McCain and Obama are essentially even in many of the polls. We all know why—the flip-flops, the evocation of the charge of racial politics, the serial gaffes, the playing up to European crowds, the lack of experience, and public weariness with the media bias, etc.
What should Obama, then, do to reclaim his “hope and change” mania of last spring? I think it is going to be difficult at anytime to elect a Northern hardcore liberal (not since JFK in 1960), even in a year perfect for Democratic politics, but nonetheless in the pursuit of fairness, here’s a blueprint… (in no particular order).
1. Outlaw the use of the word “they.” He recently claimed “they” would evoke the race card, in the manner of Michelle’s serial use of “they” raised the bar. Who is “they”? (The mean University of Chicago who paid the Obamas quite well? The parsimonious state legislature of Illinois? A racist Harvard?). The result of this “they did it” is the image of a sort of whiny elite, well-off victim claiming that a nebulous posse (conservative white Republicans?) is out to get him. Victimization, conspiracies, and whining lose, not win, elections.
2. Avoid sermons: no more lectures about guns, religion, and clinging, or what we eat, how we cool our homes, what kind of cars we drive, how we should pump up our tires, etc. It all comes off as a lean charismatic arugula-eating metrosexual talking down to a nation of obese NASCAR flag-wavers (who outnumber the former by the millions). Play Harry Truman, not Jesus Christ (and get rid of the silly first-year Latin Obama seal; fire the guy who wrote the oceans recede line; demote anyone who tries to get more mileage out of the corny “this is the moment” refrain; and get grainy pictures of a sweating Obama, not that airbrushed haloed Obama gazing off into the powder-blue sky of the sort they photoshop up at the County Fair booth).
3. Europe really doesn’t vote. Obama should have learned that from the disastrous Kerry experience in 2004. What draws tens of thousands out to Berlin (beside free beer and music—and an ugly totem reminding them of lost Prussian prestige and victory over the French) doesn’t necessarily do the same among the American electorate. Most Americans, rightly or wrongly, don’t want to be citizens of the world if that means something akin to the values voiced in the UN General Assembly or lectures from the Euro public.
4. Enough of the flip-flops. Changing course on FISA, campaign-financing, faith-based initiatives, drilling, the strategic oil reserve, late-term abortion, capital punishment, gun control, Iran’s level of threat, the surge, Iraq timetable, et al. may have been what a liberal candidate must do in the general election, but there is a limit beyond which expediency turns to the carnival. Anymore and the public will burst out laughing every time Obama starts a flip-flop with “As I have long said…”
5. Stick with the teleprompter. Almost all of Obama’s gaffes—the 48/58 states, the Pashtun Arab-speaking translators, the 10 years as President, the clingers’ rant, the Rev. Wright praises, the tire pressure sermon, the new civilian Pentagon-sized bureaucracy, the reparations “deeds” promise, all that and more come when he is thinking out loud extemporaneously, and, to be fair, often exhausted. Of course, that is true to some extent of all candidates, but in an inexperienced Obama’s case, the adoring crowds egg him on, and confidence leads to hubris and then onto what the Greeks called atê. I would still “hope and change” it, and play out the fourth quarter rather than expect that a charismatic Obama will dazzle in impomptu rock-star settings. He won’t after the first 30 seconds.
6. Don’t mention race. The public gets it that a racially aware Obama is not Colin Powell or Condoleeza Rice, for whom racial solidarity is admirably incidental. It realizes that he looks different from past candidates for President. So he should just cool it and be content with the fact that his race in the past at Columbia, Harvard, and Chicago was no drawback, but often a real advantage—and count his past blessings and move on. Now he should evolve, stick to issues, and not look back at Chicago racial ward politics. Not even in-the-tank CNN and MSNBC pundits really believe that a John McCain is biased, and calling a war hero’s campaign de facto racialist is insane. Obama’s 90% majority of African-American base voters long ago accepted his racial fides thanks to Rev Wright, rappers, and all the rest. They won’t forsake him when he transcends race as promised, but simply sense, as Rev. Wright scoffed, it’s just “politics.” Expect his handlers to look for an Obama staged Sister Soulja moment, or a subtle phase-out of the faux-Trinity Church affected cadences and folksy, southern-spiced mellifluousness that was always somewhat awkward for an Hawaiian-born Barry Obama.
7. Pick an antithesis in every category for VP. The ideal selection for Obama would be crusty, sloppy, blue-collar, non-arugula eating, southern or Midwestern, white, conservative, old, experienced as an executive, and knowledgeable about foreign affairs that would convince Hillary’s old constituency that someone like themselves doesn’t look silly running with Obama. He will have to go the Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen route. The problem? They’re aren’t that many Hubert Humphrey/Scoop Jackson looking sorts still around in the Democratic Party.
8. Avoid all town meetings with McCain. I know Obama looks hypocritical in side-stepping his promises to meet McCain anywhere, anytime; but, after his gaffes and deer-in-the-headlights pauses and stuttering, now you can see why he backtracked. If he looks unsure with sympathetic interviewers, he will look even worse in a one-on-one contrast with a grizzled war veteran and Senate pro who will cut the ring down to size and haymaker him on the ropes. Don’t let his lock-step worshipers convince Obama otherwise. Sigh, beg-off, quote the Untouchables, boast, threaten, but skip them!
