Peek-a-boo, I see you...

Well, I was wrong, and I couldn't be happier about it. Right after the debate on Friday, I felt, as did the majority of the mainstream media, that the result was a tie. But over the past couple of days, the results of some post-debate polls have been released, and what do ya know - most Americans felt that Barack Obama won. Nearly every poll taken over this weekend showed a clear edge for Obama as a result of his debate performance, and that even includes the right-wing goobers over on Fox News. I've watched debates and debate coverage for a long time, and to me, this situation is rather remarkable. We all know how the media spins things, and how voters' opinions usually reflect whatever they've heard on TV or on the radio. But this was different. The media didn't even call a winner in this debate. And yet, without being told what to think by the pundits and talking heads, the people declared a winner. They spoke up and said that one man impressed them more than the other, and the man they preferred was Obama.

I have to tell you, folks - I am feeling pretty good about this. Better, in fact, than I've felt in a long while. On my best days I think I'm a realist; on my worst days I think of myself as a cynic. And I am particularly jaded when it comes to the subject of politics. But the numbers are showing me that things may not be as bad as I ususally assume they are. So how did people manage to come up with such a positive assessment of Obama's debate performance?  Well, I've got a theory about that, and it all has to do with visibility.

Up until the debate, the McCain campaign was doing their best to control the way the candidates were seen by the American public. In order to spin their own image to people, they repeated certain lines and catch phrases (Maverick! Reformer! POW!) at every stop and in every speech in an attempt to solidify the mythology of the McCain/Palin ticket. They cut off press access and have held virtually no interviews or press conferences on the campaign trail (on the Straight Talk Express, no less...irony, anyone?). They especially protected Sarah Palin from speaking to the press until it was impossible for them to do so any longer. To spin a negative image of Obama, the McCain campaign created a slew of attack ads, most of which were dishonest, distortional and disgusting. They attempted to control what voters saw about Obama. And based on these ads, voters could very well have believed that Obama was dangerously inexperienced, an advocate of comprehensive sex education for 5-year-olds, and that he also intended to raise taxes on working-class familes and turn our health care system into a vast federal bureaucracy.

The debate changed all that. For the fist time in this race, viewers got to see McCain and Obama side by side, without the spin of ads or media commentators. They saw John McCain refusing to look at his opponent for an hour and a half. They saw him continue his streak of distortions and half-truths as he repeatedly misrepresented Obama's positions. They saw him trot out names and dates from the past 26 years of his life in Washington, but they did NOT see him admit any responsibility for his contributions to the current downturn of the American economy, or for his errors in supporting a rushed invasion of the wrong country in the Iraq war. They saw him unable to convincingly fend off claims that his policies are direct continuations of Bush's policies. They did NOT see him mention the middle class - even once - and they did not see any evidence of the big reforms he's been talking about on the campaign trail. They saw McCain himself, separated from the cheering crowds and the red, white and blue filter of his ads, and they weren't too thrilled by what they saw.

But more importantly, they saw Obama - many of them, no doubt for the first time. Many expected to see an empty suit, an angry radical, or an overblown orator. But they saw instead a man who looked and sounded ready to lead. They saw him graciously pointing out those ideas on which he and McCain both agreed. They saw him remaining focused, confident and consistent. They saw his strong grasp of problems and solutions, people and places, and  ideas for the future of our nation. They saw someone who has the ability and the willingness to utilize both diplomacy and military action, as well as the temperament to know when each approach is appropriate. They realized that they had no reason to be afraid of him, even though he looks different and has a foreign-sounding name. Obama was no longer an unknown quantity. And this simple act of seeing Obama for themselves, rather than through the lens of McCain's campaign, made all the difference.

There is still plenty of time for things to change, and McCain has shown us how much he loves shaking things up with a curve ball every so often. Maybe in his desperate attempts to win, he'll actually hit upon a gimmick that works and win back some support. In any case the race will likely remain close, right down to the wire. But no matter what, I am delighted to know that, at least for now,  my fellow voters are looking beyond what they've been shown by the news media and by the ads, to see the possibilities that Obama is offering this country. He's not perfect. Nobody is, especially politicians. But maybe he does have the ability to undo some of the problems that have been dragging Americans through tough times. Maybe he does have the good judgment to make the right choices when we most need him to. Maybe he does understand those of us in the middle class, and maybe he does care enough about what we are going through to make helping us a bigger priority than taking care of corporations and lobbyists. Maybe he's OK after all.

