John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin at the GOP convention (Mary Knox Merrill/STAFF)
Next test for McCain and Palin: winning undecideds
McCain and Palin fired up their base, but they’ll need to attract independents and some Democrats to win.
By Ariel Sabar | Staff Writer/ September 4, 2008 edition
Saint Paul, Minn.
A series of forceful speeches at the Republican National Convention this week – particularly Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s roof raiser Wednesday – turbocharged GOP activists searching a gloomy political landscape for something to feel good about.
But the 8-1/2 weeks until Election Day will bring the real test: convincing enough undecided voters, many only now tuning into the race, that John McCain should be president.
That fight, political analysts say, will turn in large measure on Senator McCain’s ability to wrest the mantle of “change” from Sen. Barack Obama and win independents and conservative Democrats in swing states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan.
“The shift we saw at the convention was away from a strict reliance on the experience card, to a revamped message that McCain will bring about the right kind of change,” says Lawrence Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota.
“This is not a Karl Rove play-the-base strategy,” he added, referring to President Bush’s former strategist who won elections with partisan wedges like gay marriage and abortion. “This is a really significant shift away from that.”
“Can you imagine how they’re going to shake up Washington?” former New York mayor and GOP presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani called out in his speech here Wednesday, referring to McCain and Governor Palin. “Look out!”
A new television ad – casting Palin as a bipartisan reformer and “Alaska maverick” – underscores the approach.
“The Palin nomination excited and united the base,” says James Campbell, a political scientist at the University at Buffalo, in New York. “Now he has to win over moderates.”
By Professor Jacobs’s estimate, McCain would have to win some 55 percent of independents and more than 15 percent of Democrats – a tall order – to defeat Senator Obama.
The week yielded some encouraging signs for Republicans. McCain’s choice of Palin as running mate drew rave reviews from conservatives wary of the Arizona senator – plus $7 million, the campaign’s largest single day of contributions. Speakers at the Xcel Energy Center here nailed in place the image of McCain as a battle-tested American hero with a proven record of reform, in contrast to a Democratic rival longer on words than deeds.
Republicans weathered a distracting hurricane, then closed ranks to contain fallout from news that Palin’s unwed 17-year-old daughter is pregnant. The discipline was notable for a campaign ridiculed as messageless as recently as a few months ago, and taken for dead over the summer.
But in other ways, the terrain for Republicans remains mountainous. Obama, who accepted the Democratic presidential nomination last week, leads McCain by nearly six points in an average of polls compiled by the website Real Clear Politics. Less than a third of Americans approve of President George Bush, the party’s standard-bearer for the past eight years.
Voter surveys earlier this week found that a Palin vice presidency makes scant difference to most women. Even after her selection last Friday, Democrats were nearly 50 percent more likely than Republicans to feel enthusiastic about voting this year, according to a Gallup poll.
For Republicans, the race is likely to be won, or lost, in Pennsylvania and the populous Midwestern battlegrounds of Ohio and Michigan. Also important are a string of states Bush won in 2004 but where Obama now leads – even if by a whisker – in the polls: Virginia, Iowa, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Up for grabs are economically struggling but socially conservative voters – both blue-collar and middle class – who may have stayed home or backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries and are now on the fence.
“McCain will win the South, Obama will win the East and West coasts,” says GOP strategist John Bell. “The real fight is going to be in the Midwest and in Pennsylvania.”
To win those states, he says, McCain has to paint Obama as a kind of wolf in sheep’s clothing – a traditional tax-raising liberal hiding behind an unearned image as bipartisan uniter. At the same time, he has to toughen his defenses against efforts by Democrats to tar him as an heir to Bush.
“Since he clinched the nomination, I think he’s made a credible case that he’d be different from Bush,” Mr. Bell says. “But that job is never done. The Democrats will never let go of that issue, so it’s a challenge.”
Speakers at the GOP convention turned at least a few times to the Karl Rove phrase book, condemning Hollywood celebrities, the “left-wing media” and, in Bush’s televised speech, “the angry left.”
But those lines were aimed more at electrifying the convention hall and the party’s activists than at the millions of Americans watching on television.
As Jacobs sees it, the partisan gestures of the past week – including Palin’s selection – were a plea for clemency for the next two months, when McCain is likely to tack toward the political center and underline his reputation as a maverick.
“It’s a Faustian bargain he’s made with his party,” Jacobs says. “It’s ‘I’m going to give you the V.P., but then I get to do what I want, then I get a free pass to run against the party.’”
Comments
2. ApostasyUSA | 09.04.08
I don’t care about Palin, nor do I think she reperesents change. She is the status quo for Republicans.
