I am losing respect for Obama and I have Always been a huge supporter :(

[ericgtr]

If he can't handle the attacks of a feeble old man how can he show any strength for our country? He has successfully taken the high road and I respect that but it's time to act. McCain has handed us gaffs on a silver platter that can be compiled and shoved down the throats of the country in a couple of well done ads. If he doesn't step up and do something the RW propaganda machine will snatch what should be the dems year right out from under us. I was never much of a Hillary fan but I am sure she would've at least put up some sort of fight.

[Cha]

1. Guess what? We don't need your fucking negative

SHIT.

[ericgtr]

11. Then you will get walked all over

which is exactly what's happening to Obama. Choosing to ignore it will not make it stop. Besides, what's wrong with fighting back?

[jeff30997]

32. Sorry to disagree but...

I see the OP as constructive criticism.You on the other hand are considering this as an unjustified

attack on Obama.

He should be more aggressive AND keep being someone with class and charisma.

I love that man very much.He truly represent hope not only for the U.S but for the

rest of the world too.

Peace.

-Jeff

[Cha]

48. Disagree all you want..I see it as handwringing

and being a WUSS.

[jeff30997]

65. Hi zidzi.

Please don't be mad at me.I just pointed out that Constructive criticism is essential to the

Democratic process.Obama is a truly amazing person.We absolutely need him to repair all the things

that have been broken by Bushco.He have all my respect and support.

[Lyric]

108. Wow. Accusing a liberal of being a handwringing wuss.

Freep much?

:eyes:

[goodgd_yall]

115. Oh, please----zidzi isn't a freep

Shame on you :spank:

I understand her reaction. I don't like what the OP has posted either. I don't get people like that who are getting worked up over McCain's dumbass negative ads. Obama is doing just fine. The OP is getting stressed out over nothing.

[Lyric]

122. I completely agree with you. Obama is doing FANTASTIC.

Better than just fine. :)

But I dislike seeing liberals repeat the same kind of crap that Freepers spew. We aren't "wusses" for expressing concerns, and we aren't "concern trolls", either. Those are terms meant to humiliate someone into shutting up, and no matter how much I disagree with the original post, I am offended when I hear that. And worse, it never makes anyone feel better about the situation--language like that simply serves to exacerbate the problem by making people defensive and resentful.

Obama's gonna kick ass. People need to stop freaking out...but people ALSO need to stop freaking out ABOUT other people freaking out. It just draws negative attention when we seem to jump all over the people are criticize him. The best way to address this is in a positive, forthright manner, earnestly. And this is something I heard *directly* from a local Team Obama organizer on how to deal with this stuff when we hear it while canvassing.

If Obama wants "positive", and we ALL respect his intelligence and competence, then we should be listening to him. Ya know?

[Maestro]

2. Uh?

Where has he not been able to handle the attacks? :shrug: Do you have any examples?

[FrenchieCat]

3. I've lost respect for you.

How many letters have you written to the media, etc.?

None? :shrug:

If you ain't willing to help, then get out of the fucking way.

[TheDonkey]

9. Nice to see you back frenchiecat

good to see loyal Obama supporters around. I've missed you these past weeks!

[FrenchieCat]

19. Yes, I'm back.

Obama is doing well, considering that the entire Corporate media is attempting to step on the back of his shoes and trying to trip him.

He will be just fine.

I just wish the "scared to death about everything" Democrats would not post here. I can't take their "the sky is falling" whines.

[flpoljunkie]

63. Great to have you back, Frenchie Cat!

[Lyric]

117. I support Obama too, but tolerating opinions and viewpoints

that don't mesh perfectly with your own is kind of a hallmark of being a progressive and a liberal.

Obama's tough enough to handle anything. Opinions and "concerns" here aren't a threat to him, unless we all freak out so much that outsiders think that *we* consider them a threat--and then hone in on them like dogs who've found a scent. There is pretty much nothing more dangerous that I can think of than the Repukes getting the idea that we consider Obama to be "weak" to even the slightest criticism.

However much you might dislike seeing posts like these, the best response is to just address the concerns in a positive way and move on. Anything else just makes it look like we're trying to cover a weak spot for him, and we all know that is NOT the case at all. But the media...not so much. And they do pay attention.

Just my $0.02.

[emilyg]

126. Good $0.02 cents.

[onenote]

4. your concern is noted

[phillysuse]

5. Send in a General - Where is Wes Clark?

Need a straight shooter to take mcCain down and let Obama be above the fray.

[RayOfHope]

6. Okay, stop. n/t

[WinkyDink]

7. "He has successfully taken the low road and I respect that ..." You do mean "high", right?

[ericgtr]

15. I do. Fixed, thanks. n/t

[flamingdem]

8. I could see worrying about polls but never loose respect for the man nt

[hiaasenrocks]

28. Never? Wow. There's a blank check if I ever saw one.

[babylonsister]

75. Has he done anything yet to deserve disrespect? I don't know

how pure someone has to be to get respected around this place, but Obama hasn't failed my standards.

[SteveM]

77. We live in the land of virginal-politics, yet we still smell bad (nt)

[flamingdem]

82. Especially considering the stench he is up against I find him very worthy of respect, don't you? nt

[greguganus]

10. Drive-by post? n/t

[Whisp]

12. don't panic.

sheesh, have some trust. Obama knows what the heck he's doing.
o ye of little faith.

