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October 23, 2008
John McCain should realize: it's the taxes, stupid
Posted: 04:08 PM ET
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Frank Luntz
Republican party pollster and communications consultant
 
Barack Obama will be the next President. For a pollster and message consultant to declare the outcome with 10 days to go is risky. But John McCain's campaign has shown no capability to capitalise on events, and the Obama campaign just doesn't make mistakes.

It didn't have to be this way. McCain could have stood up and said no to the $700 billion "taxpayer-funded Wall Street bail-out". McCain could have been a hero for the middle-class.

Sure, it's now called an "economic rescue plan" by the White House, but the Bush Administration's rebranding came too little and too late. He could have declared that "Main Street should not have to pay for the sins of Wall Street", that it's "time for the corporate con-men to do some time for costing us some dime".

That decision alone would have made him a hero to tens of millions of hard-working middle-class voters who resent seeing their tax dollars handed over to fund the retirement packages of the Billionaire Boys Club. But he didn't.

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13 Comments
More about: Barack Obama •  John McCain •  Raw Politics
13 Comments
Steve   October 23rd, 2008 4:20 pm ET

The author of this article is using flawed logic to pare out his partisan views. I quote, "The Obama campaign just doesn't make mistakes", but how many times has Joe Biden opened his mouth only to stick his foot in it?

Anthony - Apex, NC   October 23rd, 2008 4:27 pm ET

If it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, then the Gov had better start eatin' and warming up.

Anthony   October 23rd, 2008 4:32 pm ET

"partisan views", Steve?
Frank Luntz
Republican party pollster and communications consultant

Flo   October 23rd, 2008 4:39 pm ET

Steve, you have a point, however, the Republicans have Mc Palin, harder to bounce back with Carribou Barbie spouting to the masses....

Alice   October 23rd, 2008 4:44 pm ET

John McCain is pulling out all of the stops and going for the throat.
Problem is, he is lying about most issues and seems to rely too much on the ficticious Joe the Plummer. As most people know, Joe the Plummer is a relative of one of the Keating Five, who McCain referred to as, "My old friend". I used to respect McCain as a war hero until I learned that he turned his back on fellow MIAs. Looks to me like McCain will do anything, no matter how low and disgusting, to win a race he cannot win without cheating. He is hurting fellow Republicans and does not seem to care about them.

Brian   October 23rd, 2008 4:45 pm ET

I agree with Steve....the media has this election won..why bother voting (Sarcasm).....Liberal Press at its best!!

Kenny Bellini   October 23rd, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Obama will be the next president according too the polls, but what about according to the votes, the computers and the people who count them?

Has anyone asked Micheal L. Connell of GovTech Soutions, LLC, who he is voting for – or who he is fixing it for? he has done it before.

Connell, is the GOP operative and Bush family confidant selected to re-organize the Capital Hill IT network. The company is under his wife's name, Heather, and is the man behind the firewall for the US House of Representatives.

His activities need to be investigated – Big time!

Ronnie   October 23rd, 2008 4:49 pm ET

Campaign Obama hasn't made any mistakes. It doesn't matter what Biden says, the republicans will always find a way to spin it for their own good. But it doesn't matter either, 'cause Joe Biden isn't running for president. From someone on the outside looking in (Canada), I've been watching the race on a daily basis for over a year now. Lets see if I can predict the outcome of November :

Obama...352 electoral seats with 66% percent of the popular vote

McCain..you figure it out...

Oh yes....We can see the USA from our bedroom windows!

Ronnie

Adriana R Maxwell Marrietta,Ga   October 23rd, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Well, most season polticos know that Joe Biden although he means well, has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth. So when he does, its greeted with a grimace then say moving on. The Obama campaign has made fewer less damaging mistakes.

Lena- Phoenix, AZ   October 23rd, 2008 4:53 pm ET

That doesn't make any sense. What I mean by my statement is that he shouldn't just say "no" or whatever he needs to to garner votes, and thus, to win the election. He should have had a consistent campaign, with a 'Clear' message that has positive agenda for his role as president. Which he never had to begin with.

And then, annihilated after he added Palin as his VP. He made many mistakes from Day One. And the main one was not knowing who McCain is or should be. Key note: don't use "glittering generalitites" to refer to yourself when you're running for Pres. He should've called himself, "McCain for Change." Oh wait, that's Obama...well, I was never going to vote for McCain to begin with....

Raymond   October 23rd, 2008 4:57 pm ET

Frank Luntz is just realistic. Obama is in a different intellectual league than McCain. McCain is a great American who has served well his country. But the President position is about the future. Obama has the intellect and the health required for dealing with the complex issues of today and of the future. The McCain’s campaign has failed to grab opportunities and made significant errors in judment (e.g. selected a junior polititian for the important VP position). This is evidence that they cannot run effectively America.

Lena- Phoenix, AZ   October 23rd, 2008 4:58 pm ET

Steve....I believe that the author of this article IS a republican...but, unfortunately, you're right about Joe Biden. Hopefully Obama can keep him in-line, and that they will balance each other out / ie: the cool-headed one (Obama) and the hot-headed one (Biden)=Steady Presidential Leadership.

SK   October 24th, 2008 3:02 am ET

John McCain has spent this entire election telling us constantly what Obama is doing, or going to do. If he had spent the election telling us what he will do, he would have had a better chance. Every 3 words out of his mouth has been about Obama. He has been Obama's best advocate. Saying he's a maverick, and won't raise anyones taxes, is not a winning strategy. Demonizing Obama was a losing strategy. He has been as wrong on the issues, as George Bush was. He said out of his own mouth, he's voted 90% with Bush. He picked an unqualified VP to succeed him as President, in case of his death. He has no one to blame for his fall, but himself. He followed the Carl Rove play book, calling Obama a terrorist, socialist & communist. He spent an entire election on negative attacks trying to destroy Obama, and instead destroyed himself, he has no credibility left, so it doesn't matter what he does, from now until the election.

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