Patrick Hynes of the McCain Campaign sent me two e-mails today, one about Barack Obama's false, malicious statement that McCain wants to continue the Iraq War "for 100 years," and another about the Obama supporter who called McCain a "warmonger." I sent Patrick two responses, both of them making the point that McCain is being much too nice to Obama.
Response one: Patrick: Thanks for the piece on "Mr. New Politics.' I'm not sure that Senator McCain is aware what kind of campaign the Democrats will wage in the general election -- and are already beginning. John McCain seems to believe that Barack is a good man -- and even an honorable one. In those assessments, he is dead wrong. Obama is a Chicago pol whose main financial backing comes from Moveon.org types, and he's only too willing to do their bidding. It's time to start hitting back -- hard and often.
Response two: Patrick: I agree that bloggers should react to the Ed Schultz remarks (calling McCain a "warmonger") and the tepid comment by Obama's "spokeswoman." But that's not enough. John McCain has to step up to the plate and question the honesty and character of Barack Obama and his campaign. He cannot proceed under the illusion that Barack is "one of the guys in the Senate," somebody to go across the aisle to, pat on the back, and josh with (as McCain did two weeks ago). Obama will interpret actions like those as a sign of weakness.
Steve adds: If I believe Barack Obama was an honorable man who loved his country I'd probably be voting for him. After reading what Obama has written and what his "spiritual advisor" had taught him, I believe no such things about him.
Patrick Hynes has provided a great deal of information about the McCain family's remarkable record of serving their country. The McCain family must be a mystifying group to someone like Barack Obama, whose life demonstrates service not to our nation, but to himself.
If you want to receive daily updates from Patrick Hynes with the McCain Campaign, you can do so by e-mailing him at: phynes@calypsocom.com. If you want to contribute to the McCain effort -- and I hope you do -- go to: http://johnmccain.com/ and click on the contribute button. McCain needs your vote, your vocal support, and your donations.
Note: Patrick was nice enough to respond to my comments above, and I replied:
Here's Patrick's reply to me: Stephen: I appreciate the note. However, it would be a mistake and out of character for Sen. McCain to personally question Sen. Obama’s character. But we have already called Sen. Obama’s remarks on “100 years” dishonest and McCain criticized Obama himself. -- Patrick.
Here's my reply: Thanks Patrick. If a man makes dishonest statements -- even Hillary Clinton says Obama is "mischaracterizing" the 100 years comment -- then he defines his character himself. Obama is saying that McCain wants to continue the Iraq War ("live on CNN!") for 100 years -- and he will continue saying it. If he doesn't get challenged ferociously, then voters will believe it. If Sen. McCain thought South Carolina in 2000 was nasty, he hasn't seen anything yet.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Huckabee Backers, Support John McCain
Note: This weekend (Saturday and Sunday) I'll be contacting people who supported Mike Huckabee for the Republican nomination. I'll be asking hundreds of such people to offer their full support (on their blogs and through contributions) to Senator John McCain. From all indications, Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee. Senator Obama differs from Gov. Huckabee (and John McCain) on every major issue -- from the sanctity of life to the War on Terrorism. As Bill Clinton recently observed, John McCain has given everything imaginable to his country, "aside from giving his life." He deserves the support of all thoughtful Americans.
I'll be back with my regular columns on Monday. Thanks as always for visiting. Your comments are always welcome. The following material from John McCain's "Service to America" tour -- Day 1.
Where the McCain story begins - The family traditions of duty, honor and sacrifice shaped John McCain from an early age and guided his vision for the future. Meridian is the home of McCain Field named after John McCain's grandfather, an admiral in the U.S. Navy.
An excerpt from John McCain's speech in Meridian:
"A distant ancestor served on General Washington's staff, and it seems my ancestors fought in most wars in our nation's history. All were soldiers - both Henry and Bill McCain were West Pointers - until my grandfather broke family tradition and entered the Naval Academy in 1902. He was succeeded there by my father, then me, and then my son."
Click here to read more about day one, including John McCain's full speech, a blog report from the road and the day's video.
I'll be back with my regular columns on Monday. Thanks as always for visiting. Your comments are always welcome. The following material from John McCain's "Service to America" tour -- Day 1.
