MyDD :: Linking McCain To Bush

Linking McCain To Bush

by Todd Beeton, Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:08:48 PM EST

The discipline with which Democrats have pushed the McCain = Bush's 3rd term meme has been quite impressive. Whether the presidential candidates on the stump or Democratic surrogates on the teevee, our message machine is a far cry from the herding cats/circular firing squad of days past. McCain laughs it off (creepily), of course, saying that the only reason Barack Obama feels the need to repeat the meme so many times is that people know it's not true, but of course every time it's repeated, even if it is to refute it, it's reinforced, so thanks, Senator.

Clearly, one of the goals of the constant repetition of the McCain = Bush's Third Term frame is to get the media to pick it up and while they may not have actually adopted the frame (yet), they've certainly taken notice of it and are swiftly becoming fairly reliable partners in spreading it.

Take this headline on the frontpage of NYTimes.com today:

Obama Links McCain To Bush Economic Woes

It links to a post on the Caucus blog that opens:

Calling Senator John McCain's approach to economic issues, "a full-throated endorsement of George Bush's policies," the presumptive Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama offered a preview of his plan for restoring the health of the American economy.

Hook, line and sinker.

Also, yesterday, George Stephanopoulos asked Lindsey Graham the following question on This Week:

You said the tax policy and the healthcare policy were essentially...John McCain is calling for an extension or maybe even an enhancement of the Bush policies.

Graham's response:

Yes, absolutely...

You have to see it to believe it:

It's nice to see Democrats winning a message war. Over the past few years these victories have been few and far between. How things have changed. Even Tom DeLay seems to have noticed:

"The conservatives refuse to accept that the left is cleaning their clock, and until you hit some bottom, wherever that is, to where it says, 'Well, maybe we ought to do something different,' little or nothing's going to change."

Tags: 2008 presidential election, john mccain, bush's third term, media (all tags)

Permalink :: 18 Comments :: Post a Comment

thanks for a great post! (2.00 / 1)

by slinkerwink on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:12:20 PM EST

Re: Linking McCain To Bush (2.00 / 1)

Obama is doing great!!

Bringing it to McCain-Bush.

by TomP on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:16:10 PM EST

Re: Linking McCain To Bush (none / 0)

kerry's smirk after saying "not the effective rate." is quite great.

by alex100 on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:17:01 PM EST

A message problem? (none / 0)

If the GOP thinks this is just a message problem for them, they're sadly mistaken. The best way I've heard it put is this:

The GOP let Alfred E. Newman sit behind the wheel of their bus for the past eight years and drive it off a cliff. The fuckin' thing is falling, Alfred's grinning mug is turned back to them asking "How's that, fellas?" and from the back of the bus, one GOP leader pries his tongue off the window and whispers "Psst, I think we have a message problem."

by Angry White Democrat on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:25:24 PM EST

It /is/ great to see this guy nailed as the (none / 0)

3rd installment in the Bush (White) House of Horrors, because...he is!

should we go outside? / should we break some bread? / are you'nterested?

by Firewall on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:28:42 PM EST

When Tom DeLay tells you you're screwed... (none / 0)

You're really screwed.

Chairman Dean has done a fantastic job since 2005 in making sure the voters know that it's not just Bush that's the problem, it's the entire Washington Republican culture that rewards corruption.

In this avalanche, the pebbles get to vote.

by Dracomicron on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 03:44:18 PM EST

Finally! (none / 0)

[...] but of course every time it's repeated, even if it is to refute it, it's reinforced, so thanks, Senator.

This is the beauty of taking control of the framing. I love that our side is doing it for a change!

by xeju on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 04:02:30 PM EST

Re: Finally! (none / 0)

You had to think SOMEONE was paying attention to the 2000 and 2004 elections.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:25:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Let's hear it for the VLWC!!! (none / 0)

"Mom, baseball, apple pie, and a unified Democratic juggernaut."

by Purplepeople on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 04:08:59 PM EST

so far its working (none / 0)

McCain is visibly ticked off by the comparison

He is trying to fire back at Obama by saying he voted for Bush/cheney energy bill
which is the first time I seen republican attack a dem by linking them to a republican

any reason why no attacks as far as McCain from 2000 compared to McCain of 2008 ?

