvenile minds.

[PT6]

Karl ROVE STYLE COWARD CAMPAIGN - Now that Debates are Over!

Cowards afraid of Face-to-Face discussion because they always lose.

So resort to "ONE WAY DIRT Campaign" that will Backfire just like they did the Last two weeks!

McCain has lost all SELF-RESPECT

[janellrcarter1]

I don't get all of these so-called "pro-life" people. Would that they were pro ALL life, not just the pre-born. How can someone be "pro-life" and pro-death penalty -- particularly considering the number of people on death row for years, then are exonerated -- not to mention all the babies and pre-born in countries the U.S. invades who are killed in by bombs, check-point stops and in raids? But no, these so-called "pro-lifers" are the most ardent supporters of the war!

[liberalOrgonian]

My grandmother died 10 days after having her last child. She had major complications with the pregnancy and left a 10 day old baby and my dad a 2 and a half year old child. I want John McCain to apologize to women for his careless comments. I am appalled how he minimize a mothers health and life threatening complications in pregnancies.

[wazzucoug]

McCain Undone By McCain! Hey McCain, it's the economy, STUPID!

[janellrcarter1]

Turns out Joe the Plumber isn't going to help McCain out in this election, at least so far as voting for him is concerned. According to media reports, he isn't a registered voter. He's also probably going to end up w/a different moniker. Like, Joe the Tax Cheat. According to Politico, he owes $1,800 in back taxes.

[genia]

God !!!McCain comes off looking sooooo immature, childish...giggling, snickering, gloating....
oh....i pray for this to be over quickly

[justobserve]

If we want to be entertained, we hook up to entertainment stations but we are electing President and Vice President for our great country so that we are respected around the world again. If we elect our President based on how entertaining they are, we should choose clowns to be our President and Vice President. We may even get HOODWINKED BY SWINDLERS! AND THAT IS THE DANGER!

[lucite]

McCain you certainly whipped "his you know what" And when this is over the America public will whip you, Bush and Cheney's you know what. The only problem is I think no one will want to dirty their hands.

[LoyalOpposition]

Boring? Obama is not an actor. We've had those, and yes, they are great communicators, but terrible for the economy.

[lucite]

I suppose Bush/Cheney/McCain have been an economic wind fall. OH PLEASE