And that, my friends, is what hope is all about.

[digg=http://digg.com/politics/Polls_show_Obama_won_1st_debate_why]

Peek-a-boo, I see you...

Debate: tied on performance, but Obama wins on facts

Very nice of Senator McCain to join us for the first debate last night, although I realize it kept him away from solving the economic crisis for us. Seriously, in hindsight, how overblown was his whole display this week? Now that it's all over and done, did that debate REALLY stand in the way of anyone doing anything that needed to be done in Washington? And during the time McCain WAS in Washington, did he contribute anything at all to the progress Congress were already making on the problem?

Oh well, that's last week's issue...now it's time to move forward and look at the debate itself. I feel that both men performed well, and that neither made any major mistakes that would give their supporters reason to change their minds. There were certainly stylistic differences, most notably the fact that McCain never engaged Obama directly, and acted as if his opponent wasn't standing right on the same stage with him. Obama did try to address McCain directly, and also tried to point out that he was in agreement with McCain on certain points. This is a tactic that I feel could've gone either way; some may perceive it as being too concessionary and others may see it as diplomatic. I personally feel it was a sign that Obama can handle and acknowledge opposing points of view, which is a positive trait in my opinion. But I do feel that Obama had a few opportunities to really hammer McCain, particularly during the economic discussions, and he held back more than I would have liked. I guess he is waiting to do the heavy hitting during the next debate, when the economy will be the focus.

The bottom line, as I see it, is that both men scored some solid points and neither surprised me in any way. I'd be very surprised if there was any major shift in the polls as a result of this debate. However, I really do expect to see a more lopsided result in Obama's favor after the economic debate - it was clear during last night's exchanges that Obama had a major advantage on that subject and that McCain will be hard pressed to come off as well once the financial crisis is the focus.

As usual, I am more about substance than style. So, even though the two candidates were pretty evenly matched on the effectiveness of their performances, I do feel that a more important factor than how things were said is the actual content of their statements, and how accurate those statements were. FactCheck.org has already posted their analysis of the facts presented in the debate, and - surprise, surprise! - McCain didn't do as well with that as Obama did.

If you visit the site, you'll see the details and can find their in-depth summary. But to boil it down for ya, here's what they found: McCain made 4 times as many outright false statements as Obama, and several other mistakes that, while not 100% false, were definitely off-base and not 100% true either.

1. Obama stated that Henry Kissinger, one of McCain's advisers, had advocated negotiations with Iran, without preconditions. McCain disagreed. A videotape of Kissinger speaking during a panel discussion, which took place only days before the debate, shows that he is in fact in support of meeting with Iran without precondidtions. In fact, another video of an earlier forum shows Kissinger expessing the same sentiment again. After the debate, Kissinger issued a statement specifying that he did not think the President should meet in such negotiations, but Obama made clear in the debate that he would follow accepted diplomatic protocol by starting negotiations with lower-ranking officials before he would become involved himself. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE. OBAMA'S STATEMENT: TRUE.

2. McCain claimed that Obama had voted to increase taxes on those making $42,000 a year or more. This was a resolution which was mostly addressing whther or not to let the Bush tax cuts expire, and it is a resolution which Obama supported. However, the specific language in the resolution stated that this referred to a sinlge non-homeowning taxpayer, whereas this did not apply to families or couples filing jointly. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

3. McCain claimed that Admiral Mike Mullen had specifically described Obama's proposed ideas regarding a timetable for withdrawal of troops in Iraq as "dangerous for America". Mullen did say that timetables set without taking into consideration "the conditions on the ground" would not be advisable, but he did not specifically comment on Obama's plan. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

4. McCain said that earmarks had tripled in the past 5 years. This is incorrect. Earmarks have actually gone down between 23 and 24 percent during that time frame. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

5. McCain, while discussing wasteful earmarks, said that $3 million had been appropriated for a study of bear DNA. This is correct, HOWEVER, what he didn't mention is that HE VOTED IN FAVOR of the bill which made the appropriations for that study. So there was more to that story, but technically...MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: TRUE.

