Obama on Countdown: McCain/Palin "stretching the bounds of spin"
By SilentPatriot Sunday Sep 07, 2008 9:00pm
Senator Obama joined Keith tonight for a major sit down interview and took McCain/Palin's lies head on. Whether it's their claim that Palin was against the "bridge to nowhere" or their promise to change Washington despite being the party in charge for the past eight years, Obama left no stone unturned.
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They're not telling the truth. You know, I mean, it's -- I think we've all gotten accustomed to being able to spin things in politics. But when you've got somebody who was for a project being presented as being against it, then that, you know, stretches the bounds of spin into new areas.
And you know, as far as John McCain is concerned, you know, I think that Senator McCain has, on occasion, broken with his party, but this notion that, as he said at his convention, that he would tell the lobbyists that they're not going to be running Washington anymore, who is he going to tell, his campaign chairman, Charlie Black, his campaign manager, Rick Davis, two of the largest corporate lobbyists in Washington with client lists that extend into every major industry?
You know, there is just a sense that they're making these assertions that ignore the facts of their campaigns and their past history. And I think people should be troubled by that.
Full transcript below the fold:
KEITH OLBERMANN, MSNBC ANCHOR: Senator, thanks for your time. I'm sorry I couldn't join you in person, but I had to update people on quarterback injuries or something like that.
(LAUGHTER)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks, Keith.
OLBERMANN: This is...
OBAMA: Lousy day for quarterbacks.
OLBERMANN: Yes, it is. Brady is out. This is more about campaign tactics to start with rather than issues. But it seems sometimes like tactics have replaced issues altogether. "He fights pork barrel spending," said this new McCain/Palin ad, "she stopped the 'Bridge to Nowhere.'"
I mean, it sounds a little like "Remington Steele," but I'm confused otherwise. As late as October of 2006, Mrs. Palin insisted to voters in Alaska that not only would she defend that infamous bridge, but she also said -- and here's the quote -- "She would not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative." What are Senator McCain and Governor Palin doing in this new commercial, do you think?
OBAMA: They're not telling the truth. You know, I mean, it's -- I think we've all gotten accustomed to being able to spin things in politics. But when you've got somebody who was for a project being presented as being against it, then that, you know, stretches the bounds of spin into new areas.
And you know, as far as John McCain is concerned, you know, I think that Senator McCain has, on occasion, broken with his party, but this notion that, as he said at his convention, that he would tell the lobbyists that they're not going to be running Washington anymore, who is he going to tell, his campaign chairman, Charlie Black, his campaign manager, Rick Davis, two of the largest corporate lobbyists in Washington with client lists that extend into every major industry?
You know, there is just a sense that they're making these assertions that ignore the facts of their campaigns and their past history. And I think people should be troubled by that.
OLBERMANN: And Governor Palin hired a lobbyist to get earmarks to the tune of $27 million for a 6,000-person town which is -- in its own scope, is kind of a neat trick, but it does seem to counterbalance the basic platform of the Republican Party.
You said that they're not telling the truth here, but when the stuff is a gross distortion, whether it's about their own positions or yours, or facts in your history or whatever, what can you do about it? And why do people hesitate to use the word "lie" about these things?
OBAMA: Well, look, we have been very clear about the fact that this argument John McCain and Sarah Palin are making, that they are agents of change, just won't fly. It defies their history and their background.
And we saw it in the convention that they wouldn't talk about the basic issues that are really going to make a difference in the lives of middle class families.So you know, I'm happy to have legitimate policy debates with them on where we want to take health care, what we want to do about energy, what we want to do about education, what are we going to do about the war in Iraq.
But you know, for them to run an ad that basically doesn't present an accurate record of their positions on issues I think should raise some questions about how they would approach an administration.
OLBERMANN: To something from your own convention, maybe the most compelling moment of your acceptance speech in Denver was that one strongly voiced word, "enough." A lot of people who have felt angry about what has been done to this country in the last seven or eight years have that same sense of urgency and simplicity to it.
Have you thought of using on the campaign trail and in your speaking engagements, more exclamation points? Have you thought of getting angrier?
OBAMA: Well, I'll tell you what, with two months to go, I think everybody needs to feel a sense of urgency. You know, when I hear John McCain suggest that he is going to bring about change, I am reminded of the cartoon that Tom Toles did in "The Washington Post" where he has McCain say: "Watch out, George Bush, with the exception of the economy, tax policy, foreign policy, health care policy, education policy, and Karl Rove politics, we're really going to shake things up in Washington."
You know, the fact of the matter is, is that not only has John McCain agreed with George Bush 90 percent of the time, this is the party that has been in charge for eight years. And they're now trying to run against themselves despite a few months ago having argued that -- John McCain saying that, listen, I've been supportive of George Bush, boasting about it.
You know, I said, I think on Saturday in Indiana, the American people aren't stupid. They are going to get it. But we've got to make sure that we are being clear, not only that they will not bring about change, but the very specific kinds of changes we want to bring, in terms of green technology jobs in America, investing in our education system, making college more affordable, making health care accessible to every American, that contrast, if we go into November, with that contrast on the minds of the American people, I think we're going to do well.
OLBERMANN: But clearly it must not be fully on their minds because the race is as close as it is. And nobody's burst into laughter at the latest Republican ad, at least not many Republicans have.
Have the Republicans succeeded in muddying up this election in kind of overcomplicating it so the point is not as simple as you just made it.
Sixty years ago Harry Truman went out and campaigned very simply, looked out at people in trouble because of a Republican Congress at that point and the impact it had on their lives and he said, "How many more times do you have to be hit over the head till you figure out who's hitting you?"
I mean, has your campaign in some way not kept it that simple?
OBAMA: You know, we've actually been driving this point home and I think the convention drove it home. But look, the Republicans can't govern but they run smart campaigns and frankly, they are not always policed by the media as effectively as they should be.
I was struck with how little scrutiny some of the claims that John McCain and Sarah Palin were making, how little they were subjected to scrutiny coming out of the convention. It's our job to press the point and make the case and I think that the Republicans have been pretty successful at working the refs during this game.
But yeah, I have confidence in the American people that if we just drum home the fact that the country is off course, that middle class families are struggling, your wages and incomes have gone down under George Bush. Under Democrats, they went up. Unemployment has gone up.
Unemployment was down under Bill Clinton.If we just keep on being clear about how we are going to rebuild this economy, then I think we are going to end up winning this campaign.
OLBERMANN: And there are extraordinarily large developments in terms of that economy. Especially in the last couple of days, especially about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They were created as a kind of gentle encouragement by government to more home ownership, to make it more possible.
There is nothing gentle about it, it is now fully taxpayer funded subsidization of home interest rates and home ownership. Should this be the way it is? Is this a permanent solution or did we just add $5 trillion to the national debt? What do we do now about this?
OBAMA: Well, I don't think it's going to be $5 trillion. That's the amount of debt that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are holding. But a lot of those are good mortgages. People are paying them. We are going to see some losses. Taxpayers are going to take a hit. How big it is, we don't yet know.
And I have to be fair on this one. Republicans and Democrats I think in Congress did not pay enough attention to the structural problem with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which was, they are quasi public, quasi private institutions. They are making big profits and their CEOs are taking in big bonuses when times are good. But there is this implicit federal guarantee when times are bad.
And that was a structural problem that needs to be fixed.
But the problem of not regulating the financial markets effectively generally, not seeing that the subprime mortgage crisis was leading to a mess, not updating some of our financial regulations since the 1930s, that's been, I think, an example of the neglect on the part of the Bush administration over the last eight years whose view is basically anything goes and the government just has to stay out of the way. That has ironically hurt the market and one of the things we have got to rediscover is a little bit of well-applied regulation and transparency and accountability actually helps the market, helps the economy grow.
And that's what I want to restore when I'm president.OLBERMANN: You pointed out last week how little time at their convention Republicans spent talking about the economy. I think the time might have been zero, zero, zero. I'm not sure. We weren't running a clock. But if the election does, in fact, hinge on the economy, on how Americans are doing, has there been thought given to breaking this down to its simplest element, in much the way one of the Republican icons, Mr. Reagan did during the 1980 campaign, and ask the voters if today, are you better off now than you were eight years ago?
