Why McCain Goes Easy On Fannie And The CRA
If the polls are to be believed, and we know we all use a grain of table salt with those things, the race is either very close, or Hussein is reaching for a double digit lead over McCain as he toys with 7-9 point edge.
It is obvious which side is using the aggressive tactics, from lying about everything to threatening media and others for telling the truth about them.
IF John McCain hopes to be seen as the man who survived 6 years in Hell and can still stand up to his advisory, he needs to get his nerve up and get tough. His base and his moderate supporters are calling for it … hell, demanding it. Sarah Palin made progress in that yesterday in her public statements at the rallies she spoke at yesterday. But she cannot be the only one to be hitting with the cold hard facts. Mac needs to step up. He’s the one from the inside and knows how this all went down. He knows how he saw it coming and warned, but was pushed aside.
There is a month to go. The people in this country as pissed at the government. Palin is outside the Beltway, and McCain was inside enough to see how it broke down. Use it. Get it all out on the table. The MSM will not do it. If you have any hope of winning in November, now is the time to bring out the big ammo.
Let them claim you’re being mean. Let them claim you’ve gone negative. The American public, those with salvageable brains, need to be slapped repeatedly in the face with the facts about this man who would be “Messiah” … They need to be ‘de-programmed’ … Not just for your victory in the election, but for the preservation of our country.
Fannie/Freddie … Bill Ayers … The highly questionable Rev. Wright and his political ideology … this man’s complete lack of experience, and his disregard for everything this country has built and stood for over the last couple centuries.
Team McCain NEEDS to listen to and heed the advise and calls from conservative talking and blogging heads. We do not see him as mean or nasty. We WANT to see him as strong and firm on the facts that HE does have full knowledge of on Hussein Obama. Citing Hussein’s highly questionable and dangerous [connections], and citing his failings and lack of gravitas in leadership, and his completely opposing view of this country’s foundations in democracy, capitalism, and individual personal responsibility without the government smothering us IS NOT smear tactics or dirty politics. It IS pointing out the MAJOR differences between your plans and view of where this country should go … and your belief in the people of this country to be strong and responsible enough to keep us a great nation. To point out, with this credit crisis, exactly what happens when government seeps into the freedom and lives of the citizens … and forgets it is a government by and for the people … NOT for itself. We need a leader, a REAL leader … not the crafted image of one.
Balls to the wall, Jack Mac. Balls to the wall …
Commit. Strike. The time is NOW. Git it done!
by James Pethokoukis - (USNews)
Here is the big question of the moment that many GOPers are asking: Why is John McCain not tearing into Barack Obama and the Dems on the huge role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Community Reinvestment Act in the financial crisis on Wall Street? In fact, the biggest criticism by conservatives of Sarah Palin’s debate performance last night was that she had the opportunity to talk about Fannie/Freddie and the CRA but instead criticized the role of “predatory lenders.”
Here is what Team McCain is telling me: Expect McCain to make the case on television, but don’t look for him to turn to Obama in the next debate, point his finger, and say something like this (courtesy of the Ace of Spades HQ blog):
I stayed away from making these partisan attacks, even though you lied ridiculously about me and your own attempts at ‘reform.’ I held back, because partisan attacksâ€â€even truthful onesâ€â€would harm our country and reduce the chances of getting a vital bill passed. Well, the bill is now passed. I put country first. You didn’t, and you lied on top of that. And nowâ€â€only now that this crisis has been dealt with, to the extent we canâ€â€I’m going to give you a bit of straight-talk about Fannie, Freddie, my attempts to reform it, and your attempts to block reform on behalf of your big donors and friends in ACORN.
Nope, that is not going to happen Why not? 1) It is a complicated argument, and McCain is not good at making complicated arguments, not even about earmarks. (Note, additionally, his lack of defense of the war in Iraq during his debate with Obama. Amazing.)
2) There is a racial component to criticism of the Community Reinvestment Act that can make it sound like you are scapegoating minorities for Wall Street’s problems.
3) The campaign believes McCain’s time is better spent talking about taxes and energy and healthcare. Really.
There is a newish TV ad about Fannie and Freddie. You tell me if it makes the point conservatives desperately want McCain to make. I don’t think it explicitly or aggressively connects the dots the way activists crave. Here is the transcript:
ANNCR: John McCain fought to rein in Fannie and Freddie.
The Post says: McCain “pushed for stronger regulation”…”while Mr. Obama was notably silent.”
But, Democrats blocked the reforms.
Loans soared.
Then, the bubble burst.
And, taxpayers are on the hook for billions.
Bill Clinton knows who is responsible.
PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: “I think the responsibility that the Democrats have may rest more in resisting any efforts by Republicans in the Congress or by me when I was President to put some standards and tighten up a little on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”
ANNCR: You’re right, Mr. President. It didn’t have to happen.
JOHN McCAIN: I’m John McCain and I approve this message.
My bottom line: The McCain campaign is underestimating how absolutely furious conservatives are that free markets, and by extension Reaganomics and the last 25 years of American economic policy, are getting the blame for the housing and credit crisis. A real morale killer, they tell me. Over and over. Every day.
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