July 7, 2008
Will the Worst Presidential Candidate Lose? (Armstrong Williams)
Today’s presidential nominees are not comparable to tennis star Venus Williams or golf’s Tiger Woods. Rather than an outcome where the best player wins, this election is shaping up where the worst candidate will lose. Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) inexperience and overall image is only slightly countered by his adroit campaign skills; whereas Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) clumsy campaign efforts are only somewhat improved by his experience and character. Frankly, this race is shaping up to be not about who is the best individual to lead our country, but rather a test to see who will make the fewest mistakes.
If campaign management were the major and final determinant of this presidential race, McCain wouldn’t even make it on the field. He would be blown away, as evidenced even this early in the cycle (yes, America, this is early …) with Obama’s fundraising and mobilization prowess. McCain’s recent staff shake-up shows voters that even he recognizes the danger his campaign strategies pose in winning this election. Initially, McCain’s disjunctive arrangement of 11 regional managers proved to create an incoherent, malfunctioning strategy. I believe he’ll have trouble even with able-bodied Steve Schmidt now at the helm.
However, simply because McCain’s campaign tactics are in a losing battle doesn’t mean the election is a foregone conclusion for the Republican Party. Sen. Obama’s issue stances and inexperience create a significant problem despite his advanced campaign tactics. Let’s think back to 2000, when President Bush commanded a much better campaign than his opponent, former Vice President Al Gore. Despite his superior plan and execution, Bush still lost the popular vote.
Unfortunately for America, neither party has selected a superstar candidate. Instead, the Democrats have chosen a candidate with little experience and unproven policies; and Republicans selected a nominee with little charisma and failing campaign abilities. Rather than choosing the best leader for our country, voters may see this race as a contest to select the lesser of the two evils — voting against a candidate instead of for the other simply allows the worst candidate to lose.
Visit www.armstrongwilliams.com
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Armstrong—
Are you still on the Bush/Cheney dole? Obama is not a superstar candidate? What are you smoking. Even die-hard Republicans have to grudgingly admire Obama's once-a-generation appeal.
What happened? Did your handlers get too wigged out when you hinted you may vote Democratic this year. This is just sad, Armsie.
Comment by PR — July 7, 2008 @ 6:52 pm
The candidates perceived weaknesses are more a reflection of their weak stances on mainstream issues, such as illegal immigration. You could run a giraffe against Obama and it would look good.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — July 7, 2008 @ 7:45 pm
I don't know what you mean by "superstar" but if it refers to crowd-drawing appeal you may have missed that he's accepting the nomination in a FOOTBALL STADIUM.
Meanwhile John McCain comes across as a helpless, hopeless old man who's just playing out the string until November.
I agree John Kerry was a weak presidential candidate but McCain is just hilariously bad. He has no prayer.
Comment by lowellfield — July 7, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
Armstrong,
You are so conflicted for obvious reasons. A person who got where you are because of a real break… from a Republican, no less. How irresponsible can you get? Today's piece you wrote is a big booboo. It shows that you are not ready to write for this blog. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Again you are playing your radio audience. Beguillingly suggesting you have confusion over who the best candidate could be. The truth is Obama does lack experience.
You are following a few well-planted sound-bites that McCain is without charisma… You are suggesting that McCain is EVIL ????
Where is your loyaly to the republican party ?? If McCain were a black guy — I doubt you would be making such stupid statements. How much is the Obama campaign paying you to spin this kind of trash writing?
McCain is full of charisma. He is a great character and human being. How dare you classify this living-warrior-MAN-legacy as being one of two evils.
The truth is Obama is in-experienced, very in-experienced, and probably should not be anywhere near the White House for at least another 10-years, BUT , (you boob), he is not an evil man either.
Who are you kidding? Be honest with your audience, or don't bring up the candidates at all. You are fooling yourself if you think you fool anyone out here. Ding-ding!
Comment by JFK-HRC — July 7, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
No, we Republicans do NOT admire Obama.
Obama's words are NOT his own. They are written by speech writers or stolen from others.
But the author's thesis is correct. This election will not be about picking the best candidate, but picking the least worst.
The lesser of two evils, you could say. Obama is inexperienced, a liar, and a fraud. McCain is a Democrat in drag.
Comment by DFAL — July 8, 2008 @ 11:43 am
A terrorist-loving, radical Marxist Messiah vs. a European-style Soci.alist who is a war hero. Tough choice, tough choice. Obviously this is the best America could do!
