At the L.A. Weekly, Matt Welch looks at the unlikely resurrection of John McCain's campaign.
January 31, 2008
At the L.A. Weekly, Matt Welch looks at the unlikely resurrection of John McCain's campaign.
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"Here's the funny thing about independent voters: They still
love John McCain, think he's a straight talker. No matter how many
times he claims to run a positive-only campaign on the same day he
releases an attack ad; no matter how many ways he violates the
spirit of his own campaign-finance legislation (do yourself a favor
and Google "The Reform Institute"); no matter how unconvincingly he
stammers his way through wanting to make permanent the same tax
cuts he eviscerated in 2001 and 2003; no matter how inaccurately he
slimes Romney and others for insufficient support of "our troops";
no matter how many immigration bills bearing his name he now
opposes; and no matter how many times he confesses to manipulative,
ambition-driven lies in his own damned books, independents still
come out for their maverick - 42 percent of them in open-primary
South Carolina, and 39 percent in New Hampshire."
Any sour grapes there Matt?
McCain is every bit the festering boil on the ass of American politics you say he is Matt. But I think it unlikely He'll beat HRC in the general election. Especially if, as it now appears, the Taliban re-open for business in Afghanistan.
McCain says "I hate the gooks" much more recently than the
newsletters that weren't written by Paul...why no articles on
McCain beign a racist?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/02/18/MN32194.DTL
Matt, do you think those independent voters who seem to be under the delusion that McCain is somehow anti-war will wake up during the general election?
Any sour grapes there Matt?
Oh hell no, there isn't. It's certainly in my personal interest
that anti-war, anti-Bush and independent voters continue to prefer
John McCain by 2 to 1 in the primaries. But it's also in my
professional interest to help them understand who they're voting
for.
I think it unlikely He'll beat HRC in the general
election.
Nice capital "H".
Hillary would certainly rally disaffected conservatives to hold
their noses....
Matt, do you think those independent voters who seem to be
under the delusion that McCain is somehow anti-war will wake up
during the general election?
First, don't discount the possibility that many of them know
McCain's record perfectly well, but they just kinda like him.
Second, if Obama wins the nomination the (nine-month) election will
largely be about the War, so yes, I think people will have a bit
better of an idea. If Hillary wins, who knows?
I don't get why people like him. His speeches are so lackluster.
It will be fun to have McCain drinking games though. Phrases to
watch for-
"My friends"
"Transcendent challenge"
"white flag of surrender"
McCain says "I hate the gooks" much more recently than the
newsletters that weren't written by Paul...why no articles on
McCain beign a racist?
Because he was talking about a discrete group of people -- his
Vietnamese captors, who tortured and humiliated him in prison for
more than 5 years -- and not the Vietnamese nation as a whole. You
might note that just yesterday (I think it was) he received a slew
of endorsements from the Vietnamese-American community. He was also
instrumental -- foundational, even -- in restoring full diplomatic
relations with Vietnam, and opening up a U.S. embassy there.
It's my judgment, reviewing his career and his writings, that
racism -- either exuding it, or consciously appealing to it, or
having it appealed to in his name -- is not part of his modus
operandi. In fact, hostility to racism has informed some
of his behavior and decisions over the years, for both good and
ill.
"Oh hell no, there isn't. It's certainly in my personal interest
that anti-war, anti-Bush and independent voters continue to prefer
John McCain by 2 to 1 in the primaries. But it's also in my
professional interest to help them understand who they're voting
for."
Maybe they know exactly who he is and they just don't agree with
you? Isn't it possible that some people are anti-war in the sense
that they disagree with the invasion of Iraq but don't see leaving
now as a good option? Or perhaps they are smart enough or cynical
enough to think that neither party is going to leave Iraq in 2009
so it really doesn't matter what any individual candidate thinks
about it. You seriously can't be saying that there is anyone in
this country who doesn't know that John McCain is for the war? This
is McCain's second Presidential Campaign. He is nothing if not a
known commodity.
The fact is Matt, they just don't agree with you. In fact, I think
the vitriol being directed against McCain by the ideologues on the
Libertarian and Corporate Right represented by Reason and National
Review is probably helping him with independents. Most people don't
like ideologues and they figure a guy with those kinds of enemies
can't be that bad.
Isn't it more than just the libertarian and corporate right though John? For example, Rush Limbaugh et al.
So Matt, you're saying that if Ron Paul had been mugged by a
fleet-flooted criminal of African-American descent, and was
endorsed by others of African-American descent, and that hostility
towards racism informs his policy decisions, then you shouldn't
have reported on the old ghostwritten newsletters?