[CatBO]

13. He'$ Handling Them Ju$t Fine

With 30,000+ new donors yesterday alone, McCain's attacks are actually draining his funds while he helps singlehandedly raise money for Obama from a disgusted electorate.

Obama's putting up just enough of a fight, knowing full well that if he retorts too hard he'll get dragged into the mudslinging, and keeping an eye on the influx of donations McCain's low road has given him.

Speaking of the low road, Obama's team has also created http://www.lowroadexpress.com to fully fight McCain's slime.

[tridim]

14. If you really think Obama got pwned this week (as you state on your forum)

You're just not that bright, at best.

[ericgtr]

Okay.. lots of attacks on me in this thread lol

So, it's okay for everyone else to do it but Obama has to take the high road, right? Sorry folks but I will actually be defending my self.

[depakid]

16. So will other people in the country- especially the rust belt, where the elction will be won or lost

if the present course continues.

Anyone who's read George Lakoff (or Joe Bageant) can tell you why....

It's no big secret how this shit works.

[FrenchieCat]

25. Hey glad to see that you have remained consistent as ever

with your negativity.

[depakid]

36. Now you see- that's effective framing!

Obfuscates the issues and puts your "opponent" in a condescending light- even though he's telling you the truths (that you don't want to hear) and giving you the opportunity to understand the rationale by following up yourself.

[FrenchieCat]

47. You lost me at "telling you the truths"

Cause that's a question of relativity.

[depakid]

60. It's just a well described phenonema

Bageant discusses it matter of factly in "Dear Hunting with Jesus" -put simply, -as shallow as it seems, Americans respect people who they perceive as "fighters" who'll go toe to toe with their opponents.

It's a base emotional instinct and much more powerful than reason. Think of it like a crowd watching a schoolyard bully picking on the smart kid. What are they waiting for him to do?

Walk away and complain to the teachers? Or pop the bully one in the mouth?

[islandmkl]

72. where you been, frenchie cat??

welcome back!!

[FrenchieCat]

84. On vacation out of the country.

Glad I'm back. :hi:
Losta of handwringing here. We are our worse enemy still, as we were before I left.

[ericgtr]

49. And you with your assumptions

That I haven't taken any sort of action by email. You may want to just ask instead of assuming next time.

[FrenchieCat]

70. So have you?

Taken any actions by mail?

[alcibiades_mystery]

87. depakid fucking hates Obama

It's useless to listen to his bullshit.

It's always the same story.

[depakid]

101. Yep- just like Rachel Maddow does

or Professor David Micheal Green from Hofstra University: http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/08/01/10739/

or God forbid Paul Krugman!

or anyone else who's observed and/or been involved with political campaigns who sees dysfunctional patterns that have cost us all before and has the temerity to point them out.

[alcibiades_mystery]

102. Yeah, you're brave and knowledgable

:eyes:

There's more than ONE pattern for people to notice, like, say, your consistent crybaby Obama hatred. That's a pattern too.

[depakid]

125. Just calling it like I see it

as I plenty of others have seen and called it before. The cheerleaders didn't like it back then either- and if its any consolation- we'd much rather have been wrong, than watch Republicans win or steal election after election and issue after issue.

[alcibiades_mystery]

127. Sure you are

[sniffa]

114. Is that who that Ignored is?

Word. :thumbsup:

[TheCowsCameHome]

17. What attack from the Great White Zombie is he "not handling?"

I don't expect him to use up all of his time going tit-for-tat with that senile old bastard.

That's what his campaign strategists are for.

[ericgtr]

27. He dropped 8 point on Gallup this week as a result of just doing nothing.

[TheCowsCameHome]

29. That means shit this early on. Polls are all over the place in August.

Better go back inside - the sky is falling.

At 8 points a week he'll be down at least 120 points by election day.

[SteveM]

80. Didn't Kerry get swift-boated in August? (nt)

[americanstranger]

34. It's a fucking tracking poll, for God's sake.

Jesus, get a fucking grip.

It's a fucking tracking poll. They fluctuate. Remember the primaries?

And it's Gallup. A conservative-leaning polling organization

Take your eyes off the goddamn tracking poll and get hold of yourself. Fucking man up and support your candidate.

You're calling Obama a wimp when it's you that's going into a dead faint over a meaningless, piece-of-shit right-wing poll.

I haven't been here in a couple of weeks and just came back the other day. If this place is as crawling with spineless scared little fair-weather supporters as it seems to be, it may be time to bail again.

- as

[dbonds]

18. Feeble ole man? wow did you miss the big picture.

The attacks are from the Feeble Ole man, plus all his campaign staff, plus all the rw pundits, plus all the MSM opinion shows.

[speedoo]

20. Oh gosh. Your concern has me worried.

:sarcasm:

So worried.

:sarcasm:

[truthisfreedom]

21. Obama got 200,000 donations in 1 week, 100,000 donations yesterday, including 33,000 new donors.

Where's your share? Step up and make a contribution and stop your hand-wringing. Obama's got it covered.

