Prior to last night's debates in which Barack Obama was the clear victor, Cindy told reporters earlier that day that Obama has "waged the dirtiest campaign in American history". This coming at the onset of McCain's new strategy to stop talking about the issues, and focus on Swift Boat-style tactics to defame Obama and try to make him seem like some kind of un-American radical. Cindy is giving a response founded on emotion, not logic. She's upset that Obama is pulling away in the polls and on the Electoral map. Obama is widely considered the "nice guy" that wants to be above the bipartisan smear tactics and fear-mongering that Republicans seem to own a patent on. But, he has learned from the Kerry campaign that we should strike back when they strike at us. Calling Obama "dirty" is a stretch, but calling it the "dirtiest" in "American history" is an illogical form of desperation, and just more smearing from the McCains to say the least.
Welcome to The Twilight Zone folks. Where all forms of reality & logic has been suspended in this political parrallel universe, brought to you by the Republican Party.
Obama's "The Subject" ad (in response to John McCain's smear tactics)
My friend, Jake, responded to the San Francisco Chronicle article "Swift boating 2008" by Debra J. Saunders. This article appeared on page B - 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle on September 11, 2008 and is available on the SFGate Website.
Jake's response is quite lovely! His post is available through the SFGate blog and below...
"There's one key element Saunders has accidentally missed/blatantly ignored; the rumors of Mrs. Palin's indiscretions are simply public exaggerations the press has picked up on, whereas the sideswipes at Mr. Obama come directly from within the McCain campaign itself. It's the difference between hearing some dishy water cooler talk at work and, say, holding a nationally televised press conference meant to skewer your opponent like a roast pig (with lipstick). Rumors will abound, but at least the Obama campaign is above spreading them. (Doesn't look as though they need to help!)"
In essence, John McCain, you can stick feathers up your butt, but that doesn't make you any more of a chicken than you already are.
Obama fights back against the recent McCain-Palin low blows - the infamous sex-ed ad, and the fake "lipstick on a pig" controversy.
Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday accused Sen. John McCain's campaign of engaging in "lies" and "swift boat politics" in regard to his comment about "lipstick on a pig.""Spare me the phony outrage. Spare me the phony talk about change," Obama said at the start of an education event in Norfolk, Virginia. "We have real problems in this country right now. The American people are looking to us for answers, not distractions, not diversions, not manipulations. They want real answers to the real problems we are facing."I don't care what they say about me. But I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and phony outrage and swift boat politics. Enough is enough," he said, referring to how Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched attacks against Sen. John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race. Obama said the McCain campaign was doing the type of thing that makes people "sick and tired of politics."
Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday accused Sen. John McCain's campaign of engaging in "lies" and "swift boat politics" in regard to his comment about "lipstick on a pig."
"Spare me the phony outrage. Spare me the phony talk about change," Obama said at the start of an education event in Norfolk, Virginia.
"We have real problems in this country right now. The American people are looking to us for answers, not distractions, not diversions, not manipulations. They want real answers to the real problems we are facing.
"I don't care what they say about me. But I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and phony outrage and swift boat politics. Enough is enough," he said, referring to how Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched attacks against Sen. John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
Obama said the McCain campaign was doing the type of thing that makes people "sick and tired of politics."
Recent news coverage of the campaign has begun to use the term "Swiftboating" with greater frequency, referring to the Karl Rove tactic of using a political opponent's strength (e.g., Kerry's Vietnam heroism) against him or her by attacking it directly. This was certainly a winning approach in the 2004 election against Kerry, in which ads undermining his military record were used against him. We see it now in the McCain-Palin campaign, with an attempt to switch the tables on Obama with Sarah Palin, using her inexperience and Washington outsider profile to trump his, and to make him seem like the old time politico by comparison, seizing the mantle of "change" that has been one of Obama's strengths.