The last two of your moral criteria are met. He is endorsed by
people of all races and his opposition to racist and
racial-collective policies is well known. But I guess his lack of
victimization justified Reason's "me too" coverage of the
newsletters.
"Isn't it more than just the libertarian and corporate right
though John? For example, Rush Limbaugh et al."
I would put Rush in with NRO. I think most of the hostility from
National Review and Rush and like has more to do with childish
personal grudges than McCain. As much as I like to pick on Matt
Welch, he at least has legitimate ideological reasons to dislike
McCain. I think the rest of the rightwing media really doesn't or
to the extent it does has no less of a reason to dislike McCain
than they do Romney. National Review will run third hand un sourced
accounts of McCain throwing a fit in a Senate cloak room over a
judicial nominee he ended up supporting as evidence of McCain not
being trustworthy on judges but then totally ignore Romeny's very
checkered record of judicial appoints while governor of
Massachusetts. For the National Review crowd, McCain has been rude
to them and they have personal grudges against him. The whole
reaction by the rightwing media about McCain is driven by childish
personal grudges as much as anything. It makes them look a lot like
the KOS people.
Maybe they know exactly who he is and they just don't agree
with you?
John, see the comment directly above that.
Because he was talking about a discrete group of people -- his Vietnamese captors, who tortured and humiliated him in prison for more than 5 years -- and not the Vietnamese nation as a whole.
Uh huh. Somehow I doubt you'd give the same consideration to
someone who called one, specific, say street mugger, the N-word --
even if that person later had working relationships with the black
community.
"First, don't discount the possibility that many of them know
McCain's record perfectly well, but they just kinda like
him."
That is what is going on. Further, most people are very cynical and
don't beleive politicians anyway. They are therefore not bothered
by his pro-war stance since they don't believe the Democrats when
they say they are going to end the war. Also, I think his temper
helps him. Most people don't like journalists and politicians and
enjoy someone who kicks them around. All of the National Review
shilling for Romney about McCain being a volcano is just helping
him.
I think you miss the point. Its not Ron Paul's personal beliefs. Hes not a racist. Its the fact that he keeps company with shady characters who ARE racist, and he apparently doesn't vet what they do in his name.
So Matt, you're saying that if Ron Paul had been mugged by a
fleet-flooted criminal of African-American descent, and was
endorsed by others of African-American descent, and that hostility
towards racism informs his policy decisions, then you shouldn't
have reported on the old ghostwritten newsletters?
McCain was talking about a limited group of people -- his captors
-- and not the Vietnamese race as a whole, and his comments were
not part of a deliberate outreach program to excite and organize
anti-Vietnamese sentiment.
What's more, there isn't (to my knowledge) anything useful for me
or us to add or improve on or contextualize from those 2000 San
Francisco Chronicle and Nation stories; nor have there been any
readers (besides point-scoring Paul supporters furious at our
newsletter coverage) who have urgently requested further
investigation into McCain calling his ex-captors "gooks."
Most people don't like journalists and politicians and enjoy
someone who kicks them around.
McCain seeks the favor of mainstream journalists possibly more than
any other modern Republican politician.
x,y,
I hereby cite the example of Robert Byrd and joe's defense of
same.
Not to jump on joe, but he does excuse Byrd's past racism because
of his work with the black community since. Penance seems to be the
key. Byrd has it from the left, McCain has it in the MSM, and Paul
doesn't seem to get it from anyone except the vocal minority.
(This is in no way intended to re-ignite the tired-ass cosmotarian
bullshit. Nor does it change my mental nickname of McCain: Grandpa
AngryPants.)
I hereby cite the example of Robert Byrd
There is just an enormous gap between being a former Klansmen, and
being someone who calls his own torturers -- and no one else --
"gooks." I don't cite McCain's post-Vietnam (and pre-Vietnam) works
and statements as some kind of penance, but rather as context for
why I don't think he is a racist, or has ever had a
pander-to-racists strategy. I am, of course, eager to learn of any
evidence to the contrary.
Matt,
We don't disagree. I was more refuting the "nobody forgives racism"
angle.
McCain seems to have no animus toward Southeast Asians and I was
not making an equivalence between Byrd and McCain.
Oddly enough, as much as public figures are under microscopic
scrutiny, they are simultaneously allowed to get away with most
things we catch them doing. Lies, low-level corruption (low level
to the extent that we can see it, anyway), inconsistent positions,
pandering, immoral behavior, etc., etc. just seems to get ignored
or "spun" away. It's our willingness to allow this that accounts
for a lot of the problems we have. And which is why I drone on and
on about adding the Office of the Censor to the federal government.