See the GOP doesn’t want to talk about their record of the last 8 years, so instead they change the subject. The GOP elects a doffus for President (Bush)and now I’m supposed to trust them to tell me the truth. After the endless lies and corruption from Republicans, I’m not going to trust them as far as I can spit.
The Republicans want to change?
What did the Republican Party do when they were in power?
The GOP is moving on from what?
They have yet to admit any mistakes so, why do they need to hide from the last 8 years?
Did the White House make mistakes? Is that why Bush and Cheney can’t be seen at any McCain/Republican events? Not even at the Republican National Convention?
Is the Republican Party John McCain’s now?
What do the Republicans do to “move forward”?
Which way were Republicans moving our country before?
Oh…and another thing….don’t ever let anyone tell you that the media is “liberal”…..please…..remember:
The media is only as liberal as the giant corporations that own it.
3. cta | 09.04.08
This undecided is now decided.
McCain with Pawlenty, Lieberman, Ridge or Romney would have been fine. But the sharp veer rightward to someone who wants to teach creationism and abstention in the schools, who believes the government controls reproductive rights and fired a librarian who stood up for the 1st amendment has pushed me to the democratic ticket for this election.
4. Carrie | 09.04.08
McCain and Palin would be just more of the same we’ve had for 8 long years.
I believe the Indys will go for Obama
5. Alice | 09.04.08
I was shocked by how negative and demeaning the Republican convention was last night. As I understand it, Gov. Palin is a strong Christian. I am Catholic and was stunned by the level of disrespect Gov. Palin (and Rudy Guiliani) showed toward Senator Obama, and community organizers in general. We have community organizers at my church and they are kind-hearted people who genuinely care about helping others. Gov. Palin’s message is not one I would associate with strong Christian values.
6. Gus | 09.04.08
She was like the daughter of Don Rickles or something – she just kept quipping snarky barbs at Obama and never really said anything of substance it was unbelievable. I thought she would start off with a few shots maybe even a dozen shots at the Dem’s and then get into the Republicans vision and her qualifications. But it honestly never came she just kept going on and on with insults to Obama. She also slammed the media. So, it is their recipe for success – attack and insults any opposition and claim the media is liberal. The get elected and run our country into the ground.
7. jag | 09.04.08
On behalf of my children and grandchildren, I pray there are not enough people in this country who fall for the GOP tactics this time that we will suffer under a McCain/Palin regime. I will move to Canada rather than live in a country that permits the government to control reproductive rights and teaches creationism in our schools. What have we become? The only thing missing last night were the swastika banners flying high. Is this indeed a scary time for our country.
8. Gloria Hershman | 09.04.08
After viewing the GOP convention I am more embarrassed than ever to have the world view American politics. McCain/Palin, two incompetents who do not represent maintstream America are the standard bearers of a major political party. Republicans need at least a four to eight year time out to regroup and become responsive to the electorate they are trying to represent. A disgusting peformance of avoiding an intelligent discussion of issues the Republicans have created over the past eight years. This party needs to completely implode and start all over losing its base along the way. The base does not reflect American values, only divisive politics.
9. AJ | 09.04.08
As a community organizer in my church I was deeply offended by Palin’s remarks. Palin was the wrong choice.
10. Mokie | 09.04.08
Jag,
I pray that there are not enough people to fall for the arrogance and inexperience of Obama. He’s going to destroy the country, just tear it apart and make it socialist. All the higher taxes for what. He’s going to give to a World Hunger Fund, and have free health care for the entire third world. They will just pour in when its free. Then, he’s going to cave in to every terrorist. And, gas prices will be even higher when he’s done with his windfall tax scheme.
Why does every democrat compare Republicans to nazis. Where are you heads. Obama is the one that is anti-semitic.
As for creationism in school, I believe both will be taught. And, who cares about that. Just send your kids to private if you can’t deal with the public system.
11. mary in North Carolina | 09.04.08
What shocks me about the entire Palin “evening” is that she chose to put her very obviously pregnant unwed 17 year old daughter on the stage with her last night (and the father of the child who is 18 and not the daughter’s husband). I am a mother of three young daughters and a son and I am trying to teach them that becoming pregnant out of wedlock, risking their chances at education is extremely dangerous for their future. I hated having to explain why Tom Cruise got married after the baby was born, etc. etc. I am a Democrat, and I believe in moral values. We need to be teaching our children that they should not have sex in high school and it is not okay to be pregnant at 17. What kind of message did the center stage last night send our children. It is terribly depressing to me. The news surrounding Bill Clinton ten years ago forced us to talk about blow jobs with our children and convince them this was not okay and now this… I don’t let my children watch Disney channel anymore….now I can’t let them watch the Republican convention???? Where is the social conservative Republican outrage? Please tell me we think all this is just fine. Don’t say we can’t talk about a politician’s children and then put her out there for the world and my children to see!!