6. Obama said that the current Iraqi budget surplus is $79 billion. This is incorrect; although some projections had set the surplus at that amount, current information indicates that the surplus amount is closer to $60 billion. OBAMA'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

7. McCain stated that the US pays $700 billion a year to buy oil from other countries. this is inaccurate; the actual amount is approximately $536 billion. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE:

8. Obama said that his tax cut will cover 95% of Americans. this is not technically accurate; his cuts will apply to 95% of families with children, and 81% of taxpaying households overall. OBAMA'S STAEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

9. Obama said that under McCain's proposed tax plan, employers would be paying taxes on the health care benefits they pay to employees. This isn't correct, but the truth is actually worse...under current law, workers do not pay taxes based on the dollar value of their health insurance benefits. Under McCain's proposed tax changes, workers WILL pay taxes on the dollar value of their employer-provided health benefits. Still, as far as accuracy goes... OBAMA'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

10. McCain claims that Obama intends to turn health care over to the fedral government. this is inaccurate. There will not be mandated health care for any group except for children Federal health care options for all othe Americans will be expanded but will not be mandated. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

11. McCain told a story about Eisenhower's letter of resignation, written in case the Invasion of Normandy would have failed. Eisenhower did write a letter accepting responsibility in case of failure, but did not offer to resign. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

12. Obama discussed reducing our troops in Iraq within 16 months. He had previously said that all troops would be withdrawn within that time frame. This shows a shift of position, so...OBAMA'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

13. McCain claims that Obama does not consider Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (which he mistakenly referred to as the "Republican Guard") to be a trrorist organization. Obama has in fact named the as a terrorist organization on more than one occasion. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

14. McCain called Obama "naive" for his call that both parties show restraint after the Russian/Georgian conflict. Obama did say this, but the characterization as "naive" is debatable, since the official statement from the White House used the exact same language and called for "restraint on both sides". This is certainly an opinion rather than a fact, but fairness dictates that MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

15. McCain bragged about saving taxpayers $6.8 billion by fighting a Boeing contract that he felt should not be awarded. This is true. HOWEVER, what he did not mention is that there was later an investigation into whether the bidding process for this contract was handled unfairly. Seems there may have been some self-interest involved in the way McCain fought the Boeing contract, rather than a concern about protecting taxpayers' money.As it turns out, people who are now McCain advisers were lobbying for Boeing's rival, EADS/Airbus, to win the contract. McCain himself wrote to the Department of Defense to advise against checking into "improper subsidies" which EADS/Airbus may have received. P.S. - EADS/Airbus has contributed $15,700 to McCain's presidential campign. Again, there's more to this story, but technically...MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

16. McCain claimed that Obama is opposed to storage of nulclear waste. Obama is not opposed to storage of nuclear waste but does want storage to be safe. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

17. Obama claims that McCain voted 23 times against alternative energy proposals. This is inaccurate. McCain stated that he had not voted against any such proposals, and laughed "No one could be opposed to alternative energy". However, he is also wrong. The fact is, McCain has voted against alternative energy proposals 11 times. SO... OBAMA'S STATEMENT: FALSE, and MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: FALSE.

18. McCain and Obama discussed the role that Obama's subcommittee plays in Afghanistan policy. Both stated different aspects of this committee's scope, and both were technically correct. SO...MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: TRUE and OBAMA'S STATEMENT: TRUE.

19. McCain claimed that he broke ranks to vote against sending Marines into Lebanon in 1982. However, Marines had been sent in August of 1982, 3 months before McCain was elected in November of that year. In 1983, Ronald Reagan signed a bill which would authorize a deployment of 18 months for Marines in Lebanon, and McCain did break party ranks to vote against this bill. MCCAIN'S STATEMENT: NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

If ytou're keeping score, here's the final totals:

MCCAIN: 8 false statements, 5 not exactly true statements, and 2 true statements

OBAMA: 2 false statements, 3 not exactly true statements, and 2 true statements

Based on this, I think Obama wins on truth, and to me, that's more important thatn style. Next up: Palin faces off against Biden...I am practically drooling with anticipation...roll on October 2nd!

