Barack Obama would rather lose a war than lose an election
by tdaxp ~ July 27th, 2008
John McCain said that Barack Obama would rather lose a war than lose an election.
Supporters of Barack Obama are offended.
- Was John McCain right?
- Should Obama’s supporters be offended?
- What does this all mean?
John McCain was right
One of the main differences between conservatives and leftists is the role of the government. Conservatives believe that, in general, the government was created to protect the people against violence. Thus, conservativs are more likely to views wars as legitimate, more likely to support stiff punishment of criminals, and less likely to support taxation: these are all issues where those who oppose violence against the people are united in opposing foreign powers, opposing criminals, and minimizing the government’s tax burdens. Leftists do not care much about violence against the people, and so do not focus on it.
For leftists, the general role of government is social justice. Leftists believe that, in general, the government exists to protect people from the randomness associated with birth. Thus, leftists are more likely to view affirmative action as legitimate, more likely to oppose penalties for criminals, and more likely to support taxation: these are all issues where those who oppose unequal environments for infants are united in opposing unequal outcomes in work (merely because one population is more connected, more skilled, or more hard-working than another), opposing long punishments (merely because some people are more violent, more impulsive, or less reflective than others), and increasing the government’s expenditures. Rightists do not care much about social justice, so do not focus on it.
Obviously, a leftist would rather lose a war than lose an election… becuse winning elections help leftists decrease material inequality and increse social justice. Likewise, a conservative would rather lose a social justice struggle than lose an election… because winning elections helps conservatives protect the people from violence and win wars.
John McCain was obviously right. Barack Obama would rather lose a war than lose an election.
Obama supporters should not be offended
However, true facts can also be offensive.
Earlier, General Wesley Clark generated outrage when he said that John McCain’s experience as a POW does not give him the experience required to be Commander-in-Chief. On one level, the statement is trivially true. However, it is important because it rhetorically minimizes the motivation of the other side. An analogous statement would be, “The fact that Barack Obama is black does not give him the experience required to be Comamnder-in-Chief.” Again, the statement is trivially true. Such a statement about Obama, though, would read as trivializing the social justice motivation of leftists, and also insult someone with a politically correct (for the left) lifestory (he is black, and therefore good). Likewise, General Clark’s statement about McCain trivialized the public security motivation of conservatives, and also insulted someone with a politically correct (for conservatives) lifestory (he fought our enemies, and is therefore good).
However, McCain’s statement about Obama does not tred on such mythic personal space. Rather, it complements a famous statement attributes to President Lyndon Johnson, who said that the Civil Rights Act delivered the South to the Republican Party for a generation. That is, Johnson bragged that would trade some future potential for action by leftists in action for some actual action in the present time. This is entirely sensible from a leftist’s perspective. Likewise, it is entirely sensible for a conservative like McCain to brag that he would rather lose an election than lose a war.
However, if you take pride in what you use your power to achieve, it’s fair for opponents to criticize you for what you forfeit along the way. Obviously, a McCain administration would rather lose ground on social justice than lose an election. And obviously, an Obama administration would rather lose a war than lose an election.
Conclusion
Obama would rather lose a war than lose an election. His supporters should not be insulted when people point this out.
However, Obama supporters are often insulted. Donna Brazille was insulted when a fellow Democrat noted that Obama was re-forming the failed Michael Dukakis coalition. Likewise, the Obama campaign was insulted by a cartoon. Now Obama supporters are insulted when John McCain points out Barack Obama’s preferences.
Obama being insulted by criticism is a feature of his campaign. It’s a feature typical of people who are used to being the smartest person in the room, and so feel that disagreement can only come from disagreeableness. Hopefully, Obama’s wising up and realizing that he is not that smart.B
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2 008/06/19/the-foreign-polic...
July 27th, 2008 at 7:24 am
I think Obama sees the the loosing of the War by America as an important accomplishment for the Leftist Agenda.
It isn’t just that he is willing to loose to further his goal of becoming president.
Loosing the War is important all on its own. To the American Left, America needs to be slapped down, humbled, cowed, and kept from using its power. A weak America is their goal.
I think the American Left will increasingly test out secessionist memes over the next two decades. Even if America doesn’t break apart, secessionist feeling will weaken it.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Ya obama is back now it time to rip him down,,
July 27th, 2008 at 8:44 am
funny how we become a third world country,,, CNN & MSNBC would report on other country election how the dictator would rig the election, or force the election, with Barack Obama CNN & Msnbc or forcing this election,, they know and had Meeting on viewers & people who can not think for them selves
Look at this we became a reality tv show, like most of the has nothing to do with Reality,
CNN , Msnbc are proud to help rig this election, look at the News,, it shows the fact,,
“Barack Obama plain lifted off, Obama plain has landed, Barack Obama went to the bathroom, Barack Obama Picked his Nose and he did it like he was already the President,
EveryTime Barack speaks Wolf blitzer & Keith Oberman get an erection.
And let know forget Anderson Cooper , who has a life size cut out of barack obama he sleeps with, …….
July 27th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Obama’s constant use of the “I am offended” card actually speaks more of the Cultural Marxism that he, and the Left in general, have used since the 1960s.
Using such a card, if the Right dances to the left’s tune, forces the right to cede the moral high ground by expressing “apologies,” etc. This way, the Cultural Marxist gains ideological supremacy.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:42 am
It is bush’s war. And it is already lost. There exists no possible way to win the war.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:10 am
Purpleslog,
I’ve considered the role of Marxist Leftists in an Obama administration [1].
Fortunately, I don’t think he is very principled [2].
Paul,
Thank you for your comments.
This blog generally requires contributors to support claims they make, or else withdraw them. You’re new here, and you’re very welcome, but keep this in mind in the future.
