The politics of plumbing
HEY, JOE! This is John McCain! Listen to me! Not That One! Not the Eloquent Extremist!
This was the guts of McCain's last-ditch plea to be president. Joe is the Ohio plumber who challenged Obama this week over why he might have to pay more taxes if he makes more than $250,000. Obama says that the 95 percent of Americans who make less than $250,000 will get a tax cut. Obama told him, "I respect the disagreement, but I just want you to be clear. It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance at success, too."
McCain tried to use Joe to punish Obama. Joe, listen to me! Never mind that I have no plan to rescue the middle class. Obama is about to wage class warfare on you!
Oh, and if that does not impress you, watch me throw the kitchen sink of character at Obama. Bill Ayers, the 1960s bomber! How dare civil rights hero John Lewis compare my campaign to George Wallace! Voter fraud by ACORN! They are - and this is McCain's quote from the debate - "destroying the fabric of democracy!"
Joe! Listen to me! Not That One! Not - and this is another quote from the debate - "Senator Government!"
McCain's kitchen-sink approach put Obama on the defensive early. But as he stayed cool in refuting the charges, McCain became fidgety as time ran out trying to reach the Joes and Janes of America. The polls kept telling him that Americans don't want to hear about character assassination. The fabric of their lives is being destroyed right now. To them, the Eloquent Extremist is Mr. Main Street.
Derrick Z. Jackson can be reached at jackson@globe.com. 