Every campaign boils down to this. It's a cliche.
But I am going to argue here that making this election about a "clear choice" is the best chance Kerry and we Dems have to define this election regrardless of crazy events that may or may not happen.
Bush is defined. That is our greatest strength and his greatest weakness. By emphasizing the clarity of the choice...emphasizing our differences...we remind voters of Bush's negatives without running "negatively."
It's our best shot at winning a mandate, and here's a taste of what I would have John Kerry say:
My fellow Americans, we face a choice this November. Every four years it's given to us to choose a new House of Representatives, a third of the Senate and to elect a President. Never in our history have the stakes been higher, my friends. Never have the stakes been more clear.
I stand before you today, humble in the knowledge that YOU will decide what direction you want our nation to follow. Humble that as the Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, it is my obligation to speak to you clearly and forcefully about what direction I intend to lead our nation in...so that YOU might best decide your vote.
My fellow Americans, I am going to be straight with you. These are difficult times, and that is the least I can do: be straight with you. You know that seems a simple place to start. But it's not that simple. My opponent has accused me of all sorts of "wavering" and "flopping", well, that's his right. That's what campaigns are all about..
But I want to remind you today of my bedrock promise to you as a candidate: if you elect me President I will NEVER mislead you, I will never tell you X when I know that Y is true. I will never say "up", when I know it's "down". I will never tell you to look right when I know it's left, I will never take your common sense respect for the honest truth for granted. If something's not clear, I'll say so. If a situation isn't black or white, I'll tell you it's gray. That's my job.
My friends these are difficult times, and at difficult times, we Americans gather together and talk straight with each other. It's the least we can do. It's an obligation your leaders owe you. It is a necessity for moving forward as a nation, together. Today, I write that promise to you in stone...if you elect me President, I will tell you the unvarnished truth to the best of my ability, so help me God.
Now, you may be asking yourself, "OK, that's a commitment. But what does that mean for me in my everyday life. At my job? On the street where I live?"
It means alot. Because when I tell you that I am going to fix the health care system in this country. I mean it. And if lobbyists and corporate interests are standing in the way, I'm going to tell you. And if the solution involves compromise, I'll tell you that too. I'm not going to give away your right to straight talk on something as important as your health care to industry lobbyists. I won't let them cloud the issue with 73 different solutions to a simple problem.
My opponent is famous for saying that taxes are "your money"...and he's right about that. They always have been, always were. My friends, isn't it about time someone started talking about what a raw deal you've been getting for that money? It's a scam! It's a sham! Isn't it about time that we Americans demand that when our government spends an honest dollar of our money we get an honest return on that dollar?
When George Bush cuts taxes on corporations, on the wealthiest Americans, on those most able to pay their fair share...I have to remind you of one thing: that money has to come from somewhere. Where do you think it's coming from? It comes from you! It's your money. When we give tax breaks to corporations that are taking your jobs overseas...where do you think that money is coming from? That's your money. When your government gives sweetheart no-bid deals to their 'friends in industy' they are doing it with YOUR MONEY.
My fellow Americans, some may want to make this election about the last four years, but that's not my focus. My focus is on the next four years. It's about moving forward together. Sometimes agreeing. Sometimes agreeing to disagree. (end of speech sample)
OK....kid oakland here...you all get the point, I guess. Forceful, honest, and hammering home that this election is about clear choices. It's a way to be negative in a positive manner, and I think it's our best bet.