Progressives Sound Alarm About Obama Campaign

Yesterday, three prominent progressive bloggers suggested Barack Obama has a serious weakness. Josh Marshall writes at TPM:

With so many instances of corruption and influence-peddling around him and whatever problems with the candidate that are keeping the campaign from letting reporters interview him anymore, John McCain is now again charging Obama with what amounts to soft treason -- wanting to lose the war in Iraq in order to make himself president. The lack of any consistent lines of attack against McCain is becoming palpable.

John Aravosis chimes in at America Blog, saying Obama's lack of attack is having an effect on activists:

What Josh said today, and what Josh has written between the lines of a lot of posts on his blog of late, is something we're hearing a lot of from a lot of people. There is an incredible discontent out there with the way this campaign is being run. The fact that the discontent isn't being recognized, isn't being assuaged, is disturbing. People aren't worried about the election, they're becoming despondent about it. They're not motivated to work twice as hard, they instead feel as if they've had the wind knocked out of them. This is far beyond a healthy skepticism as to whether Obama can win. While Obama's attacks today on McCain are heartening, we need to see more of it. People need to see that Barack Obama has as big of balls as John McCain and, well, Hillary Clinton.

Joe Sudbay adds:

Just to be clear, this isn't the kind of post we want to be writing right now. We'd much rather be beating the crap out of John McCain's hypocrisy and rebutting the Karl Rove attacks on Obama. Anyone who read this blog during the primaries knows how strongly we felt about nominating Obama. Our commitment can't be questioned. We really, really, really want a Democratic president. But, we're not getting much to work with from the Obama campaign, hence this post. As John wrote, this feeling is pervasive. For some reason, Obama's top advisers seem to be living in their own bubble and this campaign, which we all thought would be different, is starting to feel like Democratic campaigns of the past. There's plenty of time to fix this. The blogs are poised to help (should the campaign ever decide to truly engage us). Not to be corny, but this campaign isn't about Barack Obama or his campaign staff or his media consultants or his Internet team. It's bigger than all of them and they need to realize that. This really is about our nation's future. We have to win and the Obama campaign needs to let us all help him win.

Today Obama responded to McCain's patriotism attacks in a style he used effectively against Hillary Clinton -- criticizing the tone of his opponent's campaign. Whether that will blunt those attacks or satisfy worried observers remains to be seen.

Comments

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I agree. He is being too, too soft. He needs to start being aggressive with him. Stop that "I honor his service..." BS. Don't give him credit for anything.

[doctorwang]

I say let the liberal 527's do the dirty work. When the McC camp comes complaining to O, O should just shrug his shoulders and say : "Gotta keep your sense of humor" .

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

I just want O to call the guy a warmonger.

[Marcantm]

Liberal 527's? What liberal 527's? Any liberal 527 ad is about the equivalent of a cupcake commercial. I have yet to see one--even from Moveon--that comes close to being negative.

The Democrats are truly pathetic. With all due respect, we are the party of Beta males and women. We don't attack, we cry. Someone calls Kerry or Obama unpatriotic, they stomp their feet and yell, "Stop calling me that!!!" Someone says Kerry or Obama is a flip-flopper, they cry "No we're not! Please focus on the issues!" We play defense for the entire presidential race, mainly because we are too scared to throw a punch.

I turn on Keith Olbermann every night and his headlines are "Obama Fights Back". So I get excited. And then I see the clip of Obama "Fighting Back" and its, like I said, "Stop Calling me that!! Same type of politics!! Stop playing the same type of politics!!" There is not fighting back, there is just defense.

Its honestly embarrassing how pathetic this party is.

[luvobama]

He's smarter than you.....

[cheshirecat831]

Wait til Keating and the savings and loan issue comes up....just give it time. Mac has lots of explaining to do

[AzRealProgressive]

It came up tonight. Supposedly a whole hour of it on FOX. They had the whole bunch involved in it. All of the Democratic senators stood up for McCain. Especially Deconcini. The guy who investigated it was a Democrat. He had nothing but praise for Mccain. It appras Mac already did his explaining. No wonder it has not been brought up.

[aztecdiva]

He needs to come out with the Boeing deal that nearly went to a French Company and nearly cost America jobs and national security.

Linking him to every financial and banking scandals in American history in the last 20+ years. Gramm, Keating, Mortgage Crisis, Savings and Loans and how he is bad for the economy. His judgment is extremely bad because he puts relationships over the interests of the American people.