OBAMA: Oh, absolutely. And I often do that on the campaign trail.
And we're going to just keep on repeating that.I mean, this is -- this should not be complicated. Here's what it comes down to. Under George Bush's stewardship, with an assist from John McCain and the rest of the Republican Party, the economy is weaker now than it has been in a very long time. Unemployment is higher.
Poverty is higher. More people are uninsured. Wages and incomes have flat-lined. Middle-class folks who used to feel secure now feel unstable. We've got more homes being lost to foreclosure than at any time since the Great Depression.And John McCain does not have any discernible difference from George Bush when it comes to economic policy. He's got the same economic policy. So if you like what has happened under George Bush's presidency, you should vote for John McCain. If you think that we have to move this country in a fundamentally different direction, then you should vote for me. And that is going to be the case that we make throughout this election, and frankly, that's not the conversation that the McCain campaign wants to have.
Rick Davis was very explicit. John McCain's campaign manager said this campaign is not going to be about the issues. That was his assertion. Well, I think that the American people expect it to be about the issues. They deserve it to be about the issues. That's what we're going to keep on pressing in the weeks that will remain.
OLBERMANN: In terms of getting that and other messages out, Rachel Maddow wanted me to ask this question, so I'm doing this on her behalf, because her new show is starting tonight. Given -- given the tone that the campaign has taken, I mean, this Georgia congressman last week, Mr.
Westmoreland, who called you and your wife, quote, "uppity." In that context, do you regret putting the brakes on the 527 groups who would have produced or could have produced hard-hitting ads that would have been sharing your sympathies?OBAMA: You know, I'll tell you what, Keith, I am confident that the American people, once the dust has settled, are going to say to themselves, "Do we really want to do the same thing we've been doing for the last eight years? Or do we want something new?" I think there's a genuine sense of anxiety out there, not just about immediate economic prospects but the sense that we are not living up to what's possible in America, that we're not delivering on the American promise.
And I think that understandably people are saying to themselves, gosh, we like Obama, we like his message, but we haven't known him that long, let's really lift the hood, kick the tires, you know, take them out and watch them work hard.
And you know, let's take a look at these debates and then we're going to make up our mind in mid-October. And I think that by the time this thing is all over, the contrast is going to be clear and I believe the American people are going to make the choice for a new direction in the country.
And I'm looking forward to helping to lead that.
OLBERMANN: One more campaign question. It pertains to not knowing someone or something. This is a question I have not really heard asked directly of anybody in a position perhaps to answer it, let alone answered.
In your opinion, is Governor Palin experienced enough and qualified enough to become president of the United States in the relatively short-term future?
OBAMA: Well, you know, I'll let you ask Governor Palin that when I'm sure she'll be appearing on your show.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: But rather than focus on a resume, I just want to focus on where she wants to take the country. As far as I can tell, there has not been any area, economic policy or foreign policy, in which she is different from John McCain or George Bush.
In many ways, in fact, she agrees with George Bush even more than John McCain. So if John McCain agrees with Bush 90 percent of the time, maybe with her it's 97 percent. And so my -- the thrust of our argument is going to be that the McCain/Palin ticket is offering the same stuff that has resulted in the middle class struggling, not seeing their incomes go up, seeing their costs go up, falling deeper into debt, at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure, unable to save or retire.
Those are going to be I think the issues that ultimately matter to the voters, and that's why I'm trying to offer to them a very clear set of prescriptions, very clear ideas about what we intend to do, how we want to change the tax code, stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, give 95 percent of Americans tax relief.
Have an energy policy that is serious about climate change, is serious about weaning ourselves off of Middle Eastern oil, investing in solar and wind and biodiesel so we've got energy independence and creating jobs here in the United States, having a health care system that makes sure that we don't have 47 million people without health insurance.
That message of possibility is, I think, the one that the American people are looking for.
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The better quote was the simplest. "They are not telling the truth"
Barack is Hulking-Up!!!
Keith Olbermann Prods Obama to Get Tough
Don Davis @ 3:
He better get tough. Or he's going to be standing on the floor of congress all day watching Sarah Palin boss people around.
MCCAIN IS A LIAR! SPIT IT OUT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! He has been lying his whole career! This "Maverick" crap is just another lie. He looks into the camera, calls everyone "my friends" and lies through his teeth! BOLD FACED LIES! If he is not called out on this ASAP he will get away with it and win.
King of Kings @ 2:
Still sneaking a few puffs when possible I heard but putting on former cigarette addict smoker weight.
Ok, Obama is great. Love him. BUT, the whole taking the high road, thinking the American people are smarter than they appear, that when the dust settles... NO NO NO NO NO. Am I wrong? I mean, the commercials write themselves??? What the hell? Start throwing some hard balls at these mavericks for Christ's sake.
Hope Obama has something big on the cons to drop on them soon. Watching the Pubs fall apart with the Foley bomb was hilarious.
exactly what js above said, and i thought it before i read the comment but agree wholeheartedly
call McCain and Palin liars. period! we have got to draw the line in the sand. the country is on the brink. if they lie call em out dammit
If you were him, would YOU be worried about seeming too "angry"?
mock turtel @ 9:
You're right..
Say it simply...
LIARS....
& back it up...
Man, all this McPaleolithic crap makes me want to take a debate class, and play the Republican. I could just make shit up, and people would believe it. I think the catch to the world-class bullshit artistry must be that it has to completlely negate any sentient being's capacity for logic and reason -- essentially overloading their "logic and reason" circuitry. "Evolution is just a theory! Abortion hurts the wimmins! Guns GOOD, fire BAD! Church and state are supposed to be TOGETHER because we are a CHRISTIAN NATION!"
...Do you think after Tokyo Rose gets his ass handed to him in November, he'll still play the "My friends, noun-verb-POW" card every ten seconds?
...On a sidenote, I think the Obama campaign should order $50,000 worth of flip-flops from an online shoe outlet and have them delivered to the McPaleolithic campaign's head office.
I'm listening to the repeat of the 8 PM show, and I'm simultaneously puking and shitting. Obama's "um, ah,well", extreme nuance is killing him. The Repugs pick 3 things and beat into the ground. That is what the majority of "wow, tomorrow is the election" Americans think about. Rrrgghhh, Obama just said "I have to be fair about this". Aaaarrrrrrrrrghhhhh. These assholes are throwing it away, Obama is insuring a McInsane/Moosebureger administration will be inaugurated in January. How in the fuck to we wake these people up???????
Barack needs to be more direct. I you are positive that they lied, call them what they are - liars.
Time to stop being nice to not just McSame also to th moose hunter
mock turtel @ 9:
definition of a liar someone not telling the truth. so he did call them liars
Can anybody explain why on C&L and also on Americablog every video is gone and the statement "no longer available" appears??? Some from only 2-3 hours ago.
[Maybe it has to do with the site maintenance being done at YouTube right now-Sitemonitor]
Paul in Boca @ 13:
Did you see Pat B. on Rachel's show?
He was a total attack dog...
We need to bite back...
Paul in Boca @ 13:
I totally agree with you. He just pissed me off watching this. Seriously, call 'em out!!!
Paul in Boca @ 13:
and none of them having todo wth the issues.
liberAL @ 16:
I saw (or didn't should I say) that too...
Okay mediator...what's up with that?....
Haven't they coached up Obama to get rid of the "you-knows"? It's so, well...1970's and I remember my mom yelling at us kids to just slow down and delete. It really makes for a weak interview and he better reform before the debates!
Pat B. was a total a** on Rachel's show. Didn't he get the message that Palin now says she didn't support Pat when he was on the ticket.
ronhohn @ 14:
Exactly! Not being direct killed Kerry in '04.
Just say it:
"They are lying. Now, Let's move on and talk about the real issues..."
liberAL @ 22:
Rachel should have caught that....
