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McCain’s Delicate Dance Away From Bush
How does John McCain distance himself from a very unpopular president and assert his own persona and policies? Very carefully.
As for the divisiveness rap it has become accepted wisdom that Bush failed to live up to his “uniter not a divider” mantra. (One can argue that the Democrats were at least equally responsible for the political vitriol over the last seven years, but the public lays blame, as it does most everything else they haven’t liked in the last seven years, at Bush’s feet.) McCain in this regard is truly positioning himself as the anti- Bush. He has taken up the mantle of bipartisan bridge builder and promised everything from Democrats in his cabinet to question sessions with Congress.
And, of course, McCain is delighted to share the many instances in which he defied party loyalty on campaign finance reform, torture or climate change. Moreover, his entire campaign aimed at capturing independents and disaffected Democrats seems to be a refutation of the Bush-Rove theory of endlessly expanding and bolstering the Republican base.
As for the “sheltered from facts” dig, McCain again seems happy to stress that on key issues he was and continues to be a “realist.” (The unspoken remainder of that label is “and not like George Bush.”) After all he legitimately can claim to have been more willing to recognize bad news, advocate dismissal of Rumsfeld and urge a revision of the entire approach to Iraq. (The irony that Obama can now be accused of being willfully indifferent to political and military developments only increases the temptation to push this line of argument.)
Likewise on stem cell research, McCain candidly admitted that he changed his mind after “getting briefed by very smart people on this issue and including discussing this with Nancy Reagan.”
Finally, McCain has offered an entirely different style than Bush when it comes to interacting with the media. In short, he interacts. Indeed, he won’t leave the press alone and encourages access, spontaneous interaction and endless questioning which the Bush administration (and its two presidential campaigns) would never have dreamed of permitting. In part, that is driven no doubt by poor financial resources and the desire to garner as much free media as possible. But it is also pure McCain: there isn’t a debate or argument he isn’t ready to have. His confidence in his own ability to persuade has only been bolstered by his success in transforming Iraq policy and the resulting political dialogue.
So, to a large degree, the message of differentiation from Bush is more stark when it comes to McCain’s style and personal attributes than his policy stances. Both will be needed to convince voters that he will be a different kind of president than Bush. Voters who overwhelmingly are convinced that we are “on the wrong track” will need assurance that in style and substance McCain’s election will not be a Bush third term.
Can he do it? To a greater degree than anyone thought possible he’s beating the generic Democrat/Republican polling and making the race “closer than it should be.” He’ll need to do more “not me” work if he is going to pull off an upset even greater than his and his opponent’s primary wins.
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Jennifer Rubin is PJM's Washington, DC, editor. She also blogs at Commentary’s Contentions.
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23 Comments
1. David Thomson:“When McCain came out in favor of lifting the ban on offshore drilling, he got the “just like Bush” retort.”
Drilling for more oil in the United States is a clear winner with the voters. John McCain can easily place Barack “Barry” Obama in a no-win position. The radical environmentalist are adamantly opposed to any compromise. I strongly believe that every Republican candidate should perhaps make this their number one campaign issue. Am I off my rocker? Am I far too optimistic? I don’t so. Can anyone find holes in my argument? Is there something I’m overlooking?
Jul 1, 2008 - 2:28 am 2. Ed Wallis:This article is one of those “…’balanced’ as long as your center is far left of left of center.”
“Uniter not divider” as a problem for McCain but not Obama?!!? One would have to be blind to ignore all the cr*p that The Obamboozler has thrown out at – to mention only a few – TYPICAL WHITE PEOPLE, those who believe in God, those who believe in the Second Amendment…etcetera etcetera.
Ms. Rubin should henceforth offer her work to more fitting online tabloid venues….
Jul 1, 2008 - 3:38 am 3. Dave II:McCain just needs to keep on doing what he’s doing, meeting with the people and the media, answering any and all questions, and keep on stating his case…
And Obama (and his supporters) just need to keep on doing what they are doing…following up gaffes with explanations, following up speeches by supporters
with explanations, and showing inexperience, misjudgement, and elitism at every turn…
And this election won’t even be that close!
