Palin hits the rink, Obama heads to campus
Dante Chinni
Posted: 10.10.2008 / 6:56 AM PDT
On Saturday night, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will walk out to center ice at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia and drop a puck. It’s a simple act, really. She probably won’t do much more than wave to the crowd.
Still, it’s ripe with public-relations peril. Sports fans don’t like it when elected officials inject politics into something as “pure” as sport. And Philly fans are known for being cranky – no need to go into the particulars from “Santa-gate” to the Tie Domi incident. You may consider yourself, say, America’s No. 1 hockey mom, but there are some places even a pit bull might want to avoid with or without lipstick.
But Governor Palin’s trip to the rink Saturday is about more than just hockey parents. A look at the recent travel by Sen. John McCain’s running mate shows a couple of interesting trends. Saturday night will mark Palin’s fourth trip to the eastern side of the Keystone State in the past three weeks – and her second trip to Philadelphia in that time.
Something in the McCain campaign’s internal numbers may show that Palin resonates with that part of Pennsylvania. But our correspondents there don’t report seeing it. One correspondent reports that a poll in a smaller district in the area, which is full of middle-class ethnic white voters, theoretically a Palin target, is now tilting heavily toward Sen. Barack Obama.
In general, over the past month, Palin has spent a lot of time in communities that fall into our big-city “Industrial Metropolis” grouping – six out of 17 visits since Sept. 22. Even if you don’t count the three trips that were part of Palin’s visit with leaders at the United Nations, the number still seems high for her.
Our reporting indicates that Palin is a somewhat divisive figure who resonates strongly with base Republican voters but seems to turn off many independents and, no doubt, Democrats. Putting her in big “Industrial Metropolis” – areas full of Democrats and, in the suburbs, independents – would seem to not be playing to her strengths.
Palin has spent little time in the community types that lean heavily GOP – places like our socially conservative “Evangelical Epicenters” and our aging “Emptying Nests” communities.
Neither, for that matter, has Senator McCain. Since Sept. 22, he has been focusing heavily on “Industrial Metropolis” communities and the politically split, wealthy, largely suburban “Monied ’Burbs.” McCain made five trips to each of these community types in that time.
Beyond those two types, he didn’t visit any other kind of community more than twice.
On the Democratic side, Senator Obama has spent a lot of time in the past few weeks going back to school. He’s taken four trips to our collegiate “Campus and Careers” communities since Sept. 22 – though that includes one to Oxford, Miss., site of the first presidential debate. The other three college areas were all in key battlegrounds – Wisconsin, Michigan, and Virginia.
Obama has also spent time in the growing and diversifying “Boom Towns,” which are fairly evenly divided politically as well.
Meanwhile, Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden, has been hitting the “Monied ’Burbs” and “Industrial Metropolis” communities hard. They made up 11 of his 17 campaign stops since Sept. 22.
Most telling, however, may be the locations of the communities that the presidential candidates have visited in this period.
Excluding Washington, D.C., Obama has visited 12 states, nine of which were won by President Bush in 2004. McCain has visited 11 states, eight of which went for Mr. Bush four years ago.
In others words, in travel terms Obama is largely playing offense and McCain is generally playing defense.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:57 am PDT
McCain has been on the offense to a ridiculous extent, I think. He’s coming across like an angry old man, and avoiding the issues.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:58 am PDT
“That one” will be my president and the other one is just a mean old scrooge!
October 10th, 2008 at 9:06 am PDT
Grandpa McSimpson and Mayor Heartbeat-Prevaricator.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:15 am PDT
McCain needs to stop campaigning all together until he finds a new tactic. His tactic now of whipping up racial hatred and fear has turned his campaign stops into *** rallies and frankly, it’s just frightening. Yes, Obama should easily win this election. The question becomes–can he survive it?
October 10th, 2008 at 9:20 am PDT
Sarah Palin – A Disguised Conspirator against America?
If McCarthy-era guilt-by-association is a valid political consideration, Sarah Palin is the guiltiest in this presidential campaign. She is roaming around the country on a campaign that is funded by taxpayers parading a man who has just recently terminated his active membership in the Alaskan Independence Party. AIP aims to tear America into pieces and walk away with its massive land and rich oil reserves.
