The Presidential Sales Campaign

I don't often watch too many of the talking head shows, but for some reason tonight, I decided to watch a little bit of Hannity and Colmes on Fox. Their guests tonight were JC Watts, former Congressman from Oklahoma and Tony Coelho, former Congressman from California.

Normally I like listening to JC Watts. He has always struck me as being a very bright man for a Congressman. And for most of the show, he didn't disappoint. But towards the end of the debate, Alan Colmes asked a question about the President's recent prediction of 2.6 million new jobs. Now maybe Mr. Watts isn't the best person to direct that question to, but it is a valid question. But instead of answering the question, even with an "I don't know," JC tried to dodge, to spin, and to ignore the question, instead talking about other related issues, but never directly addressing a perfectly legitimate question. For what it's worth, I think that the question could be easily answered (if this is true) by saying that the President shot off with his mouth before making sure that the numbers he was throwing around were right. From the reactions of his economic advisors, I'm guessing that that is what happened. If so, it needs to be admitted, and then we can all move on.

Now I thought that Sean asked probably the most important question that could be asked: what would the Johns do differently than the President? What differences would we see in the war? What differences would we see in economic policy? We keep hearing about how they hate Bush, but they still haven't really said how they would be different?

So far as I've been able to tell, about the only two positions in which the Johns seem to really have taken a stance against Bush: taxes and the war, they are trying to back away from their positions, claiming that they are misstatements.

As best as I can remember, both Johns have said that they would try to rollback the tax cuts. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but that is tatamount to a tax hike. Maybe the phrase "rollback" sounds better, but the end effect is still that taxes will go up. If they believe that a tax hike is the best course of action, fine. I can live with that. I'd like to hear the reasoning, but it is an acceptable position (although not one that I would even consider voting for. Instant disqualifier for me). I just don't want to waste my time, or the nation's, in debating the semantic difference between a tax cut rollback and a tax increase.

I also seem to be under the impression that both Johns would be trying to bring our men home from Iraq as soon as possible after taking office. Both men seem to be backing away from that position.

Now if they disapproved of the action in Iraq (which John Kerry has been ever since his last vote supporting it), they need to be man enough to stand up and be counted for their beliefs. If they really think that thinks are being handled improperly, tell me what would be done differently under the Administration of John. So far, all I hear is "We disapprove! We're not happy about it! Something needs to change!" But no alternate course of action ever seems to be proposed.

There are really two things I want to hear from someone who wants my vote. I want to hear true, unwavering beliefs and I want to hear alternatives to the status quo. If you think the guy in power is doing a poor job, don't just tell me that you think he's doing a bad job, tell me you will do differently.

So far, I don't hear anything. I hear a lot of sniping and whining, but I don't hear anything I can hang my hat on. Politics is sales. In sales you identify a problem, propose a solution, explain the features, advantages, and benefits, and you must always be closing.

The Johns are identifying a "problem" (Bush's job performance, in their estimation) and they are constantly trying to close by pursuing my vote, but they are leaving out the whole sales part of the sales process. I have heard no features, advantages, or benefits to a government run by them.

Until those questions are answered, why should I even consider voting for anyone other than Bush - a known quantity?