A Man of Peace Pushed Too Far: Yelling "Liar" in a Crowded Theater

"I was a Man of Peace," Barack Obama said today. "But this time, they pushed me too far. I came into this election to talk about substance, and they got nothin'. So they started lying. Last time I checked, we've just suffered through 8 years of liars. Lies have consequences. More than 4,000 servicemen and women have died as a result of Republican lies. Thousands more maimed, wounded, and dumped in sub-standard VA facilities that have been left underfunded by my opponent the veteran. Iraq was behind 9/11? A lie. Trumped-up phony evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction? A lie. Mission Accomplished, Osama on the run? We'll wrap this up, greeted as liberators in Baghdad? Lies, all lies. George W. Bush is a liar. Dick Cheney is a liar. John McCain is a liar. Sarah Palin is a liar. It never ends with these people. Apparently, it's in their blood -- runs in the Party's bloodlines like a bad gene, like a disease. Enough. It's time for new blood."

Sound good? Well I'm sorry to report that nobody affiliated with the Democratic Party said anything like that today.

We've been hearing all week how the Obama campaign was gonna come out with six guns blazing after September 11. Well, it's September 12, and what do we have? High Noon? More like Blazing Saddles.

C'mon, Plouffe, a 2,500-word memo to the media? And an ad calling McCain old? Wow, now they're running scared.

Note to the Democrats: the general election is a movie, not a seminar. People watch it like a movie, look for plot points and strong characters. They want good casting too. They want a blockbuster in broad strokes, not a lengthy discussion of policy or a footnoted freakin' laundry list of the other side's missteps.

It's your job as campaign managers and media gurus to write the script and cast the roles. Type casting in this phase of the election for Dems is "The 98-pound Weakling." The Wuss. The Loser. It doesn't matter that John Kerry went to war and George W. Bush didn't, or that Dukakis was from working class stock and "good ol' boy" George H. W. Bush was a blueblood patrician from Kennebunkport by way of the Mayflower -- this isn't about facts, it's a story. And frankly, if you're not willing to be a storyteller, WHY ARE YOU IN THIS BUSINESS?

Listen, Plouffe, Axelrod, the sorry lot of you. No one wants to vote for a wimp, and frankly, can you blame them? So don't cast your candidate as one. You're missing a golden opportunity to write Act 3 of this tawdry popcorner. Because, though the wimp be the lowest sack of crap on the electoral totem pole, the bully is only one rung up. No one relishes voting for a bully -- hence the low turnout the Republicans thrive on, and all that "lesser of two evils" talk among moderates and independents.

The Repugnicans have cast themselves as the Bully -- again! Since Joe McCarthy, at least, this movie keeps getting remade -- Nixon, Lee Atwater, Roger Ailes, Karl Rove -- it's nothing new, WHY DIDN'T YOU PREPARE FOR IT?!?

Excuse me, I digress. My point is that this movie keeps getting green-lighted, every four years we get a sequel, yet no one really enjoys it that much. There's no real good guy, just mean-but-strong vs. smart-but-weak.

The mean-but-strong Bully can go from being the anti-hero of this movie to the straight-up villain in a heartbeat. It's screenwriting 101, the plot point that spins the story into a new direction for Act 3 and the final showdown, the gunfight, the car chase, the whole satisfying enchilada. Your candidate needs to be the hero. And no role is more archetypal in this country than the Man of Peace Pushed Too Far.

Now excuse me while I get back to my movie trailer:

In response to a question, Senator Obama said, "There are no 'half-truths.' There are no 'distortions.' There's the truth, and then there are LIES. And the lying liars who tell them. Bush-McCain Republicans. And judging by what it's cost us these past eight years, we can't afford another LIAR in the White House. Say it with me, America: LIARS! LIARS!! LIARS!!!" With that the crowd took up pitchforks and torches and headed out to call the bad guys into the streets, where they would be met with the fury of the righteous mob.

Voiceover: Barack Obama is the archetypal American hero in his greatest role yet: The Man of Peace Pushed Too Far. Coming soon to a theater near you.

Comments

[Righthandman]

And Cenedella... "the Republican party has been that way for decades" ... ever hear of Reagan? Called the most honest politician of the 20'th century? Yea... There was only one thing he lied about and that was the missile gap. He wanted to scare americans into taking arms against the Russki's. Thanks to him we won the Cold War. Clinton was a VICIOUS liar! He played the same game obama's champing in with "Change!" "Hope!" "Love!" "Unicorns!" and he expanded the size of government and brought no change whatsoever.

[Pete Cenedella - Huffpost Blogger]

My God, Righthandman, where to begin? LOL ... I'll open with a positive: I'm glad my post moved you to write a triple comment! First, the point re the Republican playbook is that if you go to the post-TR era and move fwd through time, they have always been interested in two things to the exclusion of all else: protecting the wealth of the wealthy and defending the rights of corporations over the rights of individuals. That is simply not a set of policy priorities that will yield electoral wins in a democracy. So they have become expert at two things: playing dirty politics (lying and smearing); and waging one faux populist culture war after another to obscure the obvious difference between the parties.