AIP creation was inspired by the extremely violent anti-American founder Joe Vogler. The AIP website has a statement by Joe that reads “I’ve got no use for America or her damned institutions.” In 1992 when Vogler renounced his allegiance to the United States he said, “The fires of **** are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government.” He cursed the stars and stripes and said, “I won’t be buried under their damned flag. When Alaska is an independent nation they can bring my bones home.”
The political career of Sarah was launched by extremist Mark Chryson who directed the AIP in the 1990s and radical right-winger, Steve Stoll. Both men played a pivotal role in electing Palin as mayor of Wasilla and shaping her political agenda afterward. Stoll and Chryson not only contributed to Palin’s campaign financially but played active major roles. As a result, “First Dude” Todd became an active AIP member from 1995 to 2002. While Palin has been careful in her dealings with AIP as she rose through political ranks; she has remained in close touch with the organization. She attended the 1994 and 2000 AIP conventions. In 2006 she was the convention keynote speaker. In 2008 she did not personally attend but recorded and sent a video of greetings and good wishes. She asked AIP to keep up their good work!
Neither Sarah nor Todd has ever denounced Joe Vogler or their association with the AIP. During this campaign, Sarah has remained silent about this dark side. Based on her own logic, it can be said that she continues to “pal around” with her unpatriotic husband and friends who not only hates America but wants to destroy it. Under the same theory of “guilt-by-association,” John McCain can be accused of having a disguised conspirator on his ticket. It was a bad judgment by McCain to select someone with such tarnished background as his running mate.
Sarah has refused to publicly share her views about this nation. Her struggle to answer simple questions by Katie Couric is a testament of her negative feelings about America. In a follow up interview with Carl Cameron, Sarah surprisingly said, “The Sarah Palin in those interviews with Katie Couric was annoyed.” Then she added, “I did not want to get clobbered.” What was she annoyed of and what was she afraid of being clobbered for? Simply, her longstanding association with AIP and her militant husband has not only made Sarah an ignorant and bitter person but also a disguised conspirator against our nation. I hope during the course of this national debate the McCain/Palin team will provide the public with a truthful explanation regarding Sarah’s association with the separatist Alaska Independence Party as well its former and current members.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am PDT
Palin is very interesting in her attacks on Obama. Expecially so considering she i sunder investigation.
It is so easy for McCain to interject that Hillary Clinton raised the same concerns he is raising. In other words, Hillary tried character assassination. The thing is, it did not work for Hillary. Perhaps they both forgot that.
Barack Obama never did mud slinging with Hillary. And, he probably won’t do it with McCain and Palin.
He doesn’t have to. The mud they sling at him will only hit the fan and blow right back in their faces.
October 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am PDT
McCain needs to suspend his campaign until the election because the more he does, the more he dips in the polls.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:21 am PDT
This is the story people need to focus on - Palin’s terrorist ties with Iran!!!
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniG9l_7its
October 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am PDT
When you abandon the issues that matter to people and start fueling false stories, you are playing defense. Karl Rove feels confident that enough Americans will cast their vote out of fear and hate to get McCain elected. I don’t think so.
By bringing the US economy to its knees, and thus the global economy, George W. Bush and the Republican party have achieved any terrorists wildest dreams for them. Basically, they can just sit back and watch.
Obama/Biden ‘O8
[Admin: Readers don't think this comment adds to the discussion.]
October 10th, 2008 at 11:06 am PDT
Obama/Biden08-
I wish you would go back through the congressional records and see you has voted for and against regulations and also who has benefited from this fiasco. It is far and away Democrats. Democrats are universally arrogant and corrupt and because of this they cannot imagine how anyone else in the world would not be so as they are so colored in their suspicions. George Bush pushed for regulation over and over and over in his administration. At all times he was rebuffed repeatedly.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:08 am PDT
Watch For The YouTube Moment on Saturday Night… She will probably be SOOO BOOOO’d !
Should be a real campaign shaker !!
October 10th, 2008 at 12:34 pm PDT
To Lee123 - You say that Democrats are shallow?? That is a very constructive comment.
kb,, What universe do you inhabit? Bush pushing for regulations?? Do you not yet understand that the GOP favors government by the rich for the rich, while liberals do not trust big business’s relationship with government? Bush and Cheney have been hell-bent on dismantling the integrity of our government,handing our tax money to corrupt, embezzling private corporations, often with no-bid contracts. Like manna from heaven if you are an oil industry exec. or a defense contractor. The GOP does not believe in government regulations. They have been trying to strip away regulations for the last 50 years and our current mess is a measure of their success.