Removal from government should be easy to do, not hard, and the
presumption of guilt wouldn't be a bad starting place ☺
That's a roundabout way of saying that Matt should abuse McCain now
and abuse him a second time when he gets elected to the presidency.
Sure, some of his criticisms may be invalid or incomplete, but
plenty of them are accurate enough. McCain has some virtues, but
he's also a little frightening.
Somehow I doubt you'd give the same consideration to someone
who called one, specific, say street mugger, the N-word
Totally true. Because there's a substantial difference between,
say, being mugged by a black guy in DC (as I was during my first
visit here, on Election Night 2000, no less!), and being humiliated
and tortured for 5 and a half years by communist Vietnamese prison
guards while voluntarily serving in the U.S. military.
And there's a difference between extrapolating about an entire race
based on limited experience, and not.
Actually, come to think of it, McCain would make a pretty good Censor if we had that office. You need a grumpy old guy in there.
Cesar,
It's funny, but I was just thinking that the other day. I've always
pictured a panel of censors, rather than just one guy, but McCain
certainly is crotchety enough. On the other hand, is he
really an ethical and moral paragon? The Censor should
probably be one of those, too, and I fear that McCain may be
lacking.
tortured for 5 and a half years by communist Vietnamese
prison guards
Why does he choose to condemn the "Vietnamese" characteristic of
his captors first, rather than the "communist"? Isn't the fact that
he chooses to see them as "gooks" first, "commies" second, somewhat
revealing? After all they were our enemies because they were
communist, not because they were Vietnamese.
Pro, I would include Mike Gravel as a possibility as well using that standard. Hes old, hes grumpy, and hes pissed off.
"McCain seeks the favor of mainstream journalists possibly more
than any other modern Republican politician."
Yeah but perception is reality. People percieve him as his own
person and not a suck up. That is why I think his critics railing
against him for lack of ideological purity helps him. Further, you
may disagree with McCain, but he is what he is. I think most people
will take that over Romney, someone who tells them what they want
to hear.
"The year was 1968. We were on recon in a steaming Mekong delta. An overheated private removed his flack jacket, revealing a T-shirt with an ironed-on sporting the MAD slogan "Up with Mini-skirts!". Well, we all had a good laugh, even though I didn't quite understand it. But our momentary lapse of concentration allowed "Charlie" to get the drop on us. I spent the next three years in a POW camp, forced to subsist on a thin stew made of fish, vegetables, prawns, coconut milk, and four kinds of rice. I came close to madness trying to find it here in the States, but they just can't get the spices right!"
What's more, there isn't (to my knowledge) anything useful for me or us to add or improve on or contextualize from those 2000 San Francisco Chronicle and Nation stories
What was there useful to improve on and or contextualize from those
old Ron Paul ghostwritten newsletters? Sure, you had to report it.
But then you (Reason) kept on reporting it, over and over. What
possible contextualization was there in the repetition?
All of this mainstream media love for McCain will come to an
abrupt end at the exact moment that both nominations are
decided.
I certainly would have to tune out of the months on end of Hillary
vs. McCain nastiness, but watching those two vipers attack each
other in the debates might be entertaining reality TV. I see them
as essentially two sides of the same coin, with the difference that
McCain might have trouble making it through a single term.
Brandybuck -- But we *didn't* keep reporting on it. Dave Weigel
and Julian Sanchez wrote a great piece that was of use to a lot of
people here (we can agree to disagree about that), and there was
maybe one other bit of additional reported info on the blog (the
split between the Paul campaign and his congressional office,
IIRC), but that's about it.
There was a burst of individual (and varied) reaction here the week
the newsletters surfaced, including a column from Jacob Sullum
about why he's still supporting Paul, and a post of Brian Doherty
embracing Voltairian tolerance, and since then there just hasn't
been that much.
We're continuing to report & comment on the Paul campaign, and
on other matters, and I think it's just wrong to characterize that
stuff in any way as newsletter-obsessed, let alone anti-Paul.
All of this mainstream media love for McCain will come to an
abrupt end at the exact moment that both nominations are
decided.
I think the media will prefer McCain to Hillary.
"I think the media will prefer McCain to Hillary."
REally? On what basis do you say that? I can't see the media ever
prefering a Republican do a Democrat. I would be very curious to
hear why you think that.
On what basis do you say that? I can't see the media ever
prefering a Republican do a Democrat. I would be very curious to
hear why you think that.
It's a gut feeling, admittedly, but recall that I was working in
the belly of the MSM three months ago.
