Imagining if Obama Had a McCain Week

Let's just imagine a moment.

Let's just imagine that one day during the campaign, Barack Obama suddenly changed the actual facts about a central moment in his life, altering them to simply fit the city he was campaigning in.

And let's just imagine that another time, Barack Obama was asked to explain one of his Senate votes on a major women's issue, but sat in silence until finally saying he didn't remember it. And then laughed that it was "delicate."

Let's just imagine, too, that Barack Obama's top economic advisor had said that there wasn't really a recession, that it was just a "mental recession," just "psychological," that Americans were "whiners."

Let's just imagine that Barack Obama had made a joke about killing all Iranians with cigarettes.

And let's imagine that all of these things happened to Barack Obama -- all of them -- during the last week alone.

Just imagine.

No, really. Take a moment, I'll wait. Imagine it.

For starters, it's easy to imagine how the press and Republican operatives would respond to his economic advisor. Easy, because we saw how they responded to his "spiritual" advisor. We'd see the video footage of that economic advisor over and over. And over. And over and over and over and over. And then over. And we'd see them shaking their finger, how the advisor had been a close friend for 20 years. They'd explain he has direct influence, power, input, and is writing the Obama economic platform. And that he's in line to become Secretary of the Treasury. A man who believes $5 gas prices, lost homes and lost jobs are merely "psychological" -- and that that those hurt are "whining." They would compare this to calling some voters bitter, and blast him for being elitist. We know they would do this, because we've seen them do it already. And then we'd see the video footage over and over and over some more.

And this time, they'd be right to do so.

If Barack Obama had sat in silence and said he didn't remember his vote on a major women's issue, we know what the response would be from the press and Republican analysts. That this shows Barack Obama isn't ready to be president. How empty he is. How it demonstrates his problem with women's issues and shows the gulf he has with supporters of Hilary Clinton. And they would put up charts explaining the women who don't trust him.

And this time, they'd be right to do so.

If Barack Obama joked about killing Iranians, we know how the press and Republican spokesmen would respond. They'd roar how naïve he was about foreign affairs. How reckless and ill-equipped he was to deal with U.S. security. And they would seek out a clip of him singing "bomb-bomb-bomb Iran." And they'd rail that this all showed how irresponsible Barack Obama was towards terrorism. That when you're running for President, it is no joking matter, and anyone who doesn't recognize that every word from a candidate's mouth sends a signal to the world, and such a person has no business being leader of the nation.

And this time, they'd be right to do so.

If Barack Obama had changed facts about a story that propelled him through his public life, we know what the response from the press and Republican pundits would be to that. That Barack Obama is a blank cipher, that we don't know who Barack Obama really is, that Barack Obama is just empty speeches and no substance. Relentlessly, they'd point out that Barack Obama would say anything to get elected, that every word out of his mouth was pandering, telling audiences whatever they wanted to hear, in a desperate effort to get elected.

And this time, they'd be right to do so.

In fact, if Barack Obama last week had also called Social Security an "absolute disgrace," we know the cry out he was out of touch with Americans and with the most-important social program to the fabric of the nation, uncaring about the health and warfare of our elderly and most need.

And they would be right.

They'd be right about all of this. Right, not because of each individual issue, but because of all of them together. Because together they paint not just a corner, but the entire landscape. Because together, they are the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle that make up the full picture.

Everyone can make a mistake, everyone can misspeak. But when you do it repeatedly, it's known in the law as "pattern-and-practice." And it's the proof that gets you convicted.

And all of these things happened last week alone.

And we know this is how the press and Republican representatives would respond to all of it, if it was Barack Obama -- we know -- because it's how they've already responded to lesser matters throughout the entire campaign.

And if it all happened in just one week?

One week??

The resultant explosion would make Journey to the Center of the Earth not a title, but a campaign reality.

And though they all did happen, to John McCain, none of this takes into consideration all the McCain gaffs, pandering, and outright "I never said I wasn't an expert on economics" lies that have occurred over the course of the campaign. It ignores too that days later Mr. McCain (once again) defended Czechoslovakia, a country that doesn't exist.

John McCain got some criticism last week. He deserved to. But just imagine if it had been Barack Obama.

