A Line of Attack the Obama Campaign Must Answer Forcefully
Tonight during the evening news the Republican National Committee ran an attack ad (multiple times) that featured menacing black-and-white images of Harry Reid, Charles Schumer, Patrick Leahy and other leading Democrats with the captions: "Ready to Tax" and "Ready to Spend." I was hoping the DNC or the Obama Campaign would answer this propaganda with an ad of its own, but I have yet to see one. Right-wing talk radio and Glen Beck (the "King of the Cretins") have been hammering the idea that if Barack Obama were to be elected president the Democrats would control the government and it would lead to higher taxes. Steve Moore, formerly of the Club for Growth, whose vision for America Charles Dickens described long ago, was mercilessly flogging this idea on the Glen Beck show just yesterday. Moore said that if Obama were elected the stock market would tank and there'd be capital flight.
This argument, unfortunately, might have legs because many "independent," "centrist," and "low information" voters believe: 1). Government can't do anything to help you with your health care, housing, or energy bills and anyone who thinks it can is naive; and 2). The only thing Government can do is raise your taxes. These false notions have been beaten into the brains of voters for the last 28 years. The McCain-Palin campaign is lying and misrepresenting Obama's economic plan, but their target audience pays little attention to things like truth, reason, or rationality; they vote their feelings or their "guts." By running with this Big Lie the McCain-Palin camp is hitting below the belt. But what would you expect from Karl Rove acolytes?
I was astounded to learn that more television viewers watched John McCain's acceptance speech than Barack Obama's. I hope this doesn't mean that Sarah Palin is going to succeed in energizing the right-wing Christian evangelicals and other flat-Earthers to get out and vote in 2008. She might be able to do for the election of 2008 what gay marriage did for the election of 2004.
The Sarah Palin phenomenon tends to neutralize the inroads (if any) Obama might have made with white evangelicals. The religious Right has already denounced Obama's Saddleback colloquy with Rick Warren as being not "pro-life" enough. The only thing these people seem to need to know is that Palin knowingly chose to give birth to a "special needs" baby. They will ignore the fact that as Governor of Alaska, Palin cut the budget for assistance to families with "special needs" children from about $8 million to $3 million. The DNC or a sympathetic 527 should immediately begin running television and radio ads pointing out Palin's hypocrisy on this issue. Palin needs to be hit hard and hit now. Hesitating to slam her with some well-produced attack ads would be like John Kerry failing to respond to the Swift Boaters.
Sarah Palin is this election's Grand Swift Boater -- the sooner the Obama camp recognizes this the better.
Joe Biden cannot allow the corporate media to kowtow him into going soft on Palin just because she has a pair of overactive ovaries. She is a liar and a fraud and a religious extremist, and the sooner the bark is stripped off her the better. Hillary Clinton, if she is forceful and diligent on the campaign trail, can be very effective in countering the Palin pander. Hillary might have to be just as bitterly sarcastic and caustic as Palin to counter her. I don't think she should hold back.
But I cannot help but think about how Phyllis Schlafly (an ally of Palin's) and women like her -- to almost everyone's surprise -- killed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the late 1970s. It would be foolish to underestimate the political power of anti-feminist women in this country. They're angry, vocal, motivated, armed with a Carrie Nation fanaticism, and they have a hell of a lot of money.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Tubby, et al Sarah Palin is a joke that is being played on America and unfortunately the Dems are too stupid or too complicit to destroy this sad, sorry, attempt to rally the Jesus sheep. For the real thinking people join the Ron Paul revolution and stop feeding into this orchestrated campaign "race". Ask any computer programmer how reliable a "touch screen" vote with no paper trail is. I can write you a script that would take whatever you "enter" and make it tally however I would like. Am I saying that elections are fixed. You betcha ... have been for years and the silly thing is the real power in the country may think its time to put a black face on their marionette. Dem = Rep = No Change. Period.
I think Hillary should have just been the VP Candidate. Now this opens up an entire angle for the right regarding women's rights.
The leftists don't know how to deal with attacking a woman. They all come across as sexist.
http://myr
CNN was especially abusive.
Total spin article without one verifiable statement. This article is doing exactly what they accuse CNN of doing, only with a far right-wing spin.
Nice try, but you'll have to do better next time.
The mind wobbles reading this sort of thing- You can't seriously be suggesting corporate-giant, vanguard of the stream media CNN is "leftist?" That is just silly. The political orientation of the talking heads on CNN range from Republican to conventional, mainstream Democrats. A FEW QUESTIONS:
Is anyone who feels McCain could have chosen a smarter &/or more accomplished running mate "sexist?" Is it 'sexist' to consider Ms, Palin's lousy academic record as an indication she might not be one of the sharpest or hardest working tools-in-the-shed ? (She transferred 4 times before finally earning a degree in 'journalism' from the University of Idaho)
Or that she's only been governor of the 3rd smallest state for a couple of years?
Can I be turned off she told outright lies in her first major national address?