Debate: tied on performance, but Obama wins on facts

McCain is the Madonna of politics

OK, I know I said that my next post would focus on the current economic freakout that we're all dealing with, but I started putting it together and realized that there were so many facts to check before I posted anything. I am all about getting it right as much as possible, but the situation is incredibly complex, and going back in time to figure out how it happened and who fell asleep at the wheel is a long process. I reckon the world can wait another day or so for my 2 cents on that subject. :-)

 

So in the meantime, something else occured to me. While I've been watching the candidates react to the week's economic events, I've noticed a real distinction between them. Barack Obama has not wavered on anything he's said on the campaign trail, or even on anything he said or did during his terms in elected office. He has been consistent, confident  and clear on his positions,  with a focus on outlining some specific actions he intends to take to address the issues we face (including job growth through the development of new industries like renewable energy and stem cell research, tax relief for all families making less than $250,000 per year, support for fair pay for women and minimum wage earners, and a reinstatement of pay-as-you-go federal budget rules - click here to read more about the PAYGO rules).

John McCain, on the other hand, has found himself struggling to explain his position, offers little or no detail to clarify his economic plan, and often contradicts both his past voting record and his recent campaign rhetoric. He wants desperately to distance himself from the Republicans who have run the economy for the better part of the past eight years, and this is understandable - aligining yourself with the guys who set the stage for the biggest economic crash in America since the 1930's sure isn't a good idea in an election year.

The reinvention of John McCain makes me think of another prominent American who has based her entire career on changing her image - Madonna. In fact, I realized that you can actually use Madonna's songs to illustrate the key points about John McCain's candidacy. I know it sounds weird, but go with me here, people...

LIKE A VIRGIN

It appears that John McCain wants to pretend the past 26 years of his Washington career never happened, and that he is politically born again - a blank slate, pure as the driven snow, just waiting to bring an untainted agenda to the White House. This idea of casting off his past record is merely an attempt to fool the public into trusting him as an agent of "reform". He has been banking on the assumption that most voters are either too ignorant to know better, or that they have short memories. Unfortunately, he may be right. But he wants nothing more right now than to convince us all that he is truly a "maverick", someone who stands up against the Republicans and doesn't blindly follow their party line. Sort of like...oh, I don't know...a DEMOCRAT or something. He hopes we will ignore his 26 years as a Washington insider, and all those ties to the administrative blunders of the past 8 years. We should look upon him not as a part of that failed system, but as an outsider...someone fresh and new, whose greatest asset is not his past legislative record but rather the promise of future greatness. You know, like that Barack Obama guy!

During this campaign, John McCain has repeatedly asked us to follow him to Bizzaro World, where everything is the opposite of what it usually is. His campaign has shifted from a focus on "experience" to a focus on "change". He has publicly vowed to run "a respectful campaign", and then sunk to running what have been called some of the "sleaziest ads" ever seen. He hyped up his "Straight Talk Express", promising to demonstrate transparency in his campaign by allowing extensive access to the press...instead, he has kept them at bay and hasn't held a press conference for 35 days now, favoring staged rallies instead. He seems to be gunning for a world record in flip-flopping; this week alone, he called the economy fundamentally "strong" and declared a state of economic "crisis", he went from being a deregulator to a champion of government oversight, and he agreed with the governmental AIG bailout right after expressing his disapproval of that bailout. It makes your head hurt, it really does. Who knows - if he keeps pushing this line long enough, there may be people out there who buy his retooled image as someone who really can bring change to Washington - even though HE IS Washington.

FORBIDDEN LOVE

The one thing that's crucial to McCain's rebranding is separating himself from George W. Bush. But that's not so easy to do when you've been in bed with the guy for the better part of a decade. I mean, seriously...McCain's lipstick is all over Dubya's collar (not that we want to get into more "lipstick" analogies right now).  He has criticized the Bush administration, vowing to "right the wrongs" done by the president - BUT he supported Bush consistently during the past 8 years and voted with him more than 90% of the time. More important than his past acceptance of Bush's policies is his failure to outline how he'd change them in the future. Both Democratic and Republican strategists agree that there is no discernible difference between Bush's stand on every single issue (including the economy, the war on terror, health care, education, etc.) and McCain's stand. If they've been so closely alligned for so long, how can we believe that McCain won't be just four more years of Bush?



LUCKY STAR

Throughout this race, John McCain has only seen a surge in his poll numbers once...after the start of the phenmomenon known as "Palinmania". Sarah Palin's initial impression on the public was sensational, and created a great deal of enthusiasm and interest where there had been little or none. But in the weeks since her nomination, the bubble has started to deflate. And guess what? We're right back where we started, with the candidates neck and neck in most polls, and McCain's solo campaign appearances being greeted with small, respectful crowds. Only when Palin joins him is there any sign of the excitement that was on display at the Republican convention. With several long weeks left before election day, and more information about Sarah Palin's past track record coming to light on a regular basis, it's highly possible that the Palin factor may have already peaked and begun its inevitable decline.