Interestingly, both the Swiftboating attack, the books about Kerry and Obama by Jerome Corsi, and most recently Sarah Palin's repetition of lies about her own record and Obama's, have illustrated the another key element of Rove strategy: repeat lies enough times and people will believe them. This was applied in the campaign against Al Gore as well, for example in the statement that Gore claimed to have "invented the Internet." It was even used against McCain by the Bush campaign in their shocking use of fake polling to spread the message that McCain had an out-of-wedlock black child.
It occurs to me that Obama might easily undermine one of Sarah Palin's supposed strengths -- her alleged strong moral and religious values -- by reminding people of the 9th Commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness." The fact is, she is a chronic liar. She has demonstrably and irrefutably been bearing false witness concerning her own record, and Obama's, with known false statements and distortions over and over again, despite their having been debunked by reputable fact-checkers and journalists.
Perhaps Obama needs ads that remind us that what was most reprehensible about G.W. Bush's political campaigns and his administration was the chronic, strategic bearing of false witness -- the lying and dishonesty. On a full range of issues, the press and respected authors, not the least of whom is Bob Woodward, have shown that Bush and his cronies have repeatedly lied to the American people.
As a people we can forgive mistakes, we can even overlook errors in judgement. But conscious, repeated lies -- "bearing false witness" -- is a commandment that we take seriously in our Constitution and in our civil life. When pointed out so that it cannot be denied, it is not palatable. And particularly in one, such as Sarah Palin, who is revered by many because of her "Christian values," the facts undermine her alleged high moral standing.
Possibly the change that Obama is offering can focus on a refusal to lie, a swearing off of "bearing false witness." Would it be helpful to document, using respected third parties, the factual inaccuracies and the blatant repeated falsehoods promulgated daily by the McCain campaign under the headline, "Bearing False Witness." Don't you think at least some of the Evangelicals and other conservative, God-fearing people in this country might, when faced directly with these facts communicated in that moral context, be less willing to vote for 4 more years of lies and bearing of false witness? It's already started, even before the election. Have we had enough?
Ok, in case you are wondering, Obama is being swift-boated. The republicans have gone after him by attacking his character, records and qualification to be the president of the United States. Like the swift-boat of John Kerry in 2004, the attacks are based on outlandish lies, fabrications and distortions. However, unlike 2004—when the 527s were carrying out the attack—the attackers this time around are the flag bearers of the Republican Party: Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Sara Palin and John McCain. [Oh, don't forget the ex Democrat Joe Liebermann.] They have attacked and distorted Obama’s positions on taxes, jobs, healthcare, abortion, guns, community organizing, etc. They have landed some veiled personal attacks on his character and his race.
The goal of the attacks is to make him to look weak.
It does not matter that the Republican attacks are based on lies. A good chunk of the electorates don’t care. They don’t have the time or the inclination to find out the truth. Just look at their response to Sara Palin. “I like her because she is tough!” No further explanation necessary. They want a strong and a no nonsense leader. Appearances would do just fine, thanks. Rick Davies said that this election is not about the issues and he may have a point.
Yet, Obama's and Biden’s responses, so far, have been nuanced to appeal to eggheads. Why? Most eggheads are already with them. It seems like both leaders need to sharpen their messages. At the moment, many of the undecided electorates are looking for something else. Many of them are looking for strength. Hence, Obama and Biden need to show a little more versatility in their communication style. They need to toughen their rhetoric.
For some undecided electorates, it is not only about the issues. Other intangible qualities such as judgment and strength may be equally important. Clearly, Obama has been going toe-to-toe and tit-for-tat with the Republicans on the issue of judgment. I think he has a winning argument against them. However, I don't think that he is responding well to the new personal attacks from Republicans since the RNC Convention last week. These new attacks may be taking a toll on his reputation as a strong leader. He needs to fight back hard.