How about the fact that Kaye Bailey Hutchison, Elizabeth Dole, Olympia Snow (women BTW); Gov.Bobby Jindal, Gov. Mitt Romney, Gov. Pawlenty, Gov, Ridge and Gov. Crist all have more considerably more impressive credentials, longer resumes, and have national political experience? He could have chosen better, and it has nothing to do with her sex or her personal life.
Obviously you haven't been watching the news or listening to the politicians. The fact of the matter is that if you think it's sexist you are NOT a feminist!
Sure. There has been sexism on the left and the right and in the middle an in the media. The fact remains that the Dems have a much better (real) track record of trying to deal with the sexism in our culture.
I think the buttons say "I'm voting for the Hot Chick" are much more sexist than treating her just like we would a man and investigating her record and her claims. No one is picking on Palin. She deserves to be thoroughly investigated just as any other totally unknown candidate would be.
Hell, just like any other candidate, known or unknown would be!!
The only reason they come across as sexist is because the GOP hollers sexism at the top of their lungs every time anyone says anything at all about Sarah Palin that isn't to their liking. They say it often enough, loud enough, and pretty soon everyone and their brother is repeating that there's sexism. It's a con, for the most part, and everyone is falling right into the trap. Enough, already. She needs to be subject to the exact same scrutiny as any candidate, male or female. We need to stop being cowed into tiptoeing quietly around Sarah Palin for fear of cries of sexism. It's a largely manufactured image that the GOP is fostering and everyone else is buying into. It's crap.
Why do republicans seem so much better at propaganda than democrats? Obama's campaign looks a bit stronger than Kerry's but not sufficiently to place republicans into a permanent defensive posture. Republicans still have chutzpah and democrats still suffer from reticence.
Democrats tie their own hands with the concept of "fighting fair". They believe that if they can just explain their position so that others can see the logic of it, then of course everyone will vote for them. When they do that they can sound condescending and elitist. They fail to realize that people's responses also involve emotion. That doesn't mean that they need to manipulate people's emotions like the republicans have done for years. But it does mean that they need to acknowledge the emotional content of a campaign, and provide a narrative that appeals to the progressive heart as well as mind. There are a lot of people out there who would tend to be progressive when they are not frightened into being conservative.
On the other hand, the democrats can not allow the republicans create the framework for an idea and then try to fit progressive ideas into a conservative frame. The democrats need to create a progressive frame -- like service, openness, integrity, empathy, responsibility -- and resonate with people on those ideas. To allow the republicans to initiate a conversation based on lies, and then enter into that conversation trying to prove otherwise would be a mistake. Better to talk about how the current administration is covert and how we all feel about having a government that lies to us.
Ummmm, because most democrats, particularly these candidates have a conscience?
It's because Republicans are better at lying, which is just another word for propaganda. Republicans are so much better at playing in the dirt. Dems would like to be more fair and open in their discussions, but the Repubs won't let them. Nastiness just comes easier to the Repubs than it does to the Dems. Which I certainly don't consider a good trait. Basically we have been a nation that allows ourselves to be goaded and bullied into electing the worst possible candidates into office. Hopefully, that is finally starting to change. I don't know how much more or the Repubs I can stand.
I totally agree with your article. I have forwarded it on to the O*bama campaign. I know they have their experts but we all have blinds spots and you never know where good advice may come from.
The GOP has been running the government on borrow and spend. You can see how well that worked out for us.
Look the newness is gone, and we've seen the pretty face! sense Mccain voted against equal pay for this very same lady, I'd say that proves this pretty face was jus a political Stunt. Time to laugh
I think Hillary is in trouble if she thinks she can face down the bulldog.
After all Hillary has been through with the Republican men, do you really think she'll have trouble with a policy lightwieght like Palin?
Good God. Hillary is a pro at this. Palin was reading something that was written before she was even chosen. Hillary will make a meal out of her.
Are you kidding!! Palin has been in this oven for 5 minutes. Hillary has been in it her whole adult life. That's why she came so close to getting the nomination. She is far more polished, intelligent and stronger than Palin, who can't talk without reading out of her palm, and is too uninformed and frightened to face the media. By the way, I WAS NOT a Hillary supporter this go round, but I never underestimated her intelligence and toughness. She is much more than a face and a few snide remarks in front of a cooperative audience. You notice Palin never brought up Hillary again once she was booed. (Did you see the phonetics on her teleprompter? New-clear for nuclear) This lady is bearly ready to hold the position she now holds, much less national office.
Oh yes, use Hillary Clinton to do the dirty job that Obama et all want. Very typical, first they finish Hillary then they want to resucitate her to their advantage. Lame political strategy by a lame political strategist. Welcome to the political mafia group !!
"first they finish Hillary"
Well, I'd argue (and I did at the time) that Hillary finished herself with that kitchen sink strategy.
I agree, she ought to have been on the ticket with Obama, but there was no way back from her deeply negative primary campaign, no way that she could have have been a credible VP pick.
They're already using Hillary against Obama. It would have been chaotic to say the least if they had run together. This way is best. Hillary is a professional. She can take it. We all started out with different favorites. Now either fall in line, or lose everything again.
Exactly, oscarp. There are plenty of women in the Democratic Party that Obama and Howard and Donna DO seem to respect and like. Let them carry Obama/Biden's water. Donna her wonderful self could answer Palin?!...
