In November of 1996, I was producing the NBC comedy Suddenly Susan starring Brooke Shields. Shortly after that year’s presidential election, won by Bill Clinton, I got the far fetched idea to invite his defeated republican opponent, Senator Robert Dole, to appear as a guest on our show. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to reach Senator Dole’s office and how quickly he agreed to appear in our show.
Fewer than four weeks after his defeat for the most powerful office in the free world, Senator Dole arrived on Stage 26 at the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, California. Senator Dole had run what many considered a “mean” campaign, and I in fact had not voted for him.
However, I surely would have voted for the man that was on our set that day. He was charming, engaging, funny, and as word got out that he was on the stage, he stood uncomplaining until all who wished had their picture taken with him. “Where was that Bob Dole during the campaign? ” I asked his chief of staff. “Nowhere to be found,” he answered.
“The people who ran the campaign, never let Bob Dole be Bob Dole,” he explained. “Now that they are all gone, he’s back to being Bob Dole.” Reading up on Dole after meeting, him I learned that Dole was considered one of the funniest, popular and most effective members of the Senate, not to mention his World War II heroism. We finally saw his sense of humor sometime later in his very funny American Express “Do You Know Me?” television commercials.
I couldn’t help but think back on that story watching the concluding weeks of this Presidential Election. While I didn’t vote for Senator McCain, I couldn’t help but again wonder watching him at the Al Smith Dinner and again during his concession speech.
“Where was that guy?” He was both funny and human. It appeared obvious to me that the people who ran the campaign never let John McCain be John McCain. It seemed obvious that the real John McCain wanted Joe Leiberman to be his running mate, rather than Sarah Palin, but it seems that decision, and so many others that defined McCain’s White House run, were taken out of his hands.
At one time, years ago, John McCain might have received my vote. The real John McCain. The maverick he spoke of. It’s just possible that now all the handlers are gone, the maverick will be back and John McCain might be a more effective leader for change as a member of the US Senate than he could have as President.
If that happens, everyone wins.
Interesting, you just may have something. I think either Obama or Hillary would have defeated this John Mc Cain, and we’re certainly better off with the Senator from Illinois in the White House than we would be with the Senator from New York
Comment by Chet Huntley — November 5, 2008 @ 11:18 pm
Demography is Destiny
John McCain failed to defeat Barack Obama for a complement of reasons, but the war hero’s personality was not a significant player on that list.
The Obama victory was nothing more than the artful understanding of marketing to the power demographics. In that sense, McCain’s defeat was inevitable, even if the media had not coronated Obama and castigated McCain at the start of the campaign.
The measure of Obama’s popular vote win comes from his domination of the Black vote (98 percent), the Hispanic vote (79 percent), the 18 to 25 vote (82 percent) and women, by a two-to-one margin.
These figures do not at all take into account democratic party voter fraud, suppression of military votes or other anomalies such as busloads of college students showing up for voter-day registration and casting as the prelude to their Obama rallies.
John McCain’s voter base was overwhelmingly both men and women older than 65, and white men, Joe the Plumbers, if you will.
For the elderly, who have worked and saved their whole lives, the prospect of Obama’s sweeping tax confiscation was a resounding alarm bell. Obama’s plan to double the capital gains tax will crack the nest eggs of most seniors, – that is, the sale of their homes to underwrite their final years.
For those seniors who plan to live from their own retirement savings, which they built during lifetimes of restraint and sacrifice, Obama’s plan will double the government’s cut after the sale of their appreciated investments. Obama’s “death tax” plans are even more chilling.
Most seniors who grew up in a different America have that silly notion that what they’ve worked for their whole lives is actually theirs.
When you tear off the bumper sticker of “Hope and Change” the real Obama slogan is as plain as the sky: Vote for me, and I will take away other Americans’ stuff and give it to you.
He spoke to that demographic and forged his – and the nation’s – destiny.
Comment by Bostonian — November 6, 2008 @ 8:11 am
The blogger hit the nail on the head. At the beginning, I was voting for McCain. He was a man’s man and a maverick. He stood up to all politicians, whether they had a D or R on their sleeve.
While right from center, McCain had an open mind and often went to the other side of the aisle. He was more American than Republican. What happened? Why did I move to Obama late in the game?
First, his choice of Palin as his VP running mate was the beginning of the end for me. He insulted my intelligence with that choice. It was a typical ‘Democrat’ move - picking a running mate to gain votes. Republicans usually pick a candidate to help govern.
Secondly, other than the last few days of the campaign, I saw an aging McCain grow slower and less of a leader. He was not the McCain I was planning to give my vote …
I like Senator John McCain. I grew not to like presidential candidate McCain.
Comment by vote08 — November 6, 2008 @ 10:58 am
If Bostonian didn’t think personality entered into the Presidential Election process he(or she) is sadly mistaken. Rightly or Wrongly all elections are part beauty pagent, part popularity contest and in every category (including Mr Congeniality) Obama won in a landslide.
Comment by Voted 08 — November 6, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
Interesting to see McCain staffers are leaking there displeasure with Palin. The mistake was putting her in a position to fail. She simply wasn’t qualified!
Comment by vote08 — November 6, 2008 @ 9:34 pm
oops…their displeasure.
Comment by vote08 — November 6, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
I could say a lot of things but it has all been said. I think Bostonian hits the target. John McCain lost this election to a team that was much better prepared to pitch a message with all the polish and charm. Barack Obama will break this country if he imposes his radical tax and spend plan and we have no real way of stopping him. One thing is…soon they won’t be able to blame George Bush and the Republicans for anything.
Bostonian has it right even though he is submerged deep in bowels of Liberalism. My hats off to you sir for telling it like it IS! the Skillet
Comment by Home Skillet — November 6, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
oh one other thing. If you can’t get to the polls on election day you shouldn’t get to vote. I think all this early voting stuff creates a wonderful opportunity for voter fraud. ACORN
If you don’t have a picture ID you should not get to vote!!
Skillet
Comment by Home Skillet — November 6, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
All of the excuses from these McCain apologists make me sick!! Sure we appreciate the fact that he was a war hero, and fought for our country. And, sure he was well liked and respected in the Senate from both sides of the aisle. Hell, he may have even done a god job in the White House. But the fact is, he lost the election! Stop with all the woulda / coulda crap and the percentages of people who came out of the woodwork to vote. Finally we had an election that people were excited about. As long as the person had the “right” to vote, does anyone really have an argument as to what “color” or what “race” that person was?? Get over yourself, Bostonian. Face up to it. For whatever the reason, sometimes you just lose. Period! Now let’s band together and try our best to correct the economic mess we’re in right now and stop bashing the other side, just because they may have a difference of opinion.
Comment by sailorman — November 16, 2008 @ 10:01 am