The McCain campaign strategists pulled a dirty play and pulled an end run around the issues a little over a week ago. They brought an unvetted largely unknown candidate onto the ticket, and proceeded both to hype her to near rock star status, and bully anyone who dared inquire into the facts behind the facade the GOP had constructed for her rollout.
Palin's short time in office as governor of Alaska-- 20 months, though the Republican talking point rounds it up to 2 years-- gives the GOP the opportunity to claim that she is a fresh face on the scene, a Washington outsider. Voters want change, and Palin is being presented as a fresh face who will take on Washington and change things-- never mind that she's running on the ticket with one of the most entrenched Washington insiders.
(more after the flip)
To cut through the defamation, dissing and disrespectful belittling of Obama that is the McCain campaign's newest tactic for swaying voters, it is crucial to emphasize the miserable record of Republicans over the last 8 years of control in Washington. It is crucial to ask voters if they feel they are better off now than they were 8 years ago or even 5 years ago or even 3 years ago-- and to ask them if they really think that electing more Republicans is the way to fix what Republicans screwed up. It is crucial to remind voters that McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time AND to have at hand statistics about some of his key and terrible votes against legislation that voters have shown they care about deeply.
Focus on the salient aspects of McCain's voting record that indicate that he will NOT bring what voters want:
McCain voted against the GI Bill for expanded benefits for veterans:
http://www.salon.com/...
Some choice stats on McCAIN'S RECORD OF VOTING AGAINST VETERANS' NEEDS:
From 2004 to 2006, the Disabled Veterans of America gave McCain annual scores ranging from 50% to the most recent 20% when it comes to supporting the group's legislative priorities. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave him a grade of "D" in its most recent analysis of voting records. The American Legion says he is dead wrong on the GI Bill, as does the Veterans of Foreign Wars. (Note: Obama averages an 86% rating from the Disabled Veterans of America.)
* On Webb's GI Bill, McCain expressed opposition, and he was AWOL when it was time to vote on May 22.
* Last September, McCain voted against another Webb bill that would have mandated adequate rest for troops between combat deployments.
* On a badly needed $1.5-billion increase for veterans medical services for fiscal year 2007 -- to be funded through closing corporate tax loopholes -- McCain voted no. He also voted against establishing a trust fund to bolster under-budgeted veterans hospitals.
* In May 2006, McCain voted against a $20-billion allotment for expanding swamped veterans medical facilities.
* In April 2006, McCain was one of 13 Senate Republicans who voted against an amendment to provide $430 million for veterans outpatient care.
* In March 2004, McCain voted against and helped defeat on a party-line vote a $1.8-billion reserve for veterans medical care, also funded by closing tax loopholes.
(source: http://www.latimes.com/...
)
McCain voted consistently against renewable energy development, against finding alternatives to oil, and voted with Big Oil 100% of the time:
http://www.americanprogressaction.or...
McCain favors overturning Roe v. Wade, and favors funding abstinence-only education in schools:
http://www.salon.com/...
Both McCain and Palin have opposed, variously, the creation, the expansion, or the continuation of funding for people with Down Syndrome, with mental disability, and with brain injuries: here is information from a Down Syndrome blog that covers issues and advocacy for people with Down Syndrome:
http://bloggingdown.com/...
A list of links to disability blogs and bloggers reports on how Palin & McCain did not support disability funding:
http://media-dis-n-dat.blogspot.com/...
See how John McCain voted in the Senate: database of all his votes:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/...
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Remind everyone about John McCain's record on veterans' needs, on women's needs, and on the needs of the disabled and special needs families!
Don't let him use Palin as a smokescreen to run from his record in Washington!
Don't let the McCain campaign use Palin as a human shield for the Republicans' miserable 8 years of White House rule!
Don't forget to ask every American you meet if they are happier and better off now than they were 8 or 5 or 3 years ago: and remind them who has been in control of the White House for all that time! Remind them of the stats! Remind them of the Republican record!