12. Edward | 09.04.08
If McCain truly cared about the American people he would have chosen a running mate who could actually run the country in the event something happened to him. Sarah Palin may be a nice small town politician but only a fool would think could handle being president. All he did was to pick a running mate that would get him votes. Obama just won mine.
13. Bronis deSupinski | 09.04.08
It’s dreadful that McCain picked an unqualified opportunist as his running mate. No one is belittling small towns in questioning Palin’s experience, but rather is saying that being mayor of a town of 7,000 doesn’t qualify her to be vice president. But it is typical of a Republican to misdirect and mislead people by making that statement. As was her using fear about a crushing tax burden by referring to tax changes Obama proposes which quite the opposite of her inference will benefit middle class and small business owners at the expense of the rich and big oil companies. But then, if you have a family income of approximately $175,000 dependent on those big oil companies as Palin does, you’d want to continue the failed policies of the Bush administration. Further, her views on the environment, global warning, support for big oil and wanting government to tell women how to manage their bodies is just more of the same from a party that has failed America for the last 8 years. That she is a woman pales in comparison to her lack of qualifications, her regressive views on important issues and her contempt for voters by using lies, half-truths and fear in an attempt to manipulate them.
I was considering voting for McCain until he made this disastrous choice of a running mate. While it shows he’s a maverick by choosing someone few else would have, it also shows he’s more interested in thumbing his nose at his party’s establishment than in selecting someone who is good for our country.
14. Gj | 09.04.08
Maybe it’s naive of me, but I was okay with the Republican convention so far. Every day they waste lobbing insults is a day they yield to the Dems on the economy, etc.
15. hmpierson | 09.04.08
How can you ignore the blatant lie that Palin is against earmarks?
John McCain picked three of her requested earmarks (while mayor of Wasilla) to hold up to the American people as egregious examples of pork barrel politics. Palin used a paid lobbyist with ties to disgraced Senator Stevens and Abramoff to procure $27 million in earmarks.
She was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it, and kept and used the money appropriated for other purposes.
Moreover, for 2009, she has requested almost $200 million in earmarks.
16. CK | 09.04.08
I don’t believe that McCain’s selection of Palin as his running mate has done anything for his candidacy other than clinch the far right. But who else were they going to vote for? Obama? Yeah right.
If anything, his selection of Palin has alienated those he needed the most: the independents and moderate conservatives. Those same moderates he once claimed to identify with and understand.
I hope for our nation’s sake that he has clinched the election for Obama because we really don’t need 4 more years of the same policies that have failed under Bush.
17. Tom Cholewa | 09.04.08
McCain/Palin would not be more of the same…it would be worse.
Worse for our already abysmal educational standards, worse for the all but non-existent middle-class, worse for deteriorating city centers like Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, and Toledo.
But who needs a healthy economy if you know how to bring down a moose at thirty paces? And education? Oh my God…how elitist! How can anyone even entertain the thought of reading a book when the terrorists are right outside the door!
It’s really a moot point though. If Sarah Palin has her way, there won’t be any books left to read, anyway. There’s a list of the books Palin wants to burn circulating throughout the Internet, and at least half of Steinbeck’s catalog is on it. One particularly interesting line item was Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. I guess the conservative Christian right doesn’t want to give away its user manual.
18. Rene | 09.04.08
To understand the importance of Sarah Palin, all one has to do is to visualize the Republican National Convention without her. There was already a lot of commentary about the John McCain’s lack of ’star quality’. The contrast of the two conventions in such a short amount of time would have been very bad PR. Especially after Obama’s stunning and substantive stadium show at Invesco Field.
The sudden appearance of a literal nobody from nowhere created some initial buzz. The combination of confusion and Cinderella effect whipped up a small frenzy. The flurry of peccadillos added some real spice to the whole affair. Someone in the Republican party deserves a medal for turning what would have been a mind-numbingly boring and bitter convention into a wonderfully entertaining media circus.
Actually, perhaps it should be the press that should find that person and give him/her a medal. Otherwise they would have had to cover a second hurricane in two weeks. Hurricanes aren’t bad, but two in a row just gets a little repetitious. Three cheers for the new media darling, Sarah Palin.
Unfortunately, all we know now is that Sarah Palin can read a teleprompter, and do a wonderful job on a stage. We also know that the Republican faithful can suck it in and cheer madly. But what else could they do?
