This is part two of my political posts (part 1 is here), this one about John McCain. and perhaps this is even the more important one, namely because the Obama one was so darn easy to write (he’s damn good at nearly everything I talk about here), and because McCain isn’t so good at the same things (he doesn’t even have a twitter account, for example). but considering they’re nearly tied in national polls, and considering McCain is a damn-good politician in his own right, there’s plenty there to talk about below the surface.
and I think this is the most important one: substance. because I think that’s what McCain does very well. he doesn’t look all that great, he doesn’t have a great stage presence, or a great feel for oratory. he doesn’t have gushing crowds, or an overly-enthusiastic base. but he does have a good deal of people who say: “yep. John McCain. he’s a smart man/good guy/great candidate.” that comes partially from his record, not only as a war hero but as a highly-respected popular maverick senator. but it also comes from his writing and his branding. he’s straight-talk, and no matter what you think about his policies, they’re well thought-out and all have validity in reality. he has substance, no doubt, and even if it’s not flashy, his campaign (and his communication) reflect that.
I think, being a Republican, McCain has too much of an uphill battle to fight… it’s darn-hard to be a maverick running in Bush’s party against someone who is out-changing him. and I think Obama will win (by even a comfortable 3-5% margin). but that doesn’t mean McCain hasn’t done a lot right, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t learn something for his campaign. mostly, that more than flash, writing is about substance.
in the end, it’s about knowing what you want to say, and about saying it. it’s about sticking by what you believe, about sticking by what you say, and letting what shakes out shake out. about honor really, not deception in delivery. about good, straight-foward, substantitive writing.
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