Is McCain a Double-Edged Sword for Democrats?

Writing in Time magazine, Michael Kinsley ’72, J.D. ’78, says Democrats like presidential candidate John McCain too much for their own good.

Writing in Time magazine, Michael Kinsley ’72, J.D. ’78, says Democrats like presidential candidate John McCain too much for their own good.

He rails against Republicans for rallying behind someone so palatable to liberals:

In a properly functioning two-party democracy, each party is supposed to nominate a person whom members of the other party will detest. Ordinarily this is not a problem....Indeed, since Ronald Reagan...the parties haven't even liked their own candidates all that much.

Kinsley, who identifies himself as a lifelong Democrat, says he will vote against McCain, but the prospect pains him. Noting that McCain falls well to the left of his party on many issues, Kinsley asks, "For heaven's sake, if the Republicans want to keep the White House that badly, why don't they just nominate Hillary Clinton and be done with it?"

He thinks the dynamics of this year's race may give McCain a good shot at the presidency:

McCain is widely admired among Democrats, and many Democratic Hillary haters will be happy to vote for him. By contrast, there is no constituency for Hillary among Republicans who can't stand McCain. Nor, for that matter, will many of them vote for Barack Obama.

Read the rest here.

Related topics

You might also like

Being Undocumented in America

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s writing aims to challenge assumptions. 

Bringing Korean Stories to Life

Composer Julia Riew writes the musicals she needed to see.

Most popular

Two Years of Doxxing at Harvard

What happens when students are publicly named and shamed for their views?

A New Narrative of Civil Rights

Political philosopher Brandon Terry’s vision of racial progress

How MAGA Went Mainstream at Harvard

Trump, TikTok, and the pandemic are reshaping Gen Z politics.

Explore More From Current Issue

Man, standing in small group of people outside the courthouse, holding a sign that reads "HANDS OFF HARVARD" in red letters

Harvard’s Summer in Court

What Columbia’s settlement means for the University

Colorful illustration of woman multitasking with laptop, baby bottle, toy, and checklist.

Motherhood and Ambition in a Pronatalist World

Gen Z is confronting the age-old question of balance—with a new twist.

Will Makris in blue checkered suit and red patterned tie standing outdoors by stone column.

A New HAA President at a Tumultuous Time

A career in higher ed inspired Will Makris to give back.