McCain inspires palpable enthusiasm in newsrooms, for several
reasons -- he's a gen-u-ine war hero, he kicks Republicans in the
nuts, he shares ed boards' takes on a number of issues they find
important (campaign finance, torture, global warming), he gives
them flattering attentions; and, importantly, he shares their basic
brain patterns. See problem. FIX problem! The actual
details don't matter, and there's little if any sense of restraint
on what the guvmint should and shouldn't do.
Clinton? Remember that the Washington media, at least, really did
not like the Clintons, from the git-go. There might be a wave of
'90s nostalgia right now (which I share), but that ain't for Hill.
She has none of his charm and political genius, and I've just never
heard a newspaper employee go on about how much they like her (as
opposed to, say, Obama or McCain).
Check out the tenor of the competing newspaper endorsements --
first of all, McCain has a much higher percentage than Hillary;
second of all, they gush over him while clench their teeth for
her.
"I certainly would have to tune out of the months on end of
Hillary vs. McCain nastiness, but watching those two vipers attack
each other in the debates might be entertaining reality TV."
The Clintons have played the gender and race card, get ready for
them to play the "age" card.
After all they were our enemies because they were communist,
not because they were Vietnamese.
Exactly. He's out of touch if he doesn't know how extremely
offensive that word is, but apparently he can get away with it.
"he kicks Republicans in the nuts"
The MSM may like McCain kicking Republicans in the nuts, but they
won't like McCain kicking a Democrat in the #@^%$.
I think the media does have a strange attraction to McCain. Remember, while many journalists may have leftwards leanings, they're like us in preferring someone who seems like more of a straight shooter (even if he really isn't) than the usual crowd. And, of course, they like the idea of a president who will make a good story. Clinton is a re-run, and I'll wager that few Democrats are in the throes of fanatical zeal when they think of her. Unlike Obama, who does have some true fans (for whatever reason).
When a journalist asked McCain about his use of the word "gook,"
McCain said, "Yes, and I'll call them that again. 'Gook' is the
only word to describe the animals who torture people."
That's why it's not an issue, because people can understand the
anger and bitter resentment of a man who went through five years of
torture.
I'll wager that few Democrats are in the throes of fanatical
zeal when they think of her.
There are plenty of Democrats who worship the ground she walks on.
A lot of it breaks down on the basis of age group. On the other
hand, Matt might be right about the reaction in the newsrooms.
There does seem to be increasing skepticism about the Clintons in
that corner.
Herman makes a good point about what happens when McCain starts
attacking Democrats, though. Hillary is quite adept at playing the
victim card, and the media ate that shit right up in New Hampshire,
didn't they? Look for Billy Boy to be sent on a long slow cruise
after the nomination is sewn up.
Oh, and just so everyone knows, I will not vote for any of the four remaining "major" candidates. The LP just started looking a whole lot better recently.
"'Gook' is the only word to describe the animals who torture
people."
Wow. It was 25 years ago at the time. You'd think that in 25 years
he'd have been able to think up a word that isn't a racist insult
to a quarter of the earth's population. Frankly, I have to wonder
at the stability of someone whose thinking works like that.
The phenomenon of independent antiwar voters supporting McCain
recalls the Cato study by Ilya Somin that reveals that most voters
are ignorant of what they're voting for.
How big of a role does the Reform Institute play with McCain? Is it
his child or is he following the wishes of its supporters (Soros,
Carnegie, the PROTEUS Fund (snicker), etc)?
It amazes me that someone who works alongside the Democratic propaganda machine could possibly believe they will support McCain over a Dem, any Dem, Matt. Even if they despise the Clintons, the msm is going to do everything in their power to elect the Democrat, every time.
"Hillary would certainly rally disaffected conservatives to hold
their noses...."
I can't picture any conservatives voting for Hillary. I think they
would be much more likely to hold their noses and vote for
McCain.
Perhaps it's a grandfather image.
People just love nasty, smirking grandfathers.
I confess, the basis for his appeal escapes me, too. He combines
the charisma-free clunkiness of Dubya with the Washington Insider
stench of Bob Dole.
You seriously can't be saying that there is anyone in this
country who doesn't know that John McCain is for the
war?
I'd bet money that most people in this country know very little
about McCain beyond his status as a former prisoner of war. I'd
even bet money that over a third of the adults in this country
couldn't pick him out of a lineup.
"I can't picture any conservatives voting for Hillary. I think
they would be much more likely to hold their noses and vote for
McCain."
I think that's what Welch meant.
Shorter Welch:
It's OK to call a few people "g***s" if they tortured you for a few
years.
