McCain tries running on family legacy
A few months ago, there was quite a stir over whether Reagan employed a divisive Southern strategy in 1980, starting his campaign with a speech supporting states’ rights in Philadelphia, Miss. — the same town where three civil rights workers had been murdered. With that in mind, I was a little surprised to see that John McCain was kicking off a major campaign tour yesterday in Meridian, Miss., not far from Reagan’s kick-off point.
Another instance of the GOP’s Southern Strategy? It’s possible, but a closer look suggests McCain picked the Mississippi town for family-history reasons.
Sen. John McCain kicked off his “biographical tour” Monday morning, seeking to connect key moments in his life to his policy agenda. The first stop was Meridian, Miss., home to McCain Field, a naval air station named for his grandfather and namesake, John Sidney McCain, who was a four-star admiral. Mississippi is also the ancestral home of the McCain family, though as the son of a naval officer, the future senator moved frequently and had no real childhood home.
To say that McCain was laying it on thick would be an understatement. His campaign is billing this as a “biographical tour,” but if yesterday was any indication, McCain is actually making this a “look-who-I’m-related-to tour.”
He seems to be the first candidate in recent memory to make family history highly relevant to his campaign. In yesterday’s speech, McCain noted, “Many McCains left here as young men to pursue careers in what has long been our family’s chosen profession — the United States armed forces … We trace my family’s martial heritage back to the Revolution. A distant ancestor served on General Washington’s staff, and it seems my ancestors fought in most wars in our nation’s history. All were soldiers — both Henry and Bill McCain were West Pointers — until my grandfather broke family tradition and entered the Naval Academy in 1902. He was succeeded there by my father, then me and then my son.”
And, in case anyone missed all of these subtleties, the McCain campaign released a new web video about the senator’s family history, with an emphasis on those who became military leaders.
Restrained it is not.
I’m not quite sure what to make of all of this. Voters may very well take into consideration McCain’s military service in the 1960s when deciding who to support, but it’s hard to imagine anyone factoring in McCain’s lineage — the senator has every reason to be proud of his family history, but it’s not quite as relevant to the country as, say, McCain’s healthcare plan.
Ed Kilgore had a very sharp post on this, noting that he couldn’t recall “any major speech by a president or presidential candidate that was devoted so thoroughly to the subject of the speaker’s own family background — not just the immediate family … but the Family Heritage.”
Judging by his age, I hope someone has his epilogue on stand-by!
You aren't fooling anyone McCain.
Limbaugh has been raging on you for years and the south isn't going to forget it.
For me, the suspense is over. I'm already getting used to the concept of "president McCain."
The exit polls will of course show that race or gender had nothing to do with it, it'll all be about "Obama is inexperienced," or "Hillary is shrill," but that's just a happy little story people tell themselves. They really just don't feel comfortable having a black guy or a woman in charge.
And McCain is a 'straight talker.' He can 'reach across the aisle' and 'get things done.' We knows this because we see it on the news, day after day after day.
With Nader doing the Huey Long strategy (drain off enough votes so a republican wins and fucks things up so bad they'll elect you next time) and the MSM's man-crush on Mr. Integrity, it's a done deal.
I hope the 'other McCains' that chose to serve were better pilots. He crashed like what...four...five?
Addendum to comment 4:
It also appears that the McCain family has been on the Govt/DOD dole for generations. Including full health coverage.
Is he going to resurrect his dad and grand dad to endorse him? If he does that, I'm going to have to vote for him.
Anyone know why McCain didn't start this "biographical tour" in Panama?
The fawning coverage of McCain is disgusting. It reminds me of the Gipper days.
shera @ 7:
Sr. moment?
Roots, the honky version.
Reagan cracker redux
patrick f cleary @ 11:
You mean the same Reagan who won two terms?? That Reagan?
The reason McCain's doing this is because (duh) it works.
john doheny @ 3:
Of course, what John Doheny neglects to mention is that Ralph Nader is the only candidate who is for the total and immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq, the only candidate who is calling for cutting the bloated military budget, the only candidate calling for changing U.S. policy in the Middle East, the only candidate calling for an adoption of a single payer health care system in this country, the only candidate rejecting nuclear power for solar energy, the only candidate calling for the impeachment of Bush and Cheney, the only candidate calling for the repeal of the Taft-Hartley anti-union law.
What alleged liberals like John Doheny may want to ask themselves is why is it that the last thing that the Democrats and the Republicans want to see is for Nader to be included in the debates this summer? Could it be that they are terrified that Nader would expose them for being the phonies and frauds that they actually are? Not to worry, since it is most probable that both parties will once again join together with the major networks and cable stations [as they did in 2000] to make sure that a third party voice like Nader's will never be seen and heard on the corporate airwaves. After all, the last thing that the two major parties wish to have happen, even in an alleged democracy like the United States, is for America to see and hear the views of a candidate who is not bought and controlled by the major corporations, such as a Clinton or an Obama or a McCain.