[Alexander]

22. Thanks for your concern!

:hi:

[tularetom]

23. How has he not "handled the attacks" of this feeble old man

He has done exactly what he ought to do when dealing with someone like McCain with low self esteem and anger management problems - ignore him except for a mocking comment now and then. Just makes the nasty old fart even grumpier and uglier.

He's allowing McCain to dig himself into a hole he can't get out of.

[Phx_Dem]

73. Exactamundo! n /t

[panader0]

24. Obama deals with issues

mccane's campaign is only "I'm not Obama" I say stay on the high road. People will note the difference. Let his VP and some other prominent Dems do the knife twisting.

[Barack_America]

26. Obama sacrificed a pawn this week...

So the fuck what? McCain has exposed much more by going so negative so early. It's McCain who is in trouble here, not Obama.

[melody]

58. exactly n/t

[melody]

30. Barack Obama "watch"?

That doesn't sound like the site of a supporter. Maybe a concern troll but not a supporter. ;)

When Obama wipes the floor with Bush Lite (particularly after the debates which should be wonderful
to behold), I wonder what you'll do with your "watch".

[ericgtr]

39. Wow you guys are some haters

I express my concern about Obama not fighting back and it's like a pack of goddamned wild dogs or something. Do you not see the hypocrisy? You all expect Obama to take the high road but God forbid anyone here should disagree with something or you'll eat them for breakfast. Oh yeah but not Obama though. Rip me, my sites or whatever else but not actually address the issue. Classy folks, real classy.

[melody]

44. We know who you are and we fought back

You're not concerned about anything but getting McCain elected.

Just wait till November when we sink his little toy boat.

[ericgtr]

54. Okay, your just a nutjob going on ignore

See ya.

[melody]

57. It's "you're", not "your" and good-bye :)

You're nothing but a concern troll.

[chimpymustgo]

62. It's sad there are so many ostriches here. How many times can the man cave before they get

a little concerned, too?

Just looking for some spine and support for our Democratic principles.

[pecwae]

132. Not all here, but

an extremely vocal group who takes every opportunity to express hate and hurl troll accusations without consequence.

[enough]

31. You have allowed yourself to be hypnotized. Take care.

[frogcycle]

33. sheesh

Why don't you run outside and stomp your feet and shake your fists. That'll do it.

Believe it or not, the "high road" IS a good strategy for this shit.

[ericgtr]

43. Is it? How about you practice it then.

[frogcycle]

111. No, the high road is appropriate for countering mccain's shit

your little tirade deserves mockery and scorn

[H2O Man]

35. It may have more

to do with you, than him.

[Cha]

52. There ya

go. That was a nice way of putting it instead of the way I lost my temper. Still think it's true, though.

[H2O Man]

134. Right.

There are two groups of people who are expressing concerns about how the Obama campaign is doing. The first are the snakes who are intent upon planting seeds of doubt within the democratic party. Your first response is directed at that group, and is -- in that context -- the correct response.

But there is a second group, and indeed there must be one, if we recognize the purpose of the first group. And that second group is composed of sincere and decent democrats, who have allowed those seeds of doubt to sprout in their minds. One can appreciate how these good and decent democrats would be prone to doubts and fears, because of the experiences of the last eight years. Our job is to help remove those doubts. I have a number of friends (including some DUers) who are wrestling with those internal conflicts. I try to be patient in explaining that we need to confront doubts, and understand that these doubts are our enemies .... rather than the decent people who are the victims of them.

[pretzel4gore]

37. one word- pigmedia

the pigmedia is the secret weapon of the muggers of Uncle Sam...

[jeff30997]

50. Pigmedia ?

Lol.I guess it's owned by Pigboy Rove.:rofl:

Gee I hate this guy.I hope he'll end-up behind

bars.But I have doubts my wish will come true.

[NYC_SKP]

38. If you're so concerned, WTF are you doing sitting on your ass...

...in front of your monitor instead of canvassing, phone banking, or otherwise doing something positive and constructive?

Go on, go be useful.

[ericgtr]

46. Thanks good advice coming from someone sitting in front of their computer giving advice

LOL.. fucking blowhard.

[NYC_SKP]

66. Oh, really, it is to laugh.

I'm not the one bitching about the campaign instead of working for it, pinhead.

[Political Heretic]

40. He's going to let McCain blow his wad in July and then dominate when it matters

I for one, am quite happy with the Obama campaign. Let McCain blow his wad on unfocused shot-gun like personal attacks, and keep raising money. Then, in the home stretch - saturate the market and dominate the message.

People need to calm down.

[TheCowsCameHome]

45. At the rate of two wads a year maximum, he's cooked..........

:rofl:

[Thrill]

41. Its only the first of August. They probably want to save their money until

after the convention. When McCain only has public financing

[Skwmom]

42. Since Clinton represents the Corporate Wing of the Democratic Party, I don't think

she'd have as many opponents as Obama.

[Upton]

51. You're right he is allowing himself to be pushed around

I'm extremely disappointed in not just Obama but his campaign. C'mon guys it's time to stop playing defense and go on the attack.

[tedoll78]

55. Yep.

The words "wimp" and "Kerry" come to mind.

When are we going to go on offense? I want BLOOD.

Bash away. Baaah.

