Matt,
I read your nicely written column.
But when you inform us that you didn't find many people at the McCain events in New Hampshire who are animated about McCain's votes on campaign finance reform or the Gang of 14, you actually sound a bit like a guy who attended a "Star Wars" convention, and, surprise !---you found that everyone in attendance was a really big fan of "Star Wars."
Matt, you're disingenous in offering the "proof" about the lack of interest by McCain supporters in campaign finance reform & the Gang of 14.
Of course McCain's supporters are not irritated by his votes---if those people WERE irritated by McCain's votes, by definition they would be supporting other candidates !
Likewise, you might go to a Barack Obama rally and end up surprised that you didn't find many people who support the war.
Truth is, McCain knows that people outside the beltway DO care about McCain-Feingold & Gang of 14---that's why he avoids being in the position of having to take questions 'on the record' about those votes on talk radio, or at a conservative gathering such as CPAC or Club for Growth.
I was also amused when you wrote about John McCain, "It's hard to imagine any other candidate granting this much access."
Matt, I'd say you haven't been imagining very hard if you believe McCain is a paradigm of "access."
McCain is the candidate who dodged CPAC, Heritage, National Review, and Club for Growth, and who refuses to submit to tough, honest questions on conservative talk radio shows.
On the other hand, all the other major GOP nominees are doing the talk radio circuit.
In your column, you note that McCain even admitted he didn't really wish to talk about campaign finance, but he did field questions about everything from Vietnam to basketball.
That's great that he wants to make chit-chat about hoops---so does my local deli guy---but McCain's not running for President of March Madness, he's running for President of the United States.
And if McCain doesn't want to discuss the legislation which he is the explicit AUTHOR of, such as McCain-Feingold Bill, then that might suggest he's not comfortable defending his own record.
So, sure, maybe I'll grant you that McCain is 'accessible'---but only as long as Dave Letterman is the host of the show, and just as long as you don't ask McCain about things he doesn't want to discuss---you know, like his Senate record.
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... more than any other state.
Truly "normal" people don't go to town hall meetings. The people who do attend them are the people who turn out to vote in an election.
Also, keep in mind this guy is a "former" state legislator. There are literally thousands of "former" state legislators in NH. They are a real constituency ... |
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I thought you were going to show us some real voters. I suffered through a whole minute and a half of the former Rep who never got a pick right before I tired of his foolish talk. If he's the typical McCain backer then Giuliani and Romney can both stop sweating McCain and focus on each other. |
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