Message to John McCain: In Politics, Nice Guys Finish Last
First of all, I write this knowing full well, it is an overused self-serving cynical cliche. That being said, it has major relevance. In the 70’s and 80’s the mainstream press had just about as lopsided a liberal majority as it does today. But John Chancellor, and Walter Cronkite, and others of that day had to try to at least appear objective, as did Tom Brokaw, and Tim Russert, in later years. With the advent of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity et al. in the world of conservative talk radio, the mainstream media marketshare has been in decline, both in the world of political commentary and news reporting. Fox News has really tried to play it straight. They have anchors, and they have commentators. And they employ former Clinton operatives among those commentators. So left and right all have a place at the table. Fox appears to be conservative, only because conservatives just aren’t served on any other mainstream network newscast or cable network. With very few exceptions to the rule this is the overall pattern. Other newscasts and cable outlets i.e. MSNBC have experienced a pattern of declining market share. They don’t like it. They feel that their message isn’t getting across so they ratchet up the nastiness in the anti-conservative commentary which weaves its way into their newscasts. The left just gets angrier and angrier. It is incumbent upon you, Senator McCain, to understand that the adulation you received in 2000, was only due to your willingness to go against mainstream positions of your party. As far as to how the other side treats so-called mavericks on the , just ask your good friend, colleague, and supporter: Joe Lieberman. You must now realize that although a small percentage of disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters and assorted democrats and independents will come over to your side, you will not make it to the goalpost without the base of your own party. You must close the deal if you want to win. To do this you must fill in the blanks about why all of the afformentioned should be supporting you. Part of that job will be educating them how potentially dangerous (for national security and their wallets) it would be to support your opponent. You and your surrogates must do this. Tha mainstream press has chosen a champion and it isn’t you. Get used to that idea. You cannot reflexively scold a consultant or spokesperson for some criticism of Barack Obama because of your fear of the perception that you aren’t a nice guy. Richard Nixon was not perceived as a nice guy. In 1972, he won a majority of the popular vote in 49 states. The press never cared for Ronald Reagan. In 1984 he too won a majority of the popular vote in 49 states. (And I believe it was the last time any Republican won Massachussetts.)
Here is a list of positions you could support that would help close the deal
- Lift all bans on oil exploration off the coast of Florida, California, anywhere that belongs to us in the Gulf Of Mexico, and yes Senator in Alaska. Reversal on earlier positions could be explained by stating that the technology has improved mitigating environmental risks, and 4 possibly 5 dollar-a-gallon gas necessitates we change policy now.
- Advocate making permanent the tax cuts of your predecessor: George W. Bush but not stopping there. Demand legislation reducing the corporate tax rates. The left will attack you for this. Compare us to their favorite non-American place: Europe. Inform them that the country with the lowest corporate tax rate attracts the most investmant capital, and summarily: jobs. And re-educate in speeches that corporations do not pay taxes, but that individuals do in the form of higher costs for goods and lost employment.
- You must discuss market based ways to bring down the cost of health care and insurance. (Mitt Romney would be extremely valuble to you in making this case.)
- Your military background has given you a lot of credibility to make your case as to how best to prosecute the war on terrorists. Re-emphasize that you do not want soldiers in harms’ way any longer than necessary, and remind your audiance that Barack Obama’s changes in positions on the war are starting to give people a stiff neck in trying to keep up. You can tweak your opponent with a laugh and a smile. The left will call you mean. Don’t worry. It won’t stick.
Take these positions, campaign on them like you mean it. Don’t break a sweat if the left wing press engages in name calling. (They will) Democrats (like the empty suit: Wesley Clarke) will try to bring down the value of your national defense credentials. Their own candidate is terribly weak on these issues and his operatives figure the best defense is a strong offense. Don’t worry. You can play that game better than they can. Just do it and take the handcuffs off of your surrogates. And suprise your worst critics come election day.
Tony Snow: A Few Words
I first became aware of Tony Snow in the early 90’s when he filled in for Rush. He made a great case for the conservative cause without ever losing his cool. He seemed so happy in his job, both at Fox News, and as President Bush’s press secretary. I never knew as much about him as I would learn at the time of his untimely passing. There is little that I can say that has not already been said by people who knew him well personally and professionally , except that I wish I could’ve actually known him too.