This Crazy Sex Ad is Obama's Dukakis Moment

In the last few days, it seems about a dozen communications experts have written pieces on HuffPo calling on the Obama campaign to get tougher with their messages (including my piece just yesterday).

Not a moment too soon.

This "sex ed" ad the McCain campaign just launched is waaaay over the line. After a parade of out-of-context quotes, it shows Obama smirking naughtily as the voiceover talks about him wanting to provide "comprehensive" sex education to Kindergarteners. The voiceover by itself is hard-hitting, but together with the visuals, the ad basically paints Obama as a pedophile. (In reality, the legislation provides for educating younger children about the difference between good touches and bad touches to help protect them against pedophiles.)

So this is it. This is Obama's Dukakis-and-the-death-penalty moment.**

Everyone who sees this ad can see how dirty it is. And if Obama wants Americans to respect him, they must be allowed to see him object as strongly - a controlled, but still palpable anger - as they would if somebody did that to them.

That means Obama should address the issue, personally and promptly, and do it just right. He should talk about how he has young daughters, and how just like any parent, he wants to do everything he can to protect them from pedophiles.

We should see his disapproval in his face: he must furrow his brow and narrow his eyes. He is so cool, he very rarely does this, but it is critical in this situation, as people will look for his feelings in his facial expression. He can speak in a voice of controlled anger - softly even, that's fine - but we need to be able to tell how he feels with the sound turned off. Not raging-hot angry, but piercing, calm, dignified angry.

This is not a moment for Obama to be relaxed and detached and thoughtful. This is a moment for him to show America how he behaves when something despicable is done to him, so we can all see how he would behave as our leader if something despicable were done to us - as it was on 9/11, and could be again. He should be dignified, but he should be tough as well.

Frankly, I doubt the McCain campaign created this ad for the mileage they can get out of the smear itself. No, they have seen how detached Obama can seem, and they are trying to showcase this for voters. They want to get Obama to under-react, to be inappropriately cool, to make him look emotionally out of touch the way Dukakis did. They're kicking sand in his face so voters can see him stand there and take it.

Obama needs to call their bluff. He should say he is proud of that legislation, because it helps protect little children from being preyed on by pedophiles, and as the parent of two young daughters, he wants to do everything he can to keep them safe... And it is despicable that someone would try to twist that into something sexually perverted to score political points. It is not just outrageous, it is shameful. John McCain has served his country with great honor. This kind of campaigning is not worthy of the man or his legacy.

If that sounds like a little much, read it again and get used to it. That is probably not quite the right phrasing, but that kind of language is exactly what this situation calls for.

Yes, it is important not to leave the impression that Obama is an angry man, especially in light of his ethnicity and this country's race relations, and for the next few days the campaign should be sure to feed the press lots of smiling, light-hearted images of Obama.

But this moment is a Dukakis moment: it calls for anger. If Obama wants to be our leader, he needs to show us what he's got. The McCain campaign doesn't think he has it in him to rise to the occasion. His challenge is to prove them wrong.

** From Wikipedia: The issue of capital punishment came up in the October 13, 1988 debate between the two presidential nominees... [W]hen Bernard Shaw, the moderator of the debate, asked Dukakis, "Governor, if Kitty Dukakis [his wife] were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?" Dukakis replied coolly, "No, I don't, and I think you know that I've opposed the death penalty during all of my life," and explained his stance... Many observers felt Dukakis' answer lacked the passion one would expect of a person discussing a loved one's rape and death. Many -- including the candidate himself -- believe that this, in part, cost Dukakis the election, as his poll numbers dropped from 49% to 42% nationally that night. Other commentators thought the question itself was unfair, in that it injected an irrelevant emotional element into the discussion of a policy issue and forced the candidate to make a difficult choice.

Comments

[kem31753]

I agree. Obama should respond with controlled fury. He is a family man, a father, has two daughters. Grab Karl Rove right in his nuts and twist 'em. Remember when he said, "Back off my wife?" Everybody got where he was coming from. Not my wife. Not my family. It's the same thing here - he needs to respond forcefully. He doesn't have to get in the mud with them, but he needs to unmask them for who they are. The 527 from Planned Parenthood isn't good enough. HE needs to do it.

[linzy]

Think someone, preferably Obama, should state what's in the legislation clearly and in no uncertain terms. Then ask if any parent of a young child would not want his son/daughter to have the age-appropriate tools to use against a sexual predator. When you are dealing with issues in urban areas where not all children have the Leave It To Beaver dream life, or perhaps if you live in a state where the rate of rape and incest per capita are the highest in the nation, SB0099 seems to make a great deal of sense.

Go to www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/off_base_on_sex_ed.html
or to read the full text of the Illinois State bill go to
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.aspDocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=99&GAID=3&LegID=734&SpecSess=&Session=

[MyNameIsJames]

Stop complaining about the treatment that Obama is recieving. He is recieving this treatment because he DESERVES it. Why do I say such a thing?

Obama has had 4 years to analyze how Kerry lost the '04 race. Everyone knows that the Republicans play rough and that they PLAY TO WIN. Obama decided that he was so ahead of the curve that he could OUTSMART the Republicans and convince the American people that good manners would overcome a tough trench fight well - look at the results.

