McCain campaign re-defines 'lockstep'
By Steve Benen Thursday Aug 14, 2008 6:07pmThe Obama campaign unveiled a solid new ad recently, which, among other things, goes after McCain for having voted with George W. Bush 95% of the time last year.
Soon after, the McCain campaign responded by — I kid you not — telling reporters, “In the Senate, Barack Obama has voted in lockstep with President George W. Bush nearly half the time.”
I generally find McCain campaign talking points more annoying than amusing, but this is hysterical. Let’s consider some of the reasons this is an unusually dumb thing to say:
1. If the McCain campaign wants to make the presidential race about which candidate voted with Bush more, McCain might as well deliver his concession speech now.
2. “Nearly half” is not “in lockstep.” Many Bush administration pronouncements are not controversial, so every senator is going to vote with the White House line at least some of the time.
3. The McCain gang certainly knew this criticism was coming, and had plenty of time to prepare. This is the best they could come up with.
4. The McCain campaign argues that Obama is the Senate’s biggest liberal. The McCain campaign argues that Obama has “voted in lockstep” with Bush. Oddly enough, they’re making both arguments at the same time.
Go ahead, Tucker Bounds, tell us another one.
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Obama in lockstep with Boosh??? BWAHAHAHA!
Even Haboosh is not in lockstep with Boosh!
Fook, I think I'm going to have to keep this up until someone can interrupt my interminable string of continuous and extremely low value-added posts!
If I married Jena Bush and took her last name, I could be Widespread Bush!
Er . . .
Okay, I tink I crossed the line there . . .
I'll stop now, hehe.
I think this is the very definition of "scrambley."
Sorry, what is "scrambley"?
Nearly half of America voted for George W. Bush in 2000. Nearly.
That's it, McIdiot. Spend all your money making ridiculous ads so we can all laugh. I can't wait for the ad that shows the Rethugs throwing you under the "Straight Talk" Express. That will have us all rolling in the aisles.
Never interfere when your opponent is busy committing suicide.
You should be encouraging McGoo to come up with more
completely asininebrilliant statements like this.*More Georgia scandal
From President Eduard Kokoity current President of South Ossetia, a de facto independent (not recognized)
S. Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity stated that Georgia used mercenaries from several countries during its aggression against his nation.
“There were many mercenaries from Ukraine and the Baltic states. We have found dead bodies of African Americans too,” Interfax quoted Kokoity as saying.
The official supposed that it was exactly the reason why the Georgian side had not provided any reports about the losses, which it was suffering during the military operation.
Presidents Bagapsh and Kokoity also accused Western media outlets of the schemed informational war against South Ossetia. They believe that the vast majority of Western news agencies provided the biased coverage of events.
“It was a well-prepared and thought-out action, when there was only one opinion provided – the opinion of the USA, Great Britain and several other countries. Everyone started to support this opinion,” Sergei Bagapsh said.
The president said that there were just a few countries which did not follow the fraudulent trend – Spain, France and Germany.
“The whole of Georgia talks about Russia’s bombing of Tskhinvali and South Ossetia. What are they talking about? One should not believe what the BBC or CNN said or what they will be saying,” he said.
“You may not be a professional, but a Western journalist must have at least an iota of honor and dignity. One should not lose their conscience and decency behind your profession, no matter whom you work for,” Bagapsh said.
S. Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity stated that journalists of Western news agencies were as much responsible for the conflict as those, who stormed Tskhinvali.
“It was the dual informational and armed aggression. Some were wielding guns, whereas others were armed with microphones and cameras,” Kokoity said.
The S. Ossetian president said that he was not going to allow Georgian peacemakers in the republic any longer.
“There will be only Russian peacemakers deployed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia,” he said.
The S. Ossetian president stated that that the Russian peacemakers did not open fire first.
“Believe me as an eyewitness. We were aware of all commands and we heard them all. I wonder what would happen to citizens of Israel, the USA or France, for example, if they found themselves in Ossetians’ shoes,” he said.
