People who want Obama to win are heartened by his post-Hawaii willingness to object to McCain's tone, and to deplore McCain's ad hominem attacks on his patriotism and motivation, which Obama continued on Tuesday in his VFW speech. But it ain't enough.
A few Augusts ago, what finally shook George W. Bush into pretending to care about New Orleans was a DVD of television footage hammering him for vacationing while NOLA drowned -- a compilation that his alarmed staff made and forced him to watch.
I don't doubt that Obama receives reports about what McCain is saying in speeches and ads, and summaries of what the talking heads are saying about Obama's reaction to those attacks. But my guess is that no one has assembled and screened for him a clip reel of the worst-of-the-worst -- the stuff that Obama's supporters, not to mention undecided voters, have been seeing.
If he actually saw that ugly onslaught, would he really stick to his I'm-doing-this-my-way high road? Would he remain content to talk policy, and to demur with dignity when McCain and his minions slime him, rather than go on the attack and set the agenda himself?
The last Democratic presidential candidate who failed to engage, who abjured ruthlessness because it wasn't consistent with the noble kind of politics he wanted America to practice, was Michael Dukakis. That misreading of what it takes to win, and not the Howdy Doody tank photo, was what sank his campaign. If Dukakis had snapped Bernie Shaw's head off when he asked him a hypothetical in the debate about Kitty's being raped, 41 might not have become president, and his black sheep son may never have become 43.
Obama thinks America is yearning for postpartisanship. Maybe he's right. But I wish something, like a forced viewing of a DVD, would make him understand another thing that Americans yearn for -- a candidate so pissed off about McSame's recycling the worst of the Rovian worst that he gives as good as he got, and then some.
Follow Marty Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/martykaplan
The issue is that in American politics there are time tested tactics that win elections. Yes, there are some Americans that are fooled all of the time and a candidate needs their votes as well to win. We have seen the winners flawlessly execute these tactics election after election. We have seen the losers just not getting it. These tactics may appear mean and cynical to many Democrats, and possibly to Obama as well. But if he doesn't learn to flawlessly use the tactics that we all know will work, he will lose the election just like all the fools before him.
http://www.barackobamasworld.com
He's still working to impeach.
If we contribute enough to him, he will become the new power center.
About half the house dems are in line with Kucinich.
Clinton won on issues. And by taking advantage of Bush 1 mistakes, highlighting how out of touch he was.
Obama doesn't have to become a neo con to beat a neo con.
I wish the liberal punditry would GIVE HIM A BREAK. And stop these attacks.
- According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Sen. Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Sen. McCain.
- The Disabled American Veterans gives Obama a 92% rating and McCain gets only 28%.
- Likewise, the Vietnam Vets of America also give Obama 92% while their fellow Vietnam Vet, McCain gets a mere 37%.
- And, the Iraq and Afganistan Vets of America give McCain a "D" and Obama a "B"
You know, the one who still believes that 9/11 and Iraq are connected.
The one who still believes that Obama is something other than Christian etc etc.
For the General election, Obama is going to have to cater to the more stupid people.
The ones who fall for "perception" rather than reality.
He's going to have to lower himself temporarily for the "bigger payoff" later.
Fight like hell now and worry about the higher road later.
Sorry, but the sad truth is "perception" sways the stupid people and right now they are falling
for McCains War Agenda for America.
get off the crack hillary lost because Obama ran a better campaign!
HRC has proven (first in her utterly failed attempt to institute a health care program, and then in a failed primary campaign) that she is not a people person, and few if any management skills.
She is still going to have Obama's ear in the Senate, and will likely be a candidate for a SC judgeship. A position with substantially more power than the POTUS any day of the week.
Yet, when Hillary finally came out ,defended herself & attacked back, my respect for her did grow. I seem to have to get into setting an example every few years to someone who decides to try to abuse me or "compete" with me. Once you set the record straight, you do'nt get bothered for quite awhile.
And now that I think of it, I really do not respect Obama, & although I do not in any way want McCain to get in, I do have more respecr for him than Obama. Not as a president, not ethically, or morally but as a human being. If I had a choice between being defended by McCain, Clinton, or Barack, I'd choose Clinton. Maybe I'd had chose MCCain when he was younger. I do'nt see Barack as a fighter. I bet that's how alot of America feels, I do'nt know how he can fix it. Maybe he needs to set at least one example.
Obama 08&12
As opposed to the last 7 years of excellent Republican leadership? I'm not buying what you're selling.
The issue is, 'how does a candidate handle abuse.'
It's not a strategy - it's a bona fide ISSUE. People want to know what a candidate will do when bullied, slandered, and sucker-punched.
It's a subconscious analog to the garden-variety voter for how you will respond to foreign aggressors once elected. Ignoring an aggressor is tantamount to admitting that you'll let them rough up the country.
People may not like it, but that's the way it is. If you won't stand up for yourself, why should anyone expect you to stand up for your country?
Joe will be able to take on McCain and allow Barack to carry the positive campaign.
I knew Bush was going to win when I went to work that next week and everyone was talking about the "great speech" Bush had made and how "he wasn't afraid to fight". Americans LOVE that! Obama HAS to be tough. He HAS to start punching, starting with his acceptance speech.
We know he's inspirational. We know he's intelligent. We know he's a great American success story. But now, he needs to be tough. To be a leader. To show he can throw a punch and stand up to his opponents.
Obama needs to remind people that the choice is clear: 4 more years of exactly what we have, or a new direction. The choice should be made clear, and simple. And it should be repeated over and over and over again.
Get in there and punch, Barack. Hard. And spell out the choice in very simple, clear terms.