I simply can not comprehend the depths to which Americans descend when it comes to politics. We treat these elections just like a sporting event, rah rahing at rallies, growing louder when the opponent is attacked, reminiscent of spectators at a Roman gladiator event.
October 10th, 2008 at 12:34 pm PDT
I’m electing to focus on appreciating what’s good about all the candidates, so I can discern who will best inspire each of us, individually and collectively, to work hard together to legitimately solve our problems, and move forward to fulfill our highest sense of democracy and progress.
Playing the “blame game” doesn’t work. It doesn’t bring change. It only accelerates the desire to hide our own mistakes — or crucify those who have been “found out” before us.
A wise woman, I believe Coco Chanel, once said (paraphrased) — those who are best at criticizing others, have the most to hide.
Replacing hate talk with genuine respect, and snide comments with an honest discussion of the issues, constitute one step towards bringing about the change we really need — especially in these troubling times.
Actions, more than words, tell me what I need to know.
So I’m still listening to all the candidates, and evaluating if they “walk the talk” before I cast my ballot on November 4th.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:12 pm PDT
Regarding McCain/Palin: I don’t think McCain really wants the oval office job. He may be running because his party wants him to, or he’s bored–who knows? The Palin pick and his not very impressive performance on Tuesday’s debate may be indications that he’s just not that interested.
An Obama victory would work for the country if the Congressional elections favor the Democrats. Otherwise, Obama’s policy ideas are too incremental and without strong political backup won’t work. His health care plan favors private insurers and focuses only on children. Everyone needs coverage. And he wants to put more troops into Afghanistan, a lose-lose situation. We need to get out of both Iraq and Afghanistan, and pull our troops out of the bases around the world that are costing us dearly. If history teaches anything, it’s that wars impoverish countries, but America somehow refuses to listen. I think we need a strong third party to challenge the two major ones. Citizens would have benefited greatly if the candidates who were discarded in the primaries had been able to challenge Obama and McCain on Tuesday night.Instead we had to listen to scripted (and safe) questions from a conservative media moderator and vetted participants. We could have had a lot more to think about and digest if we had more options–we need real answers and not just feel good stuff.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm PDT
I am entirely saddened to hear the ugly things that McCain and Palin have to say. It is evident by their continued poor performance in the polls, interviews, and debates and their irresponsible handling of crowds at their rallies that neither of them is qualified to be the leader of what used to be a mighty country, a country that embraces our differences. These two are undignified and absolutely un-presidential in the modern sphere.
McCain no longer commands respect as a uniter of people or someone who “reaches across the aisle.” The aisle reaches far beyond Washington DC and into the very heart of the American people. To most of us Washington is a nebulous entity, much like “Wall Stree greed.” What matters here is that McCain and Palin are not reaching across to the greater majority of us who have more meaningful and productive ideals for America going forward into a peaceful, globally inspired future
McCain and Palin have earned their place in history as being the people who have brought out the very worst in all of us, pitting us against each other as if the citizens of the United States were mortal enemies, not unlike the warring hoards in the very nations that we’re attempting to “bring democracy” to.
By encouraging division among the American people and condoning racial terrorism at home, McCain and Palin’s rhetoric of hate and intolerance will be a continuation of the Bush/Cheny brand of ignorant beligerance that will only dig us deeper into a growing global quagmire of war and unrest.
Haven’t we learned anything in the last 200 years? When will we be ready to acknowledge that all people are created equal, as the Founding Fathers noted in the very documentation that is the cornerstone of the American way of life? When will we be allowed to embrace our differences rather be divided into categories based on ethnicity or level of patriotism (or any other subgroup)? America must evolve or be condemned to keep repeating her mistakes.
Thank you Mr.McCain and Ms.Palin for initiating the unraveling of a hundred years of peacemaking on American soil. You have given birth to the new domestic terrorism.
October 10th, 2008 at 2:53 pm PDT
I am entirely saddened to hear the ugly things that McCain and Palin have to say. It is evident by their continued poor performance in the polls, interviews, and debates and their irresponsible handling of crowds at their rallies that neither of them is qualified to be the leader of what used to be a mighty country, a country that embraces our differences. These two are undignified and absolutely un-presidential in the modern sphere.