[ericgtr]

61. Exactly and it doesn't mean I don't support Obama it means you want him to succeed

He just needs a couple of ads hitting him back and hitting hard. He could also add his own agenda to the end, he's always been great about that. At least neutralize things a little bit because the attach machine is only getting started.

[Fleshdancer]

53. It was a bad week for a jetlagged campaign staff

I'm giving them some time to get back into the game before making these judgement calls.

[JackORoses]

56. get lost with that piss poor attitude

I'm sure you've been the strongest of supporters.
:sarcasm:

[ericgtr]

67. Since day one pal I have given plenty of time and money to his campaign so BACK OFF!

And do not accuse me of anything less than supporting him. I question how he's handling these attacks and this is what you come back with? Jesus, I find it hard to believe some of you people aren't goddamned Rove lovers.

[JackORoses]

105. seems to me you were the one succumbing to Rovian tactics

and declaring someone else might have been a better candidate

[grantcart]

59. maybe this will help

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6570894

[NYC_SKP]

76. Some folks enjoy the drama.

Good news only encourages them....

But thanks for the pollster link, I hadn't been there lately.

[babylonsister]

64. Seems like the febble old man's tactics are working on you. What a shame. nt

[Vattel]

104. attack the poster, throw in ageist crap

why not get a life instead?

[LostinVA]

68. Yum yum!!!!!

:popcorn:

[Name removed]

69. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Phx_Dem]

71. I disagree.

McCain's ads were so over-the-top ridiculous and beneath a serious presidential nominee that the media, including, SHOCK, Andrea Mitchell, have been pounding McCain on them. There has been a ton of news stories and editorials ripping him for it. His own party has been strongly criticizing him for those ads. It might be different if a 527 had issued the ad, but the fact that McCain, himself, claims credit at the end of each ad makes him look very childish and not at all serious about the problems facing the country.

If Obama were to take these tacky and pathetic ads too seriously and respond as such, it would turn the discuss to Obama's rebuttal and halt the criticism of McCain. Why on earth would Obama want to do that? This is not a swiftboat ad and I think it's going to insult the moderates and independents. These people are NOT the idiot-class Republicans from Podunkville who won't be voting for Obama anyway.

Sometimes you have come out swinging hard. Other times you allow your opponent to hang from their own petard.

Andrea Mitchell made a great point today. She said that John McCain held a press conference today for the first time in 8 days and instead of allowing the media to talk about his message in a serious manner, he released another stupid and negative ad about Obama and stepped on his own message. She said it was his own fault that his message isn't being heard. McCain's a moron. I say let him hang himself.

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Here's a message the Obama camp sent out today. The amount of criticsm from Republicans is stunning -- Obama is smart to let them do his work for him. Criticsm is much strong when coming from a fellow Republican:

http://thepage.time.com/obama-memo-republicans-respond-to-mccain/

Here’s a sampling of this week’s Republican criticism of the Low Road Express. We couldn’t put it better ourselves.

Republicans on McCain’s “Celebrity” Ad

John Weaver, Former McCain Adviser

Called McCain’s Ad “Childish”; Said He Was Making A “Mockery” Of The Campaign. “But John Weaver, a former McCain adviser who resigned from the campaign last year, said yesterday that the ad was ‘childish,’ that such attacks diminish McCain, and that his campaign is a ‘mockery.’ ‘For McCain to win in such troubled times, he needs to begin telling the American people how he intends to lead us. That McCain exists. He can inspire the country to greatness,’ Weaver told the Atlantic magazine, in a comment quickly noted by the Obama campaign.”

Pat Buchanan

Said “Celebrity” is “not an effective ad.” Appearing on MSNBC’s Race For The White House, Pat Buchanan said, “Look, this is not an effective ad. … McCain has two or three problems here. One, McCain is someone who comes deeply to dislike his opponents. He gets very mean. He did that certainly to Mitt Romney. Secondly, to use your candidate for cutting is not a smart thing to do. Third, this ad is not a KO punch at all”

Prominent Republican Strategist Thinks McCain’s Latest Negative Ad Is A Misstep. According to Marc Ambinder’s blog, “a prominent republican strategist” said, “Has anybody asked the McCain campaign if they considered Michael Deaver’s golden rule of image management — that the visual images count so much more than the voiceovers? Deaver famously thanked a network news correspondent (Leslie Stahl, I think) for a hit piece on Reagan, telling her to watch it with the sound off — which showed a bunch of flattering presidential images with flag-waving supporters. The McCain ad seems to violate that idea — the images of Obama smiling and being cheered on by hundreds of thousands of American-flag-waving Europeans are downright inspiring, no matter which side you’re on. Hell, I can’t stand Obama at this point and I find those images uplifting. Yet McCain uses them in his own ad. Has anybody asked them about the wisdom of that?”

Republican Strategist Andrea Tantaros Called McCain’s Negative Attack “Absurd And Juvenile.” “The sentiment seeped onto television on Wednesday with Andrea Tantaros, a Republican strategist, saying on MSNBC that the use of Ms. Hilton in Mr. McCain’s commercial was ‘absurd and juvenile,’ and that he should spend more time promoting his own agenda.”

GOP Operative David Winston Criticized McCain’s “Negative Personal Attacks.” “David Winston, a GOP operative in Washington, argues that McCain has erred by issuing negative personal attacks. McCain should put Obama on the defensive by highlighting their policy differences on taxes, energy and national security, he said. “He’s not emphasizing the contrasts that can actually help him win,” Winston said.”