Too bad there isn't a system that fines politicians for every lie they tell on tv, on radio, or in print. Let's send him a big bill for wasting our time with stoopid accusations that don't make any sense, tell him we're lobbyists (a sure-fire way to get 'in' with McCranky) for . . . . . say . . . 'Accuracy in Media' and, if he pays, we'll send the money as a donation to Obama. Or to whatever blue candidate really needs the cash.
What a maroon, what an ignoranimous!
Sounds to me like it is an admission that voting with Bush is a very bad thing.
Haha that can't be real. Reminds me of that episode of The Simpsons when the guy from Shelbyville brags about beating Springfield in football "nearly half the time."
What a dingbat McCain is. He gives us a daily dose of comedy, except he is not funny.
I heard him say that a campaign should be fun, except the country is not in a mood to pick a comedian. 8 years with Bush was enough!
"The McCain campaign argues that Obama is the Senate’s biggest liberal. The McCain campaign argues that Obama has “voted in lockstep” with Bush. Oddly enough, they’re making both arguments at the same time."
You want to know what Bush's is legacy is going to be?
This is a pretty big hint.
He's the biggest liberal and votes in lockstep with George Bush...half the time.
He's also a Muslim who's pastor has said some offensive things.
And he's exotic, even though he's the guy at the country club with a martini in his hand.
Wait...what?
Obama: A Contridiction in Criticisms
What makes this Obama ad less effective is they did not spend enough time emphasizing that McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time. They should have repeated it once: "Yes, that's right, he worked with Bush's agenda 95% of the time."
And then they just tucked this strongest point in with several messages, almost burying it.
Meh. Democrats need to watch the Frontline special called the Persuaders. The best methods of persuasion don't speak to logic or reason. The best methods of persuasion speak to people's values and emotions.
That's why the Republican ad machine wins every election -- they know how to get visceral, primal reactions against Obama while Obama responds with logical, policy-based arguments.
Obama needs to save the policy for op-eds (like the excellent one about his tax plan in the WSJ) in case people question his policy depth. His ads should be solid emotional appeals -- and let me add NEGATIVE emotional appeals about how AWFUL McCain would be as president.
McCain doesn't have to think of anything better to say. Katie Couric, Andrea Mitchell, Wolf Blitzer, and Chris Matthews will carry the day for him.
"RCE Says: Meh. Democrats need to watch the Frontline special called the Persuaders. The best methods of persuasion don’t speak to logic or reason. The best methods of persuasion speak to people’s values and emotions.
That’s why the Republican ad machine wins every election — they know how to get visceral, primal reactions against Obama while Obama responds with logical, policy-based arguments.
Obama needs to save the policy for op-eds (like the excellent one about his tax plan in the WSJ) in case people question his policy depth. His ads should be solid emotional appeals — and let me add NEGATIVE emotional appeals about how AWFUL McCain would be as president."
Why is it impossible for Democrats to understand persuasion?
Russia may take control of the pipeline BP built through Georgia. Angry Mc HotHead would likely nuke Moscow for this. I say who cares if Russia controls it? Does anyone really believe Russia would screw us over half as bad as BP?
The only time McCrook voted against Bush's interests (Boeing) was when he voted for his own instead (Airbus)
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2008/jul/31/mccains-airb...
John McCain has no programs. John McCain has no plans for the future. John McCain has only his allegiance to the past adminstration and a lot of failed policies to run on. No wonder he wants to discuss Obama's popularity, elitism, blah, blah, blah. It's a case of look over there at Obama's supposed shortcomings and don't look over here at my empty suit.
Let's see if the American people have wised up at all in the past eight years....or four years for that matter.
John McCain in a nation that actually gave a shit about who was its head of government, would not even be a serious candidate.
So why are people shocked that he's this desperate?
Kathy in St. louis @ 25:
Let's face it, any GOP candidate who actually runs on Bushism is bound to lose.
Let's hope John McCain decides to do that.
Obama votes with Bush roughly 40% of the time. When did that stop being called bipartisan?