McCain is kicking Obama's narrow ass because he KNOWS that Obama won't hit back. NOT ONCE has Obama drawn blood on McCain.

He is afraid to fight just like Kerry and Gore were before him. Bill Clinton didn't have to fight hard because Ross Perot did the fighting for himself and Clinton against their Republican challengers.

The bottom line is the Democrats continue to nominate these whimpy metrosexual guys who are afraid to fight -- they act as if political combat is too good for them.

I bet that Obama will give one hell of a concession speech on Tuesday night - November 4th. He should give it at Soldier's field before a crowd of 70,000 people.

.

[exflatlander]

First of all, are we talking about thepresidential election of the world's most heavily armed nation or World Wide Wrestling? It's time Americans put down their remotes and re-engage in the world of reality which is a presidential election isn't about the white guy backed by millions of corporate bucks up against a bi-racial ( not black) guy whom they see as "fair game." Obama can't possibly fight back the same way; our racism trumps that. If he said things about McCain in the same tone as has been said about him, McCain would immediately revert to "I was a POW" schtick and the lynch mobs would be out.

[Justsaynodeal]

Why not the Ann Arbor, University of Michigan football stadium? That one holds over 100,.000, and with the student population in the area, it would be overflowing in a second....­.......and he would be helping the coffers of one of the greatest non-ivy league schools which is in a state where the economy is really depressed. That would be doing a civic duty and helping a great school continue to give a great education.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a UofM grad; so I am biased.

[Lurker50]

My name is James and I am a mind reader.

[ojai deva]

I guess only violent masculinity is good enough for presidents according to your book. I've got a brother in prison for murder. Should we make him president? He's certainly passed your threshold.

[MyNameIsJames]

In my humble opinion - and I have been writing about this for MONTHS! The Democratic Party has a culture of DEFEAT when it comes to Presidential campaigns and how they relate to the American public.

The Obama campaign is so off message -- McCain has been able to claim the REFORMER moniker because Obama was AFRAID to touch it. Obama talks about "Change" - ok, what is that? McCain, after 8 years of Republican corruption, has the moxie to say that he and Palin are REFORMERS without much of a whimper from Obama.

There are tens of thousands of volunteers and contributors who have worked hard and contributed to the Obama campaign until it has hurt. Now they are being sold down the river by a candidate who is afraid to engage in the dirty work of WINNING a presidential campaign. Shame on you Barack Obama for your self-imposed timidity.

My recommendation - a strike by all Obama campaign volunteers until the Obama campaign makes your hard work worth continuing.

[megcoss]

Well this could be made into a GREAT moment for Obama, you see THEY DIGITALLY DESICRATED THE AMERICAN FLAGS in the background and only put 6 stripes on them! He oughta get up there, point the attempt at subliminal manipulation out and them watch them try to do damage control. This is a great oportunity to turn the ad on them

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Not only does Obama need to address this in no uncertain terms, but we need to get our own 527s out there to SLAM Mc/P

[citizenmike]

Obama and the supporters need to remember the words of Benjamin Disraeli:
"We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstan­ce." Take the fight to them.

[Mariel]

Maybe Obama is finally just disgusted with politics. The campaign has gone on too long. No more years-long campaigns.

For one thing, senators like Obama, Clinton, and McCain are taken away from the Senate too long. They are not doing their prime job for years at a time.

This whole election system is broke, with the media dancing around it not helping.

I am feeling sorry for Obama at this point, even though he's not been my first-choice candidate.

I wish the process could stop now.

[rock2casbah]

No this ad is McCain's Dukakis moment. The ad that brought down that open the gates of hell heloves to refer to so much. No whatever is aired about him is fair game. Unfortunately for him there is a whole lot more ugly truths, not lies, that he and Palin need to hide then Obama has. You see they had to lie on him. He won't have to lie on them though.

[cavegal]

McCain's desperation to even put an ad out like that says more about him and his campaign than anything about Obama. McCain is not fit to be Senator much less President. What is this the fourth or fifth time he has run? This speaks volumes about his vanity and self serving promotion because it is "his turn" in the party.

As a former Republican turned rabid Independent, the last twelve years has seen the Republican party hijacked by the neo-cons that have promised the small (30% of the party) but rabid fundamentalist Christians a bigger say in the party. They have promised these people the moon and literally delivered absolutely nothing. Family values and abortion are distraction tactics to avoid issues. They remember losing to Clinton because they were unable to avoid the economy issue.

If Obama/Biden intend to get back on the offensive they have to start drill baby drill on the economy and the disastrous policies of the last eight years. Defending dogs or pigs with lipstick does nothing for the newly starving middle class.

[rock2casbah]

Great response. WHy is Obama being stabbed in the back by this writers. The RNC just ended last week. September 11 was a few days later. When was he supposed to attack them? Before we even knew who Palin was. Before any attcks had been even committed. No Obama's timing is perfect. The difference ios you won't go over on RedState and see them putting down there candidates wise choices like they do here. Maybe that's the mindset of winners. Are we not winners?