Republicans on McCain’s Negativity

Ed Rollins Said McCain Appears “Grumpy” And “Angry.” “Ed Rollins, a longtime Republican strategist, said McCain sometimes appears frustrated and angry when he talks about Obama, especially when complaining that the press does not treat him fairly. ‘John needs to be the deliberate, experienced veteran and not the grumpy old man,’ Rollins said. ‘If he’s the grumpy old man, angry that the media is not in love with him anymore because they’re in love with Barack Obama, that’s not going to play well with the public.’”

GOP Media Consultant Alex Castellanos Said McCain Erred In Using Negative Ad. “Alex Castellanos, one of George W. Bush’s media mavens in 2000 and 2004, had a different take: ‘The problem is that ‘advertising’, i.e., anything that smells even faintly false, contradicts his persona,’ Castellanos said. ‘John McCain is the un-cola of politics, the anti-politician. And few things are more political than negative commercials that draw attention to themselves as ‘advertising’ designed to manipulate voters and not as ‘information’ designed to inform them. You can’t be the un-cola and Coca Cola too.’”

Former McCain Campaign Strategist Cautioned McCain Against His Negative Campaign Tactics. “‘The McCain campaign, I think, is being pulled in two directions,’ said Todd Harris, a Republican strategist who worked for Mr. McCain in 2000. ‘On the one hand, this race is largely a referendum on Obama, and whether or not he’s going to pass the leadership threshold in the eyes of voters. So being aggressive against Obama on questions of leadership and trust and risk are important, but at the same time I think they need to be very careful because McCain is not at his best when he is being overly partisan and negative.’”

Media Consultant Mike Murphy Warned McCain Campaign About Negative “Tone.” “Mike Murphy, a Republican media consultant who worked on Mr. McCain’s 2000 campaign, said that while the campaign needed to balance positive messages about Mr. McCain with negative ones about Mr. Obama, he thought it should ultimately be more about what Mr. McCain would do than Mr. Obama. ‘I think the campaign does have to be careful about its tone,” Mr. Murphy said. “A pure attack tone could be perilous.’”

McCain Advisers Outside Of The Campaign “Very Worried” About McCain’s Negative Turn. “The cadre of McCain allies who aren’t part of the campaign are very worried. They believe that McCain’s current crop of advisers are playing to his worse instincts, particularly his pride and his ego. When McCain is privately content, he comes across publicly as happy-go-lucky and magnanimous; satisfied; when he is combative, he comes off as combative and reactive. They worry that he is obsessed with Obama’s character and willing to attribute motives to Obama that are simply unbelievable outside of an echo chamber filled with those who are predisposed to believe Obama’s a phony.”

McCain Allies Worry Negative Attacks Come “Across As Snark” Not “Substance.” According to CNN’s Dana Bash, “The McCain camp says their ad was a buzz-generating attempt at satire, but some McCain allies tell us they worry that it’s coming across as snark, instead of substance, and that McCain should be more forceful about talking up his own assets, instead of talking down Obama’s.”

Ex-White House Adviser David Gergen Said Negative Atacks “Diminish” John McCain. Appearing on CNN’s AC 360, David Gergen said, “But, yes, it does diminish John McCain. He’s a much better person than these attack ads have been. … to go after him and compare him to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, give me a break. This is not the John McCain who Americans have come to love and to respect as an individual..”

Republicans on McCain’s “Troops” Ad

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel Said McCain “Is Treading On Some Very Thin Ground.” “The moves puzzled some GOP strategists, who said McCain would be better off touting a more positive message, and the senator from Arizona drew a strong rebuke from a longtime ally, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who traveled with Obama last week to Afghanistan and Iraq as part of a congressional delegation. ‘I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into ‘You’re less patriotic than me. I’m more patriotic,’’ Hagel said on CBS’s ‘Face the Nation.’”

Hagel Says McCain Is “Better Than That.” “On Sunday, fellow Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a longtime McCain friend who accompanied Obama to Iraq, urged the Republican candidate to move away from such stridency. ‘John’s better than that,’ said Hagel, a frequent Iraq war critic. ‘I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives,’ Hagel said in a CBS television interview.”

Rove: McCain Made “A Mistake.” On an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes,” GOP strategist Karl Rove commented on McCain’s ads and said, “Yes. Look, I got to tell you, McCain made, I think, a mistake in his television ad in saying that Obama didn’t go because he couldn’t take cameras. You know, that’s arguable.” <“Hannity & Colmes,” Fox News Channel, 7/30/08>

Republicans on McCain’s Scattershot Message

Republican’s “Grumbled” Over The Lack Of Consistent Messages >From McCain’s Camp. McCain And His Campaign Can’t Seem To Find A Common Ground, On On Hot-Button Topics. “Republican faithful have grumbled in recent weeks about the lack of a consistent message from John McCain’s campaign on key issues, leading observers to wonder what McCain’s top advisers are thinking… Some of McCain’s most visible and engaged advisers have advanced positions that appear to conflict with the Arizona senator’s stances on hot-button topics ranging from climate change and oil drilling to tax cuts, contraception and education.”