19. David Morgan | 09.04.08
When I went to bed last night, enraged at the horrific impudence and disgust that Ms. Palin has for anyone different from her, it suddenly struck me, I’m not really mad at Ms. Palin. No, not at all. People like Palin are, to their core, intellectual and social *******, regardless of where they shop or what job they hold. I was TRULY mad that one of the two top political parties would have produced such a travesty of a presidential ticket. A war hero with a life-long identity crisis, and a woman who mocks everything that’s compassionate, educational, or visionary. The Republican Party has trashed the sacred process of chosing a president. This process should re-identify and recommit us to the noble reasons we’re here. To reach the highest heights of our humanity and community and nation-building. We want to hear uplifting and imaginative speeches, visioning-out-loud, to help us dream and motivate us to be truly participating in our nation’s destiny. But, what did we get? ((add sound effect of toilet flushing))
20. TJ | 09.05.08
Never before do I remember this country being in such dire straits on so many fronts and a major party political convention to select the country’s next leader to be so empty and devoid of any substance. On the contrary, in such a time of need, this convention has been the most rabid, divisive, negative, insulting assembly of a select group of people totally unrepresentative of this country.
Because they have no appreciation or understanding of the communities in this country, especially inner city communities, they mock and deride community organizers, ordinary people who serve everyday to improve and empower the lives of their neighbors and to put country first.
This convention and this party has nothing to do about the people in this country; it is about seizing and maintaining power, which is why they had no ordinary people represented and the examples that McCain tried to give of people with issues were so “off base” that no one could honestly relate to them. The first, someone whose “real estate deals” had gone sour…..Please! The only person that impressed me in four days was Cindy McCain. In spite of that unflattering hairdo, I loved seeing her video about her service in various charities throughout the world. I think she must be the most underappreciated woman in that realm; what she does is not valued by that crowd, nor does she seem to be that valued by her husband.
Shallow, vapid, empty, nonsensical. Shrill, insulting, critical.
I believe it is because they have nothing else to offer.
I remain touched and filled with compassion for his experience as a POW and the impact it had on his life. But, he has surrounded himself with the wrong people. He could have been a contender had he joined a party of the people 30 years ago and used that experience to help others.
For this election, he has sold himself to the party’s base, all that is so very unattractive about the Republicans. His running mate is a shameful choice. She can give a good speech because I sense a touch of megalomania about her, but she is no leader of a country, she is not Vice President, she is no President, she could never be a Secretary of State, nor could she even serve in the US Senate. She belongs on late night shows, sit-coms, or some kind of entertainment industry, which I believe is what people are confusing themselves with. She is appealing in that way, but not to govern the country.
21. TJ | 09.05.08
Also, can someone please tell me what is so “Christian” about this party, other than their Pro Life position.
I support Pro Choice because it gives women a choice. With enough of a social support system in place, many women might choose life. But when transitional housing with parenting classes and child care and job training and education for young, unwed mothers of infants to age 18 months is vetoed in Alaska by that governor and CHIPS health care for children is vetoed by our current president, I fail to see the support of these children that this party advocates for.
I also fail to see responsible stewardship of our environment by this party or efforts to maintain a decent life style in terms of employment opportunities, housing, health care access for all, and on and on.
None of what I have witnessed in any Republican administration and at this convention has spoken to any of the social policy issues that support the dignity of life and reflect the Christian teachings, most notably, the Eight Beatitudes. This convention demonstrated that they do not even adhere to the Ten Commandments. It was devoid of honor, truth, and respect.
22. Debbie | 09.05.08
I agree with one of the earlier posts. Palin’s 17 year old daughter on stage and in the lime-light for all children to view, see and potentially contemplate as a mentor is out and out WRONG. The wrong message to send to the country, to our society and most importantly to our children. I agree, Palin’s daughters pregnancy is a personal family issue and should remain as such and NOT be used or abused by the GOP convention politics.
My FIRST question to myself when I heard about Palin for VP with McCain, was, can I see Palin as PRESIDENT, should the time present itself. I answer myself a resounding NO!!
Honestly we have very little to chose from. I have more positive thoughts about the Obama-Biden ticket, democratic as do my staunch republican parents, however we are all not excited about the idea of heavy spending or out of control spending by the democratic party . . . it important to all of us in my family that whomever becomes President and Vice-President do so with great honor to the public, doing the RIGHT THING(s) and really doing good things for our country and our people . . . you and me . . . all of us little people who rarely have much of a voice in all of this.
Our economy is **** right now, and I feel and see it more than some. Been in banking all of my life, over 30 years and this is the scariest time of my banking career . . . and living ever so closer from pay check to pay check ,etc. It is really a frightening thing. Seeing businesse and people, ordinary good people struggling harder and more often than ever just to stay afloat and alive.
