Plouffe: McCain's DHL Deal A Critical Moment Of Campaign

Barack Obama's presidential campaign claimed that the general election had reached a critical turning point this past week after it was revealed that John McCain and his campaign manager had helped facilitate a merger that could result in the loss of thousands of jobs in Ohio.

On a conference call with reporters, Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe said news of McCain and Rick Davis' involvement in the DHL deal was "the most important development of the entire campaign this week" and would convince voters in the critical swing state that the Arizona Republican was far from his maverick image.

"He was there a month ago in this community and was asked a question about this DHL issue and did not say one word about his role in this or the role of his campaign manager. That is the furthest thing from straight talk that we can imagine," said Plouffe. "John McCain can become an emblem for people about what is wrong with Washington. He released an ad this week about how Washington is broken and how he will strive to fix it. He didn't mention that he has been enmeshed in a broken Washington culture for 26 years or that his campaign is run by the most powerful, now former lobbyist in Washington."

Prior to the press conference the Obama campaign released a harsh new radio ad blasting McCain for his role in helping "foreign-owned DHL buy a U.S. company and gain control over the jobs that are now on the chopping block in Ohio."

On Thursday, the Republican presidential candidate called on the Justice Department to launch an investigation into DHL's plans to puts its packages aboard the planes of a rival, United Parcel Service. If that deal is to go through (with UPS flying its cargo out of Louisville, Kentucky) DHL's shipping hub in Wilmington, Ohio would be effectively closed, eliminating up to 10,000 jobs.

On the conference call, Plouffe was forthcoming about the political advantages that he believed the revelation presented.

"He has spent several days now dogged with questions about this," said the campaign manager. "His appearances in Ohio were completely overshadowed by this. And by November 4 in the Cincinnati and Dayton markets this is something that is going to be known by every voter in this area."

Comments

[Pherdnut]

How does one come to a turning point in a contest when you're already beating the snot out of your opponent?

[All4One08]

The ads are coming,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVGrSm4Ultw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_I6GXfDUSM&eurl=http

[gladys46]

Geez, shouldn't Ohio be "blue" by NOW!! Absolutely rediculous that Mc would attempt to portray O as "job killing" ... these people are scurrilous, totally indecent!! We will see if Ohio vote their interest or not .. if not, why the hell not!!??

[barackobama4prez]

BUSTED!

[DaOne]

Excellent!

[riverhouse]

OH needs to be blanketed with ads about this. We need to win OH in the general election and here's a great opportunity to capitalize on what the goper really is and how he operates. This is prime material.

[isisdawnra]

I knew it was only a matter of time before

he'd open his maverick mouth one to many times

[kay]

The McCain Town Hall meetings, actual substance, aren't covered. They are filmed, however.

I think there's probably loads of material there. McCain employs a lot of lobbyists, and he's had a lot of Town Hall meetings.

[gladys46]

Charles Black is he still Mc's adviser!?? Black was/may still be big oil lobbyist, Equatorial Guinea, West Africia, whose president (Obia) has been president for "30 yrs." (despotic) billions in vast oil reserves!! Reports are that C.Rice, & Bu$h, Inc. has supported this man, had him in the WH, etc. and he & his family live as kings/queen while the masses starve. When massive oil reserves were found in that part of Guinea, American big oil (Black as lobbist) deployed to control it ... Black & lawfirm & Bu$h administration fully support this dictator who has abused the people for yrs. May be of interest , maybe someone can research further!

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

Every one of his so-called "open town hall meetings" so far has been open by invitation only, through local repug parties. God forbid someone ask an unscripted question that might require actual straight talk!

[neesy08]

CNN.com has this on their blog. Go to


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/


You have to scroll down a few stories before you see this story. Plouffe is discussing on the link what McCain and Davisdid.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

It is encouraging to see that people are finally starting to get that McBush and Boosh are the same.

Both are job killers that only care about the rich and corporate profits whether they make their profits in this country or not.

The real problem is that GDP growth and corporate profit growth does not relate to the growth of the middle and lower classes in this age of globalization.

