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Mark McKinnon and the Coming Character Assassination
So for those who don't know, Obama is looking pretty good to win. Poll average have him winning by +6 and +8. FiveThirtyEight gives him a 80% percent chance of winning.
In other words: DESPERATION! For McCain. So what's a politician to do: go negative!
I always wondered about Mark McKinnon's decision to leave the McCain camp because he didn't want to take part in a Obama character-assassination, which is exactly what Republicans plan to do starting this week. It's going to be ugly and ruthless. Now I know why he left: because character assassination is what losers do, and it makes them look small, petty and desperate. Given that's what Republicans did to Kerry, I think McKinnon's right to stay away from that meddle. It might just save his political career and legacy.
Too bad McCain isn't so concerned about his. Is this how he wants to go down? Seriously, if this doesn't work, he will effectively end his political career as the once-honorable senator who cozied up the extreme side of a losing party and dying ideology and then tried to tarnish the good name of the nation's first black president. Has he thought this through?
Here's the thing: while Obama remains vulnerable because there are still a lot of skeptics out there, the truth is that there isn't a lot of time. Obama's poll number are now as strong as they were mid-summer and it took eight weeks of going negative for McCain to bring him back to a tie (have we forgotten the "celeb" ad?). He needed the RNC just to get a lead in the race. Well, he won't have unfettered media attention between now and election day. So how exactly does he plan to take the lead by trying something that's already failed?
The truth is McCain needs a message beyond "Change is Coming." Because frankly his ads don't make sense: "Barack Obama will raise your taxes. Make government bigger. And he's untrustworthy.... John McCain: Change is coming." WHAT? What does that even mean? You can't craft a message from a negative depiction of another person -- John Kerry tried that. You have to bring something to the table. McCain has no message but the copied word "change" and the empty word "maverick." With McCain running on brand -- which he's quickly moving to tarnish -- is it even possible for critics to call Obama "nothing but words"?
McCain's going to negative and scare the bejesus out of the electorate to win. My problem is: I'm very skeptical it will work. And if it doesn't, he stands to be one of the most hated Republicans in the country, perhaps in history. It's a shame because he's probably a good guy -- perhaps he should start listening to himself and not his foaming-at-the-mouth advisors.
Comments (5)
McCain going negative is to be expected. It actually came later than I thought it would. I hope Obama continues to talk about the economy, healthcare, energy, Iraq and Afghanistan. This desperate effort to prop up McCain's dwindling prospects is obvious. Obama should answer the false charges but continue talking about issues.
October 5, 2008 6:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
AJ,
We just have to be ready and not let all the ugly ignorant stuff that's going to be coming out, get to us. Its part of politics and just a passing thing. Most people don't really feel deeply some of the ugly things they say. Its just that they want something and don't know how else to get it.
Good post!
October 5, 2008 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Love the post. Here's what we do, phone bank, canvass, donate and above all VOTE early so as to be available to do more on November 4th. Then celebrate like all get up on Nov. 5th.
October 5, 2008 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree w/ your post except for the part about McCain probably being a good guy. I'm not convinced that he was EVER a good guy, but even if he was, he isn't now. Good guys don't say and do the things he's saying and doing, nor do they support their running mate saying and doing the things she's saying and doing...shame on both of them, and what is the Christian community doing supporting people who behave like that?
October 5, 2008 9:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The emotions at the debate Tuesday should be something. McCain racheting up the negative stuff -- Obama going out on Monday with the Keating Five stuff -- and then they are in a town hall together on Tuesday? Should be interesting. Just saw a McCain supporter on TV saying that McCain is doing his "duty to the voters" to make sure that they are "properly informed" about Obama's background and associations. Well...... by that standard, Obama has an absolute civic duty to bring up the Keating Five!!
October 5, 2008 11:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
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