In God we all must trust and live and have our being. Peace be with us all . . . and the ability to make ends meet.
Debbie
24. mark 5.56 | 09.05.08
AJ,
did your experience as community organizer in your church qualify you to be president of the united states? no slam, serious question
25. Christoher Stewart | 09.05.08
To mark5.56,
Of course, the experience of community organizer does not qualify one to be President. Neither does small town mayor. Neither does P.O.W. (think about it, what policy decisions do you make as a POW).
Honestly, all four candidates (a Governor, and three Senators) are qualified. Let’s stop debating that. Also, all of them have compelling stories that make them 1) human and 2) in love with our country. Surely, you would not say that the only sacrifice worthy of President is to be a POW. Obama background is more rich than Bush AND Clinton’s combined.
You gotta look at the issues. To me, the fact that McCain has been implicit with the Republican party for 8 years affects my trust for him. HE CAMPAIGNED FOR G.W. BUSH. How can he possibly change the direction in Washington? How can he say that he didn’t like what was going on, as he voted for it! And how can the Republican party act as if they didn’t just cheer for the President 2 nights earlier!!
McCain = same
McCain = same
I am voting for Obama-Biden in 2008
26. TJ | 09.05.08
What I hear from the Democratic ticket suggests more a “redistribution” of money for spending rather than increased spending.
Really, the top tier did not ask for all of those billions in tax cuts and do not need it. Not with the trillions being spent on that war and restoration in Iraq; not with millions in our country unable to access health care, caught between not qualifying for medicaid and not having enough to private pay; not with thousands losing their homes; not with increased costs for gasoline, utilities, groceries; not with widespread unemployment and job loss due to outsourcing; not with a major beloved city still “under construction” after drowning from a hurricaine.
Rolling back those tax cuts and requiring the Iraqis to begin financing their own defense and restoration will stop the largest financial drain in our budget. Maybe we can begin shoring up the deficit and reallocating some monies for health care for those who are falling through the cracks.
After what we have experienced with this Republican administration re spending, I am certain a Democratic administration will have no choice other than to be more responsible with the budget.
28. Former McCain Supporter | 09.05.08
As a McCain supporter & contributor since 2000, I am appalled at what has happened to what I once thought was an excellent candidate for president. I was so mad at what I’ve seen the last few days, I called the campaign office to demand my contribution be returned!
The selection of Sarah Palin, a pro-big oil, pro-development be damned with the environment, anti-choice, anti-birth control, creationist, book banning, fire everyone who isn’t absolutely loyal to her candidate, who believes it’s okay to shoot wolves from helicopters tells me that it is going to be third term for the fundamentalist, slash and burn style of politics brought to us by Bush/Cheney. In a country that desperately needs to have a highly educated work force to remain a global economy power, it’s also a party that seems to mock and ridicule the well educated, thinking of them as uppity and elitist. In the McCain - Palin universe, we treat as heroes those who barely gradute from college. What a disastrous attitude for America!
If that isn’t enough, Palin’s speech Wednesday night provided that if we vote for McCain - Palin, we’re in for people who take the low road rather than the high road. Based on what we can conclude about McCain’s selectio process, it’s clear that a McCain administration would be four more years of people who act first, think second. I, for one, am sick of that!
Even more astonishing is the fact that Senator McCain and Governor Palin are campaigning around the country, basing much of their appeal on their reputation for fighting their own party. Yet no one seems to ask, who is going to staff their administration?
They’ve just told us that Republicans in Alaska and Washington are corrupt, that government needs to be reformed, and that only they can save us. But who are they going to put into the thousands of staff slots that will actually do the hands on goverment management and policy development? Democrats and independents? I think not! To the winners go the spoils and that means that the administration will be staffed by more of the same, the red meat, far right, no skill just rhetoric, virtually all white Republicans. Is this what American really wants?
If Washington is so in need of reform and so desperately broken, as McCain says, I don’t think we need to vote for a presidential candidate who didn’t have the nerve to choice the person that he really wanted (who is qualified to be president). We donj’t need another candidate who will sell his soul to the devil to win the election. We need a person of integrity and strength now!
Whether people vote for Obama, Barr, Nader, or any other candidate on the ballot, I think they have a far better choice than John McCain - I’m sad to say.
29. Joseph | 09.05.08
All the negative and nasty comments regarding Sarah Palin show the panic her nomination has generated –the Dems are beginning their melt down!
