Hey Obama: Knock Off the Zen/Dukakis Stuff

Hey Obama,

When George Stephanopolous asks you, as he just did on his show, What do you think of Sarah Palin's dig against community organizing in her convention speech?--for the love of everything precious, please do not just smile and say it's "curious..." and recount in a reasonable voice what you did.

That reply, on such a topic as this, is for wimps and losers.

Reply how you regard Palin's dig as offensive--an offense to the out-of-work steel workers whose lives you, as a community organizer, helped put back together.

Reply that Palin's sneering dig, and Rudy Giuliani's sneering dig, just show the same old Republican disrespect and cluelessness of the misery working people are suffering in this country.

Reply that it shows how Palin and the GOP (get the linkage?) have no answers on how to improve the hard times for working people brought on by the catastrophic enrich-the-wealthy policies of this administration.

Reply how the gap between the rich and working folk in this country is a yawning abyss--highest in a century. An outrage.

Reply how Palin and the GOP just don't get it, don't get how working people are being crushed by Republicans' ignorance and hostile policies.

Damn it all Obama, HAMMER BACK. Cut the cool zen smiling on such topics You're in a fight with people who are wrecking this country--it's not a policy chat. (These are people will actually try to hide their VP candidate from public scutiny. These are people who will use Big Lie tactics--what else can you call repeating a lie over and over, even when after it's been exposed?)

All the might of real suffering life is on your side, Obama--all the outrage. Use it.

Comments

[TooLooze]

I wouldn't blame all of this on Obama. ALL of the democrats should be writing the daily papers and the tv networks to make them honestly report the truth. Where are all of our elected democrats?

[NABNYC]

1/3 of the country supports Bush/Rove/Cheney/McCain, wants a religious government, thinks their slutty neighbor should be whipped and the obnoxious teens should be forced into religious schools, all minorities should be deported, and women should get out of the work force and stay home and have babies.

1/3 of the country supports Obama and wants a government that is devoted to helping the people not the corporations, wants the U.S. to get the hell out of everywhere, bring our troops home, stop this militaristic empire crap and go back to being a democracy, and help working people.

1/3 of the country doesn't know what they think.

Obama needs to talk to his supporters, and he needs to talk to the undecideds, and tell them precisely what he is going to do to help them. Stop jobs from leaving the country. Create affordable housing, not prop up a grossly inflated balloon of a market. Restrict credit card interest rates. Raise taxes for the rich and cut them for working people. Free college, free healthcare for everyone.

If Obama had anything to offer to the people of this country, he'd be winning. His inability to explain what he's going to do reflects the Democratic Party's corruption: they don't plan to do anything with or without Obama in the white house except keep taking money and bribes. Obama isn't stupid: he's a general without an army because nobody in Congress will do anything.

[Citizen54]

He's a good man, but the party should've nominated a street-fighting man if it wanted to win the election. No Democrats come to mind, unfortunately.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

Barack doesn't do angry confrontations well. This dates back to his days as a community organizer.

FYI, here's a good description of part of that story:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWMxNGUxZWJjYzg1NjA0MTlmZDZmMjUwZGU3ZjAwNmU=

It's an interesting take.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

Actually, BO didn't do a whole heck of a lot for "out-of-work steel workers". Overpriced union workers drove a stake through the heart of that business in Chicago.

[Martee]

He doesn't need to come off as an out of control (weak) screamer! He needs to CONFRONT their lies -- the same way that he says we need to confront evil. Now's your time to shine!

We've got to stop letting the republicans repackage us as an intellectual coffee klatch -- while they own the NASCAR, farmer, Bible reading heartland. SURELY our values and more in line with these people than a bunch of greedy, rich white guys! These people need to step up -- let American know that they're one of us and that they're voting for Obama --and Obama needs to be these people's advocate.

[TokyoRed]

"curious"? What in the @@@# is there "curious" about dissing community organizers to 40 million viewers? I was screaming! What are you "curious" about? I get it and then I don't. Barack is trying way to hard to not come off as an "angry black man". ENOUGH! There was this exact soft approach with Hillary. Barack answered his critics that we did not have to worry that with the Repbubs he would hit back hard. Chicago keeps coming into play, but the bottom line is Barack is an islander, non-confrontational. Smart as a whip and highly intellectual, but a fighter--not, a strategist, beyond brave, courageous as all get up, but he is no fighter. He has not mastered hitting hard, without being angry. I am really tired of Barack playing the role of protecting these women/ feminist candidates who want to play hardball with the big boys and then cry sexism and run behind their aprons when the ball gets hit back and smashes them in their face. "Play ball!"