I would of liked to see the look on that jerk....
I'm just wondering what Palin's interview will be like. Will Gibson hit her with hard questions? Yeah right! Remember the Democratic debate? With Stanop(I can't spell his name)? What a joke. Will Gibson ask about her church? The bridge to nowhere? The controversial lobby scheme used to secure million of dollars of pork given to Alaska? Maybe. Then again, maybe not.
bigwup63 @ 15:
NO he said they're not telling the truth which is the definition of lying/liar.....all that
Coast at 17, no I missed it, but it's probably best.
Seriously at 18, you are right, but howq do we do that?
Shit, he just said "my process of that argument is"..........aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh!!
Obama - you're not running for class president. This is serious shit. You don't have to lie or make shit up. Just tell it like it is, ok?
Quit sugar coating it, they're fucking lying, just like they did about the Iraq war, just like they did about Kerry in 2004, just like they did in stealing the 2000 and 2004 elections, just like they will about anything the MSM and your campaign don't call them on.
Just blurt it out: There they go again, nothing but lies for the last 8 years. Now Palin is lying about her record in Alaska and McCain is claiming to be different from Junior.
The only difference between McCain and George Bush is that McCain wasn't a deserter.
"McCain's real running mate is George Bush and the failed policies of the Republican Party. Even if they are dressed up in a skirt, lipstick, and Tina Fey glasses."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/sarah-palin-a-trojan-mo...
What is wrong with using one syllable words, like lies? Like crooks? Wash and repeat. And repeat. The war "hero" is a liar. The barbie doll isn't qualified and is a wacko to boot. It's not that much of a stretch. You don't have to get nasty, but you do need to go after them. There is so much to go after, and they aren't doing it. Regular people don't use 3 syllable words. But too many people hear the rethug ads again and again and have doubts. They don't believe their own lives. They believe what they are told everyday. KISS.
And sorry to say, Obama can be a bit long winded. I found myself zoning out a bit (maybe it was the Rolling Rock) but really, it's time to start calling a spade a spade. Why is the "how many houses do you own" bit gone already? Oh come on??? That was your "I was for it before I was against it" thing - aiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Barack is excellent as usual, has good points. I just wish he not only be more direct, but stutter a bit less too. I kinda worry how he's going to perform in the debate with McCain. I'm sure his stance on issues will trounce anything McCain can spin, but he simply need to stutter a bit less :(
*puts on flame-guard*
McCain learned spin from the best and sad to say, People are falling for it once again.
I want to see Obama transform into Cassius Clay here soon.
thomas @ 32:
No flame guard needed. I noticed the "stuttering" too although I'd call it more of a hesitation. He'd start commenting... kind of drift off... yea, I know what you mean. That can't happen in the debate.
I don't understand how the media is not being held accountable in allowing McCain and Palen to lie. Who is holding these people accountable? How can this happen?
Are there not rules about false advertising? Are the McCain ads on T.V. not monitored for this?
The media obviously loves this because it's in their best interest to cause more tension.
It's a crime!
this is a quick read interview with chomsky some may appreciate some not ....it's about deceit why people do it.
kind of a psych/anthropology approach. it plays into politics
http://seedmagazine.com/news/2006/09/noam_chomsky_robert_trivers.php
Does anybody think Obama is playing rope a dope with McCain? Specifically, is Obama laying back in order to drop shit all over the old fart at the debate, or am I just being naive?
AmericanInsurgent @ 29:
I tend to agree with Paul in Boca, although not nearly to the point of spewing excrement.
First, while I generally like KO, I have to say he was thoroughly unprofessional. If I see Charlie Gibson give an 'interview' like that to Sarah Palin, I would not be amused. I'm no more thrilled watching KO do the same with Obama. It is beneath him and totally unprofessional. He's supposed to be a journalist - not a fanboi.
Second, Obama needs to get his shit tight. Way too many 'mhms' and 'uhhs' peppered throughout his comments and no clear zingers. Every paragraph he utters should have a tagline (like we use in advertising) that sums up the entire thought:
That is all anyone will remember.
Third, Obama at his worst is still better than McCain at his best.
Obama advisors need to bring their A game and attack Mccain/Palin ruthlessly. Bring in Hillary or other women. Obama is losing momentum and will be very difficult to gain if Mccain does well in debates.
Paul in Boca @ 13:
I had the same sick feeling watching Obama. Ums and uhs. But then, it is Countdown. He's chatting with people who are already voting for him.
In any case, here's how I would have advised Obama to answer the first question in the clip:
Olbermann: As late as October of 2006, Mrs. Palin insisted to voters in Alaska that not only would she defend that infamous bridge, but she also said — and here’s the quote — “She would not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that’s so negative.” What are Senator McCain and Governor Palin doing in this new commercial, do you think?
Obama: What are they doing? They're doing what they always do. What Republicans always do. They know they're basically lying, but they say it anyway because they think it will get them votes. Look, you can't trust these guys on anything. John McCain was never even liked by his own party because even they couldn't trust him. Now, to get their nomination, he had to sell out every position he once held dear, so he did it. And you know what? Even that wasn't enough for them. They still didn't trust him enough, so he caved to the far right to pick Gov. Palin. What does that tell you about his judgment? And now that he's done that, he has to distort Gov. Palin's record. Why? Because they know the American people are fed up with the way the Republicans -- all with McCain's approval and help -- have flushed the country down the drain. That's why they've adopted the "change" mantra, Keith. They know it's nonsense to think they're the ticket of change, but they'll say it to get votes. That's what they're doing. That's what Republicans always do. That's all they know how to do. They sure don't know how to govern.
constituent @ 37:
Possible. Would make sense in that people remember more towards the end... BUT... swift boat Kerry - that started in August. And the debates? I really don't think they make much of a difference. Kerry cleaned up with Bush. And the one unknown factor out there? Osama Bin Laden. Yep. Remember that lil' video he released the week of election 2004? Maybe he'll do it again.
seriously @ 43:
Oh damn. Quoted the wrong comment! sorry!
oncall @ 38:
Strategy could be to let McCain wear himself out then unleash with a pulverizing flurry of jabs hooks, exclusively attacking the head of the opponent.
I agree. Obama just needs to say the word "lie" and "liar". On the stump, he's great but something doesn't translate when he's off the cuff. That's going to hurt him in the debates since off the cuff is where McCain excels. The guy needs to be more punchy and less nuanced. Just get straight to the damn point!
oncall @ 38:
that's a good way to put it.....i think it's a chameleon
strategy....we realize that every interview/speech anything is reviewed/analyized by the opposition. haven't said that i do hope i'm correct and he becomes more effective with debate political style.
personally i would to see a YouTube format mccain would be so fxxked....start off with i know the economy.
Obama's right, he makes lots of good points. Mclame and Pain-in the butt are both freaking liars as is becoming increasingly clear, that's why Americans shouldn't vote for them.
I can't stand always hearing the high road phrase "the American people are smart enough to know etc. etc". No the American people are not smart enough to know, they are the people who brought us the LAST 8 YEARS!!!
The Palin nomination was brilliant. It has once again mobilized that massive block of people who would vote for a cabbage if they thought it would mean overturning Roe v Wade. The Republicans have completely stolen the focus - they can just say whatever they want, repeat it enough times and now Obama and Biden are in response mode, completely on the defense (and a timid one at that). Sadly the truth doesn't seem to matter, issues don't matter, only slogans and image matters. Somehow they need to regain the spotlight and without a meltdown of some sort in the McCain campaign, I don't see it happening. Good grief, not again.
Karen @ 42:
Karen,
You are right. But the problem again is a noun, a verb, and thirteen and a half variations. The Repugs don't do that, the Obama camp does. What do we do to tell them that?
oncall @ 38:
I was thinking the same thing. I know for a fact Biden is playing the expectations game with Palin with all this "tough" and "formidable" talk. I sure hope that's the case and the debates are when the fury is going to be unleashed. Obama is one of the smartest people I've ever seen run for president strategy wise.
