Will Someone Please Make Obama Watch the McCain Version of the Katrina DVD?

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.

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Comments

[TrevorAlan]

This is what I've been fearing. Obama has a charm while asleep Dukakis couldn't achieve while hugging a puppy, but still the point about disarming yourself to take the highroad is important.

Obama is up against an even more polished smear machine and a candidate with even more negatives, he needs to punch back and punch first. Fortunately, i'm starting to hear rumblings that this type of campaign is coming. Unfortunately, I have not seen it yet.

[architectonike]

Obama is trying to avoid falling for the McCain bait. As we saw with the "race card" claim, McCain uses any sign of Obama aggressiveness as an excuse to resort to that old Republican standby, Fake Moral Outrage, which (sadly) works with people who don't pay close attention to the issues.

Having himself as the lone messenger only benefits the Republican plan. The way to combat it is with a host of surrogates who coordinate their attacks on McCain. Obama can continue to tut-tut and bewail the tone of the campaign, but should make clear behind the public denials that he will not take incoming without massive, ruthless retaliation.

If Obama wants his campaign to be an advertisement for his presidency, then he has to show Republicans now that there will be consequences to opposing his legislative agenda. But more important, if the public sees Obama not defending himself from increasingly slanderous attacks by McCain, they may begin to believe the substance of the attacks, that he is superficial, ambitious (but unprepared), and prone to cut and run in the face of adversity, and he may not get elected in the first place.

[nicholasclaxton]

Great Post as usual Marty....

I was living in Houston during the Katrina debacle and saw/heard first hand from multiple victims of Katrina and more so the response they received via this administration - - I think reminded Obama (and the Nation) of just how pathetic the current administration (and McSame) response to that disaster was is good for us all!

And you are most certainly correct in stating that pointing out McSames Judgement etc is definately different than smears...

[haleywins]

You read my mind.

He needs to bombard the airwaves, stop being mamby pamby.

[john pa]

Oh goodie, more "Obama should do what I want to win" and "Obama is just like [enter losing Democrat here]."

There are just so many presidential election experts out there with nothing better to do than offer their concerned advice to the best candidate and political operation we've seen in decades.

[Pupadup4oBama]

THANK YOU!! I respect Marty's opinions on a lot of things...but this is a different era...these are different circumstances.
I think America is tired of the rough talkin' cowboy farce and they want a real person with real intelligence and real ideas, and real solutions.
Please...do not ask Obama to do something that he shouldn't have to do just to get elected.
Taking the high road is ALWAYS better...no matter what.
Obama has said he's not afraid to lose...with that attitude he can't help but win.

[RepugsOut08]

So why isn't the best candidate and political operation in decades 10 points ahead of McCain? I have faith in Obama's ability, and I believe he knows he needs to attack. It ain't low road if it's the truth, people.

[john pa]

Ah yes, I forgot the "why isn't he 10 points ahead in the polls" narrative.

Thanks for the reminder.

No one's arguing against telling the truth, just against giving political advice when, quite honestly, you have no idea what you're talking about--no offense. I think Obama and his team are aware of US political history.

[RepugsOut08]

The people who insist that Obama must continue a "high road" type of campaign are missing the point. It isn't low road to speak truth to lies. McCain is shamelessly lying about Obama's agenda, while selling the American people an equally shameless lie that he cares about anyone but the wealthy.
The Republicans are in the fight of their political lives this election, and they're pulling out all the stops. Obama must realize this may be our last chance to avert total disaster, and fight like the very future of our nation depends on it. I believe it does.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I understand that speaking the truth is not taking the low road.
But c'mon....the man is highly intelligent...don't you think he's building up his arsenal for the debates. He doesn't want to waste it now...he's gotta get McSame good when his hands are tied.
He WILL fight for us....this i believe.

[nomobull]

its yes we can not I .. AND WE SHOULD DO OUR RESEARCH ON THE CANDIDATES. and if you know you're being sold a bill of goods. and still vote for mccain that's you not obama. it is not like the old days when you had limited slow sources for information.

[stinkinthinkin]

I disagree. Obama is not the same as Dukakis- isn't it obvious enough? Obama is working with charisma.

Certainly he needs to be prepared for the attacks but he does better addressing them and making them look foolish than concocting his own attacks. He made Hillary look positively silly with that approach. I think once these guys start debating, we're going to see Obama really start to break away.

[bluevillage]

And tell all surrogates -- especially Bill Clinton, if he IS one -- to say nothing good about McCain. We've paid homage enough to his service to this country half a century ago.

[Jamchinadian]

From your mouth to God's ears. I'm sick of Obama himself always prefacing his remarks with deferential statements like "his honorable service to his country" and "he is a genuine war hero". That is all McCain has to run on. Just that plus the smears and fears.

I can't for the life of me understand why Obama feels compelled - almost apologetic iit seems - to always water down his remarks by praising McCain.

[susanlno]

Somebody please tell Obama that pointing out the ugly truths about McSame is not the same thing as "smearing" him. There is plenty to attack in McCain's ignorance, his hypocrisy, his war-mongering, and--most of all--his determination to continue and expand all of Bush's disastrous policies. There is no need for lies or rumors--just give the American voters a good, hard look at the real John McCain. Blow up the Maverick Myth!

