FAYETTEVILLE, NC - It seems every time the McCain camp launches an attack Barack Obama’s way, the frontrunner dismisses it like a tennis player who is about to smash a softly lobbed ball into oblivion.
For two days now John McCain has used the “s” word - socialism - in addition to “welfare” and “government giveaway” when talking about Obama’s tax cut proposals. At his rally in North Carolina today, Obama responded forcefully, called McCain’s tactics “the oldest trick in the book,” a scare tactic, and nothing more than name calling.
“Socialism!” he said incredulously to a crowd of more than 10,000. “It’s kind of hard to figure how Warren Buffet endorsed me. Colin Powell endorses me and John McCain thinks I’m passing socialism,” he said with more than a hint of disbelief.
Obama explained that he would implement a tax cut for those making under $250,000 - 95% of Americans. “These are the teachers and the janitors who work in our schools. They’re the cops and firefighters who keep us safe. They’re the waitresses who work double shifts, the cashiers at Wal-Marts, the plumbers fighting for the American Dream. John McCain thinks that giving these Americans a break is socialism. Well I call it opportunity, and there is nothing more American than that,” he said.
Obama turned from defense to offense, saying that if John McCain wants to have a debate about redistributing wealth - just look at the Republican nominee’s plan. It’s McCain who would give tax breaks to those who don’t need it and don’t deserve it, Obama said - tax cuts for Fortune 500 CEOs, billions to Wall Street banks, and tax breaks for big oil companies.
“Let’s talk about the 100 million middle-class Americans who John McCain doesn’t want to give a single dime of tax relief. Don’t tell me that CEOs and oil companies deserve a tax break before the men and women who are working overtime day after day and still can’t pay the bills,” Obama said as the crowd cheered.
Obama asked those in the crowd to raise their hands if they made under $250,000 and then promised them - nearly every single person in the arena - they would not see a dime of tax increases. For those making more than that, he promised to put rates back where they were under Bill Clinton’s administration.
“Did that feel like socialism to you? Rich folks were still making out just fine back then, but we were able to make sure that ordinary folks got a little bit of help without blowing a hole through the budget and piling up mountains of debt like George W. Bush has done and like John McCain has supported,” he blasted. “We have tried it George Bush’s way. We’ve given more and more to those with the most and hoped that prosperity would trickle down to everyone else. And guess what? It didn’t work. So it’s time try something new,” he said.
And like that tennis player who knows he’s about to score, Obama said, “He can call me any name he wants - but I know what’s right and what he’s talking about is not right, it’s not change - that’s why we’re gonna beat him in this election on November 4th.”
Republicans in Augusta County, Virginia have been working hard to sustain a rise in base enthusiasm for the McCain-Palin ticket. As a by-product of the full-out promotion of Sarah Palin, they are also attracting what can best be described as, the "Hooters" vote, from male voters. It all started with blue and white, 4 foot by 8 foot field signs stating, "I Am Voting For The Chick [ http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RBnEa5uGSF8/SQ55peL6ygI/AAAAAAAAA5A/w_L6n1rLuv0/s1600-h/chick+sign+sm+1.JPG ]" campaign signs being planted outside local businesses in September. Smaller yard signs have sprouted up in next to McCain-Palin signs across the county, in Staunton and Waynesboro, and beyond. Local Republicans say that they have helped deliver more than 600 of the signs and have had sign orders from as far away as Florida and Alaska. The larger signs seem to be the most popular with male small business owners.
"... the reason behind the sign's popularity is simply Palin's appeal to many Republicans in the area. "They just love Sarah Palin," she said. "And this is just a way for them to express how much they support this woman." However, not all reaction to the signs has been positive. Mitchell said she has heard negative comments from just a handful of people and some of the signs have been vandalized, such as when the word 'not' was inserted in the phrase on one of the larger signs. Mitchell said she does not believe the sign's use of the word, "chick," is being used negatively or in a sexist manner. "It is meant in a respectful way, which is reflected in the number of women that want these signs," she said. "I mean, I'm a chick and I don't mind." McCain-Palin spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said the signs are not campaign-issued or approved. While she said it goes to show the strong support Palin has in the Valley, she downplayed the importance the signs bring."
"If Barack Obama said in a debate or in a political speech something like, "John McCain and that Chick want to raise your taxes," it would be an international incident. I have no doubt that he would be roundly criticized by feminists, all Republicans and probably even Hillary Clinton. Hillary would put a chokehold on anyone who called her a chick. It might cost Obama the election and would certainly be parallel to George Allen's Macaca moment [ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/14/AR2006081400589.html ].
But local Palin supporters put signs in their yard calling the potential vice president a "chick." Those same people would probably be offended if their wife was called a chick by somebody. I would be offended if somebody I didn't know called my wife a chick. She might like it. I don't know. But I wouldn't."
"... as a woman and medical professional, I believe that the term "chick" is insulting to any woman, whether Republican or Democrat. From my experience, "chick" is a term used mostly by men to refer to a woman who is defined more by her appearance and social interactions than by her accomplishments. Despite my belief that Sarah Palin is out of her league and not qualified to take over the presidency of the United States at a moment's notice, she is a successful woman who deserves more than being referred to as a "Chick ".
The Chick sign phenomena is one more example of the widely divergent views in the on-going American culture clash, being fully aired in the final days of this presidential campaign. The so-called Republican base would appear to be conflicted over the family-values version of Palin, versus the hot babe version that appeals to the boys, young and old. Sarah's special assets are clearly of political interest to a 72 year-old former Navy pilot named, John McCain, who's had more than his share of beautiful women in his life.
Local Democratic headquarters, have seen a steady flow of self-identified Republican women, looking for Obama-Biden campaign materials. This is probably a leading indicator, signaling that many women of a certain age, who have spent a lifetime striving to reduce these stereo-typical labels, see the Chick label as one that diminishes their standing in the workplace. This local political campaign sign issue is not likely to get much attention beyond this traditionally conservative area. But I think this may be another small Macaca moment, for Virginia Republicans.
Women voters, of all ages, will have their say on this issue on Tuesday.
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