GOP Mailer Uses Obama Supporter To Attack...Obama

The Republican Party of Wisconsin is sending out a somewhat peculiar attack-mailer targeting Barack Obama.

The literature accuses the Illinois Democrat of never having "led" like a president is required to do, citing a history of voting "present" and a failure to oppose his own party's leadership. Those are basically boilerplate accusations.

What is interesting is the back of the piece, which features a picture of a bird with its head in the sand -- meant, ostensibly, to represent Obama. Moreover, the prior page (which has upright birds in the backdrop) includes a quote from an article written by Ezra Klein -- of the liberal American Prospect -- that reads: "Obama is that oddest of all creatures: a leader who's never led."

That Klein piece was written way back in October 10, 2006 -- several months before Obama even announced his candidacy. And one would be hard pressed to find an article written by him since the launch of the campaign that praises John McCain as a more adept leader than the current Democratic nominee. Indeed, here is evidence of Klein's more recent commentary, which is noticeably harsher and more focused on McCain's credentials.

Reached over IM, Klein responded to his inclusion in the mailer by saying: "I'm Ezra Klein, and I do not approve this message."

Comments

[rich15857]

I am getting about 8 to 10 flyers from the Pennsylvania Republican Committee almost every day now covering both state and national races. I just look and see who it came from and tear them up and throw them in the trash at the Post Office without even looking at them. I know without looking at them that they are simply that, TRASH.

[Wuud52]

Shhhhh

Don't let this get out, but what if the readers of that flier are actually sharp enough to go out and look for themselves at how many votes were missed by all Senators, and not just Barack Obama?

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/

Hmmmm, would people really go out there and find the facts on their own? Naaahhh, the American people are not that smart. That is why this stuff, from the right, works.

[RaraAvis17]

My question is What in the He|| has McCain led besides the worst and most unethical campaign ever? This man STILL has not told his people what he is running on - he's only run his campaign on smearing Obama.

If McCain gets elected - I will be calling out McCain next week to my job.

[Dr Wally]

OK -- I have heard enough of this "John McCain is a tested leader" nonsense. Since when? What leadership role has he ever held? He was a jet jockey -- not a commanding officer. He is experienced at taking orders not giving them. Sitting on a flight deck waiting for the Commander in Chief to order them in is NOT the same thing as deciding to do it. (Just like seeing Russia in the distance isn't the same thing, eh Sarah?).

He has been in Congress forever....where is that leadership stuff? Did he ever hold a party leadership position? Even a committee chair? Duh!

Why doesn't anyone ask that simple question?

[radnip]

Hubby says he lived through the Cuban missile crisis also, so he's been tested. I told him he ought to run to then I'm going to hide :P

[MoEls]

America js had 8 years of a president who hasn't led...

[radnip]

and who ended up BEING led.

[a canadian observer]

McCain could have run a high-road campain and if he loses, he still has his honor. But it seems he has no control over his campain, which has been run by the "Bush' veterans". In ether case, he's not the type of leader American people need.

[Indieguy]

The American People have been misled, John McCain has no honor or integrity. He is a paper tiger.

[begabug]

What do you call a leader who no one will follow?

a) a loser
b) a republican
c) John McCain
d) a maverick
e) all of the above

[Two Three Four]

A More Perfect Democracy
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=132&ArticleName=A+More+Perfect+Democratic+Democracy

McCain needs 409,239 votes in seven states to win the election, whereas John Kerry needed 118,599 votes in Ohio:
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=130&ArticleName=A+McCain+Victory+Requires...

Debunking the Bradley Effect, Again
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=118&ArticleName=Debunking+the+Bradley+Effect%2c+Again

Obama 359, McCain 179
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

[oscartucker]

"Maverick" always makes me think of some one who is "WILD". There's the denotation and the connotation, with me. McCain and Palin are "wild" with their insults, accusations, and lies. Both keep saying, today even, on separate occassions, that Senator Obama will tax a salery of $42,000. McCain keeps saying that if Obama had agreed to "town-hall discussions", his campaign might differnet, as far as the negative attacks go. It is just scary the way Mc looks and sounds every time he says this. It's wild; McCain cannot let it go, right here at the end of the election.

[radnip]

Whenever McCain whines over the public finance thing, says he's a maverick, says he's led, says the press doesn't treat him fairly, says he's the righteous one, says he's the American, says Barack's socialist, I just think he's a whiny child who did not get his latest toy...even though he's got 7 mansions of toys already and broke a bunch of multi-million dollar war planes as well. But...waaaahhh! There's a new boy in town and how dare he not bow!

[mjkblog]

I received that mailer today, in NH, as well. It made me laugh. Nice to see someone else had the same idea I had, to mark all this garbage "return to sender" and make the Republican Party pay for return postage.

In NH, that's a LOT of return postage. Hee hee..

[WolfI]

Just be sure to bring several forms of proof of address with you to the polls, they have used returned political flyers to challenge voter registrations. I am not sure if they have done so if they are hand-marked "return to sender," but you can never be too safe!

[meltingpot101]

Just wonerd what is this "Movement" that nobody has ever seen anything like it before??

Who is that leader??

Obama/Biden 08

Meanwhile McSame is bussing kids in to his rally's to fill the empty seats and he can't even get "Joe the Plumber" to show up for his guest appearance.

[AeschyDan]

"that one" has led quite an impressive campaign. in fact so impressive that it eclipses the 40-odd years of service of the "maverick" (pun emphatically intended). quality, after all, trumps quantity.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

Five (5) days left to make a change!

Obama/Biden 08

[javaman]

Isn't what Obama has done so far, an example of being a leader?

[Greg285]

John McCain led the race to collects the most beauty contest contestants..

[uheardme]

Or the race to the mic in front of the cameras....that's how he's earned his mavericky reputation, ya know.