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John McCain is playing politics
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For McCain, actions have spoken louder than words in the months leading to November’s election.
The phrases “hail mary” and “Barracuda” may well become permanent fixtures of our national lexicon of buzz words.
Mainstream media outlets are propelling any narrative relating to Sarah Palin that will stick. From congressional funding scandals to reports on the meaning of “small town values,” John McCain’s selection has been nothing if not entertaining. But while Monday morning water cooler talk turns to discussion of biography and Russia’s proximity to Alaska, the real story seems to be lost on America.
Selection of a running mate is the first chance Americans have to see a candidate exercise executive power on a national stage. The choice must take under consideration the chief obligation of a vice president: To step in and run the country when called upon. Traditionally, vice presidents have also been seen as intellectual foils and capable leaders in their own right.
In Denver and St. Paul, both candidates were given a chance to show Americans the kind of leaders they would be. For his part, Barack Obama recognized the need to offset his generational call to action with a sure and experienced hand.
His decision to run alongside Joe Biden showed a desire to choose the right man for the job, even at the expense of a flashy news cycle. Biden is no star. The least wealthy member of the Senate, he takes the train to work. But when he arrives, colleagues know him as the foremost foreign policy sage in congress. Obama’s message of responsibility and accountability returning to Washington was validated with the decision to put America ahead of politics.
In St. Paul, McCain made a very different choice. The Senator from Arizona selected an unknown first term governor from Alaska whom he had met with only once. Sporting evangelical credentials, a small town biography and a photogenic smile, Sarah Palin was introduced to America. Conservative voices in print, radio and television called it a daring political maneuver, and a risk that could pay dividends to McCain’s share of female voters. Without question, the selection of Sarah Palin was a striking moment of political theater as well as a deft bid to catch democrats flat footed. But the fanfare, polls and headlines obscured a simple truth: John McCain was playing politics.
In an election where both candidates have promised to bring integrity to Washington, only one has acted in a way consistent with his words.
Obama chose the best man for the job, while McCain chose political gamesmanship. It is important that we as citizens recognize this old style of politics, and take a stand.
We should hold candidates accountable for their choices, and take them to task when they fail to live up to their own rhetoric.
John McCain put his own aspirations ahead of the American people and for that, he should be told “thanks, but no thanks.”
SPENCER HARRISON
Guest Opinion
