US Election: Courting Women
Rizwan Ghani
September 15, 2008
Country´s media is peppered with reports how Obama and McCain campaigns are vying to win women hearts. Reportedly, McCain bought more commercial spots on ´Oprah´ last month than Democrats did. Obama is using stars from ´Sex and City´ with Congresswomen in contested states to win women´s hearts and minds under this week´s theme ´women for the change we need´.
It is opined that both parties are vying to win the working-class white women, who could be pivotal in winning the swing states leading up to win in general election. It will help Obama camp to ´neutralize´ Palin factor and return campaign back to McCain against whom Obama is running in the first place (not Palin).
Democrats have relied heavily on women in recent presidential elections http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/us/politics/15women.html . Women have voted in greater proportions than men for almost three decades — in 2004, nearly nine million more women voted than men, 67.3 million to 58.5 million. McCain´s selection of Palin on a Republican presidential ticket has put new cultural and ideological elements more fully into play.
Palin´s elevation to presidential ticket is based on ´18 million cracks´ that McCain and his campaign managers believe Hillary left in Democratic Party and Republicans expect will bring them victory in Presidential election. The history of national election shows that few Americans shift their party allegiances. In all probability, Democrat voters will vote for their party. Instead of ´matching´ Republicans moves on women voters, Democrats need to remind America about the disputed election results in 2000 and 2004 elections and push election commission to hold free and fair election including clarification of voting machine software issue to end the controversy.
Democrats need to focus on Palin´s governing style back in Alaska to show America ugly truth hidden behind the carefully crafted image of the Alaskan gov. The details given in New York Times "Once elected Palin hired friends and lashed foes" raise serious questions about Palin´s suitability for the job. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?pagewanted=print. The report shows that Palin has little regard for law, colleagues, freedom of opinion, contractual and constitutional rights of people. It is hoped that timely finalization of ´Troopergate´ inquiry will help voters make informed choices instead of falling for an image.
Democrats should remind America that McCain+ Palin are equal to George Bush. McCain supported Bush 95times during Bush´s two terms in office and now Palin is equally an ardent supporter of Bush Doctrine. In simple words both McCain and Palin will continue with Bush´s pro-war policies if McCain wins the election. McCain like Bush will use the election result as mandate to continue with the policy. Obama needs to stand up against Iraq and Afghan wars and offer diplomatic and political solution if he wants to keep and win the anti-war vote in America. So far, Obama has failed to challenge McCain on the issue.
Obama by accompanying McCain to Ground Zero wasted a very important opportunity to send a clear Message to America. Obama could have used his visit to deliver a small speech in which he could have told America how he would have used diplomacy and dialogue to end wars and restore country´s image that Bush´s flawed and failed policies have destroyed in last eight years. The expulsion of US diplomats from Venezuela, Bolivia and Honduras´ refusal to accept papers of US Ambassador as sign of solidarity with Bolivia in the backyard of America are self-explanatory. Deepening anti-Americanism in Europe, Asia, ME and Africa should be a matter of serious concern for country´s politicians and policy makers.
Democrats should therefore bring the politics of issues instead of personalities back to center stage that Republicans are trying to avoid and have succeeded so far. Republicans want minimum debates on the real issues that the country and average American is facing on domestic front including economy, health care, taxes, pension funds reforms and insufficient average hourly wages.
Obama by delaying the announcement of is running mate allowed Republicans enough time to push through Palin without enough scrutiny. The initial details show that Palin´s political past is far from exemplary but can Democrats bring it in open to show her true fact to average voter in terms of time, effort and man hour cost is a big question?
The slow progress on ´troopergate´, Republicans' use of media to cover her dictatorial ´governance style´ and ´extremist´ views could very much keep most of the America from knowing who the real Palin is? It will allow Republicans reap the advantage of bringing a woman on the ticket without facing the dire consequences of her questionable past. Unless, Democrats come up with a strategy to expose true Palin, who is successfully using ´sexism´ to hide her true political style of governance, there is little that can be done to offset the initial Republican Palin advantage at this stage. The McCain´s strategists do not expect to win more than a small fraction of Mrs. Clinton´s supporters. However, they do see blocs of women they think they can win. Obama camp should expose true face of Palin to retain the blocs.
