Lat night Sen. John McCain delivered his formal Presidential nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. In contrast to Barack Obama's speech, McCain's was strong on salesmanship and patriotism, but rather short on promises. The tone was also very different. Obama stressed the potential greatness that America has to offer, and essentially pledged to finally turn that potential into reality. John McCain stressed over and over again how much he loves his country, how his country saved him, and that he will continue to fight to keep his country strong.
I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can ... I will open new markets to our goods and services ... I will cut government spending.
This is good news to me, because I believe that now is a very bad time for the country to embark on an epic taxation and spending spree. McCain has promised not to sign any tax increases, but I would like to know what he wants to cut, because that will be a real hard-sell, especially to a Democrat-controlled congress.
My health care plan will make it easier for more Americans to find and keep good health care insurance. His plan will force small businesses to cut jobs, reduce wages, and force families into a government run health care system where a bureaucrat stands between you and your doctor.
Okay, there's the contrast, but what is the plan? I told my wife the other day that some kind of government health care involvement is inevitable. I only hope that is kept as minimal as necessary.
And here is a list of promises culled from more sales pitches:
Cutting the second highest business tax rate in the world
Doubling the child tax exemption from $3500 to $7000
Parents
deserve a choice in the education of their children. And I intend to
give it to them.
Ah, there's a tax cut. Tax exemptions are also good, and it's nice to have a number. It also looks like McCain will be pushing some kind of voucher system, although he doesn't explicitly call it that. Vouchers are a good idea, I believe, but critics like to point out that choices still remain limited for those with limited resources (such as not being able to transport kids across town to charter schools, which is difficult if you don't have a car or can't drive). We'll have to see how McCain addresses this.
Government assistance for unemployed workers was designed for the economy of the 1950s. That’s going to change on my watch ... We will use our community colleges to help train people for new opportunities in their communities. For workers in industries that have been hard hit, we'll help make up part of the difference in wages between their old job and a temporary, lower paid one while they receive retraining that will help them find secure new employment at a decent wage.
Now this sounds ambitious ... and expensive. But I think he is going to tie it into his energy objectives. Let's see ...
My fellow Americans, when I’m President, we’re going to embark on the most ambitious national project in decades. We are going to stop sending $700 billion a year to countries that don’t like us very much. We will attack the problem on every front. We will produce more energy at home. We will drill new wells offshore, and we’ll drill them now. We will build more nuclear power plants. We will develop clean coal technology. We will increase the use of wind, tide, solar and natural gas. We will encourage the development and use of flex fuel, hybrid and electric automobiles ... This great national cause will create millions of new jobs, many in industries that will be the engine of our future prosperity; jobs that will be there when your children enter the workforce.
So that's it. Expanding our energy infrastructure is the key to creating new, lasting jobs. Again, very ambitious, and something that will take a lot longer than four years to accomplish. Still the idea is good, and it's refreshing to see McCain tell us what kind of industries he thinks will have the best potential for providing good future employment prospects. Remember, Obama only generically mentioned "start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow." I think McCain should use job creation as a major selling point for his "all of the above" energy plan, explaining that domestic energy production -- and the technology required to make that production efficient and environmentally safe -- is a realistic way to create jobs. This is an effective, specific link that Obama's jobs and energy plans lack. I'll also add that the success of this kind of plan depends on economic growth, not just expanded government programs fueled by tax increases. Government programs can guarantee a limited number of low paying jobs in the short run, but little else.
As President, I will work to establish good relations with Russia so we need not fear a return of the Cold War. But we can’t turn a blind eye to aggression and international lawlessness that threatens the peace and stability of the world and the security of the American people.
Here is another stark contrast to Obama, which was glaringly apparent at the Saddleback Forum. McCain has no problem identifying evil and facing it. Obama seems to believe that to a varying degree, we're all evil, and no nation really has enough moral authority to point the evils committed by other nations without first confessing its sins and promising reparations to those it has wronged. That seems to be the basis for Obama's "meet without preconditions" rhetoric on diplomacy.
Again and again, I’ve worked with members of both parties to fix problems that need to be fixed. That’s how I will govern as President. I will reach out my hand to anyone to help me get this country moving again. I have that record and the scars to prove it. Senator Obama does not.
Instead of rejecting good ideas because we didn’t think of them first, let’s use the best ideas from both sides. Instead of fighting over who gets the credit, let’s try sharing it. This amazing country can do anything we put our minds to. I will ask Democrats and Independents to serve with me. And my administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability.
And yet again, McCain outlines a fundamental difference between himself and Obama. It bears repeating -- Obama is a brilliant guy, a good writer, and an inspiring orator. But he has never challenged the establishment of his party. Not once. As an Illinois state representative and senator, he either voted party line, or "present." The hard Left of the Democratic party is not expecting Obama to be "post-partisan" if he becomes President. If they actually thought that he would seek common ground with conservatives and offer non-partisan solutions, they would be scared to death of him.
It seems that McCain/Palin has a record of change, while Obama is simply hoping for it.
Comments