John Avlon : Eastwood 's empty chair points to the gap between campaign talk , reality . He says candidates on both sides distort their opponents ' views , play loose with facts . Avlon : The differences are particularly apparent on issues such as health care , Medicare . But even on this solid ground , the Politics of the Empty Chair creeps in , ignoring the fact that surpluses were turned into deficits under President George W. Bush and that the Romney-Ryan deficit reduction plan , such as it exists , could actually increase the deficit by prioritizing additional tax cuts and making military spending 4 % of GDP . He says the convention gives President Obama a chance to sketch a second - term strategy .
John Avlon : Eastwood 's empty chair points to the gap between campaign talk , reality . He says candidates on both sides distort their opponents ' views , play loose with facts . Avlon : The differences are particularly apparent on issues such as health care , Medicare . He says the convention gives President Obama a chance to sketch a second - term strategy .