Reason Writers Around Town: Matt Welch on John McCain's Latest "Great Man" Stunt

Writing in The Los Angeles Times, reason's Matt Welch analyzes GOP presidential candidate John McCain's suspension of his campaign. A snippet:

If McCain's latest "country-first" outburst is a mostly empty symbol in terms of actual campaigning, it's a meaningful one in other ways. By taking what was originally Obama's behind-the-scenes initiative of cobbling together a joint candidate statement on the bailout package and opportunistically turning that into yet another chance to portray his patriotism as shinier than his opponent's, McCain is ripping what little facade remains over his campaign. This is not an election about ideas or policy; it's an election about a Great Man, facing down an interloper.

More here.

Comments

[James]

If there is one thing that McCain has shown in this campaign, it is that any honor and integrity McCain has had he used up a long time ago...Now it looks like he's trying to get Palin out of debating next week...fucking unbelievable...

[Michael Wilson]

I completely agree James!
I wonder whether the US public will feel the same way?
Nevertheless, it will show in the polls.
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I think you might like it:-)
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Make a difference, keep on voting!

[Justin Beaner]

LOL, McBush is a blundering idiot. I cannot believe anyone with an ounce of common sense would take him seriously.

Jiff
http://www.privacy.es.tc

[John-David]

I would swear I read pretty much this same article 2 days ago.

[Episiarch]

Die, Anonymity Guy. Just fucking die.

McCain is ripping what little facade remains over his campaign

McCain does not control the facade over his campaign--his cheerleaders in the media do. So unless they turn on him, he can bite the heads of pigeons and donkey punch teenage runaways every five minutes and it won't matter.

[Reinmoose]

On the subject of the protests happening today, I couldn't help but notice that in the vast sea of liberal protest groups, there's one organization that has been eerily silent on this subject - MoveOn.org
There isn't even a smidgeon of information about the bailout on their website.
Since MoveOn seems to claim to speak for a lot of the groups (demographic-wise) that are out protesting, what has shut them up over it? Perhaps they are wary of speaking out on principal when their candidate seems to be for something they should be 100% against?

[joe]

One of the things I would do if I were John McCain would be to sit the Republicans and the Democrats down and say, "Stop the bullshit."

[Lamar]

I get it. McCain suspended his campaign so that he could nix the bailout. I would say kudos, except I think he nixed it because he wants his name on it, not because he's against the idea.

[R C Dean]

Ya know, this is all fascinating inside-baseball politics, but really, for people interested in freedom 'n' stuff, its not the only story being generated by the current campaign. This is what, the third post at least on McCain's "suspend the campaign" maneuver?

Up 'til just recently, the Obama campaign's efforts to silence critics was pretty much a bare-knuckled exercise in "free speech" - flooding radio stations with hostile calls from supporters, etc. But now, it looks like they've decided to enlist the state as well.

C'mon, reason. Scooped on what could be a major intrusion on First Amendment rights by Instapundit, due to blinkered Beltwayitis? You're better than that. I hope.

[James]

I am not by any means saying Obama has run an ideal campaign, but the fact that the polls are so close despite the ridiculousness and unseriousness of the McCain campaign is very worrying. Are the American people litterally as Bill Maher says, "too stupid to be governed"?

[brotherben]

"McCain does not control the facade over his campaign--his cheerleaders in the media do"

Epi, I saw at least five different news accounts last nite of the bailout talks and how they imploded. Every single story attributed the implosion on McCain and his bullying.

[Episiarch]

Scooped on what could be a major intrusion on First Amendment rights by Instapundit, due to blinkered Beltwayitis?

RC, Obama's weak thuggery isn't that big of a deal because it has no teeth (besides, you'd have to be an Obamoron to be surprised/shocked). I think the interesting thing right now is whether McCain is fucking up his own campaign, and that's what this post is in regards to.

[Episiarch]

Every single story attributed the implosion on McCain and his bullying.

That's because they love the bailout idea more than they love MAVRICK. As I stated above (unclearly), McCain made a stupid fucking move here by messing with this.

[brotherben]

"attributed the implosion on McCain "

Ahhh, for me next trick, I am will gonna learned english on a second language.