It will be a challenge for Obama camp because they have failed to show America that McCain opted to stay imprisoned despite offer of release by his captors. In all probability he wanted to avoid returning to active duty during Vietnam war. It was clear in CNN´s "McCain Revealed" documentary that McCain´s decisions are based on personal motives and coldblooded political advantages. The love for country and Party are nothing but presentation ´icing´. Republican McCain thinking to turn Democrat following disgruntled Democrat turned Republican Lieberman is case in point and so is their support for each other. Keeping in view the documentary it can be opined that disillusioned McCain seriously pondered to join Democrats to stay in power and get even with Bush and his Republican Party.
Similarly, Democrats should remind America that Republicans´ are refusing to tax rich, hold bankers, Wall Street and corporate America accountable at the cost of average American. Democrats must tell America that Republicans have left 408 bn dollar budget deficit despite inheriting budgetary surplus from Bill Clinton. American voters must know that Republicans have left the govt. under three trillion dollar Iraq war debt, which their future generations will have to pay from their hard earned tax dollars instead of getting health and retirement benefits. Republicans did it by undermining country´s constitution and judicial system. Therefore, if Democrats want to win strongly Obama must confront McCain on these issues during three debates, on media and from party platform to educate average American to make informed choice.
Finally, Courting women voter is import tactic in the election race but Democratic Party needs to maintain its domestic and foreign policy strategy objectives if they want to win the election with clear majority. They need to keep America reminding how Republicans drowned their country, its image and economy in Iraq war. How they supported Wall Street at the cost of Main Street? Democrats should expose truth behind Palin claims who following Bush is taking credit for ´energy independence´ by posing next to Alaskan oil pipeline which according to NY Times will not be commission in years to come. In other words, American will continue to rely on rest of the world for its energy needs because politicians cannot challenge oil lobbyist.
It is opined that both parties are vying to win the working-class white women, who could be pivotal in winning the swing states leading up to win in general election. It will help Obama camp to ´neutralize´ Palin factor and return campaign back to McCain against whom Obama is running in the first place (not Palin).
Democrats have relied heavily on women in recent presidential elections http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/us/politics/15women.html . Women have voted in greater proportions than men for almost three decades — in 2004, nearly nine million more women voted than men, 67.3 million to 58.5 million. McCain´s selection of Palin on a Republican presidential ticket has put new cultural and ideological elements more fully into play.
Palin´s elevation to presidential ticket is based on ´18 million cracks´ that McCain and his campaign managers believe Hillary left in Democratic Party and Republicans expect will bring them victory in Presidential election. The history of national election shows that few Americans shift their party allegiances. In all probability, Democrat voters will vote for their party. Instead of ´matching´ Republicans moves on women voters, Democrats need to remind America about the disputed election results in 2000 and 2004 elections and push election commission to hold free and fair election including clarification of voting machine software issue to end the controversy.
Democrats need to focus on Palin´s governing style back in Alaska to show America ugly truth hidden behind the carefully crafted image of the Alaskan gov. The details given in New York Times "Once elected Palin hired friends and lashed foes" raise serious questions about Palin´s suitability for the job. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/politics/14palin.html?pagewanted=print. The report shows that Palin has little regard for law, colleagues, freedom of opinion, contractual and constitutional rights of people. It is hoped that timely finalization of ´Troopergate´ inquiry will help voters make informed choices instead of falling for an image.