DIE ANOTHER DAY

On the subject of Palin, need we remind ourselves that McCain is a 72-year-old man, with recurring health problems? And that next in line for the presidency is...Sarah Palin? Just sayin'.

LIKE A PRAYER

Man, if there's a better title to describe McCain's economic policies, I can't think of one. In the face of monstrous market upheaval, billion-dollar bailouts on the taxpayers' dime, crisis-level issues in real estate, banking and insurance, rising unemployment, falling value of the US dollar, and multiple other signs of trouble in America, John McCain's plan is...well, we don't exactly know WHAT it is, because he doesn't actually know what it is yet either. As his senior policy adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, said on Tuesday, "I don't think it's imperative at this moment to write down what the plan should be." This is an actual quote, people! I can't make this stuff up! So on the same day that our nation was reeling from the Wall Street meltdown, this guy tells us that an actual, spelled-out plan, with details and stuff, isn't really a necessity right now. Heck, let's leave that fancy-pants type of stuff to the intellectual elitists, like that Barack Obama guy! Sweet baby Jesus in a peach treee...and we thought McCain was throwing the ultimate Hail Mary pass by choosing Palin as his veep. But no! He was saving the best for last - a Hail Mary pass for the economic future of America! Whatta maverick!



I dunno, folks...I know McCain's a Gambler, but he just Can't Stop digging himself Deeper And Deeper into a hole every time he opens his mouth. All these 180-degree turnarounds are Causing A Commotion, and he's not giving me too many reasons to Justify My Love. Papa Don't Preach - it's high time for an Act Of Contrition after all you've gotten wrong. I realize it's Human Nature to be in denial about your past mistakes, but seriously, dude...you're definitely Guilty By Association. And in November, we'll be teaching you The Power Of Goodbye.

McCain is the Madonna of politics

It just doesn't add up

Well folks, you know I'm pretty passionate about the things I believe in. But I also hope you know that I don't believe in things blindly. I am a sensible individual and I always prefer more information, rather than less, when making any important decision. That's why I'll check multiple sources and round up the facts before I take a stand.

I would like to believe that my fellow Americans are doing the same thing, especially with regards to the presidential election. This happens to be the most important decision we're called upon to make as Americans, and nobody should take it lightly. Yet I have to assume that some people out there are failing to look at the facts, because I've been crunching some numbers and they just don't add up.

There's a helpful site called pollingreport.com which lists the results of polls taken by all the major polling and news organizations, and categorizes the results by topic (Iraq war, economy, health care, etc.). It is non-partisan and doesn't analyze or comment on the results - it simply reports them and adds no spin at all. When you look over the info on this site, you start to get curious about the fact that John McCain is currently tied with Barack Obama in some polls, and ahead in others. Because on nearly every major issue, John McCain disagrees with the majority of Americans.

Want some stats? Chew on these:

• With regard to national security, 59% of those polled say that they favor a timetable for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq (ABC News poll). A majority of Americans -51% - also said they favor increasing the number of troops sent to Afghanistan (AP/GfK poll).  Obama has strongly supported both the timetable and the increased focus on Afghanistan for months, while McCain has resisted both until fairly recently. He still refuses to fully advocate the timetable for Iraq, despite the fact that evn the Bush administration has now accepted this idea. In addition, Obama was one of the few governmental figures who warned against the Iraq invasion from the beginning, stating that "even a successful war against Iraq will require U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences." McCain, even after years of military misdirection in Iraq, has continued to state that Iraq is, and should be, the central front of the war on terror.

The decision to go to war in Iraq was one of the biggest decisions George Bush had to make as our president, and it was arguably the biggest mistake he could have possibly made - one which hinged on faulty intelligence as its premise, redirected our military efforts away from the actual al-Quaeda network, had no exit strategy, resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and helped cause the disastrous economic downturn which continues to snowball out of control daily. When people say they want a leader who will make an effective commander in chief, it seems important to point out that Obama would have made better choices for our military agenda in the war on terror than John McCain.  ADVANTAGE: OBAMA 

