Posted by
Andrews on Saturday, September 13, 2008 10:18:44 AM
I just saw the newest McCain/Palin advertisement and, while it may be a good tactical move for the top of the ticket, I have to say that I think it was a bad move in the long run. It may help them pull in some of the voters who are upset with Washington but not comfortable with Obama, but in the process it reinforces the image that the Republicans are the problem, even though congress, with its low approval ratings, is run by the Democrats.
Why is this a bad thing? Well, this is the year the Democrats plan to solidify their hold on congress. Obama has given the party a chance to hold on or even retake some seats, but now McCain is telling America the Republicans are some corrupt group to be fought. Even if he does think the incumbents are corrupt or irresponsible, now is not the time to say it. He needs those Republicans to get anything done as president,t he Democrats aren't going to side with him as president, no matter what they did when he was in the senate. If he throws his own party under the bus, he will pay for it for the next four years.
Better for him to point out that the Democrats actually run congress, that it was not "Bush-Cheney" but "Pelosi-Reid" who brought all the recent troubles on America. If he must steal the "change" mantra from Obama, why not point out Obama was part of the majority while oil prices were rising? That Obama's party is running the despised congress? Why must he instead play up the maverick image and sell out his own side? It won't pay off in the long run.
Well, it is one advertisement. Even if it is a misstep, there is time to recover. I just hope some in the party point out these facts to McCain, and that he is not too stubborn, or caught up in his image to listen. He has a real chance to help his party make some small gains in congressional elections, especially as Obama is spinning his wheels and doing nothing to help his own side. I hope McCain doesn't blow it to give himself credibility as a "maverick".