Obama is behind because he is getting punked on a daily basis by McCain/Palin. Today I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a MCCAIN commercial describing Obama with the phrase, "That's not change, that's more of the same." WTF??!! Obama needs to say, "They say they are going to bring change, but they have so few new ideas they have to copy everything Joe and I say, word for word!"
He also needs to quit stammering. It makes him sound like he's afraid to just spit it out and call it like he sees it. Also weak and childish.
He told Keith Olberman Palin's resume wasn't relevant. Oh yes it is! Why continually take away your best arguments again and again? First they won't talk about her family, because it's off the table. Now they won't talk about her resume, because it's off the table. If he doesn't want to run for President, he needs to resign from the campaign and let them run Hillary. And I don't even like Hillary.
Speaking of which, why does HILLARY refuse to attack Palin? Is she afraid it will be "sexist" to kick her ass? She sure didn't have a problem kicking Obama's ass every chance she got. Are all these people being blackmailed by McCain/Palin? Why won't they do their jobs?
Mike Aimer @ 10:
I hope to God Obama has bright people running his campaign.
But let's face it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to win (barring election fraud with the computerized voting machines).
It's almost like producing a film. No producer makes a film then just throws it into theaters "hoping for the best". You have screenings and focus groups and have them fill out questionaires about what they like and don't like etc. Then you re-cut the film until the groups LOVE IT!!! Hit!!!
Perhaps Obama's people need to do more "listening" on the campaign trail, and working with Obama to tweak his message accordingly....of course keep flashing that winning smile and upbeat, intelligent manner.
If the focus groups agree he should do "x,y and z" with Palin for example, then he should seriously consider doing it.
Speaking of focus groups, I didn't see any discussion of the fact that McCain/Palin did not do well with the Republican focus group at their own convention!!:
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/08/focusedthe_sequel.html
Not to mention that Keith upstaged Billy-O’s spreading Obama’s interview over two weeks. Having him on tonight to offset the Billy bashing was brilliant.
Obama's moving in the right direction. But it's Biden's job (where was he today?) to call them what they are:
LYING LIARS who will cater to the super rich and to the corporatocracy at the expense of EVERYONE else (including the gullible religious right that Palin is
energizinghoodwinking).fresh air last thursday interview with david kirkpatrick
of NYT talks about the mccain brand and the maverick
which isn't that old of a brand....it's a good listening inteview
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=09-04...
Why does Keith have to prod him? I thought Obama was real weak with his responses. For a week now they have been bashing Obama and are getting ahead. All I heard is a bunch of ahs.
I have supported him all along, but maybe Hilary would have been a stronger candidate. I thought he learned something from Kerry's campaign.
It is a shame that we have to wait until next time!
Two comments about Sarah Palin,
1) Why shouldn't her comments about "Thanks, but no thanks" Be her version of Al Gore supposedly claiming he invented the internet
2) Given not only the congruence between Palin and Bush's political views, but also the news that she treats disagreement the same way as Bush and the fact that she is only appearing before sympathetic audiences. What's the difference between Sarah Palin and George Bush? Lipstick.
After watching the first part of this interview, I can go back to watching baseball and grading papers instead of wasting more of my time.
This election is over. Obama is going to lose.
Because he will not get down off his high horse and crawl into the gutter with these people.
Unless he turns the 527s loose, and calls these people out for the liars and frauds and crypto-fascists they are, he will lose. Like the line of high-minded Dimocrats before him.
I thought he was a smart guy. Like Al Gore, this is right in front of him, there for the taking.
And he's blinking. And ducking.
Maybe he's not tough enough for the job after all.
McCain really does think you're stupid.
"Stretching the bounds of spin"? C'mon, Obama. It's not being negative to call it "lying", so much as holding them accountable for their tactics and discouraging their dishonesty. Weak language doesn't persuade - strong, direct language does.
Really, it's far too soon to get worked up about trailing in the polls. If it were the last week in October, I'd get a bit edgy. But it's the first week, plus a day, in September. Chill out. It works to the thugs' advantage for them to develop an air of inevitability. All they have is the ability to bluff.
One thing to watch for is an October surprise. I hope Bush doesn't pull one, but I'm sure he will. I hope Obama is prepared just in case, and I hope the American public won't get sucked in by Republican skullduggery.
Also remember that what matters is the electoral college, not the popular vote. I can't see Obama losing any of Kerry's states, which means that all he needs to do is pick up a few states that went for Bush in 2004, and there are a solid handful of them in play. If Colorado and New Mexico and Iowa go for Obama, I believe that'd put him over the top. Ohio is in play, as are Virginia and Nevada. I'm sure his guys and gals are ready to begin hitting the close states with ads during the last two weeks in October.
If McCain wins, it'll be an electoral squeaker, no more than plus/minus 20 EVs. If Obama wins, he may break 300, maybe 320.
"Investing" in government programs is neo-liberal, Keynesian code for "borrowing" money.
He's going to print money out of thin air, a plan that's probably not that much different than John McCain's plan, and devalue our currency.
Sure. "Invest" in education so the kids can go to school... after all, THEY'RE going to be the ones PAYING FOR IT!
Why does the Federal government have to do ANYTHING with public education? Exactly what does NATIONAL education have to do with interstate commerce?
I mean, I UNDERSTAND why YOUR state needs help with education, but the Commonwealth of Virginia can take care of it on it's own, thank you very much.
It's all about authoritarian fascists, trying to FORCE your children to learn something, because they can't get all the schools to agree otherwise. They'll turn us all into uniform programmable drones. And the hilarious irony is, YOU WILL BEG THEM TO DO IT!
And it's all because you're too lazy to pay for whatever it is yourself, amd because you're too spoiled to deal with the word "no".
Stop trying to ROB ME... so you can make the world better.
It's a lie, perpetrated by BOTH SIDES!
they got a bump post convention people. the polls aren't
linear......we all know that.....palin is a fade....my intentions
are NOT to be disrespectful.....they want us to hang ourselves....obama isn't going for it. i'm just hoping BUSH
and cheney stay out of it. they are getting aggresive with
iran and sanctions.
Karen @ 42:
Karen,
That was great, not an umm, ah, or well in there. Lot's of great stuff too, and just the right amount of anger.
I'd like to hear Obama mention sometime how John McCain is the nominee that was rejected for George Bush in 2000. So NOW John McCain is the best guy the Republicans can put up, and he was second to Bush?
Peace.
Obama is bringing a wet noodle to a gun fight.
Olberman was trying to give him some needed advice; ENOUGH!!
I guess it's just not quite enough...
Pardon my crudeness, but I heard it put very well: He's got to be as confident as Cleopatra's pussy.
Yes, Obama said they were not "telling the truth", but that line has no strength, no verbal power. LIAR! Now that shocks. That wakes people up. Saying it with conviction and backing it up with facts gives it even more power.
Someone needs to sit Obama down and get him to understand that when you really believe, not kinda believe, but really believe you're right you have to shout it from the rooftops with a passion that makes people want to say, "Damn, maybe he IS right!" That's how you win.
jay @ 41:
Speaking of bringing Hillary in, I think it would be a smart move to offer her the Secretary of State nod BEFORE the election and have her accept.
Here's the thing though. Obama is bringing it on the stump. Out there he's tough and straight forward but when he's in an unscripted format he's......this. I hope to God he's just playing head games and psyching the other side out for a sucker punch at the debates but I'm not so sure.....
Dot @ 52:
Palin's weak resume is relevant, no doubt about it, but the main attack on Obama was his limited experience. I think if Obama attacks Palin's resume, Obama will be setting himself up for the argument that Hillary and McCain were using against him. Obama wants to stay away from that fight. The fight he can win is the one that highlights McPalin's and Bush/Cheney's identical approach to the issues.
jakflorida32169 @ 67:
You sure don't win by playing footsie with your opponent. The Rethugs figured that out a long time ago.