Just imagine.

Comments

[spokensoftly]

Obama is held to a different standard. Obama has to be right about everthing. After all, he is running for POTUS.

McCain is just waiting to take office.

Black or White, you have to agree, Obama just looks and sound better. But thats not going to be enough. Obama will have to solve all US problems before Nov 4. And if he miraculously accomplish this feat, than who will need him as POTUS. 'Catch 22' 'Impossible expectations'. 'Playing the losing game' 'It's wromg to be right'
And don't forget the ever infamous 'But Bill, he can't win.'

'I Know how to win wars'
He has kept this a secret for how long? Please tell somebody, troops are still being killed. This lack of sharing should be considered the most un-patriotic act in history; to know and not tell, witholding such vital information henders US chanches of success. Or could it be that he's pandering again and I misinterpreted his statement?

Image may not be everthing but McCain offers nothing.

[SilviaMaria]

The DNC should not let these gems go to waste. They should get their ads ready with these comments and they are still playing fair.

[ATL78]

The pundits would say he's a done deal.

I know it's not his style but, Obama needs to start hitting harder and more often! We can't depend on the news being balanced. He has to keep the stories alive.

McCain has given us SO many gems and I'd hate to see them go unused.

[pkrbkr]

This is why Democrats must get tough. We must let the MSM know NOW that we will not tolerate this bias through November. Letters to editors, bureau chiefs, sponsors, and the journalists themselves must follow each of these occurrences. We need to demand competence. They can"t sell what we won"t buy.

[Speakchic]

Let's imagine for a moment if Barack Obama was 100% white would we even be having a discussion or if they'd be considering moving the election up to get him in office sooner.

Black vs. white is showing itself everyday and why WE have it differently than our white counterparts.

Welcome world to OUR world.

Obama '08!

[speeddeeps]

so true,

[mgray34]

Ditto

[blaqntelligence]

Amen!

[Danigirl65]

I am so glad I'm not the only one who sees that McCain is getting off scott free. I even watched the "woman issues question" and was appalled that the reporter asking the question actually giggled and seemed to find it cute that McCain responded the way he did.

Again, proof that our media is consistently guilty of yellow journalism. They no longer report the facts or all the facts, only what will get people to watch their broadcast.

[Grunty1]

Yet "our" media continues to try and sink O'bama and are gleefully enabling a crazy person to get into the White House. Again.

[NC4Obama]

Lucky for McCain the media is his base.

[several]

Just imagine if John McCain also wanted to reduce corporate welfare and restore taxes on corporations to 1990's levels but Obama was the one who wanted to further reduce corporate tax cuts.

You'd then see the treatment of the candidates by the MSM reversed. The corporate media won't bite the hand that feeds unless it does something extremely egregious.

[aperezfl]

I understand your concern, but this isn't something to complain about. There's a silver lining in the media giving McCain a free ride. Almost every bit of McCain's bad week is on video, and none of it has been beaten to death like Wright or "bitter." Gramm's comments will make for quite a powerful advertisement, and, because most people haven't been exposed to them, the Obama camp will be able to get a lot of mileage out of them.

[barackobama4prez]

Hadn't thought about it like that! That gives me a little hope...that come October...the stuff he said/did this summer will be "fresh news" for millions of Americans. Providing the Dems use it!

[bacaja]

For McCain every week is becoming a McCain week, But he does have a solid constituency,
the very rich, and the ultra ignorant. Fuel, food, and health care have taken center stage over
God, guns, and gays, which pretty much spells the end of the ultra selfish special interest
party.

[bgregs]

What are you saying, that the liberal media has a conservative bias???? I just don't believe it!!!!!

NNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BBackSoon]

The owners of the MSM are Repugs. Enough said?

[4real]

Bravo!! I do think the dems are letting him off the hook too. They should be out there hammering the Phil Gramm comment and all the things you have mentioned.

[allonfla]

I do every time I watch McCain and It ticks me off that he gets away with it. If the MSM were fair in their reporting McCain would be so far behind in the polls.

[blaqntelligence]

Considering it's the msm doing the reporting, I have serious doubts about their so-called polls.
I find it very difficult to believe that mccain is truly neck in neck with Obama.