GOP Pollster Tony Fabrizio Calls McCain’s Campaign “Careening From Message To Message” “Most Concerning.” “The Iraq ads have received widespread media attention, although they appeared only a handful of times in a few markets. ‘This careening from message to message makes them look like they don’t have one specific thing they want to say about this guy and that there is no centralized theme, there is no centralized message,’ Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio said. ‘And that is most concerning.’”

Senior Republican Operatives Called McCain’s Ads “One Wild Swing At Obama After Another.” According to the Washington Post blog, The Fix, an unnamed senior GOP strategist wrote, “‘Sigh,’ … ‘Every Obama ad since his announcement has fit nicely into a theme, an argument. McCain ads are just catch as catch can, one wild swing at Obama after another. Their increasing bitterness reflects a campaign that is more about some sort of therapeutic frustration venting for the staff than any coherent strategy to elect McCain. It’s unprofessional to the core.’ Another high-level party operative grumbled: ‘It seems like they are talking to the press pack, not voters.’”

[Tarheel_Dem]

74. I'm sorry, but how does this help Obama? Just more whining, and handwringing

I am so sick of these alarmist posts. This is the one place that should be a haven from this shit. By the way, how many campaigns have you successfully managed & won?

[BlooInBloo]

78. Fail.

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HardWorkingDem]

81. Here we go with what I call the "Cult of Obama".....

What is wrong with those here when it comes to offering constructive criticism of the Obama campaign? My goodness. I've went through and read each of the OP's posts in this thread and for crying out loud - Obama is not Jesus, God or the frigging Beatles.

It is not sacrilegious or traitorous to offer pointed comments toward this campaign.

Hell, someone here even called this poster a troll - now, I find it quite odd how someone freeper would want to spend the time to crank out over 1,000 posts here at DU while being a troll.

Grow some thick skin....you think this race is tough now, grow the fuck up because it is about to get tougher and nastier.

[onenote]

83. suggesting that obama can't lead the country because he hasn't run ads attacking mccain

isn't constructive criticism, its nonsense.

[HardWorkingDem]

88. And who would have thought.....

an actual COMBAT veteran who has killed people in service of his country would have been turned into a coward by the campaign of a chickshit, college frat boy and his campaign?


I think THAT is the point of the OP's post and for that DU member to be called a troll, coward or rudely slammed for his own assessment, is bullshit.

[Name removed]

89. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mloutre]

97. And an "actual COMBAT veteran" who only killed people from 35,000 feet while flying a light bomber

...and then he got shot down and captured and rolled over to make recorded statements against his own country in only 4 days, and then spent 5 more years in captivity before he got sprung by others and that's what's supposed to make him a friggin genuine Amurrikin HERO... and that's what our current Democratic nominee is running a rather adept campaign against and doing it quite nicely without your helpful advice thankyouverymuch, and now we're supposed to pay close heed to the OP's bloviation and your mutated defenses of same, and let that inform our own intellects?

I don't think so.

[HardWorkingDem]

103. Oh, then I guess we have had...

Mondale, Dukakis, Gore and Kerry as Democratic presidents, eh, and not Bush.......

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

86. the "Cult of Obama".

Isn't that the title of John McCain's new Moses commercial?

[gulliver]

91. They have no faith in Obama.

They are afraid to accept "concern," because they panic too easily. They are the kind of people who stand out in the rain saying "It ain't so bad" when there are such things as umbrellas and going inside. Obama is a great hand. The people who are counselling against worry are actually by far the most worried.

[BlooInBloo]

120. HAHAHAH! The things Clinton supporters consider "constructive"...

I suppose it makes sense, in light of the campaign they worked for and ran.

[stray cat]

90. Sounds like the Karl Rove approach - attack, lie and play Americans for fools

So far Obama hasn't climbed in to mud wrestle with McCain and I actually don't think he should. Both sitting in a mud pond slinging mud at each other looks kind of childish and has already made me lose any respect I had for McCain.

[HardWorkingDem]

92. In a perfect campaign world, agree 100 percent, but have you noticed...

almost all media outlets claiming non-bias keep reporting BOTH campaigns are doing it. If this is the prevailing picture painted, what is the best recourse for the Obama campaign?

Especially with the feeding frenzy over the Obama campaign "playing the race card" bs.

[Faygo Kid]

93. I hear ya. I'm sending some money tonight, though.

John McCain has shown himself to be without a moral compass.

I don't disagree. But I want a President Obama in office.

Bad times are coming between now and November. I am fearful of what awaits us.

[ericgtr]

96. Thanks for your donation

He's going to need all the help we can give him. I will be giving again this month as well. :)

[blm]

94. How did Clintons do with that attack 'Clintons trashed the White House' that lasted 9 months?

How did Clintons do with the 'Clinton was weak on terror' meme and the EIGHT FOCKING BOOKS that tried to prove it from 2001-2005? Clinton didn't lift a finger to fight that and allowed the entire DEm party to be labeled weak on terror....just perfect to protect Bush through a few elections just as planned for Hillary2008.

[Teaser]

95. whine whine whine,

.

[TexasObserver]

98. he should have Democrats who are surrogates responding with counter negatives.

Where are the surrogates to launch the counter attacks?