Reminding America about the Nuclear meltdowns, not just from 3 mile island, but to the navy's recent adventures with nuclear waste.

Exploit show his record on women's issues

Exploit his record on Veteran's issues and his voting record.

Exploit his war here war now war mongering to solve America's problems

Exploit his lobbyist connections to Georgia and the Georgian president calling McCain out on Georgia's purchase of his loyalty.

[jinxed]

One of the things I read somewhere is that Obama has targeted TV ads specific to states and their issues. For example, he has an ad running in Ohio about the DHL fiasco. He is doing it in most of the states. The ads most of us are seeing, like on the Olympics, are national ads and are positive. The targeted ads aren't quite so nice. The only place you see them is you.tube unless its one of the targeted states.

I've hated seeing the trashy stuff McCain has been running during the Olympics. I'm heoping after the conventions (sounds like the Republican one is going to be dedicated to Bush & Co. because at the last count 20% of the Republicans aren't going) the Dems start running reminder ads on all of the subjects that azxtecdiva references.

Another quick observation, I don't know if I necessarily believe the line about what happened to Cindy's arm. A cast isn't usually put on a sprain.

[MidSection]

Obama is a radical lefty. he espoused and embraced the far left and then screwed them on FISA, Iraq, drilling, gay marriage, and the list goes on. That's why he's dropping so quickly. All politicians do this.......move to the middle in the general election........but the way Obama has done it has given people whiplash........and exposed him. Not to mention all his extremist buddies....Wright, Farrakhan, Ayers, Rezco.....and his typical white racist grandmother......even though he's thrown all of them under the bus for expediency, their bodies are still dragging under the bus. Sorry guys,......to me it looks like the Dems voted another personality who will lose. interesting to see that Obama is dropping in the polls among all demographics except African Americans....and his negatives are now at 48%.

not looking good and time is running out. Hillary would have been a better candidate.....and as an Independent it would have been a great race between her and McCain. Personally, I think she would have won, but there is no way many democrats and independents are going to vote for him.

[rosal]

Hahahahahahah Blah, blah, blah. Taking all this space for mumble jumble. Can you make the neo spin of the day shorter? Paid by the word?

[MidSection]

Seems you are writing mumble jumble. If you don't like what i write, then refute me....don't whine that Obama is tanking. DEBATE!

[doctorwang]

Too bad Hi!lary didn't know how to run a campaign. You would think with all that experince she talked about that she would have done a better job. Those Atlantic Monthly memos sure were an eye opener!

[Marcantm]

The problem with your argument is that you are assuming that we all agree that Hillary Clinton would have been just as good for the country as we think Obama will be, and that we just chose Obama because he is cool or something. The reason we didn't pick Hillary was not because we just wanted to see Obama on television more, or even that we were sick of the Clintons, it was because Clinton is a DLC moderate-right Democrat, who, like McCain, is in the pockets of the corporations. The Reagan-Clinton-Bush years have been ones that have time after time after time favored the corporate elite at the expense of this country. We wanted change.

Is Hillary a better politician than Obama? You bet. Would she be ripping into McCain day after day after day for the last 8 years? You bet. Would she win this election? Probably. But would she be good for America? And not 'good' as in 'better than Bush', I mean good as in actually good. A President who actually represented the people of this country instead of those on Wall St. and K Street? Hell no.

[ohmercy]

it was because Clinton is a DLC moderate-right Democrat, who, like McCain, is in the pockets of the corporations.

UHHH, not exactly.
Don't you people do any research before you spout out your misrepresentations?

Clinton is more liberal than Obama according to non partisan independent analysis from several groups.
Obama is further to the right than she is. He is rated a "rank and file" Bayh is called moderate

All you have to do is google and you can come up with this same information.
This is stuff iut out by people with no axe to grind not some fricking blog that has an agenda to demonize the Clintons or whatever the current meme is.

Research is a wonderful thing. You should try it some time instead of parroting this garbage that is so easily refuted.

"Clinton is a far-left Democrat according to GovTrack's own analysis of bill sponsorship"

http://tinyurl.com/2t95yp

Obama is rated rank and file Dem by the same site- this was before the FISA bill though so it may have changed a bit.

Bayh is called moderate, Biden is rank and file.

Dodd is far left too.
He would have been a great VP pick.