Smitten,
While the humor of the film was generally juvenile and derivative, Harol and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay did a great job sending up the “I’m offended!” excuse.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/05/27/william-ayers-actually-dangerous.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/02/power-seeking-among-other-things.html
July 28th, 2008 at 8:40 am
How you so called conservatives can even support McCain is laughable. He stands for nothing. He’s flipped on every issue that he ever stood for. He’s out of touch with the average American because, like most politicians, he doesn’t really care about people, he just cares about the power.
Obama isn’t perfect, but at least he stands for something - ending wars, bridging racial divides, health care, etc. Tell me one friggin’ thing McCain stands for? I’ve been following this campaign every day for too many months and I can’t tell you a thing he stands for… other than, of course, being a Republican. Okay…maybe fiscal discipline, but he’d do it at the expense of veterans and children, so he’s a categorically heartless old man.
I’d never tell another fellow American what they should think, but when you guys still find a way to support the Republicans in light of the disastrous failures of the past eight years, you have only yourselves to blame if they get re-elected and we continue on the track of failed policies.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Peter,
Defend or retract your assertion.
Roman,
Here’s 5. [1]
Regarding “ending wars,” do you believe that Obama will begin pulling troops out of Afghanistan soon?
Regarding “bridging racial divides,” I don’t see how Obma’s history of racially divisive and inflammatory rhetoric [2] does this.
He still hasn’t apologized for the “3/19″ comments on race, for example.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/04/06/why-i-support-john-mccain.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/03/19/obamas-awful-speech-on-race.html
July 28th, 2008 at 11:12 am
[...] Barack Obama would rather lose a war than lose an election [...]
July 28th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
We shouldn’t expect to convince each other that the other is right. As someone wise once said, the word “reality” has no meaning unless it is in quotes. We see the same facts through different realities.
The key difference is you seem to be hellbent on proving that Obama is a poor candidate when I’m still trying to understand what makes McCain a good candidate in the first place. With each of them there are pros and cons, and I try to evaluate the situation from the perspective of:
a) what the power structure will look like in executive and legislative branches come 2009
b) how far the ideological needle has moved to the right
c) what the big issues of tomorrow will be and whose position I agree with more.
In my view (and remember, I’m a registered Republican), we’ve moved too far right. Too neocon, too Christian, too hawkish, too far towards the wealthy, too far for big oil, etc. In light of the fact that Congress is still going to be fairly split and only leaning left, you will see the kind of paralysis we see today whereby a Bush veto threat repeatedly stalls legislation. IMHO, we need to move more towards the middle and so we need a Dem pres to accomplish this.
To address your specific references:
On [1]: You leave two critical issues like healthcare and energy policy that easily trump a lot of the other issues you have there. A test of limited scope is of limited value.
On [2]: I believe your interpretation misses the fact that he is speaking openly about prejudice as a fact of life in America. He’s not putting down his grandmother, he’s standing behind her as saying she’s no less American than he is, but that this is a discourse that must take place in the open to help this country move beyond it. You can’t be politically correct about it and I applaud him for being brave on the subject. Of course, I’m coming from the perspective of giving him the benefit of the doubt and I don’t expect you to do the same.
Of course, I’ll equally give the superior Commander-In-Chief McCain (sarcasm intended) a pass for repeatedly confusing Shia and Sunni because what’s more important is that he was brave enough to support the surge at a time when it was unpopular. However, I also give the Dems credit for at least trying to send a message to the Iraqi gov’t that we don’t plan on funding this war forever so get your act together.
In either case, I appreciate the forum for intellectual discussion. It sure beats the CNN comments where all you hear are “McSame” and “Obama Hussein” soundbites that make you cringe.
July 29th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Roman,
Thank you for your comment.
If you really believe this, you should leave.
I want to know where I am wrong. Pretending that you live in another reality than me — and that somehow that protects your views from criticism — are not part of that.
Much of the paragraph beginning “In my view” is name-calling, and so is not substantive.
Obama’s advantage on healthcare is negated by McCain’s advantage on energy policy, so the analysis stands.
Trivially true.
All te tests and models are simplifications of reality. The poiont is not that they are simplified, but rather they are valid. If we’re going to elect a President based on something other than an emotional reaction, it’s what we are left with.
Obama’s construction equated his grandmother to Rev. Wright.
So the extent he distanced himself from Rev. Wright’s views, he distanced himself from his grandmother’s views.
I’m not sure what this compound statement means. Certainly, Obama didn’t go beyond the same nonsense we’ve heard for 30 years.
I know you have faith in Obama. A lot of Obama supporters do. It’s an easy way to respond to criticism (”give him the benefit of the doubt”), because it escapes the bonds of reason and fact.
Your paragraph beginning “Of course” is gotcha politics, and is sustantively empty [1].
Of course, if you wish to have a substantive discussion of how errors in language production (and its sources, including a lack of comprehension) can effect international dialogue, the Undivided Jerusalem fiasco [2] is a good place to start.
Thank you. Let’s keep it that way.
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/06/17/gotcha-politics.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/17/barack-obama-and-the-surge.html#comment-103831
July 31st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
“Obviously, a McCain administration would rather lose ground on social justice than lose an election. And obviously, an Obama administration would rather lose a war than lose an election.”
Meaning I could switch the names around, replace War with Social Just and tweak the details at the end and this post would be just as true?
August 1st, 2008 at 5:55 am
Yes, absolutely.
Now, some conservatives would say that the -justice suffix is just a codeword for Marxism and is not a goal to fight for in the first place [1]. But then, the MoveOn sorts would say the same things about the Long War. So: yes, you are right.
[1] http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=302137342405551