Unlimited Chances
By: Mary Mostert, Analyst, Original Sources (www.originalsources.com)
February 10, 2000
There has been an embarrassingly low turn-out among Democrats in the primaries and the Iowa caucus among those voting. And, there are a growing number of stories which appear to indicate a massive re-registering from Democrat to Republican, in time for ex-Democrats to vote in the primaries. Does this indicate dissatisfaction with the two Democrat candidates or a cynical effort on the part of a Democrat underground to control the outcome of the Republican primaries?
As I have noted before, it appears that a large number of Democrats are voting in Republican primaries. I have had a number of e-mail from poll workers and volunteers in various campaigns that tell me there is a major move afoot of Democrats switching their registration to Republican in time to vote for John McCain. Why John McCain? Because he is recognized as not being a conservative. Are they switching registration because they want a candidate that is not as liberal as both Gore and Bradley, or are they switching to make sure that there will be liberals on both tickets in the General Election? And, why has there been so little probing by the press of John McCain's policies and past? Are they hoping he will be nominated and THEN will ask hard questions?
The general election is 10 months away and, in these fast moving times, a lot of things can change. McCain doesn't seem to wear well with many voters. I'm one of them. I have a hard time following his foreign policy, for example. In October 1990 John McCain said on the floor of the Senate: "Mr. President, I am anxious to construct a new relationship with our old adversary (Vietnam)". He, who was in Vietnamese prison camps for five and a half years, was pushing hard for normalized relations with Hanoi long before anyone else was. Yet, he also supports an increasingly hostile approach to other nations with whom we have NOT been at war - such as Cuba and Yugoslavia (before 1999). He asked for normalized relations with Vietnam, welcomed a former prison guard like a long lost brother, and then was the most vociferous voice in Washington last year in demanding more intensive bombing of Yugoslavia and an invasion by ground troops.
On May 3, 1999, on the floor of the Senate John McCain called for more intensive bombing of Yugoslavia by Bill Clinton and NATO, in spite of the fact more bombs had already been dropped on the small nation than had been dropped on it by Hitler's Luftwaffe in World War II. He said: "I feel it is urgent that the Senate contradict the actions of the other body and clarify to the public, and to America's allies and our enemies that the President may, indeed, wage this war. And, with our encouragement, he might wage this war more effectively than he has done thus far. If he does not, the shame is on him and not on us."
The present situation in Kosovo, with the unrestrained killing, raping and ethnic cleansing of all non-Albanians, has not moved John McCain to the realization that he was dead wrong on his demand that Yugoslavia and its people be totally destroyed - based on lies about a "genocide" that simply never took place. His position combines arrogance with the inability of admitting he, like many others, had been duped by a clever public relations campaign bought and paid for by the KLA, which was a designated terrorist and drug cartel before Clinton and others in Washington decided to make them "freedom fighters."
He is currently riding another dangerous hobby horse in urging the US Government to take Elian Gonzalez away from his father in Cuba. Why? Because, while working to open diplomatic relations with Hanoi, he is adamant in his determination that sanctions and hostility towards Cuba continue. This doesn't make much sense. Makes me wonder if his views towards Cuba would be softened if he was held in a Cuban prison for a few years. What is it about Communist prison camps that has led John McCain to urge a policy of forgive and forget towards Hanoi, a government who managed to kill something like 47,350 American soldiers and wound 153,336, while advocating such hatred for Cuba, that he would pass a law in order to get around the fact that no existing law allows the U.S. government to keep six year old Elian Gonzalez when his father, all grandparents and his great-grandparent in Cuba are demanding his return.
Communism hasn't a thing to do with it. Both nations are Communist.
At some point in time some questions are going to have to be asked of John McCain - either now, or when, if he should win the nomination, in a debate with Al Gore. One of my readers, Chris L., suggests that before that takes place that George W. Bush ask some of them. Chris wrote:
I have watched the campaign much longer than the people voting for McCain. I was initially impressed with McCain as his "straight talk" style is quite appealing. I read his book and had it signed at the Reagan Library. I have seen a lot of him on television as well. That first gloss covers a truly arrogant and nasty little man. If McCain wins the Republican Primary, I will vote for Buchanan in the General Election.
Wow! That's a pretty strong statement! But, he backs up his point by pointing to positions John McCain has taken:
1. McCain intentionally wants to isolate Russia. He supported bombing Yugoslavia on the eve of the Russian Duma vote on START II. He does not support START III. He wants to suspend IMF loans to Russia. This would compromise the integrity of the body.2. He supported NATO expansion which initially triggered Russia's nationalism. Yet, the way to world peace and stability is to regain everything lost under this neo-interventionist notion of Clinton/McCain.
3. Foreign policy has taken a back seat so far in the campaign, and, McCain says he is the expert. However, every REAL expert from Kissinger to Huntington to Scowcroft sees no strategic national interest in sticking our fingers in the eyes of Russia. McCain's ideas do not work in the real world.
4. Character - McCain is positioning himself to be as divisive a figure as Clinton was. He is not a man of character. He dumped his first wife, who waited for him all those years he was a prisoner of war, and was involved in the Keating Scandal.
5. War Hero - Chris suggests that when this issue comes up, George W. Bush might say: "You know my father, George Bush. Remember he used to be president once. He was shot down in a blaze of glory to defeat fascism. (subtle reminder that Vietnam was a loser). He is my hero. I don't need another one." In 1996 the American people had the opportunity of voting for another real war hero, Bob Dole, who came out of World War II with a 100% disability, but who through courage and determination learned to walk and even write again. There are millions of war heroes in this country. Getting shot down after 18 missions, and managing to stay alive by reminding your captors that your father was the Admiral ordering the Naval bombing raids to get medical care denied others doesn't quite have the ring of true heroism to most battle experienced veterans.
Chris is right about these charges eventually becoming issues before the General Election in November. Should they be avoided until Al Gore uses them, and he will, to discredit the Republican presidential nominee?
The most important job the President of the United States has is managing the nation's foreign policy and keeping the peace. It isn't to be the head of a national Board of Education or a commissioner in a National Elections Commission. It isn't WHETHER or not John McCain's past statements and policies will become important. It is only WHEN they will become important. Will they be discussed during the primaries or in the general election?
If my e-mail, and calls to talk shows are a clue, I think they are about to become issues in the primaries. Whether America chooses a president who will unite the nation, or divide the nation and call for more bombing, more ground wars should be of particular interest to younger voters, who will be the ones called upon to fight those future wars.
To comment: mmostert@originalsources.com .
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