McCain no longer commands respect as a uniter of people or someone who “reaches across the aisle.” The aisle reaches far beyond Washington DC and into the very heart of the American people. To most of us Washington is a nebulous entity, much like “Wall Street greed.” What matters here is that McCain and Palin are not reaching across to the greater majority of us who have more meaningful and productive ideals for America going forward into a peaceful, globally inspired future
McCain and Palin have earned their place in history as being the people who have brought out the very worst in all of us, pitting us against each other as if the citizens of the United States were mortal enemies, not unlike the warring hoards in the very nations that we’re attempting to “bring democracy” to.
By encouraging division among the American people and condoning racial terrorism at home, McCain and Palin’s rhetoric of hate and intolerance will be a continuation of the Bush/Cheny brand of ignorant beligerance that will only dig us deeper into a growing global quagmire of war and unrest.
Haven’t we learned anything in the last 200 years? When will we be ready to acknowledge that all people are created equal, as the Founding Fathers noted in the very documentation that is the cornerstone of the American way of life? When will we be allowed to embrace our differences rather be divided into categories based on ethnicity or level of patriotism (or any other subgroup)? America must evolve or be condemned to keep repeating her mistakes.
Thank you Mr.McCain and Ms.Palin for initiating the unraveling of a hundred years of peacemaking on American soil. You have given birth to the new domestic terrorism.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm PDT
If McCain is doing so poorly, then why are so many liberal loonies upset? Are they afraid the veil will come off of Obama and we’ll see him for what he is?
Congress, and Bush all helped to contribute to first the oil crisis, then the credit crisis and now the whole financial system. Bush deserves some blame, but don’t overlook how much money the Dems in congress have been getting from all these financial companies and institutions like Fannie and Freddie. They’ve all basically been paid off. Palin would not be paid off, she would be making them pay.
October 10th, 2008 at 6:12 pm PDT
How interesting would it be to wake up in bed at home on the Central Coast of California with a Soldier standing over you, with a gun, yelling in an unfamiliar language?
A group that uses an old white male as their “face” is obviously detached from current society. Add in a white soccer mom that would like to censor library books… and there’s no one (white/black/hispanic/asian/antarctican) near me who could relate to that group.
I’m really not political. But, I have opinions — and so do a lot of other people who have NOT gone through, or are NOT going through a typical American Picket Fence / Northern Exposure / Religious-based life.
It’s like, one’s opinion doesn’t even matter if they don’t talk and sound like a reporter from CNN/FOX/BLOG news. Everyone sounds like the TV when talking about Politics —
Well…There’s another group that has formed as a result of this. It’s because no one cares to repair — everyone wants to place blame… There’s absolutely no constructive criticism ANYWHERE on ANY POSTs. It’s just Regurgitated media news.
America has a strong force of multicultural people who — may or may not have subjected themselves to an expensive college, yet — are smart. No ******* militia or chump gang-bangers will be able to stop this group of multicultural intellectuals. The Government can’t find us, because we lied on our SAT tests when asked what our ethnicity was. One year I was Asian, another year Caucasian…black…pacific islander. The rich can’t touch us…and Religion is not the base of our morality. We are deeply rooted in this society — and we’re capable of helping a properly elected leader that cares to harness our energy and intellect. Where the **** are these leaders? Should I start this? It might get messy because I’m not rich…so…I tend to cut (choo mang) corners.
…what?
October 10th, 2008 at 6:13 pm PDT
How interesting would it be to wake up in bed at home on the Central Coast of California with a Soldier standing over you, with a gun, yelling in an unfamiliar language?
A group that uses an old white male as their “face” is obviously detached from current society. Add in a white soccer mom that would like to censor library books… and there’s no one (white/black/hispanic/asian/antarctican) near me who could relate to that group.
I’m really not political. But, I have opinions — and so do a lot of other people who have NOT gone through, or are NOT going through a typical American Picket Fence / Northern Exposure / Religious-based life.
It’s like, one’s opinion doesn’t even matter if they don’t talk and sound like a reporter from CNN/FOX/BLOG news. Everyone sounds like the TV when talking about Politics —
Well…There’s another group that has formed as a result of this. It’s because no one cares to repair — everyone wants to place blame… There’s absolutely no constructive criticism ANYWHERE on ANY POSTs. It’s just Regurgitated media news.