Where the McCain story begins - The family traditions of duty, honor and sacrifice shaped John McCain from an early age and guided his vision for the future. Meridian is the home of McCain Field named after John McCain's grandfather, an admiral in the U.S. Navy.
An excerpt from John McCain's speech in Meridian:
"A distant ancestor served on General Washington's staff, and it seems my ancestors fought in most wars in our nation's history. All were soldiers - both Henry and Bill McCain were West Pointers - until my grandfather broke family tradition and entered the Naval Academy in 1902. He was succeeded there by my father, then me, and then my son."
Click here to read more about day one, including John McCain's full speech, a blog report from the road and the day's video.
GOP's "3 a.m. Video"
Please take a look at this GOP "3 a.m." video from the National Republican Congressional Committee. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq_iAHq7NL8
After you see the video, I hope you'll be inspired to contribute $20 or more to McCain Campaign (by clicking here). You can be a key figure in McCain's efforts. The Democrats are raising huge amounts of money, and it's time for us to step up to the plate. Thanks.
After you see the video, I hope you'll be inspired to contribute $20 or more to McCain Campaign (by clicking here). You can be a key figure in McCain's efforts. The Democrats are raising huge amounts of money, and it's time for us to step up to the plate. Thanks.
We're All Responsible for Ourselves
I wrote the following to an individual who said the U.S. was falling behind other countries in developing renewable energy sources, living up to the spirit of the Kyoto Treaty, preserving manufacturing jobs, and assisting people in financial distress.
I hold a different view than you do. I've been reading in The (London) Economist about Europe's backsliding on its "commitments" to the Kyoto Treaty. Admittedly, Europe and Japan are doing a better job with nuclear power than we are.
I heard today that Wal-Mart and Target were doing very well, while the upscale shops are seeing declines. Wal-Mart and Target do well because they offer low-cost goods, many of them from China. Low-cost goods are not bad for the economy, except for people who want to pay higher prices.
People in India (which has more people in the middle class than the U.S.) and China are not big fans of abject poverty, and they are doing a good job of digging their way out. That isn't bad news either.
It’s not true that we have no control over our economic lives. If we’re buying things we can’t afford, then we need to re-focus our lives on a more sustainable basis.In the last 3-4 years, I have spent approximately $1,000 on gasoline -- total. Somehow, $3.50 gallon gasoline doesn't bother me, because I don't buy it. I live in an old mill town, which I love, in a house that cost so little that I can actually afford it.
My total credit card debt? Zero dollars and zero cents.I know I'm supposed to feel the pain of people who are financially gasping for air. But I find it hard to shed tears for somebody who has two SUVs – I have none – and a house that cost five times as much as mine did.
People need to make better decisions -- and not believe that the "government" is going to save them. We have seen the government -- and it (at least its tax revenues) is us.
I remember during the Florida Primary, many Floridians wanted John McCain to support higher insurance rates for those of us in the Rust Belt so Sunshine State homeowners in hurricane-prone areas could pay lower rates. McCain refused. Good for him.
McCain said yesterday that he's not an economic expert but he knows a lot more about the economy than Obama and Clinton. He's correct. He knows that giving handouts to people who’ve made poor decisions literally involves throwing good money after bad.
In the end, we're all responsible for ourselves. We should restrict our assistance to those who are floundering through no fault of their own.
I hold a different view than you do. I've been reading in The (London) Economist about Europe's backsliding on its "commitments" to the Kyoto Treaty. Admittedly, Europe and Japan are doing a better job with nuclear power than we are.
I heard today that Wal-Mart and Target were doing very well, while the upscale shops are seeing declines. Wal-Mart and Target do well because they offer low-cost goods, many of them from China. Low-cost goods are not bad for the economy, except for people who want to pay higher prices.
People in India (which has more people in the middle class than the U.S.) and China are not big fans of abject poverty, and they are doing a good job of digging their way out. That isn't bad news either.
