As early as the third presidential debate, John McCain set the tone for challenging an Obama victory and for instilling a sense of fear in voters. He warned that Acorn was “now on the verge of maybe perpetuating one of the greatest frauds in voter history in this country, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy.” That’s an interesting accusation, particularly given his own party’s role in engaging in questionable voting techniques and challenges to steal the election from Al Gore in 2000. For many reasons, that should be in the running for the title of the “greatest fraud in voter history.”

 

The McCain campaign proceeded to repeatedly link Obama to Acorn, though it is now fairly well documented that the Acorn inadequacies were the work of a few lazy workers rather than a left-wing conspiracy to erode the fabric of democracy. But regardless, John I’ll-do-anything-to-win McCain has already begun to lay the foundation for charges of voter fraud and challenges in court.

 

This past Monday, the New York Times ran an interesting article on this very issue, citing the fears of voting rights advocates that Republican accusations of fraud are part of a deliberate strategy to create confusion among voters. And it wouldn’t be the first time. Voter suppression has unfortunately played a role throughout the United States’ voting history. Though this year is different, to quote Robert F. Bauer, general counsel to the Obama campaign, because of the “very aggressive involvement of the top of the ticket in promoting this fear message.”

 

To me, this strategy is indicative of two things. First, it exemplifies the desperation that has been apparent throughout the closing weeks of McCain’s campaign. It solidifies speculation that the maverick’s camp is losing morale, and is grasping at just about anything to save this election for the GOP. Second, and more importantly, it demonstrates the ruthless, ethically questionable tactics that have been repeatedly employed by this ticket. We thought Bush was bad when he robo-called voters during the 2000 GOP primary in South Carolina, claiming that McCain had an illegitimate African American child out of wedlock. But McCain has employed the same strategy, using fear tactics and inciting hatred for his own political gain. But interestingly, it has not worked.

 

Despite his most valiant efforts, McCain’s attempts to employ many of the same Karl Rove-style tactics against Obama have left him behind in the polls and forced to defend the reddest of the red states. Maybe voters have seen the product of these Rove-style tactics and they aren’t satisfied. Maybe they recognize politics as usual and are instead looking for a real change. Regardless of why, McCain’s stale fear tactics have fallen flat. And judging from the organization and readiness of the Obama campaign, I am confident that any attempts to suppress voters or challenge an Obama victory will also fall flat.

 

After all, Obama represents the politics and policies of the future. And in them, there is no place for the Bush/Rove/McCain politics and policies of the past.