Here is a good post from the democratic underground that did some of the analysis for you so you don't have to go look at govtrack and figur5e it all out yourself.
http://tinyurl.com/5n2kgk

[Purobi]

Midsection of H R C?

[snesich]

This guy is a Republican poser. He just wants Obama to lose. Wishful thinking, buddy. It won't work this year once Obama frames the choice the way your hero, Reagan, did in 1980: "Are you better off today then you were four years ago."

Bye-bye, Republicans. This minor dust up/slander of Obama won't have any lasting power.

McCain is going to lose. Watch. And cry.

[AzRealProgressive]

And if McCain wins? Will you post the youtube video of your tantrum?

[Wuzzup]

You can be sure that the O supporters are getting desperate when they resort to name calling and Puma/Tr0ll conspiracies! Calm down BOTs November is a long way from today O can still REFINE his campaign strategy...

[MidSection]

That's my issue with this blog.....people can't debate.....just insult. It's a sure way to tell that the blogger has nothing to back him/her self with.

[doctorwang]

Try NoQuarter if you want to see some vile nasty uncensored insults. If your premise is correct then the whole PUM@ movement must be a sham.

[rosal]

Look at your own post above. All you did is insult O. That proves McConfused's fans have nothing to back him with

[luvobama]

How is this? Suck mine.

[doctorwang]

Agreed. O supporters are nothing at all like the PUM@s over at NoQuarter, or riverdaughters, or PUMApac. They never ever believe in any outlandish conspiracies.

BTW: how's that birth certificate thing going?

[Wuzzup]

Well last i heared the good Citizens of Kenya want to know why O has thrown them under the Bus.......

[luvobama]

Not really. We just don't like you.

[AzRealProgressive]

I like him. He has a sense of humor, something you don't Mr. it may not be big around but it sure is short.

[SLSmith]

Let us hope that the DNC will be a unifying act for democrats. Last week on Washington Journal 5 out of 7 Hillary Supporters called and stated they will vote for McCain. Hello - earth to Democrats!

[rosal]

All of her 7 supporters called at the same time? They have every right to vote for whoever.

Obama-Biden 08

[Wuzzup]

Wow i thought the Pumas were only a small group of desperados it seems the have been multipying since the last time i counted them...

[rosal]

Yes they were 4 now they are 7 Wow!

[luvobama]

Total B.S.

[doctorwang]

So what does that prove- that 5 PUM@s decided to take a break from "Days of Our Lives" and call into the Washington Journal to complain? Whoop de doo.

[MidSection]

The problem with Obama is that he is an EXCELLENT speaker............but only in front of the teleprompter reading a speech that one of his 20 speechwriters may have written. Without a teleprompter.....all his umms and stammers make him sound weak. If you ever have taken a debating class, this is a sure way of sounding ill prepared. He also needs to give a straight answer and not so many long winded cliches that evade. i think that is really starting to get to people. the more they hear about this guy, the less they like him. Time is not on his side.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Blah, blah, blah blah.

Got anything new or original?

[confuseddemocrat]

You may discount the above remarks, but each time this happens, it give the once unenthused republican base hope and energy.

The hemmming, hawing and the stammering are distractions and it makes him look disingenious, like he is trying to hide something or that he is unsure of himself.

This is basic Speech 101

[luvobama]

Big surprise Middie. He doesn't need your advice. Thanks anyway.

[MidSection]

Nobody needs my advise, but we all do have opinions.....oh that's right.......freedom of speech is only protected when people on Huffpo say so.

[cheshirecat831]

Let us hope that not everyone is focused on style but more on substance. I believe people listen to the message if they are intelligent and unless English is not your first language the ums are of no significance since all of us do it. In conversation very few people speak the same way they do when they are giving a formal speech. If they do they sound stilted. McCain is not a fluent speaker at all...in the Faith Forum he simply gave bits of his stump speeches which he has memorized...he was not thinking he was parroting his slogans.

[nick1936]

You are right but he won

[MidSection]

That's the problem......where IS the substance? I'm still waiting, because I have yet to hear the man speak substance.

[luvobama]

Weak opinion. Not surprised.

[Marcantm]

Agreed.

[Anciano]

Sounds like Mossad disinformation in favor of a (more) manipulable pro Israel candidate.

[cheshirecat831]

All Obama has to do is refrain from windsurfing in very bad form while wearing gloves (! yet ) and goofy flowered swim trunks like the last guy what's his name.

