Wednesday, August 06, 2008

McCain flip-flops on tire pressure

I guess John McCain started to realize that his mockery of common sense conservation measures was making him look ridiculous.



Whatever the reason for his latest flip-flop, it now seems that McMaverick was against keeping your tires properly inflated before he was for it.

Republican John McCain appeared to back down on Tuesday in his dispute with his opponent Barack Obama over tire pressure. Last week in St. Louis, Obama told an audience that steps such as inflating tires to the correct levels could make a difference when it comes to conserving fuel.

Cue gleeful mockery from McCain. Obama was naive, inexperienced and not talking straight to the American people about energy, he said. His campaign went further, distributing to reporters tire gauges engraved with the words “Obama’s energy plan.”

Predictably, Obama hit back calling McCain’s mockery “ignorant,” arguing his plans were being misrepresented and saying that experts backed his call over tire pressure. Equally predictably, McCain’s camp hit back.

The surprise came during a telephone town hall meeting McCain held on Tuesday with voters in Pennsylvania.

“Obama said a couple of days ago says we all should inflate our tires. I don’t disagree with that. The American Automobile Association strongly recommends it,” McCain said.
Of course, McCain couldn't leave it at that. That would have been too honest, too honorable. He added: "I … don’t think that that (inflating tires) is a way to become energy independent."

No, of course it isn't. And nobody is suggesting that inflating tires is a way to become energy independent. But acknowledging that would get in the way of his Rovian handlers' efforts to mock Obama no matter what he says or does. So, the fiercely independent maverick McCain just goes along to get along.

Even though he really, really doesn't like it.

UPDATE

Obama mocks McCain over his tire gauge flip-flop.



"In the coming days, it's going to be interesting to watch this debate between John McCain and John McCain."
I wonder if the Obama campaign realizes it is onto something here. A whole series of McCain v. McCain ads, highlighting just a few of his dozens of flip-flops, could be very effective heading into the fall election season.

The key will be to make it a theme, and not just a moment. In order to succeed at changing the tone of the race, the message will have to be consistent and relentless. That is the only way it will seep into the public consciousness and actually affect the way certain segments of the electorate perceive McCain.

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