For what it's worth, damning the Repubs doesn't imply a belief that Dems don't lie -- of course all politicians lie, it's in the job description. But Repubs' electoral strategy has been and remains distraction and destruction. McCain's campaign sets a new standard for lies, and if you want to obfuscate that by telling me that "the lights make him nervous," well you just sound silly.

[Righthandman]

AND TIME again! And he doesn't admit it either! Heck, he was impeached! Politicians make mistakes. Compared to clinty i think mccain is doing pretty good. He really doesn't lie. Those bright lights can really be dazzling and confusing when you're under pressure. You may not think so, but they can get very nervous. Just like when Barack was called out on one of his flip flops and he responded with "THAT IS NOT TRUE! THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE!" and then they got the direct quote on video and he went about thirteen seconds with nothing but "Umm... uhh... well... you see what I meant was... uhh..." That was a MISTAKE! Not a LIE! I wouldn't be as ignorant to call it a lie! But if you want to keep pulling this dirty trick I might just pull out all of the things that barack says that may be classified as "lies" For instance, barack's commercial that he approved says he wants to lower taxes on families. When he was questioned in news he said he wanted to remove ANY and ALL tax breaks that families ever had. Now that beats everything you've brought up about McCain. I realize that Obama may have approved that commercial without realizing it. So I won't be an ignorant fool and call him a liar for it.

[Righthandman]

Wow you're all telling barack to start fighting when all the time he has been slinging extremely elitist comments at the McCain camp. Nobody has actually brought up an example of when he flat out lied. Most of the things you brought up are just minor MISTAKES that he made. Obama makes them. The lipstick on a pig comment, although seemingly harmless, was stupid. It was very very stupid. I know he didn't mean Palin, but it was STILL very very STUPID to say that! Clinton has made mistakes TIME

[Norm deGare]

Once again we have a Democratic candidate in a perpetual defensive posture; Bush has mangled things so badly it Obama's election to lose, so he's afraid of taking one misstep that'll bring it all down. Understandable, in the age of Republican feminism, but it's acting out of fear, nonetheless, and it is not becoming. He must be true to himself. No man (person, human) would not be outraged by what they're doing; where's the anger? I know, anger is fear turned inward, but the blunt fact is that right now Obama looks to a lot of people like he's unwilling to confront the bully. If nothing else, maybe he needs to speak for the rest of us, who are going out of our minds with rage.

[JenniferInMO]

cont. - I don't try to convince them (except early on when I felt compelled to calmly correct the most severe rumors and lies). Right now, they don't like Palin and think McCain is too old. They think they would be better off under Obama's tax plan, but they are skeptical. When I called them both after the conventions (they saw tidbits/soundbites from the news) my sister said she thought Palin represented her views on social issues, but she was still leaning toward Obama. My friend had shifted to McCain because he liked Palin's "conservative views on social issues."

This week, they BOTH told me they had made up their mind and were going to vote for Obama. They said they had enough (and both used that word!) of McCain's lies and nasty techniques.

Most of all: They think less of McCain for lying and running a nasty campaign. They see it as worse than the Bush campaign and attribute it to McCain losing his integrity. With Bush, I remember them telling me, "well, that's just politics and he has a tough campaign manager."

Obama MUST STAY ON MESSAGE! Most people don't get to see much of him, so if they start seeing that Obama going as negative as McCain they are likely to rethink.

[JenniferInMO]

This will have to be in 2 comments:

Ploufee memo - lame. But I disagree with you on the rest. While reading your faux Obama quote I felt energized and felt vindicated. But when Karl Rove says the lies have gone to far there is something fishy. They have been baiting Obama for weeks. If he blows the integrity of focusing on the issues that matter and being unflappable will dissolve instantly.

While I am loving Obama's new ads, they need to have a more informational tone. I think they only serve to make US feel better.

Obama is not Kerry and his campaign is not Kerry's. It is NOT time for him to ratchet up the negative. The MSM is doing just enough to reach those barely paying attention.

My sister and a friend of mine are my barometers. They both vote in every election. Both are ultra-conservative and have ALWAYS voted republican. Neither pay attention to politics other than headlines, watching a few minutes of news, etc. My sister has a strong evangelical Christian morality, but she is protective of her wallet. My other friend is Catholic, very conservative, both are vehemently anti-abortion.

continued ...

[JenniferInMO]

cont. - I don't try to convince them (except early on when I felt compelled to calmly correct the most severe rumors and lies). Right now, they don't like Palin and think McCain is too old. They think they would be better off under Obama's tax plan, but they are skeptical. When I called them both after the conventions (they saw tidbits/soundbites from the news) my sister said she thought Palin represented her views on social issues, but she was still leaning toward Obama. My friend had shifted to McCain because he liked Palin's "conservative views on social issues."

This week, they BOTH told me they had made up their mind and were going to vote for Obama. They said they had enough (and both used that word!) of McCain's lies and nasty techniques.

Most of all: They think less of McCain for lying and running a nasty campaign. They see it as worse than the Bush campaign and attribute it to McCain losing his integrity. With Bush, I remember them telling me, "well, that's just politics and he has a tough campaign manager."

