Beating up on Palin Is a Lose Lose for Obama

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama should do two things about GOP vice presidential pick Sarah Palin. The first is repeat: "I'm running against John McCain and I'm running for President not Vice President." He should keep repeating that as many times as it takes to get him to back off the distracting, pointless, and self-absorbing amount of time he's spent knocking her. The strength of his appeal and campaign has always been that he's taken the political and ethical high ground. He's stuck to talking about the issues of tax cuts, the Iraq War, the economic meltdown, health care, the housing foreclosure scandal. He's resisted the mighty temptation to take personal slaps at McCain and even Bush. At no point has he stooped to low brow non-issue character assassination.

That changed when he shouted to a crowd in Flint, Michigan, "I mean, you can't just make stuff up. You can't just re-create yourself. You can't just reinvent yourself." He bit hard on the Palin bait and that's a bad thing. A candidate who spends inordinate time and energy trying to tar their opponent runs the same risk as an attorney or a prosecutor in a courtroom. They avoid at all costs being seen as too overly aggressive with a witness. It's called witness badgering and that's even more dangerous when the witness is a middle or working class mother. Bullying her
can stir juror sympathy, even anger toward the attorney or the prosecutor, and it could cost them their case.

Palin is more than a GOP rival. To many she's the epitome of the struggling American mother. Millions of working class mothers will identify with her no matter what their views on abortion, creationism, or her experience or lack thereof. In other words, the bogeyman Obama creates in Palin could be someone else's bigger than life hero. One that's not easily deconstructed later. That's already happened. Packs of Hillary female supporters have expressed outrage at the Palin attacks. And polls show that more white women are shifting to McCain. A big reason: The loony Hate Palin attacks.

The second thing Obama should do is to resend the message that he apparently sent in the first hours after McCain announced he'd picked Palin. When a top Team Obama member hammered Palin, Obama did the smart thing and simply congratulated her and then went back to talking about the issues. He's forgotten that and that's sent the subtle message that it's OK to fan every silly, unsubstantiated, salacious rumor mongering slander and slur that can be conjured up. With some of this stuff you don't know whether to howl with laughter or scream in disgust that presumably intelligent adults not only dignify but actually believe it. A website that exclusively lists and debunks Palin rumors as of September 6 listed seventy-one Palin falsehoods. It warned that the number continues to grow exponentially by the hour.

Here are some of the juicier Palin gems. Her Down Syndrome son is the result of incest between Hubby Todd and their daughter Bristol. Palin called Obama Sambo and Hillary Clinton the "B word." She had an illegitimate child by an African-American. She's an avid porn watcher. She had an affair with her husbands' business partner. Two of her daughters, Willow and Piper, are named after witches on TV. Her son Track who is leaving for Iraq joined the National Guard because he's a drug addict.

Then there is the list of the by now Palin anti's. She's anti-black, Mormon, Semitic, American Indian, Catholic, Muslim, teaching evolution, funding special needs, and animal rights. The two jewels in the anti-Palin crown is that any book that doesn't conform to her alleged crackpot, fringe beliefs will be tossed in a roaring Nazi style public bonfire. The other Palin gem is that God willed the Iraq War.

In sane political times anyone even slightly past the age of reason wouldn't give this stuff a second's notice. It would be laughed away if it appeared on even the most extreme fringe websites. But these aren't sane political times. These are times when even the silliest, most outrageous, even grotesque gossip can quickly take on a life of its own.

In the days ahead it's almost certain that the cottage industry in Palin rumor mongering will grow even bigger and even more outlandish. This will stir even more disgust and anger among many of those who may not have an ounce of sympathy for Palin and the GOP. That in turn will put big smiles on Team McCain. Shrill and vile Palin hits deflect hits on McCain on the issues. They will give credence to the McCain camp's contention that Obama is desperate and will latch onto anything to smear an opponent. They will give even more credence to McCain's rail that the media is a big bad, sexist bully that delights in beating up on a poor, defenseless, mother and woman who just happens to be a presidential ticket candidate. Beating up on Palin is a lose lose for Obama.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His new book is The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House (Middle Passage Press, February 2008).

Comments

[dwmulenex]

Say what you like aboiut Palin, she's put Obama off his game and made him a pale milktoast shadow of his formerly charismatic self, and almost put some color into old man McSame. Obama needs a big event, a national game changer, and not more of the usual cool campaign efficiency. For better or worse, the country--which knows that McCain and Palin are two frauds in a pod--is waiting for Obama to get really pissed off and have a national moment in which he writes off the white GOP old boys--as Sarah calls them- the mentally infirm who believe that McCain isn't a lap dog of his party and its right wing, and women who are so lathered up by gender in Tina Fey glasses that they forget this Palin woman wants to hand them hell and a coat hanger if they get pregnant from rape or incest,. But Palin is just a distraction; Obama has to go after McCain and his political record with relentless accuracy, and tie him inseparably to Bush. And he has to say what is: the once honorable John McCain is now a man of no honor to himself, to us, or his country, but a revolting old little white troll who already worships each morning at a photoshop picture of himself as President Propped Up by an old POW story and a white ultraconservative woman of no national experience and a short career in local politics.

[AnnieinOR]

spare me the lose, lose. She wants to LIE, LIE, LIE to the American public, someone has to call her on it.

[readytsf]

Earl, shhhhhhhhh. Be quiet. We like it just the way it is...........The trap has been laid and your folks have not just walked into it, they're dancing on the spring.............

[polarnorth]

How can you attack Ugly Betty (Sarah Palin) ? It's Atmerica's favorite new political show. Remember under that make up and tortise rimmed glasses lies a tortured little girl exploited by evil white male hegomony. She wasn't born bad for America, she is bad for America.

