Report: Obama Surrogates Urged To Mention Eagleton On Palin

Barack Obama has forbidden his campaign from referencing Gov. Sarah Palin's family and has said he'd fire any staffer who violates the rule. But plenty, it seems, its fair game.

In memos, e-mails and phone calls this week, Obama campaign officials have urged surrogates and allies to mention Republicans who are "nervous" about the Palin pick and to link those worries to George McGovern's aborted vice presidential pick of Thomas Eagleton in 1972, according to three Democratic surrogates.

That year, McGovern rescinded the pick after learning that Eagleton had been treated for depression. Questions about the thoroughness of the Palin vet have been raised, particularly about how and when Palin disclosed the news that her teenage daughter is pregnant and whether Palin's political resume had been thoroughly scrubbed.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[odoreida]

What has the Eagleton debacle got to do with the current campaign?

Since McCain's numbers are now way up, it shows that Palin is not considered a liability to the ticket. Much as Obama supporters -- reading the handwriting on the wall perhaps -- would like to see her dropped, that's simply not going to happen.

[Daisy1111]

Eagelton?

This is a sign of desperation. LOL!

What happened to all that HOPE!

[dvdpt]

HILLARY IS COMING TO TOWN TO DEAL WITH SARAH.

[IslandGyal]

People PLEASE register to vote before October 3rd. If possible request an absentee ballot and vote EARLY. I am not taking any chances with the republican this year; they like to disenfranchise voters, especially minorities.

So, if you don't have to deal with them on November 4th do NOT!

In Maryland you can request an absentee ballot. The deadline is October 28. PLEASE, vote and vote early!

http://www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/2007_English_InternetVRA.pdf

http://www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/2008_Absentee_Ballot_Application.pdf

[uclafan]

That will keep them from turning voters away in the poor black neighborhoods because they don't have Picture ID

[themodernleader]

For the record: There was nothing wrong with Tom Eagleton, mentallly or physically. He was a great senator and a patriotic American---always.. The liberal Democratic presidential candidate exhibited shameful timidity and cowardice in taking Senator Eagleton off the ticket. And he lost the election in a landslide.

[jsinclair]

Exactly. I couldn't agree with you more.

I only wish McCain sought mental health treatment as Eagleton did. He was a fine man and it was shameful that McGovern didn't support him.

Let's LEAVE EAGLETON OUT OF IT.

Palin has GENUINE baggage. Lots of it.

[ceti]

This is a terrible strategy and one that reflects poorly on those surrounding Obama. Eagleton did a lot of good in the senate. What they did to him was unconscionable.

Palin on the otherhand, may not suffer mental stress, but she is malevolent.

[Bettysdad]

There's no comparison.

Eagleton had a health problem.

Palin is a right wing loon with no experience to run a bake sale.

[Ping]

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

As far as the disgusting Republican argument that Sara Palin has more executive experience that Barack Obama, Obama is among an elite group of politicians in this country. There are less that 100 candidates who have won a nation wide election in the history of the United States and Obama is one of them. In doing so he has built a huge nationwide organization with a multi million dollar budget. It's clear by looking at George W Bush that being a Governor doesn't prepare a person for the Office of President.

[pupbayer]

Bringing up Eagleton? That's soooo 70's! LOL! Hey, Eagleton is the only politican who actually had a paper that said he was sane. You can't say that about any of them running this year.

This is really classy.! This is taking the high road! LOL!!!!

[roshni]

I think it is absolutely legitimate to question Palin's legitimacy in every way possible because she is a trigger away from the presidency if anything happens to her septogenarian running mate.
Why is it acceptable for her to go into hiding while taking remedial civics cram courses?
Throw the book at her!

[Ping]

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

Palin is legitimate. She is as legitimate as George W Bush was in 2000.

[pupbayer]

It is legitimate to question all candidate's legitimacy in every way possible because they are either a trigger away from the presidency or running for the presidency. Throw the book at all of them. I have no problem with that.

[cdub1991]

The one big difference is that, if the Eagleton of 1972 were to run today, there would be very few questions about his qualifications for the VP role and his mental health hospitalizations would not have been much of a game changer. (Everybody in the audience on zoloft--raise your hands...) He was the victim of his times. To compare Palin to him is an insult to Eagleton.

[jukesgrrl]

My understanding is that Sen. Eagleton's depression was severe enough that he received electro-shock treatments to the brain. That is, of course, a legitimate treatment for depression and one received by many people (including Jacqueline Onassis), but it's a treatment greatly misunderstood by the public. Zoloft is one thing, but I find it very hard to believe that Americans would accept a candidate with that history even today. Try to imagine what the Rove machine would do with that information.

[BluzySuzy]

Wasn't it the Republicans that encouraged community involvement with the "thousand points of light" and faith-based institutions taking the lead in community organizing?

[surferbuoy]

Yes & the last I heard Obama wants to build on those Faith-Based institutions that Bush has already got in place...Go Obama

[pearlone]

Obama has been endorsed by the guy who set up Bush's White House office of faith based programs. I can't remember his name but he's coming out with a book.

[Zox]

Once the story of Palin having an affair with her husband's business partner comes out everything will take care of itself.

[SDSL]

Especially if the father of Trig Palin is not Todd Palin.

[surferbuoy]

And your source is what tabloid?

[PAposter]

Tabloid's entire staff consist of investigative reporters, don't get them confused with the paparazzi you see on TV.

[dadw5boys]

The guy she had the affair with tried to seal the divorce records !!!!!!!!!

[Belisarius]

Eagleton?

That's a pretty old chestnut. How many people remember Eagleton or have a clue who he is? Or George McGovern for that matter.

What poop.

[surferbuoy]

Yes especially on Huffington, who indeed is old enough to remember history that far back. Most here weren't born yet.

[PAposter]

You'd be surprised :)

[pupbayer]

Yes, I remember. It was the first election I could vote in. I thought it was terrible what they did to Eagleton. Now O wants to bring it up again after decades? That just makes me sick. It is a very sad and desperate tactic.

[pupbayer]

So I guess you don't recognize O's "high road" when you see it, uh?

[tedbear]

There have been famous successful leaders, ie Churchill, who suffered from depression, however, how many successful leaders have we had who suffered from getting their orders from God? The only one I can think of (in the U. S.) was George W. Bush, and look at where he took us?

[BarackMan]

Yes....he needs shock therapy also....

Obama - Biden '08/12!