America has a strong force of multicultural people who — may or may not have subjected themselves to an expensive college, yet — are smart. No ******* militia or chump gang-bangers will be able to stop this group of multicultural intellectuals. The Government can’t find us, because we lied on our SAT tests when asked what our ethnicity was. One year I was Asian, another year Caucasian…black…pacific islander. The rich can’t touch us…and Religion is not the base of our morality. We are deeply rooted in this society — and we’re capable of helping a properly elected leader that cares to harness our energy and intellect. Where the **** are these leaders? Should I start this? It might get messy because I’m not rich…so…I tend to cut (choo mang) corners.
…what?
October 10th, 2008 at 6:45 pm PDT
Russ said, “Liberal loonies”>>> Really?? That is constructive. Let me give you a liberal’s perspective on the GOP.
Greed will be our downfall and, as always it is the “government by the rich and for the rich” Republicans leading the lemming-like charge over the cliff. I continue to be amazed by the honest, hard-working Americans who vote Republican against their own economic interests, because they have bought into the lies and empty campaign slogans of the GOP.
Here are a few translations of GOP platforms:
“SMALLER GOVERNMENT!!” This actually means handing over our government to well-connected private corporations in no-bid contracts. The private firms, because of the lack of oversight, often embezzle, overcharge, and under-perform. Smaller government is also achieved by being so inept that the dedicated federal employees resign and are then replace by political hacks.
“LOWER TAXES!!” This really means favoring the wealthy with tax cuts, all the while running historic deficits and burdening future generations with unconscionable debts. It also means looking the other way as companies and individuals evade taxes by off-shoring and allowing lobbyists to write the tax codes.
“PATRIOTISM!!” This really means confusing your support of country with support of your political party. As practiced by the GOP, it means “My country, right or wrong!”, instead of “My country, to support when right and to correct when wrong”. GOP patriotism is closely associated with the nationalistic fervor which has been known to start wars for questionable motives. It also labels those who protest against their government as un-American, when in reality, the protesters are the true patriots.
“DEREGULATION” This means getting government out of the way of big business so they can maximize short-term profits while oppressing individual rights, the poor, labor, and abusing the environment. The deregulators have recently discovered that businesses CAN”T regulate themselves. It also means appointing the lobbyists and other “foxes” to guard the hen house.
“UN-AMERICANS!!” This is what you call anyone who has studied history and understands that the U.S. government has acted less than honorably at times in its dealing with other countries and with its own citizens. By overthrowing democratically elected leaders in other countries, by supporting dictatorial, oppressive regimes ( former habits of ours), by our recent arrogant, unilateral and aggressive posturing, we are earning our nickname of “Ugly Americans” and “Doesn’t play well with others” label. However, the GOP preaches that “You must want the terrorists to win” if you recognize our own faults.
“NO WELFARE!!” For the GOP this only applies to those in need, not to the wealthy who continually benefit from our tax dollars in corporate welfare.
“GOD, GUNS, AND GAYS!!” These are the cultural wars and GOP politicians pay lip service to these and use fear tactics to whip up their base during elections.
“CHARACTER!!” GOP leaders and media talking heads exhibit the character of a red-neck bully, stunting true dialog on serious issues. They dumb down every issue and stifle critical thinking. In retrospect, they deserve G. W. Bush and what he has done to this country.
I know there are good conservatives out there, who want to live up to that calling - to preserve the American way of life. GOP leaders do not support policies which will preserve small, rural communities in America. How can you conservatives sit idly by while conservative commentators by the dozens ridicule those concerned about our air, water, land, and wildlife?? Do the words, “Long-term sustainability” ever enter into the discussions of a conservative??
October 11th, 2008 at 10:28 am PDT
Try to consider objectively the following reason for being concerned about Obama’s political past, and with whom he has associated. When a president takes office, he is responsible for as many as 6,000 appointments to his administration. It is reasonable to assume that many, if not most of those appointments will be offered to the people who he knows, has worked with in the past, and have contributed to his campaigns.
We are not electing two people to office. We are electing an administration. Trying to set your emotions aside, can you begin to see why people could be concerned about Obama’s associations with Bill Ayers, ACORN, Chicago politics, etc? Who will become Obama’s equivalent of FDR’s “brain trust”?
I see in Obama’s past strong indications that he will appoint socialists in disproportionate numbers to his administration. You can call inquiries into Obama’s past anything you want. I call them revealing, and mandatory due diligence.
