Obama to preempt McCain assault

[Bigmack]

Source: Politico

Branding his opponent as “erratic in a crisis,” Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is preempting plans by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to portray him as having sinister connections to controversial Chicagoans.

Obama officials call it political jujitsu – turning the attacks back on the attacker.

McCain officials had said early in the weekend that they plan to begin advertising after Tuesday’s debate that will tie Obama to convicted money launderer Tony Rezko and former Weathermen radical William Ayers.

But Obama isn’t waiting to respond. His campaign is going up Monday on national cable stations with a scathing ad saying: “Three quarters of a million jobs lost this year. Our financial system in turmoil. And John McCain? Erratic in a crisis. Out of touch on the economy. No wonder his campaign wants to change the subject.

“Turn the page on the financial crisis by launching dishonorable, dishonest ‘assaults’ against Barack Obama. Struggling families can't turn the page on this economy, and we can't afford another president who is this out of touch.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14283.html

[speedoo]

1. McBush will never learn.

The new reality of dealing with Democrats:

Do. Not. Fuck. With. Obama.

[targetpractice]

2. Just do it...

... don't announce it.

[jacobfloyd]

3. Yeah, I heard that

Probably inevitable though, was gonna be announced anyway.

[Nevernose]

5. Maybe it'll sacre 'em out of using the tactic

And then they can keep on using the old onw that's worked so well...

[alfredo]

8. That's all they got.

[stillcool]

7. I think they did, no?

the ads are running.

[MindMatter]

13. You don't understand. Axlerod is getting into McCain's head

He is fucking with McCain's mind. Obama "Conditioning the battlefield" is going to be demoralizing to the McCain team, and some are going to question if the negatives will backfire. We don't know how much they will backfire, but the key thing is that it plants the seed of doubt in the enemy's mind -- and that gives us a big advantage.

Against a more rational, disciplined opponent, these head games might not be a great choice. But we all know how unstable McCain is. If one of his aides questions the negative strategy, he will erupt.

Plus the basic message is the right theme. America badly wants a steady hand right now.

[Window]

29. As much as I hate flies, I'd like to be a fly on the wall at McSame's Camp Pain hdqtrs.

[BearSquirrel2]

45. If he can get McCain to explode ...

They really need to needle McCain. They need to make him so angry that he cannot function as all his effort will go into maintaining a calm demeanor.

[tblue37]

61. This same tactic has worked well for the Republicans.

How often have we heard that we must not hit a Republican hard on his lies or his stupid policies, because the voters will turn against us if we do? Even here on DU, certain posters constantly warn us not to "go there" on any number of issues where McCain and Palin are weak, because if we do, our attacks will backfire against us.

[Binka]

26. Oh Goody A Little Puppet Comes Out To Play

Let's see how long you last target.

[Window]

28. The same could be said for McSame. Knowing how fast Obama/Biden

respond to their crap, why announce ahead of time what you're Camp Pain plans to do.

[frogcycle]

35. timing

the announcement was faster than the ad

the quicker the point is made, the better. Sure, the ad will be seen by some who did not hear the announcement, but many will hear the announcement and it will have just as good an impact to some of them. The news hacks will probably talk about it today too.

[CJCRANE]

44. Exactly, it's free publicity nt

[DeSwiss]

4. Love the strategy....

..."well, here it comes people. The Repukes in all their glory, displaying their true colors. This is what they got. Slime. This is who they are. Empty-suits.."

- K&R!

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. Obama is easily the smartest campaigner that the Democratic Party has seen

in at least 16 years. I would argue that he's the smartest we've seen since Kennedy.

[buzzard]

11. Yes and he does it without seeming sleazy.n/t

[MindMatter]

14. Hey, let's give his team some love here. nt

[niceypoo]

9. Rovian campaign tactics are soooo passe

[snot]

10. not only that; but talk about ties to shady characters . . .

McCain has some history.

[Mz Pip]

12. Obama should use

this during the debates. Call McCain out on the negative sleazy tactics that McCain promised not to do. Honorable campaign Senator McCain, my ass.

[MindMatter]

16. Erratic in a crisis. That resonates.

Bouncing in and out of DC.

Saying he was suspended, but was he or wasn't he.

Which side was he on in the rescue bill? He talked against it, tried to undermine it, voted for it, and then talked against it again.

And threatening to not show up at the debate? That's seriously unreliable.

Erratic in a crisis could well be the main closing theme for the Obama campaign. Or the positive side of that is Obama: steady in a crisis.

[NJCher]

36. yes, yes, yes!

That's it. And also, Obama should either show video clips in ads or use public relations to illustrate how McCain once said he wouldn't engage in sleazy tactics.

That's erratic!



Cher

p.s. and it will especially resonate because Obama is cool, calm, and collected, no matter what. Nobody ever sees him get hot, at least to my knowledge.

On the other hand, we have McCain, who flails about with his arms and even looks erratic. He doesn't even look the same from one day to the next. Erratic: that's John McCain.

And hey if nothing else, the (very dense) American public will learn a new vocabulary word!

