This is remarkable. Presumptive nominee John McCain has no announced platform and rather than running on the issues that he cares about, he has solicited his email list with a poll which he will use to base his agenda.

Here’s a screen cap of the email I received from McCain’s campaign manager, Terry Nelson.

Here’s the introduction to the poll itself:

Thank you for taking the time to complete my Presidential Agenda Survey. This survey is designed to help me incorporate your concerns into a national agenda that will give full priority to the most important issues that affect your everyday life, and the lives of all Americans. This is an important survey. Your answers will have a profound impact on my agenda as I decide whether or not to pursue the Presidency of the United States. [Emphasis added]

It’s remarkable that after twenty-four years of work in the federal government John McCain doesn’t have a set agenda. You’d think a man of his political stature would want to govern by principles, not polls.

On to the poll itself: After rating the priority they place on a list of issues, poll respondents go on to answer questions about taxes, government spending and regulation, war in Iraq and the war on terror, and America’s military. McCain specifically includes questions on ideas put forward by other presidential candidates*, like Sam Brownback’s flat tax proposal, as well as poll testing his list for their opinion on his support for escalating the Iraq war by sending more troops there. McCain even asks his supporters if they supported the idea of reinstating the draft.

For all his unquestioned support of the Bush administration, I thought John McCain at least knew what he believed. Now it seems he doesn’t have a clue on what issues the public want him to care about. Reinstating the draft? Does McCain think Charlie Rangel is the only person on his email list?

No, this survey makes it clear that McCain is preparing to enter full-blown pander mode. Will the mainstream press start criticizing McCain for poll-testing planks of his agenda? Probably not.

*Obviously McCain isn’t tying these positions to any particular people. He is, however, addressing issues and language prominently used by other Republican candidates. And Charlie Rangel.

Technorati Tags: John McCain, Charlie Rangel

Posted by Matt Browner Hamlin
Friday, January 26, 2007 at 10:55 am

86 Responses to “McCain Asks His Supporters To Set His Agenda”

Something to say?

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website