A few thoughts on McCain's speech last night

[stonebender]

I suspect these will be a bit rambling and not very well organized, but I am trying to put more writing out there. So here goes:

Being on occasion a community organizer, I'm a little boggled that somehow it could be suggested that being one is somehow a bad thing. (I know that was Palin's speech. I told you this was not going to be well organized). I think taking responsibility for improving people's lives for little or no money or benefits is certainly more altruistic than simply holding office.

I'm not sure I can express this but I was really bothered by McCain's use of his experiences in Hanoi Hilton. Let me state this clearly, I personally think McCain was a hero in that circumstance. I have no illusions that in his situation I would've headed for the exit as soon as it was offered. The fact that he stayed is another example of how truly selfless people can be. As I'm sure many of you know I am one of those bleeding heart liberals. I never would have voted for McCain, but I always had a certain amount of respect for how McCain navigated his way through national politics. I didn't agree with him but it was clear to me that he really was doing what he thought was best. I always thought it was very classy that he never (at least in my memory) used his experience as a POW as blatantly, as self-serving as he did in that speech.

It is clear to me now that he has lost all perspective. He has caved in to the pressure from social conservatives to change his position on choice. I really do feel that I am on the other side of the looking glass. 26 year veteran in Congress is billing himself as an agent for change? A man who is getting all kinds of accolades for being his own man. Not caving in to partisan politics. Has changed many of his long-standing positions *exactly* for partisan reasons. A man who has condemned his opponent time and time again for his inexperience and yet chooses a running mate who didn't complete a full term as governor of Alaska. A woman whose only other executive experience is as mayor of a town with less than 9000 people in it. I job she apparently couldn't do on her own because she was pressured to hire someone to help her. I think his boasting about his military experience is an act of desperation. At least I hope people will see it that way. Yes I know I'm preaching to the converted, but I had to blather a little.

Comments

[waywardcats.livejournal.com]

I really hope that the Obama campaign seizes the opportunity to talk about how community organizers were denigrated by not just Palin but also Guiliani. It seems to me that all of the people who have worked so hard on the ground for Obama will not take kindly to being insulted in that way, nor should they.

Paul Krugman I think had a very interesting take on this in his NYT opinion piece today:

"What the G.O.P. is selling, in other words, is the pure politics of resentment; you’re supposed to vote Republican to stick it to an elite that thinks it’s better than you."

Free subscription required to view the whole piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/opinion/05krugman.html?ref=opinion

I think you are right on target, McCain has lost his perspective and in this last ditch effort to get elected he has chosen to appeal to the right wing base of the party. I hope it is a losing gambit, but it worries me.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I suppose I should watch the speech, but Idonwanna.

[stonebender.livejournal.com]

Sweetheart, if you don't want to you don't have to and I'll sit down for your right not to watch it. :-)

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

*smoooooooooooooch*

By the way, your IM's not on, so I have to tell you here that clever_doberman answered your comment on her post, but not in the place that would send you an email.

[necturus.livejournal.com]

He has caved in to the pressure from social conservatives to change his position on choice.

As far as I know John McCain has always been anti-choice.

Incidentally, I heard John McCain speak at a broadcasters' convention about 15 years ago in Los Angeles. He seemed unable to think on his feet, and to every question from the audience his reply was to turn to an aide and ask, "Bob, what's our position on that?"

He didn't impress me very favorably.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

While McCain's never exactly been what I'd call pro-choice, he has fought his own party to try to make sure their strongly anti-choice platform included exceptions for rape, incest and threats to the life of the woman.

He's backed off that in recent years, presumably because he knows which side of the cultural divide his political bread is buttered on.