30. ann | 09.05.08
I must have been watching another channel or something, but to me the Republican Covention was a turning point that prehaps there was hope for the country yet. Obama/Biden offered me socialist/facism at its finest. Having lived through the second World War and being well acquainted with Nazi tactics, I shudder at the possibility of an Obama/Biden leadership(?). There is no substance there and I don’t know who these detractors are who have their facts confused. We can’t just listen to propaganda on either side for information. Seek it for yourself from reliable sources. I was planning on voting for a third party because I do not want to be deprived of my right to vote, but now I am having second thoughts. I saw two real people who I feel have the country’s interest at heart, in a less costly, more warm, friendly atmosphere; not the glamourous, celebrity status that gave a feeling of unattainable people in an over done, costly stage production the democrats offered. I didn’t feel a country/people connection, just a big production. Incidentially am a female, registered independent. Do your homework people,inbvestigate the candidiates and vote the people not the party, and keep racre and gender out of it.
31. Ally G | 09.05.08
If community organizers want to be offended at Palin’s comments, then why don’t they do all the mayors of small towns a favor and get offended on their behalf as well. Granted, Palin could have been more gracious in her self-defense, but those of you who are “offended”, you are completely ignoring the context of her words.
32. RB | 09.05.08
After so very many elections where I personally fought to not become apathetic about my choices as a voter, I finally have a clear choice to vote on character. So many elections have presented a choice of the lesser of two evils as it pertains to character. Across all commentary, it has been universally acknowledged that John McCain has a compelling life story which proves his character. Not all POWs are fit or prepared or capable of being our president, but far fewer presidential nominees are prepared or capable of being a POW. John McCain returned to Vietnam to work for both personal and national reconciliation. John McCain has a record for legislating in a bi-partisan manner. Just last night, John McCain admitted to being self-serving in his youth, and accused his party of being out of touch with the American people.
I find John McCain to be genuine, tested, experienced and humble. I will cast my vote for proven character and give John McCain the opportunity continue to build on his compelling story.
As for Sen. Obama, my hope is that his political career will continue, and he will grow his base of experience. Sen. Obama has great potential to lead. I am interested to see if his listening skills are up to his speaking skills in the upcoming debates. All leaders must speak, but great leaders must listen.
33. Lynn | 09.05.08
Our would-be Vice President, Sarah Palin continues to mockingly demean the value of Barack Obama’s role as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago, years he spent working to improve the lives of others instead of working on Wall Street for a high six-figure salary, years that helped shape his commitment to service.
John McCain stresses that his commitment to service was formed during his captivity as a prisoner of war. No one has demeaned or mocked him. Indeed, he continues to receive great respect.
Across this country, thousands upon thousands of people work in their communities every day, paid and unpaid, to improve the lives of the homeless, to protect the elderly, to keep youth involved in healthy activities. The list is long, and the work is meaningful and by no means easy.
When Sarah Palin demeans the service of Barack Obama, she demeans us all.
34. pj | 09.05.08
I was full of anticipation for the GOP convention. Wow, what a disappointment!!!
First of all Sarah Palin. I do not care what is going on with her daughter. I feel very sorry for her. She is so young,leave her alone. But her mom parading her daughter across the stage and her nasty, sarcastic speech. What was that all about? Do we really need more of this type of offensive bullying leadership? Being a conservative Christian mom of 4, who also runs a small business, we need leaders who are also trustworthy role models. Our country desperately needs answers/solutions to all the problems piling up these last 8 years. Our leaders need to show the world,they have the citizens of the U.S. behind them. I DO NOT see this happening with Sarah Palin as VP. She totally turned me off. I was actually offended by many of her statements. I will not vote for McCain because of his choice in Palin. For the first time ever, I am voting for a Democrat!!!!
35. lori | 09.05.08
I beg all Americans to be very careful this time. Please do not let the GOP Propaganda trick you into another dictatorial regime again. Senator McCain is not different from any other neocons. He is a warlike who will make the world a fire ball and will bring more devastation to humanities. The change, he is offering is plain lie. What change? Iraq war for 100 years? New buggy men (from communists to Al Qaeda)? Bush’s Tax cut and violating the constitution? Please America, wake up and do not let more GOP war hawks in Washington. They did more damage to America and American than any enemy in our history. I urge all Americans to read this article on consortiumnews.com: How the Republicans Win by Robert parry. With love to all Americans who can make a change to save America and the world from crazy warlike neocons.
Lori
36. lori | 09.05.08
I just wanted to remind all Americans that do not fall for the GOP propaganda again. This party is a party of hate, war, and intolerance. Enough dictatorial regimes with torture,violating human rights, waging illegal wars. McCains change is a plain lie. What change? 100 years of ongoing war? Bush’s tax cut? And A stagnant economy? Senator McCain is a warlike who will make the world a fireball and will bring more devastation to humanity. I urge all American to read this article on consortiumnews.com: “How Repulicans win” by Robert Parry, to read a brief history of this party. With love to all Americans who can make a differnce this time to save America and the world from these war hawks necons.