I build biodiesel processors which turn waste vegetable oil into biodiesel. If we can find low cost solutions to producing mass biofuels, then I say why not. Esp in my case with providing a way to recycle oil that would usually be tossed out. This election is going to change history.We just need to keep moving in the right direction as a country and citizens are finally realizing that things arent right in alot of areas. May the best person for the job win, right now many of us have no clue who that it. Obama is the lesser of two evils IMHO. Palin was the wrong choice and has turned that camp into a circus.
jakflorida32169 @ 67:
i watched that HBO Rome and they depicted cleopatra as pretty confident and wild.....
Obama needs to make a running list of all McCain's lies...
His head gets in the way of his mouth. It's really quite easy. All he has to do whenever McCain/Palin spew their crap is say something like:
"Well you know that's not spin, it's not interpretation, it's a flat out lie. Here's what they actually did/said. Simple, direct, and you don't have to stutter your way through some masterful linguistic construction. Learn the refutations to McCain's/Palin's lies and just insert them into a handful of pre-made statements.
As Sarah Palin might say "It's not rocket science."
You know, his advisers need to tell him: "Imagine it's 2012 and McCain is running for his second term. What would you say there when there isn't an election of your own to worry about?" I mean look at Kerry and Gore post election. They brought it. Obama needs to do that now!
Cuzco @ 74:
Do you suppose he thought he was still on O'Reilly?
Abbybwood @ 68:
I have thought that Obama and Hillary discussed a Supreme Court Appointment for Hillary if she got out and really campaigned with unbridled energy for him.
Here a video of that shows that Palin supported OBAMA before she was taken on by McPain for a potential VP spot.
Is there no end to the hypocrisy of the GOP?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO6dmBm1SFw
Please pass this video around! Make it go viral!
Agreed on the umms and ahhs and y'know's ... I mean come on!
Love the guy, but a few toastmasters meetings or something will clear that shit right up.
This really, REALLY should be addressed.
I was kind of getting drowsy during the run on as well.
It IS possible to change these minor flaws, I have no idea why he hasn't yet.
Don't expect the American people to overlook that either.
I swear if all I listened to was just the right wing radio, thats all Obama would ever be because they play snippets of him stammering over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over.
No, LITERALLY!!!
oncall @ 38:
My husband says he's "patient". I am a little worried about the "um's" and "ah's" as well.
I agree! It is over!
Look at the crowds that the McBush/Palin are getting. .. and all they do is bash the Dems. No policies are necessary. ... no war, no economics, etc
They took the change argument from Obama. If the polls say that Obama is in 10 points by election day, I will be surprised.
QuakerDave @ 59:
JimL @ 58:
People have pointed out that the Obama campaign was way behind against HRC last year some time and held their composure, Had a plan and stuck to it.
I think that's what is going on here and being a bit quiet now is Ok as Palin and McCain are getting most of the attention. There's 60 days left, FGS hold the line. You might have to wait until you can see the whites of their eyes but that has been sucessful in the past.
Oh and the problem with saying that McCain is outright lying ... using that word?
... then that lets the "L" word out of the bag and there will be no end to the amount of times McPalin will say it and call Obama a liar who lies all the time lie lie lie ad nauseam.
You HAVE to know that.
And when everyone is calling everyone is a liar then the MSM reports that they are all liars evenly and again the water is muddied. AGAIN.
It's a tough shell to walk on ... I'm not looking for that word though.
I cant even begin to imagine the overwhelming response by the right.
QuakerDave @ 59:
I agree totally. I watched that interview. It was terrible. I can't believe obama didn't grab the bait by trying to tie fannie mae around the republicans neck. Instead, he said this: "to be fair"...duh, duh,.....
I just couldn't believe what I was hearing!!!!!
This campaign is over.
I don't understand why democracts never learn. they keep picking these intellectual types and that's why they keep losing.
castanea @ 62:
That's what we hate about the dems is always REACTING to the repuglicans. It's like they have no fire of their own and can only reflect back the heat the r's put out.
He needs Dennis Kucinich to speak for him!
Always on point, always correct with the position, not afraid of anybody(!) and willing to speak truth to all!
At least go listen to his speeches and practice a bit!
No more umms! Don't you know what the F#@* you stand for yet?
Sheesh
Politics is not about reason. It's all about emotions. It's all about character assassination.
Face it the American public are stupid. The American public will mortgage their future, and their fortune away to the ones who have the most poker-ed face, and who can bluffed their way out of a bad hand. And on this round, McCain is winning.
Obama should know this game better than anyone do. And Obama flinched. Damn it !!!!!
Numinous @ 78:
Sweet Jesus doing one-armed pushups! I do hope that this gets worked into an Obama/Biden ad by someone.
But my god, Palin's accent. She sounds almost ... Canadian. Aren't they socialists?
MCCain/Palin08: A real bridge to nowhere. Bumper stickers are available.
Obama has to, has to, change his manner of speaking.
Bush's language issues made him more endearing to the people. He looked like a "regular" guy. Americans like that.
Obama is sounding too cautious, too rehearsed and he looks scared. Scared to say the wrong thing that might end up hurting people's feeling. Hello? Americans don't like that.
Someone needs to get to obama and help him out with this. there's only 2 months left.
Oncall, the fact that Obama didn't hit Palin in the face with her inexperience means he is CONCEDING that he's NOT QUALIFIED TO BE PRESIDENT, so he can't criticize her for the same thing. Oh no no no. Do not go there.
Imagine Obama is Mitt Romney. Can you imagine Mitt Romney admitting that he is not as qualified as McCain, Palin, or Jesus Christ? No way. No how. Which is why Romney would have been a whole other ball game. That guy can look right in the camera and say black is white, and say it with such conviction any and all Repubs will believe him.
Obama has no conviction in his demeanor. He looks like he's taken a sucker punch and got the breath knocked out of him. I am listening to him on Bill O'Reilly in the background, where he stammered and stammered and couldn't even get his point out. He sounds like a shy little kid trying to get the grownups to listen.
Somebody upthread suggested that Obama should get focus groups to tell him what they think. Plainly they are not doing that. I can tell you what Dems think. "Hit-hit-hit-hit-hit. When you get hit, get up get up get up and keep hitting. The end."
That's sure what the Repubs respect. They don't respect a wimp. No bully respects a wimp. Neither does anybody else on the world stage. When you're rolling with the big boys, you better bring a gun and a knife.
Save your focus group money. Even Olberman said to Obama, what do you think when people say you should be more angry? He smiled and wouldn't answer. Well, somebody's got to do it, and it isn't going to be Hillary, Bill or 527's, so guess who it has to be? As the undecideds keep saying, I want OBAMA to close the deal. Nobody else can do it FOR him, it's got to BE him.
YAY!
He gave a shout-out to my fave political cartoonist: Tom Toles
js @ 5:
A-freakin-men. For god's sake call it what it is, a damn lie
castanea @ 87:
Ouch. That one hurt. Trust me she doesn't sound Canadian to a Canadian.
jm @ 84:
Yeah! F those "intellectual types", dare I say "elitists", I would rather elect someone I could have a beer with, or in that case of pale Palin carpool with.
Screw that and screw that!@!
Peter G @ 88:
WHERE?!?!?!?! Tell me, tell me NOW!!
jm @ 89:
Yeah, Obama should sound retarded. That is the ticket!!!
Seriously WTF is wrong with some of you?
sixhundredsixtysix @ 83:
Obviously Obama should only use the word "lie" when it is in fact a lie. As for the right wing puppies piddling on the floor. Who cares? If a "fair and balanced" type calls him on it's use, all he has to say is:
"Look, here's what they are claiming they did/said and here's what they actually did/said. I don't know what you call it, but in my book that's a lie. Open and shut"
If a questioner asks him to respond to McCain's/Palin's claims that he lied, all he has to say is:
"Look, here's what I said i would do and here's what I did. McCain/Palin are just piling it higher and deeper."
Dot @ 90:
I disagree with that. I thought he handled that question just the way he should. Who cares if Palin is "experienced" enough to be president. He's not there to debate her resume. Her resume could be awesome, the best ever, the fact remains it's still more of the SAME! That's all. No change, more BUSH, more BUSH and even more BUSH.
