DES MOINES — Senator John McCain, who has not known as a mellifluous orator, is already playing the political game of lowering expectations for his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis next month – particularly since Senator Barack Obama will deliver his speech before the Democrats at the Denver Broncos’ football stadium.
“I know, by the way, and you know, that Senator Obama will give a great speech at their convention before 75,000 people in Denver, and I don’t expect to match up to that,’’ Mr. McCain told a crowd at a fund-raiser at the Wakonda Club here. “And in the debates, I expect him to do extremely well in the debates. He’s very, very good. But I think it’s going to be substance that matters.’’
Despite Mr. McCain’s disclaimers, his campaign is already at work on his convention address. Mark Salter, one of Mr. McCain’s closest aides, has written a draft of the speech, some 25 minutes in length, and is in the process of showing it to top advisers, although Mr. McCain himself has not seen it.
From 1 to 25 of 39 Comments
Ok, so McCain can’t speak. But considering that is half the job he is applying for . . .
— BrendanI would like to hear McCain explain his health plan and then go on to tell us what he means by the “benefit promises that cannot be kept” which he talks about in his discussion of Social Security on his web site.
He says he wants a bipartisan task force to work on entitlements but he must have some ideas of his own. I am dying to hear them.
Readers who want a further discussion of this issues are invited to go to: http://wonksanonymous.com/2008/07/27/time-for-some-straight-talk.aspx
Chris Martin a.k.a.
— Wonks AnonymousThat quote about substance being what matters would carry more weight if McCain hadn’t spent the last few weeks behaving like a teenage girl who got bumped out of what she thought was her rightful spot as prom queen.
By the way, has he not seen it because he can’t turn on the PC?
— HillaryFinally, I’d just like to say that John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan that will create millions of good American jobs, ensure our nation’s energy security, get the government’s budget and spending practices in order, and bring relief to American consumers. Furthermore, There are serious issues at stake in this election, and serious differences between the candidates. And we will argue about them, as we should. But it should remain an argument among friends; each of us struggling to hear our conscience, and heed its demands; each of us, despite our differences, united in our great cause, and respectful of the goodness in each other.
(What do I win, Senator McCain? What do I win? Is it a hovercraft?! Oh boy, I’ve always wanted a hovercraft!)
— Abhinav“But I think it’s going to be substance that matters.”
Yes, unfortunately for McCain, and fortunately for Obama, substance will matter.
Obama, in addition to being an excellent orator (not an unimportant skill in a president), has substance. He’s not perfect, but his ideas and policies are thoughtful, intelligent, detailed, and have a good chance or even an excellent chance of working.
McCain has Britney Spears, Karl Rove’s protege Steve Schmidt, and seemingly very few, if any, viable policy plans.
Hmm, what a tough choice.
— emilyWill Obama’s soaring oratory in Denver strangely work against him, given that it’s been held up as the song without substance?
— RaynorSubstance? We have seen in the past two weeks that John McCain is the political equivalent of an O’Doul’s.
— BenBush set the speaking bar so low-basically, don’t drool on camera-that McCain shouldn’t be concerned about how his speech plays.
The 40% who support him will be pleased, the 50% who support Obama will think McCain is as dumb as Bush, and the balance either won’t listen or won’t care
— HaroldMcCain is a total joke. It’s obvious that the reason he can’t speak well is that he lacks the intellect to do so. Further, he shows a suprizing lack of logic, which probably had to do with his elite upbringing as the son of a long line of admirals. Sound familiar? It should, its McBush part III. We do not need any more low performers from the elite class.
— StevePlease … let’s just be sure that the convention backdrop is green. That will make it all better for Sen. McCain — especially with his jack-o-lantern grin and scary laugh. It’s pretty funny that McCain is managing to lead the MSM around by its nose to believe that being eloquent is a negative … yeah, I need another clod who’s going to be made fun of around the world. Expectations or not, it’s McCain’s unscripted gaffes that are more worrisome, as I doubt he’s going to lead the convention in a rousing verse of “Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran…”
— BetteMcCain is a total joke. It’s obvious that the reason he can’t speak well is that he lacks the intellect to do so.
- Posted by Steve
————————
That’s an interesting remark, considering that Obama is avoiding town hall style debates because he fears McCains stronger ability to speak without cue cards or teleprompters.
McCain can think on his feet in front of a mike. Obama, like Reagan, needs a script — and a teleprompter to keep him from forgetting it.
— RaynorWhat will happen is this. Barack Obama will give a great speech in Denver. It will probably equal to the one he gave in Berlin. The following week John MCcain will give a lackluster speech that will attack Barack Obama and offer nothing in substance. The day after the Republican Convention John McCain will start airing negative ads showing Barack Obama giving his speech in Denver. The narrator will attack his celebrity status, attack his economic and energy plan and say that Barack Obama is too liberal and is a tax ans spend Democrat.