[radfringe]

42. dishonorable politics... YES YES YES

question his honor. there is NO HONOR in fear and smear.

there is no honor in distortions, lies and throwing mud - it stinks of desperation, it's the last refuge of cowards.

[rosesaylavee]

51. Erratic in crisis and vindictive in his choice for VP

I am convinced he chose Palin because the powers that be would not let him choose Lieberman. We can't afford to have someone make decisions based on his imbalanced emotional state at the time.

[Stand and Fight]

15. I must wonder...

Why did the Obama campaign see fit to show their hand? Would it have not been more prudent to simply act and devastate the hell out of the McCain camp?

[DeSwiss]

24. Not when by telegraphing .....

...the tactic, with the use of a little ad money it develops into news story. Providing maximum coverage in order to make people aware (the brain-dead mostly) of the negative crap they're about to be subjected to. And how its designed to try and take their attention away from remembering that the past 8 years of lies and Dubya is the reason they want to dump these losers.

And hell, if they are having to bring up yesterday's news and slime tactics, it simply illustrates clearly how desperate they are. It further shows that they've totally run out of ideas, so they're going back through the playbook. What else can they do at this point?

If they want to sling mud, then there's still John Hagee and Rod Parsley who could be brought back into the political discussion of "unsavory associations." Or, the exocism/de-witchyfying process which is needed by his running-mate Sarah Palin, since she is apparently being besieged by visitors from the underworld. Not to mention hockey dad, Todd "The Salmon-Sucessionist" Palin.

Now that's only if they want to sling mud....

[NJCher]

38. it is a technique, not a strategy

Not when by telegraphing the tactic, with the use of a little ad money it develops into news story.

Yes, it then forms the same function a topic sentence does for a paragraph. It is a communication technique.



Cher

[MooseGoose]

41. Obama is taking any power out of the attacks.

By pointing out the tactic ahead of time and reminding people that it has no bearing on their well being, the Obama team is pre-setting people to dismiss the cheap shots. He doesn't even have to respond to the message of each attack ad, because he has already responded to the overall tactic. Then, when the attack ad comes out people don't respond to the content of the ad so much as the tactic. They can go past the "Obama did what?" shock and right into "Oh, it's one of THOSE ads. McCain is so negative."

[MadMaddie]

63. Free Advertising

By just announcing it look how much coverage they recieved without spending a dime. They are using the Repugs tactics and turning them around. Ha, ha..ha..

Meanwhile, McCain is pulling ads and personel out of key states because he is running out of money.
So what does he do? Does he spend money trying to ignite fires against Obama?

Does he spend money fighting the ads that Obama is putting out against the negative ads?

Does he spend money in states that he is on the verge of losing?

McCain is so screwn!

[Bensthename]

17. "And John McCain? Erratic in a crisis."

Ha, I love that..

I hope he is the one who speaks in this one and the rest of them.

[Shardik]

18. Maybe they'll start a rumour that Obama has a black child?

[BKKC]

30. Maybe they'll start a rumor that Obama has a black child?

We need to start a rumor that McSame's Cancer has come back.

[RoccoR5955]

37. I have heard some freepers say that Obama dodged the draft...

...he was too busy in Kindergarten, instead of serving his country in Viet Nam.

[GDAEx2]

43. Would it affect your opinion of McCain if you knew that

he collaborated with the NVA while a POW?

[Zambero]

46. And he burned his social security card too

[Nipper1959]

48. but he still

cashes those SS checks!

[llmart]

54. Ha!

No one ever said freepers were smart or well read.

[dbt]

19. Bill Clinton WISHES he had advisors half as good as Obama's!

Whoever's running this campaign makes Carville look like he was backing up!

[HughBeaumont]

20. Lee Atwater is dead. Pigshit Rove's adopted tactics will sleep with the fishes.

This ain't no coward you're dealing with, fuckers.

Play chess with Obama and you'll get PWNED!

[DirtyDawg]

21. One way to make McLame's head blow up...

...John McCain has been motivated throughout his life by trying to prove to his daddy and grand-daddy that he's either better than they were or, more likely, that he's worthy of the legacy of their proud name. That's where he's vulnerable. Ask him one simple question: 'Would your father and grandfather be proud of the kind of campaign you're running or the man you've become?'

[Hubert Flottz]

27. Great question...''Would your father and grandfather be proud"

Not if they were in fact, "honorable men"...

They know that they'd spawned a mega-brat. McSame as Poppy Bush did.

[firedupdem]

22. Part of Obama's tactic too is to hopefully stop some of the bullshit

McCain has planned. It's not going to work anyway so he's helping them not put it out there.

[judasdisney]

23. Jujitsu -- First smart thing I've seen Obama do all campaign

I want to see more JUDO and JUJITSU, and less of this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ridley/barack-obamas...

[KathieG]

25. Looks like McCain's hail mary pass is being intercepted

[shotten99]

31. I'm looking for my tinfoil hat

You know, I'm not sold Obama will win yet. If the polls stay the same for another 10 days, past the 15th, I'll be sold, but until then..
I'm waiting for any number of things. The Bin Laden video or capture, another attack 9/11 style, etc.
Anyone else have that feeling?