Excuse me, please, I have had beer.
If it's any consolation, the (previous) Government tried a vaguely similar approach in their re-election campaign in Australia. Things weren't seen to be as bad for us as it is in the US now, the economy was OK and the (then) government weren't loathed like the current US one.
Anyway, they tried running against themselves and got thrashed. Furthermore, media interviews did prove that too many of our electorate were equally (or at least not too far off being) stupid/ignorant about the issues/who was actually running for which party etc as the US.
So maybe there's hope.
Dot @ 90:
Dot,
I think you misunderstood my comment. Obama is absolutely qualified to be President. I have never thought otherwise. I think Obama wants to stay away from that line of debate because it has nothing to do with the issues, and he can win if he can get people to focus on the issues (right now that seems like a big "if", but sixty days is a long time). The Republicans don't want to focus on the issues, and they have said so. If Obama opens up the "qualified" argument against Palin, that whole worthless line of attacks from the Republicans will start up again. He is best to avoid that tack if he can. However, he shouldn't hesitate to point call McPalin out for wanting to maintain the status quo.
Oh, and to clarify, I don't think Palin's resume is worth anything, I think mine might be better ;) It's just not the point.
Tactics….again…
Ok.
I remember Sugar Ray Leonard’s style of boxing. He was especially good at the Bruiser vs Boxer card. He seldom came out strong, was very tactful and defensive in the early minutes of each round, and then did his masterful flurries in the closing seconds. Those flurries usually didn’t knock anybody out…at first. But it was frustrating, effective, and usually led to a decisive victory by the end of the match. When Leonard got macho and tried going toe-to-toe with heavy-handed opponents, he could carry his own, but he would lose.
McPain just came off an easy ride with the RNC convention. Sarah is taking the brunt of the attacks now and letting McCain off the hook again. But McPain is a Bruiser. They throw wild hay-makers, and if they land, they’re dangerous.
Obama is a Boxer, not a Bruiser. He could stand toe-to-toe dishing out the haymakers like a Bruiser and probably could carry his own. Everyone would cheer if and when he landed. But he won’t win like that. That’s fighting their fight – and they’re too good at that. Dig the body; don’t let the bastards breath, then nail them with the poignant on-spot targeted one-two. That’s Obama’s fight.
Tyler Durden @ 96:
It is democracts like yourself that have turned the democratic party into perennial losers by picking mind-numbingly boring candidates who sound like professors. Yawwwwwn.
Obama was terrible in that interview. He was stammering too much, he seems unsure of himself, he seems scared of offending anyone, he appears afraid to attack. well, why the hell is he running then?
He is not showing toughness or conviction or even passion. Does he want to be president or not?
Fanon @ 95:
http://bumperstickers.cafepress.com/item/mccain-hugging-bush-sticker-rec... I'd rather have this one myself
http://bumperstickers.cafepress.com/item/sarah-palin-a-bridge-to-nowhere... Sarah Palin bridge to nowhere
You can also browse the bottom and find one that says McSame as well.
krisken @ 104:
Thank you much!
I do care A LOT whether Palin's experienced enough to be President, especially since she WILL be President if Obama doesn't get off the dime and start punching.
McCain runs for one term. If he survives four years, guess who is the head of the party? Palin, the Vice President of the United States, who now has four years experience, has run a sucessful campaign, and is essentially running for "re-election." The Repubs will run her, ironically, as the most "qualified person" with the most "experience," because she's been VP for four years. And they have the added bonus of running the Supreme Court into a ditch, tearing up the Constitution, and outlawing abortion. A guaranteed win for the Republican party with that track record. Maybe you don't care, but I'm not rich and I can't immigrate to Canada.
I keep thinking over and over of 1938 Germany. Growing up, I always wondered why the Jews were so stupid and didn't leave when Hitler was coming to power. Now I know why. Like me, they couldn't escape.
Also, plenty of Europe's Jews didn't believe that Hitler would do what he did, or that the world wouldn't stop him. I'm listening to Palin and her Dominionist comrades say very closely.
Obama's right, by election day the American people will either vote for the same failed economic and foreign policy of Dubya or vote for change. It'll all come out in the debates. Good interview.
Dot @ 106:
I don't think anyone here will dispute that her resume is a sad joke. The media narrative, however, pushes that if we question her experience, then we must question Obama's experience. We both know that there is no comparison there and Obama has shown he is ready by constantly facing tough questions with strong answers. The media has been intentionally absent from correcting this stupidity, though. Honestly, McCain's campaign did us a favor by removing that argument from the equation. If we keep explaining to people that these two are an extension of the miserable policies Bush put forth, eventually it will sink in.
If not, we can all have a good laugh about it in Canada. ;)
VMA host slams Bush, begs Americans to vote Obama
Just a thoughts from some guy 'across the pond'.
The Obama campaign won't call McCain-Palin liars because a lie is a deliberate untruth.
Republicans, faithbased as they are, believe what they say. They really believe the economy is in great shape and we are winning in Iraq. There is no global warnibg and Sarah is more qualified than Obama, Biden or even McCain.
They're not liars. They are insane.
The lies and distortions MUST be denounced---emphatically and often. To assume that undecided voters have the time, energy and motivation to research candidates' claims and records is completely unrealistic.
I sincerely hope the Obama Campaign (the candidates and their ads) become more hard-hitting. (No more upbeat background music, please!) Polite phrases like "stretching the bounds of spin" are meaningless to uninformed, undecided voters. And they are beginning to deflate the enthusiasm of supporters and volunteers like me.
Krisken, if I could afford to go to Canada, I'd be packing now. No joke.
Dot @ 113:
I guess, living in Wisconsin makes it easier for me :)
krisken @ 114:
You can practically walk!
Dot @ 106:
Dot, I think nearly everybody here (except the trolls, of course) believes that Palin is as qualified as a pocket of pus to be VP. I certainly don't disagree with you on that point. But, is it to Obama's political advantage to take the bait and attack her on that? I personally do not think so as it will distract from his message for Change.
Fanon @ 115:
Haha, South East Wisconsin isn't quite comfortable walking distance.
More on topic:
It was nice to see Barack have a chance to kick back at the McCrazy campaign. While he certainly does look concerned about saying something that will be thrown back at him, I can understand why. The media is looking for any reason to skewer him.
Some here are forgetting how incredibly stupid Bush is behind a podium/camera/audience/[fill in the gap here]. And he won two terms. Debates and town halls and interviews do not win elections anymore. Corruption does so it's time to call them out.
The wheels of the neocon base and their hacks are spinning out-of-control again and have the potential to outwit our pussyfooting around.
The only thing that is going to make a difference is if WE take to the streets in huge numbers and protest against this administration and make our voices heard. We need to create our own distractions and throw our discontent in the faces of every American via the media to wake them up. I think we need a march on Washington before Nov. 4th or a coordinated mass protest and rally for real change in every major city and then some.
I think Obama is still missing the point. The problem is that the GOPers and their propahanda arm, the MSM, are controlling the dialog. Completely. They are going to ensure, because they have no solutions to offer, that the dialog remains squarley on personalities, devoid of any substantive discussions about policy. The only exception might be the debates, but only if Obama deliberately hijacks them.
That being so, Obama needs to add a few words and phrases to his vocabulary: Liar, lies, deception, manipulation, contempt, contempt for the American People, mendacity, cowardice, duplicity, arrogance, pathological dishonesty and others as applicable. He should avoid: "untruthful" and all other terms that allow wiggle room. If he thinks this is a time for grace and charity to those who are devoid of those qualities, he is mistaken.
