Posted on 02/07/2008 3:08:55 PM PST by backtothestreets
I attentively listened to Senator John McCain (R-AZ) address CPAC today. It was during his speech that a memory from the 1970 California Gubernatorial race resurfaced. That particular race pitted “Bid Daddy” Jess Unruh, then Speaker of the California Assembly , and arguably the most powerful person in state office, against then Governor Ronald Reagan, seeking reelection.
While working on the Reagan campaign, I made a statement that became a tenet of the Reagan campaign. I had asked the simple question that hounded the Unruh campaign. That question asked why California voters should trust Unruh to make changes as Governor he had not undertaken as Speaker of the Assembly. It was a question that Unruh could not offer a coherent response to.
Today, I ask the same of Senator John McCain, and his two Democratic US Senator rivals.
All three are current members of the US Senate. All three are full of talk of what they would accomplish as President. All three should have their feet held to the fire by voters. As long as they are members of the US Senate, each one has an opportunity to introduce legislation that would reflect what they would seek to accomplish as President.
I will not concern myself with what specific legislation the two Democratic Senators might introduce. I will wait to see what such legislation Senator McCain might introduce. Of particular interest to me would be legislation addressing illegal immigration.
If, as he suggested in his speech today, Senator John McCain, has embraced new principles on illegal immigration that upholds conservative values, as a current member of the US Senate he has the extraordinary opportunity to spell it out in proposed legislation he authors and introduces into that chamber of Congress.
Now, I will expand this to include all three of the current US Senators seeking the White House. If you have plans of what you would seek to accomplish as President, put those plans to paper and make them known to the nation by introducing them as bills for consideration in the Senate. Allow the voters to see exactly what changes you seek. Give the voters something to weigh.
Senators Clinton, McCain, and Obama, there is no rule or law prohibiting you from introducing legislation while seeking the White House. The US Senate is the platform each of you have used to launch your bid for President. I strongly encourage each of you to show the voters exactly what they can expect if any one of you succeeds in capturing the White House.
I am not making a challenge. Each of you made the challenge when you began your campaigns for President. I am indeed, for myself and all Americans, accepting that challenge and stating quite frankly it is time to play your cards. As US Senators, you have the means at your disposal. Get to it!
Expect nothing but gushy softballs for McCain from his RINO supporters. Anyone who asks the truly hard questions gets branded a “whiner,” “crybaby,” and (my comic favorite) “Hillary supporter.”
This is a fantastic point! McCain could try to earn our trust back by actually trying to pass real legislation that is not just spit in the conservatives eye.
I really don’t want to see any senator in the Whitehouse. It just doesn’t seem right. I wish the founders would have put it in the constitution.
senators make lousy presidents because they don’t run anything or have a need to show leadership. most senators make lousy senators. anyone running for president should have to resign their political job, except president and vp.
term limits for all including supreme court justices.
Good post. If you don;t spell out for them what we need to see, all they’re going to hear is noise. Easily ignored.
BTTT
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