Jul 1, 2008 - 7:40 am 4. PRODOS:I don’t think it’s a good idea to play along with anti-Bush sentiments. It’s wrong, it’s petty, and it’s weak.
It contributes to demoralizing and demotivating the Republican base.
It comes across as disrespectful towards the President. It’s ungracious. And a lot of the bad rap Mr Bush has gotten has been driven by those who love to hate anything and everything Conservative. The mainstream media, the intelligentsia, the left/liberals. Why play into their hands? Why play their dumb, unjust little games?
It’s hubris to harp on how different and “better” John McCain is from George W Bush. Men are not gods. There’s never been and never will be a President who won’t make plenty of mistakes.
Unlike Bill Clinton, Mr Bush’s shortcomings (and they’re nowhere near as bad as they’ve been made out to be) have come, at worst, from innocent error. Not from immorality. Not from evasiveness.
Mr Bush’s good qualities should be acknowledged and applauded. For instance, regarding Iraq and the “War on Terror” – Mr Bush DID end up adopting the new Counter-insurgency strategy of which the so-called “surge” is a part of. And he DID support and promote General Petraeus.
How could Mr Bush – or any President – adopt a counter-insurgency strategy before the COIN doctrine was even formulated?
John McCain would make a fine president. But his support of Global Warming nonsense – including Emissions Trading – is truly awful. As is his support of limiting campaign financing undermines free speech.
John McCain’s unjust criticisms and distrust of the free market is also troubling.
So what if Mr Bush made mistakes? He’s also done MANY good things.
By harping on how DIFFERENT he is from Mr Bush and being overly CRITICAL (whether directly or indirectly) John McCain plays into the hands of the Democrats and their cheap games. He’s letting THEM set HIS agenda. It makes him look weak and not in control.
If Barak Obama points at John McCain and says over and over again: “just like Bush” – Mr McCain should identify this as the meaningless, prejudicial, irrelevant ad hominem that it is.
Anyway, what kind of “uniter” is Obama? Doesn’t he brag that he will bring people together? That he will go beyond the old divisions? I’ll believe it when I see it. His childish “just like Bush” strategy is not the method of a “uniter”, is it?
John McCain should tell Americans: Look, get over it. Stop the Bush-bashing. He should show appreciation and respect towards Mr Bush.
He should be and be seen to be noble, gracious, realistic.
And, for goodness sake, learning a bit of economics might be helpful at some point. Read Thomas Sowell’s “Basic Economics” or “Applied Economics” or “Economic Facts and Fallacies”.
Good advice for anyone who wants to run as President of the world’s biggest, most powerful economy.
Jul 1, 2008 - 7:47 am 5. PRODOS:Replying to David Thomson …
I think you’re spot on mate!
John McCain has outstanding personal qualities.
But … he doesn’t need to distinguish himself from George W Bush.
He needs to distinguish himself from the green/left fascist Democrats.
Embracing ENERGY and WEALTH and STRENGTH will highlight Barak Obama’s deepest left/green/fascist flaws and will capture the imagination of Americans.
Jul 1, 2008 - 7:53 am 6. RE:This sort of politcal ballet is fluff.
This election is about socialism and nanny statism. One is either for government micro-mismanaging your lives or against it.
Jul 1, 2008 - 8:40 am 7. Marc:Or it could be more subtle. Talk about conservatism, a resurgence in values, which he could aptly personify. His personal life is a good depiction of sacrifice and honor. He won’t win on policy alone. McCain represents something more in this election. He represents values that are being eroded, Judeo-Christian values that were once the staple of this nation. People will respond to this. Despite what reality TV may show us, there are still a lot of hard working, devoted, patriotic Americans that McCain can resonate with.
Peggy Noonan spoke about it in her last op-ed…
http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html
Great article, I wish she wrote here!
Jul 1, 2008 - 8:43 am 8. John Samford:I question the claim that PRESIDENT Bush is unpopular. I’m sure it is valid among the far left, but there is NO Evidence that he is unpopular among the general public. Polls ( which are NOT evidence) show him as having an unfavorable rating in the low 30’s, which was about the margin of victory the polls had for Dewey. Pols are wrong about 99.9% of the time. They serve no useful purpose other then giving pollsters something to do.