There is no time left, and times are too desperate, for anything other than accurately and mercilessly naming the game. He must be brutally and pitilessly honest in naming the liar as the liar that he is, sparing no concern whatsoever for the liar's feelings. He must expose an act of contempt for the contempt embodied therein. He must expose the deceiver for the deception that is attempted. Jr must name mendacity as mendacity. There is an order to doing so: First expose the lie and name the liar as a liar, in those words, then, review the facts. First expose the act of contempt and name the contemptuous as being contemptuous, then, review the principles that have been violated. And so on. Whatever the misdeed, expose it, correctly name the perpetrator for what he/she is, and only after doing so, review the true facts or the principles involved. He must name their games, name the person for what he is and then review and refute. Obama must succeed at every turn, or he will surely get his ass handed to him. Thus far, he has only been conducting the review and refutation, and his efforts have been effectless.
No person owes the liar, the deceiver, the mendacious, the manipulator, the predator, the practicing sociopath...any diplomatic courtesies. It is neither rude nor a violation of principles to speak the bare and unvarnished truth. On the contrary, it is an act of ultimate rudeness and a deep betrayal of principles to do anything less. And, to do anything less is to give them all the maneuvering room they need to continue deploying their lies, deceptions, manipulations, acts of sociopathic contempt and myriad other low and unworthy deeds. Naming the game will eventually make playing the personality card too painful.
The GOPers are engaged in the seeing to the realization of the darkest of dark dreams. They are playing for keeps. They are expressly counting on playing upon their opposition's instincts for basic human decency, using that instinct as one of the their most powerful weapons against that opposition, against Obama. It is time to take that ability away from them, and naming the game, with as much dignity as can be summoned, is the only way to do it. The stakes are as high as they've ever been. If the GOPers win this one, all of us - including they, will lose.
That was just an awful performance. I guess he's tired and Keith's a 'relaxed' interview for him. The thing is if he is tired he still needs to roll off those sound bites that are less than 15 seconds long and can fit in a headline. Such as 'the McCain-Palin ticket is a real bridge to nowhere'. 'McCain's really just 90% Bush and 10% Maverick.' Call him the '10% Maverick'. People get my name wrong but how come we keep hearing 'John Bush' and 'Sarah Pawlenty'? 'McCain voted 100% with Bush in 2008, 95% in 2007? That's not a maverick, that's a sidekick!' McCain wasn't even a strong candidate in 2000 when Bush won. Eight years later, the guy Bush beat back in 2000 is the best they can do?
And longer quotes:
America's in bad shape economically thanks to Bush-Cheney, people are losing jobs and homes and the best the best the republicans can come up with is a candidate who confesses he 'doesn't know as much about the economy as he should' and a 'soul mate' who 'doesn't know what the vice president does every day'. Is this what America really needs right now?
One more thing...
Obama, what he is doing, is attempting to teach people a different way of doing things. But no teacher can teach, except by starting from the students home ground, from the student's perspective. If the students he wishes to reach are starting from the gutter, then that is where he must start.
you know, you know . . . the sweet, sweet smell of schadenfreude.
and he's having to hit not only the vp - but the vp GIRL.
PUMA
One more Democrat who by mid-November/early December may get mad enough to say what he thinks. Then grow a beard and, and find his life's cause, and. . .
"Stretching spin"? How about just calling them professional liars, doing what they do best? Republicans don't stretch truth. They break it on the rack. Their contempt for the American public is bottomless.
Jesus, I'm so sick of Democrats playing at being high-minded centrists while Republicans win these things by tearing their throats out and feasting on the blood. Behave like you're in fight for your life, not like you've been invited to a posh dinner party.
This is what I'd love to see at the debates....
Obama finds an opportunity to say this, directly and without hesitation: "My fellow Americans, if you want four more years of tax cuts for oil companies swimming in profits, four more years of American jobs getting shipped overseas, four more years of $10 billion of your tax money getting spent in Iraq while Iraqi politicians sit on their hands and on top of a $79 billion oil surplus, four more years of [...insert your favorite Bush failure here...], then ladies and gentlemen, vote for this man right here [points to McCain]."
This is direct, forceful, and will remind voters of the Republicans failure on every front. This is what I'm hoping will be his big punch in the debates. Americans don't want to hear nuanced policy. Do that once you're elected. To win an election, you have to speak the lowest common denominator. Something like the above does that without completely abandoning issues.
There is no glory in being nice and losing. Keith should coach Obama off camera so that he will say the LIE word. McCain and Mrs. 3 carat diamond earrings don't care about the average, middleclass American unless we are serving them dinner or cleaning their toilets. We are worker bees. Sarah is the nightmare PTA mother whom we all know. She thinks that she knows everything and talks perpetually about "her great wealth of knowledge". She decided to go into politics while working out on a stairstepper. I would give our country's future about the same odds as a snowball lasting in Hell if "Maverick" McCain and Mrs. Palin get elected. I think that we need to be plain and simple. Bush lies. McCain lies. Our economy is going down the tubes. Obama needs to be direct and pointed in attacking them and aim at their jugulars! Everyone under the age of thirty better get out and vote also! You are the ones with the most to lose.
tezza @ 120:
"McCain: the 10% maverick" and "that's not a maverick, that's a sidekick". you need to email these to his campaign NOW. these are perfect! and I think they are tailor-made to go viral in our media-driven politics.
Obama's biggest mistake is going to be underestimating these corrupt liars and over estimating the intelligence of the American public. People are fucking idiots. Look at the current polls. They need to expose every one of these republican lies over and over again!
I thought the clip was boring too. Isn't it sad that a calm thinking man has trouble getting his message across in this day and age because of the infotainment we are used to?
Gawd, Obama says he's confident the AmericAn people will make the right decision.
Haven't we heard this before, from John Kerry?
Why do Democrats rely on the intelligence of the American people to elect them?
Bush was put into the White House TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why doesn't he just say the word?
LIAR!
jmac @ 122:
...because "fuckthatguy.com" was taken...
I don't think Obama can win if he goes down in the mud with the republicans.
The reason for this is the MSM. For example, seeing the coverage of the last few months MSM tend to ignore most of the lies and distortions by McCain (most - if not all - of which have been reported here on C&L), but will highlight any negative news about Obama with frenzy. I mean, how many gaffs, lies, distortions have McCain made already? How much negative press did he get for those? I remember far more negative press against Obama for doing much less than what McCain did.
Therefore, once the 'L' word is out, Obama will lose. It will become a pissing contest with both sides calling each other liars. Here is what will happen:
1. MSM will fail to report that Obama's accusations are validated.
2. McCain will continue to call Obama a 'liar' with impunity without having to back up his accusation.
If you want the democrats to start fighting back and stop taking their high road, you'll have to fix your MSM first.
ludger @ 130:
Because that would be talking about the elephant in the room...
... And Democrats DON'T make waves!
You actually think the "Kumbaya - get along" Party of Compromise and Bipartisanship would actually ruffle feathers...?
I mean, you're not getting along WITH the liars if your actually calling out their lies, are you?
I mean, if you're a member of the "Follow the Leader" Party, who else can you follow...
... Someone you've called a liar? Won't THAT look bad? Image does matter to these Elites, you know!
.
Why can't he just say, "McCain said this................... It is a lie. Palin said this.....................It is a lie.
MORE BALLS!
Democrats and progressives want a strong leader who kicks ASS (for once!) - they know a stammering nerd will lose, even with good ideas.
McCain/Palin's team have realized tuff-talking personalities is all they can bring to the table, so they're working it.
Conservative voters will vote for whoever seems strong, and likes church.
So why hasn't Obama's team figured out that tuff-talk COMBINED with good ideas is the winning strategy???
hotmouth @ 129:
Because the "Get along" Party has none of their own...?
I mean, the Democratic Party would rather NOT discuss the merits to:
RENDITION, TORTURE, INDEFINITE DETENTION
WARRANTLESS INTRUSION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY
PREEMPTIVE MEASURES WITH NO JUST CAUSE
USURPATION OF CONGRESSIONAL INTENT
ATTEMPTED REMOVAL OF HABEAS CORPUS
... Just for a start, not because their Congressional members would have to defend the merits to, but instead they would have to justify why they've supported these acts, AS A WHOLE!
Sure, a few broke ranks to denounce and attempt to take action...
But when the Madam of the House owns you, you're HER B!tch. You're on HER time clock and you screw America the way she likes it! That's all.
