October 15, 2008

Unsolicited debate advice for John McCain

Tonight's debate will be John McCain's last chance to take the offensive against Barack Obama. A draw is not good enough. McCain needs to win the debate. And how does one win this type of debate? By hitting your opponent with a devastating one liner. Now I recently heard that many of the most memorable knock-out punches were counter punches. And it's true if you think about it. The knock-out is a pre-rehearsed line that is uncoiled when opponent takes a predictable swing. Here's some possible hay-makers that McCain can land:

McCain brings up Bill Ayers then Obama says something about his character being unfairly impugned by attack ads and then McCain can say something like, "For someone who made his bones in Chicago politics you sure are thin-skinned."

Obama mentions Charles Keating and McCain says, "21 years ago, before you were even a law student, I learned a lesson. I associated myself with someone I shouldn't have. I've been trying to atone for it ever since. You on the other hand have made a habit of befriending unsavory characters and only throw them overboard when they become too hot for you to handle."

Obama mentions his healthcare plan and McCain says, "I'd like to talk about my plan since you've been spending millions of dollars lying about it."

Obama says that he wants to restore hope to the American people and McCain says, "I know a thing or two about hope. It was all I had for five years while I stayed at an inhospitable hotel in Hanoi. We are facing monumental problems today but nothing that should cause us to despair. What the American people need is a doer not a dreamer, a fixer not an organizer."

If Obama talks about McCain's vote on the Iraq war McCain can say, "When you were in Springfield, voting present I was present at intelligence briefings. I saw the same intelligence the President saw and also your running mate who incidentally voted for the war too. We know today that the intelligence was not as reliable as we expected it to be. But we're in Iraq now. The question is how we leave and what we leave behind. America can't afford to abandon the Iraqi people the way you abandoned Rezco, Wright and Ayers, we have more integrity than that."

If Obama talks about how his plan won't raise taxes for 95% of the people McCain can say, "yeah it won't affect 95% of the people unless they work for or own shares in a corporation." Or he can say, "As I recall you also promised to participate in the public financing program and limit your campaign spend. Why should anyone believe your promises about taxes when you've already shown an incredible fondness for OPM - other people's money?

Posted by Henry Louis Gomez at October 15, 2008 01:21 AM



Comments

This debate is supposed to be about foreign affairs. I would like McCain to do what Palin did. I would like him to throw in something he wants to say instead of answering the question asked, at least in part. As in past "debates" there will be no question asked of Obama that will corner him. But there will be an effort to embarrass McCain. There will be no question about abortion or Acorn. It will be up to McCain to bring up one liners about that plumber's question and Obama's redistribution of wealth idea.
I like a lot of your ideas especially that line about hope.

Posted by: honey [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 15, 2008 09:12 AM

I agree, Honey. He needs to buck protocal and say what he wants directly to the American people. Too many people in this country get their news from the mainstream and have no clue about who obama really is. I also think it is important that he use the words SOCIALISM and MARXISM. He needs to explain to people that "spreading the wealth" was what Marx wanted. I don't think that will jive well with a great many Americans.

A big problem is the strange idea that many Americans have that communism died with the Soviet Union. Too many people think that it no longer actually exists. This is why he would have to use these words very carefully so as to not come off as a looney. Seriously ... suggest someone is a communist and people will look at you like you believe in The Tooth Clause. (He leaves teeth under your pillow on St. Patrick's Day.)

Posted by: Alisa [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 15, 2008 11:00 AM

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?