I would love to see some FLIP FLOP attacks as poetic justice for how the repugs drilled Kerry on flip flopping

" I was against the the tax cuts before I was for them"
-John McBush

PUMA: Particularly Undeveloped Mental Ability

by wellinformed on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 04:21:23 PM EST

Re: so far its working (none / 0)

Yeah and we know what kind of temper McCain has... Hopefully we can get him to go off on a tirade on national TV. THAT would be awesome. I know my Debate Question...

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:27:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Linking McCain To Bush (none / 0)

I don't know who dreamed up McSame but it's brilliant. In one word it captures his positioning as a continuance of all the lies, incompetence, hypocrisy, and illegality of the past seven years. The ad spinners are going to have a field day with Bush/McCain. What a great bumper sticker. Bush/McCain: more with McSame.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 04:22:24 PM EST

Re: Linking McCain To Bush (none / 0)

It was GREAT to actually here an elected official use it on TV. I heard McCaskill use it last week on CNN. I had to rewind to make sure i heard it right... I know we will use it, but I never dare hoped elected officiails would use the word McSame!

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:28:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

heeheeheeheehee! (none / 0)

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning...!"

Let me be clear, I really wanted to vote for Kerry in 2004, but like most in the middle who were not deeply politically active, I had the Messaging of the two parties to choose from. The Democratic Party was terrible at controlling message and the Republican Party led them around by the nose until Democrats looked the same, but less capable.

I am very much enjoying being deeply involved, this time. The turnabout in who is leading the narrative is stark. I believe I am on a winning side this time that will not make me feel like an idiot after the win.

-chris - Upper Left Purple Independent

Donate!

by chrisblask on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:08:50 PM EST

Re: heeheeheeheehee! (none / 0)

So you voted for Bush? Or didn't vote at all?

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:29:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Bush (none / 0)

[hangs head in shame]

[sad excuse warning]

But I wasn't alone! The editors of the Economist wrote up my feelings exactly in the issue right before the election: <sic> "We really want to say 'Kerry!', but he and the Democratic party have failed to make an argument on how he would be different."

Even the Economist editors tried really hard to like Kerry, but the party and the message being put forth was a weak glass of tea. There was a lot of desire for a compelling change in a very difficult time, but all that was offered up was a diluted "me too, but better!".

Maybe if I had been anything other than an average voter paying only moderate attention I would have picked up more - and I take sole responsibility for my actions - but what got out into the press was a flailing attempt to respond to points put forth by the existing administration and remodel Kerry into Bush+.

I have been strongly pro-dem this cycle since at least 2006 - even in 2004 I was hoping the Dems put up anyone in 08 who could offer a coherent story. This is why it is so nice to be supporting a party that is dramatically more together than the alternative (and the GOP by contrast is dramatically more visibly weak by comparison). Since Sen. Clinton announced I have known I would vote Dem this year.

Sorry about that whole global catastrophe thing...

-chris

Donate!

by chrisblask on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 06:51:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Linking McCain To Bush - on Glenn Beck now (none / 0)

Some guest-host I don`t know just said "Am I going to be hearing that Four More Years of Bush for the next six months? I have people calling into my radio show saying McCain is Four More Years of Bush!!"

:-)

-chris

Donate!

by chrisblask on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 07:10:19 PM EST

Re: Linking McCain To Bush - on Glenn Beck now (none / 0)

and more:

"McCain is doing nothing but responding. He needs to start defining himself!"

other GOP commentator:

"Sure, Obama is a Great Orator, a Great Visionary and looks like a Great Leader, but what you get with McCain is a known quantity. We still don't really know enough about him."

That's the best you got?

OK, so keep talking, Senator O.

Donate!

by chrisblask on Mon Jun 09, 2008 at 07:17:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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