The Politics of Distraction, Hypocrisy and Blame

The Republicans fight dirty... they take every opportunity to shift the political conversation from substance to frivolity. They don't want the public to see the huge differences between the two parties. Less than two weeks ago, John McCain mocked Senator Obama's appearance at a Hollywood fundraiser.

And where do you think John McCain was supposed to be tonight? On Monday it was announced that he himself was coming to Hollywood for a fundraiser charging up to $40,800 a plate. The hypocrisy...

McCain accuses Senator Obama of being a "celebrity" (as if he himself is not one). It's a bad word only if you're a Democrat, of course. If you're a Republican it helps you become... President Reagan, Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Thompson.

He also calls Senator Obama an "elitist." How silly is that? Senator Obama is a self-made man from a working class family, while McCain came from a highly respected military family. Barack Obama owns one house and one car while John McCain owns seven houses and thirteen cars. Perhaps the elitism tag comes from the notion that Barack Obama is smart, eloquent and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School, while John McCain graduated 894 out of 899 in his class at the US Naval Academy. Isn't it about time America had a leader that started out as an ordinary man and became an extraordinary one?

The Bush/McCain doctrine of deregulation has brought the nation to its knees. And now John McCain has failed to deliver the Republican votes needed to assist the Democrats' efforts to keep the economy from crumbling. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Senator McCain's Economic advisor (now that Phil Graham has to phone in his advice from the back room) has taken on the role of McCain's alibi-maker for his failure of leadership. The bill failed to pass in Congress because only 65 Republicans voted for it versus 140 Democrats. McCain was dining with Joe Lieberman when he should have been swinging GOP votes in a desperate last chance to save America from a financial disaster brought on by McCain's, Graham's and George Bush's deregulatory orgy. But what does McCain do... he blames Obama.

Nancy Pelosi told the painful truth about the Bush administration's failures. President Bush inherited a surplus from the Clinton administration and squandered every penny of it... and more. Do people really want four more years of the same? I hope Americans don't fall prey to the politics of distraction, hypocrisy and blame.

Comments

[lizwrites2008]

Barbra...thank you again for your post on McCain's Dirty Brand of Politics.

Guess he forgets about his fabrication of his 'Joe the Plumber' story or his association with Keating and his gang and G. Gordon Liddy and his religious associations to cry wolf against Sen. Obama with his Rev. Wright, Ayres and ACORN Claims? Not to mention his celeb smear attempt w/ the Paris Hilton/Brittany Spears thing and mocking you on SNL a few years back. Isn't he one of the most seen politicians seen in the mainstream media?

While US Speaker Pelosi did bring to our attention the massive mistakes of the Bush Administration all a little too late, is still commendable, she should be held accountable with the others in US Congress for letting this stuff happen, which has been the main driving force for her over-the-top opponent Cindy Sheehan. A little late for impeachment proceedings Cindy and Dennis.

Did you know that Pelosi got 10,000 emails/other correspondence/day for a significant period of time calling for such proceedings while she was making nice with Bush and deciding which battles to fight on our behalf?

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[liy]

I am afraid and I know that I am not the only sane human on this planet. I fear for us all.

[FrankFurter]

There is no difference.

What we have in America, as demonstrated by the recent bailout bonanza/taxpayer giveaway, is the first and second string players of the corporate team.

It's time to clean house and vote out all incumbents.

[jwatso7]

It's always such a pleasure to read your posts, Barbra. You use your celebrity as a platform to express the feelings so many of us share. Thanks for your incredible talent and your articulate political voice.

[Rianna]

You are absolutely right, Barbara. They did the very same thing, the last couple of Presidential elections too. This is Rovian politics at its worst. They have absolutely nothing to run on, since their hero, Bush has run this country almost to the ground, and McCain cannot bring any hope to the people of this country, because he is supporting Bush's failed policies. They have no qualms about making personal attacks on their opponents, just to win. We have been warned that the next few weeks will be gutter politics coming from the McCain camp. Again, the republicans show divisiveness and don't give a hoot about the consequences.

[contemporarymom]

But is it really gutter politics IF it is true?

How will we know? BOTH sides fabricate and out right lie.

Will news journalists tell us? No they are too busy giving us their opinions - as if we asked for them.

I think it will come from bloggers/the people.

[Lisette]

Dear Barbra,
I see it the same way you do.
All those Republicans who think Sarah is wonderful,
should loose their right to vote.
This whole election is a joke.
Thank God for Obama-Biden, or
we would really be up against it.

Did you read the Times article about what the French think of us.?
Read it, it is excellent.

[Pdubya]

Since you are calling our attention to hypocracy, I thought I would point out a few paradigms that need put on their heads:

There is no representative government on the Hill, as illustrated by this bailout. No one I spoke to in either camp supported it. We have a plutocracy, with the exception of a few, in two camps: the complicit and the clueless. Democrats came out against it (Kampur, OH) and Republicans (McCotter, MI), but the lot of them were in for the money, Dems and Repubs alike.

