The American Spectator

Political Hay

(Page 2 of 3)

br> * "Because it isn't a question of how much the government spends.." br> * "I know Senator Kennedy feels as strongly...as I do..." br> * "We (both) want to see..." br> * "Now, the Republican platform will cost more too..." br> * "Let us understand throughout this campaign that his motives and mine are sincere." br> * "I know Senator Kennedy feels as deeply about these problems as I do." br> * "...our disagreement is not about the goals for America..." br> * "I agree with Senator Kennedy's appraisal..." /p>

There are conservatives aplenty who are wondering if they won't hear some version of these comments in a 2008 debate between Senator McCain and either Obama or Clinton.

AS IF THESE TYPE OF QUOTES were not revealing enough of Nixon's "me too" strategy in 1960, he even managed to muff the following. JFK turned one answer into a sharp definition of what the differences were between himself and Nixon. What follows is the last sentence in Kennedy's answer, and Nixon's "response."

MR. KENNEDY: The question before us is: which point of view and which party do we want to lead the United States?

MR. SMITH (moderator): Mr. Nixon, would you like to comment on that statement?

MR. NIXON: I have no comment.

No comment. Can you imagine Ronald Reagan saying he had no comment about which party -- which philosophy, liberal or conservative -- should lead the United States? If this moment arrived in 2008, in a statement by Obama or Clinton, would McCain say "no comment"?

topics:
Taxes, Bill Clinton, Mainstream Media, Television, Social Security, Abortion, Law, NATO, Conservatism, Oil