McCain relies on his image, avoids issues

[Lasher]

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, September 07, 2008

“This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates,” (McCain) campaign manager, Rick Davis, told The Washington Post last week.

So it’s no surprise McCain’s acceptance speech on Thursday night was heavy on biography and short on policy prescriptions. The short film that introduced him offered a romantic, Hollywood-esque arc: A rambunctious young man trying to earn his place in a family of war heroes goes off to the Naval Academy and becomes a fighter pilot; he is chastened by the torture he endures at the hands of his enemies; the young hero not only survives but triumphs, winning a seat in the U.S. Senate. It’s quite a tale, with the added dimension of truth.

McCain seemed most comfortable when he was speaking of the ideals he embraced in those years — honor, service, courage. But he was oddly lifeless and unconvincing when he rattled off a laundry list of domestic issues, touching on “school choice,” health insurance and taxes. That’s clearly not where his heart is.

Even less persuasive was his attempt to snatch the mantle of change from his rival, Barack Obama. (How many times did he use the word “change”?) McCain is 72 years old; besides, he is a card-carrying member of the Republican Party, which has held power for the past eight years. It’s hard to run as an insurgent if you’ve been part of the establishment.

The aging war hero apparently believes that he is still the “maverick,” the daring, even swashbuckling, senator who bucks an entrenched Republican machine to serve the interests of the people above the party — a “Mr. Smith” played by John Wayne instead of Jimmy Stewart. But that McCain gave up the good fight after his crushing defeat at the hands of Bush forces in the 2000 Republican presidential primary. Since then, the “maverick” has set about ingratiating himself to the same establishment he now vows to fight. He has adopted nearly every one of Bush’s failed policies.

<snip>

But if the campaign is fought on the issues, McCain loses. That’s why he stays away from them.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/tucker/stories/2008/09/07/tucked_0907.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. Yep.....and that is why

We here have to act accordingly.....to some degree.
Stay away from the personal shit, unless it is directly linked to an issue.

True Dat!

[Lasher]

5. I think Biden is starting to guide the dialog toward issues.

It seems insane we're talking about lipstick instead of what ramifications of a McCain vs. Obama presidency would be.

[uponit7771]

2. I have to agree with a DU poster who said Bush ran a higher brow campaign. McFuckinStupid lowers the

...IQ of people around him he's so lame.

My 14 yr old nephew mentioned his Hilton campaign add and said what person would say don't vote for that guy cause he's popular!?!?

[NanceGreggs]

3. And his image is ...

... that of an older-then-dirt, grumpy, out-of-touch, senile, can't remember what he said or VOTED for-or-against yesterday, past-his-prime gigolo who lives off his millionairess wife.

Yeppurs, that's quite an image he's got to fall back on ...

[opihimoimoi]

4. Obama will insert ISSUES back into the discussion soon enough

He will try the best way:

Simplicity

and with Common Sense toward the Common Good

McPOW has a weak claim on Goodness for the Peeps....Its all about HIM when he speaks...rides the POWPony to death...same stories all these years...

His Expediency is legendary.....

Not the stuff for the WH

he is not the Leader this Nation needs.....

[gulliver]

6. Obama could use that quote from Rick Davis

The McCain campaign manager says this election is not about issues. He says "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

A "composite view of what people take away from these candidates?" Huh? The "election is not about issues?" What?