I have to put this on Obama, because he's in charge. He needs to get about ten good attack dogs, and get them out there every day working it. That would free him up for remaining on his messages.

He definitely needs to pay more attention to the way the GOP used this kind of drip drip drip attack in the summer on Kerry, Gore, and Dukakis to drive down their favorables. It's best the candidate stays above the fray, but he has to have surrogates out there doing the defense and counter attacks.

Time for Obama to get his army of surrogates out there taking on the McCain team.

[mloutre]

100. Please watch this streaming vid (after the usual stoopid commercial) and then get back to us on that

I think you'll like what you see & hear...


(Edited to actually put the link to the video in -- jeebus, I am *so* distracted sometimes...)


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25955976#25955976

[TexasObserver]

119. I like it, but we're still only playing defense.

If the run up to the election is a daily discussion of "what's wrong with Obama today?" then the GOP has once again controlled the debate and kept themselves from playing defense.

We need to have an attack team to be hitting McCain and the GOP harder.

[danielet]

99. RACE RACE OR TRUTH ABOUT SCUM BAG MCCAIN?

Dem "PolitPros" in 2004, as soon as they started to lament their preisential candidate's defeat, began to diefy Karl Rove. Why?

Because PolitPros, like Commissars in the old Soviet World, are amoral "victory-is-everything" types and, since Rove won, Rove is the new Politico Olympics God, whatever his means to victory!

Now these kind of low-lifes, having created Bill Clinton and GW Bush, are creating McCain aggressively and, those few in the Obama camp, sit bitting their fingernails wondering how do you defend their *BLACK* candidate in a race race?

YET THOSE IN MCCAIN'S CAMP WHO RELISH A RACE RACE AND THOSE IN THE OBAMA CAMP WHO FEAR ONE DO NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT NOT TOO LONG AGO ALL THESE FAT, MIDDLEAGED, VIAGRA ADDICTED, WHITE BOOMERS WHO SEE THIS AS A RACE RACE, WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR GENERAL COLIN POWELL WITHOUT BATTING AN EYELASH. WHY? BECAUSE POWELL DIDN'T CARE ABOUT POLITPROS, HE SPOKE TO PEOPLE STRAIGHT....AND WHEN YOU SPEAK TO PEOPLE STRAIGHT, THEY DON'T NOTICE YOUR SKIN, ONLY YOUR EYES AND THE WORDS COMING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

OBAMA HAD THE SAME EFFECT AS POWELL ON SO MANY WHITES AND BLACKS THAT HE COULD BEAT HILLARY AND BILL'S RACE RACE. BUT AS HE RAN FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN-- UNDER THE ADVICE OF THE POLITPROS-- HE BEGAN TO SOUND "WOBBLY."

THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE BEGAN TO NOTICE OBAMA'S SKIN COLOR!

BUT IT IS NOW TOO LATE? NO WAY!

Obama can save his favorable standing by sticking to the issues and hammering home on what must be CHANGED and expose what McCain had been a part of as a Republican.

THE REST OF US DEMS must be ready to expose McCain as a "scumbag"-- a good Republican term brought into the politics lexicon by a Republican Congressman, Dan Burton of Indiana. Now many of Burton's own fellow Republican Congressment are in or on their way to jail and many quit as Congressional influence peddling became more transparent because of rules the Dems brough to Congress since 2006 prove what we FORMER REPUBLICANS knew for years: that the Republican Party is a scumbag party and anyone who runs on its banner MUST be a scumbag.

But don't argue that case on mere rage, for you will then only be slandering McCain. INSTEAD TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT MCCAIN WHOSE WHOLE LIFE IS THAT OF AN IRRESPONSIBLE GREEDY HEDONIC FRAUD, covered by his father's name (sounds like Bush?)....MCCAIN IS A MAN WHO WOULD TAKE US FROM A "C" PRESIDENT TO A "D" PRESIDENT. BUSH HAD BRAGGED THAT HE IS LIVING PROOF THAT A "C" STUDENT CAN BECOME PRESIDENT....SO IS MCCAIN GOING TO UP-HIM-ONE BY PROVING THAT A "D" STUDENT CAN BE PRESIDENT?

So don't get tangled in the race issue. It is not a real issue. BUT THE CAMPAIGN WILL BECOME A RACE RACE ONLY IF OBAMA CAN'T PROVE THAT HE IS TEN-- REPEAT, TEN-- TIMES THE MAN MCCAIN IS AND THAT HIS PARTY IS HONEST AND PRINCIPLED, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE BAND OF CROOKS THAT CALL THEMSELVES REPUBLICANS.

IT IS UP TO MCCAIN TO PROVE THAT HE-- THE REPUBLICAN STANDARD BEARER-- IS NOT A SCUMBAG LIKE THE LAST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT AND THE PARTY THAT NOMINATED HIM. AND IT IS UP TO US DEMS-- EVERYONE OF US-- TO PROVE TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS THAT MCCAIN IS EVERY BIT THE SCUMBAG THAT HE...AFTERALL, HIS SCUMBAG PARTY WOULD HAVE NEVER CHOSEN HIM....BUT WE MUST PROVE IT AS IF WE WERE IN COURT, ONLY WITH FACTS, TRUTH AND HONEST ARGUMENTS!

