McCain Interview With Chris Wallace

Sorry for the light blogging, I had a busy weekend. I'll be getting back to a more regular schedule tomorrow, but I wanted to point you to this Hugh Hewitt post. You can watch the video here, but Hewitt quotes the most relevant section.

John McCain: I'm very pleased with what happened at the debate, because it helped define the issues with the American people. And Joe the Plumber is the average citizen, and Joe the Plumber is now speaking for millions of small business people all over America, and they're becoming aware that 'we need to spread the wealth around' is not what small business people want. And before we go into this business of, well, they wouldn't be taxed, etc., 50% of small business income would be taxed under Senator Obama's plan. That's 16 million small business jobs in America, and that's what Joe the Plumber's figure d out. Finally, could I just say, where are we in America where a candidate for president comes to a person's driveway, he asks him a question, doesn't like the answer, and all of a sudden he's savaged by the candidate's people? Savaged by them. Here's a guy who's a private citizen. What's that all about?..."

John McCain: "I think his plans are redistribution of the wealth. He said himself, we need to spread the wealth around. Now..."

Fox News' Chris Wallace: "Is that socialism?"

John McCain: "That's one of the tenets of socialism, but it's more the liberal left, which he's always been in. He's always been in the left lane of American politics. That's why he voted 94 times against any tax cuts or for tax increases. That's why he voted for the Democratic budget resolution that would raise taxes on some individuals who make $42,000 a year. That's why he has the most liberal voting record in the United States Senate."

You should go read Hewitt's analysis, but the main point is that this exactly what McCain needs to be saying. The point is not about Joe the Plumber the person; the point is what Obama said and what it reveals of his economic ideology. Most polls, pundits and focus groups give McCain no chance of winning this election; if he is eeks out a victory, it will be because of press like this. Debates where candidates exchange talking points influence very few people. Straight-talk about socialism and tax policies has a better chance to accomplish that.

Hewitt ends optimistically as he always does--he plays the role of cheerleader very well.

Whether you want your wealth spread around is the question of the next 15 days. It isn't the question Obama-Biden wanted at the top of the list heading into the home stretch.

Sure, that's the rosy way to look at the final two weeks--but right now, I thought I'd focus on something positive.