Is this John McCain’s “Tank Moment?”
Baby boomers probably remember a defining moment in Michael Dukakis’s 1988 presidential campaign against George H.W. Bush, when he was captured by a photographer in a tank looking silly. Many political analysts say that moment lost him the election.
John Kerry may have lost his campaign against George Bush in the same way (can you say “Swiftboat”?)
Was McCain’s cancellation of his appearance with David Letterman a mistake? David Letterman’s brutal attack on McCain may have caused McCain’s “tank moment.”
What do you think?
Photo source: Newscom.com
Tags: David Letterman, George Bush, John kerry, john mccain, michael dukakisRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Boomers Remember, Politics
9 opinions for Is this John McCain’s “Tank Moment?”
Jennifer Gniadecki
Sep 25, 2008 at 8:21 am
People still watch Dave Letterman?
Probably not enough to sway an entire election, but that’s just my opinion :)
Miki
Sep 25, 2008 at 9:16 am
One can only hope:)
Kelly
Sep 25, 2008 at 12:00 pm
I think it was very poor form - it will be interesting to see the results.
Despite the crying about Letterman being Obama-centric, I thought the beginning of the show was very respectful of McCain. And I think Letterman was not grandstanding but rather genuinely offended by McCain’s lack of civility.
Whether you like McCain or not, it was a classic example of bad manners. You don’t bow out of an obligation by lying so that you can go to another. This is something that my mother taught to me, and something I have endeavored to teach my own children. Either McCain simply wasn’t thinking or he completely lacks common courtesy. Either way, not encouraging.
Jean
Sep 25, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Thanks for your comments. Letterman is pretty arrogant. At one point he said, “The road to the White House is through me,” and I think he was only half kidding.
Miki
Sep 25, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Letterman probably carries more weight than any of us believe possible, as do other talk show hosts. Unfortunately, the criteria and information sources for a vast number of voters are Letterman, Winfrey, etc. Letterman just had the bad taste to say it out loud; maybe no one told him that that info is ‘need to know’ and not for general publication:)
Miranda
Sep 26, 2008 at 5:13 am
I think more than one “tank moment” is at work here for McCain:
Letterman.
Trying to avoid the debate. (Obama’s ready to debate AND do his job in the Senate.)
Implying that he has to be Washington for the bailout bill, when he doesn’t sit on any committee that would deal with it.
Implying that the debate would keep him from showing up to vote.
Miki
Sep 26, 2008 at 9:05 am
I wonder if stuff like this makes any difference to people who vote ideology as opposed to issues.
Kelly
Sep 26, 2008 at 9:15 am
Miki -
You raise an interesting point. McCain’s campaign guy is the one who said that this race is about personalities, not issues. If this makes people rethink how much they like McCain, he’s in trouble, assuming his campaign guy is right.
Miki
Sep 26, 2008 at 9:25 am
As far back as I can remember it’s been about ideology with a heavy dose of personality, hair styles, clothes and other critical issues so dear to American hearts—not issues.
Issues require thinking and thinking requires effort and that takes time away from important passtimes like TV, church, and hanging out.
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