In the latest stop on his biographical trip down memory lane, presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain returned to his old high school in Alexandria, Virginia. As it turns out, that may have been an odd choice for a man trying to reintroduce himself to the American people. Years after leaving the august halls of Episcopal High School, John McCain became a Baptist.
Even more curious is McCain's shifting positions when it comes what he religion now considers himself to be. In June 2007, McClatchy reported, "McCain still calls himself an Episcopalian." But as the 2008 South Carolina approached, McCain had a change of heart as he appealed to the Palmetto's State's massive evangelical base. By September 2007, McCain announced he had in fact switched teams: "It plays a role in my life. By the way, I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist."
For the details, see:
"New Baptist John McCain Returns to His Old Episcopal High School."
What? He comes from a long line of war mongers!
Look, on the one hand you have McCain descended from a fine southern military family, and on the opposite side is Barak Hussain Obama, originating from somewhere in bowls of the dark continent. Who are patriotic Americans going to vote for?
rk @ 16:
Obama!
The people who say that the present Hillary/Obama fight is helping McCain make me laugh. McCain is a old, tired, out dated, Reagan wannabe(dementia included) with a disgusting touch of Bush war loving and neocon sensitivity. When the fight is over and the Dems take one good look at Johnny, this shit will be so over.
rk Says, McCain is more of the same. And I never question people patriotism. McCain's military service may be impressive, but I'll stick with the Demos. And by the way, Barack is American.
CD @ 9:
Nah, He doesn't have any family that is from there and still living there. Besides, Panama is just too far from Philadelphia, MS. Republicans wouldn't hear the dogwhistle all the way down there like they would from a town 40 f'ing miles away.
Good grief, the things you read here.
rk @ 16:
The man who can give a speech that people listen to and suddenly find themselves transcending narrow-minded conceptions of who we are as Americans.
Am I missing something, or isn't this line of self-presentation a direct attack on Obama's background--his NOT having the national and religious heritage of "true Americans"?
Didn't John's father the admiral help cover up the and white wash the Israeli attack on the intelligence ship USS Liberty and killed 34 U.S. servicemen and wounded at least 173.
John McCain has been in two wars, Vietnam and Iraq where the US has overwhelming firepower and advantages and eventually lost. McCain seems to love being on the losing sides in wars.
I hope he didn't leave out his younger brother Lucas "the Rifleman" McCain, or his distant cousin John "Die Hard" McClane?
McCain will be crushed in the debates, whether it's Hillary or Obama.
dennis @ 20:
My idea was funnier.
Huston we may have a problem.
http://www.neshobacountyfair.org/history.html
TypicallyWhiteJohnny2Bad @ 12:
Duh, you mean it worked...as in a long time ago. McCain, who is just as forgetful and nutty as Reagan, is in a time warp....just like you(another crazy Johnny). McCain, Nader, take your pick. Two old has been's who don't know that their time is long up. Stop embarrassing yourself by suggesting a 72 year mentally unfit neocon can convince 70% of Americans that this dumb, horrific, costly war is a great idea and the economy isn't that bad ,can be Prez.
P.D. @ 25:
Debates that will more than likely not include a third party candidate such as a Ralph Nader. Yet the United States claims that it is a democracy. This is somewhat reminiscent of the novel Animal Farm, where two legs are good, four legs are bad. Here, a democracy is good as long as it represented by the Democrats and Republicans and not by any outside voices which might have the temerity to actually criticize the two major parties in front of a national television audience. That, of course, is the last thing that the corporate media and the two major parties will ever allow to happen.
Very true Erroll, and well said.
His entire life has been based on family connections - why stop now?
TypicallyWhiteJohnny2Bad @ 12:
No, the Iraq thing wasn't going so well for him so he went to plan B.
Great, another privileged family scion with Daddy and GrandDaddy issues...
Captain Kangaroo @ 32:
Maybe it was plan C. The economy tour wasn't getting off the ground either.
Captain Kangaroo @ 34:
Or maybe it was plan D. The healthcare thing is going nowhere also.
TypicallyWhiteJohnny2Bad @ 12:
Duh, but I had hoped that the south had softened....sorry I am such an A hole
TypicallyWhiteJohnny2Bad @ 12:
Yeah, that Reagan. You know, the one whose budget deficits set new records, just like Shrub; the one who supplied arms to the Contras in exchange for the hostages held in Iran until after the election and then lied about it; the one who withheld the nature of his medical condition from the American public; the Reagan that had the most members of any Administration indicted, until Shrub got appointed; the one who supplied the WMD to Saddam through his henchmen, Rummy. Yeah, that Reagan.
Now that you mention it , I see the parallels.
rk @ 16:
What are you saying, that they don't have light bulbs in Africa? And what kind of 'bowls' are you talking about-salad bowls, cereal bowls?
Your ignorance and racism are not only showing, they're center stage.
