Campaign Strategy: McCain’s Plan to Beat Barack Obama

TIME Magazine’s Mark Halperin reveals and interesting 16 point strategy in which he believes Sen. McCain will utilize in the general election against Senator Barack Obama. The McCain campaign is staffed with savvy, experienced operatives who have closely watched the rise of Obama, and thanks to Hillary Clinton, have had quite the cheat sheet when it comes to what they can or cannot attack on, the issues he is vulnerable or stronger in debate wise, and a couple personal, or as some would say, “dirty“, ammunition that could be unleashed against the junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama if needed. You will also see that there are quite a few of these 16 points which Hillary did not have the liberty of being able to use due to her stance on the same issue.

1. Play the national security card without hesitation.
2. Talk about the Iraq War without apologies or perceived contradiction.
3. Go at Obama unambiguously from the right.
4. Encourage interest groups, bloggers, and right-leaning media to explore Obama’s past.
5. Make an issue of Obama’s acknowledged drug use.
6. Allow supporters to risk being accused of using the race card when criticizing Obama.
7. Exploit Michelle Obama’s mistakes and address her controversial remarks
8. Play dirty without alienating his party.
9. Dismiss Obama’s brief tenure from his own lofty platform of decades in the Senate.
10. Use his sterling war record to reinforce his image of patriotism and valor.
11. Emphasize Obama’s unusual name & background through Manchurian Candidate prism.
12. Use third party groups (NRA) against Obama on issues that may turn off voters.
13. Face an electorate less consumed with change change change”
14. Link biography (experience/courage) and leadership (straight talk) to a vision.
15. Give Obama his first real race against a credible Republican.
16. Confront Obama with a united, focused campaign absent of second-guessing.

Upon going through the list I found a couple things disturbing, and quite frankly shocking in this repertoire of GOP gamesmanship. To cheer-lead the idea of McCain attacking Obama on his name, and ethnicity is disappointing, especially coming from a publication like TIME, which has a reputation of being a little more ‘high brow‘ in terms of its content and coverage. Moreover, the idea that McCain should utilize a selected group of surrogates and supporters to attack Obama’s race is fit for the 1950′s, not 2008, and I really wish Mark Halperin would open his mind just a tad because even giving this idea print space continues to perpetuate the idea that Obama’s race has anything to do with his qualifications for the White House.

With that being said I have decided to compile a 10 point game plan for Senator Obama, and may I add, a comprehensive strategy that will guarantee a Democratic victory this coming November. Now my 10 point plan may not be as “fancy” as Halperin’s was, but don’t you worry it’s just as mean spirited, and below the belt. Anyways, here is my 10 point plan that Obama needs to utilize in order to dominate the general election:

1. Play the Iraq card non-stop, including the 935 lies that took us and subsequently have kept us there. Show the faces of those killed, and images of those injured while emphasizing that “this wasn’t necessary” while recognizing the bravery and valor of the troops. Lay out an argument explaining that those who are serving in combat sign up for service to protect us, and go to war against countries that pose a threat to us, yet these heroes end up getting killed and maimed in a country that posed no such threat.
2. Offer no apologies for your anti Iraq stance, instead turn it around. Point out the fact the surge IS NOT working, and If McCain attacks Patriotism, respond with “how patriotic is it to continue supporting a war which is killing our kids, a war that was beyond a shadow of a doubt was built on lies.”
3. Attack Cindy McCain like a rabid pit bull. In the honor of every slanderous attack Republicans have unleashed on us over the past 10 years, turn this family inside out, while deeming nothing off limits. This includes his wife Cindy’s past drug addictions, her family history, and upbringing. Note: For this to work it has to be utilized in a constant, and steady approach, laying it on thick, but not in an obnoxious, over the top kind of way. (reference Rove’s utilization of the Swift Boat Veterans against Kerry.)
4. Acknowledge McCain’s valor and sacrifice. But subtly, and more importantly, as a seperate context, make it known that McCain received over 100 demerits in one year at the naval academy, was a documented lack luster fighter, and met his current wife while philandering (by his own admission of selfishness). Formulate it as a hypothetical test: “Would his first wife, his father and grandfather, his Commanding Officers prior to capture, and the airmen he commanded vote for him based on his strength of character, ability to lead, and infinite patience and fortitude to lead the greatest nation in the world? I think not, and make sure everyone in America does too.
5. If he runs on “ready from day one”, turn around and jam it down his throat. Acknowledge that McCain will in fact be ready to lead in the same manner as this administration on day one. A manner which illustrates (and this shouldn’t be hard to do based on its overwhelming truth), that McCain has been wrong from day one” on all the issues voters care about.
6. Point out, and continually return to McCain’s well earned reputation as a hot-head, who speaks before he thinks. Anyone who does not have the self control to refrain himself from telling a fellow Republican Senator to ‘F–K OFF!‘ should not be trusted as our President. Remember that Dick Cheney also took part in this type of behavior on the Senate floor, compare and then label McCain as similar mirror image of Cheney in this regard.
7. Hit him early and often on the fact there is documented evidence proving McCain had given serious thought to leaving the Republican party and siding with either the Democratic party or becoming an independent and caucusing with the Democrats ala Sen. Jim Jeffords. Cite the interviews of Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and ex-Rep. Tom Downey (D-N.Y.) Both said there were nearly two months of talks with the maverick lawmaker following an approach by John Weaver, McCain’s chief political strategist. *Be careful not to let this get away from you, in the sense McCain spins it as being a sign of his ‘Maverick‘ ways. Instead focus on it through the context of McCain’s having a senatorial history of back room planning, secretiveness, back stabbing, dis-honesty, and overall lack of loyalty.*
8. Use comedy, and comedians. If McCain is going to use his neo-con interest groups like the National Rifle Association in attempts to sway voters, Barack should use what waspons he has. For example, if John McCain starts up with Barack’s stance on firearms, Barack needs to comprehensively, and academically explain his point of view. But with that, from time to time throw in a little humor, it will let you connect with the everyday voter, while at the same time indirectly chip away at McCain. For example, “I can’t wait for Obama vs. McCain. It’s going to be youtube vs. feeding tube.”
9. Remember and frequently use the Democrat’s strongest weapon –George W. Bush–. Bush’s failure, which McCain has for the most part been completely behind, trump any baseless experience or drug use attack the right lobs at Obama.
10. Most importantly. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR MESSAGE to the us, the American people. It is fine to begin focusing in on policy specifics, differences, and plans you have but stay true to the new found hope you have given so many people in this country. Not to mention that it is in fact that incredibly motivating message that has brought millions of people who have never been involved in politics to finally care. This is not only important electorally, but also in the sense that you do not have the “years” McCain does, so he separated from you there. However you have an indescribable passion which attracts so many people that otherwise wouldn’t be able to name who was running. And that is a trait McCain does not have.

There you have it, my 10 point plan for Obama victory against the ‘senior citizen discount‘ getting, “the price is right” watching, republican from Arizona who looks 92, but is really 72. Either, or, the man is incredibly, and I emphasize incredibly old, use it. Heck –if all else fails– start attacking him on his diminishing driving skills, which include moving at a steady 5 miles under the speed limit, repeated instances of slowing down on the entrance ramp of the freeway, and stubborn refusal to turn his blinker of after changing lanes.

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