OK, we all know that political ads play fast and loose with facts and logic. But do we really want to descend into an Orwellian world where what you stand for depends entirely on convenience -- or on what day of the week it is? John McCain has unleashed an ad that blames the high price for gasoline specifically on Barack Obama for taking the exact position that McCain held until a month ago.
"Gas prices: $4, $5, no end in sight, because some in Washington are still saying no to drilling in America," the ad narrator intones grimly. While the point is to try to turn the fury that drivers experience every time they fuel up their car toward Obama, the ad ought to infuriate anyone who thinks brains have a greater purpose than to keep our ears several inches apart. Blaming Obama for high gas prices is as absurd as blaming him for bad tomatoes (or jalepeno peppers) as the folks at Politifact cleverly put it in taking the the ad apart, piece by piece.
Consider the facts. First, McCain could personally sink an oil well every day between now and the election and there still would be "no end in sight" to stiff gas prices. Second, McCain himself steadfastly opposed offshore drilling until switching positions in June, which in essence means McCain is blaming his own long-held position for the state of energy supplies now. At least Obama can argue that he's only been part of the problem (the lack of a long-term energy policy) for only three years while McCain has been part of it for almost 30 years.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
There is nothing wrong with switching positions on an issue. And there is nothing wrong with criticizing an opponent for sticking to that old position. But to try to apply the supposed consequences of a policy decision to that opponent while simultaneously ducking responsibility for those consequences yourself is a logic-defying feat that even the oiliest of politicians should be embarrassed to try. And McCain has made a name and career for being the exact opposite of oily. That's what is especially maddening about this ad: It abandons the principles that have made McCain such an intriguing and unusual politician since his first presidential campaign in 2000 -- tackling difficult problems, not promising quick-fixes and talking straight.
That's also why the ad may turn out to be not just an annoyance and affront to reason, but a potentially costly strategic blunder. The candidate who created a persona and a platform of being anything but an ordinary politician who says anything to get elected just handed his opponent evidence of the opposite. McCain can expect this ad to haunt him for some time to come.
-
December 31 RMD Deadline: What to Know and What to DoTax Deadlines The year-end deadline for required minimum distributions is critical for many retirees.
-
Top Tax Stories of 2024 and Key Changes to Watch for 2025Tax News The Kiplinger tax team is looking back at popular tax stories and looking ahead to potential tax changes in the new year.
-
AI Regulation is Looming: Kiplinger Economic ForecastsEconomic Forecasts Find out what Washington and regulators have planned for artificial intelligence.
-
The Biden Tax Plan: How the Build Back Better Act Could Affect Your Tax BillPolitics Depending on your income, the Build Back Better Act recently passed by the House could boost or cut your future tax bills.
-
Kiplinger's 2020 Election ForecastPolitics For nearly a century, The Kiplinger Letter has forecasted the outcome of presidential elections to keep readers informed of what's coming and what it means for them. Here's our call for 2020.
-
The 2020 Election and Your MoneyPolitics We’ve assessed how the presidential candidates’ stances on financial issues will affect your wallet.
-
5 HEROES Act Provisions with a Good Chance of Becoming LawPolitics The massive federal stimulus bill just passed by the House of Representatives is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. But a few proposals in the bill have enough bipartisan support to eventually become law.
-
Vote by Mail: A State-by-State Guide to Absentee Ballot VotingPolitics With health authorities recommending people continue to social distance, the idea of voting by mail is becoming an increasingly hot topic.
-
9 Ways COVID-19 Will Change the 2020 ElectionsPolitics The 2020 election will be like no other in history, as the COVID-19 pandemic will upend the business of politics as usual.
-
How to Run for Local OfficePolitics If you’ve ever thought that you could do a better job than the elected officials currently in office, here’s how to launch a campaign—and win.
