McCain’s Straight Talk Express Takes Every Fork In The Road?
While “swiftboating” seems to have been the catch phrase of the 2004 election, I suspect that “YouTubing” could become the defining term for the 2008 presidential election. Given the following clip, it looks like opponents of John McCain have launched the first virulent viral video.
It looks like it won’t take a swiftboating to highlight John McCain’s propensity to parse his words for political expediency. As a matter of fact, I suspect that the catch phrase for the 2008 presidential election may turn out to be YouTubing…and there’s little doubt the following video may be the first salvo in a concerted effort to redefine John McCain as a man who is unable to choose which fork in the road best suits his presidential aspirations.
McCain’s short temper and his dogged determination to claim ownership of all that can be construed as honorable and high-minded doesn’t always endear him to the impartial observer. Unfortunately for the Arizona Senator, it can easily be interpreted as arrogance and insolence…especially when the video footage frequently confirms the inconsistencies he’s been forced to adopt in hopes of creating a broader appeal in November.
At its worst, the McCain indignation only enhances the perception that his “grumpy old man” persona is a natural accompaniment to his advancing age. If that impression takes hold, McCain may lose any experience advantage he would have otherwise been able to espouse. If his coming exchanges with the Democratic nominee result in more YouTube moments…moments that appear to show a cranky man with a waning grasp of his prior utterances…he’ll quickly pigeonhole himself as the silver-haired senior with a surly certainty that cannot be sustained.
Should his opponent astutely position himself as someone willing to give respectful deference to age while refusing to relent on those matters of import to the voter, McCain will quickly appear to be a relic worthy of respect who has also eclipsed his capacity to command the issues that concern the citizenry. If this scenario begins to unfold, I would speculate that McCain’s testy temperament will work to his detriment…while also allowing a younger Barack Obama to position himself as the symbol of a changing political climate.
Daniel, this is indeed an interesting document.
And it will be more interesting to see how it and other similar evidence of mccain’s vulernabilty plays out in the campaign.
For sure a generational divide is being created, especially with obama’s surging among a younger group of voters.
For my generation — over 70 — it’s still mostly TV and newspapers for info, meaning that a younger generation will pick this up on the youtube, but my generation will only see it if obama’s campaign puts it on the tube.
As eugene robinson — WaPo assoc editor and commentator on msnbc — says, “there is no database for predicting how the chemistry will work with the voters this fall”. it is something that we’ll only know in november.
Obama’s staff seems to be very rapid in counter-attacking mccain, including picking up on his gaffes. Surely they have already picked up on this one.