It’s not true that we have no control over our economic lives. If we’re buying things we can’t afford, then we need to re-focus our lives on a more sustainable basis.In the last 3-4 years, I have spent approximately $1,000 on gasoline -- total. Somehow, $3.50 gallon gasoline doesn't bother me, because I don't buy it. I live in an old mill town, which I love, in a house that cost so little that I can actually afford it.
My total credit card debt? Zero dollars and zero cents.I know I'm supposed to feel the pain of people who are financially gasping for air. But I find it hard to shed tears for somebody who has two SUVs – I have none – and a house that cost five times as much as mine did.
People need to make better decisions -- and not believe that the "government" is going to save them. We have seen the government -- and it (at least its tax revenues) is us.
I remember during the Florida Primary, many Floridians wanted John McCain to support higher insurance rates for those of us in the Rust Belt so Sunshine State homeowners in hurricane-prone areas could pay lower rates. McCain refused. Good for him.
McCain said yesterday that he's not an economic expert but he knows a lot more about the economy than Obama and Clinton. He's correct. He knows that giving handouts to people who’ve made poor decisions literally involves throwing good money after bad.
In the end, we're all responsible for ourselves. We should restrict our assistance to those who are floundering through no fault of their own.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
McCain: Use Clintons in Commercials
If you scroll down one column, you'll see that I recommended John McCain "make nice with Hillary Clinton." My point is that many Hillary voters -- millions of them -- are there for the taking. I'd like now to go further -- and recommend that McCain develop commercials featuring Bill and Hillary Clinton.
He could use them in the general election.The commercials would feature public comments by the Clintons. Mrs. Clinton has said that "John McCain has a lifetime of experience." She added that Barack has one thing -- "a speech he gave [opposing the Iraq War] in 2002." As for Bill Clinton, he recently commended McCain's service to America, saying he'd given everything imaginable "other than his life."
I know Republicans generally don't use Democrats in their commercials. However, McCain needs to deviate from that practice, because the Clintons have done everything but endorse the Republican nominee. They've identified important ways in which he's a far superior candidate to Obama.
If John McCain gets a significant portion of the Democratic Primary voters who now support Sen. Clinton, he will win the election. He can get those voters if he keeps reminding people that the Clintons see him as candidate superior to Obama.
If Obama regards this approach as unfair, he might consider "unleashing" his :spiritual advisor," Rev. Jeremiah Wright. As we recall, the "Rev." had some intriguing things to say about Bill and Hillary.
Good evening, all:
Please check out my two posts from Sen. McCain’s stop in Jacksonville today during the “Service to America Tour”:
This first post has a compelling section of Sen. McCain’s speech: http://www.johnmccain.com/Blog/Read.aspx?guid=58c486db-f4ec-454c-8d97-ad79da9a53d1
And check out this young man who attended the event: http://www.johnmccain.com/Blog/Read.aspx?guid=0ad1cc64-c9ef-4006-8509-95c47d76042e
As always, we would appreciate you linking up to these two posts.
Patrick Hynes
You can get Patrick's updates from the McCain Campaign by contacting him at: phynes@calypsocom.com.
He could use them in the general election.The commercials would feature public comments by the Clintons. Mrs. Clinton has said that "John McCain has a lifetime of experience." She added that Barack has one thing -- "a speech he gave [opposing the Iraq War] in 2002." As for Bill Clinton, he recently commended McCain's service to America, saying he'd given everything imaginable "other than his life."
I know Republicans generally don't use Democrats in their commercials. However, McCain needs to deviate from that practice, because the Clintons have done everything but endorse the Republican nominee. They've identified important ways in which he's a far superior candidate to Obama.
If John McCain gets a significant portion of the Democratic Primary voters who now support Sen. Clinton, he will win the election. He can get those voters if he keeps reminding people that the Clintons see him as candidate superior to Obama.
If Obama regards this approach as unfair, he might consider "unleashing" his :spiritual advisor," Rev. Jeremiah Wright. As we recall, the "Rev." had some intriguing things to say about Bill and Hillary.
Good evening, all:
Please check out my two posts from Sen. McCain’s stop in Jacksonville today during the “Service to America Tour”:
This first post has a compelling section of Sen. McCain’s speech: http://www.johnmccain.com/Blog/Read.aspx?guid=58c486db-f4ec-454c-8d97-ad79da9a53d1
And check out this young man who attended the event: http://www.johnmccain.com/Blog/Read.aspx?guid=0ad1cc64-c9ef-4006-8509-95c47d76042e
As always, we would appreciate you linking up to these two posts.
