McCain Welcomes Obama to General Election
By Alan Stewart Carl | Related entries in 2008 Election, Barack, McCainWhile Barack Obama is declaring victory and Hillary Clinton is coming to terms with reality, John McCain is welcoming Obama to the general election. And he’s taking the opportunity to come out swinging.
“He is an impressive man, who makes a great first impression,” McCain said of Obama, speaking before an audience of some 600 people in a venue near New Orleans.
“But he hasn’t been willing to make the tough calls, to challenge his party, to risk criticism from his supporters to bring real change to Washington. I have.”
Nice opening salvo. On the day Obama secures the Democratic nomination, McCain gives a speech accentuating his independence. In addition to highlighting his bipartisan record (and Obama’s lack thereof), McCain made sure to point out his break with President Bush on energy policy, even pointing out that while he voted against the Bush and Cheney backed energy bill, Obama voted for it.
A lot of conservatives disagree, but I have maintained and keep maintaining that McCain’s best path to victory is to present himself as the true post-partisan leader while making Obama look young and beholden to partisan interests. This is a decent start for the Arizona senator.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 and is filed under 2008 Election, Barack, McCain. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 pm
I think you’re right about McCain’s path to victory and this speech was a clear effort to that end. McCain recognizes the need for change, but it will be tough for him to represent that. To that end, he also tried to make Obama’s brand of change seem unacceptable.
I did think Obama had a great response in his own speech, tying McCain to Bush’s record, noting the 95% voting record this past year.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:36 pm
McCain’s speech was terrible, you know its bad when even the right wing sites are panning it.
Also what was with that green background?
June 4th, 2008 at 3:06 am
I was at the Barack rally tonight, and I also had the chance to be at his last one in Minneapolis, and the one before that in Minneapolis as well. But that last one was quite awhile ago. Anyways, what I meant to say is that this one was probably the best of’em all.
It wasn’t that there was anything particularly substantive. But, like it or not, that isn’t his game. I’ve read his policy papers and I don’t think that he lacks vision or credible ideas, but when you’re best strength is to motivate and inspire, it doesn’t make a helluva lot of sense to dull your events down into something that doesn’t play to your greatest strength. He tried to do a bit of that in his last rally and it fell flat. This one hit the mark.
Frankly, its just a lot of fun to be at those things. You’ve got people camping out for three freakin’ days so they can get marginally better seats than people who show up 3 hours before. Both insane, and completely cool all in one instance. Insane because I wouldn’t wait outside for three days to have a go with Jessica Alba, much less attend a political rally. Cool because he’s actually inspired people to do that.
June 4th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Alan, what, in your opinion, what would the laundry list of McCain’s bipartisan accomplishments look like?
I’d give him points for the gang of 13 scotus thing, and then I’d take ‘em right back for “campaign finance reform.” What else ya got?
Not sure if I can give McCain any points for his positions on energy policy, because I don’t think McCain really cares all that much about it or is very knowledgeable on it. I’m open to correction on that though. Would you say it’s accurate to characterize McCain as one of a hnadful of deeply involved leaders on this issue, or did he just make a vote counter to Bush on it?
June 4th, 2008 at 8:12 am
“I did think Obama had a great response in his own speech, tying McCain to Bush’s record, noting the 95% voting record this past year.”
That McCain backed Bush’s policies 95% of the time in 2007 and 100% of the time in 2008 needs to be a mantra of the Obama campaign from here on out. It would serve as a quid pro quo to the GOP’s hammering him on his ranking as the most liberal senator in 2007.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:19 am
McCain differs from Bush on the environment. He differs from Bush on campaign finance. He is identical on supporting the social conservative agenda. He is identical on foreign policy. He is identical on Supreme Court appointments. Change? Bi-partisan? Don’t make me laugh. His entire campaign to get the Republican nomination was to run away from everything he is now trying to claim.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Insane because I wouldn’t wait outside for three days to have a go with Jessica Alba, much less attend a political rally.
BLASPHEMY!!! from one guy to another, either you’re not interested in women, your wife was sitting over your shoulder as you typed that, or you’re a liar. Which is it sir?
June 4th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Let’s see — campaign finance reform WAS bipartisan, even though I think the law is a bad one. But, instead of “bipartisan” let’s just list where he differs from general Republican orthodoxy.
Enviornment/global warming
Stem cell research
Torture
Voted against the gay marriage ammendment (although he supported an ammendment in Arizona, so he only gets semi-credit)
Stopped the “nuclear option” on judicial appointees
He was against the Bush tax cuts (he’s now for them but only because, at this point, reinstating them would be a tax increase, which is a bad idea during poor economic times)
Supports reasonable immigration reform (although, so does Bush)
That’s just off the top of my head. Remember, the guy is loathed by “true” conservatives. There’s a reason for that.
And as for voting “with Bush” 95% of the time, Obama had the most liberal voting record in the Senate. I personally disregard such numbers but, if we’re going to use them, I’d like to know how anyone can claim Obama is anything but a lock-step liberal? McCain ain’t perfect, but he has proven himself far more independent minded than has Obama.
June 4th, 2008 at 11:32 am
“BLASPHEMY!!! from one guy to another, either you’re not interested in women, your wife was sitting over your shoulder as you typed that, or you’re a liar. Which is it sir?”
lol, well, I guess I just don’t like the idea of sitting outside very much. By the Time I got done waiting for three hours, I was ready for the thing to just get going. That and I already have an awfully attractive fiance so I guess I don’t see the need.