• Most voters, in polll after poll, say that the most important issue in this election is the economy. And, in poll after poll, more voters say that Obama would do a better job at handling the economy than McCain. Specifically, regarding taxes, 51% of Americans say that those making a lower income are currently paying too much in taxes, while 63% say that those in the upper income bracket are paying too little. Finally, 73% say that corporations are paying too little in taxes (all results from Gallup poll data). Obama has clearly stated his plan to lower taxes for 95% of Americans, while rasing taxes on those making over $250,000 and on corporations. John McCain plans to keep the current tax policy imposed by George Bush, which, according to the non-partisan Tax Policy Center, would favor the highest earners and corporations. Just recently, former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said that he didn't agree with McCain's proposed tax plan, stating "I always have tied tax cuts to spending...I'm not in favor of financing tax cuts with borrowed money."  ADVANTAGE: OBAMA


• Another hot button topic is health care. In a poll conducted this summer, 66% of Americans said it is more important for the government to provide health care coverage, even if it means raising taxes (ABC News poll). And in another poll, 67% think that the federal government has the responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care coverage (Gallup poll). Obama has long stressed his support for funding programs to make health care more widely accessible and affordable. John McCain has instead advocated a tax credit which Americans would use to purchase their own coverage, however he suggests credits which would be woefully inadequate to cover the typical family's needs (his proposed credit is $5,000 per year for families, while the national average for insurance premiums is $12,000 per year). ADVANTAGE: OBAMA


• In this campaign season where cultural and social issues are being so prominently highlighted, the topic of abortion rights has come up regularly. In a recent poll, 70% of Americans say that abortion should be legal in cases of rape and incest; 73% say that abortion shoild be legal in the mother's life is at risk; and 53% say that abortion should be legal in cases where the fetus is diagnosed with a fatal birth defect (Fox News poll). Across the board, in numerous polls, most Americans say that the Roe vs. Wade decision should remain intact. Obama supports choice. McCain does not, stating on his campaign website, "John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned...However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion." McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, also opposes abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. ADVANTAGE: OBAMA


• In a world which is increasingly unstable, our Social Security program is an important issue for many current retirees and for all those who are concerned it might not be there for them in the future. Under current guidelines, payroll taxes (which go toward Social Security) are only taken from the first $90,000 of a person's annual income. In a recent poll, 63% of Americans say that they favor increasing payroll taxes by applying them beyond the first $90,000 in income. (CBS News poll). Obama advocates such an increase, but only for those who make more than $250,000 a year. John McCain currently opposes the increase in payroll tax, although he has flip-flopped on this issue several times. ADVANTAGE: OBAMA


• Finally, gun control has been an important point for many voters, particularly those in the heartland states. Americans do want to see a decrease in violent crimes, and their feelings on gun control echo this sentiment. 86% of Americans favor a waiting period between the time someone buys a gun and the time they receive the gun (CNN poll). 67% favor a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons (ABC News poll). And 54% generally favor stricter gun control laws (Quinnipac University poll). Obama advocates strict enforcement of current gun laws, and some expansion of gun control focused on criminals and the mentally ill, while retaining the rights of sportsmen and those law-abiding citizens who use guns for self-defense. McCain is a proponent of the NRA and broadly defends both gun owners and the gun industry. Specifically, as he mentions on his campaign website, he opposes the very issues most Americans support -waiting periods for those who purchase guns, and restrictions on assault rifles. ADVANTAGE: OBAMA

 

It seems fairly cut-and-dry...on the issues, Obama agrees with what most Americans say they believe in, while John McCain is distinctly out of step. So why is Obama having trouble in getting and keeping a clear lead over McCain?

I hate to say it, but I think it comes down to simple ignorance of the facts. People often rely on sound bites and political commentary when shaping their opinions. And you just won't get the whole story from sound bites, or from the opinions on Fox or MSNBC. It takes time to sift through the sources and get to the facts, without filters or spin, and most people aren't willing to invest that kind of time into the process. If more people had a grasp on where the candidates stand, I think the vast majority would agree that Obama is on the same page they are with regard to the issues.

The scary part about this is that this ignorance is a willful ignorance. People form a preference based on superficial reasons (Sarah Palin's personality, for example, or Obama's skin color) and then they take in only those bits of information which support their preference. They don't listen to reason, they don't research the facts. They just hear the spin and let it make the decision for them. And so we might end up with a president whose position on nearly every major issue is contrary to the positions most American voters hold.