[galinha]

I am a huge Obama supporter and I have to agree that Obama and his surrogates act TOO NICE. There is a fine line between being a gentleman and coming across as a wimp, I am worried the Obama camp is displaying more of the latter.
How dare Obama admit that the surge is working and not emphasize that if there was no senseless war there would have been no need for a surge and many American young men and women would still be with their loved ones; Politics 101: You don't concede anything that gives your opponent an advantage. That is why McCain will never admit that going to war was wrong.
How dare Obama seemingly turn the other cheek when community organizers are mocked and not retort with outrage that it's hipocrisy of the highest order when a party that says people should create their own wealth and wants less government mocks who take it upon themselves to better their lives?;
How dare he say he nearly joined the military, he didn't join it, so what??? He contributed in his own way and doesn't need to be apologetic for not being a military man; and why does Obama and Biden always have to say they honor McCain's military service? I have never heard McCain honor anything that Obama has done, except mock it.

[neetsie37]

I am thoroughly disgusted with the Democrats. I've been counting the days for the past 8 years to see this corrupt bunch run out of office. We had the chance of a lifetime, so many great candidates and so much to work against. I have nothing against Obama and feel he'll make a great President one day, but the truth is this is not the time for him. With all the racial animosity that still exists, I believe this was absolutely the wrong time to take this kind of chance. We simply can't afford a loss and keep our Constitution. But we are going to lose, because we didn't have the moral courage to tell Obama we love him but please, please not THIS time. Not when it's so critical that these crooks don't get back in there. We're losing it, unfortunately, because people simply are not ready for such a radical change. If he really cares about this country and what's at stake, we will be a gentleman and bow out for the good of the country and the good of our party.

[PATina]

It's called RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION. Since they want to label you, Sen. O, as the Messiah... I suggest you use it like He did !!!!

[ethel08]

I agree with all of this very, very much, except for the end of this statement:
"Reply how you regard Palin's dig as offensive--an offense to the out-of-work steel workers whose lives you, as a community organizer, helped put back together."

I think Obama needs to watch out about putting himself too much in the "worked for" role. The syntax of the latter part of this statement leaves the impression that Obama himself thinks he put their lives back together. Instead, he needs to say that he worked "with" these people.

Don't forget that there are people out there who call him "uppity." I think it's a losing battle for him to depict himself too much as a savior of the poor folk. He needs to emphasize him being at the working people's level, not above them.

I believe that he shouldn't *have* to do that, but fact is, I think he does.

[SpectCon]

Get off this nonsense that Clinton ran a good campaign in 1992. That's completely revisionist history. Clinton never got the amount of votes that Gore OR Kerry got...and in the magically 92 campaign only received 43 percent of the vote. He won due to PEROT.

So Bo knows this, and Bo knows that, but Clinton wasn't special at anything. So stop that.

Now, I agree this is starting to feel like yet another Democratic election that is slipping away. And it isn't about Obama's answer to George. This is about Sarah Palin.

She's insulting to us because we see her as incompetent, reckless, a liar and scandal ridden. But, all of the sudden the media is focused on her alone and McSame is leading in the national polls. Oh, and Obama's team has yet to answer.

The thing is, they either are still uncertain how to deal with her, or they're confident in their polling and know she doesn't matter. I'm hoping it's the latter and the national polls are only showing upticks in uncontested red states.

[viewfromuphere]

as an observer I can see both sides of this but to those who are wanting to Obama to "call out" the other side and be just as harsh and nasty....how can he do that and then say "but I'm going to do things differently"

That's the tightrope isn't it? He said he was going to raise the level of debate and political discussion in the US....well he has to act like that then...he can't say...I'll raise the level of discussion and debate after the election.

Nobody would buy that.


It's a conumdrum really.

[Paralogos]

If Obama behaved as you would have him behave, he would not have won the primaries. He had to avoid pushing the "angry black man" button. He still does. I'm sure many here would find it more emotionally gratifying to see Obama get all medieval on the GOP, but it would be a short-term thrill, followed by a greater likelihood of losing the general election.

[likeicare]

Barack grew up with the "island spitit" of Hawaii, which says you cooperate first, or at least try to, then you persue options B, C, and so on.

This good -- up to a point.

When someone sticks his or her face in your face, or pokes you right in the eye, like the Rethuglicans are doing -- you have to show some spine and get in their face, too!

I know Barack's trying to change the dynamics of the race, but sometimes you can be too cool for your own good. Liars need to be called out for lying -- not politely reprimanded in soothing tones.