Obama MUST STAY ON MESSAGE! Most people don't get to see much of him, so if they start seeing that Obama going as negative as McCain they are likely to rethink.

[catinca]

that is great news i think there are many more out like them. the negative campaign will takes it toll

[Sundialsvc4]

Unfortunately, Pete, the Congressional Record works against you.

(Almost) All of these so-called candidates are sitting United States Senators, and that means that their every official act, speech and writing is dutifully recorded where you can read it here: http://thomas.loc.gov. (The Library of Congress official web-site.)

"By their fruits shall ye know them," and (Red OR Blue), this is rotten fruit.

[syllepsis]

If the Democrats lose this election, we must destroy it.
It will have proved it could drag down even a good candidate like Obama, running against the most rancid pair the Republicans have ever put forward, eight years into the most corrupt Administration in history.
if it wins, there are an awful lot of Dems that need to be unseated (the entire spineless leadership), and maybe that's the problem. They want to lose so they don't empower the people, who will rightly blame them for not standing up to Bush/Cheney.

[Leah McElrath Renna - Huffpost Blogger]

Now THAT is the movie I would LOVE to see right now! Excellent piece - and you're right on about the archetypal hero portrayal.

Well done, Pete. Let's just hope SOMEONE of influence in the campaign or the Party is listening.

Leah

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leah-mcelrath-renna/for-gods-sake-get-on-mess_b_125175.html

[Jeep]

From your lips to God's ear.

[lookoutitsben]

In my opinion, Obama likes to play things pretty close to the chest and seems to thrive on being the underdog. I think he wants the McCain camp to get overconfident and so he can unleash the fury when their guards are down. This is a game of chess, not checkers. He may lose a few media cycles, but I am certain he's been looking at the big picture and has timed his knockouts accordingly. He's made it this far...I'm surprised everyone is still underestimating him.

[goldnchyl]

I agree. With everything being hurled at him from all sides, Obama has maintained a grace and unshakable dignity that I've not seen in a political candidate. He is the one that we need right now and there's no question about it. It's up to the American people to realize it.

[DavieB36]

its up to you to help them realize it. We are the ones who need to take this country back.

[RI]

I only hope that posts like yours and Drew Weston's get to the right people.

Unfortunately, what is more important is not "Is it true," but rather "Which stories stick?" Which ones resonate with the emotions. Hope gets many people, fear gets more.

So, I think Obama's "Change we can believe in" is good, but the attack on Obama that he is "different" (feel free to fill in "elitist," " Muslim terrorist," "alien," etc.) is stickier. Even though people want change, they fear what is new. (Thus, the comments on this thread that he cannot fall into the trap of being "the angry black man" and be equated with Rev. Wright. You know the repubs have that one ready to role.)

McCain's story of "reform" is a less scary version of change. But Obama's counter of "Enough!," that McCain = "more of the same" is also sticky. That will stoke the fear of more trauma like we have had the last few years.

Adding more fire to "Enough!" is just what you are calling for. The righteous must speak up for truth, justice and the American way!

[Yermammy]

AAAhhh. Had me going for a minute there! What a cruel joke you just played on me. I've been following the Andover Conference live blogging today (AfterDowningStreet) and they're just wolfing too. It's not too late to start impeachment proceedings on John's heros (Cheney/Bush). We have nothing but cowards in the Democratic Party anymore. Contempt is too nice a word for these weaklings- not a patriotic bone in their spineless bodies. Show me some nerve or I can guarantee I'm sitting at home come November. AND WHY NOT?

[jazmatician]

Can we PLEASE stop talking about the movie in the middle of it? It's really annoying to the rest of us that are making phone calls.

[Pete Cenedella - Huffpost Blogger]

Nicely played!

[WhyNaught]

The binary nature of our elections, being at this point more of a yes-no question than at any other time in our history, makes it possible for America as a whole to give the wrong answer to that very important question.

This election is going to be a test; a test of the actual maturity of the average voter. Just what is Obama supposed to be doing in response to these scurrilous lies from McCain? Should he lie, spout vitriol with every breath, mock McCain's looks or age or mannerisms? If that is what you want, then it would seem that you don't what American politics to change and actually address the deep problems. You want to divide us even further than we are already, which is what the sought-after 'red-meat' would really do.

If a majority of the American people are dumb enough or hateful enough to fall for the hate-filled, divisive tactics of McCain and Palin and elect them, they deserve whatever they would get, and we would as well for allowing it to happen.

For me, this is Americas last chance to EARN my allegiance, and show us all just what kind of country this really is. Are we just a bunch of superficial, materialist sheep, swept from one side to the other by the powers that be, or are we something better than that?

For the sake of us all, I hope that we all give the proper answer.

[RENREVARD]

Obama does not need to lie but he does have to call them out .Obama,s best weapon is to put McCain's voting record out. McCain does not support the troops,has not voted on issue that would help the working class or women.McCain does ask for and support earmarks for his state.McCain's voting record speaks volumes on what he does or does not stand for.