Immediately, I thought, "Wow.... John McCain is advertising on You Tube and he's using a much younger image of himself. What kind of an idiots does he think we are?" Then I realized that there are probably a lot of Americans who have never heard of John McCain, have never seen a picture of him, or do not know that he will be 72 years old by the time the election rolls around. In fact, according to a recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, eight percent of registered voters had never heard of John McCain, in spite of the fact that he has spent the previous 6 months winning the Republican presidential nomination.
I certainly wouldn't put it past the McCain people to appeal to young potential voters (like those on You Tube) by placing ads featuring a more "alive-looking" version of Senator McCain. It's all about PR, and while placing ads of a 40-something McCain is not necessarily a dirty trick, it's pretty clear what their intentions are. With "change" being the political message du jour, the image of a stale old white man is probably not going to resonate with young voters. For those of you in the eight percent, here is what McCain actually looks like now:
Don't get me wrong. I'm certainly not suggesting that one's appearance should trump substance. I just think it's more than a little sneaky to show a picture of younger McCain on a website frequented by young potential voters. And while I don't agree with McCain on many issues and would not vote for him, I also think age is an issue. Young people have every right to vote for a younger candidate, just as older voters typically vote in higher numbers for the older candidate. Also, let us not forget that not too long ago the United States had a president in Ronald Reagan that many have suggested had symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease while in office. Again, I think age and appearance are certainly much less important than policy issues. That said, if Republicans are going to promote McCain's youthful appearance and attack the Democratic candidate for his/her lack of experience (and they will), Democrats have every right to use McCain's age against him.
5 comments:
ok, plain and simple-Obama sucks! Maybe that's because he's too young to have clue yet, maybe it's just that we have been taught that growing older is somhow a terrible thing, I'm not sure. I would just like to point out that with age -hopefully-one gows in wisdon, in understanding of things and of rightiousness.
In the little while that obama has been alive all he seems to have learned is how America is a terrible place, how socialism is somehow better and how being charismatic will win you many followers, even if you don't have a clue about what you're doing.
He doesn't even know how to act infront of the American flag or knows how many states he would be representing if he were to win the presidency. (Look at my blog for examples)
Age is a good thing. Understanding that the USA is a blessed and wonderful land, that the Constitution, democracy and liberty are all things we should shed tears of gratitude over are good things.
I vote for the guy that was busy serving his country instead of the one busy having his butt powdered by his single mom!
Lorena,
While I appreciate you reading my blog and sharing your opinions, I must disagree with much of what you say. First, I felt that in this post I generally avoided using McCain's age as a negative. The point of the post was a fairly objective analysis of campaign strategy, to address the fact that age will be an issue in this election, whether it is Obama's age (i.e. lack of experience) or McCain's (health issues, "senior moments"). My point was that if McCain is going to advertise with much younger pictures of himself, he had better a) go easy on attacking Obama's age and b) be prepared for age to be an issue.
That said, you responded, not with analysis, but by spewing forth outrageous and discredited grievances lifted directly from McCain ads and Fox News talking points:
"...America is a terrible place"
I think you're probably referring to Michelle Obama, not Barack, when she said she was really proud of her country for the first time in her adult life. (The video on your blog has been doctored to cut out the word "really") "Terrible place" is not anywhere near what she or he has said. And if you want to make the candidates' wives fair game (and trust me, you don't), then by all means keep smearing Mrs. Obama.
"socialism is somehow better"
I'll try to keep this short. Some things need to be socialized. Roads, schools, the military, police, fire fighters. These are essential services to any sound society. I would include health care as one of these basic rights, but Obama does not. But what's the use. Any time socialized ANYTHING is brought up, it automatically invokes in conservatives images of starving Soviets waiting in bread lines, instead of modern, free-market socialist societies in Western Europe and Scandinavia that have thrived.