Democrats should remind America that McCain+ Palin are equal to George Bush. McCain supported Bush 95times during Bush´s two terms in office and now Palin is equally an ardent supporter of Bush Doctrine. In simple words both McCain and Palin will continue with Bush´s pro-war policies if McCain wins the election. McCain like Bush will use the election result as mandate to continue with the policy. Obama needs to stand up against Iraq and Afghan wars and offer diplomatic and political solution if he wants to keep and win the anti-war vote in America. So far, Obama has failed to challenge McCain on the issue.
Obama by accompanying McCain to Ground Zero wasted a very important opportunity to send a clear Message to America. Obama could have used his visit to deliver a small speech in which he could have told America how he would have used diplomacy and dialogue to end wars and restore country´s image that Bush´s flawed and failed policies have destroyed in last eight years. The expulsion of US diplomats from Venezuela, Bolivia and Honduras´ refusal to accept papers of US Ambassador as sign of solidarity with Bolivia in the backyard of America are self-explanatory. Deepening anti-Americanism in Europe, Asia, ME and Africa should be a matter of serious concern for country´s politicians and policy makers.
Democrats should therefore bring the politics of issues instead of personalities back to center stage that Republicans are trying to avoid and have succeeded so far. Republicans want minimum debates on the real issues that the country and average American is facing on domestic front including economy, health care, taxes, pension funds reforms and insufficient average hourly wages.
Obama by delaying the announcement of is running mate allowed Republicans enough time to push through Palin without enough scrutiny. The initial details show that Palin´s political past is far from exemplary but can Democrats bring it in open to show her true fact to average voter in terms of time, effort and man hour cost is a big question?
The slow progress on ´troopergate´, Republicans' use of media to cover her dictatorial ´governance style´ and ´extremist´ views could very much keep most of the America from knowing who the real Palin is? It will allow Republicans reap the advantage of bringing a woman on the ticket without facing the dire consequences of her questionable past. Unless, Democrats come up with a strategy to expose true Palin, who is successfully using ´sexism´ to hide her true political style of governance, there is little that can be done to offset the initial Republican Palin advantage at this stage. The McCain´s strategists do not expect to win more than a small fraction of Mrs. Clinton´s supporters. However, they do see blocs of women they think they can win. Obama camp should expose true face of Palin to retain the blocs.
It will be a challenge for Obama camp because they have failed to show America that McCain opted to stay imprisoned despite offer of release by his captors. In all probability he wanted to avoid returning to active duty during Vietnam war. It was clear in CNN´s "McCain Revealed" documentary that McCain´s decisions are based on personal motives and coldblooded political advantages. The love for country and Party are nothing but presentation ´icing´. Republican McCain thinking to turn Democrat following disgruntled Democrat turned Republican Lieberman is case in point and so is their support for each other. Keeping in view the documentary it can be opined that disillusioned McCain seriously pondered to join Democrats to stay in power and get even with Bush and his Republican Party.
Similarly, Democrats should remind America that Republicans´ are refusing to tax rich, hold bankers, Wall Street and corporate America accountable at the cost of average American. Democrats must tell America that Republicans have left 408 bn dollar budget deficit despite inheriting budgetary surplus from Bill Clinton. American voters must know that Republicans have left the govt. under three trillion dollar Iraq war debt, which their future generations will have to pay from their hard earned tax dollars instead of getting health and retirement benefits. Republicans did it by undermining country´s constitution and judicial system. Therefore, if Democrats want to win strongly Obama must confront McCain on these issues during three debates, on media and from party platform to educate average American to make informed choice.
Finally, Courting women voter is import tactic in the election race but Democratic Party needs to maintain its domestic and foreign policy strategy objectives if they want to win the election with clear majority. They need to keep America reminding how Republicans drowned their country, its image and economy in Iraq war. How they supported Wall Street at the cost of Main Street? Democrats should expose truth behind Palin claims who following Bush is taking credit for ´energy independence´ by posing next to Alaskan oil pipeline which according to NY Times will not be commission in years to come. In other words, American will continue to rely on rest of the world for its energy needs because politicians cannot challenge oil lobbyist.