NPR: McCain Likes to Go to Places that Republicans Avoid

McCain Likes to Go to Places that Republicans Avoid

One of the hallmarks of the Bush administration is the carefully selected crowd that attends an event that features the president. Whether it's a town hall meeting or a major policy speech, the crowd is almost guaranteed to never give the president a hard time or boo him.

Which is why Sen. John McCain's strategy of heading into areas that probably haven't seen a Republican politician since the middle of the last century is so interesting. Take, for instance, his appearance at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis on the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King there. It was not a necessary friendly crowd. Many of those who heard him apologize for not supporting in 1983 a national holiday in recognition of King booed or heckled him. But many others gave him kudos for coming.

And that's part of what McCain is aiming for as he crafts his image in the mind of the America voter.

As John Dickerson writes in Slate.com, "McCain is planning to speak in inner cities, heavily African-American sections of the South, and poor sections of Appalachia. Most of his stops will be in areas where voters have traditionally supported Democrats."

Dickerson says that McCain doesn't think he can win many new votes in these areas, nor is he trying to show "independents that he cares about minorities and the underprivileged, a traditional bank shot candidates take in order to make themselves appealing to moderate voters."

His goal, writes Dickerson, is more like "performance art" an attempt to show off the unfiltered and authentic McCain. But it's also an attempt to generate some media attention at a time when that's not easy for the Republican nominee to do. "The press likes Republicans-doing-unorthodox-things stories, and McCain likes to see himself reflected back as a maverick in their coverage."

But the underlying idea is that the McCain people want to paint Sen. Barack Obama as "a big phony." While the Obama campaign has been "conservative" in its approach to the media, McCain loves to mix it up with reporters. He sees it as a real strength of his campaign. "Obama talks about doing these things," says a McCain aide, "he just doesn't do them."

11:51 AM ET | 04-10-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Maybe it's McCain that's the "Agent of Change"...though Obama stands on change, he appears to be transforming into the typical politician with his actions and words (perhaps hungry for acceptance within the political stronghold)...while McCain seems to be anything but "typical" and challenges "the club"...can't wait to see more!

Sent by ard | 1:33 PM ET | 04-10-2008

The problem is, that conservatives and liberals cannot see each other for what they are. It is a simple difference in ideology expressed through language.

Conservatives define freedom anarchistically. The free market idea is an inherently anarchistic system.

Liberals believe in democratic freedom. The popular will of the people directing policy.

But neither of these systems work purely. A pure democracy will always end in mob rule, and eventually monarchy. A true free market will always lead to aristocracy and then oligarchy.

The solution, as I see it, is moderation. We want a strong democracy with democratic regulatory controls of the market, and a market that can operate freely without undue repression by the governing body (whose main purpose is legislative anyway)

We must undo the conflict between liberals and conservatives, because as things stand now, we are divided, and cannot stand.

"To seldom take a side and learn to compliment the friction."

Sent by Jody Sol | 2:08 PM ET | 04-10-2008

While it is a positive step, by itself, that McCain is doing this, I must ask whether it's not also a commentary on how far the bar has been lowered. Further, given that Bush, as candidate and President, has faced relatively little direct censure for his "bubble-boy" existence... one might assume that most people, including journalists, now attach little importance to facing critical audiences. The suggestion that McCain is somehow virtuous for doing so, thus, rings even more hollow.

Sent by MJ Kuhns | 3:00 PM ET | 04-10-2008

http://www.realmccainbook.com/

McCain involved in real fights with fellow republican Rick Renzi

Sent by Liz | 3:44 PM ET | 04-10-2008

Jody Sol - read Lakoff by chance? ;)

Sent by Sean | 10:50 PM ET | 04-10-2008

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