2
Mar
2009
RNC Chairman vs. Rush Limbaugh
Today it appears our buddy Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee has made it into the news!
Limbaugh and Steele at a recent Fundraiser
He noted on CNN’s “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News” that he was the leader of the Republican party, not infamous radio host Rush Limbaugh. He also took the time to mention that Rush is an ‘entertainer,’ whose show is ‘incendiary’ and ‘ugly.’
Ouch.
Clearly a slip of the tongue, we’ll see how Rush Limbaugh responds! Rush, remember, is always looking for ways to get himself back in the news. News stories drive up his number of listeners – and that’s always a good thing!
The question is though: is Michael Steele really the head of the Republican Party? Of course, he’s the official head – but perhaps someone else is really in charge? In the time since President George W. Bush has stepped down, we’ve seen a scramble for power in the Republican party. Who came out ahead, if anyone? Is it Rush? Palin? Rick Perry? Someone in Congress?
8
Aug
2008
On Faith
Which candidate would you rather go to Church with? Be in a Bible Study with? Pray with?
These are serious questions that pollsters are asking Americans.
Religion and faith will play a huge role in the presidential election. The role of faith came to the forefront with the rise of George W. Bush to the White House in 2000. The Democratic Party appeared inept when it came to issues of faith.
However, Barack Obama appears comfortable talking about religion and faith. On the other hand, McCain holds his faith close to his heart and rarely speaks of it. They will come together on August 16th for a forum on faith in a California Mega-Church to discuss the issue.
Is it a requirement for McCain have to speak frequently on faith? John McCain’s source of spirituality may be different than yours, but is that a good reason to not vote for a presidential candidate? Many say yes – many say no. I guess that’s why we all get a vote.
TIME Magazine features an essay on faith from each presidential candidate. These are worth reading.
6
Aug
2008
Flip-Flops aren’t just for the beach!
In the 2004 presidential campaign John Kerry’s (D) presidential bid was almost entirely destroyed by accusations that he was a ‘flip-flopper.’ This came mostly after he said about the war in Iraq, “I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it…”
It appeared that 1) he couldn’t make his mind up, and 2) he changed his positions for political gain. Kerry did not look Presidential. He looked weak. To mock him, people dressed up like flip-flops, George W. Bush repeated the accusation, and it stuck. It stuck good. John Kerry lost.
This election both John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (R) have been accused of being ‘flip-flopers.’
What both of them have going against them is their time in the U.S. Senate. A body that only gets things done when Senators compromise and change their positions on issues. Unfortunately for John McCain, he has been in the Senate many, many more years than Barack Obama. This allows people to dig up times where he has changed his position and ‘flopped.’
Politico, along with PoliFact, has an excellent analysis that lays out the major issues that both presidential candidates (especially Obama) have ‘flip-flopped’ on. They rate each ‘flop’ on a ‘flip-o-meter‘ (Ratings of No-Flip, Half-Flip, and Full-Flip) However, the mere existence of a ‘meter’ seems to mock any charges of ‘flip-flopping.’ Politico itself notes:
[T]he presidential race has featured so many alleged flip-flops by either Obama or John McCain … that the charge itself is in danger of losing some of its potency. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to determine on which issues the candidates have actually reversed their positions, and whether their shifts were indeed motivated by political expediency (the implication behind most flip-flop charges) or changing circumstances.
We’ll see if charges of ‘flip-flopping’ resonate like the did in 2004, but I somehow don’t think they will.
13
Jul
2008
Are We ‘Whiners’ or Just ‘Bitter’?
Phil Gramm, former Senator from the great state of Texas, told the Washington Times that country was filled with “whiners” and the United States is merely in a “mental recession.” Senator Gramm is one of John McCain’s economic advisers.
If Senator Gramm’s comment on the economy is correct or not isn’t the point. Remember, politics is about perception.
This is quite difficult news for the millions of people across the country who are struggling with high gas prices and an increasingly difficult mortgage crisis.
However, on the other side, in April Senator Obama said many people in small-town America are “bitter” and “cling to guns or religion … as a way to explain their frustrations.”
Which also is a quite difficult comment for people to hear. Since April, this comment has created a perception by some on the right that Obama is a elitist snob, as seen in this mock-poster on the right. (More on this subject to come later)
Both comments make the average American feel looked down upon, naive, and a little stupid.
However, forget about what you think about each of these comments. What really matters in the long run is:
Which comment hurts the respective campaign’s chances at election more?