Ok - so the other thing is more relevant. I don't like these bullshit old dirt attacks that came up this weekend. That includes Sarah Palin trying to tie Obama to Bill Ayers from the Weather Underground. And it includes Barak Obama trying to blame the economic crisis on McCain and the Keating 5 scandal. I really hope both efforts fail miserably.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Two things
So get this - my mom is in Sedona with her best friend (they're also visiting the Grand Canyon - it's a 50th birthday trip). Last night, they showed up at a Tex Mex restaurant and there were four guys standing outside with metal detectors. They told her Cindy McCain was there - but actually John McCain was inside eating dinner! My mom saw him. Crazy!
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I would say that Mr. Obama's ad are not "[blaming] the economic crisis on McCain and the Keating 5 scandal". They are merely pointing out that 20 years ago, McCain was involved with a very similar sort of crisis, and reacted to it by trying to protect Mr. Keating.
Mr. McCain's instincts when it comes to this sort of thing are to do what is best for the wealthiest. Mr. McCain's ties to Mr. Keating are a lot more substantial than Mr. Obama's ties to Mr. Ayers. Not even close.
Also, we have the McCain campaign calling Mr. Obama an un-American terrorist, practically in so many words. The Obama campaign is keeping their arguments focused on policy, not silly tangential things like associating with Mr. Ayers.
I find this whole thing laughable - associations and ties. The problems for Senator McCain's campaign are growing and these hail mary antics (I can't even call them tactics) are an indication of how bad it has gotten for the McCain-Palin ticket (see similar poll numbers before Governor Palin's pick). Although 29 days is a very long time in professional politics, the McCain-Palin campaign is merely playing the old spaghetti throwing routine (one that we saw from Senator Clinton's campaign in its last weeks).
One thing is certain, Senator McCain's ties to the Keating Five scandal has not been brought up by Senator Obama's campaign until this weekend. The change? Mr. McCain's campaign's decision to attack Senator Obama's character through association (see Saturday NY Times). The problem with association games is the glass house idiom - one in which it is hard for McCain-Palin to come out on top. The facts could not be more opposite when associating Senator McCain with Mr. Keating and Senator Obama with Mr. Ayers. At the time Mr. Ayers was involved with The Weather Underground, Senator Obama was 8 years old. While these activities were surely terrorist (as Mr. Ayers has admitted), they no way impacted Senator Obama. Additionally, since that point in his life, Mr. Ayers has chaired and sponsored inner-city educational programs. That is from where Mr. Ayers and Senator Obama start their association. However, Mr. Keating was involved with Senator McCain early in his US Senate career, culminating in the Keating 5 scandal. It is important to know the history before deciding whether guilt by association is damning. Maybe Senator McCain has changed his views on regulation, government oversight and lobbyists - I'll let others be the judge.
Despite this, it will continue. If McCain-Palin wants to play the Reverend Wright card, that is also a shame. As we will hear stories of speaking in tongues in Governor Palin's pentacostal church, Governor Palin's requests for prayers of a pipeline being built, and sponsorship by her church of converting gays.
Associations work to demonize. However, in this dire time, we should seek leadership and inspiration as millions lose their retirement, homes, and jobs. We should be talking policy. The problem for McCain-Palin is that after the Veep debate it was clear, there are no articulable policy breaks from the Bush administration that Governor Palin could make and therefore we have the same old ideas at a time when we need inspiration.
I hope as you consider the negative attacks, it becomes clear to you that the change you (and we as a nation) are looking for, resides expressly in Senator Barack Obama. When a candidate is faced with what amounts to a sweep of toss-up states, they resort to tactics that are less desirable by the electorate. However, I hope Senator Obama continues to talk tough in the face of opposition and attack when attacked.
Well said, Tom. I've been interested in this election because as a New Hampshire voter, we feel close ties with McCain. We put him on top more than once, probably owing to the whole 'Live Free or Die' bravado and "maverick" (thank you Tina Fey, drink!) credo.
However as this campaign has dragged on and on and on, I've seen McCain transform from someone with standards to a miserable shell of his former self. Comfortable with gutter politics to the point of defending their merits. Where is the McCain of 2000? What happened to the straight talk? We are in a neverending War on Terror, a financial freefall and all I hear about is Ayers and Wright? Get real!
At least during these crucial junctures, Obama is making an effort to discuss them and his policies to help. I'm not hearing any new ideas from the McCain camp.
From one former McCain fan and formerly undecided NH voter, I'm voting Obama/Biden '08.
And go Red Sox.
briedanna,
I fully agree with you.I used to like McCain back in 2000.But the McCain running for President now and the McCain back in 2000 is like day and night.I don`t recognize this guy anymore.He`s changed a lot.I hate to say this but McCain is starting to sound even worse than Bush on some issues.
Anyway, Obama/Biden will get my vote.
Yes We Can!
Get ready for a lot more of it. John McCain has pulled 98% of his positive ads and replaced them with attack ads. It's going to be nothing but trying to tear down Obama's character from here on out.
It's disgraceful. It's depressing. I used to love John McCain. One more thing Bush ruined... (See: South Carolina, circa 2000).
By the way, when did Obama try to blame the economic crisis on McCain? Looks to me like he's blaming George Bush. He can't help it if McCain votes with him....
olbermann did a magnificent job last night criticizing palin---emphasizing how ridiulous her bringing up wright and Ayers---when she and her husband had real---years long involvement with the people who wanted to "rip a star off our flag" having Alaska secede from this evil country. And, of course, there is the video of Palin in church having the witches removed so she could become governor.
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