[James]

It is difficult to interpret the wild arm flailing of the past week of the McCain campaign is very strong or mavericky isn't it? I am most interested with the fact that they seem to be running away from questions (McCain/Palin both), they almost never hold a press conference and they appeared scared to debate...

[joe]

Fat kid. Pool club. Three meter board.

"Hey, look at me! Watch this, everybody! Look at me! Look at me! Watch what I can do!"

*splat*

[R C Dean]

RC, Obama's weak thuggery isn't that big of a deal because it has no teeth (besides, you'd have to be an Obamoron to be surprised/shocked).

TV stations tend to be very risk-averse when it comes to their licenses, now (apparently) being threatened by Obama.

Threatening criminal prosecutions of critics is the very definition of chilling free speech.

And what does this portend when he gets his hands on the Justice Department and appoints, say, the rather thuggish and highly partisan Jim Doyle as AG?

Sure, its a sideline, but its not nothing. You'd think an organization devoted to libertarian principles could find room on its blog for just one post, amongst the dozens on the ultimately pointless posing on the bailout, for this story.

[joe]

If you don't like the rules, it's ok to cheat.

[J sub D]

Let's see how this stunt is working out, shall we? Michigan has been touted as a possible battleground state. From this mornings Detroit Free Press, thee largest daily in the state -

...the Democratic presidential nominee now has an edge over his Republican rival John McCain, leading him 51%-38%, a Detroit Free Press-Local 4 Michigan Poll shows.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

This election is turning into a blowout. I'd have preferred a narrow Obama victory so there'd be no perceived mandate for wacky economic and social engineering experiments, but it is still better than McCain getting into office.

[R C Dean]

they almost never hold a press conference

I'm genuinely curious. The narrative is that Palin never sits down for interviews with The Media (I think she's had three since nomination). How many has Biden had in the same period?

[Djyrn]

I wonder if the McCain team saw something in the polls? Or, were they really married to the belief that credit wouldn't turn into a wider crisis?

The response does appear to be sort of wild. Don't regulate! No, no, Regulate! Oh, wait, but smartly! Fire Christopher Cox!

The one shrewd maneuver was the campaign suspension, as it garnered press. Unfortunately, it's not clear that the end result will be, "Look at him he's a leader!"

[J sub D]

Die, Anonymity Guy. Just fucking die.

Epi, my good man, any reason you omitted "in a fire"?

[joe]

Frigging Chrisopher Cox. I hate that guy.

Thanks alot, Christopher Cox. This is your fault. Jerk.

I'll get him in a headlock, and you all can take turns kicking him in the ribs.

[James]

"Biden has given 89 national and local interviews, according to the campaign. Palin, in contrast, has granted just a handful, including one to People Magazine."

According to CNN, although you are right that he's only given one press conference in the same period of time...Palin I think has given zero, and she has a lot more questions to answer.

[James]

"The one shrewd maneuver was the campaign suspension"

Especially when you can take credit for 'suspending your campaign' when you actually didn't, he kept running ads, meeting with his campaign manager, and his stunt in Washington was about as political as it could possibly be.

[Episiarch]

Epi, my good man, any reason you omitted "in a fire"?

My desire for him to be in excruciating pain is superseded by my desire for him to...die as soon as possible.

And what does this portend when he gets his hands on the Justice Department and appoints, say, the rather thuggish and highly partisan Jim Doyle as AG?

RC, at this point, I am already expecting the worst, so I just can't summon the energy from my Vicodin-addled brain right now to care.

[Lillian]

There are only Obama supporters in the media and Congress saying McCain has disrupted the process. If that's so, THANK GOD. But I think plenty of House Republicans had economists telling them to slow down and realize this $700 is not even explainable as a number nor has anyone said this would SOLVE the problem.

How obvious is it that the Democrats were waiting to sandbag McCain as responsible for any failure in this "rescue" (that nobody wants on their resume) when Senator Reid said McCain had to sign onto the bill or it wouldn't pass? So, the following day, McCain calls their bluff.

[R C Dean]

Thanks, James @ 10:22 am.