38. Bobby Blue | 09.05.08
Re: “did your experience as community organizer in your church qualify you to be president of the united states? no slam, serious question”
A very good question Marc. It just might take a church community organizer to straighten this country out. I was there to watch a “plain housewife” having no political experience stressfully run a country for six years. Remember, a president is no better than his advisers.
Corazon Aquino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corazon_Aquino
39. Abdulla | 09.06.08
I agree with Ann (26. ann | 09.05.08). I am also a registered independent and won’t vote for the party. I believe in a great comedian’s quote:
“I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member”.
If you are republican, democratic, conservative, green… etc., I believe ‘your’ party is NOT going to be the one to solve problems. It is ignorance and/or arrogance to think ‘your’ party is the one with the answers to problems. People solve problems and there are good, intelligent, caring, and hard working humans on both sides, left or right. Across all U.S. states, there are partys’ actual Hate for what someone may identify with and not the other, etc. People are more diverse and multifaceted than just right or left and I think that should be remembered and respected more. Which does remind me, of what one of the two 2008 candidates for president said… and who has the history (and with actual results) of reaching ACROSS the aisle…
“… let’s use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let’s try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to… And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.”
I am also thankful for our American right to our own votes 11/4!
40. Peggy from Texas | 09.07.08
I really hope people will think about this election well. A McCain and Palin ticket will be more of the same. They turned me against them when they talked such negativity and not about what is really important at this day and time,the issues. I can’t see why they talked so nasty and say they are christians. I thought that christianty meant Christ-like. They were’nt that way. Our country needs much prayer.
41. JB | 09.07.08
Much more attention needs to be given to the question raised by the Former McCain Supporter. Who would McCain appoint to fill the thousands of Federal jobs not protected by Civil Service rules? McCain’s surrender to the extremists in the Republican Party in selecting his VP does not inspire confidence. Just how would he (even if he had the energy) reform his own party, much less Washington as a whole? Remember what’s happened to the Justsice Department under Bush/Cheney? This is but one egregious example.
42. James | 09.07.08
John made a good note, that the GOP did seem angry at the left, the government, and the media. But they had a right to be so. It was the media, which is typically extremely left-wing, that has been bashing John McCain, praising Barack Obama, ignoring Biden being malicious in his speaches (far more so than Palin has been), and has jumped all over Palin’s personal life as if it was at all politically applicable.
But we must also realize that this was a convention. It is meant to rally the party. Bashing the other party is what you do at conventions. The Democrats were even worse, even more malicious against the Republicans in their convention - did no one listen to Joe Biden’s speech?
If anyone is angry, it is the left, it is the media, it is the democrat controlled congress. It has been the media that has taken an undesirable stance against McCain, it has been the left that the media has sided with since Vietnam, and it is the Democrats who represent the left wing of American society. If you don’t think they’re angry, turn on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, PBS, NBC, Politco.com, New York Times, even the Daily Show and Colbert Report, and watch all the attacks they make on McCain. It’s completely unproffessional.
And to make a fair note - the recent economic climate didn’t come about until 2007, a full year after the Democrats had taken over Congress. That is when the housing market started to crash, and when gas reached over $2.89 on a national average. Congress, the legislative branch, passes legislature - they’re the ones in charge of the economy. The President, the executive branch, enforces those legislations, and can only RECOMMEND in the national budget what needs to be changed, it is Congress which passes the finalized draft.
The Democrats have been in power for the past 2 years, and it has been only in the past year that the economy has gone to shambles. Our current economic predicament is in no fault the Republicans, because Bush has no control over the economy. This little recession is the work of congress, which we made Democrat in 2006 because they promised us we’d be out of Iraq by now. Now how about that?
McCain for President: 2008
Obama for President: 2016 (after he’s gotten a bit more experience in government than Palin has right now)
43. Frances S | 09.07.08
By her own words, not those of the script writer, this woman condemned herself:”a pit bull with lipstick”. Is there anyone who does not know that the pit bull terrier was bred to kill, maim, fight in a ring and has been so often able to hurt our children?
Give me a gentle st. bernard or a labrador any time, any place.