And, #10...is your name some weird algebraic equation? You x the offspring of Chomsky and Nader...
To john j @ 11:
Check out
http://www.russiatoday.com/en
And click on the "Online Watch RT now" to hear the Russian side of the story.
They play clips from CNN and Fox and point out the propaganda.
Of course, they have their side to defend.
But at least you get to see the other side of the story.
Surplus ...... what planet are these people on .........
The US destroys their country, tortures, rapes and murders its people, builds the biggest occupation base ever, then blames the people of the country who's government it removed and army it disbanded that it's their fault for not sorting it out AND then after taking the oil says they have a surplus of cash .....
The mind boggles at how awesomely stupid the average american is for believe all this tripe.
MountainMan23 @ 29:
Georgia started all this ages ago, this is just typical opportunistic BS jingoism by the US.
gwen @ 15:
It reminds me more of the line from Anchorman:
"60% of the time, it works... every time."
Jerry @ 31:
Technically the first Russian Tsar to decide to annex the Caucasus started, but who's counting?
Should have had an "it" after started...
Come on, Widespread Bush was not bad.
Tough motherboard-fucking crowd.
(h/t FLOTC)
WAIT!!!!! DOES THIS MEAN GEORGE IS A FROOKING LIBRAL I didn't know that
Stopped clock marches in 'lockstep' with time; in agreement twice per day.
General_Rennenkampf @ 33:
Ah the troll bait is back.
I'm counting, and the recent history is obvious.
General_Rennenkampf @ 34:
And a whole lot of relevancy in the middle, though that would be asking far too much obviously ........ best go back to quoting wikipedia and various news clips.
I'm at least 50 per cent positive that I'm 100 per cent convinced.
Meanwhile...
Flippy McSpin says: "My Friends. I know you are but what am I"?
Now this is how it's done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBfngOsvmA0&eurl
Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 10:
I totally agree!
McCain must be in full blown alzteimers .... he can't remember what his own position is on anything!!
In fact the whole republican party is going through chronic cognitive dissonance!!
They can't keep their fear and hate straight so they imagine Obama to be a muslim and a crhistian!
... too skinny and a fat head
... too popular and an over known celebrity that the voters don't know enough about!!
it's endless comedy and tragedy!!
McCain got one thing right. Bush is a goose-stepping Fascist.
i can't bring myself to imagine a mccain cabinet with lieberman and graham and god-only-knows who else in it. i can picture mccain barking at or even shoving a secret service agent or staff; punching even?
Perfect. A major contradiction. "Obama is the most liberal senator in Congress" vs. Obama voted in lockstep with Bush nearly 50% of the time." Brilliant. If that doesn't reveal the total crap that the McCain campaign spews, nothing will. It's basic. Even stupid people might see the contradiction. (maybe)
The problem is, McCain can get away with this, because Big Media will only cover his point of view. Propagandists. Not only will he get away with it, but the media will work overtime to convince the public that Obama is a Bush lackey, whilst McCain is a brave individualist.
If I were Obama, instead of Obama being Obama, my first and - one of my highest continuing priorities - would be to have these propaganda outlet's franchises and licesnses to use out airwaves and bandwidth revoked. I would also be going after telecoms such as Comcast, who routinely censors or makes unavailable anything voices it doesn't like. My goal would be not only to strip them of the privilege of using our airwaves and bandwidth, but to put them out of business, and to put their leadership in prison on grounds of conspircy to illegally overthrow government of, by and for the People. A free democracy cannot survive without a viable and scrupulous press. To a company, they have demonstrated that they are enemies of Constitutionally establish free democracy. They have surrendered their right to exist.
More McCain hypocrisy.
I've heard it before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axrgFGZYFzE
Let's have some fun now:
The McCain-Nixon-Bush Tango
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyvJVy_7LYU
So Obama is the biggest liberal in the Senate. Gee, Mr. McCain, you say that like it's a bad thing! What is it with this psychological block or whatever that makes liberal a dirty word? I like Obama's "liberal values" just fine.
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