McCain Takes Aim at the Kevlar Candidate

Pundits used to refer to Ronald Reagan as the Teflon President because nothing seemed to stick to him. Enter the 21st century Gipper: The Kevlar Candidate.

So far, Barack Obama has proven practically bullet proof against whatever Hillary Clinton has launched in his direction. Some of the shots from her husband have even ricocheted back and wounded Hillary.

But she’s not the only one searching for something in their arsenal that can put the hurt on Barack.

In his victory speech last night after winning the Wisconsin primary, John McCain had fond words for pesky but now practically irrelevant opponent Mike Huckabee and saved his hollow points rhetoric for Obama.

“Will we heed the appeals for change that ignore the lessons of history and lack confidence in the intelligence and ideals of free people?” McCain said. “I will fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change.”

Translation: voting for Obama means the terrorists win.

“Will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally Pakistan stand and suggested sitting down without preconditions or clear purpose with enemies who support terrorists and are intent on destabilizing the world by acquiring nuclear weapons?”

My, my, my. If these two ever get back on the Senate floor it’s going to be a chilly reunion. Maybe there’s a not so hidden agenda at work here. McCain would likely prefer Clinton rather than Obama as the democratic nominee. “Hillary” and “Clinton” are fighting words for a lot of hard-core Republicans and McCain desperately needs something to gin up some enthusiasm. If it’s not for him, then against her still works.

If and when the rhetoric fueled euphoria fades in Obama Nation, perhaps these issues may gain some traction. It may also be a preview of the rest of the campaign.

Danger Will Robinson! McCain raises legitimate questions about judgment, but the underlying strategy seems uncomfortably similar to the tactics our current president used to win the last election.

In the grand tradition of Joe Biden and Barack Obama, allow me to borrow from Gordon Gekko: Fear clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of what drives voters to make a decision. Fear is good. Fear works.