[RepugsOut08]

Exactly! Hit him where he's strongest and with the truth. Veterans aren't buying his hero bs. Not because they don't honor his service and sacrifice, but because he has consistantly refused to honor theirs. His voting record is over 90% against bills to help veterans. Get some veterans to come out and "Swift Boat" this hippocrite with the truth about how he's abandoned his brothers in arms. Show the Christians his shameless pandering at the Sturgis hedonistic biker strip show. Peel the gloss off of this faker.

[nomobull]

that myth was blown the minute he went negative.

[roshni]

Agree - there are so many negative FACTS about McCain that could be exposed. We need to stop tiptoeing around the issues.

[allonfla]

I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER WHEN ALL OF YOU WILL BE PROVEN....­......WRON­G!

[roshni]

The most important thing in November is to elect the right president: Obama. I hope you agree.

[aOsO]

I'm afraid you're right, everyday we see McCain use the worst kind of Rovian politics and yet he remains competitive in the polls. If Americans were ready for the post-partisan-high road politics that Obama preaches McCain wouldn't be competitive at all. McCain is locking Obama into a corner, his unanswered attacks are making Obama look weak, Americans don't want a weak President, they'd rather have a bastard President rather than a docile one. Obama needs to start fighting, he needs to go on the attack constantly, he needs to show the American public that he is willing to fight for his own self interest just like he will fight for theirs in the Oval Office.

[nomobull]

then the problem isn't Obama but McCain which mrans we should be criticizing him for his dirty tactics not Obama for not sinking to his level. How can you expect different when you don't act different.

[PATina]

I don't want Sen O to get dirty. That's not change I can believe in. I do wish he'd "politic" smarter though. For example... instead of capitulating on the "off-shore drilling" issue... he should have instead educated America on the issue. He could have said something like this.

I know 70% of you say you want Off-shore drilling... but let me tell you why that's not a good idea. The oil companies aleady have 68 million acres of land they could drill on... but they aren't. Why? Because a business exists to make profit... the bigger the profit... the better the company. So... if we give them leases to drill off shore... do you think they would drill to lower prices and in turn, lowere their profits? Me neither. John Mc Cain thinks you're dumb enough to believe that the oil companies will put you and your disposable income before their profits... but I know you are smarter than that. If the oil companies really want to drill off shore... let them start in good faith effort to drill on the land they already have under lease. Since they already own the land and more than likely have already conducted surveys ... it could very likely produce oil more quickly than drilling off shore. Like you... I want gas prices to fall... but let's not fall for the Republican scams and gimmicks. We're smarter than that.

[Pupadup4oBama]

Now THAT is change i can believe in. Well said. I agree with you 100%.

[allonfla]

I love how you guys pick out a singular moment in history and label it as the moment that that candidate lost. Some of you are losing faith in Obama and at the same time I am losing my faith in the writers on this site and elsewhere. Obama is not Dukakis, Kerry, Gore, Adlai or any other loser. I hope that once you "experts" realize that Obamas IS only OBAMA that you can provide some constructive and original advice or ideas. Remember he is Black, he can't get away with the stuff you white people can - I dare you to tell me I'm wrong. You believe in following the past so much - have you not seen how Obama is judged by a higher standard than anyone else running? You've seen how Clinton and McCain get away with nonsense and you've seen how Obama gets tortured for weeks for his gaffes? You've also seen that the second the Obama camp makes a legit complaint, they are called Whiners? Yeah, we want to add whining to his nice-guy image. The best way to get at McCain is to get the MSM to talk about whatever Obama is saying about McCain and we need to get them to talk about it often - Do you have a suggestion for that? How about some ideas on getting Hannity to invite a pro-obama guest? If he has, let's get some more on. You get a big fat F for originality.

[RepugsOut08]

You have to understand. Those of us who are old enough to remember first hand these past presidential races recognize the warning signs of failure. I go all the way back to Nixon's 1972 campaign and the dirty tricks he pulled to get elected.
People expect a candidate to fight back when attacked, or they fear he won't fight for them in the White House. McCain is lining up all the Republican boogy men issues, and has even brought Russia back onto the list of monsters under our beds. He'll play the stallwart hero, and make Obama the 1960s peacenik who hates our military.
Obama has shown he can fight with some of his ads of late, but his followers mustn't hamstring him to some ideal of playing the good guy in this fight. This ain't the primaries. It is the last battle for what's left of our democracy, and Obama can't bring a pea shooter to a gunfight.

[DereksDontRun]

O is 12 steps ahead of any of us in this chess game. The guy is brilliant. Lay off and watch him work his magic.

[TAKEOURCOUNTRYBACK]

I think you are right. It's all about timing. It is frustrating, but have faith people, he knows what he is doing.

[Df7702]

Bush can fly over one the biggest disasters in our country ,parachute on to a aircraft carrier with a big mission accomplished banner years before theres even talk of leaving iraq and McCain can blunder through every public appereance and pretty much call O a traitor but were still giving Dukakis @#$# for riding in a Tank even though he served in the Army and Kerry a Vet is smeared even though he fought in Nam How much more do the American people need to see yeah Im sure O yelling and Screaming will get all those undicideds . yeah right