In years past, pivoting to the middle meant moderating ones position on the issues. However, this year, it might not be about moderating on issues. Obama's positions are more moderate than McCain's; the RNC platform turned hard right last week. Yet, the McCain/Palin convention bounce indicates that some independents are flocking to McCain/Palin ticket. I think pivoting to the middle this year means speaking the language that many common folks can understand. Unlike eggheads, I think that many undecided folks don’t have the time or the inclination to find out the truth about McCain or Palin. They get lost in nuanced discussions. These are the same folks that can listen to G. W. Bush’s words and say “this fella is a strong leader” instead of recoiling or cringing like the eggheads do.
The press won’t come to the aide of the Democrats to expose the lies peddled by the Republicans in their stump speeches and ads. At least, the Press won’t do so in sufficient details for the public to reject McCain/Palin ticket. The decks are stacked against Obama/Biden. Hence, they would have to take matters into their own hands.
The way to fight bullies is to hit them where it hurts.
Obama needs to start showing some naked toughness in the way he answers some of the ridiculous charges from the Republicans. Many voters on the fence want to know and see that their leader cannot be pushed around. They like no nonsense attitudes. Right now, many of these voters don't seem to see this type of attitude in Obama because he seems cautious and rarely demonstrate his toughness out in the open. He is too subtle and too diplomatic in his delivery for some folks to appreciate. Some of us know that Obama is tough. He had to be tough to beat the Clintons. We saw him display some of this toughness in the open during his South Carolina debate with Hillary Clinton and John Edwards many moons ago. He is our nominee today in part because many people were re-assured during that debate that he has some backbone and won't be pushed around. Now the Republicans are testing and challenging him anew with all their tough talks, accusations and lies.
Hillary had that tough talk throughout the primaries. The working class loved her. Sara Palin is now flaunting toughness and it seems to be working for her. Obama needs to bring it and bring it often from now until election. The eggheads are already with him.
Obama and Biden need to go on the offensive. They need to stop praising McCain’s biography during stump speeches and start calling him and Sara Palin out on their failings: Keating Five, Recklessness, Lobbyists, Sex Scandals, Carl Rove, etc. Did McCain actually crash two military aircrafts before losing a third aircraft in Vietnam? How much did those planes cost the tax-payers? There are things coming out on Sara Palin religious beliefs that seem just too scary for the average Hockey Mom. Many doctors recommend that their patients don't travel during the thirds trimester of pregnancy. Did Sara Palin actually travel on a plane during the last month of her pregnancy before she prematurely delivered her last baby? What are the circumstances? Given that she is starting with almost zero experience in domestic and foreign affairs, can she really put "Country First?" These are just some non issue oriented weaknesses of McCain/Palin ticket that can be exploited to put them on their hills. We can be diplomatic in playing hardball with them without sinking to their level.
Also, Obama and Biden need to be aware (always) that they are not addressing their senate colleagues in the campaign stumps. They need to speak in short direct sentences in response to questions:
Do you think that Sara Palin is unqualified to be vice president? Yes, she and John McCain are unfit to govern. They are divisive and polarizing. They have no plan for the economy. They don’t understand the nature of the global threat to American security. The country needs to go in a different direction. But, McCain and Palin offer more of the same.Do you think that John McCain is an honorable man? The John McCain running for office is behaving like a goon. He is not the John McCain that most of the country used to know and love. This John McCain is not a Maverick. His campaign and platform has been hijacked by the same lobbyists and Carl Rove handlers that put Bush in office. He is more of the same and will be too dangerous for this country.
Do you think that Sara Palin is unqualified to be vice president? Yes, she and John McCain are unfit to govern. They are divisive and polarizing. They have no plan for the economy. They don’t understand the nature of the global threat to American security. The country needs to go in a different direction. But, McCain and Palin offer more of the same.
Do you think that John McCain is an honorable man? The John McCain running for office is behaving like a goon. He is not the John McCain that most of the country used to know and love. This John McCain is not a Maverick. His campaign and platform has been hijacked by the same lobbyists and Carl Rove handlers that put Bush in office. He is more of the same and will be too dangerous for this country.