As for John McCain, his speech will consist of continuing the wars, more drilling for oil companies, privatization of social security and reforming health care (this by taxing employer provided health insurance as gross income and offering a $2500/$5000 tax rebate; even though family coverage can exceed $12000/year [they will be taxed on the extra $7000].
Something to look forward to. Hey, at least College Football will distract from this mess the follwiing Saturday. By the way, which will have better ratings ESPN Thursday Night College Football or John McCain’s acceptance speech? I wonder why the Republican Party waited to the first week of football season (and the Labor Day weekend) to hold their convention.
— NickThat’s an interesting remark, considering that Obama is avoiding town hall style debates because he fears McCains stronger ability to speak without cue cards or teleprompters.
Posted by Raynor
————————————————-
— BoomBoomThis is silly as can be described. Why should Senator Obama do McCain’s bidding? Wouldn’t the
three deabtes be enough? McCain, even by himself, does not come out as thoughtful. What will town-hall meeting do for Obama? McCain should spend the time to write his acceptance speech rather than somebody writing for him. Please, do not raise the debate nonsense any more.
It’s nice to know that Jon McCain has the humility to confess his public speaking abilities and limitations.But as a world leader of the most powerful nation this is not only a desirable but essential ability.Even the body language while giving the speech makes great impact in the electronic media.McCain has a disadvantage thanks to the POW injury.Hope his ’speech substance’ makes up for these deficiencies.
— Arun Mehta#14 arun…i see your work, and i know your heart is in the right place. know this…
songbird mccain’s arm injuries are not the result of north vietnamese torture. when he bailed out of his plane, he failed to properly tuck his arms into his body.
he broke his arms bailing out. there are many questions about mccain’s POW years.
— JP, milltown, njBoomBoom,
Why should McCain be bothered to write his own speech when he has Mark Salter to do it for him? After all, Salter is the one who wrote McCain’s “auto”biographies.
Obama actually wrote his own 2 books himself … surely that seems quaint in McCain’s ghostwritten world.
— SueNow, now, now…don’t expend yourselves too early. Save some of the rancor for McCain’s victory speech on Election Day.
The upside? You’ll have four more years to natter, whine and complain. But at least carrying on in here will keep you off the streets.
— CurliquedanMcCain has three issues:
1. Taxes. He’ll cut them.
2. Defense. Obama is weak.
3. Energy. McCain is a pragmatist.
End of story.
— John BailoCurliQ,
The ones I currently see being kept off the streets is you, steve pesce and Vos, et al, considering how many times I run across your names. You certainly are a … ahem … repetitively sincere, time-consuming supporter of Sen. McCain. Let’s hope you are all self-employed because if not, your employer deserves better.
— Sue#12 NICK
#17 Curly
Nick, nice post and very correct.
Curly - you must have us confused with someone who gives a damn about your rants.
McCain is very underwhelming. He first praises his opponent who hasn’t spoken yet and then says that his opponent will win debates.
Then, he says, substance matters. If the debates don’t have substance, then why even bother?
If people get down to issues, which seems like many in electorate don’t, there are some issue differences.
A “cut and spend and only tax working people’s healthcare and not rich people while running up the deficit” Republican vs a “reverse the Bush tax cuts to the rates during our good economic times under Clinton and run less of a deficit” Democrat.
On a personal issues, the choices are a “PC-illiterate academically underwhelming war hero flip-flopper with years of experience hanging with lobbyists adulterer $100 million dollar elitist” Republican vs a “classic American success story Christian faithful husband PC-using top Ivy league graduate liberal” Democrat.
— njJeffThe Republican National Convention is in Saint Paul; not Minneapolis.
— OskyladThe convention is in Saint Paul.
— SamThat’s an interesting remark, considering that Obama is avoiding town hall style debates because he fears McCains stronger ability to speak without cue cards or teleprompters.
Posted by Raynor
—
Obama sounds much more intelligible than McCain in informal contexts. You can tell he isn’t a seasoned politician, but he’s the real deal. Listening to McCain talk is painful - sometimes he sounds so lost and tired, I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeled over right there.
— varanoidThis goes to show McCain really is another puppet just like Bush!!!
— Andy#17 Curliquedan,
— Mark Wilkes Barre PALOL !!!!!!
I just got done explaing to Dem apoligists and sidetrackers how the act of an individual is not reflective of the ideals or core beliefs of an entire party on the Edwards story,, I needed a good laugh, Thanks