February 5, 2008
Authenticity (John Feehery)
Authenticity is winning at the polls. And that is a good thing.
Most Americans want to vote for somebody who is real, somebody who shares their values, somebody they can have a beer with.
I think the American people are tired of cautious politicians who check the nearest poll before they decide what to do.
They don’t want a candidate who will tell them what they want to hear. They want a candidate who will tell them the truth as they see it. They don’t want the blow-dried, poll-driven, perfect-smile kind of person. They want a leader who has persisted through hardship, who has been through hell and back, who is willing to take on talk-radio hosts whose No. 1 job is entertainment, not leadership.
That is why John McCain is doing much better than anybody thought he would.
This is gut-check time for the Republican Party.
Do they really want to do the things they say they want to do?
Do they really want to cut spending — or just talk about it?
Do they really want to win this war — or just forget about it?
Do they really want to reform Washington — or do they want to become the defenders of the status quo?
Do they really want to be a governing party — or do they want to be a minority party that chirps from the sidelines?
Do they really want to fix our immigration system (which requires compromise), or do they just want to complain about it?
A huge wave is rolling across the political spectrum from the other side. Barack Obama raised $37 million last month, and had 15,000 people show up at a rally in Idaho.
In Idaho.
If Republicans hope to have any chance, they need an authentic candidate who can take a stand against the Obama wave.
John McCain is the only Republican left who can do that.
Like I have said before, I have real problems with John McCain on certain issues.
He was wrong on campaign finance reform.
He was wrong on taxes early on.
He takes a populist view on corporate America too often.
He is not my perfect candidate.
But he is authentic.
And despite what Rush Limbaugh or Tom DeLay or any of these harsh critics of McCain have to say, that is what most Republicans will conclude today.
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Fascinating. It's Ok for John McCain to attack Mitt Romney with nothing but outright lies but, according to an article in Newsweek, his campaign won't run attack ads against Obama. Fixing our failed immigration system requires enforcing the law , not compromise. If 10 million people suddenly refused to pay their taxes, would we compromise on that? As far as cutting spending that is fantasy land. McCain may pass himself off as a fiscal conservative but in reality his big government solutions are going to cost the public outside the beltway higher costs on food, gas and anything else that depends on energy. The two parties have imploded into one corrupt party. Which coincidently, is my blog subject today.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — February 5, 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Guys make sure you check out the article "The Intoxication of Inspiration" on the blogzine SAVAGE POLITICS (not related to Mike Savage) at http://www.savagepolitics.com. It is awesome……everyone should read it before voting.
Comment by Elsylee — February 5, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
Rosie is right. Clearly he is a reflection of the dissaray in the GOP. I am delighted with the potential victory of Senator McCain. I'll take Mittens too, but McCain will be fun.
Comment by Chris Calbi — February 5, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
John, I'm assuming you will be supporting 'McHuckamney' irregardless of anything foreseable. That being said;
The GOP has a civil war taking place within it's ranks. This dust-up is all about the neocon wing; do we rid the GOP of it, or do they (neocons) rule the party. This is a GOP gut-check on whether the GOP wants Rush "The Junkie" as it's spokesman anymore.
Until you, John, realize just how whacked out the neocon wing is, you will/may think of yourself as one of 'them', one of the neocons. You best look a bit closer at the neocons and you may realize something that more closely resembles the Nazis, not Ameicans.
Comment by Chris in NM — February 5, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
Amen brother! As an Independent voter supporting Obama, I welcome an authentic debate between John McCain and Barack Obama.
"Do they really want to cut spending" - Yes.
"Do they really want to win this war" - Yes.
"Do they really want to reform Washington — or do they want to become the defenders of the status quo" - C'mon now…
"Do they really want to be a governing party" - Yes.
"Do they really want to fix our immigration system" - Yes.
I welcome that debate.
But back to the Republicans - I agree McCain is a good choice and I also think it would be no shame if the hyper-partisan pundits were marginalized. That right there would be a victory for McCain.
Thank you and good night.
Do they really want to be a governing party — or do they want to be a minority party that chirps from the sidelines?
Do they really want to fix our immigration system
I answer "yes" to each of the questions posed in your post. And although McCain and the Republicans have had more than their fair chance - they have failed on each of the goals you have listed.
Comment by warren — February 6, 2008 @ 2:35 am
Feehery, wasn't George Bush that person that we wanted to have a beer with? After the disaster that he has wreaked on our great country, I say it's a safe bet that Americans aren't tihking about having a beer with a President.
Comment by Chris Calbi — February 6, 2008 @ 11:16 am
Chris:
George W. Bush has changed a lot of things - but he has not eliminated one of the time-honored American traditions of picking a President.
Comment by warren — February 6, 2008 @ 7:55 pm
all the hype about obama is going to lead us further into chaos. the guy has no experience. the whit house should not be a training ground. you all must stop your hatred for theclintons and put your countries interest first
hillar is the most qualified for the job on the dem side and i believe the real change should be that.there is a lot i donot know about obama, like his dealings with resko,the muslim ties, his church and all those position who took in his voting records. i am tired of all the closet republicans telling us what is good for the democrats
Comment by marcy — February 7, 2008 @ 7:56 am
Marcy:
If I was not a fan of free speech - I would recommend that your post be removed.
Those flawed talking points are yesterday's news. Suffice to say, I disagree with everything in your post except: "there is a lot i donot know about obama"
And I am for Obama because I "am tired of all" the Democrats voting for a candidate who can't win the general.
Comment by warren — February 8, 2008 @ 1:03 pm