McCain and Obama: Who's Out of Touch?

The Obama campaign has decided the time is right for their candidate to go into attack mode. It seems sinking poll numbers and a candidacy that looks like its imploding aren't sitting well with the Illinois Senator and his minions.

It wasn't that long ago that Senator Obama promised to wage a clean campaign. No more dirty Washington attack politics, he said. No more business as usual. It appears, however, that such a pledge only applies if you are winning. With Senator McCain seizing the initiative and gaining in the polls, Obama supporters are becoming increasingly nervous and ready for a do-what-it-takes-to-win strategy.

So the Obama campaign today began a new advertising blitz designed to portray John McCain as out of touch with ordinary Americans. I haven't seen the new ads yet, but according to the Associated Press McCain is shown "...at a hearing in the early '80s, wearing giant glasses and an out-of-style suit, interspersed with shots of a disco ball, a clunky phone, an outdated computer and a Rubik's Cube."

The voice in the ad says, "1982, John McCain goes to Washington. Things have changed in the last 26 years, but McCain hasn't." It goes on to say, "He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail...." Finally, the ad shows McCain at a golf outing with former President George H.W. Bush, and at the White House with the current President Bush while the voice says, "After one president who was out of touch, we just can't afford more of the same."

But is it McCain who's out of touch? And if so, is he alone?

You see, what Senator Obama doesn't go around saying is that his income last year was more than $4 million. How many ordinary Americans made that kind of money in 2007? He also doesn't go around talking about the school his children attend. It's not a public school in Chicago. It's not even a regular private school. No, Senator Obama's daughters attend the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, which according to Investor's Business Daily, runs anywhere from $15,528 for kindergarten to $20, 445 for high school. How many ordinary Americans can afford that kind of tuition?

When asked about the school during a debate last year, Obama remarked that it was the best option for his girls. Good for him. I have no problem with that. As a father he should absolutely do what he feels to be in the best interest of his children. If he didn't, I would have more questions about him than I already do. That's not the issue.

The issue is not that he made $4 million or that his children go to an elite private school. The issue is that his is castigating his opponent for being out of touch when he cannot honestly say that he shares the plight of the ordinary American citizen. It's what we in ordinary America call hypocrisy.