McCain’s Path to Victory
First, I’ll be honest and say that Sen. McCain’s chances of keeping the White House in GOP control aren’t yet to the toss-up stage. Nonetheless, I still think it’s quite possible for him to catch and overtake Sen. Obama. Saturday, I laid out the best way to make this happen on King’s and Michael’s show on the Patriot. Here’s my 3 point plan of attack:
1) There’s A New Sheriff In Town. Simply put, have John McCain tap into the anger voters feel over (a) the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac/Subprime Mortgage scandal and (b) the ACORN voter registration fraud scandal. That’s right in McCain’s wheelhouse. I’d have him incorporate this riff into his stump speech:
My friends, Wall Street and K Street are awash in corruption, a corruption that threatens the health of our economy. Special interests on K Street pushed for legislation that forced banks to lend money to bad credit risks. We’re now paying the price for that legislation. A McCain administration will investigate, prosecute and jail the bad actors responsible for this crisis.
The right to vote is one of our most sacred rights. Unfortunately, that right is in danger because of the fraudulent voter registrations turned in by ACORN in one battleground state after another. A McCain administration will investigate ACORN and like-minded organizations. Where we find proof of voter registration fraud, we will vigorously prosecute those that undermine our electoral system.
Let me be clear: My administration’s goal is to have huge voter turnout in every state across America. But high voter turnout can’t be the only important thing we focus on. The American people demand electoral integrity. To guarantee that integrity, we demand that ACORN reform its practices. This has gone on far too long. It’s time for it to end.
2)Focus On Card Check Legislation. I strongly recommend that Sen. McCain and the Palins cast a huge spotlight on this as a way to win over blue collar workers. I’d specifically reference George McGovern’s op-ed opposing EFCA. Todd Palin would be quite effective in delivering that message to blue collar workers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and western Virginia.
Sen. Obama has promised to sign EFCA into law. Here’s what Sen. McGovern said about EFCA in his WSJ op-ed:
The key provision of EFCA is a change in the mechanism by which unions are formed and recognized. Instead of a private election with a secret ballot overseen by an impartial federal board, union organizers would simply need to gather signatures from more than 50% of the employees in a workplace or bargaining unit, a system known as “card-check.” There are many documented cases where workers have been pressured, harassed, tricked and intimidated into signing cards that have led to mandatory payment of dues.
Under EFCA, workers could lose the freedom to express their will in private, the right to make a decision without anyone peering over their shoulder, free from fear of reprisal.
3) Taxes, Taxes, Taxes. Joe The Plumber is the perfect vehicle to drive this point home.
Last October, King posted something about David Winston’s polling regarding tax cuts. Here’s what Winston’s polling found:
Most voters are unpersuaded by the Republican message that the Bush tax cuts were a resounding success that pumped the economy back to life. Worse, the key independent voters are actually repelled by that message. “It crashes like the Hindenburg,” says Richard Thau, who has been monitoring swing voter sentiments across the nation. Why? Because politicians who boast about the rosy economy seem out of touch, even delusional, given the rising costs of gasoline, health insurance and college tuition.
Here’s the good news from Mr. Winston’s polling:
Pollster David Winston, who’s been testing the tax issue for Republicans, agrees with that assessment. When Mr. Winston asked a national sample of registered voters last month, “Do you believe or not believe this statement: Given the cost of living these days, now is not the time to raise taxes,” 65% believe now isn’t the time to raise taxes, while only 31% believe it is.
With the stock market in dire straits, the housing bubble having popped, the ensuing Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac crisis and the economy shedding jobs, what are the chances that people think that increasing taxes on anyone is popular? I’d hammer Sen. Obama as being out of touch with Main Street, using his “spread the wealth” comment as proof that his tax policies will hurt all families.
Let me put this succinctly. If Sen. McCain puts together the best finishing kick in American electoral history, he’ll win.
Technorati Tags: John McCain, ACORN, Voter Fraud, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Corruption, Todd Palin, George McGovern, Card Check, Unions, Taxes, Barack Obama, Tax Increases, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog
October 20th, 2008 at 8:27 am
To win the White House, McCain needs to put Palin in a bathing suit competition to tide over the base. Then, he needs to tell the independent voters that Obama is un-American and a terrorist. Then, someone will assassinate him and McCain becomes the president by default. The path to victory is clear.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Oh please oh please follow this advice, Senator McCarthy! Nothing will work better than trying to have you show that seething, just-under-the-surface anger so apparent at the last debate with your gritted and yellowed teeth, those grimaces, that doe-eyes-in-the-headlights appearance. Unbelievably, republicans who have a conscience have begun endorsing Obama; why not show some anger towards them, too, just like el Flushbo, Buchanan, Will, et. al.! Heck, tap into that anger and go off on someone, preferably in public, even better, call your wife the c-word live on coast-to-coast TV!
And the first ‘dude’/secessionist out trying to convince blue collar workers, now that’s rich! Nothing will impress this crowd more than a millionaire flying in on his private jet with secret service protection and entourage with a strong endorsement against EFCA. I guess if you know somebody in a union — at least in the Palins’ sphere of influence — that makes you an expert on EFCA. Maybe Todd could tell them how the leader of his political party said “The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government. … And I won’t be buried under their damn flag.” Now that’s a persuasive argument.
And finally,
Joe— that’s not even his real name — Sam the pretend plumber is another perfect vessel for republican hucksterism on taxes and the economy. McCarthy thrust him into the spotlight in the debate without even a cursory vetting, belying the very story he was trying to make. Besides that, who likes the plumber? The last time the plumber walked through my door (oops, there’s $200!) I ended paying more to fix the problem than the damn machine cost! And Sam’s willingness to give press conferences on his front lawn ranging in topic from the economy and taxes, of course, to social security, medicare, on and on. Oh, did I mention that McCain will take away your Social Security? Thanks God the democrats in Congress stopped the criminal Bush cabal from putting Social Security in the hands of Wall Street, a policy position Senator Flip-Flop endorsed.Discrepancies in the Sam the unlicensed plumber story have cropped up — and the best is that according to the republican’s own standards for voter fraud, Sam is guilty! He voted in the last election by his own admission. And, his name is misspelled on his voter registration, so he’s guilty of fraud there. Call the FBI!
So, this unlicensed plumber making less than a fifth of the threshold where he’d even have to pay a single dime more in taxes — probably would be getting a substantial tax cut under Obama’s plan — guilty of committing voter fraud, with a tax lien no less, is the McCarthy campaign’s poster boy? What were the lobbyists who run your campaign doing when you found Sam? Maybe Rick Davis was busy cashing his Fannnie Mae/Freddie Mac paychecks.
Oh please oh please, Senator McCarthy, don’t change a thing.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:13 am
Hey Rocky, let us know when we finally arrive in the workers paradise.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Liem, Like most liberals, you are a fool.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Hey TA, let us know when we finally arrive in the socialist-corporate paradise… oh wait, we’re there. How much have you lost in the market?
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 am
You really mean how much is left so you so you and your buddy Obama can “spread it around”, huh?
None of your F-ing business,Karl
July 4th, 2011 at 5:52 am
Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Wonderful. I’m also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your hard work.