[riley85]

It is not only Obama's silly attacks on Palin that look desperate--it is his willingness over the last week to change so many positions.
-the surge
-taxes
-drilling
-abortion comments
-going on Fox
His attacks aren't about policies, they are silly, mocking,personal attacks that make him look like a spoiled little child that needs attention. How can average Americans see that as presidential?

[JimR]

I can't believe you fall for this crap. He did not change his position on anything.

"the surge"

He has said over and over that of course putting more troops on the ground reduced violence, but that the aims of the surge have not been met. No political reconciliation.

"taxes"

The only thing different is WHEN he would do it.

"drilling"

He wanted a comprehensive energy plan then. He wants a comprehensive energy plan now. If it takes allowing LIMITED offshore drilling to get there, he's willing to look at that.

"abortion"

He didn't change positions, he just noted that the concept of when life begins is a difficult one.

"going on Fox"

Obama showed he has the guts to go toe to toe with anyone, including O'Reilly. O'Reilly praised him for appearing, and said on air that Obama "is not a wimp."

You can now return to your trolling.

[jmpurser]

Earl, the one who bit on the GOP line was you, not Obama. The GOP began loudly "defending" Palin from attacks that were never made by Obama or anyone on his campaign just so people would BELIEVE that Obama had made those attacks.

And there's good old Earl the Hillary fanatic carrying their water for them.

[arthuride]

As usual, Earl is right. The Democrats have lost this election. And it won't be long until President Palin rules with an iron fist.

[sdskelton03]

"In sane political times anyone even slightly past the age of reason wouldn't give this stuff a second's notice. It would be laughed away if it appeared on even the most extreme fringe websites."

Great column Mr. Hutchinson.

I had heard most of those rumors, and the majority I learned from this website.

[Kerris]

Okay, fellow Dems.... lay off the "moose killer" sh*t, okay? It's stupid, it's snobbish, it's irrelevant. I am solidly behind Obama, but even he isn't against hunting or certain gun ownership, just handguns with no use but to kill people. A lot of Dems also hunt and/or rear animals on smallholdings for fresh meat for their families (like I do), so please shut up with that.

When Dems say things like that they sound elitist and ignorant of the way many honest people do live, and you play right into the Repug talking points about "uppity," snobby city folk.

Yours sincerely,

Ms. Feminist, Democrat, Obama Voter, Ivy League Graduate, and She Who Can Skin & Butcher a Pig of a Weekend

[Doofus]

Is it 'unseemly' for a presidential candidate to
attack the opposing VP candidate? Which is to
say, it just "isn't done". So, there's a risk in doing it.

Not a bad idea for HRC to come to the rescue though.

As has been said, the Repos are lousy at running the
country, but they sure do know how to run for election.

So, Earl, are you really worried that Obama might lose?

[VA Lady2008]

MSM, like the DNC has a real problem in "dealing" with the Moose Killer: it indicted and convicted itself of utter, complete misogyny in its coverage of Hillary Clinton's campaign.

In so doing, you "dissed" pretty much every thinking fiscally conservative, socially moderate woman in America. Is it any wonder that a lot of us don't see a dime's worth of difference in HOW WE WILL BE TREATED by John McCain, compared to HOW WE HAVE BEEN TREATED by the Democrats?

Now, because MSM has already been convicted in the court of public opinion, it is utterly unable to take on the Moose Killer in any meaningful way, for fear that the Republicans will accuse them of doing what they already did. In point of fact, the RNC and John McCain and his cronies have already done so, and MSM has backed down.

It's a little late in the game for MSM to get all holier than thou.

You had your chance previously, and were far more intent on fawning (there is absolutely no other word for it) over Mr. Kumbayah, never asking HIM the hard questions, which would have revealed earlier...when there was still time to do something about it...a fundamental truth: MR. OBAMA HAS NO ANSWERS.

Practice saying the following: President McCain. And if you actually believe in God, say a prayer for his continued good help, which might mean you won't have to say the following: President Palin.

[bluehorizon]

Nice take. I feel the same. Obama can't attack too focefully, that's just not his brand. Biden is in his element attacking. Obama is not.

[nickyhartzell]

Everyone who keeps parotting the line about Obama and lack of experience, and we should have chosen a different candidate, and "OMG, we're going down," take a pill. We're at even in the polls. We were just about even before SP, and she won't last long. I would have thought that Obama had proved, especially to his supporters, that he most certainly IS NOT inexperienced in all aspects of the political discourse. His plans for government, economy, international relations are all stratespheres above McSames, who's not even that smart. Why is everyone panicking? Go ahead, and attack Palin. She deserves it. She should have turned down the job, knowing she wasn't ready. But stop with the "woe is me." We've just got to fight a little harder, that's all. Stop shooting yourselves in the foot. Have a little faith.

[nickyhartzell]

I can't agree with the author 100%. Obama only "bit back" when the McCain campaign (including Ms. Palin) started outright lying about Obama's positions. They have been doing that only recently: before, McCain was attempting to be civil because he knew Obama was, and he'd look bad if he didn't follow suit. Actually, up until now, McCain has been the one copying and adopting every Obama feature. I have the impression Mr. Rove stepped in. Then the flat-out lies began. At this point, I think it's right that Obama point out the hypocrisy and deceit of the Republicans. It may not last long: I'm pretty sure he'll get right back to business, and keep on doing what he's been doing all these months, quietly plugging the talking points (which can be quite dull, while everyone else is all drunk on crazy Palin business). But I don't hear you criticizing the Repubs for bashing their opponent. After all, that's ALL they've done in this campaign, not one single idea of substance, and they seem to be doing quite well by it.

[c64audio]

How is telling people they shouldn't lie "character assassination"?