Written by Rita Jenkins| 18 October, 2008 16:49 GMT
As the 2009 presidential campaign locomotive hurtles toward decision day, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is launching a new attack on Sen. John McCain's policy proposals that seems designed to upset undecided old folks into swinging the younger senator's way. Trouble is, the campaign may be counting on the brains of those seniors being a lot fuzzier than they actually are.
HEALTH BLOG
In brief, Obama's campaign is charging that McCain would cut Medicare benefits to pay for the tax credits that are the cornerstone of his health insurance reform proposal. Although it's true that McCain's side suggested that spending reforms in Medicare and Medicaid could provide additional funds to pay for the insurance plan, the Arizona senator
never spoke of cutting benefits to recipients.
It's a long leap to support the argument that the Obama camp is making, and, pity is, it doesn't have to stoop to half-truths (or possibly whole falsehoods) to win support among voters who were casting ballots when most of them were twinkles in their papas' eyes.
Obama has achieved a solid lead in the race to the White House through a number of factors going for him: his call for change, his leadership charisma, his intellect, the support he has garnered from many respected quarters, the energy of his followers, and the disaffection of many voters from the Republican party, which has made such a hash of things the last eight years.
Obama doesn't need to take desperate measures in these final days to eke out a few more votes through deception. And besides that -- it's not likely to work. Senior voters have been around the political block a few times -- they aren't dumb enough to fall for this kind of ploy.
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