Jul 1, 2008 - 12:47 pm 9. PRODOS:An unfavorable rating references his job approval, NOT his popularity. Two different things, unless you are afflicted with BDS.
BTW, his (Dubbau’s) approval rating has bottomed out and as it becomes more apparent to even the willfully blind that Iraq is a success, that rating will climb.
Replying to John Samford …
I question the claim that PRESIDENT Bush is unpopular. I’m sure it is valid among the far left, but there is NO Evidence that he is unpopular among the general public.
[ ... ]
BTW, his (Dubbau’s) approval rating has bottomed out and as it becomes more apparent to even the willfully blind that Iraq is a success, that rating will climb.
I think you’ve raised some good points.
And I believe History will rightly judge Mr Bush well, as having been a darn good President.
Jul 1, 2008 - 4:49 pm 10. Nathan:I’ve had the same thought – could it be possible that President Bush is held in far higher regard than possible skewed polls completed by highly visible left wing journalist would have us believe?
Jul 1, 2008 - 8:19 pm 11. Jim Stutts:We haven’t been attacked since 2001, two major countries had been, at least for now, freed of cruel dictators or fanatics, Iraq is turning, economy was doing great with the tax breaks until recently, he has defied a majority Congress more concerned with terrorist rights and surrender, had most of his legislation passed, 2 of three axis of evil down….etc. Maybe McCain should say – “Like Bush? – Damn right!” – defend the country, stay on offensive, drill here, believe in the Country.
PRODOS:
“By harping on how DIFFERENT he is from Mr Bush and being overly CRITICAL (whether directly or indirectly) John McCain plays into the hands of the Democrats and their cheap games. He’s letting THEM set HIS agenda. It makes him look weak and not in control.”
The only way McCain could be considered different from Bush is that he’s even MORE mind-numbingly liberal. At least he’s more upfront about it, I guess. McCain would make a absolutely terrible President. So would Obama.
Of course McCain lets the Democrats set his agenda. He’s one of them.
Jul 1, 2008 - 10:23 pm 12. Jim Stutts:PRODOS:
“And I believe History will rightly judge Mr Bush well, as having been a darn good President.”
Bush is merely LBJ II with fake Texas accent.
Jul 1, 2008 - 10:25 pm 13. Jim Stutts:Samford:
“I question the claim that PRESIDENT Bush is unpopular.”
He’s unpopular with Conservatives for very obvious reasons. Bush is a liberal Republican like his father. He spends. He expands. He appeases. He misrepresented himself to us.
Jul 1, 2008 - 10:28 pm 14. Jim Stutts:“Maybe McCain should say – “Like Bush? – Damn right!” – defend the country, stay on offensive, drill here, believe in the Country.”
Like Bush, McCain doesn’t believe we should even be a country.
Not one with defined borders, at least.
Iraq is far less important than the United States.
Jul 1, 2008 - 10:38 pm 15. AJ:I wish he was more like Bush! If American, especially the left wing fools, read and thoughts instead of reacted with emotion, they’d see thru Obama the Empty Marxist Suit, and understand that history will remember Bush along the lines of Truman more so than Ford or Carter. Bush saw the mission, told us to be patient, corrected his errors via The Surge, etc. He also spent money in liberal fashion but get no credit. He has been a GREAT Uniter, but people here, esp rich libs, are full of hatred. Their loss.
Anyway, McCain, who was not my first choice, does not need to distance himself as the Obama cult members do not read nor think, just react—-so they’ll never understand.
Jul 2, 2008 - 6:39 am 16. Jim Stutts:“Bush saw the mission, told us to be patient, corrected his errors via The Surge, etc. He also spent money in liberal fashion but get no credit. He has been a GREAT Uniter, but people here, esp rich libs, are full of hatred. Their loss.”
We aren’t even fighting most fronts of the “GWOT”. The man won’t even name the enemy for fear he might offend them. His Administration actively funds Muslim terrorists in al Fatah. I certainly give him no “credit” for tripling our budget with his new Great Society (but, hey, I’m a conservative).
He has destroyed and demoralized the Republican Party.
