Yes, I know the title might sound a bit childish, but that seems to be the level to which the McCain campaign has fallen. While perusing the CNN headlines this morning (for amusement purposes only), I stumbled across this story from the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-mccain23-2008jul23,0,4463372.storyWhat makes this item enjoyable is that this sort of whining is nothing new. During the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton's campaign was always complaining about the way Obama was covered. My theory is that both campaigns were hoping that such intense coverage would reveal some gaffe or
hot mic moment that they could exploit, and when such moments did not occur, the modern political playbook says to charge
media bias. But the facts are that such tactics only work on typical politicians. And Barack Obama is not a typical politician.
There is a reason that millions have donated to and support his campaign. It's not just the sweeping, almost poetic rhetoric that inspires one to want to run right out and improve one's community, but something that comes through in interviews, when Sen. Obama is not speaking from prepared remarks. There is an earnestness and openess to him that I've not seen in a presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter.
Obama doesn't give pat answers, doesn't insult the reader or viewer by telling them what he thinks they want to hear. He says what he thinks and feels and that is a quality that neither Clinton nor McCain have and thus have no way of overcoming. And since McCain's campaign can't overcome it, his campaign has chosen to mock it.
But I can understand their frustrations. It's difficult to attack an opponent whose position is consistent. For example, the McCain campaign was put in a bind
earlier this month when Adm. John Mullens, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff came out and said that he needed more troops in Afghanistan where the Taliban and Al Qaeda are enjoying a revival and he couldn't see where he would get the additional troops from without a drawdown of troops in Iraq. Obama proposed this idea earlier
this year during the primary campaign (it was in response to a dare by Clinton after accusing Obama of being vague on policy). He was certainly specific, in fact his proposal has been adopted by the Joint Chiefs. And while McCain has agreed that we need more troops in Afghanistan, he is unwilling or unable to show the leadership (
read: guts) to call for a redeployment of troops from Iraq. Instead, he would rather reinforce our troops with addtional NATO forces. But what's wrong with that is that Afghanistan is our responsibility, not NATO's.
In my opinion, McCain's problems will continue throughout this campaign because Obama is thinking 3-4 steps ahead and proposing long term solutions, whether it's opposition to the gas tax holiday, an idea that was panned by economists and which Obama rightfully called a gimmick designed to score political points, or his policy on Iraq, which is not only supportion the Iraqi government, but also now by President Bush. When he said that he would sit down with our adversaries in Pyunyong and Tehran without preconditions, he was mock as naive, but look who's talking now.
The real problem with McCain is that he's spending so much time courting conservatives, who are lukewarm to him at best, he's positions are alienating the independents he needs. I had respect for the John McCain of 2000, but his seeming lust for the White House has turned him into something repulsive and ugly ... a typical, cynical politician.
