McCain tries to use taxes to turn the tide in Virginia
James Forsyth 5:19pmIf this election was a speech-making contest it would have been over before it started. McCain is still a halting speaker with a tendency to step on his words. But he has a biography that resonates with his supporters. Warm-up speaker after speaker stressed how McCain had risked his life for his country, so the people here could give up a couple of hours to turn voters out for him. In 2004, John Kerry won this county by 25 points and the McCain campaign knows that they need to stop Obama from racking up a margin here that is so big that they can’t overcome it in the rest of the state.
The theme of service continued when Cindy McCain introduced her husband by pointing out that the McCains and the Palins currently have three children on active service. (One of Joe Biden’s son is heading to Iraq soon). McCain’s stump speech, though, is surprisingly light on foreign policy. Instead he is pressing the argument that Obama will mean higher taxes. In a nifty bit of triangulation, he stresses how both he and Obama disagree with Bush on economic policy. But Obama thinks Bush left taxes too low while McCain thinks spending is too high.
To my mind, McCain should be emphasising the Commander in Chief test more. Obama’s defence of his tax plan—he says he’ll cut them for 95 percent of families—does seem to be working. But national security is an area where McCain still leads. Obama, who four years ago was a state senator in Illinois, would be the most inexperienced Commander in Chief in the history of the Republic. Given that America is fighting two wars and trying to prevent Iran from going nuclear this is no small issue.
One final note on the McCain crowds: There is a narrative in the press that McCain crowds are dangerously angry. But at this rally the mood was upbeat and light-hearted. There was no animus beyond the usual political knockabout directed at Obama. I’m sure there are some yahoos who have been making idiots of themselves at McCain rallies but the attempt to tar all McCain supporters with this brush is deeply unfair.
PS I discovered one new area of agreement between McCain and Obama today. Both campaigns are playing Brooks and Dunn’s Only in America as the second song after the candidate leaves the stage.
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Matthew Blott
November 1st, 2008 10:02pm Report this commentThis reminds if George H Bush's desperate efforts in 1992 - repeatedly reminding crowds of his service in WWII (Bill Clinton, remember, was a Vietnam draft dodger). It did not make one jot of difference and I don't expect it will now - certainly not three days before polling.
Hans-Erik Iken
November 1st, 2008 10:50pm Report this commentThe national security should be an issue according to mr. Forsyth because of the 2 wars in progress and the Iranian issue. What about the fact that one of those wars was not neccessary? What about the fact that Bush ignored the one that was needed to wage (Afghanistan) and that McCain supported Bush about Iraq and the neglecting of Afghanistan? Neither are judgements that speak in favor of McCain.
Nor is the fact that finally Bush decided to open talks with Iran when McCain was still openly opposing this.
The single fact that McCain was in the military and a POW 40 years ago does not mean he is qualified to lead a nation. Without questioning his patriotism I think that so far McCain has not shown the judgement a leader should have. Obama has shown better judgement on many issues including the economic meltdown.
As for the yahoo's the author refers to: McCain/Palin can deny that they are responsable for the idiots but they are responsable for the tone they have set in the negative ads and their stump speeches.
Obama has never questioned their patriotism or love of country whereas they have and are consistently questioning his and Bidens without cause.
This has set the tone where those same yahoo's feel that their idiotic tendencies are legitimised by the ticket.
To put it in plain words: one cannot hand the child the matches and then blame the child if he burns the house down. The adult (McCain/Palin) should never have handed the child those matches to start with.
James Kelley
November 1st, 2008 11:02pm Report this commentOn the comment, "I’m sure there are some yahoos who have been making idiots of themselves at McCain rallies . . ." the same can be said for Obama rallies. In any event, some of the claims about yahoos at McCain rallies were invented, perhaps by Obama supporters. For example, a journalist claimed at a rally that a McCain supporter, yelled, "kill him." It was apparently a fabrication, as FBI agents there asserted no such thing happened.
Mark Pollock
November 1st, 2008 11:48pm Report this commentYou clsim Obama would be the most inexperienced Commander in Chief the U.S. ever had, but Abraham Lincoln served less time than Obama has as a public official. So, for that matter, did George W. Bush. If you're talking about military service, you're wrong there as well -- we've had numerous presidents who hadn't been in the military.
voter
November 2nd, 2008 12:29am Report this commentI'm dangerously angry too that we are about to elect a total idiot. Obama didn't know his aunt was here illegally, he didn't know rev wright was preaching racist sermons, he didn't know Ayers was a terrorist. And you folks think he's all that. Incredible.
Mugwump
November 2nd, 2008 12:57am Report this commentTuesday will be the Battle of Obamageddon when the USA decides whether to be an ObamaNation.
Rich Kightly
November 3rd, 2008 12:15am Report this commentTonight we will see the USA vote itself into insignificance, following a bag of words, Mr. Obama. He will say anything you agree with, the ideal politician, until the chips fall and he is another Carter. However, then it will be too late for the USA, so I would like to say thanks for helping in WW1, WWII and the cold war, look after yourselves as no one else is going to. Pity, it could have had a fairy tale ending-but now it is just a broken economy, slave wages, marxism, poverty and disorder.
Better luck next century, if we manage to get that far without the USA.
the people of the UK
Al Ritchie
November 3rd, 2008 3:10am Report this commentObama is a black political
FLIM FLAM MAN who has conned the average American into thinking he is thair best bet for President. His speeches are repetitious and mechanical.
I am convinced that the intellect of the average American is not to high, otherwise the world would not be
witnessing this American social suicide.
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