Patrick Hynes
You can get Patrick's updates from the McCain Campaign by contacting him at: phynes@calypsocom.com.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
McCain: Make Nice With Hillary!
Note: On my Pennsylvania blog (http://pennsylvaniaforjohnmccain.blogspot.com) I have a link to John McCain's superb new ad. I hope you'll take a look at it. As the following column suggests, John McCain has a great chance to pick up votes from millions of Hillary Clinton supporters. You can help him to that end by continuing to communicate -- respectfully and compellingly -- with friends and family members who support Mrs. Clinton. Help bring them slowly into the McCain fold.
John McCain needs to go after the Hillary Clinton supporters in much the same way that a wolf would a lamb chop. John is a sharp individual and he has many bright people around him (like Rick Davis, Patrick Hynes, and Carly Fiorina), and they can see that a big chunk of the Hillary voters, perhaps as many as one-third, are ready to go to McCain in the general election.
Mrs. Clinton has said nice things about McCain (and so has Bill), including the fact that, compared to Obama (who has a speech he delivered in 2002), he has "a lifetime of experience." Husband Bill said that McCain has done everything conceivable for his country "other than give his life."
It's time for McCain to reciprocate -- and make positive statements about Hillary Clinton as a Senator. That might disconcert charter members of "the vast right-wing conspiracy," but it would make a lot of sense. On the other hand, McCain should restrict positive comments about Obama to the minimum possible. Obama is ready to be orator-in-chief but not commander-in-chief.
The Reagan Democrats of yesteryear (pro-life, pro-guns, pro-military) are voting for Mrs. Clinton, but iwthout enthusiasm. The more they find out about Obama -- everything from his support of live-birth-abortion to his rapt adoration of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his support of the Chicago Democratic machine -- the less likely they will be to vote for him.
In short, John McCain, make nice with Hillary Clinton. It won't save her campaign, but it will attract millions of Hillary-ites.
Note: Click on the following link to an important article on how Barack Obama's (Democratic) poll numbers are up and Hillary Clinton's money numbers are way down.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/04/hillarys_wrong_numbers_obama_p.html
John McCain needs to go after the Hillary Clinton supporters in much the same way that a wolf would a lamb chop. John is a sharp individual and he has many bright people around him (like Rick Davis, Patrick Hynes, and Carly Fiorina), and they can see that a big chunk of the Hillary voters, perhaps as many as one-third, are ready to go to McCain in the general election.
Mrs. Clinton has said nice things about McCain (and so has Bill), including the fact that, compared to Obama (who has a speech he delivered in 2002), he has "a lifetime of experience." Husband Bill said that McCain has done everything conceivable for his country "other than give his life."
It's time for McCain to reciprocate -- and make positive statements about Hillary Clinton as a Senator. That might disconcert charter members of "the vast right-wing conspiracy," but it would make a lot of sense. On the other hand, McCain should restrict positive comments about Obama to the minimum possible. Obama is ready to be orator-in-chief but not commander-in-chief.
The Reagan Democrats of yesteryear (pro-life, pro-guns, pro-military) are voting for Mrs. Clinton, but iwthout enthusiasm. The more they find out about Obama -- everything from his support of live-birth-abortion to his rapt adoration of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his support of the Chicago Democratic machine -- the less likely they will be to vote for him.
In short, John McCain, make nice with Hillary Clinton. It won't save her campaign, but it will attract millions of Hillary-ites.
Note: Click on the following link to an important article on how Barack Obama's (Democratic) poll numbers are up and Hillary Clinton's money numbers are way down.