I want to believe that Americans are better than that, and that they can see things for how they really are and not what the ads or the pundits say they are. I want to believe that they will take their task as voters too seriously to fall prey to shrewd marketing or media manipulation. I want to believe that they love this country too much to make their decisions based on personality or race, rather than on what the candidates can and will do to make America better for all of us. Unfortunately, based on the current polls, I could be wrong.

It just doesn't add up

McCain's campaign promises are already being broken

Let me begin by saying that I share, with all of you, a sense of deep sadness and of great pride in my country on this day, the 7th anniversary of 9/11. I understand that this is a day for reflection, and that the candidates have all promised to back off of partisan politics for today, in a show of unity as Americans. I applaud this and hope they both live up to that promise. However, I have reason to be skeptical of at least one candidate. Based on his track record, John McCain tends not to honor the promises he makes to the American people.

Folks, I'm not a genius. I'm not a political analyst, a journalist, or anyone who has professional credentials when it comes to discussing current events. But I do have a brain that works and a healthy hunk of common sense. So I can see when someone's BSing me from a mile away. I wonder why many Americans - decent, intelligent Americans who genuinely love their country - can't see what I see. Or maybe they see it and they just don't care, which is even worse.

John McCain had a lot to say about America in his acceptance speech during the GOP convention, and much of it was about what's wrong with our government:

I fight to restore the pride and principles of our party. We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us.

 

We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire.

 

The constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause, it's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not you.

 

Who could argue with those sentiments? And how refreshing it was to hear him assure us, near the very top of that same speech:

To Americans who have yet to decide who to vote for, thank you for your consideration and the opportunity to win your trust. I intend to earn it.

 

That's what makes it even more infuriating to see the way McCain's campaign has been working lately. He  talks about principles and earning our trust, but his actions are complete contradictions of those words. Most politicians have the good grace to wait until they get elected before they start breaking their campaign promises, but McCain is such a go-getter that he's starting to break his campaign promises while he's still on the campaign trail.

 

Take a look at this clip from a TV appearance he made with Chris Matthews back in Apriil:

 

 

...aaaand this sound bite from a Fox News interview earlier this summer:

 

 

For crying out loud, even his wife Cindy got in on the act:

 

 

Now, you already know where I'm going with this, don'tcha? You already know that in the past week,  McCain ads have been popping up like unsightly blemishes all over the airwaves, and that they bear no resemblance to the "respectful campaign" that McCain himself said Americans want to see. No discussion of McCain's record in Washington, his policy proposals, his ideas or anything whatsoever that would help him "restore the pride and principles" of any party in this nation, or earn the trust of undecided voters.

 

So, if he left out all that stuff, then what exactly do these ads include? Well, let's see:

 

Character attacks (The McCain “FactCheck” ad, in which it is claimed that Obama has sent a “mini-army” to Alaska to “dig dirt on Governor Palin. As Obama drops in the polls, he'll try to destroy her.”)

 

Scare tactics (The "Education" ad, which ends on this ominous - but completely erroneous - note: "Learning about sex before learning to read? Barack Obama. Wrong on education. Wrong for your family.")

 

Half-truths (the "Bridge to Nowhere" ad, claiming that Sarah Palin rejected the idea of Congressional funding to build that bridge)

 

Distortions (The "Expensive Plans" ad, which states that Obama will initiate "painful tax increases on working American families", when in fact the only families on whom taxes would be raised are those earning $250,000 or more)

 

Outright lies (The "Lipstick" ad, which I am not even going to dignify with further comment)

 

So this is how John McCain - man of principle, man of honor, man who wants to change the way Washington works - shows us that he's worthy of our trust? We've seen him break promises before, during his decades of flip-flopping on everything from Bush's tax cuts to offshore drilling to the privatization of Social Security to immigration reform. Now he stands before us, talking out of one side of his mouth about running a "respectful campaign", while the other side of his mouth is saying "I'm John McCain, and I approve this message" on each and every baseless, shameless, gutless attack his campaign launches. So he said that there's no need to "go to the lowest common denominator"? Who is he trying to kid? It's as if he's doing some sort of political limbo dance, lowering the bar a bit more each day - but so far, no bar has been low enough that he couldn't slither underneath it. His sole advertising strategy at the moment seems to be, "If we throw enough shit at Obama, maybe some of it'll stick".  I don't know about you, but flinging shit at someone like a monkey in the zoo does not qualify as honorable Presidential behavior in my book.