October 11th, 2008 at 2:01 pm PDT
Given the recent findings in Alaska, Palin will probably refuse to drop the puck until the ref is fired.
October 11th, 2008 at 5:53 pm PDT
Repeat after me:
HUSSEIN McCAIN!
October 11th, 2008 at 7:05 pm PDT
I wonder if high-heels are allowed on the ice?
October 11th, 2008 at 9:18 pm PDT
If Obama gets elected, this country will get what it deserves. The biggest lesson in stupidity since Jimmy Carter was president.
I’m so sick of hearing Hollywood entertainers shove their ‘politics’ down my throat.
But hey—since Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, and Lindsey Lohan are voting for Obama, that’s just a start of the A-list elitists who will undoubtedly sway the public for the Obama sympathy vote. After all, character doesn’t count when a person can ‘work a room’ just like Clinton did. And look what we got for a president in that era.
This entire election campaign is like junk food. Hard to digest and loaded with fat (hollow promises that are all seductive calories).
Wake up America…you’re in for the biggest sham of your life…and you deserve it if you let this one get by you! Obama is the equivalent of ‘the man behind the curtain.’ Wizard of Oz will tell you the rest.
October 12th, 2008 at 10:39 am PDT
Chris reports that both McCain and Palin are not visiting areas where they have strong support from the Republican base; they are visiting areas where voters lean to Obama. Then Chris concludes (apparently based on the number of states visited), that McCain-Palin are playing ‘defense’, but Obama is playing ‘offense’. Aren’t college campuses heavily favoring Obama? How is it playing ‘offense’ to visit your base? Again, our reporters are blinded by their support for Obama. The truth is McCain-Palin are visiting areas which are leaning toward Obama. McCain-Palin are playing ‘offense’. They are taking it to Obama-leaning voters.
Obama has mercilessly criticized almost every word McCain has said, every action he has taken, for two weeks. He has ridiculed and tried to denigrate McCain’s sound plans for our economy and our future. Now, criticizing the plans of your opponent, and your opponent’s record, is one way the truth may be brought out to American voters. Don’t complain about this truth. When the candidates criticize each other, we learn something. If we agree with them, then we learn something about their opponent. If we disagree with them, then we learn something about the candidate speaking. This is democracy in action, and we all need to put forward our best ideas, listen to all the ideas with an open mind, and select the best ideas after careful evaluation based on the best criteria according to our understanding.
We are choosing our leader, not an entertainer. We had best evaluate their policies and plans in a practical manner. How will their decisions affect our families, our children, our communities, and our nation? The Democrats, with noble intentions, desired to extend more homeownership to the underprivileged. However, their plan was short sighted. They made a law requiring lending to the underprivileged and minorities with lower standards than fiscal soundness demanded. Banks were forced to comply; some were bullied into comliance by ACORN’s activities. Pres. Bush, and later Sen. McCain and other Republicans, called for changes to strengthen the financial soundness of lending for mortgages; they cited dangers for the future financial soundness of our country if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continued to expand unsound mortgage trends.
Democrats blocked these efforts, unable to see the danger. They saw only the “housing boom” which continued to rise at the time. Chairmen Frank and Dodd are on record, as seen on a recent FoxNews special, stating that there was nothing wrong with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and they did not need fixing. Perhaps Republicans did not persue reform legislation vigorously enough. In any case, Dems voted against the legislation. Dems were in the majority, and the legislation failed.
Look at this carefully before you vote. Watch the FoxNews special with an open mind. You will see Dems speaking plainly against reform legislation. Sen. Obama says he spoke for reform in a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury. But he must have spoken in a very quiet voice. Where is the record of his voice raised in favor of reform during the debate on Republican legislation for reform?
Look at Obama’s plan to raise taxes on incomes over $250,000 and corporations. Again, the motive is noble. But, look again. If income is raised on corporations, jobs will be lost, and much of the tax increase will be paid for by consumers, you and me, as the cost will be passed on in higher prices to consumers. Most small businesses WHICH EMPLOY WORKERS MAKE OVER $250,000. If taxes are raised on them, they will be more strapped than they are now; they will create fewer jobs, and may have to lay some workers off. If taxes are raised on capital gaines and dividends, there will be fewer investments in business because the profits from investing will be down. If there are lower investments, businesses will not be able to expand as much, and will not be able to hire as many new workers.