[rosal]

All McExxon needs to do is "study" the question way in advance, like in the forum for example. He might not look so confused then. Good thing those little notes come handy during his rallies

[long333]

Mc Exxon...good one.. someone was talking on TV that they can call him McExxon all they want it reminds people where gas prices are and who drills for oil.

[nellie]

I see the tro//brigade has a new tactic. Post as if they are Obama supporters and whine about how disappointed they are and how O has lost the race.

[luvobama]

Ding Ding Ding!!! It has been especially evident today. How I wish they'd go awy.

[thomid8849]

Don't be worried if you check http://www.pollster.com All Obama has to do is win all the states that he is winning and leaning plus win Ohio or Florida all he has to do is split one and He is in like flin.

[Anciano]

In like Flynn.

[Lemeritus]

"All Obama has to do..."

I don't mean to be doom and gloom, but I refer you to FiveThirtyEight for a little dose of something stronger:

"Although Barack Obama remains a slight favorite in this election, his position is more vulnerable than at any point since the primaries concluded, and he no longer appears to have a built-in strength in the electoral college that we had attributed to him before. The reason is a new poll out of Ohio, where Public Policy Polling now shows the race dead-even at 45-45. In a PPP poll conducted in July, Obama had led by 8....

"Colorado polls had for some months shown a small but consistent lead for Barack Obama, but his advantage there appears to be gone. A new poll from the Rocky Mountain News shows John McCain with a 44-41 lead...."

In other words. don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

On the other hand, Chris Matthews just interviewed two pro-Obama classic Republicans (real Republicans, not neo-cons). Interesting website: http://www.republicansforobama.org/

[rosal]

Be ware of wolves possing as pumas. They are not Dems, but Repubs trying to stir the soup. Don't get too upset guys. Try to ignore them.

[nellie]

They have so many tactics. Pretend to be a disappointed Obama supporter. Pretend to be an Obama supporter who has changed his/her mind. Pretend to be this. Pretend to be that.

Between the fake posts and the silly articles, this is becoming the last place to go to get any perspective on this election.

[GhiaccioPronto]

he talking about me

[GhiaccioPronto]

you can see obama's speech for yourself on c-span

[GhiaccioPronto]

Obama calls for ! billion to rebuild neo-nationalist militarists in Georgia after failed attack on south ossetia

[rosal]

Your candidate McExxon wants to give them even more

[GhiaccioPronto]

I don't think you have deluded yourself enough yet, try harder.

[luvobama]

Gee. I don't know why everyone finds you and your opinion insignificant.

[GhiaccioPronto]

Me either.

[theone718]

You can be a supporter and still criticize things you don't agree with or things that trouble you. It is us as supporters to try our best to help Obama win, keep up the good fight my friends, I know I will.

[kcam44]

you are right..i fully support Obama, but I don't think he did well last Saturday...i know he will bounce back, but I just hope he gets some balls and step up his game.

[rosal]

He didn't the questions in advance. He had a conversation with the Rev. Unfortunately McExxon didn't ge the memo and gave a stump speech

[luvobama]

Your nose is growing. I wish it was your mind.

[cdub1991]

I know another HuffPo article links to this page, but it's worth reading for all of those who believe that Obama and company are just clueless. It gives great insight into the campaign's long term thinking and operational objectives.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=its_his_party_08

So many folks seem to have the time horizon of two year olds and only think about what they are seeing and feeling in the now. Everything that the Obama camp has done to date indicates that they think strategically. We can assume that there is a time line at work here and that some thinking has gone into it. They are responding to McCain's early attacks enough to keep him in check, but not enough to take them out of their game plan, which they obviously think is a good one. What do you think they're going to do with the millions they've collected? Throw it on a bed and roll in it? They're going to use it to implement a plan, and I suspect that strategy is more than just getting into a p*ssing match with McCain.

[long333]

“Everything that the Obama camp has done to date indicates that they think strategically. We can assume that there is a time line at work here and that some thinking has gone into it.”

The public is getting burned out. A survey said like 50% of people had seen too much of Obama. The campaign couldn’t give the public a rest because of the nature of their supporters for one. Thing is the public is turning on this drumbeat and I don’t know if the Obama camp thought about how LOOOOONG this prez campaign is. If they start going negative now it will be 80 days of it and a severe backlash against Obama. They will have to go hard because the thought of trailing will cause a BDS breakdown in the party. They will be ahead until the final count like Kerry and Gore when people after the final frenzy go to pull the level and go…Nahh can’t do it. Don’t like those guys. They are obnoxious.

