Posted on 10/03/2008 10:33:47 AM PDT by mojito
Here is the big question of the moment that many GOPers are asking: Why is John McCain not tearing into Barack Obama and the Dems on the huge role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Community Reinvestment Act in the financial crisis on Wall Street? In fact, the biggest criticism by conservatives of Sarah Palin's debate performance last night was that she had the opportunity to talk about Fannie/Freddie and the CRA but instead criticized the role of "predatory lenders."
Here is what Team McCain is telling me: Expect McCain to make the case on television, but don't look for him to turn to Obama in the next debate, point his finger, and say something like this (courtesy of the Ace of Spades HQ blog):
"I stayed away from making these partisan attacks, even though you lied ridiculously about me and your own attempts at 'reform.' I held back, because partisan attacks—even truthful ones—would harm our country and reduce the chances of getting a vital bill passed. Well, the bill is now passed. I put country first. You didn't, and you lied on top of that. And now—only now that this crisis has been dealt with, to the extent we can—I'm going to give you a bit of straight-talk about Fannie, Freddie, my attempts to reform it, and your attempts to block reform on behalf of your big donors and friends in ACORN."
Nope, that is not going to happen.
Why not? 1) It is a complicated argument, and McCain is not good at making complicated arguments, not even about earmarks. (Note, additionally, his lack of defense of the war in Iraq during his debate with Obama. Amazing.)
2) There is a racial component to criticism of the Community Reinvestment Act that can make it sound like you are scapegoating minorities for Wall Street's problems.
3) The campaign believes McCain's time is better spent talking about taxes and energy and healthcare. Really.
There is a newish TV ad about Fannie and Freddie. You tell me if it makes the point conservatives desperately want McCain to make. I don't think it explicitly or aggressively connects the dots the way activists crave. Here is the transcript:
ANNCR: John McCain fought to rein in Fannie and Freddie.
The Post says: McCain "pushed for stronger regulation"..."while Mr. Obama was notably silent."
But, Democrats blocked the reforms.
Loans soared.
Then, the bubble burst.
And, taxpayers are on the hook for billions.
Bill Clinton knows who is responsible.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: "I think the responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."
ANNCR: You're right, Mr. President. It didn't have to happen.
JOHN McCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.
My bottom line: The McCain campaign is underestimating how absolutely furious conservatives are that free markets, and by extension Reaganomics and the last 25 years of American economic policy, are getting the blame for the housing and credit crisis. A real morale killer, they tell me. Over and over. Every day.
Enough with the bipartisan BS. For someone who asked the American people to, “fight with me” at the convention, John McCain isn’t even fighting for himself against Barack Obama’s lies.
Sarah will be wasted if McCain blows the elction.
She will be Mondale or Dole, if McCain does not fight back.
ACORN pushes us back to 1775. All of our progress over 200 plus years will be erased if Obama wins.
As I have said before, neither congress critter, McCain nor Obama, are worth a bucket of warm spit. Palin, on the other hand, is.
Goldstate, if McCain does not fight back, and defers the hard stuff to the 527’s, then he does not deserve to pe POTUS.
McCain is the only one that has acess to the American People due to a bias media.
It is all him, and by next week we will know if he is fighting.
Why, why, why,
Why, why, why,
Why ask why anymore?
He voted for the bailout. The wall street money is more important to him than America.
What more does he need to say or do?
Well, up until this moment, I was resigned to holding my nose and voting for McCain, who had redeemed himself somewhat by his choice for a running mate. Now, after the passage of the “bailout”, he has lost my vote entirely. Screw the congress, and McCain. Sure, he will buck his own party.. too bad he cannot figure out whose side he is supposed to be on cause he is not worth a damn at bucking the democrat party. What the crisis amounted to was credit for people who were not qualified for credit was going to dry up. Well, boo hoo. People who are unqualified for credit should not be getting credit. But thanks to the congress, banks will now be able to continue giving loans to people who cannot afford it, so we will get to revisit this issue in about 10 years when they need another bailout.
Hope oua all at least got a reach around, cause we just got screwed.
“2) There is a racial component to criticism of the Community Reinvestment Act that can make it sound like you are scapegoating minorities for Wall Street’s problems. “
So what? Most minorities aren’t voting for McRino anyway, so why does he care? The truth on this suject will gain him votes among independents who blame the Repubs for this mess.
Palin is showing hersefl a far better campaigned than McNutjob. I wish I could vote for HER for President instead of being forced to vote for McNutjob.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Political correctness remains potent. RNC and McCain are on the same page. IMHO, their perception is that Obama is too good at playing the race card for them to go thereand if they do, they will lose voters in the middle.
Attacking Frank and Dobbs for running freddie and fannie into the ground.. makes McLaim complicit in it somewhat.. since he recieved some money money from them..
If McLaim came CLEAN, THEN he could attack them on the SCAM.. but then if a shadow gov't is running this gov't.. wellllll then..
Its the democrats TURN to be President.. AND THEY WILL BE..
Afraid he'll lose the Black vote?? /s
Her in NC every commercial break on the radio station I listen to is O'Bama, O'Bama ads.
O'Bama's TV ads portray him as reasonable, middle of the road.
McCain had better pull up some of Barry's videos from the primary days showing his true left wing self.
Some of his kooky quotes and throw them in his face and in TV ads or McCain is going to lose,
Besides, once the subprime train got rolling, greedy mortgage lenders were making loans to anybody who could sign their name regardless of race.
We just approved more than what was spent in Iraq on bailing out the consequences of BAD GOVERNMENT POLICY. If you can’t directly tell the voters about it then you are neither a reformer nor should you be running to lead that government.
This is the biggest issue of the election and it is a sitting duck waiting to be taken. I want to scream.
And saying that Obama was the second highest recipient of Fannie/Freddie campaign contributions, after Dodd, makes it even easier.
What will it take to pierce these thick heads in the McCain campaign so that a little light can shine through?
Mccain is running for miss congeniality.He believes he can have comity with Barry Hussein.
This is why the MSM selected Mccain for us.
He had best be more worried about losing his base. I know of at least two (my wife and myself) which he just lost.
I think that's the real reason. The MSM instantly and deliberately paints any criticism of any program intended to benefit any minority group, no matter how tangentially, as a racist statement.
One may not criticize welfare capitalism in the MSM's presence - it's the holiest of sacred cows. That concept is what they are really in the tank for, rather than support of either political party - it's just that the Dems strongly support it, too so there is a natural affinity.
McCain probably figures he can't win that one, especially since although the CRA may have been a catalyst for the problem, it was the banks who took it twenty steps too far by greatly expanding securitization of mortgages and relaxing lending standards to near zero.
The Democratic Party's use of Fannie Mae as its Golden Parachute Retirement Home for loyal political cronies should, however, be talked about - loudly.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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