Even the WSJ agrees with 0bama and sees that we need a major shift in Boosh's failed fiscal policy to make the US dollar stronger instead of weaker. Millions and millions of wage earners have fallen behind due to flat wages and the weak dollar. The week dollar was supposed to stem our trade deficit but it has had the unintended effect of deflating killing American's purchasing power.

[kay]

Conservatives, real ones, were burned by Bush on strong dollar.

He flat-out lied about it, numerous times.

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

Let's not leave Mitt Romney out of the job-destroying party. When he was an investment banker he didn't create jobs: he was a vulture, buying businesses and breaking them up, selling off the parts. One deal in Michigan alone cost over 6,000 Americans their jobs, but made Mittens a few cool millions.

[soupson52]

Thanks. Good link. Listened to both question and answer broadcasts too.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The truth is Democrats have always come through and created more jobs than Rethuglicans in the last 75+ years.

From ssengele

Average annual increase in job growth.
* (D) Roosevelt 5.3
* (D) Johnson 3.8
* (D) Carter 3.1
* (D) Truman 2.5
* (D) C linton 2.4
* (D) K ennedy 2.3
* (R) Nixon 2.2
* (R) Reagan 2.1
* (R) Coolidge 1.1
* (R) Ford 1.1
* (R) Eisenhower 0.9
* (R) G. B ush 0.6
* (R) G.W. B ush -0.7
* (R) Hoover -9.0

http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=CES0000000001
http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Data_on_Job_Creation_by_President
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_created_during_U.S._presidential_terms

[eatyourveggies]

great list!

So W will be remembered along w/Hoover.

But wait! He's still got a few months more, maybe he'll try to beat Hoover's % also.

If anyone could do it, it would be W.

It takes a "duh" to say W.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

The truth is Democrats have always come through and created more jobs than Rethuglicans in the last 75+ years.

From ssengele

Average annual increase in job growth.
* (D) Roosevelt 5.3
* (D) Johnson 3.8
* (D) Carter 3.1
* (D) Truman 2.5
* (D) C linton 2.4
* (D) Kennedy 2.3
* (R) Nixon 2.2
* (R) Reagan 2.1
* (R) Coolidge 1.1
* (R) Ford 1.1
* (R) Eisenhower 0.9
* (R) G. B ush 0.6
* (R) G.W. B ush -0.7
* (R) Hoover -9.0

http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=CES0000000001
http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Data_on_Job_Creation_by_President
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_created_during_U.S._presidential_terms

[neesy08]

I visited Digg and saw a great conversation about this. It was amusing. Obvious McC supporters were saying either (1) The Huffpost is not known for telling the truth, (2) so what, foreigners buy our companies all the time, whats the big deal (3) why is this news worthy (4) the media will never get this out.
So, the fact that thousands of people have lost their jobs was a "so," with them. This should clench OH for O, if not outright make him POTUS that much sooner

[kay]

I think it's fairly simple.

The Maverick has sort of a meta campaign approach. He plays to the national media (his base) and they repeat his themes.

Obama's going around them.

It's been a consistent theme, and was true in the primary, too.

HRC and The Maverick depend on a national media theme, and they depend on pundits to frame the debate. Obama never did.

I don't know if it will "work" but I don't think you have to be a genuis to note the stark differences in the approach.

[frappe]

They have to go around them. It's the only way that they can get their uncensored message/news out there. They have to, in effect, function much like the media. The Republican bias in the msm becomes increasingly obvious the closer we get to the election. It has been that way for decades, it seems. O not only has to defeat M'cC, he also has to maneuver around a hostile media.

[RedWhiteandBrooklyn]

"I got mine: screw you!" is the repug motto.

[Citizen54]

"I got mine: screw you!" is the repug motto.

RedWhiteandBrooklyn: You summed it up right. But then why do so many working stiffs vote for Republicans? That is one of the most baffling things about this country.

Go Mets!

[Erdgeist]

For the average American worker outsourcing has been a 'great depression". Its only profit is to the bottom line of a greedy corporation--not the nation as a whole. Considered as part of free-trade, how is outsourcing good jobs not trading away America's "comparative advantage" reducing this nation to a pauper nation? Most workers think the whole concept of free-trade is bunk. They ask, "If we can manufacture all the goods and services necessary for domestic consumption, what then is the benefit of free trade?" Of course, the answer is easy. It is of no benefit to the nation.