[ColinSF]

Advice for Obama: (1) Pander - audiences just love it, principles be damned, (2) Smile, like you have some serious goods on JM (3) Use humor. You'll have plenty of time to prove how smart and thoughtful you are, the campaign is about likability, likability, and likability, (4) Practice the bread-n-butter questions about pro-life, affirmative action, God, , Russia, China, Oil, Energy, Economy, and Healthcare. You don't need to stuff the entire library of Congress in your head, that will make you ponderous, lethargic, and cautious. Keep your responses to 25 words or less, because most of us have severe ADD. When you string together 6 coherent sentences, most of us can't remember what the first four were all about.
(5) Get that gal, HRC to go bar hopping with you - people will think you are a regular guy.

[long333]

That might be the best advice I have read.

[jsob]

To those who are so worried about Obama, look back at the primary. Obama was criticized for not aggressively attacking Hillary Clinton, yet he prevailed. Once Obama was acknowledged as the presumptive nominee, he escalated his attacks against McCain, but with restraint because he is not the nominee. Watch, after the convention Obama will aggressively challenge McCain.

[closetodemfection]

Wow, you're actually acknowledging that he's not the nominee. Rare around here. Not sure I understand why he'd wait - the lower he slips in the polls the more likely they'll give the nomination to HRC who knows how to beat the GOP. McCain hasn't even lifted a finger and he's winning in almost every swing.

[dct1999]

Hillary doesn't even know how to win a primary, yet you claim she can beat the GOP.

Laughable!!!

[rosal]

And I suppose you think all of O supporter would go running to support her if she is "given" the nomination? Think again

[ebethgay]

Honestly, you think there's a snowball's chance in heck that next week the delegates are going to rise up and nominate Hillary. And then you think she would win in November. Seriously, you actually believe that?

[111]

Hillary knows how to beat the GOP? She was the presumptive nominee who thought she would have the nomination wrapped up in early February but she managed to get the crap beat out of her by an unknown. She underestimated her opponents and surrounded herself with people who gave her poor advice. Then there was the Bosnia story which made everything she said suspect, her vicious attacks against Obama and her chameleon style.

Unfortunately, Obama has decided to "move to the center". He was weak on FISA, weak on gun control, weak on the death penalty, weak on the stupid flag pin, weak on off-shore drilling ... compromise means concessions on both sides but all he is doing is becoming Republican - expanding the faith based initiative, pro-free trade, pro-domestic data mining, pro-off shore drilling, pro-death penalty, very much pro the unwinnable, unending war on terror. He just looks like someone who has no principles he is willing to stand firm on and that is what i think is his weakness. So for that, why not vote for McCain?

[cheshirecat831]

Hillary has NO money to run with and the DNC has very little so are you expecting Obama to hand over his money so she can run instead of him? No, of course not. The puma brigade is there to hurt Obama so he will lose and she can run in the next go round. But it is simply not going to happen. She will show up with her ditsy puma sisters, her name will be placed in nomination, they will all have a good cry on TV (the famous catharsis) and Obama will be nominated. It will just be another act from the Drama Queen and her supporters. Obama is showing class and they are not.

[Wuzzup]

Hillary is not JMc has it occured to you that what might have worked against Her in the Primaries might not work against JMc. And if you haven't noticed this is the Presidential Election and not the Dem primary anymore, have you included the effect of Indepent, Repub...etc voters in your Analysis guess not.

[luvobama]

Thanks wussy. I'll pass on your expertise straight to Obama. I'm sure he is waiting with bated breath to hear what you have to say.

[confuseddemocrat]

Obama limped out of the primaries looking weak. In the latter part he was greatly out-campaigned by Hillary after Super Tuesday.

I don't like Hillary nor her divisive tactics, but she was the better, stronger candidate in the latter part.

Obama coasted and was complacent at the end. And it seems as if he is still content to coast... thinking that some slim lead in the polls in certain states will be sufficient to put him over the top in Nov. Don't be fooled, new voters will come out, but the conservatives will also come out in droves. They are becoming energized by mcCain

Lastly Where is the hunger? the fight? And why does Obama need to wait until the convention to fight, did he win or did he not win?

[luvobama]

Wrong on every account.

[rosal]

Your moniker should be: confusedrepublican Get rid of your disguise