Politicians often say things that sound ridiculous and confusing because they’re often not talking to you. They’re talking to some other group of voters who understands their message. When attempting to motivate a particular group of voters, a candidate must carefully frame his message to reach that group of voters without angering others. So they speak in code as Bush often did to reach evangelicals and communicate his religious beliefs without turning off other voters. This often makes him sound confusing.

In this case, McCain is repeating an argument that Ronald Reagan made famous with his “welfare queen” line. “Socialism” is so unappealing because it means a redistribution from wealthy citizens who tend to be white to poorer citizens who tend to be of other ethnicities.

Politicians are smart and have very smart and well-paid advisers. When they say something that sounds ridiculous or weird, it’s often because they’re trying to target their message to a group of voters that you’re not a part of.

I live in a small Southern town and farming county. The area has been overwhelmingly Republican since the Civil War. Virtually all men have served or are serving in the military and are proudly nationalistic. And everyone who can sit upright attends church every Sunday.

If anyone calls any of these people a Socialist or a Communist, they do so at risk of their life. But these people are angry. They feel totally betrayed. This area will not only vote for Obama, he will win by a landslide according to recent polls and according to my conversations with people at the feed store and Elsie’s Cafe. People here don’t believe this makes them socialists; it makes them agents of riding the country of people who have destroyed them.

How are they destroyed: unemployment above 11% locally; foreclosures now running at 6% of all households; the school system has been cut back to 4 day weeks; farmers can’t get loans to buy their seed, fertilizer and fuel; young people with no prospects must leave; and the beat goes on.

That may have been capitalism we’ve experienced but they don’t care. All it has been for these people is pain.

“I hate politics. I cannot stand the maneuvering to avoid discussing issues, and instead focus on name calling”.

For me, politics is a spectator sport. I like to figure out who the winners and losers are for each policy proposal.

Concerned American:
See my comment above. Has McCain put forward much of a solution to anything? All he can say is bad things about Obama. He says nothing about how he’d move America forward. It’s funny that he’d call Obama a Socialist considering that McCain has no clue what it means and also in light of whats gone on the past few months.

CA – agree that the one party control was horrid with the GOP and don’t hold up much hope for how it will play out over the next few years if we get the Dems.

I supported Obama this cycle because of his intelligence and temperament; much of the programs and plans will have to be ‘adjusted’ to reality.

But then a return to a reality-based world would be a good thing.

I hate to think what a Democratic White House, Senate, and Congress will do to us in the future. The really bad thing is that it has to be an improvement.

I voted NEITHER and went with my original Ron Paul as a write in. Until we all get mad enough to vote neither, we can expect the SOS.