Comment by Igor R. — July 8, 2008 @ 2:37 pm
Sort of sad that Obama and McCain are the best that either side (party) could come up with to lead us forward. Certainly not the best or brightest. But America will survive. An occasional great one comes around to clean up the mess that Congress and the not so great ones have created. We survived Carter. We'll survive W. just like we survived Clinton. Hell, we'll survive either Obama or McCain, though neither will ever be a 'great one'. All politicians are bad; in fact there is no such thing as a good politician. They are all out for themselves in the name of us. Some are just worse than others.
Comment by JEdgarSwoop — July 8, 2008 @ 7:25 pm
Armstrong,
I think you hit the nail on the head. This race isn't about selecting the best qualified candidate to lead our country, it's about picking the lesser of two evils between two professional politicians. It's also a sad state of affairs when we as a society can't put up two better candidates. This is it? This is all we have to choose from? A rookie senator who charms the teens and a lifelong politician jaded by the institution and arguably a difficult person to work with as told by his staff?
Sad, sad, sad…
Comment by Wayne Kulick — July 9, 2008 @ 8:55 am
#8 To Wayne Kulick:
….Cry me a river!
What's so sad is you people act so totally depressed - it's like a sickness…
McCain is wonderfully capable, strong, and insightful.
Barak will be ready in 10 years for the job…
None of the two candidates are evil !
That's so Un-American to say. Both guys care about people. Don't be so silly.
Comment by JFK-HRC — July 9, 2008 @ 5:43 pm
JFK,
Umm…it's a saying. Lighten up. Okay, let me rephrase it. The lesser of two poor candidates. Happy? Of course they care. All the professional politicians care. Just ask them. Caring is being a representative of the people and not catering to your own agenda in office.
Obama is just a rookie besides starting his life of professional politics. As for McCain, have you looked over his voting record? Check the section under taxes. He's probably got the most NVs (non-vote) of anyone. A politician does that so as not to pick a side and be held to a position. He doesn't vote on anything!
He's an institutionalized politician who's been in office over 20 years. Where do you think you'll get new and innovative ideas for solving our countries issues? Not from there. Sure he's a demonstrated leader, but I'd rather see him go out at the top of his game rather than have him lead from the backside of his game.
That's what I mean when I say "this is all we have to choose from?
Comment by Wayne Kulick — July 10, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Tsk, tsk. McCain didn't even vote on FISA. Is he no longer a Senator? If he's not serving the public in his duties as a Senator, will he as President? Maybe he'll just skip signing bills if elected.
Comment by Wayne Kulick — July 10, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
#11 Wayne
To become president (repub or dem) one must make strategic decisions. What accomplishments has Obama made? Let me direct you to McCain's website for refreshing information, not soundbites.
Just make sure you vote for McCain in November or we'll be paying $20/gal for gas and milk w/ Obama in office. He has no clue what he is doing or saying.
Comment by JFK-HRC — July 10, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
I am not sure this is the appropriate place to post this comment but yesterday (7/11/08) on your radio show- I heard a comment that I just have to comment on.
I just happened to stumble on to your talk show and heard this woman speaking on being afraid to call because she was going to vote for McCain. I agree with you that she has the right to vote for whomever she pleases. However, I do pray that this woman as well as others will really consider why they are voting for McCain. It sounded like she was a single-issue voter. I learned my lesson about that mistake 4 years ago. I agree abortion is horrible and I do not agree with gay marriages. However, those are two issues that the present president influenced a lot of us to vote for him on in 2004 and what has that gotten us - abortion rates are just as high and more and more states are legalizing gay marriages. I would encourage your callers and that woman to look at numerous issues. While abortion is horrible, what have the MCBush's done to make sure those babies not aborted have affordable health care and quality education? How many more lies will be told to get us into even more wars with countries who do not mind being a 'martyr" for their cause yet we are losing young men and women daily in these wars because of a lie - do we value that human life as much as we value the life of the aborted child? Who is pro-life?
I do not agree with everything Senator Obama says by any means however, I do believe that the young people of this nation need someone like him to maintain some hope of a future. They need someone like him to tell them to get an education and not depend on their athletic or musical skills to get them by. Senator Obama represents hope, change, and FOR LIFE to those young men and women who are choosing to die by violence and despair everyday! I am an educator and I see our children choosing death everyday. Please don't become a single- issue voter!!!!!! I am glad I stumbled onto your radio show and I will listen more often!
Comment by Sharon — July 11, 2008 @ 12:27 pm