Giuliani Advises: Step up Attacks
Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York, appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to explain what he thought John McCain would have to do to win yesterday’s debate, first and foremost, and secondly to win the elections in general.
When asked by Andrea Mitchell about something the McCain campaign said - that they have to stop talking about the economy and make other issues the center point of the debate - Giuliani started laughing and said “you can’t get it off the economy.”
“After yesterday and Friday… I think… he’s very, very strong on the economy, so go out there and be aggressive” on it, Giuliani said. Obama, on the other hand, “was favor of raising taxes” throughout his career. Joe Scarborough than intervened, saying that McCain seems to be unable to point out that Obama’s views on taxes are going to hurt small businesses. We’re not merely talking about big businesses that will be hurt by Obama, the host of “Morning Joe” said, small business will.
“Small businesses… can pay their taxes as individuals,” Scarborough said.
McCain’s unwillingness to take Obama on with regards to the economy, and his plan for taxes, makes it virtually impossible for him to win. He and his campaign may hope that the economy will become less important, but it won’t. It will be the major issue, and rightfully so.
Obama’s plan will objectively spoken hurt the economy in the long run, and small businesses specifically. Giuliani is correct to point out that McCain should make this clear, and offer an alternative.
Additionally, Giuliani said, McCain should promise to cut spending. He should make that a major issue as well, Giuliani said. Again I agree, with both Giuliani and Scarborough.
Scarborough hit the nail right on the head when he described McCain as an ineffectual debater.
And that’s exactly what’s costing him the election.
Giuliani was then asked whether he believed McCain should go after Obama over Ayers, Wright, and other associations. Giuliani said “of course.” He “is very left wing,” “the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate.”
Again I agree. This should be a major issue. Not because, as Giuliani pointed out, one should play ‘guilt by association’ but because all Obama’s connections and relationships prove him to be exactly what so many of us suspected months ago; a very, very liberal Senator, who believes in redistributing wealth, even if doing so hurts the economy, who believes that the American system is inherently oppressive, and so on.
Having said that, I sincerely believe it’s all too late; Obama will win. Therefore, the only reason for looking more closely at those associations serves the purpose, now, to determine what to expect when Obama takes office (not if). That will be my main concern in the coming weeks and months - Obama should be considered America’s next president, his policies, plans and, yes, associations will have to be scrutinized.
Just like how we all did when George W. Bush was still president (and no lame duck; still president in name of course, other than that not very much).