We must protect and strengthen the middle class and lower income workers. But, we have to be smarter about how we go about it. We can’t reduce new job creation; instead, we actually must increase job creation because unemployment is rising now. We need to ease the burden on small business employers, not add more burdens on them. Obama’s penalties on small business employers if they cannot afford to provide insurance for their workers would put great stress on these employers. They may have to lay off workers in order to comply with the law.
As voters we have to have a practical understanding of the consequences of any proposed plan, not just look at its intentions, no matter how generous to the needy and middle class they may be. If we aren’t smarter, we will end up doing more harm than good. Look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and severe financial crisis that resulted in part due to their instability. Look at middle class families who are invested in 401(k), pension, and IRA plans, who have lost much of their retirement funds.
Look at the gap in Obama’s security clearance. With his long-standing associations with radicals in the past, and his ties to ACORN, his campaign’s $800,000 payment to CSI , an affiliate of ACORN (which helps fund ACORN), while ACORN is under investigation for voter registration fraud and perhaps other crimes, Obama would probably not be able to get the security clearance needed to be hired for any federal job, according to some reports.
We voters need to look at the candidates plans, and look again, with a practical eye on all the consequences, before we make our final decisions on which candidate to vote for. We need to lay aside the passion and the anger, and use the clearest judgement and common sense that we can muster.
Thank you for reading,this is one American voice. Let’s all contribute our very best to this discussion. The consequences of this election are too important to do otherwise for ourselves and our children.
October 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pm PDT
Hey Shirley,
Thanks for the comments. When I talk about “offense” versus “defense” I am noting that McCain is largely trying to defend Bush states, while Obama is spending less time in Kerry states. Even among Obama’s “Campus and Careers” locations, notice that one of those trips was in Virginia.
McCain could be visting evangelcial strongholds in say Michigan or Minnesota, but in this latest batch of travel data he had not.
Still, thanks for reading.
-Dante
October 13th, 2008 at 2:27 am PDT
As one of the undecided voters two months ago, I was disappointed at the whining campaign of Senator McCain. I used to be an admirer of the former McCain. The new McCain, however, is the opposite of what the old McCain believed in. The new McCain supports a tax cut that he once opposed, befriends the extremists that he once considered evil (including a talk-show host who once called the Catholic churches “whore”), commits unsustainable American monetary and human resources indefinitely in Iraq regardless of its cost on our national security and economy, and running a campaign of deception and mud slinging.
President Bush’s justification for the war in Iraq was Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, was pursuing nuclear weapons, and supported the 9/11 terrorist attack. Those claims was proven to be wrong and possibly fabricated. I never heard from Senator McCain the new justification for the Iraq war, nor his definition of “victory”.
Senator McCain’s choice of Gov Palin as VP was puzzling to me. Gov Palin did not have needed experience, supported the “Bridge to Nowhere” (not against it as claimed), lobbied for porks for Alaska, accused of abusing her power, and as Governor she hired unqualified friends and relatives. I wish that Senator McCain would drop Gov. Palin, and go back to the old McCain, not the new politician McCain.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:20 am PDT
What senators Obama and Biden stand for is not quite so unclear. To what extent are they for peace, and womens rights? Are they for more intervention in their neighbour’s business?
No such problem exists for Senator McCain and Governor Palin. They want to take other people’s oil. Their macabre song of “bomb bomb bomb Iran” means bomb bomb bomb the innocent civilians there for US Corporate profiteers over the oil and gas there. These two regard any American nation that chooses to determine its own future, automatically somehow become “anti-american” dictators.
Incidentally, Those who wonder the birth places of the leading candidates can investigate where Senators Obama and McCain were born - Obama was born in the US state of Hawaii,& Senator McCain was born ….in Panama.
October 13th, 2008 at 8:21 am PDT
What senators Obama and Biden stand for is not quite so unclear. To what extent are they for peace, and womens rights? Are they for more intervention in their neighbour’s business?
No such problem exists for Senator McCain and Governor Palin. They want to take other people’s oil. Their macabre song of “bomb bomb bomb Iran” means bomb bomb bomb the innocent civilians there for US Corporate profiteers over the oil and gas there. These two regard any American nation that chooses to determine its own future, automatically somehow become “anti-american” dictators.
Incidentally, Those who wonder the birth places of the leading candidates can investigate where Senators Obama and McCain were born - Obama was born in the US state of Hawaii,& Senator McCain was born ….in Panama.