In addition, the Democrats need to be more aggressive and unapologetic about the fact that we care about people who need our help:
What do you think about the comment on your being a community organizer? Whoa! I am very proud that I was able to make a difference in people’s lives. It is a shame that the Republicans look down on folks trying to lift others up. They celebrate greed, fail to protect our citizens and then talk about “Country First.” Give me a break! We need to say no to their lies and deceptions. This November we will take our country back and create a government that works for the middle class.Do you think that so, so and so saying that you are “so so and so” is a racist comment? We the Democrats are the party of change. The Republicans have been on the wrong side of history from Franklin D. Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy. The crowd at the DNC convention is a proud representation of America: united and strong in our conviction to bring about change. The RNC convention is anything but “Country First” or “Change.” It is about tear them down.
What do you think about the comment on your being a community organizer? Whoa! I am very proud that I was able to make a difference in people’s lives. It is a shame that the Republicans look down on folks trying to lift others up. They celebrate greed, fail to protect our citizens and then talk about “Country First.” Give me a break! We need to say no to their lies and deceptions. This November we will take our country back and create a government that works for the middle class.
Do you think that so, so and so saying that you are “so so and so” is a racist comment? We the Democrats are the party of change. The Republicans have been on the wrong side of history from Franklin D. Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy. The crowd at the DNC convention is a proud representation of America: united and strong in our conviction to bring about change. The RNC convention is anything but “Country First” or “Change.” It is about tear them down.
And so on and so forth.
They need to boil down their message to a few sound bites and have their surrogates repeat them as often as possible—the same way the Republicans have been doing the last few election circles. However, unlike the Republicans, they have enough unsavory information on John McCain and Sara Palin that they won’t have to make stuff up.
Sunny, Seattle, WA
Friends,
We who know need to get loud and clear with anyone in our networks about the tactics of McCain campaing, namely how they use slurs and innuendos aka swiftboating to distract undecided voters from the weaknesses of their candidate.
If McCain were strong, would they need to spend so much of their energies on such obvious negative ads? No. But since McCaid in weak, their strength, they think, is in outing, they think, Obamas's weakness.
We who know need to be loud and clear with our networks that that is exactly what the McCain campaign is doing. Call it what it is. Name it as an ad hominem slur. Put out the false login in their innuendo. And call them cowards.
Jon
From the Obama Action Wire:
Yesterday, you learned about the right-wing's latest attack: extremist Jerome Corsi and his book of the same old smears and lies.Today, you can take the next step.Tackle this smear campaign head on. The Obama research team released a 41-page rebuttal called "Unfit for Publication," refuting Corsi's rehashed distortions point-by-point, leaving no smear unanswered.Arm yourself with the facts and write a letter to your local newspapers telling them to do their job by debunking this kind of garbage. The media are not playing their role as watchdogs. In fact, they are fanning the flames of controversy and legitimizing a discredited political bottom-feeder.Take action now and tell the media to report the truth, not debunked lies and smears that are unfit for publication:http://my.barackobama.com/unfit4publicationThe right-wing smear machine is in full force -- blasting out Corsi's stale fabrications far and wide to a media that's so far been eager to pick them up. In just three days, Corsi's made front page news in both the New York Times and Washington Post.We've posted the full truth online so you have the tools to fight back in your community and local papers.Can you write a letter to the editor exposing Jerome Corsi and his book for what they really are -- another hack job by a desperate right-wing fabricator?In 2004, Corsi helped launch the Swift Boat smear campaign with a book of distortions and lies he wrote about John Kerry. This time we won't be Swift Boated.Keep up the good fight,
Obama comes out with a 41-page point-by-point rebuttal of Jerome Corsi's screed Obama Nation called "Unfit for Publication" - http://thepage.time.com/2008/08/14/this-man-wont-be-swift-boated/
Eric Melder, a 59-year-old for at-risk youth in Carlisle, PA (and an evangelical Christian), was one of 10 people chosen to meet Obama as he accepts the nomination at Invesco Field later this month.
