Posted on 08/23/2008 7:04:54 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
John McCain largely has avoided hot button social issues to the consternation of some in the conservative base. He has ignored the brewing controversy over Barack Obama’s Born Alive Infants legislative voting record and he hasn’t made much comment on the highly successful (for him) Rick Warren forum. That all seemed to end with Saturday’s radio address.
First, he went straight at Obama’s “above my pay grade” response to Warren’s question about when life begins/”babies get rights.” He zeroed in on this particular answer, but he also broadened it to make a larger point about Obama’s candor and character. McCain explained:
"Here was a candidate for the presidency of the United States, asked for his position on one of the central moral and legal questions of our time, and this was the best he could offer: It’s above his pay grade. He went on to assure his interviewer that there is a, quote, “moral and ethical element to this issue.” Americans expect more of their leaders. There seems to be a pattern here in my opponent’s approach to many hard issues. Whether it’s the surge in Iraq that has brought us near to victory, or the issue of campaign reform, or the question of offshore drilling, Senator Obama’s speeches can be impressive. But when it’s time for straight answers, clear conviction, and decisive action, suddenly all of these responsibilities are — well, as he puts it, “above my pay grade.” As mottos of leadership go, it doesn’t exactly have the ring of “the buck stops here.”
But McCain didn’t stop there. He explained (to those who may have been deprived of any meaningful MSM coverage) the Born Alive Infants legislative history and then argued:
"At Saddleback, he assured a reporter that he’d have voted “yes” on that bill if it had contained language similar to the federal version of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Even though the language of both the state and federal bills was identical, Senator Obama said people were, quote, “lying” about his record. When that record was later produced, he dropped the subject but didn’t withdraw the slander. And now even Senator Obama’s campaign has conceded that his claims and accusations were false."
Why has McCain decided to go after Obama on these points, and why now? Several reasons, I think. First, he is forcing the MSM to cover issues they don’t want to and haven’t covered except in passing. The combination of Edwards-itis (the disinclination to cover bad stories about Democrats) and VP-mania has resulted in practically no public discussion and coverage outside the blogosphere and conservative media on the Born Alive Infants issue. McCain is upping the ante and putting a spotlight on it. Second, McCain has figured out that these are issues of moral character which go beyond pro-choice and pro-life divisons. How forthright is Obama when it comes to tough issues? How honest has he been about his past record? He thinks voters may conclude ” not very.” Third, he believes that Obama’s positions are so extreme that even generally pro-choice voters will recoil if presented with some basic facts about his opponent. (”His extreme advocacy in favor of partial birth abortion and his refusal to provide medical care for babies surviving abortion should be of grave concern to reasonable people of goodwill on both sides of this issue.”) And finally, the McCain camp has every intention of doing whatever they can to rain on the Democrats Convention. This is one of many salvos I expect to see this upcoming week. They don’t intend to give Obama a free pass.
Will this work? Time will tell, but when the MSM is avoiding issues that shed doubt on the character, veracity and purported “moderation” of a Democrat, chances are that his Republican opponent would be wise to pursue them.
Reporter to Barack: “Is it above Michele’s Pay Grade and could you elaborate on that?”
I am more impressed with McCain each day. Hit Obama hard.
Hit ‘em again...hit ‘em again....harder, harder!
“Above your pay grade?” If somebody is not ready the day he starts the move upwards, to be ABLE to make the decisions when they arise and live with the consequences, then that person is not ready for movement to ANY “pay grade”. The copy clerk in the order department may not be ready to make the decisions that the CEO might, but if ever he wants to become CEO, he had better be practicing every day to make the tough calls and stick with them when they arise on whatever level.
The Peter Principle only works to its fullest effect when you are operating at some point BELOW your level of incompetence. Once you reach the level of your incompetence or beyond, you become a useless ornament, “kicked upstairs”, outside any serious decision-making process.
Good, I was hoping McCain would attack along this line.
Is there any higher authority then the President of the United States to make monumental decisions?
If President Obama (heh heh) will not make a decision on the greatest moral quagmire facing this nation (abortion), then how can he make decisions on national security, budget, health care, social security, or any of the major problems facing this nation?
To blow off the subject abortion with a cheap joke, is the perfect example of an elitist, out of touch with the common citizen.
I have many questions for Senator Obama, but on top of the list is:
Senator Obama, as the abortion issue is “above your pay grade”, what pay grade is required to get an answer out of you?
.....Bob
Well written piece. B. Hussein Marx has tried desperately to hide his true world view, but the “Hope and Change” smokescreen is rapidly failing him.
>> this was the best he could offer: It’s above his pay grade
I’m happy to see John McCain taking it to the Magic “O”.
On the other hand, give Obama a break — he’s just telling the truth.
The serious questions ARE above his pay grade. He’ll have to go to the Big Guy** for the answers, because he doesn’t have the authoritay to answer them.
** George Soros
>> Is there any higher authority then the President of the United States to make monumental decisions?
Of course there is, if that president were to be Barry Hussein.
He has been purchased at a great price. Someone has the markers on him, and they’ll want to call them in soon after he’s elected (God forbid).
Where would Obama be today if Martin Luther King Jr. had decided that ending Jim Crow was above his pay grade?
marking for later
I think that’s the best post I’ve ever EVER seen.
I think this answer was BO’s equivalent to voting present. He didn’t want to take a stand because it would cost him one way or the other.
The truth of the matter is there is no guessing about what he really thinks - life starts when the parent wants it to and not before. But BO didn’t want to say that.
Truly frightening that this leftist liar might make it to the most powerful job in the world.
As a conservative, I think the Presidency is above Obama’s pay grade.
Something tells me the Founders would agree.
Of course this decision is above his pay grade. It’s at George Soros’ and William Buffett’s pay grade.
Thinking is above Obama’s pay grade.
Honesty is above Obama’s pay grade.
Decency, humility, and compassion are above Obama’s pay grade.
He’s an unbright, dishonest, heartless, mean, arrogant, condescneding person. And that’s his good side.
McCain should offer to house George Obama in one of his homes. It would point out the utter cruelty of BO, who can’t even help is wn half brother.
McCain, Vietnam, and a cross in the dirt
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