The debatable question arose:
"Who is more likely to gain support from the independents? John McCain or Barak Obama?"
Some of the students argued that John McCain would be more likely to get the independents vote because he is a "moderate conservative," while Barak Obama is on the far left with liberal ideals. But what the students failed to understand is that McCain is a full-blown left wing conservative, and there's nothing "moderate" about him. Although some media outlets might make him out to be a moderate conservative, the proof is really in the pudding. Don't believe me?
The front page of Huffington Post featured an article today that perfectly summarizes just how conservative John McCain really is. When it comes to every partisan issue, John McCain takes the right-wing stance indefinitely. Not only does he support the war in Iraq, but he also has served as a key ally in George Bush's efforts to increase U.S soldiers occupying the country. Other topics like abortion, gun control, and gay rights also illustrate that "moderate," is really not a descriptive word pertaining to the Republican candidate.
When it comes to abortion, McCain is a self-proclaimed pro-life advocate. He has vowed to appoint Supreme Court Justices that will limit the impact of the Roe v. Wade ruling, which basically legalized abortion. His views on gay marriage are just as conservative since he completely opposes it. In fact, he worked to ban gay marriage in Arizona and fully supports the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. He even opposed legislation that would protect homosexuals from hate crimes and job discrimination. To top things off, he is an avid supporter of the National Riffle Association and has voted AGAINST a ban for assault-style weapons. But people consider him a moderate conservative?
Where is the logic in that?
Polls have indicated that most people do in fact see McCain as a centrist while Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton are perceived as far left candidates. Studies done by political scientists such as Philip Converse show that independents are typically less politically aware than strong Democrats or Republicans. This presidential election would perfectly illustrate that finding if the independents are naive enough to fall for McCain's "moderate conservative" tactics.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 5)
1. I always wonder why it's assumed that Independents are necessarily moderate voters?
I'm independent because I think the Democrats are sell-outs and I'm looking for a real progressive candidate.
Jo at 6:53PM on Apr 14th 2008
2. Conservatives win a lot more elections than liberals, so being labeled as the former is no liabilty. This is, after all, not a liberal country.
Also, given that the Huff Post must rank as one of the least read blogs for moderates, I doubt McCain supporters are going to lose any sleep over the thought of the masses abandoning their man.
YGBSM at 7:36PM on Apr 14th 2008
3. Thank you, now I can vote for McCain without worrying if he is conservative enough. You have convinced me beyond a reasonable doubt that he is a hard core conservative(wink, wink)All the other republicans sitting on the fence can now do likewise. You are such a fount of wisdom.(another wink)
audrey hobbs at 8:30AM on Apr 15th 2008
4. Thanks for rehashing old news.
McCain's conservative?
Great! He's got my vote.
Heath Griner at 7:25PM on Apr 15th 2008
5. You should change sections in your poli sci class.
The ranks of indendents are swelling with ex Dem and ex Repub party members.
Independents are now probably the most politically aware group; they have looked dispassionately on the political scene, assessed it, and fled the established parties.
McCain is radical right. He has voted with Bush 95% of the time. He only crosses the aisle when to do so promotes the Neo Con position (ie preferential amnesty for Hispanic to promote North American Union/free trade), with the exception of campaign finance reform and he championed that to try and wash some of the slime off his hands from the Keating 5. Independents are not going to buy his 100 years in iraq policy. He has refused to say what his intentions are re illegal aliens, other than some will get to stay, so is in a better position to craft a policy that the 68% of the population who want deportation might accept; say been here 10 years or more,pay a $50,000 per person fine, no other criminal activity, ie no id theft, or using forged documents, or ignorning court orders and paid taxes the whole time. In other words, only a handful of people are eligible.
Obama is looney left. He has no legislative accomplishments to speak of, never crosses the aisle, and the only leading he has done is to lead impressionable young voters down the garden path. His recent remarks, the people has associates with, and his lies to the American people about his intention to push free trade and for open borders have defined him as a very naive, racist, elitist who is way out of his depth. He is not electable. Few moderates will vote for him now that has shown who he really is, and what, at least some of his poicies really are. We have had enough of a President lying to us.
Clinton is in the moderate zone. She is conservative on national defense, and liberal on social policy. She has proven track record of standing up for regular folk, of legislative accomplishment, and crossing the aisle. She was pro open borders, nafta until she learned from We the People, that nafta benefits the rich only, and presumably from economists, that we cannot afford to let 20-36 million illegal aliens stay. She also "got" that amnesty is inheriantly unfair to all legal immigrants waiting go come in, and it is a huge violation of our fundamental social contract; the rule of law. But she could only backtrack so far, with the result that her amnesty stanc still gives racist preferences (at least 80% are hispanic per the Pew Hispanic Center) to lawbreakers. As 68% of Americans want the rule of law restored, and conservatives viserally hate her, she will have a hard time winning an election.