“I like how he commands respect,” he said. “I think Barack Obama has that unique influence to get people on the same page and moving in the same direction.”
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/14/1267049.aspx
By Foon Rhee, Boston Globe Staff | August 14, 2008
Senator John F. Kerry yesterday rejoined the battle with one of his fiercest antagonists from his 2004 presidential bid, launching a website to combat a new book highly critical of Barack Obama, his party's presumptive nominee this year.
The initial target is Jerome Corsi, who wrote "Obama Nation" and also was coauthor in 2004 of "Unfit for Command," which attacked Kerry's Vietnam War record in 2004. But Kerry's website - called "Truth Fights Back" - will also seek to counter assaults on other Democrats this election.
"John Kerry can and will fight for the truth on cable news, but we need all of us to battle against the smears in every way," it says on the website. "By signing up, you'll stay on top of the right-wing smear machine and help us battle it back! This site is designed for activists like you to take back the truth from the Bush/McCain politics of Karl Rove that have come to dominate the GOP. So sign up and join in the fight, and start reporting in some smears!"
The website will be funded by Kerry's political action committee, and could bring more supporters to the senator, who is seeking reelection in Massachusetts.
The site is similar to the Fight the Smears website that the Obama campaign itself launched in June to truth-squad the raft of Internet-fueled rumors about his alleged lack of patriotism and that he is "a secret Muslim." As of yesterday, Obama's site did not directly address Corsi's new book, "Obama Nation."
The New York Times reported yesterday that the book will debut at No. 1 on the Times nonfiction hardcover bestseller list on Sunday, despite challenges to the accuracy of its assertions, among them that Obama is a stealth radical who might have never ceased his youthful experimentation with drugs.
"The goal is to defeat Obama," Corsi told the Times. "I don't want Obama to be in office."
Since his razor-thin loss to President Bush four years ago, Kerry has often said he didn't react quickly and forcefully enough to attacks on him, most notably by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and by Corsi. The attacks helped undermine Kerry's standing as a decorated veteran with substantial foreign policy and national security expertise.
In a message to supporters yesterday, Kerry said, "We know the game, we've learned some things . . ."
"You can't just play defense against smears, pointing out how they aren't true," the message continued. "You've got to play offense, too, exposing the whole cynical game for what it is: an attempt to keep us from talking about the real issues and ultimately changing our country for the better. The Republicans have nothing to run on, no ideas to push, no solutions for America. They'll run a campaign of laughable gimmicks and outright distortions and lies. But we can fight back with the truth - and the truth can win this time. Let's do it."
Well folks, you knew it was coming. Joe Conason of RealClearPolitics.com reports on two books due out in August, ready to stoke the fires of fear, from some of the same people who managed to swiftboat Kerry with "Unfit for Command."
Better to know what we're up against, and be prepared. Be very prepared.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/inventing_a_countryclub_muslim.html
What happens to Hillary's populist argument when she can't pass the Gas Tax Holiday in a Democratic Congress? How will she convince people that she can reach across the aisle and end gridlock when she can't even get her own party to rally behind her.
This will be the headline in November if people don't get behind Barack Obama. The Gas Tax promises Hillary made, but can't keep by any stretch of the imagination will end our hopes for an end to the Bush era. Hillary won Indiana by claiming she could give people a break on the gas tax - polls show that Rev Wright did not impact Obama much, if at all with white voters - his numbers remained steady, which says to me that once we have a nominee he won't have much trouble swaying white voters in the General once Hillary is no longer an option.
We need a Democrat in office and if a backroom deal takes the nomination away, one of the biggest wild cards no one is talking about for the general election is what will happen when Hillary's Gas Tax Stunt fails. McCain will say that even in a Democratic Congress and Senate Hillary did not keep her promise. He will say that it is even more proof that she is a politician that will say anything to get elected, but fail to deliver to the people that got her elected. McCain can simply blame the Democrats for a failure to pass the Gas Tax, saying it's further proof that Democrats don't care about the working class voter.