However, since the Democratic Party isn't even able to conceive putting up an attack upon those who have trampled OUR Liberty, why should we even conceive that the Democratic Party is capable to even put up an attack against a simple voting record? Facts are elusive to the Democratic Party...
... Primarily because it's those facts that end up biting them in the A$$.
The ONLY framing of an argument EVER done by Democrats is in the rebuttal... DEFENSE!
.
I agree 100% until the Democratic Party start to fight back and act like they have some balls. They will never win a national election. America believes in a fighter. We love the movie ROCKY, wrestling and MMA. Will Obama defend his wife from attacks? I'm sorry but he has lost the elections because people respect a fighter in something and he doesn't get it. Too bad I was hoping he would fight the job. Paul @ 135:
...that stretches the bounds of spin into new areas...
Jeebus, that guy is never going to get a job working for a political campaign. What a catchy turn of phrase.
Isn't this what he means THEY'RE LYING?
I used to think that giving a speech well was more difficult than just talking, but Obama makes me wonder. He's not very good at talking.
Obama explains perfectly why Democrats lose and Republicans win -- the American people are not stupid. How could anyone get it more wrong?
It's interesting to get on here and see people saying so much of what I was thinking while watching the interview. At one point I just stood up and shouted at the teevee, "Come on, Barack!" It was so disheartening to watch him in this interview. Here he is, in friendly territory, with so many people hungry for his every word, ready to go to the mat for him, and he just meandered. I mean, come on, where was the fire in his belly? Is he under the weather or something?
I said awhile ago that he needed to stick to the courage of his convictions. Back when he betrayed us (sorry...but that's what it is) with his vote on the FISA thing, when he was snuggling over to the right/center about faith-based crap, off-shore drilling, etc. etc. I was saying then...STAND FOR WHAT YOU STAND FOR! DO NOT WAIVER! WE NEED A LEADER!
Instead we're getting this namby pamby bullshit again. AGAIN! God. Damn. It. Don't let this slip through your fingers, Barack! This is your defining moment. This. As a politician. As a Democrat. As an American. As a man. Stand up and we will stand with you.
Stammer and hem and haw...and too many of us will stay home.
It is breathtaking what a turnaround this is! We were all motivated. All excited. All ready to push Barack Obama to the top. And the Republicans were demoralized. Not even excited about their own convention. And then they nominated a nut who inspired them and turned it all around. We have waited for a response to this. We have waited for our chosen next leaders to step up to the plate and hammer right back. And what has happened? They've talked about what a swell guy their opponent is and waffled on what they're going to do about his constant lies. And now we're the ones losing our energy, or motivation.
McCain is lying about you, Barack. They are lying about you. Just say it. They are lying. Don't futz around with it. Just say it. Because we know it's true, and force them to be on defense for once. Jesus. FORCE THEM TO BE ON DEFENSE FOR ONCE. Because that's how you win. You take the initiative and force them to react instead of always sitting around and waiting to react to their latest atrocity. You don't have to go into the gutter. Just say the truth. And the truth is that they lie. Constantly. Period.
Start your freaking speeches with that. "John McCain is lying to you. Like George Bush lies to you. John McCain is lying to you. And I'm here to tell you the truth."
Hammer it. Hammer it. Hammer it home. Bush lied. John McCain lies. Bush lied. John McCain lies.
And then when you face John McCain in the debate, don't fucking back down. "Yes John. You lied. She lied. And you're still lying. About me. About yourself. About your buddy George Bush. You are lying to America. Would you like me to list your lies for you, right now?" Then take out a long, long, long ass piece of paper. A fucking register tape, and hold it, and drop the other end and let it spool out slowly across the stage. Seriously.
Conclude by saying, "We just don't need another liar in the White House." (Hey, look Obama campaign...I just wrote the tag line for your next ad!)
What's McCain gonna say? What's the fear here, that we'll all feel bad that he's picking on an old man? I should think, by now, that Republicans might actually respect that. It's amazing to me how they don't believe in evolution, when they clearly hold as their only true religion survival of the fittest.
Use the truth as a club, Barack. Because it's not working as a feather. The American people are well beyond ticklish. Bang us over the head before we are taken back to being cavemen by these Neanderthals running against you.
I'm begging you.
Well done, Mr. Obama, IMO.
He's learning. ;)
I do agree that Obama hesitates a little too much in that interview, and used too many filler words and was stumping a lot, but he tends to slip in that mode when he is relaxed. But check this out:
http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/
Obama on O'reilly's past two interviews is completely different from the Olbermann interview. He is more forceful, direct and a much better speaker. Point is, he is fully capable of adjusting his delivery when under attack. Let's hope the O'reilly version is at the debate.
hotmouth @ 129:
First, Bush was not elected by the people.
Secondly, while I have some misgivings about the way Obama is running his campaign, his telling the American people that they're smart enough to vote for him is a decent thing to do as long as he doesn't actually believe it. It actually has to be said. In fact, coupled with his "They must think you're stupid" line, it's actually well done. He should keep that up. "We think you're smart, and we treat you that way. They think you're stupid, and, well, you see the B.S. they put in their ads."
He has to say the American people are smart. They're not. But they'll be pissed off if you insult them.
oncall @ 38:
Not naive, but overly hopeful. If he had it to drop, he would've dropped it by now.
By contrast, I hear all kinds of scheit being brewed over at KKkarl headquarters--the Repukes are getting ready to sandbag Obama--if they feel they need to. They haven't yet because they think they may not have to.
xtien @ 139:
Wow.
I really agree with some here; the Obama campaign ought to just say it. THEY'RE LIARS.
RobertD @ 145:
Every. Word. You. Wrote. Is. True.
Obama sounds almost apologetic in this video.
What is it about Democratic candidates.
Nicaragua is looking better all the time ... and it has surf breaks ...
my 10oclock news is sayign that BO is now behidn Mccain in the majority of the polls...
wow, this looks bad. There's always the hopes of the debates... that they offer some bone shattering blows to the neo-cons, but like others astutely point out, it just doesn't seem like the dems have the nuts for it. WTF, why are we griping and acting surprised. They are worthless, and have always been. It's too bad the progressive movement and GOP insanity are polar opposites. What the neocons lack in brains, they make up for in "subtle as a brick" tactics. They've got the nuts, so to speak... Dems are all about finesse, fine parries to each thrust... they don't realize it's a losing battle. This is the difference between most ads on the radio and tv ads (which are unbelievably repetitive, too). Radio ads are all about screaming and repeating. TV can rely a bit more on thought to carry its point home. We are out of time. The dems need to look the jackals right in the eyes during the debates and say, bold face and with righteous indignation, "YOU ARE LYING, JUST LIKE THE LAST 8 YEARS. IF AMERICANS VOTE MCCAIN WE'LL HAVE MORE OF THE SAME!!!"
Don't even care if it doesn't fit the damn situation, don't show restraint. Shout it in their FAT FASCIST FACES every time they start in on their moose-stew bullshit! and typical talking points. Drown their voices out with the steady clamor rising from the people.... with the disgust with both parties, centrist mediocrity, and a corporate slave state featuring the "freedom of choice" to pick between 2 factions of the same corporate party. They compete to control the machinery, because it makes them and their collaborators rich and wealthy beyond any of our dreams. You people who reduce this to ideals and personalities, even to issues of substance, miss it. Our government is like the pigs in Orwell's "Animal Farm." Totally perverting the original principles for the whole shittery.... pissing on the few shreds of good this country has done.
Sick, sick, sick. Obama, stand up, be a leader, grow some balls, get yourself elected... promptly burn the capital building down and declare martial law. Do whatever. Do anything but this. Anything but Bush, McSame, and his beauty queen parrot (i.e., her "journalism" degree and experience makes me think of one thing... a talking head that can read a tele-prompter, regurgitate the ideas of others, and appeal to "viewers".... perfect repukes.
I thought Obama had some pep in his step, but wtf is this... his campaign has been quite undisciplined from the end of the Dem primaries.
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