Since my conservative epiphany, I have been begging Republicans to follow David Horowitz’s advice, in his Left Illusions, on how to beat Democrats, to frame issues in explicitly moral terms.
Finally, a Republican has done it in the blunt terms needed.
HOW TO HELP LOW-INCOME AMERICANS
McCain: Obama’s insensitive to the poor
GOP candidate cites rival’s opposition to suspension of fuel tax
RASHA MADKOUR
Associated PressCORAL GABLES, Fla. –Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Sunday called Democratic rival Barack Obama insensitive to poor people and out of touch on economic issues.
The presumed GOP nominee rapped his Democratic rival for opposing his idea to suspend the tax on fuel during the summer, a proposal that McCain believes will particularly help low-income people who usually have older cars that guzzle more gas.
“I noticed again today that Sen. Obama repeated his opposition to giving low-income Americans a tax break, a little bit of relief so they can travel a little further and a little longer, and maybe have a little bit of money left over to enjoy some other things in their lives,” McCain said. “Obviously Sen. Obama does not understand that this would be a nice thing for Americans, and the special interests should not be dictating this policy.”
My conservative and Republican friends, this could be a seminal moment. As Horowitz points out, Americans love the underdog, and the main reason for democrats’ success over the years, given the failures of their policies, is best explained by how they control the narrative.
Republicans too often come across as policy wonks and too nice. The Bush “new tone” as well as the McCain “honorable friend” old tones come to mind.
The fact is that liberal democrat policies of the past 40 years are immoral in their results, yet, they continue to push the policies to create more victim dependents that will vote for them.
For McCain to call Obama insensitive to the poor is akin to Washington’s crossing of the Delaware in rhetorical terms.
It is no sin to advance policies that help lower income families. Conservative policies actually do that. Liberal policies don’t. Their policies substitute class warfare anger as a substitute for actual financial help.
Our policies are moral. Theirs are not
Thank you John McCain for being willing to say it out loud. For too long Republicans have endured being called devils with a smile.
I see a trend. John McCain’s temper is being re-focused on those that deserve it.
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
The HinzSight Report
The Minority Report
Race 4 2008
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson
April 29th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Amen my brother.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
unfortunately, while every little bit helps, Obama is right when he says that removing the gas tax is only a blip on the radar - 19 cents out of $3.60 a gallon won’t put much extra money in people’s pockets.
Not sure if there is any way around the high oil prices - its become a bubble, which, fortunately, means it will eventually pop, but we might be stuck with it for now.
Might be worth looking the idea of having OPEC set the oil prices again instead of having it traded on the exchange.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
The problem is that the proposal to suspend the federal gas tax is terrible policy, no matter how you frame it.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
#2 19 cents more than Obama would help.
April 29th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Don’t get ahead of yourself. McCain is kicking conservatives with the foot he’s not kicking Obama with.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:09 am
http://www.reason.com/blog/show/126232.html