The Message Is the Message

McCain's campaign for reform is very meaningful. But what does it mean exactly?

It's across the board," said John McCain last week, referring to his victory in New Hampshire. "It came from all sectors--conservatives, moderates, liberals. It was a win for the message." His chorus of well-prepped advisers agreed. "Message is still important," said McCain strategist Mike Murphy. "And the McCain message is clearly the message that Republican Party voters have embraced." In politics this kind of echo-chamber flackery is called being on message. And as McCain and his staff pointed their famous Straight Talk Express toward South Carolina, the message they were on was--well, their message. The message is their message. Or is...

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