Thoughts on CNN/YouTube Republican Debate Intro Song, Part 1: “… McCain Is Loved By Many… And Hated By the Rest.”
Perhaps the most revealing moment of the CNN/YouTube Republican debate last week came from the witty introduction video. Submitted by Chris Nandor from Snohomish, Washington, it consisted of Nador strumming a guitar and singing about each candidate on stage… here’s the direct link to the video here, just click on Question 1.
And here is the CNN transcript:
Cooper: He did a very good job of it, but one Republican wanted to do that also, and he does it in a way that reminds us this is definitely a new kind of a debate.
Here is Chris Nandor from Snohomish, Washington.
Chris Nandor (singing): The Grand Old Party’s looking for somebody who can lead, someone who is electable and adheres to our creed.
Some say the group is not diverse; they’re white, they’re men, but wait. The Dems have just one candidate, Republicans have eight…
Rudy’s leading all the polls, but can he win the base?
Mitt changed on abortion; history he can’t erase.
Ron Paul would end the FDA and that is just a start.
Fred has just begun to run, but sure does look the part.
Hunter tells us what to do in foreign policy debates.
Huckabee’s compassionate and lost a lot of weight.
Tancredo says let’s build a fence across the whole Southwest.
McCain is loved by many and hated by the rest.
We don’t know who we’re voting for; we don’t know who will win. That’s why we use YouTube to ask our questions of these men.
Time is short, we’re voting soon, and I just thought I’d mention. If we don’t reach consensus, then we’ll decide at convention.”
Senator McCain laughed heartily at the joke, because it was a good line. Of course, he was the last candidate to be mentioned, and I was anticipating (and hoping) that it would be something funny. However, like most humor, it’s funny because of the element of truth it contains. And so I thought it would be a good topic, upon which to share some observations…
Should Senator McCain not obtain the Republican nomination, Nandor’s lyric would be right on target. He’s made a lot of enemies on the Republican side, in DC and elsewhere. Some are due to his heresies (campaign finance reform, immigration, etc.) from GOP orthodoxy; others are due to his good working relationship with Democrats. And despite the fact that on issues, McCain is probably more in tune with the Republican base across the board than any of his rivals, he has still had trouble courting support from the hard-core base. (Although that can change, such as the major coup he scored in obtaining the Manchester (NH) Union-Leader’s endorsement, after being attacked by it during the 2000 campaign.)
Often, making as few enemies as possible can help one rise up the ladder. The late President Gerald R. Ford and the first President Bush are probably the best examples of how a political candidate, who is hated by nobody, can advance to the top spot. But it’s not McCain’s way. Throughout his life, regardless of in what milieu he happened to reside, there was a confrontational, independent streak in his personality. And this streak, more than any other factor, is the main reason why he has so many enemies.
That having been said, McCain has done his best to take this drawback and convert it into a strength. As his recent television ad in New Hampshire, titled “Love America”, noted:
The full ad can be seen by clicking here (it takes you to YouTube):
The transcript, courtesy of the official campaign site:
TV Ad: “Love America Enough”
John McCain for President
:60 Television
“Love America Enough”
November 26, 2007
| Audio | Video |
| McCain: Since I’ve been in Washington, I’ve made a lot of people angry. | John McCain to camera |
| I made defense contractors angry when I blew the whistle on a $30 billion boondoggle and the culprits were sent to jail. | Cut to board: “Senator John McCain”. Cut back to JM to camera |
| I upset the special interests and Washington lobbyists when I passed campaign finance reform. | Cut to board: “Reformer”. Cut back to JM to camera |
| I made the Pentagon angry when I criticized Rumsfeld’s Iraq strategy and I upset the media when I supported the strategy that’s now succeeding. | Cut to board: “Took on the Pentagon” Cut back to JM to camera. |
| I angered the big spenders in congress when I called for earmark and spending reform. | Cut to board: Spending Reform” Cut back to JM to camera |
| No more 233 million dollar bridges to nowhere or 74 million for peanut storage in a defense spending bill. | |
| I didn’t go to Washington to win the Mr. Congeniality award. | Cut to board: “Service” Cut back to JM to camera. |
| I went to Washington to serve my country. | |
| I might not like the business as usual crowd in Washington. | |
| But I love America. | Cut to board: “Love of Country” Cut back to JSM to camera. |
| I love her enough to make some people angry. | |
| I’m John McCain and I approved this message. | CG: PAID FOR BY JOHN MCCAIN 2008. APPROVED BY JOHN MCCAIN. |
As Senator McCain notes at the conclusion, “I love America enough to make some people angry.” He recognizes that his positions and actions will antagonize some - and in fact, many - influential people who might have the power to frustrate his final bid for the Presidency. But he recognizes that principle is more important than pleasing everyone. Consequently, ,as far as McCain is concerned, if he has to obtain the Presidency by refusing to risk antagonizing anyone - well, in that case, he’d rather not have it.
You can contact Election Night HQ at publisher@electionnighthq.com.
Many of those who can’t stand him are right here in Arizona. We sent him to Washington to represent US, not the folks from CA, MA, NM, or anywhere else. He betrayed us. He knew how THOSE WHO ELECTED HIM feel about the border and illegal immigration. He betrayed us.
He now says he “learned something”. Why?? Because …Surprise!! Surprise!! People all over the country feel like Arizonans do. He treated us, the people who put him into office, like chopped liver.
He has done irreparable damage the the AZ GOP.
You can hype is other attributes (yes, he has them), but he won’t carry AZ in the presidential primary and if he runs again for Senator he’ll be defeated. Why?? Because he betrayed us.