Another Lost Opportunity For The Silent Majority
As we enter the final days of the longest presidential campaign season in history, polls indicate that the race is tightening. In spite of the last minute waffling of a handful of voters, the reality is that the GOP will need a miracle to pull off a victory. McCain’s projected defeat represents another lost opportunity for what I believe is a silent centrist majority in this country.
In a year when the Republicans faced insurmountable odds from the start, primary voters selected the candidate whose record least reflected the values of the radical right wing of the party. John McCain established his reputation by having the political courage to stand up to the agents of intolerance within his own party, and he has been one of the few members of the Senate to truly embrace the bipartisan spirit. In doing so, he has consistently placed the interests of the nation above those of his party.
Once the nomination was secured, McCain faced the most significant decision of the election. Would he run as himself and reach out to moderate members of both parties, or would he go against everything he has ever stood for in order to appease the far right wing of his own party. In his choice of running mates, McCain made it clear that he lacked the courage to stand up for his convictions when it mattered most.
When faced with a choice between a far left and a far right candidate, most Americans would prefer none of the above. Unfortunately, we are forced to choose between the lesser of two evils. McCain had a golden opportunity to fill the great moderate void, but when faced with the decision of a lifetime, the maverick of the Senate turned out to be a mouse.
We now face a situation where neither party is entirely satisfied with their choice of candidates, but the political pendulum has swung so far in favor of the Democrats that it will be nearly impossible for Senator Obama to lose. He has the enthusiastic support of the hard core liberal elite, and of the young people who are predisposed by their lack of life experience to believe that government policies can produce a utopian society. On the other hand, many traditional Democratic voters are wary of his liberal agenda, and would have preferred a candidate with broad moderate appeal.
Senator McCain was never an ideal candidate, but he was the least rabidly partisan nominee either party has put forth in recent memory. He could have taken advantage of his maverick reputation to appeal to a broad cross section of dissatisfied voters from both parties. Imagine how different the polls might look today if he had opted to hold the middle ground, and had the courage to tell the radical right to go to hell. Imagine if he had chosen a running mate with a record that complimented his own rather than contradicting it. Imagine if he had made his choice based on principle rather than partisanship.
Reports indicated that McCain’s personal preference for a running mate was Joe Lieberman, another man who has chosen time and time again to place his principles above his loyalty to the party. Like McCain, Lieberman is also despised by the radical elements within his own party. He has demonstrated that he values personal integrity above partisan politics, and like the McCain of old, he is admired by moderates from both parties. A McCain Lieberman ticket would have appealed to a huge number of voters who are disgusted with the purely partisan choices they now face, and if elected, they might have ushered in a new Age of Reason in American politics.
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As I started reading your post I thought, Yes! Lieberman. You’re absolutely right, Lieberman would have been a great running mate for McCain … or for Obama. Lieberman is a superb Senator, and I wish we had more who were willing (or able) to push aside their party affiliations and declare themselves Independent so they can speak clearly to issues. Alas . . .
Instead, realistically, on Tuesday the country needs a mean kick in the nuts, and that only comes from a giant Obama victory.
Jeff St,
Joe Lieberman is only one of many potential running mates who could have appealed to a broad cross section of moderates from both parties. Mark Warner is another perfect example.
We have a problem with over correcting when things go wrong in this country. We never manage to maintain a steady course since we’re always veering wildly from the far left to the far right. We go from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan, and from Hillary Clinton’s plan for healthcare to Newt Gingrich’s Contract With America. Now we are preparing for another wild swing from Bush to Obama.
The impact of these radical changes are often felt for decades beyond the 4 or 8 year presidential term. Whether it is through court appointments, or the creation of costly new government programs, our children will end up paying the price for our poor choices.