Oh, and if you're going to use Obama's middle name, at least learn how to spell it, although from the display above I hold out little hope.
Washington D.C. (AF) - Vice President Dick Cheney announced today the results of a secret search that has been underway since John McCain sewed up the Republican nomination for the 2008 presidential race. Since that time, Vice President Cheney has been the chair of John McCain’s vice-presidential search committee, and today has announced the results. In a surprising result, the search committee has selected its own chair, Vice President Cheney, to run as vice president.
In announcing his selection as vice president on the McCain/Cheney ticket, Dick Cheney said “So? Of course I’m the best candidate. I have nearly eight years experience as Vice President, who else can make that claim?”
Reached at his home in Tennessee, former two-term vice president Al Gore sighed heavily, but declined to comment when informed of Vice President Cheney’s qualifications.
Shares on Wall Street surged at news of Vice President Cheney’s selection as Vice President under McCain. “It’s good to know that there will be a continuity of the policies that have strengthened the nation,” said an oil-company executive on conditions of anonymity, “Legislators are expensive, but Vice Presidents are outrageously priced. I’m glad we won’t have to shell out for another one till 2016. I have bills to buy like everyone else, and I have to purchase a college for my kid, so this takes the pressure off.”
When asked whether a Vice President can serve four consecutive terms under the Constitution, Vice President Cheney told this reporter, “Go f^$@ yourself.”
snark!
Happy April Fools' Day everyone!
btw, here's a real winner I heard today on NPR!
http://mouemagazine.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/tax-rebait-and-switch/
here are two more real 'gems'
http://firedoglake.com/2008/04/01/breaking-bush-to-seek-third-term/
http://mouemagazine.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/tax-rebait-and-switch/
WHO THE FUCKING WHO CARE MCCAIN WAS, IS OR HOW. I don't care were he came from. What fucking idiotic bitch gave birth to him. A lot of Americans are starving, most Americans are about to loss their home and there is no health care. WHAT AND HOW WILL HE FIXED THE MESS THAT AMERICANS ARE IN
What good is being safe in a country with a "patriotic" leader when there's no food in tables to feed children, no health care no roof on average American. Why do we need to be safe if there is no future for this country anyway. Are they even aware of Maslow's theory. Hey grampa how can you court the altruistic side of the American people to vote for you when they don't have a stable foundation to hold that part of them.
john doheny @ 3:
funny !i figure that too!!!
wasn't Mccain last in his class? at the military academy? also I heard that he was a real party animal when he was younger much like chimpy
This is aimed right at Obama's weak point: he's too different. McCain is highlighting his down-home, 'normal American' credentials as a contrast to Obama's exotic personal history. Hell, they tarred Kerry with the fact he could speak French, as if that made him too foreign and exotic. They’re going to have a heyday with Obama. Liberals don't get it: fly-over Americans just won't vote for someone who's too 'different', and their standard of conformity is quite narrow.
please and again.....
HIS NAME IS...... JOHN "THE REPUBLICAN" MCCAIN.........
STOP LETTING HIM DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM HIS PARTY!!!!!!!!
Brutalist Buddha @ 44:
This is what I'm thinking too. Obama is no doubt a stronger candidate and even seems to be attracting Republican voters while McCain OTOH promises four more years of unpopular Bush policies. So Obama would probably win easily if it werent for that American xenophobia. McCain is hoping enough voters will perceive Obama as too foreign, too black, too muslim, too African or whatever to become President. So naturally McCain will highlight his own long all American heritage
Woodguy
Calm down! The post was meant to be sarcastic! By the way Africa used to be referred to as the dark continent-it had nothing to do with electricity.
So he comes from a long line of warmongers and never saw a war he didn't like. Under achieved in comparsion to his ancestors as he never made admirial. Graduated 5th from the bottom in his Annapolis class. Succeeded in losing his aircraft in a war against a country with virtually no air defensees and now thinks this somehow makes him qualified to be president. McCain is a hot tempered screwup. The sooner you yanks stop salivating over the glory of war, the better for the rest of the world, your national security and your ability to afford things like health care and education for every citizen.
This is all the old man has. He doesn't have any ideas for America's future, or even for facing the challenges of America's present. All he can do is appeal to a dead past and hope it's enough. It's almost sad that this is what the Republic party has deteriorated into.
There was a navy when his grandfather was alive??
VietVet67 @ 50:
Dugout canoes
What a douchebag. Of course the press will fawn all over him. This morning NPR was allegedly doing an analysis of democrats in Pennsylvania, supposedly looking at both sides. I managed to listen to two "Democrats" who ended up pimping for McCain. The tone of the NPR report was that Democrats should not be voting for Obama or Clinton, but should instead be supporting McCain. NPR wasn't doing news or analysis, they were shamelessly whoring themselves out to McCain and trying to manipulate the listeners into buying into their bullshit. I switched channels after the second "democrat" had his say.
NPR needs to be fumigated.
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