[DaOne]

Sad that this is the only place I have seen this story.

[ThunderclapNewman]

It's all over Ohio, which is where it matters most.

[LuvDaH8ters]

you are right.. we need to win Ohio

[MiddleRoad1]

Local newspapers reporting it? Thank God. I was losing hope that the main news outlets would ever pick it up.

[FastMovingCloud]

It would still be good to get this out to other "Rust Belt" states so they know the kind of "leadership" (read: Lobbyists) McCheese has in store for them.

McCain is a Job Killer!!!!!!

[neesy08]

Wonderful!

[cmp]

If Obama takes Ohio and Michigan falls in line this race is over.

[karma13612]

This is beautiful for the Dems. I agree that we need to make good use of it. And I trust that the Obama camp will do it very skillfully. If you live in Ohio, start watching for some targeted ads. I hope the shows like Countdown will air the ads, since I probably won't see them here in New York State.

Thanks for the gift McCain. What are you going to do about those 10,000 jobs (=families)? Does Cindy have enuf money to pay their mortgages? What about medical insurance for all of them???

[sherbug]

Sweet Jesus, I hope this one sticks to Teflon John.

[GoCards1978]

It better. As a Michigan resident, I know from personal experience how devastating this is. The Republicans don't care a whit about average people and haven't since Reagan was in office. Unfortunately, they're extremely skilled at deceptive politics so it hasn't hurt them in the past. Obama needs to pound McCain on his record for the past 2 years since the MSM refuses to do their job.

[rockyersocksoff]

Of course Republicans care about "the lttle people."

After all, don't they protect them from the homos and science while destroying their jobs?

Have a little gratitude fer chrissakes.

[thefringecenter]

Stick to the golden boy? Not a chance. He is a maverick. Newsfakers love mavericks and they are never without one. They are too easy to produce and so much fun to anoint..

[SEQUOIABISON]

It is almost incomprehensible that this tired old man with his insane view of the world is actually a serious contender for the presidency.

Only the mentally retarded folks who actually voted for W twice could possibly sustain the efforts of this fading womanizing divorced warmongering scoundrel.

America our ship is sinking fast and the republicans offer more of the same, they have enlisted the captain of the Titanic to steer us out of trouble.

[CascadianPDX]

How about Exxon oil tanker Captain Hazlewood as VP?

Regarding this 10,000 job loss merger... again, how is Obama a job-killing machine?

[FastMovingCloud]

Bingo! We have to turn McCheese's meme right back on him!

McCain is the "ONE" Job Killing Machine!!!!

[fleaba]

Agreed. Husband ex Ak comm fishermen and plaintiff in EVOSLitigation.

[bodo]

BOTH campaigns lied to the Ohio voters. The Democrats kept telling Ohians that NAFTA was stealing their jobs, but in reality Canada buys 60% of Ohio's exports, thanks to NAFTA.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

A source would be nice.

[ThunderclapNewman]

I have a suspicion the source is his derriere.

[Liberoservative]

Bodo has it 1/10 correct..... but this was back in 98
"Data from the top 10 states in terms of annual export
value are used for this study. In descending order of
export value during the two years when data are
available (1997 and 1998), these 10 states are
California, Texas, New York, Michigan, Washington,
Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, and Pennsylvania,
which collectively account for nearly 60% of total U.S.
exports."
Link: http://www.iacmr.org/newsletter_07_1_files/Peng06JWBZhouYork.pdf

[FastMovingCloud]

I'm in Ohio and I have never read that in The Blade, that's for sure. And the Blade tends to be lean Republican so you would think they would mention this. I think your statistic is somewhat dubious.

I'm with KQSK, name your source for this.

[pmag88]

I'm the biggest free trader you'll ever see. I'll trade your'e good paying jobs for low paying jobs just as fast as I can, the minute you put me in office. And I'll borrow more money from China (at at a hight rate of interest) to pay for you to retrain for the jobs of the future. Sorry I have no idea what those jobs are, but someday, in the future, they are bound to materialize. I'm John McCain and I approved this message