[NJCher]

39. oh definitely

I even think the shadow government will stage another attack on us so they can shift the focus back to terrorism.



Cher

[madrone16]

49. But I don't see how an attack will help them . . .

Obama would simply have to say "these guys have had 8 years to improve our security and still we are attacked at home. We've spent billions of dollars and we are no safer today than we were the day after 9/11."

I don't think even security will help McCain at this point. He is almost entirely reliant on ScaryPalin's Gee Whiz b.s. to pull him through.

I want a bumper sticker that reads:

McCain*Palin
Pathological Liars

[NJCher]

59. it's emotional

They operate on the emotional level where we (and you in your post above) operate on the rational level.



Cher

[Kolesar]

50. bush is a skeered rabbit

When Cheney comes into his office and says "let's bomb Iran, now", Little Bush tells him "get out of here, I just want to get through this and go home"

"mother"

[Montauk6]

32. So, this is the time to start going after the Alaskan Secessionists.

And the Keating connection, and MLK holiday, and Wasilla's crysmeth industry, what else?

[JCMach1]

34. Keep that powder dry for now... :)

[Fire1]

58. And his associations with Hagee and Paisley! ABSOLUTELY!

[Postman]

33. too vague

[RBInMaine]

40. GOOD, but also ATTACK McSAME on his ethical failings and respond directly to the attacks.

The attacks must be specifically responded to, and he must counter attack and SLIME McBUSH with TRUTH-dirt: like Keating 5, etc.

[Liberalatus]

47. That is some awesome Ju-Jitsu...

but I can already hear my local radio and media saying Obama is avoiding the accusations, and won't answer to them. Makes me sick.

[dhpgetsit]

52. The Obama campaign has been very quick responding to attacks

You know the McPlain supporters are going to start trying the work the Rezko/Ayers angle if only because the Fearful Freepers have been begging for it.

By addressing the stories directly, they are given attention that they would not otherwise have. The Jujitsi is in turning the voter's attention to the fact that McCain is jumping into the gutter when he said he would not.

[llmart]

55. However, keep in mind.....

that it takes money - lots of money from people like you and me - to keep this campaign rolling. Donate whatever you can today.

[MasonJar]

53. I think that it is smart to advertise the future ad. McCain has gotten

press about his scurrilous intentions, so Obama needs to make it clear that he is going to take the offensive against such tactics and why. Some people must have everything spelle3d out for them.

[maddezmom]

56. Campaigns get personal, McCain called 'erratic'

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama's campaign called his Republican rival "erratic" in a television commercial released Sunday as both campaigns stepped up personal attacks.

"Our financial system in turmoil," an announcer says in the ad. "And John McCain? Erratic in a crisis. Out of touch on the economy."

The ad, slated to start running Monday on national cable, seeks to capitalize on John McCain's response to the nation's financial crisis while rebutting Republican attacks on Obama's character.

As Congress worked to pass the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, McCain announced that he would suspend his campaign and skip the first presidential debate while he worked on a solution. He inevitably attended the debate even as the deal in Congress faltered.

Republicans argue that McCain's actions showed leadership while addressing a serious issue. Democrats say McCain tried to politicize the crisis with a campaign gimmick.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpk...

[ixion]

57. Calling McCain "erratic" is a reasonable argument, insinuating that Obama likes "terrorists"

is what I would call slander.

[Cell Whitman]

60. Obama should add, "I am not going to bring up that the entire

conservative movement which backs McCain and has lead us into this mess, has been funded, propped up, molded and promoted by Sun Myung Moon, whose goal according to the first editor of the Washington Times, has been nothing short of subverting America's political system."

Link to: Sun Myung Moon - the number one financier of the conservative movement in America

Link to: Video of James Whelan's 1991 talk about Moon's media

Quoting James Whelan:

"They (the Moonies) are subverting our political system. They're doing it through front organizations--most of them disguised--and through their funding of independent organizations--through the placement of volunteers in the inner sanctums of hard-pressed organizations. In every instance--in every instance--those who attend their conferences, those who accept their money or their volunteers, delude themselves that there is no loss of virtue because the Moonies have not proselytized. That misses the central, crucial point: the Moonies are a political movement in religious clothing. Moon seeks power, not the salvation of souls. To achieve that, he needs religious fanatics as his palace guard and shock troops. But more importantly, he needs secular conscripts--seduced by money, free trips, free services, seemingly endless bounty and booty--in order to give him respectability and, with it, that image of influence which translates as power."

[jazzjunkysue]

62. CNN declared the Ayers thing DOA this morning. So no traction there.

[FVZA_Colonel]

64. I imagine they're bringing up Rashid Khalidi and Ali Abunimah to frighten Jewish voters.

"He associates with Palestinians, he can't be trusted to stand with Israel! Ignore his entire political career, he KNOWS a few people."

Given how people now seem to view Rezko, Wright and Aeyers I don't think they'll take off either.

[Imagevision]

65. Obama about to begin deopping that other shoe? - When it's over Mccain

will say; "I didn't say those things (attacks) Ms. Palin did to attempt to place blame elsewhere - this fu*king yoyo doesn't deserve to run a 7-11.