The interviews with Barack Obama and John McCain last night on 60 Minutes did not reveal anything new, yet they did foster hope that either candidate will be more practical and less idealogical than the current administration. It has been widely reported by former Bush administration advisers that Bush and Chaney were not interested in hearing anything that did not support their preconceived viewpoints. This willful attachment to an idealogical viewpoint led us into Iraq.
Both Barack Obama and John McCain appear to be open to hearing opinions from others that do not align with their own. Barack Obama has stated that this is one of the reasons that he chose Joe Biden as his VP. John McCain said that he would like to hire Andrew Cuomo, a democrat, to run the SEC. Both men say that they we need to go beyond politics to deal with the issues that challenge us today. It is time to get past the stereotypes and the rhetoric so that we hear what the candidates are saying.
Beyond the Stereotypes – Obama
Republicans are portraying Obama as a create-more-government, spend and tax Democrat.
What Obama said: “I believe in pay as you go. That if you want to propose a new program, you better cut some old ones. If you want to expand a program, then you better figure out where the money’s coming from.” (Barack Obama 60 Minutes Interview)
On the matter of taxes the Republicans say that Obama will raise taxes.
What Obama said: “I think they’re [the McCain campaign] being deliberately misleading. Under my tax plan, 95 percent of American workers would get a tax cut. Ninety-five percent. If you are making less than $250,000, you would not see a single dime of tax increase. Not on anything.” (Barack Obama 60 Minutes Interview)
John McCain says that Barack Obama was wrong about the surge in Irag, that it is working and that he has not acknowledged that he is wrong.
What Obama said: “I mean, now you’re just engaging in a huge hypothetical. We don’t know what would have happened if we had initiated the plan that I put forward at the beginning of 2007. And the fact of the matter is that, as successful as our troops have been in lowering the violence in Iraq, and they have performed brilliantly. But the truth of the matter is we still don’t have an oil agreement. We still don’t have provincial elections. The commanders on the ground themselves acknowledge that the political progress that’s needed has not been made. So we all welcome the reduction in violence, but the notion that somehow this was the only way for us to solve the problem, and that the problem has been solved, I completely disagree with.” (Barack Obama 60 Minutes Interview)
Beyond the Stereotypes – McCain
The Democrats say that electing McCain would simply be an extension of the Bush Administration, something that even Republicans don’t want.
What McCain said: [he differs from George Bush on] Spending, conduct of the war in Iraq, climate change, treatment of prisoners, 9/11 Commission. There is a large number of issues that I have stood up to my party, not just the White House but to my party.” (John McCain 60 Minutes Interview)
The Obama campaign has used some footage of McCain saying that he is not an expert on the economy.
What McCain said: “Never complain, but maybe I can explain. That statement about me and the economy was made in the context of a long conversation. Moral of the story is, don’t have long conversations, especially with 60 Minutes. Point is, no seriously, is that I understand the economy as chairman of the Commerce Committee, which oversights all of the commercial aspects of America’s economy. I’ve been involved in these issues for many, many years. I know the economy. I know how to fix it.” (John McCain 60 Minutes Interview)
Many hail the choice of Sarah Palin for VP as a calculated move to help John McCain win the election rather than a choice of someone who has enough experience to deal with the issues facing the country.
What McCain said: First of all, anybody who’s governed a state has some economic experience. And by the way, she cut taxes. The second thing is she shares the world view that I have. I’d only known her a few times but a couple of times. But I had watched her very carefully. I had followed her career. (John McCain 60 Minutes Interview)
Some Thoughts
Two things that Obama said concerned me:
1) Tax increases for those making over $250,000. While this sounds like a lot of money, it is not that much in today’s economy. I agree in closing loopholes for companies, but I think that Obama should raise the income level at which he considers an increase in taxes on individuals.
2) “I think that our basic principle has to be that you don’t bail out shareholders.” — Obama. This statement made me wonder if Obama realizes that millions of Americans are shareholders through mutual fund investments, in their 401(k) plans and directly in their brokerage accounts. For the large population nearing retirement, the loss of stock value has a huge impact.
And some concerns about John McCain:
1) Pelley asked: “Would it be your policy in your administration to engage in preemptive war against a country that might pose a threat to the United States a country that hasn’t attacked us.”
John McCain’s response: “If it’s a provable direct threat. Suppose that the Iranians had nuclear weapons. And you had a whole lot of other information about Iranian intentions and you could make the case to the American people and to the world, I think it’s obvious that we would have to prevent what we’re absolutely certain is a direct threat to the lives of the American people.” I am just not sure how you prove a country’s intentions. This sounds a bit like how we got into Iraq.
2) Do I really believe that McCain chose Sarah Palin for VP because she would be the best person to run the country if something happened to him? I have to say, No, this was a calculated choice which belies his statements about her experience.
What Issues Drive Your Decision?
It really comes down to deciding which issues are the most important to you and which candidate you think will handle those issues in the best way. Forget the party lines and look at what is important to you. Americans are sick of politics, but we recognize the importance of good leadership at this critical time. Who do you believe will most successfully lead us through the next four years?
Read a transcript or watch the interviews at CBS.com.
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Rarely have I read anything so elegantly and cogently written.