If Obama is the nominee he can simply show what happened in the past with Gas Tax Holidays. In the end they benefit Big Oil and Obama will use this as proof to the American people that McCain was pandering for votes. He can also say that with all of his experience McCain knew from the start who this "Holiday" would benefit and it will be more evidence that he is loyal to Big Business and Special Interests over all else. Over the past 8 years we have learned just how dangerous it is when Big Business essentially runs the government.
Even if you support Hillary or are undecided, tonights primaries have proven that she simply can't get the delegates to win. It's time to back the only viable candidate for the nomination before the Democratic Party self-destructs. If the Super Delegates have to decide this at the convention, we will have no time to come together to defeat McCain.
Hillary has to discount states or change rules to even make the argument that she can win the nomination. Obama has the math (any way you slice it), the money, the delegates, and the popular vote. Now Hillary is trying to change the number of delegates needed to win because she knows she can't reach the target currently set. It seems that if she can't win within the rules - change them again and again until she figures out a way to win.
So please, vote for the good of the American people and the Democratic Party. We can't win if the black community and voters under 40 stay home in November. We also need the Independents and Republicans that will vote for Obama but not Clinton. Many conservative voters will stay home rather than vote for McCain if Obama is the nominee, but the antipathy they have for the Clintons will cause them to come out en mass to defeat her if she somehow got the nomination.
Many Independents are upset with McCain for going so far to the right appease the extremist Jerry Fallwell/Pat Robertson contingent in the GOP. There are many that are sick of Bush and have left the GOP or gone a bit to the left because of a disasterous 8 years and the hold the extreme Christian Right now exerts on the party. Many have gone independent because of the war in Iraq and Obama has a much better shot of getting their votes than Hillary does. I have spoken to many of them when making phone calls for Senator Obama's campaign and I have changed quite a few minds and have swayed even more that were leaning towards Obama but still undecided to get behind him.
My final argument is that Hillary has not been "battle tested" as she claims. Obama has not stooped to Rovian tactics to get elected and McCain thus far has focused on Obama. In this election no one has not gone after her on any of her financial scandals. They have barely touched on her exaggeration of her foreign policy experience, neither has the main stream media. That will change drastically once this is a Democrat vs. Republican race instead of and intraparty struggle. If McCain and the GOP "Swiftboat" 527 organizations get to run against her in the General Election. They will also go after all of Bill Clintons pardons, Lincoln Bedroom "rentals," and Bill's Chinese business deals. This is going to get nasty, but Hillary has already dragged out anything she could get on Obama, and frankly all she can find is a couple of people he knows - nothing on the man himself.
Stephanie Marushia, Virginia Beach, VA
The North Carolina Republican Party is trying to swiftboat Barack Obama with a hateful new add that it helpfully provided to cable news channels. The ad trashes Obama, and then in a truly gutter twist, says that two North Carolina democrats endorsed Obama so don't vote for THEM.
See, it "isn't really" a negative ad about Obama, it's allegedly about those two North Carolina democrats.
Yet the ad contains a smarmy lineup of the far right's "greatest hits," including the infamous clip of Rev. Wright. Yah, right, that really is relevant to those two North Carolina politicians. NOT.
Both the Republican National Committee and Sen. McCain have strongly condemned the ad, and Sen. McCain has not minced words in demanding that the state republican party not show the ad, the state party took great glee in sending it to news stations for maximum hurtful play.
And, no word yet on whether these stubborn racists intend to heed the calls to stop.
Hillary Clinton, of course, remains happily silent, refusing to denounce the commercial, no doubt furiously feuling the flap through all her surrogates.