We need a third party.
Bettybb at 9:19PM on Apr 14th 2008
6. Don't listen to these conservative clowns (AOL is filled with them for some reason) and keep up the good writing.
Apparently you're intelligent enough to realize that dramatic increases in the national debt, a dollar that's fallen 40% since 2000 (and oil that tripled in cost) and a tanking economy (all with tax cuts for the rich...and here I thought tax cuts solved all problems?) are BAD things and that voting for another 4 years of that BS is something only the worst kind of stubborn/uninformed/misinformed idiot would do.
ihavenobias at 9:41PM on Apr 14th 2008
7. Ok....independents and other moderate republicans need to also wake up Obama is not a moderate he is a bleeding heart liberal, who has the most liberal voting record in the senate.
Zach at 10:18PM on Apr 14th 2008
8. This election will show if the people will fall for empty suit, empty promises, empty accomplishments Barak Obama, who plans to "pull people together". What? He can't even pull the Dems together.
He's NOT going to get the Conservatives on his side.
McCain -- no one else.
Know Islam. No Peace.
www.thereligionofpeace.com
www.jihadwatch.org
God bless America!
mary at 9:23PM on Apr 15th 2008
9. VOTE MCCAIN
IRONBLUEEYES at 11:42PM on Apr 14th 2008
10. Graduate class debate? Bet you got your ass handed to you Cenk or you would be working on a campaign instead of a radio network funded by George Soros.
THE huffington Post is one of the most boring useless blegs out there. Ariana should have stayed a conservative but once you hit the big money, hey what the heck, right? Oh, my bad, you haven't hit the moderate money yet have you? You should have someone photoshop your pic Cenk, you look like you've been eating too many twinkies. Did you ever find a job for Randi??? Look in the want ads for pole dancers, help the girl out.
Ded at 12:22PM on Apr 15th 2008
11. Yo, Ded...
Uh, did it escape your notice that this particular blog was posted by one Ana Kasparian? duh... Just take your hand out of your pants and write something intelligent, ca va?
P.S. Ana, my offer still stands...I'll buy you shoes!
Robert at 12:57AM on Apr 15th 2008
12. Dear Ana,
It wouldn't make a sh**lick of difference who gets in- moderate, conservative, liberal, blue, pink, or green. Until we radically alter the way we do business, things will only get worse. If you think politics has a sh**lick of anything to do with being of, by and for the people, you are wasting your time and money in your graduate politics course!!! Prove to me otherwise, I yearn to be convinced- though I won't hold my breath waiting.
Robert at 1:04AM on Apr 15th 2008
13. Ana
You must be in the special education class for graduate school.
Independents are just what they are called, independents. There are right wingnuts and left wingnuts, there is religious left and religious right, and there are voters who are for or against abortion, gun control, taxes etc etc. and they are firmly lodged in the Democrat or Republican Parties. Then there are the Independents who will determine who will win the next election and neither Democrat or Republican Party know what will swing their vote this year. The Democrats should have won the past two elections that Bush won, but blew it. The Democrats were odds on favorites to win this November but are currently on another path to self destruction. Having another Clinton or a Black Muslim as Democrat nominees is almost as bad as Republicans having put up Jeb Bush.
So Ana, your class trying to fit McCain into a political mold then saying indepentents will not vote for him is dumb. Everyone still has not figured out who will win the Democrat Nomination and your class is trying to figure out who McCain really is and if Independents will vote for him. Trust me, Independents will not listen to you and your class trying to say who McCain really is and what ploitical mold he fits.
As far as being you saying independents are less politically aware makes you sound like the Elitist that Obama is showing that he is. Independents think and are not like the mindless zombies who follow the Democrat or Republican line without questioning anything.
robert okane at 1:40AM on Apr 15th 2008
14. Funny how the AP and leftist nutjobs like Cenk are on the same propaganda page ... obviously the realization that the Dems are going to lose yet another POTUS election has finally set in.
Hillary and Obama are exposing each other as socialist elitists while John McCain stands in the background looking presidential
When will libs learn that America wants no part of their loony agenda?
Robert Byngham at 5:32AM on Apr 15th 2008
15. Liberals like this bin laden supporter need to wake up...Independents are NOT liberal. John McCain is better than the two others. I have followed him for years. Liberalism is becoming extinct.
PROFESSOR X at 7:18AM on Apr 15th 2008