"being charismatic will win you many followers"
Wow. Lifted directly from the Paris Hilton smear ad McCain put out a few weeks ago. Unfortately that argument is so full of holes that it's difficult to pick apart in a small space. First, being charismatic and well-liked does not make one vacuous, and McCain would argue. Quite the contrary, it is Obama's ideas and his desire to bring people together to make America better (no, America is not perfect, believe it or not) that attracts people to him. McCain needs to start responding with his own ideas instead of jealous hissy fits.
"...or knows how many states he would be representing if he were to win the presidency."
Seriously? No, SERIOUSLY? Do you actually believe Barack Obama doesn't know how many states are in the union? I know it makes a great GOP coundbite, but attacking a man's patriotism because of a slip of the tongue is beyond the pale.
"I vote for the guy that was busy serving his country instead of the one busy having his butt powdered by his single mom!"
You act like this Obama punk is some 23-tear old whippersnapper. He's actually 47, which according to your blog makes him 13 years OLDER than you! And where in the text of the Constitution or American Dream is it stated that you cannot run for presient if you were raised by a single mother or grew up during peacetime? (Don't look for it. It doesn't say that.) The constitution does state, however, that a president must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, something your John McCain is not.
Here's the thing.
Throughout the DNC coverage on CNN, there's been a commercial like, "Who IS John Mccain?" and they show a ton of pics of him being young. I stumbled across this blog because I google imaged searched "young John Mccain".
I just wanted to say you make a very good point about age.
Barack Obama - 13th youngest president to run. Bill Clinton was only 45 in 1992...economy, anyone? (Although I would dare to say that Lorenasthoughts would accredit his age to why he was "such a terrible president").
I find it interesting that LorenasThoughts tried to attack whatever she could. Since when was charisma a bad thing? Last time I checked, charismatic people are more likable, and I would dare to say the USA needs as much help on the "making friends" front as they can get right now.
John McCain recently appeared on Saturday Night Live (I think more than once, not sure) and is happy about The Hills stars endorsing him. I would say that's resorting to charisma and popularity contests...not that I'm attacking it - just saying. Yeah, he does it too.
And, seriously. Denmark. DENMARK. Rated happiest country on the planet.
As both Hillary and Bill Clinton said in their DNC speeches (paraphrasing)...John McCain is a great man. He served the country well and did his duty. But his ideas are not what this country needs right now.
Also, can we stop and look at how Iraq war veterans have been treated by this administration? Why are people equating "veterans need help" with a Republican administration?
John McCain, more of the same.
But I'm not going to throw ad hominem attacks left and right... that's a bit juvenile, don't you think? Probably something that uneducated whipper snapper Barack HUSSEIN Obama would do, right?
Reason why it's especially funny that Lorenasthoughts chooses to make ad hominem attacks: while John McCain was serving his country, he was also serving a mistress - yeah, he cheated on his first wife. That's the exact kind of moral degradation that gay marriage would bring to this country, wouldn't you agree, L.T.? (rolls eyes).
In conclusion, the fact that a man who was raised by a single mother in poor conditions can aspire to be the candidate for president is beautiful. It makes me proud to be a freakin' American.
Lorena, Wow! Very powerful! I like it! Here's the deal, Nick, let's say that someone gets straight A's in school, and someone else gets straight F's. Obama is saying that we should give half of those A's to the people with the F's so that everyone will have C's. That's communism, because he's doing it with money. That's terrible! People deserve to keep the money they make. Obama has just won (it's November 6), and some of us are terribly doomed...DOOMED, I TELL YOU! This is no longer a democracy! It's communism! COMMUNISM, I TELL YOU! Go McCain, Go Palin, Go America, Go Republicans, Go Righteousness, Go Democracy! For gosh sakes, do I have to even throw in the Go Bush one? (Actually, I don't have a problem with him) Someone, please explain to me the madness that is happening in America! Please!
Hey guys, before you comment about things you should know at least something. I'm from Western Europe but I also lived in the States and currently I'm living in Russia. And I have to say I prefer poor Russian Socialism than the American Capitalism. And about grades, come on in the US you to not to havve to be smart to get good grades, I would say money is much more important to finance a proper school.
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