Obama and McCain Must Convince Voters They Are Strong on National Security
Historically, Democrats are seen as less credible on military issues
Balancing diplomacy. "McCain is totally out of step with where the country is," says Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg. "The country thinks if the war is going well, we should begin reductions of our troops responsibly—stability is a reason to reduce troops, not a reason to stay."
Democratic pollster Geoff Garin says voters no longer believe in Bush's approach. "People want a change," Garin says. "They want a better balance between diplomacy and military power, and they want us to be more conscious of America's reputation in the world. Protecting America's security is still a threshold requirement for anybody who voters will consider for president. But the formula for doing that is no longer the Bush formula"—and McCain sounds too much like Bush, he says.
Yet McCain does have some built-in advantages. If he emphasizes his courage as a POW in Vietnam and his long record of military service, he could contrast himself favorably to Obama's inexperience. "We believe every day we talk about national security is a good day for John McCain," says a McCain strategist. But he admits: "People are sick of the war, and he can't just offer blood, sweat, and tears. He has to show that he will bring it to a successful conclusion and it's not open ended."
Obama is also vulnerable because many of his positions on national security issues seem vague, such as exactly what he would do in Iraq and Iran, Zelizer says. Obama must "cross a threshold of trust" and establish credibility on the fundamental issue of keeping us safe, Zelizer says, or voters won't listen to him on other issues where he might have an advantage over McCain, such as the economy and healthcare.
Reader Comments
In response to Aaron
Rule #1. While our constitution may say the USA, we did not build, or even win the revolutionary war ourselves. We had help from other countries. We also had our ideology based not just on ourselves, but based on something that had happened just a few years earlier, THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. If you don't believe me, check your history.
Rule #2. As our world becomes more and more technologically savvy, distance becomes smaller and smaller. We do not live in a domestic marketplace, but a global one. When other countries do not like you they impose an ever increasing number of economic sanctions. This in turn makes world trade a lot rougher, lowering profits on exports as well as increasing cost of imports. Our current president has shown that he does not understand this concept at all. I might be wrong, but i think the fact that our national deficit has grown exponentially more during his reign of fear in such a way as never before, I may have a point. Our global economic prowess has been dwindling while China and the EU have continued to grow. Quick question, When's the last time that the value of our dollar has been lower than Canada's...it is right now.
Rule #3. National Security is extremely important, and is interrelated with both Foreign AND Economic Policy. If we live in a global marketplace, we need to realize that if we do not act peacefully and coordinate with other nations, our economy will continue to bottom out. If we have no money, how are we supposed to afford to fund the military in such a way as we do now? The fact is that we will not be able to, and if we don't have an effective military we will not be able to keep our nation secure.
You my friend is not an ugly American. You are what many foreign people call a perfect example of a Stupid American. It is easy to be as short sighted as you in the face of fear. You see, Florida has definitely grown wiser over the past four years, and was not able to steal the election for the republicans like in 2000 (not 04). Unfortunately, I see that not everyone in Florida has grown wiser.
To the Aaron IDIOT....
There will always be idiots that roam the earth initiatig conflict because their own lives teeter on the 'Brink of Futility' and everyone on the planet knows that a Republican Con Artist/Rape and Pillager only way to pad his 'Secret Piggy Bank' is to raid another less than militarily equal country's resource. The BIG BAD WOLF SYNDROME...let's see these I.Q. and Spirtually Deficient Thugs try it on the Other SAME-SIZE THUGS...Hmmm! Different Outlook Right? Don't want to lose too much 'cornhole' in the process. Thanks to 'inch worms' that want to play 'BUTCH' one day and 'swish off' into the night TRY and GET A HOBBY Pedicuring EUROPEAN TOES.
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