Politics and Culture

I've said before that had the Democrats nominated John McCain or somebody with McCain's exact policies, they'd be winning in a walk. The simple fact is that most Americans want a Democrat to be president, but don't want Democratic policies. Most Americans think Democrats are better on the economy "just because." They don't want wealth redistribution, worse and/or more expensive health care, or less trade.

The same thing happened in Great Britain where they agreed to vote for labor in 1997 for "change" as long as labor didn't return to socialism.

Maybe Obama doesn't want to debate McCain because Americans might realize that he doesn't agree with them. Maybe that's why Obama won't proudly claim to be a liberal.

Obama's pivot on guns, trade, Iraq, and, next, the capital gains tax is a good strategy for him. He may have done it too quickly and cravenly, however.