Hillary is a Democrat. First and foremost..
Let's see. Before there was infighting on both sides (Obama/Clinton on the left, McBush/Huc
"Lame Political strategy"?
Just think of all the women in the republican party that paid their dues and stood in line, Like Senator Hutchison, who got passed over by Rove and the other handlers to pick a ubber right-wingnut just to use her to get votes. I mean, who is using who here?
Woman in the repugnant party should be furious.
I think you overestimate this "line of attack." The tax and spend, big government argument has been around a very long time, at least as far back as Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, et al. The real issue is George W. Bush. For the Democrats to win they must do the very thing McCain/Palin fear the most: remind them and the American people that they are nothing more than a rerun of Bush. They must demand an answer to the question "Why are you (Republicans) afraid to debate the Bush presidency" and "How are you different from Bush?"
This election is the Democrat's to lose. McCain and Palin each have records that are contradictory to their rhetoric. We're counting on the DNC "or a sympathetic 527" to exploit these liabilities to reshape the pulic perception of these two liars:
McCain refers to the religious right as "agents of intolerance" then changes his tune for political gain. After months of attacking Obama's inexperience, McCain chooses a first-term governor with no international or defense experience--sounds more like politics than "country first." McCain no longer lives up to his maverick reputation and has become just another politician.
Palin is even more reminiscent of Bush with ultraconservative views on social issues and liberal fiscal policies as evidenced by the huge debt she left for her hometown after her stint as mayor.
Unfortunately it's not clear to me who will aggressively pursue a narrow, pointed redefinition of McCain and Palin. Who will do this work? Where can I send my money?
Actually KARL ROVE is the NATIONs nightmare realized. She is just his latest "creation".
I completely agree that the Dems cannot afford to be complacent with the Republican's negative ads that lie, distort, re-script, chop & dice the truth. This is a fight and we have to fight back.
I would love to think that we can "rise above the fray" but Palermo's statement that there are a lot of low-info voters out there is completely true. The McSame cronies are pandering to the lowest rung of the American electorate: those who vote based on gut or emotion or "gee, she has such a nice smile" and not on issues or history or curiosity about what the facts might be. Hence, creationism and anti-feminist policies and hate-mongering continue unchecked (and, tragically, change absolutely nothing in DC)
Government has two ways to raise money ... either through taxes or through borrowing. We've tried borrowing ourselves rich (under Republican administrations) and that hasn't worked out very well. So, that leaves taxes. But we've let the Republicans frame the conversation with the label "tax and spend". I propose a grass roots campaign. I propose that when ever anyone offers the phrase "tax and spend", it should be corrected with "you mean 'pay as you go', right?"
As long as Republicans are allowed to get away with framing the conversation in terms of "tax and spend", there'll be no hope for change. On the other hand I believe "pay as you go" makes good old fashioned sense ... even to the lowest of low information voters.
First, don't be concerned by the numbers of people who watched John McCain speak. This statistic is totally irrelevant. I was one who watched to see what he might come up with and I assure you that most other Obama supporters watched as well. On the contrary, I will bet that many McCain supporters, especially that brain-washed, ignorant lot who refuse to be exposed to even the slightest chance at enlightenment, would not and did not watch Obama but tuned in to hear the propaganda from these republican masters of deception. Even the report of the numbers who watched is likely to be a lie given the position of Fournier and the Associated Press and it's overt partisanship . So let it go. Now to your take on the Tax & Spend assault I agree; this is problem. But I am not sure the Obama campaign has enough money to counter it in one election. The Democratic Party has given up on trying to make the counter argument FOR liberalism and instead keep trying to stake out the middle of the road. Your comment about 28 years of relentless promotion of this lie is precisely the reason why it is almost impossible to correct it in one election cycle. So we hope and we pray. if's scary.
HuffPost's Pick
THE DEMS CAN WIN IF THEY CHOOSE TOO
Obama
Make it about personality -- McCain wants to fight Washington, when we need to come together to fix our broken America because of him! Yes him! He, Bush, Cheney, they took the country and broke it. McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time. If he wants to reform Washington, first let him reform his across the board voting policy with Bush. If he wants to fight, let him fight himself! The American people don't need a fighter, they need a leader to get them out of this mess. Someone who will work with others and not for an ideology that has broken this country. A mess McCain and Bush created!
Biden
I've heard Palin. I've heard her talk. But, she doesn't walk the walk, she just talks the talk. She walks right to the federal government like it's her own private cash machine. Her great little town was doing fine until she took over and mired it in debt. She mired it in debt while still taking special favors from Washington. Palin and her cozy buddy, Ted Stevens have abused a systemt to help Americans. She worked on his 527, they support each other, he has campaigned for her, and she hired the lobby firm that he is now connected to in scandalous behavior. As governor, she supported the bridge to nowhere, the road to nowhere and that's exactly where she and McCain want to take America to Nowhere!
Sarah Palin is the Democrat Party's nightmare come true.
Nope. I couldn't be happier with the pick. So what if the conservati
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
