GOP Flier: Obama More A Friend To Criminals Than Cops

The Virginia Republican Party is sending out a harsh anti-Obama mailer that accuses the Democratic nominee of acting "more as a friend to criminals than to cops..."

The pamphlet, flagged by a recipient in the state and a new version of one previously reported in several other states, includes a photo of a quiet suburban neighborhood and young children playing on in a classroom - the implicit message being, Obama will make you and your family less safe.

"Protecting your family comes first," reads the front.

"A record of being soft on crime," reads the back. "Barack Obama has consistently opposed tougher penalties for criminals - including major offenses - allowing criminals to remain on the streets."

Much of the material is taken from an Investment Business Daily editorial that accuses the Illinois Democrat of, among other things, voting against making gang members eligible for the death penalty, curbing the death penalty system, and pushing a measure to expunge criminal records of ex-cons.

Obama, who has actually pushed to get more cops on the street as an urban-policy initiative, has said he would "immediately review sentences to see where we can be smarter on crime and reduce the ineffective warehousing of nonviolent drug offenders." The later policy has been backed up by several studies of criminal behavior.

All of this, of course, is a measure to soften Obama's support among suburban voters. And, for some, the message could be interpreted as having a racial component as well. It should be added that various aides to the Hillary Clinton campaign said they were surprised that McCain and the RNC hadn't played the soft-on-crime card earlier in the primary.

Comments

[hortonhearsawho]

friend to criminals...knows republicans?

[DorightWoman]

soft on crime? how about all the ones on death row that were found to be innocent? That's why Illinois has a moratorium on death penalty right now. I personal have met Gary Gauger, who was wrongly convicted and spent 3 yrs. old death row, and 2 bikers were guilty... he's out now, but is scarred for life from the experience.

It's about justice for Obama. Not being soft on crime. What a bunch of nitwits who don't do their homework.... as usual for Republicans. They'd rather innocent people be put to death.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

SO HE SIDES WITH THE CLASS OF THE NEW GENERATION :)

[hopefulinpa]

When I open my mailbox and see crap from McCain - I take a black magic marker, and write return to sender on it. I refuse to take delivery of any of his propaganda and lies. I will not even take it in the house.

[noseysniper]

Actually, I agree with most of the policies they're bashing Obama for. Tougher penalties for selling drugs? What 20 years isn't enough anymore?

[argyle]

Hey. You do good work. You were all over Edwards months before anybody I read. I remember giving you a hard time for it. I was utterly wrong and I impugned your ethics. I apologize for that Mr. Stein. Keep up the good work.

[sarana]

I've received all of these and they are scary. No doubt some people will be swayed.

http://medusa2.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/just-say-no-deal-presents-closing-arguments/

[ryanpage]

i wouldn't blame him even if he did, because hiding-beh­ind-unifor­m-criminal­s are more dangerous than the regular ones

[mypov123]

Nice...more race baiting in the final days of the election.

[Jezreel]

At this point in his campaign, Senator McCain should be emphasizing his domestic and foreign policy expertise and reinforcing his plans for leading America in a new direction. Unfortunately, when a candidate has not crafted a single, substantive policy statement that distinguishes him from the current administration all he has left is character assassination, lies, innuendos, contempt and a massive subterranean smear operation.

[harriscrl3]

The McCain campaign continues to be an IDIOT. They have all these things about protecting familes with children on the flyer and forget that Obama is a father to two little girls. Yeah Obama doesnt want to protect children when the American people see what a loving father he is yeah that will sell.

Part of the reason why this crap isnt working because the American people have seen this guy they KNOW this crap is lies and nonsense. It reeks of DESPERATION.

Carol

[AnalyzeIT]

McCain should stop telling and tell the truth about himself.

McCain and POW's

http://www.nationinstitute.org/p/schanberg09182008pt1

By Sydney H. Schanberg
September 18, 2008

John McCain, who has risen to political prominence on his image as a Vietnam POW war hero, has, inexplicably, worked very hard to hide from the public stunning information about American prisoners in Vietnam who, unlike him, didn't return home.

Throughout his Senate career, McCain has quietly sponsored and pushed into federal law a set of prohibitions that keep the most revealing information about these men buried as classified documents.

Thus the war hero who people would logically imagine as a determined crusader for the interests of POWs and their families became instead the strange champion of hiding the evidence and closing the books.

OBAMA-BIDEN

[labman57]

The problem with the McCain campaign is that they have no positive, productive message of their own, no specific policies for improving the economy that differ from those of GWB, no solutions for improving America's standing among foreign nations, no significant platform whatsoever. He is a one-trick pony pushing his vague concept of being a "reformer" and a "maverick".

As a result, he has relied on negative attack ads and speeches from the get-go. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and McCain is a desperate man whose blind ambitions have clouded any sense of judgement, fairplay, and code of ethics. (Palin, on the other hand, never had a code of ethics--only a holier-than-thou sense of morality.)

McCain and Palin have regressed from "gutter politics" to "sewer politics".

[Phoebe917]

watch out folks; willie horton is in your back yard. everything *and* the kitchen sink.