John McCain, Crazy Like a Fox

As you've seen from LawyerMama's post, the John McCain campaign is, in political parlance, "reaching out" to a variety of progressive bloggers to participate in McCain's weekly conference calls.  I even got to ask a question on his bipartisanship proposal, getting him to acknowledge that he would appoint Democrats to his administration if elected.

Confused about how a true blue PunditMom and MOMocrat can dip her currently unpedicured toes into red waters?  As my husband likes to say, it's good to know the enemy!

Wait, isn't it a problem to talk with your enemies in McCain's book?  Sorry, I digress.

My point in writing some more about our invitation to talk with Senator McCain is this -- I know they aren't doing this in hopes of convincing people like me to vote Republican in the fall.  I'm sure they've done their research and know that's never going to happen.

They're casting for bigger fish.

Think about it.  So many in both political parties thought McCain would be out of this race a long time ago because he was so low on campaign funds compared to all the other candidates.  But McCain and his staff have crafted a strategy that has become better than money to them -- virtual shoe leather.  Making time to find alternate ways to get their message out to independents and Democrats on the fence.  What better way to do that than through the beauty of telephone conferencing with bloggers who reach the thousands in demographic he needs to win??

Now that McCain is the GOP nominee in all but actual title, there's no need to spend much more time with the conservative bloggers.  He's got to patch together enough cross-over votes before he can start packing the moving van and sending it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Using the power of bloggers to get there is crazy like a fox.

So, should progressive bloggers continue to take the calls from the McCain campaign?  Some say we shouldn't allow ourselves to be his tools.  But I figure if I can get a little voice time  to ask questions and probe his positions, maybe we all become better informed about how to keep the Republicans out of the henhouse.

When Joanne isn't crafting questions for the next conference call, no matter which candidate offers it, you can find her over at her place, PunditMom, as well as at BlogHer and the Huffington Post.

 

Comments

[Donna]

Well said - and I, for one, am very happy that you and the other MOMocrats were there to ask the questions you did. The healthcare call I was in on had questions from people who all seemed to be "members of the choir."

[Gunfighter]

I think it is important for progressives to continue with these interactions with Senator McCain... somebody has to have the courage to call "Bulls**t" on him.

[cynematic]

Well, rest assured MOMocrats readers, we're hardly cheap dates over here. Our bullshit meters are set to *high.* ;) Maybe we'll even bring back our "Rage Against the McCain" tagline for the days Senator McCain says something especially disagreeable.

[Julie Pippert]

Yes yes and yes!

[Daisy]

I love the concept of the BS Meter -- In education, we often call it the Crap Detector.

[Lawyer Mama]

BS meter is a good way to put it!