[lmab]

I am an Obama supporter, but lately watching him puts me to sleep/ He takes too long to make a point and things come across as vague. He really needs to sharpen his focus and make clear points that our seemingly simple minded public, with short attention spans, can grasp.

I sure would like him to look into the camera once in awhile, too.

[naijaman]

So it' Obama's fault that Americans are simple minded and cannot grasp anything longer than a 10 second sound-byte. Rome is indeed burning...­.God help us all.

[Intelligentia]

On target!

[feelmypulse]

That wasn't the point. I think the point being made is Barack like to ruminate publicly. Instead of simply hitting back hard, getting over the OTHER CAMPAIGN, and moving forward on the policies he believes to be important.

They are important right? I think the person above is simply saying, get back to the basics that made Barack a formidable candidate. His vision, his beliefs, his desire to change.

Unless of course, he never really meant it.

[strandwolf]

Let ol' Keith Olbermann's demeanor of last night's broadcast be Obama's template:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/26649407#26649407

...fired up and kickin' beaucoup derriere.

[knowleged]

Olberman is getting sacked for being in the tank for Obama. Why was'nt Michelle at ground zero?

[Justsaynodeal]

Be generous, M0 was home taking care of the little girls, or maybe, out giving a speech to the woman's sewing circle or quilting bee.

[ully]

Obama not being a leader! he can not! even once! John mc cain is a hounour person ,has respect and a person will unity American people! just vote Mc ciain!

[TN]

It is not honorable to get people killed for Oil. It is not honorable to give tax breaks to billionares while you tax the little guy 25%. John McCain has no honor, just look at his lies.


Old Johnie graduated 896 out of 899, dumb as Iraq, that one. Is Palin supposed to be the brains of the ticket. hahahahahaha

I had a dream last night that Obama won and I was the VP.

[Justsaynodeal]

There are a lot of members of Mensa, who aren't qualified to be POTUS.....­......and a lot of community organizers that aren't either.

[Davwbaird]

ughbpoppycock

[Hvnly777]

Yeah, a "man of honor" my foot!

This same "man of honor" endorses political ads depicting his opponent as a child molester!

I was never a fan of McCain, but I did at least respect him! Well, not anymore. He has lost ANY and ALL respect that I once had for him; and the same should apply to any one else who considers themself a person of principles and integrity!

John McCain has squatted so low with this ad that even the ants have to get out of his way!

DISGUSTING!

[minty68]

Perhaps if you spoke more eloquently people would understand you.

[YellowDogInRedCounty]

Just learn how to speak!
Just learn how to spell!

[genia]

I woke up the other day and expected this story to dominate the morning headlines. Instead all I heard, no matter where I flipped over to...was the pig lipstick nonsense. It was everywhere it was reported..­.almost word for word on all networks.
This much I know.....i­f at 7am one story is spread all over the tv...someo­ne..overni­ght.. had the power to put it there.

My point is Obama could stand on his head and spit chicklets.­..if the media won't cover it ...wall to wall...it has very little effect.
We are just not as organized as they are...
They...wit­h the corp. media behind them..are more powerful.
We don't have the hate radio system in place like they do.....we don't have the hate surrogates.

I think maybe we all...me included. ( I envisioned him as Will Smith ...with his nose open..lol) should stop coaching Obama on how to ...appear to handle this.
If it's not spontaniou­s...sincer­e..it very well may backfire

[joedabear]

Obama's Dukakis Moment.
Personally, I think Obama is getting too much, so called friendly, advise about how to deal with John McKain.
Also, don't put too much credance in the bogus polls released by the biased talking bobble heads in the propoganda media.
I was working at an air force base for two years and the, normally highly Republican, military's opinion of Bush was very low. I will admit that they did not dare voice their opinions too loudly.
I have observed some data that indicates the military and their families favor Obama as much as six to one.
I'll go with Bill Clinton's prediction.

[thaddeusphoenix]

what's Bill's prediction?

[Teeninchee]

Huge Obama win. Announced at their luncheon in NY today.

[strandwolf]

The Obama/Biden team will win, and win handily.

[TheAnti-Bush]

That O will win...big.

[Justsaynodeal]

What would you have him say? That 0 is inexperienced and unqualified? Bill had to say he thought 0bama would win.

[Maezeppa]

And when Obama responds with appropriate anger the right wingers will ridicule him for "seething with rage" and for being "barely able to contain himself" and for being "irrational".

[valkyrie607]

But you know what? Those jerks won't vote for him anyway. The important thing is not anticipating what they might say, but showing strength and moral outrage to voters who might like to vote for him. Sputtering about "angry, irrational" Obama will only look ridiculous--but only if he manages to frame the narrative as something that any ordinary person would be shocked and outraged by.

[buddhish]

They can't very well make the irrational claim with the mountain of evidence out there pointing to McCain being irrational and erratic.

[rankola]

Well, yeah...and perhaps the radical right will make Obama out to be the big bad angry black man that we, as (white) americans, should be afraid of.

That is really what Obama risks if he takes a hard line offensive, yet it is something he must do, and be able to do it carefully without sounding that big bad angry black man alarm.