[Pdubya]

So, to state that there is a huge difference between the two parties is a ludicrous claim. There may be philosophical differences between the far right and the far left of the American people, but this very bailout illustrates that we have more in common than those in power want us to have. American principles, as stated in the recent Naitional Press Conference between Nader, Paul, Baldwin, Mckinney and Barr. Far right and far left coming together, first time in history.

Who is at the trough? There you will find lobby, Congress (in the two party camp described), Wall Street all at the bidding of the Federal Reserve and the international bankers. Oh, did I mention Hollywood participated in the bailout?

So, sling partisan assaults. It will do no good, except for the New World Order and the destruction of our currency.

"Allow me to issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes its laws!" Amshell Rothschild.

Obama and McCain both support this bailout. Hello? Why? For the American people?

"do nothing" - market corrects as best it can in fiat currency and keynesian centralized banking. deep, painful but short recession.

bailout = dump fiat currency into a failing system (because of fiat currency) creating hyperinflation and a prolongued depression.

Hello Amero. Bet you two gold pieces Obama sells it to us, too.

The plutocracy is in its final attack.

[123dee]

Is the reason for Palin's popularity is because part of the country became so accustom
to Bush's ignorance and the fact he was also unqualified for the presidency. McCain
and Palin fit the presidential standard set by Bush and if so God help us.

[hiprogloho]

I'm afraid that there's a lot more than the political difference between two polarized parties that plagues us, Barb. We're literally talking about good versus evil here. Those of us who promote compassion and fairness against the forces of selfishness and greed who only care about money and power and will do anything--lie, cheat, or steal---to retain it. Rethugs are the corrupt party of our doom. Unless Dems win the WH in Nov., the future of America is at risk. And none of us regardless of economic stature is safe.

[contemporarymom]

Calm down, there are good and bad things about both parties. A rational thinking person would know this. It isn't good versus evil but very simply put at the core is that one party wants the government to make all things possible to all people and the other party wants people to do for themselves - neither is a bad idea.

The problem is that both parties have corruption, one party has corruption as those who milk a system thinking they don't have to work for anything and brings it to it's knees and the other party has corruption that removes safety nets and leaves folks vulnerable.

In the end it is greed on both parties, greed by those who want to hold power and greed by those who feel some sort of entitlement without working for it.

Its not good versus evil, or dems versus repubs. There really are good people on both sides. Calm down, the sky isn't falling and America will get thru it.

[georgiaR]

'The Bush/McCain doctrine of deregulation has brought the nation to its knees."
This is false. What brought on this housing crisis was congress not reactting to it. When republicans in congress were trying to bring some regulation to Fannie & Freddie democrats like Barney Frank and Charles Schummer were saying everything was fine.

[BuckeyeGal]

And wasn't it the republicans who DE-regulated in the first place? Does Phil Gramm ring a bell? Or should I start with Reagan?

[amaycatbaker]

You forgot Ford. Cheney was in the Ford Administration as chief-of-staff . Ford's policies were not the best for the nation. They lead to some failures during the Carter administration.

[georgiaR]

Have you seen the tapes of Barney and Charles saying everything was fine? The Banking finance committee voted several times to rein in Freddie and Fannie. The Republicans all voted yes and the democrats all voted no.

[larry278]

Add depravity & dysfunction to distraction; we now have a 3d party. If Obama & the Democrats lose or don't live up to their promises & our expections, we need an actual 3[r]d party in 2010 & beyond,

[Greg285]

Thank you, Ms. Streisand , for putting the truth, now only if those 'undecided' voters would wake up and see the stark differences between these two (2) individuals.. McCain is another 4 years of Bush and if you are happy with the last 8 years, then he's your man..If not, Obama and the changes he's proposing..

[freebeer]

All of the vitriol aimed at Republicans here is accurate and justified.

As for distraction hypocrisy and blame, they are the stuff of losers and politicians in both parties.

This week Democrats voted with Bush to give $700 billion to Wall street bankers as Americans do without health care, and social services that the rest of the first world take for granted. Any honest Democrat who dared to challenge Pelosi had Rahm Emanuel sicked on them offering threats or rewards in the form of pork. This theft was also aided by Obama who changed many votes in Congress with his efforts.

As for distraction, that is where Palin the freak show comes in. How many articles here this week about her, and how many about the bailout swindle?

Blame. Blame McCain, it's easy and fun.

Hypocrisy, see above.

Republicans while easily the more vile of the two corporatist parties, do not have sole possession of hypocrisy, and this week could learn a thing or two about distractions and blame from their cousins the Democrats.

[georgiaR]

More democrats voted for this then republicans. What does that say?

[Billie]

The American people also have to ask themselves: what kind of a role modeling do I want for my children? Bully behavior? Do we want to vote for that kind of dirty fighting and thus send the message that those kind of below the belt tactics always work?

But most importantly, its the issues. And saving the planet is at the top of my list of things to get working on. I don't this it is anywhere near the top of the To Do List of the the republicans. They are too busy beating everyone down.