Jul 2, 2008 - 7:37 am 17. AJ:Jim, conservatives read. So read this:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/658dwgrn.asp
Jul 2, 2008 - 9:03 am 18. Jim Stutts:“Jim, conservatives read. So read this:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/658dwgrn.asp”
Bush didn’t “decide on the surge”. The “Surge” is not some grand military strategy. They finally – after years – admitted they did not have enough troops deployed for the post-war environment.
Conservatives not only read, but understand what they read. They also pay attention.
Do you even understand what this war is about and who it is with? Do you approve of tripling our budget for a new Great Society? Do you like funding the Palestinians? Do you like seeing our country bend over for the founders of Muslim terror in Saudi Arabia? Do you like having next-to-no border security in a war with terrorists?
You, sir, may be a Republican. Are you a Conservative? Do you understand the difference?
Jul 2, 2008 - 9:40 am 19. AJ:Did you read the article? Folks like Kagan, Bush, Graham and Cheney decided upon the Surge moreso than did the military actually, sir. They get credit.
I understand the difference. I am registered Independent but am a conservative in the 9-11, Neo sense. This is why, though I am appalled that we support the Animals in Palestine and spend too much, I also do not believe the anti-Israel Ron Paul Isolationist policies are the cure. A balance, perhaps.
Are you a Ron Paul person? I sure hope not. Talk about someone who had hoodwinked America via calling himself a “libertarian.”
Jul 2, 2008 - 10:18 am 20. Jim Stutts:AJ:
“Did you read the article? Folks like Kagan, Bush, Graham and Cheney decided upon the Surge moreso than did the military actually, sir. They get credit.”
Do they now. I seem to recall Powell and Shinseki stating that they would need a more troops before the war even started.
“This is why, though I am appalled that we support the Animals in Palestine and spend too much, I also do not believe the anti-Israel Ron Paul Isolationist policies are the cure. A balance, perhaps.”
Paul is not an isolationist. You confused anti-interventionism with isolationism.
“Are you a Ron Paul person? I sure hope not. Talk about someone who had hoodwinked America via calling himself a “libertarian.””
I’m a Conservative. I detest liberals like Bush just as much as i do liberals like Obama. If I was a Hunter supporter.
“Neo sense”, huh? You’re an “afraid conservative”, then. You want the government to take care of you. I see.
Jul 2, 2008 - 11:14 am 21. Jim Stutts:Jim Stutts:
Correction:
“I was a Hunter supporter.”
Jul 2, 2008 - 12:07 pm 22. AJ:I am a Reagan Republican/conservative. I want the gov’t to take care me and my family ONLY in terms of national security i.e. fighting terrorism.
I too preferred Hunter.
I think you need to reserve your negatives for the real enemies: Obama, Dean, Pelosi/Reid, academia, the media, Islamo-fascists.
Bush has his hands tied. He does what he can.
And yes, Powell did say that, and perhaps he should have been heeded. But Bush may not have gained congressional approval for that many troops.
Powell is a two-faced media whore anyway. He, of course, supports Obama.
Jul 2, 2008 - 12:18 pm 23. Jim Stutts:AJ:
“I want the gov’t to take care me and my family ONLY in terms of national security i.e. fighting terrorism.”
Bush isn’t doing that. At most, he’s fighting one front of the war while leaving our own homeland wide open. He even encourages Muslim immigration.
“I think you need to reserve your negatives for the real enemies: Obama, Dean, Pelosi/Reid, academia, the media, Islamo-fascists.”
Bush and much of the party leadership are in agreement with most of the above list. I think you need to think more carefully on who you praise and why you praise them. Bush holds hands and kisses “Islamo-fascists”. He gives money to “Islamo-fascists”. The term’s redundant anyway. He has expanded the welfare state tremendously. He has worked to bring in 100 million new Democrat voters.
“Bush has his hands tied. He does what he can.”
Oh, please. His intentions have been clear since 2004. He’s a liberal just like his father. He doesn’t need my vote anymore, so doesn’t have to pander to the party platform anymore.
“But Bush may not have gained congressional approval for that many troops.”
I’ve read the authorization. He had it.
Jul 2, 2008 - 12:41 pm