It's not OK to called a few people "n*****s" regardless of the
circumstances.
mccain uses racist words like Gook and has even been quoted using them....ROn Paul has not....ROn Paul was a flgiht surgeon...he had to deal with dying men killed by vietmanese...yet he doesn't go around soundign like a racist. In fact he still fights against communism while McCain fights FOR Communism(the income tax and central banks and federal departement of education all being central planks of the communist agenda). McCain also fights against freedom of speech...I'd really like to hear him distance himself from these xenophobic "gook haters" and at least give him the opportunity to denounce communism instead. no way I can respect a president who fights for communism and is a a racist self described "gook hater". I'd also love to hear his take on the USS Liberty and why his dad thought it was peachy for LBJ to order that a hundred americans be allowed to be slaughtered.
How big of a role does the Reform Institute play with
McCain? Is it his child or is he following the wishes of its
supporters
It's his baby, through and through, and serves also as a way to
keep his campaign staff employed between elections. See
this, then follow the links
here.
It's not OK to called a few people "n*****s" regardless of
the circumstances.
I recognize that I'm fighting a losing game even continuing this
discussion, but believe it or not I have no interest in being the
world's Speech Cop. I found the old newsletters to be more retarded
than anything else, and I thought it was interesting that for a few
years there he was pocketing good money by having a newsletter
operation that was part of a conscious Redneck Outreach
program.
It was more (and different) than just yelling the N-word at a
street mugger, and it was something many reason
readers wanted to know more about. This does not equal a desire to
hunt down every uttered slur and declare its author "racist" (a
term I've never personally called Ron Paul, and rarely use in any
case). I suppose you either get that, or you don't.
Clinton? Remember that the Washington media, at least, really
did not like the Clintons, from the git-go. There might be a wave
of '90s nostalgia right now (which I share), but that ain't for
Hill. She has none of his charm and political genius, and I've just
never heard a newspaper employee go on about how much they like her
(as opposed to, say, Obama or McCain).
I wonder if what McCain himself loses in the Social Conservative
Wing of the Party, Hillary rejuvinates. He may have that hardcore
20-30% that are unwaivering on the war, but I can't picture him
getting elected. Hillary's record will outshine his, and that's a
sad fact. She'll talk about how we need to solve the healthcare
crisis. McCain will talk about being the only one fit to lead this
country.
I just don't think the Politics of Fear will win this one. I think
the domestic issues will be the focus of this election. Foreign
Policy, which McCain will make his centerpoint, will cost him
moderate votes. Also, McCain can't really talk about the issues. I
think in the presidential debates he'd get his ass handed to him.
Just watch the recent debate in California.
any takers on that?
I have no interest in being the world's Speech
Cop
I don't either, but I find McCain's flippancy in this "issue"--were
it ever to be raised up to such--to be rather callous. And out of
date: I wonder if he still laughs at buck teeth and taped-back
eyes. It's even a politically stupid move. Asians are a significant
and growing demographic in most parts. They're not so easy to brush
off any more.
I don't either, but I find McCain's flippancy in this
"issue"--were it ever to be raised up to such--to be rather
callous. And out of date: I wonder if he still laughs at buck teeth
and taped-back eyes.
As I recall, in Faith of My Fathers McCain actually
criticizes his own dad (if not grandpa as well) for working up a
race-based "hate" for the enemy. He also cops to his own indulgence
on that front as well, and expresses regret. If I have time, I'll
prepare a blog post that touches on & quotes from these
things.
I wonder if what McCain himself loses in the Social
Conservative Wing of the Party, Hillary rejuvinates.
That, Mr. John Q. Public, is the $64 zillion question.
If you read the comment sections in the conservative blogosphere
over the last few days, you'd have to say no. But several months'
worth of media blather about Hillary might change things.
One of the conservative 'themes' at the moment is that a President
Hillary Clinton would serve as a wakeup call and reunite the
movement in a way that a GOP win this year wouldn't. Sort of like
saying the lessons of 1993-94 need to be relearned.
I found the old newsletters to be more retarded than anything else, and I thought it was interesting that for a few years there he was pocketing good money by having a newsletter operation that was part of a conscious Redneck Outreach program.
"Retarded," eh?
Oh My god ...matt welch and the cosmos are biggoted against low IQ people...throwing around the reta**** word...I've been reading mises.org text and articles on lew rockwell .com fro 10 years and I've never seeen them once use the retar* slur...nor the other racist words you accuse them of using...It looks like we need an explanation from reason ...they should hold a press conference to distance themselves from such unexcusable language. if not then they are biggots...we alredy know they defend the usage of the word goo* in describign asians...Unbelievable!
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