Obama Reaches Out to McCain: A Moderate DreamTeam?
Mother Jones reports that President-Elect Barack Obama is throwing a dinner for Senator John McCain, the man Obama beat in the election for president last year. The dinner is a rather obvious attempt to reach out to the Maverick senator and to court independent-minded Republicans like him. At the same time, it could be argued that the dinner and Obama’s reaching out to him, gives McCain an opportunity to make a comeback and, especially, to restore his good relationship with American journalists.
Interesting about the dinner is that Governor Sarah Palin, McCain’s running mate, was not invited. This has resulted in quite some criticism from conservatives who fear that Obama may set McCain up to become his key Republican ally who, out of a desire to make a comeback and to continue being relevant, may compromise on conservatives’ most cherished principles. As Rick Santorum explains: “McCain was once the mainstream media darling, back when he joined Democrats on a host of issues. He prized his maverick moniker and used it to propel himself onto the national scene in the 2000 Republican presidential primary. Early in the Bush years, he shored up his status as the media’s favorite Republican by opposing Bush on taxes and the environment.”
“But this love fest came to a halt when McCain became the front-runner for the GOP nomination. First he began to sound more like a conservative by altering his stands on immigration, the environment and taxes. Then he named Sarah Palin his running mate. It was too much for a media that had fallen head over heels for Obama. The media had a new darling.
“In McCain’s mind, however, losing the presidency will not be the final chapter of his life story. He knows the path to ‘Big Media’ redemption. Working with the man who vanquished him in November will show them all the real McCain again.”
McCain is a man at the end of his career; he is well over 70, which means that he has only a few years to go. If old men, and especially old politicians, care about one thing, it is their legacy.
As such, it would be logical for Obama to reach out to McCain and to work with him on issues on which the two can agree with each other and also on issues on which they disagree; involving McCain actively in the decision making process makes it difficult for him to lead strong and vocal Republican opposition to some of Obama’s plans.
There are two sides to a bipartisan John McCain, one positive the other distinctly negative; firstly, being bipartisan and willing to work with President Obama on a wide array of issues will help solve issues that need to be solved. Washington D.C. has been divided among partisan lines for too long. Both sides often opposed ideas that would work out of a misguided sense of idealism. Bipartisanship and pragmatism will likely result in more policies that work and they will not divide the country as much as it was divided under both George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Second the negative aspects of ideological bipartisanship: bipartisanship should not be a goal in itself, just as negotiations shouldn’t. Bipartisanship is a means, not a goal. McCain has to be careful not to make bipartisanship the goal. The goal are good policies that work; getting along with everyone is great, but it is not per definition in the country’s interest.
Sen. McCain is wise to keep the above in mind. When Republican critics call him a “RINO” he should ignore this, and continue to do what he deems in the country’s best interest. But he should not forget that his legacy and reputation are of little value to the country as a whole; only good laws are. If he works on good laws, laws that work, with Obama, his reputation will be improved. If, however, he agrees to support liberal policies (that do not work), his reputation will suffer even more and, more importantly, the country will suffer.
“McCain is a man at the end of his career; he is well over 70″
He’s already said he’ll be running for re-election in 2010. That doesn’t sound like the “end of his career”
“McCain has to be careful not to make bipartisanship the goal.”
John McCain has a long track record of working across the aisle to address big issues that he holds dear (i.e. immigration, campaign finance reform) while not foregoing his conservative ideals. He is not a “Maine Republican” (i.e. like Susan Collins a member of the Republican Party but consistently voting in the middle).
I would suggest that for McCain reaching across the aisle is always a goal and so in that sense “bipartisanship” is a goal. Now if he feels strongly about an issue that “goes against the party line” he’s not afraid to “go against the party”. But again if folks think that makes him a RINO they don’t know McCain nor his voting record. This was an essential aspect of the election. Two many folks said “Well, McCain has changed” when they looked at his voting record ( or when it was pointed out by his opponent). He hadn’t substantially changed; folks were now just acutely aware of his COMPLETE voting record.
Its interesting looking back at two issues that McCain got a lot flak for: a)campaign finance reform and b)immigration reform.
Looking back on the election it looks like McCain was correct is raising concerns about campaign finance and that would affect both parties. Second, its clear that the Republican angry opposition to his immigration reform efforts overwhelmed any positive impression he might have previously had with hispanice voters.