Posted on 02/07/2008 7:29:44 AM PST by jdm
Critics of John McCain complain that the Republican frontrunner for the presidential nomination attacks his friends with more vigor than his opponents. It certainly seems that way at times, especially during the debates over immigration and the BCRA. However, McCain has gone after Democrats with only the thinnest veneer of comity in the recent past -- and especially after one in particular, as CapQ reader Stefan Claypool reminds.
In fact, two years ago yesterday, McCain wrote an open letter to Barack Obama regarding his participation in McCain's lobbying-reform efforts. Obama had publicly and privately assured McCain of support, but then Obama abruptly withdrew from the discussions. An incensed McCain fired this shot across the freshman's bow:
I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere. When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership’s preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions. I’m embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won’t make the same mistake again. ...
But I understand how important the opportunity to lead your party’s effort to exploit this issue must seem to a freshman Senator, and I hold no hard feelings over your earlier disingenuousness. Again, I have been around long enough to appreciate that in politics the public interest isn’t always a priority for every one of us. Good luck to you, Senator.
The entire letter derisively chastises Obama for double-talk about being an agent of change. McCain had wanted to build a bipartisan solution for what the Democrats eventually forced through on their own -- and the result was a reform bill that didn't reform much. Obama had campaigned on this very issue and at first wanted to participate, but it became clear that Democrats wanted to ride the "culture of corruption" theme to victory in 2006. Obama withdrew, and McCain made an early diagnosis of Obama's commitment to change in politics.
The condescension and scorn McCain uses may sound familiar to conservatives, but in this instance employed in a different direction. If nothing else, this letter shows that McCain can attack Democrats when prompted. And it could provide some answer to Obama's soaring but intellectual anemic oratory about "change" in a general election.
Yep, McCain playing god, makes LISTS and gets even.
It would be funny if McCain did win and then we’ll see how much his friends across the aisle support him.
The more Obummer gets called on his phony rhetoric, the better.
While I do think Pres. Bush could use an occasional injection of sarcasm, it isn’t appealing in regular use. McCain has bigger flaws but he does go too heavy on the sarcasm. This will be characterized as meanness by the media; if not something even scarier.
***It would be funny if McCain did win and then we’ll see how much his friends across the aisle support him.***
One thing for certain: McCain carries grudges like a camel carries water - unseen, unused but always in reserve.
That might be his saving grace with Republicans - having an opportunity for vengeance on the Dems who double-crossed him.
“I’m embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble”
This is excellent. No one gushes more rhetoric than Obama. And one thing McCain doesn’t do is engage in rhetoric.
OK, time to show my age here ... but has anyone else noticed a similarity between McCain and Nixon.
They both made lists of thier enemies.
They both get even with thier enemies when it is least appropriate to do so.
One destroyed the Republican party and gave us Carter. The other is about to destroy it and give us Hillary or Obama.
No, I remember it too.
And I remember Nixon’s comment about not hating those who hate you, because you end up dsetrying yourself.
No analogy is perfect, and there are many differences, but I can see why you thought of it.
destroying
yes, I should have used spell check
“John McCain has raised 40 million dollars this ENTIRE campaign.”
Amazing. Mitt has spent much more than that of his own money, which is probably now in the 50 million dollar range.
The entire basis of Obama’s campaign is that he can work with Republicans and get things done.
If it becomes evident that John McCain, aka the “good Republican,” Mr Independent, the guy who can work with Feingold and Kennedy, thinks Obama is a phoney and won’t work with him, then what? If Obama’s not on good terms with McCain, what hope does he have of working with guys like McConnell?
Do not underestimate also the fact that what sounds so inspiring now won’t sound as inspiring in 9 months when you’ve heard it 50 more times, and the Rezko and Exelon stories start to circulate. I don’t care about fundraising or crowds at rallies, I take it as an article of faith that in a McCain-Obama GE, McCain wins. The only thing that will derail that is if conservatives force McCain to publicly adopt the Bush agenda wholesale. If that happens the GOP is done. I’m not saying don’t force McCain to reflect the party whose nomination he wants; I’m saying don’t make it public lol.
BUMP what you said. I sincerely hope the GOP has the guts to go after that oily scumbag with everything its got. I am not, however, holding my breath. Gutlessness seems to be the order of the day with the GOP.
Of course any conservative can appreciate Obama getting ripped for two-facedness.
Doesn’t mean I suddenly like McCain, though.
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