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/04/hillarys_wrong_numbers_obama_p.html
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Obama's Mindless Message of Change
Obama’s Mindless Message of Change
The following is a quote from Charles R. Kesler, a professor of government at California's Claremont College. "Of all the presidential contenders' slogans this year, Barack Obama's have been the most interesting. His campaign creed is: 'Yes, we can.' To which any reasonable person would ask: "Can what?" The answer, of course, is: 'Hope." But again, a reasonable person might ask: 'Hope for what?' To which the answer confidently comes back from the Obama campaign: 'For change.' Indeed, Obama's signs say: 'Change We Can Believe In,' as opposed, one supposes, to the unbelievable changes. But the elementary problem with this -- which any student of logic might raise -- is that change can be for the better or the worse."
Charles Kesler continues: “Democrats in general . . . confuse change with improvement. They fail to weigh the costs and benefits of change, to consider its unintended consequences, or to worry about what we need to conserve and how we might go about doing that faithfully. They ask Americans to embrace change for its own sake, in the faith that history is governed by a law of progress, which guarantees that change is almost always an improvement. The ability to bring about historical change, then, becomes the highest mark of the liberal leader.”
For Americans concerned about the direction of our country, Kesler’s comments are alarming. Basically, he’s saying that Barack is conducting a campaign based on mindless slogans – on “feel good” language. Obama seems to have no clear awareness that some changes, such as the dramatic rise in out-of-wedlock births, are detrimental. The change Obama wants is one where all of us become much more dependent on government – at the cost of bankrupting taxpayers.
As the “Saturday Night Live” parodies have shown, the national media doesn’t want to ask Barack Obama hard questions about what changes he proposes. Media types appears to be afraid either of offending the candidate or earning the disapproval of their social group. Thus, the mindlessness of the Obama Campaign lurches on.
Thus, tens of millions of Americans are supporting Barack Obama without any idea what his “message of change” means. As John McCain has noted, Obama's message is much less a statement of principles than a series of platitudes. It’s not exactly a sound way of determining a presidential nominee.
Charles Kesler’s comment above from Imprimis, an important publication at Hillsdale College in Michigan. You can subscribe by going to http://hillsdalecollege.edu or by e-mailing at: imprimis@hillsdale.edu. Leave your name and address. Imprimis is consistently one of the best academic publications in the U.S.
The following is a quote from Charles R. Kesler, a professor of government at California's Claremont College. "Of all the presidential contenders' slogans this year, Barack Obama's have been the most interesting. His campaign creed is: 'Yes, we can.' To which any reasonable person would ask: "Can what?" The answer, of course, is: 'Hope." But again, a reasonable person might ask: 'Hope for what?' To which the answer confidently comes back from the Obama campaign: 'For change.' Indeed, Obama's signs say: 'Change We Can Believe In,' as opposed, one supposes, to the unbelievable changes. But the elementary problem with this -- which any student of logic might raise -- is that change can be for the better or the worse."
Charles Kesler continues: “Democrats in general . . . confuse change with improvement. They fail to weigh the costs and benefits of change, to consider its unintended consequences, or to worry about what we need to conserve and how we might go about doing that faithfully. They ask Americans to embrace change for its own sake, in the faith that history is governed by a law of progress, which guarantees that change is almost always an improvement. The ability to bring about historical change, then, becomes the highest mark of the liberal leader.”
For Americans concerned about the direction of our country, Kesler’s comments are alarming. Basically, he’s saying that Barack is conducting a campaign based on mindless slogans – on “feel good” language. Obama seems to have no clear awareness that some changes, such as the dramatic rise in out-of-wedlock births, are detrimental. The change Obama wants is one where all of us become much more dependent on government – at the cost of bankrupting taxpayers.
As the “Saturday Night Live” parodies have shown, the national media doesn’t want to ask Barack Obama hard questions about what changes he proposes. Media types appears to be afraid either of offending the candidate or earning the disapproval of their social group. Thus, the mindlessness of the Obama Campaign lurches on.
Thus, tens of millions of Americans are supporting Barack Obama without any idea what his “message of change” means. As John McCain has noted, Obama's message is much less a statement of principles than a series of platitudes. It’s not exactly a sound way of determining a presidential nominee.
Charles Kesler’s comment above from Imprimis, an important publication at Hillsdale College in Michigan. You can subscribe by going to http://hillsdalecollege.edu or by e-mailing at: imprimis@hillsdale.edu. Leave your name and address. Imprimis is consistently one of the best academic publications in the U.S.
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