McCain’s Speech: Bread and Butter

photo credit: treviño

From the time Fred Thompson stood up on Tuesday until Governor Palin sat down on Wednesday, the order of the day was red meat. Tonight was bread and butter issues.

If there was one strategic mistake at the convention, it was that McCain spent his best speakers last night, and he spent Michael Steele outside of prime time. What was left on Thursday night was a somewhat tired line-up that couldn’t compare to the Republican all-stars that graced the stage the previous night.

As for McCain’s speech, it was better than usual for McCain. His style is not as natural or as professional. However, he did several things tonight:

1. He spoke honestly as a human being. Talking tough about being a POW is one thing, admitting it broke you is another.
2. Expressed sympathy with the problems the every day American faces. McCain made a good effort to connection with the middle class. I thought his pointing out the wasteful earmarks brought about by Congress at a time when many Americans are suffering was clear.
3. McCain focused on common sense solutions. While McCain proposed some positive proposals, nobody would have mistaken it for pie in the sky dreaming. These were the ideas to bat around the kitchen table, not something metaphysical or mystical. They were also far more specific than Senator Obama’s. McCain really was trying to appeal to voters who think we need change, but can’t quite believe the rhetoric from Obama.
4. McCain provided idealism, flowing directly from McCain’s experience and example. In one way, McCain’s call for people to serve a cause greater than themselves is quite similar to Obama’s. (And no, McCain didn’t rip him off. Believe it or not, Obama didn’t invent it.) Nor, can one say this election is a choice between “change” and “no change.” For better or worse, McCain will be different from George W. Bush.

There are three questions coming out of the convention: 1) Who can bring change? 2) What type of change do you want? 3) Who can inspire us to be a better nation?

These are the questions Americans will address over the next few months.