Why Obama Must Beat McCain

If they have to walk, limp, or get pushed in a wheelchair to the polls in November, every man, woman, and eligible child must vote in this presidential election. We have a national emergency -- we're globally disliked and we don't like that. We're used to being the good guy. We've got to tell the rest of the world that we don't like Bush either, that we intend to change things, that we won't put another out-of-touch billionaire in the White House.

The Republicans are giving new dimensions to the meaning of the phrase, "dirty politics." They must think Americans are pretty stupid, or even they wouldn't pull some of the most low-down tricks since Caligula reigned (some say he still does). Their strategy is so pitifully obvious, it's insulting. It goes something like this:

Obama appeared before hundreds of thousands of American-flag-waving expatriates and Europeans in Germany, following his appearance before an estimated 82,000 enthusiastic supporters in Portland, and an anticipated crowd of 75,000 in Denver. McCain makes fun of this, calling Obama a "rock star." What's McCain then, a "mock star?" Today, McMock's campaign happily released a photo (see Drudge) similarly posed, with considerably fewer in his audience. Very considerably fewer.

Obama says something sensible, smart, and solid. McCain mocks, then begins repeating the same things. This tells us that he must know Obama is correct. It's only a matter of time before McMock tells people to keep their tires filled with air. Republican contributors must be thrilled to see their donations going to souvenir tire pressure gauges that mock Obama's message, except that message happens to be true. Air pressure does matter for better mileage. The gasoline tax suspension was a terrible Republican idea (not counting Hillary), a fantasy on which McMock cannot deliver and it wouldn't help if he could. Obama told us the truth -- suspension of gas tax will not work. McMock is still pushing unworkable ideas on the same people he once defended in war, of whom he now seems to think so little.

Obama is presidential in appearance and demeanor. McCain mocks him for being "that way" when he's "not in the Oval office." Now McCain is saying "When I'm president..." Say what?

Obama inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things. McCain doesn't even see that his wife really shouldn't wear a lapel full of bling bling when appearing before blue collar workers who can't afford to make a payment on their pick-ups.

Obama, a decent, moral man of integrity, ran a clean campaign and took the high road... for as long as he could. He has not mentioned McCain's connection with the Keating Five, about which you can read here.

One quote from that incisive article:

As the [Lincoln Savings & Loan] failure deepened, the sheer magnitude of the losses hit the press. Billions of dollars had been squandered. The Keating Five became shorthand for the kind of political influence that money can buy. The five senators were linked as the gang who went to bat for an S&L bandit.

S&L ''trading cards'' came out. The Keating Five card showed Charles Keating holding up his hand, with a senator's head adorning each finger. McCain was on Keating's pinkie.

McCain is green all right, but it has nothing to do with the environment. He's green with envy. Throw down that gauntlet Barry baby. The time is now.

Follow Maggie Van Ostrand on Twitter: www.twitter.com/magpie99

Comments

[jdog1]

if barrack does not polish (i think i spelled that wrong) his debating skills
hes going to be in trouble come the real debats,, mccain looked presidential, Obama looked,
like class president material at best,,

i was suprised,, i am still an undecided but leaning slightly more to the right after what i saw tonight

[jdog1]

it looks like you all disagreed with my assesment

[BillCarson]

We're still trying to decipher it.

Suggestion: http://www.spellcheck.net/

[Twentylaws]

Obama is of moral character on so many levels that he is the example that all politicians should emulate. For example Can you picture Barack offering Michelle up for a beauty contest at a bikers rally to pander votes? Shame on you McCain!

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Twentylaws,

That rally appearance was so crude, I couldn't believe it. And even worse, it seemed that McCain was reading those offensive remarks. That means to me that nobody checked out the type of contest it was.

It's also very pitiful that while hundreds of thousands flock to see and hear Obama, McCain has to find out where a crowd is and follow it.

Doesn't McCain realize that the bikers were there for the entertainment? Maybe Cindy brought a thousand kegs of Bud for them.

And who told Cindy to hang that denim shirt outside her pants? Like anyone would believe she dresses that way? Especially the day after she appeared with a three-tiered diamond pin on her lapel?

If we elect McCain as our President, then, alas, we'll deserve just what we get.

[bluevillage]

If Obama has so impressed the die-hard Republicans in my white, conservative, military family, including my father, in his mid-80s and a retired colonel who's never voted for a Democrat -- and this is a story we're hearing all over the country -- I think we can rest assured that Obama will prevail. We may be witnessing a kind of reverse Bradley effect: Obamacans in spirit will vote for him when the curtains in the voting booth are closed. They just don't want to let their neighbors know. So the polls may be close up till the end.

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi bluevillage,

Yours sounds like a thinking, reflective, common sense family.

Thanks for your post. It's reassuring to know you're all there!

Obama 08

[fairwitness]

I don't care if it IS "politics as usual" (and it ALWAYS is...), I'd like to see Obama come out swinging and go for the knockout. McCain's vulnerabilities are so great, his skills so paltry, his mind so corrupted, he surely has a glass jaw, just like so many blustering bullies. All thqat would be required is the TRUTH, spoken well, with passion and determination.

OK, a fantasy, unfortunately, but a good one.

[Maggie Van Ostrand - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi fairwitness,

As you say, Obama should come out swinging. He tried the high road but evidently, American politics isn't yet ready for that ... now's the time to give as good as he gets. He seems to be doing better. I must say, his ad libs are really good; i.e., the young man in the audience who asked him about the Pledge of Allegiance. What a quick wit. That's what we need in a President -- a man who can think on his feet.

McCain was probably a great guy once. But his lack of memory is disturbing, whether it has to do with his age or not. It makes me uncomfortable to hear him.