medmo
The Fly
Chris Matthews was on Bill Maher's show last night, and Maher made the comment that the Kerry people have said that they don't want to be "mean" to Bush, because it would turn off the undecided voters. Matthews responded by saying that whatever the Kerry people are doing now, it isn't working very well. He then followed up by giving his take on what the Kerry campaign needs to be saying.
I know his response is very simplified and maybe a bit overstated (the part about the middle class vanishing), but it makes a lot of sense. This guy got accross in half a minute what the Kerry people are having trouble getting across with millions of dollars for advertising.
I'm not proposing a debate about the issues he mentions; that has been done to death here. But, and I'm speaking as a Kerry supporter, what is the Kerry people's problem when Chris Matthews, not John Kerry, makes you want to pump your fist in the air and cheer, and the actual campaign seems to be stalling at a very bad time?
Here is what he said:
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What they have to do is remind people that it?s not just an election about ?who do you like for class president? and ?whose smile do you like? and ?who would you like to have a beer with?. As if they?re ever going to have a beer with George Bush. I mean, it?s absurd. When are they going to have this beer? This illusionary, middle of the night drink with this guy? All they?re going to have him as is their president. That?s all they get out of these guys.
And my answer is; you want to think about this election more seriously. Vote Bush, vote Kerry, but think about this: do you really want the country to go in the direction they?re taking you, or say they?re going to take you, for the next ten or twenty years? Raise the stakes. That will make it easier for the undecided voter.
If you can?t decide based on what you?ve heard, think about this: Do you want to continue on the road of basically being ?go it alone? in the world? I mean, Tony Blair will be gone soon, Musharraf will be gone soon. Then we?ll be completely alone in the world.
Do you want to go toward an economy that?s basically geared toward tax cuts for people who have a lot of income, and the working class and middle class gradually disappear? Well, you know which party that is.
(Do) you want to go to a party that is a little more hesitant? If we elect John Kerry president, he will be hesitant about going to war. He will be careful. In fact, he?ll probably wait around to hear what the French think. And if that bothers you, vote for Bush.
It?s easy, but these stakes are big. Do you want health research for the next 20 years, or do you want the same diseases we have now in 20 years? I mean, think about it. I think there?s an argument for the Republicans, but it?s a long term argument for both sides.
How can you be undecided about Bush and Kerry? I don?t get it. These guys offer radically different approaches.
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Any thoughts on this? (from both sides)
By the way, before someone points it out, I know Bush doesn't drink anymore. But I think a lot of us have probably come across people who have said something along the lines of "I like Kerry, but I'd rather have a beer with Bush". It's sad that some people actually base their vote on something like that, but that's another discussion.
I know his response is very simplified and maybe a bit overstated (the part about the middle class vanishing), but it makes a lot of sense. This guy got accross in half a minute what the Kerry people are having trouble getting across with millions of dollars for advertising.
I'm not proposing a debate about the issues he mentions; that has been done to death here. But, and I'm speaking as a Kerry supporter, what is the Kerry people's problem when Chris Matthews, not John Kerry, makes you want to pump your fist in the air and cheer, and the actual campaign seems to be stalling at a very bad time?
Here is what he said:
********
What they have to do is remind people that it?s not just an election about ?who do you like for class president? and ?whose smile do you like? and ?who would you like to have a beer with?. As if they?re ever going to have a beer with George Bush. I mean, it?s absurd. When are they going to have this beer? This illusionary, middle of the night drink with this guy? All they?re going to have him as is their president. That?s all they get out of these guys.
And my answer is; you want to think about this election more seriously. Vote Bush, vote Kerry, but think about this: do you really want the country to go in the direction they?re taking you, or say they?re going to take you, for the next ten or twenty years? Raise the stakes. That will make it easier for the undecided voter.
If you can?t decide based on what you?ve heard, think about this: Do you want to continue on the road of basically being ?go it alone? in the world? I mean, Tony Blair will be gone soon, Musharraf will be gone soon. Then we?ll be completely alone in the world.
Do you want to go toward an economy that?s basically geared toward tax cuts for people who have a lot of income, and the working class and middle class gradually disappear? Well, you know which party that is.
(Do) you want to go to a party that is a little more hesitant? If we elect John Kerry president, he will be hesitant about going to war. He will be careful. In fact, he?ll probably wait around to hear what the French think. And if that bothers you, vote for Bush.
It?s easy, but these stakes are big. Do you want health research for the next 20 years, or do you want the same diseases we have now in 20 years? I mean, think about it. I think there?s an argument for the Republicans, but it?s a long term argument for both sides.
How can you be undecided about Bush and Kerry? I don?t get it. These guys offer radically different approaches.
*****************
Any thoughts on this? (from both sides)
By the way, before someone points it out, I know Bush doesn't drink anymore. But I think a lot of us have probably come across people who have said something along the lines of "I like Kerry, but I'd rather have a beer with Bush". It's sad that some people actually base their vote on something like that, but that's another discussion.