Now that the primary season is over and the Democratic Party has its nominee, we have turned our attention to John McCain. We have talked about how a McCain administration would be a continuation of the Bush administration. We have talked about McCain's plans for 100 years of U.S. involvement in Iraq and the importance of prevent him from packing the Supreme Court with regressive (it's the term I prefer to "conservative") judges. Good. That's the sort of thing that we need to be discussing.
However, I have seen a lot of different talk around here recently - the kind that is not so much about policy. Instead of attacking John McCain on his indefensible voting record as a senator and the folly of his platform, people are going after personal issues like his medical record, his marital life, and his teeth.
Yes, some of you might be concern about John McCain's life expectancy. Some of you might not like the way his treatment of his ex-wife reflects on his character. Some of you might even be grossed out by the shade of his incisors. But I'm going to give you a suggestion right now - leave it alone.
Barack Obama has said that this election will be about change. He has said that his campaign and presidency would be different from the traditional fear and smear style of Washington politics. He has been respectful of John McCain but critical of McCain's message and public record.
Let's be honest. We're not working so hard to elect Barack Obama and defeat John McCain because we're worried about McCain's wife or his vitality. We're working to elect Obama because we realize that this country is facing dire issues that only a Democrat, Barack Obama, can address. So let's try to stay on message. Here are some alternatives to going personal when talking about John McCain:
Don't talk about how McCain is too old to be President. Talk about how John McCain favors Bush-style Social Security overhauls that would hurt elderly retirees.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) created a stir today when he said in a published interview with the Wall Street Journal that he favored personal savings accounts in the Social Security System like those supported by President Bush.
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"Actually, I’m totally in favor of personal savings accounts and I think they are an important opportunity for young workers," McCain told the Journal. "I campaigned in support of President Bush’s proposal and I campaigned with him, and I did town-hall meetings with him."
Don't talk about McCain's personal medical records. Talk about McCain's inadequate healthcare plan. Remember Hillary Clinton's hard work on a national health care plan in 1993? Here is what McCain had to say about it:
[But the Clinton plan, according to McCain], would destroy America's health care system as it had come to be known---the best in the world. McCain was also worried about the Clinton plan's distribution of money. "All Americans deserve the opportunity to obtain health care coverage of their choice," McCain wrote
"I hope that we will never see the day in which the government tells us which health care plan we may enroll in or who will provide the care. To socialize our health care system, as the Clinton reform plan would, will be to ruin it.
Don't talk about McCain's womanizing in his personal life. Talk about how he believes Roe v. Wade should be overturned and would appoint Supreme Court justices who favor overturning the decision.
"I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned," the Arizona senator told about 800 people in South Carolina, one of the early voting states.
McCain also vowed that if elected, he would appoint judges who "strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States and do not legislate from the bench."
Don't talk about McCain's teeth. Sink your own teeth into this one: John McCain supported the surge, said he would be OK with the U.S. being in Iraq for 100 years, and still has no idea what is going on in Iraq.
"I can tell you that it [the mission in Iraq] is succeeding," said McCain. "I can look you in the eye and tell you it's succeeding. We have drawn down to pre-surge levels."
And that was just the beginning. McCain's gaffe had already been exacerbated during a conference call earlier in the day, when aides to the Arizona Republican insisted that he had not misspoke, even while McCain surrogate Sen. Jon Kyl acknowledged on the same call that he had: "What he said was not entirely accurate. OK. So what?"
Don't talk about how bad McCain looks against a green background. Talk about the real green issue - the environment. John McCain has a record of avoiding important environmental issues in the Senate.
On June 21, 2007, the Senate voted on the Baucus amendment to the energy bill, which would have removed some oil company subsidies in order to fund renewable energy. The amendment failed to pass. Where was McCain? He didn't vote.
On the same day, the Senate held a cloture vote to overcome the standard Republican veto threat and pass the energy bill. The vote succeeded. Where was McCain? He didn't vote.
On Dec. 7, the Senate held another cloture vote to overcome the standard Republican veto threat on the energy bill, which had become substantially bolder after being aligned with the House version. The vote failed. Where was McCain? He didn't vote.
On Dec. 13, 2007, the Senate held another cloture vote to overcome the standard Republican veto threat and pass the energy bill, which had the Renewable Portfolio Standard stripped out of it but retained a measure that would shift oil company subsidies to renewables. The vote failed -- by one vote, 59-40. Where was McCain? He didn't vote -- the only senator not to do so.
On Feb. 6, 2008, the Senate held another cloture vote to overcome the standard Republican veto threat and pass a stimulus bill containing a number of green energy incentives. The cloture motion failed, by one vote. Where was McCain? He didn't vote -- again, the only senator not to do so.
These are just a few legitimate reasons why John McCain shouldn't be President. See - there are better things than his appearance to criticize him about.
The truth is that this election isn't about John McCain. It isn't even about Barack Obama. It's about us, and what we can do to make the U.S. the world leader it once was. So let's leave the old people jokes to SNL; we've got a lot of work to do!
FIRED UP! READY TO GO!