While McCain asks: WHAT HAS OBAMA EVER DONE? we can leave it to Obama to answer AND to argue for his policies. So long as Obama talks straight and honest-- the way that made him and Powell so popular despite both being black-- this will not be a race race...And then it will be up to us to prove that by electing McCain the American people are putting America into the hands of hidden forces and foreign interests....something that McCain would have no trouble doing, again, in his desire to die President of the USA.

Remember, the US Navy Admiralty refused McCain the promotion he craved because it did not deem him leadership material. So he switched to politics, thinking that would be an easier ride that he could fake more easily. ITS UP TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU DEMS TO PROVE-- *ONLY THOUGH TRUTH*-- THAT MCCAIN IS STILL NOT LEADERSHIP MATERIAL. THAT'S WHY THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN IS CAMPAIGNING SO DIRTY-- TO KEEP YOU ANSWERING THEIR STUPID CHARGES ABOUT OBAMA (TRYING TO MAKE THIS A RACE RACE THE REPUBLICANS CAN WIN) SO THAT YOU NEVER GET AROUND TO FOCUSSING ON MCCAIN'S PROVEN INABILITY TO LEAD, never mind to bring change as leader of the Scumbag Party!

So stop obeying the PolitPros and use your common sense to open the eyes of your friends and neighbors to why the McCain Republicans are trying to make this a race race.

[mloutre]

107. (DU hint: the more ALL CAPS LOCKS you use, the less credibility you have here...)

I'm just sayin' is all...

But hey, *welcome to DU!*

[democrattotheend]

106. I'm not losing respect for him at all

If anything, my respect for him has grown. But like you, I'm wondering if he's being tough enough. I respect him for taking the high road but sometimes I think it would be easier if we had someone like Hillary who was willing to fight dirty even if I didn't respect her as much.

[Hansel]

109. Ever heard of giving him enough rope to hang himself?

John McCain is a hot headed egotist who believes that entire world centers around him. Thus his obsession with and jealously of the attention that Obama is getting.

By not reacting in kind to these ads but instead mocking them, Obama further pisses McCain off which is exactly what he is trying to do. Obama is suppose to show McCain reverence by giving a rat's butt about what he says about him. By playing it cool he only makes McCain angrier. Thus the ads get more and more ridiculous.

Obama is playing on McCain's pathology and he is setting land mines everywhere. In other words, Obama IS doing something. His running a passive aggressive campaign strategy. And McCain is imploding. Note his interview with John King last night. This is personal to McCain and it shows.

Of course the poll gap is closing right now because McCain's done enough damage to make people feel a little leery again about voting for the new guy. But the one thing to note is that McCain's numbers are not moving. The numbers are moving to undecided. Despite what the media wants you to believe, this is good news for Obama.

Obama is playing to independent voters who think they know John McCain but really only know the media's fantasy about him. Obama is pulling the mask off by pushing his buttons. McCain is losing his "straight talking maverick" glow and Obama looks like the adult. In the long run, Obama is going to come out of this in a much better position.

[ProSense]

110. Here is what McBlunder gets for

"gaffs on a silver platter."

[quakerboy]

112. You are right

Obama is wrong. Why he didn't hire you, not the losers who helped him through the primaries, we will never know.

Heres the thing. He's doing exactly what a sane person does when a "feeble old man" attacks. Move the fuck out of the way, and be ready to call 911 when they fall and break something. Fighting a feeble old man, one with PTSD, Cancer, and etc, is not a great winning strategy. Try it in a mall sometime, and see where it gets ya in the court of public opinion. (ok, don't really, but examine it with a little logic and see where it takes ya).

[sniffa]

113. I love threads like these

It helps me add to one of the DU records I hold.

:woohoo:

[iconicgnom]

131. OK sniffa, tell us already! WHAT RECORD!!! (driving me nuts)

[RazBerryBeret]

116. whatta ya talking about...

"handling attacks by a feeble on man" ?? I think he's doing great...
YESTERDAY, Thursday, July 31 Barrack Obama rec'd donations from 100,000 donors...
and 1/3 of them were NEW donors..IN ONE DAY!

wow, looks like he's doing ok, even w/out your respect.

GoBama!!

[Demi_Babe]

118. I have more respect for Obama than I've ever had after this week

[Barrymores Ghost]

121. Obama is answering blow-for-blow and doing just fine, thanks...

..and if you can't acknowledge that Barack can accomplish this without histrionics, without going personally negative, but by simply wagging his head and refuting the assertions and by calling McCain out on the ludicrosity of his ads and by saying "Is that the BEST you got, Old Man?"...then I'm not sure how else to respond to your heartfelt "concern."

[book_worm]

123. then leave DU we have enough stupid negativity here from faint hearted supporters like you.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

130. Is that a big tent or are you just happy to see me?

[Raine]

124. WTF!!!!!

he's answering him back, YOU must not be listening. :silly:

[AlinPA]

128. It is not Obama. The media controls everything now. Everything. They will

decide what the people see. McCain is getting free airtime with the ads that they show as "news and commentary". We have to win it on the streets.

[iconicgnom]

129. It appears that your "respect" is very much a thing of the moment.

[DainBramaged]

133. If an old man attacked you but did you no bodily harm, would you attack back

or simply realize he really is a harmless old man, who people will see him for who he really is.