The following is from www.alamantra.blogspot.com
I wrote the following in response to a right-wing email attack my dad sent me regarding Barack Obama. The attack piece was written by Helen K. Hosier. I have included it at the end of my response.Hey Dad:So this is what the new right-wing smear tactics look like. Kind of the same ol' stale crap that Karl Rove was vomiting all over everyone back in 2000. I was looking for some new material to use on my blog. I found this stuff to be absolutely inspirational. Feel free to send me all of the right wing trash that comes your way. I can use all of it.
Is it possible....? Could it be that the Clinton Camp has started a Democrat Party implosion by the swiftboat tactics they have reintroduced into the running for the White House?
John Kerry a non-war hero?
Barack Obama a non-white, even anti-white man?
As we imagine the scene unfolding, can anyone else picture the possibility now of John McCain simply stepping over the rubble that the Clintons have created and on into the Oval Office for the next for years?
Will the Clinton legacy go from just a case of poor judgment on behalf of the former President to the couple who will go down in history having handed the nation back to the Republican Party and a candidate for the highest office in the land that may just keep us right where we are...? ...marking the continuing of the end?
I am continually disturbed by the willful ignorance of some of our citizens, particularly those that are in a position to be educated and informed, but choose to speak out of ignorance.Why is the support for HRC and the criticism of BHO always couched in such vague terms by these people? "She probably helped Bill," "He should have more specifics," "What do we know about him," "She's got experience."Forget the fact that with all her 'experience' and contacts, HRC SHOULD have many plans and details to iterate. It should be expected that having a former president in your corner would provide you with an extraordinary amount of resources to call upon - more so than any other candidate.The press has treated Obama kindly? Please! Are you telling me you haven't heard the name Rezko, or saying you haven't heard that Obama used drugs? Or maybe you haven't heard that he attended school in a largely Muslim country.It is these kind of vague questions, half-assertions really, that have been the bread and butter of neocon politics of division and smear. They say "No one has looked into his past" all the while repeating the names 'Rezko' and 'Hussein.' Apparently these people have looked into his past, and all they have are two names.The depth and breadth of BHO's proposals, as well as the enthusiastic public response are testaments to the intelligence and thoughtfulness of the candidate.Let us not forget the demonstrated executive prowess, evident in a well run campaign. A campaign that has maintained its message and vision consistently. A campaign that has been unified, drama-free, and effective in producing victories against the odds, all while increasing the reach of its message and the depth its support.That is the kind of president I want to see in the White House.
An edited reprint of a post on my blog "A Political Season"
The Obama camp is circling, jabbing, trying to lay a glove on Hillary Clinton. Looking for an angle of attack that will stick. Hillary's misstep in the recent debates have opened a very small chink in her armor. Obama is worrying at the chink, trying to put stress on it and turn it into a full borne crack. Obama has shown that he can float like a butterfly. Now he's got to sting like a bee. He's got to find a way to directly put into play the assumption of Hillary's experience and greater fitness for the Presidency. He needs to find a way to swiftboat that assumption. The republicans torpedoed the contrast of Kerry's aura of being a combat tested leader vs. Bush's questionable service record by directly questioning Kerry's service in Vietnam. They cast doubt on his bravery under fire, they ridiculed his actions after coming back from Nam and when they were through, Kerry's combat tested image had been wrecked and turned into a liability he had to angrily defend.This is Obama's challenge: to find a way to question what I think is an implicit assumption that Hillary is more qualified because she was a first lady for 8 years. That is clearly what her claim of "readiness to lead from Day I" rests on. That being the wife of the President qualifies you to be the President. Obama has to knee cap that argument. His campaign strategy thus far has sought to answer the issue of experience by establishing his bona fides to lead vs. hers, an approach which implicitly validates her as being the more experienced leader. His current angle of attack is better, basically asserting that she is more experienced at being a slick politician, adept at not giving a straight answer, an angle that opened up after the last debate. He's got her a little on the defensive, but he's got to go to the body on her, which I think means he's got to directly attack the assumption that she is more experienced because she was married to the President. He's got to make that seeming qualification seem almost meaningless.