44. Anita Strauss | 09.07.08
After reading the many comments from the readers of your website, I can see what a good job the Obama Fan Club,(liberal and biased press) has done in pushing the media super-star into the office of the Presidency of the United States. Obama has proven himself to be a person who only cares about himself. A case in point would be his 100 “present” votes in the Senate. How could you trust a person to run our country who couldn’t decide on everyday business in the Senate with a “yes” or a “no”? Remember, you were paying him to do so and paying him very well with 100% paid healthcare for him and his family as well as funding his retirement fund for him. How many Americans have these perks with their jobs? Let me answer my own question: Only those who work for some sort of Federal or State Government. If Obama’s inability to vote on something that might offend someone isn’t politics as usual then I don’t know what is? Wake up, Obamanites, before you die from drinking the Kool-Aid. Maybe if Senator Obama really believes what he is preaching to you, he would have found a way to cast a vote in the Senate on one of the 100 issues where he simply noted that he was “present.”
45. JudiNV | 09.07.08
Bipartisan? Palin is too far right for anyone but the Republican religious right. Her stance on women’s rights is too radical for the likes of me, and for most moderate women. It just doesn’t fit with the 21st century American woman.
I also can’t respect a candidate that will not speak with the press and state her position on important issues. How can we take her seriously? Hillary was also badgered mercilessly by the press but she did not refuse press conferences.
46. JudiNV | 09.07.08
I have another question:
I’m wondering how McCain will manage to “reach across the aisle” to accomplish change, when he has alienated both sides. The Democrats despise him for his despicable campaign smear tactics, and the Republicans hate him for turning on them at the convention. Sounds more like he’ll be running a gauntlet.
47. Mindy | 09.07.08
I am very encourged by the GOP. Finaly a voice to the conservitive people who love God and Freedom. The Dem ticket has people who would take our freedom and money to give it to those that do not work for it. Socialism and taxes are the way to bring this country to an end. I send my kids to a private school so that I am in control of what they learn. All of you that think that a pregnant daughter somehow something that this family alone faces are fooling yourself. It just shows that even the most strict and demanding parents does not kill the free will of kids.
I want a canadite that will not take my money that I work hard for to give it to people that have a intitalment complex. Life is not fair, get off your butts and work for the life I live. The government is to protect citizens from war and harm, not to be a bail out for dumb people that do not work. Save the money and do not buy things that you can not afford.
I do not want a bunch of tree huggers to tell me what to eat, where to live, how to live, what my kids must learn, or what kind of light bulbs to use.
So The GOP is the way that I’ll vote because I will not vote for the party that showed kids that sex was okay, or the party that will take away freedom and tax us to death and beyond.
48. Mindy | 09.07.08
I am very encourged by the GOP. Finaly a voice to the conservitive people who love God and Freedom. The Dem ticket has people who would take our freedom and money to give it to those that do not work for it. Socialism and taxes are the way to bring this country to an end. I send my kids to a private school so that I am in control of what they learn. All of you that think that a pregnant daughter somehow something that this family alone faces are fooling yourself. It just shows that even the most strict and demanding parents does not kill the free will of kids.
I want a canadite that will not take my money that I work hard for to give it to people that have a intitalment complex. Life is not fair, get off your butts and work for the life I live. The government is to protect citizens from war and harm, not to be a bail out for dumb people that do not work. Save the money and do not buy things that you can not afford.
I do not want a bunch of tree huggers to tell me what to eat, where to live, how to live, what my kids must learn, or what kind of light bulbs to use.
So The GOP is the way that I’ll vote because I will not vote for the party that showed kids that sex was okay, or the party that will take away freedom and tax us to death and beyond.
49. JDC | 09.08.08
Palin will be the deciding factor because she is Bill and Hillary’s best shot in 2012. How else will Hillary get a shot at it again.
Surprising how she hasn’t been out front slamming Palin……
50. Elizabeth | 09.08.08
Really, you liberals calling Palin “unqualified” are hilarious. Do a little, tiny bit of research on how the American government works. If a junior senator is qualified to be President, a governor with two years of executive experience running a state (not just mouthing off in the Senate) is qualified to be vice-president or president. You can’t have it both ways darlings.
51. peping&lali | 09.08.08
#40. James, #42. Anita Strauss, and #44. Elizabeth.
Their comments more than balanced the opposite numerous others shown here. The left-media spin extolling Obama and their vitriolic reflex about Palin can only stand if accompanied by the visceral others earlier rather than the cerebral views (with humor admittedly) of the above 3.
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1. John | 09.04.08
I thought the speech was particularly partisan. Not sure if it will play well with independents. Last night was just a series of angry, mocking speeches by Romney (surreal), Rudy (nasty), and Palin (sarcastic). Bush mentioned “the angry left” but comparing the two conventions, it is the right who appears more angry. Angry at the media. Angry at the left. Angry at the government.
It’s like they don’t want to acknowledge that they’ve been in power for the past 8 years..