Bailout Watch 56: Barack Obama and John McCain Offer "Low Contrast" Debate

Once upon a time, Barack Obama and John McCain actually disagreed about the proposed automaker bailout. Obama took his cues from the UAW and backed the proposal. McCain remained principled– until he realized he had to win Michigan. Now, not only is McCain camping-out in Obama’s rhetorical territory, promising that “change is coming,” he’s also pushing to be seen as Detroit booster-ier than thou. His new ad literally opens on the corporate logos of the Detroit three, while a honey-voiced narrator coos that “Michigan families depend on the auto industry.” But can McCain really win by following his opponent into populist positions? A post over at Wired indicates that not only is he pandering after already-committed voters, but he’s also helping to fuel protectionism, corporate welfare, and jingoistic anti-innovation. Because there is less daylight between the McCain and Obama positions, McCain is coming under increasingly narrow and divisive attacks, the latest based on his opposition to “buy American” stipulations for (get this) secret service motorcycle purchasing. McCain’s opinion that mandating the purchase of Harley-Davidsons is “unnecessary and counter-productive” has caused the Obama campaign to start a “hybrids and Harleys” initiative. At a recent rally in Grand Rapids MI, Hybrids and Harleys for Obama banned all foreign-built hybrids from the parade of vehicles. Er, all non-D3 hybrids, anyway. Canadian Silverado hybrids were welcome, as were Mexican-made hybrid Vues. Holding Americans and their presidential candidates to an impossible standard of driving American-made, eco-friendly hybrids is the result of a lack of substantive debate. When neither side refuses to take a principled stand on an issue, contrast is derived only through pandering and empty symbolism. For two candidates who claim to be agents of change, this is a lot of the same-old tired politics as usual.