 

What a disgrace. What a waste of time, money and effort at a time when so much work needs to be done to make this country strong again. What an insult to us all.

 

Once again, I ask for your help in reminding John McCain that, as he himself seemed to know back in June (I guess his long-term memory's not so good anymore), the American people do not want to see our next presidency decided in this way. We don't want to be lied to and manipulated. We just want to know why the hell we should vote for him, and if he has nothing to say about that, then he needs to admit that he's not the man for the job and just leave us all alone.

 

If you feel as I do, PLEASE do something about it! We're losing ground in the polls and we're running out of time. Forward this blog to friends - and enemies, for that matter, because they probably need to read it even more. Write a letter to your local newspaper. If you have a website, Facebook or MySpace page, post links to this blog or to the YouTube clips above. Volunteer to support any group that is doing positive things to get voters involved in this election. And it would really be a great idea if you emailed or called the McCain campaign (contact info is right here: http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/) just to check in and let them know how you feel about his recent ads.

 

If he can't keep his campaign promises while the race is still on, why would we trust him to honor any of his promises once he's in the White House? I guess a candidate who says one thing then does the opposite is nothing new in Washington. Some maverick he turned out to be.

 

 

 

 

McCain's campaign promises are already being broken

Proud to be a liberal? Why not?

If you’re interested, there’s a great editorial by Bob Herbert in today’s New York Times (click here to read the article). It basically asks, “What’s so wrong with being a liberal?” In this race, McCain and his supporters keep throwing the word “liberal” at Obama and the Democrats like a bomb. But why should this word be used – or accepted – in negative way? The author of the piece points out the contributions made by liberal politicians and social reformers throughout America’s history, and reminds us that calling someone a liberal should be considered a compliment rather than an insult.

I have to take a moment out of my day to thank Bob Herbert for this piece. It is a wonderful gift to all of us who feel like outcasts in a nation we did so much to help build. Seeing the American ideals of tolerance, compassion and generosity for our fellow citizens being ridiculed and demonized by the Republicans has made me both sad and disgusted. But remember, people often attack most vehemently those things which they most fear. The GOP is desperately afraid of losing control in Washington, and they are afraid of the true agents of change from the left who challenge that power. Moreover, the McCain campaign is selling this fear to America, attempting to convince voters that sending a liberal to the White House would be a disaster. Unfortunately, that message is succeeding far too often and with far too many people. It may well be that this fearmongering will win over the majority of voters, and condemn us all to another term of financial instability, low employment, declining health care and education, bitter divisiveness and the further erosion of many of our Constitutionally-supported liberties and protections.

How has the GOP has managed this success? Simple. Since the economy is so troubling to so many of us, the Republican's ultimate success depends on their ability to paint liberals as fiscally irresponsible. So Republicans continue to spread the line about "tax-and-spend liberals" every chance they get. Democrats need to nip that issue in the bud immediately. Perhaps Obama and some of the media pundits can start using the phrase "borrow-and-spend conservatives", so it can be pointed out that, despite the tax cuts that George Bush (and John McCain) support, government spending has been rampant and reckless over the past 8 years. Republicans are using smoke and mirrors to trick voters into thinking that liberals will, somehow, make more of an economic mess than the GOP has under George Bush.

Yes, there are programs and issues that will require funding. Obama and the Democrats are not denying that fact. But, unlike conservatives, who contend that it makes more sense to borrow money and rack up trillions of dollars in debt to nations like China, liberals have this crazy idea that Americans should be asked to look out for themselves, rather than being beholden to foreign interests, and to contribute toward the nation's well-being in a manner proportional to their ability to do so.

Nobody likes paying taxes, but how can McCain or any conservative keep a straight face while defending the effectiveness of their tax cuts? How can you look an economically ravaged American public in the eye and attack a liberal plan that would ask for more from the uppermost level of income earners so that 95% of Americans could receive a tax break? It truly defies logic, yet the "tax-and-spend" label still causes many voters to panic simply because it's the alarm call used so often by the right. Obama, his supporters and the media need to re-educate the public so they can see that there's spending on both sides, but only one side is being honest about the most fair and sensible way to pay for it. "Borrow-and-spend conservatives" have been killing our economy for eight years. instead of being embarrassed when someone call us liberals, it's time to be proud, and it's time to fight back.

Proud to be a liberal? Why not?