I’m inclined to agree with Steven Benen and Jesse Taylor about the latest stunt from McCain: the decision to “suspend” the campaign in order to focus on the financial crisis.
Steven Benen points out the complete absurdity of this: “Apparently, as McCain sees it, 10 days after the Wall Street crisis began, now he wants to head back to Capitol Hill to do some work. Of course, lawmakers and administration officials have been working quite a bit, but McCain, who has played no direct role in the negotiations thus far, wants to swoop in and tell everyone what they need to do.”
It’s frankly embarrassing. The crisis has been going on for a while, and McCain has so far studiously avoided saying anything concrete after his “fire the SEC chair” flub. Now he wants to step in and lend a hand. But what, exactly, does he plan to contribute? What does he think the problem is? Does he support the Paulson plan? Does he support the plan Dodd and the Democrats have put together (by, you know, actually sitting down and working for the past week)? Does he have any proposal beyond abstract “bipartisanship”?
If he has something to contribute why has he not mentioned it at any point in the last week, when he’s had the entire eyes of the world on him? He’s running for President of the United States. If he thinks he can lead on this issue than lead. And if not, get out of the way and let the people who actually know something about economics run the show.
Why make this decision now? Why, when the first debate is coming up on Friday – a debate that you’ve been hyping the importance of for months? Why, when increasingly embarrassing questions are coming out every day about the ties between Rick Davis and Fannie Mae? Why is it putting country first to suspend campaigning now, but it was totally fine to skip out on important Senate votes for virtually the entire rest of the year?
Why? Because this is a campaign of gimmicks. As Steve Benen points out, this is not a one-off situation. It is clear that this is how McCain thinks a campaign is supposed to be run, with tricks and gambits. Rather than focusing on the actual nuts and bolts of policy, you attempt ploys to capture the moment. It’s all show and no substance, and it’s terrifying to think of what it might mean for someone like this to be in the White House.
Just think back over the last month. The Palin pick is data point number one, two, and three in evidence of this strategy. But then there’s the slew of ads with ever-ratcheting up lies – presumably based on the principle that if you say something inflammatory no one will bother to pay attention to the fact-checks. Toss in this nakedly political decision to “suspend politics” and we’re entering a Twilight Zone world where down is up, left is right, and the central organizing theme of the McCain campaign to the American people is: we think you are idiots.
UPDATE: And the Obama campaign responds appropriately, pointing out that “a president should be able to multi-task” and that this is clearly a ploy. Don’t stand for this nonsense.
UPDATE #2: SurveyUSA conducts a snap-poll that suggests the American people are perfectly able to see through this little charade. Think about it. A candidate for president declares two days before the first debate that it should be suspended. And only 10% of people agree with him. You know how hard it is to find a proposal that only 10% of people will support?