9. Don’t get near the Hard Left--Moveon.org, Michael Moore, the Daily Kos, the Huffington Post, the Hollywood Set, etc. They are hungry for a return to power and ego-stroking and will put up with, and explain away, anything from Obama. There is no need to reassure the assured–who in a millisecond can on stage let loose with a creepy obscenity or go ballistic in Bush-Derangement Syndrome fits for a clip on Fox News. In contrast, the election will be won or lost in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, etc. where such extremists hold no sway. To the extent they are unknown, or, if known, mad at Obama, it will only help his campaign. If he wins, there will be plenty of time to have Ludacris play at the White House, hang the Medal of Freedom around Noam Chomsky , or small talk in the Rose Garden with George Clooney. It is not that Obama doesn’t remember Ayers all that well, but rather he simply never existed.
10. Do an “ipsa dixit” with Hillary. Praise her, refer to her, thank her, quote her. Wake up each morning thinking “I must coddle Hillary” and go to bed every evening sighing “I didn’t do enough.” Obama is in trouble with wealthy mainstream Democratic donors, the white working-class voters and professional older women, who can’t quite express how they were sandbagged by Obama, but feel it keenly nonetheless. He needs to assure them all that he adores Hillary (and even petulant Bill). Once the frantic October campaigning begins, he wants a smile on her face on the stump, not the infamous Clintonian snicker. Maybe he should play a Fleetwood Mac song and then on stage do a duet with Hil. All that requires swallowing his swelling pride—and thereby may be impossible.
That’s it—and a nod to fair and balanced.
great advice which I hope he does not take. It does assume however that the American public is willing to accept:
- Energy insufficient to sustain economic growth for the forseeable future.
- A guaranteed reduction in standard of living.
- A virtual demand (I believe) that Israel attack Iran before January 20, 2009, leading to a global oil shock.
- Obligatory unionized everything through no vote coerced representation
- An education system that continues to fall further behind the rest of the world – except for elites like his children who can afford great private schools.
- A shock to our economic system through a change to the fundamental rules via windfall profits, coupled with greater dependence on foreign oil, inherent inflation, expanding deficits and if the previous experience is any guide, stagflation.
- Alienation of strategic partners in Latin America, Asia, Canada and the Middle East
- An end to the free trade movement we have promoted for decades.
- Forced erosion of individual rights and liberties to big govt.
- A health care system that his equal difunction for all.
- Reversion to terrorism being a law & order problem….although I am not sure how this squares with our invading nuclear Pakistan. Nuance which escapes me.
This is truly a change agenda but one I hope does not come to pass.
Why are you offering advice to this smug, spoiled creep? You’ve made it quite clear you find him unqualified for the Presidency (and it seems at least half the voters agree with you). Even if one of his lowest-level aides reads your suggestions, you’ve done a real disservice to your country.
I wish you wouldn’t help Obama.
This is the third time.
I remember taking my Latin and French language classes years ago, then Greek History, etc. I suspect there are still some institutions of learning, both in the high school arena and certainly university where the “Classics” are still important, still taught, even revered.
Funny, with this exposure in my world, when I listen to our political representatives, I hear the voices of those who spoke over two thousand years ago, both good and evil. I see patterns, ideas, and presentations that are not new–perhaps dressed in modern garb, but old and presented before.
This of course gives me an insight to the effects of such ideas, the history of what happened prior doesn’t mean it will happen again, but it offers up a responsibility for the citizen to ponder such offerings seriously and to convey to his circle of friends his thoughts and reasons, a dialogue which is democratic and sincere.
Your thoughts for Obama are right on target, and you know he won’t use them except to faint, duck, and weave as he fights for votes. His character is set–Rev. Wright told us so: “He’s a politician, he does what all politicians do,” and he was close to Obama for 20 years!
Like a major heavyweight championship fight, will the old guy, the older fighter, get to Obama before the last round? What will the judges (that’s us via votes)think is important? Right now, the middle rounds, the old guy shows some spirit, some energies, but he too has a set character.
We, the citizens, are about to pay a huge price for this fight–not today, but for years to come. Are we the Mob?
VDH:
This “nod to fair and balanced” appropriately skewers the Obama campaign. It will fall on deaf ears. Obama’s campaign managers appear a bit delusional, seduced by the adoring crowds and the steady contributions, and act as if he is now entitled to the presidency, or that the results of the election are a foregone conclusion. I watched former Energy Secretary Pena, one of a dozen (it seems) Obama campaign “co-chairpersons”, last night on The News Hour. In a sentence referencing President Bush I and President Clinton, he said President Obama would do — such and such. I believe he left off the indefinite article, “a”, before “President Obama”. A minor discrepancy that may speak volumes. Incidentally, Pena was rather brusque with the woman representing the McCain campaign on the show. Hope the Hillary supporters were watching.
I missed that Obama gaffe re Arabic translators for Dari/Pashtun speaking Afghanistan. He must have been acknowledging an influx of Arabic speaking jihadis into that AO after their defeat in Iraq. This gaffe balances McCain’s mix up of Sunnis and Shias.
Ate for Obama. Aresteia (is this correct) for McCain? Can’t wait for the debates.
Dear Professor,
You offer sage advice to a candidate who is temperamentally unable to consider it, much less act on it. Mr. Obama’s belief in his own moral superiority makes him incapable of putting aside the sermonizing. There’s no slave in the back of his chariot whispering, “you are only a man, only a man.”
His flip-flopping reveals him as a habitual sophist. And why not? No one in the MSM is going to call him out.
Avoiding debate and sticking to a teleprompter might work. On the other hand, it might reveal a campaign based too much on careful scripting while lacking substance. Failure to engage in open debate will be construed by the McCain campaign as cowardice.
As for alienating Hillary supporters, that’s pretty much a done deal. Condescension leaves an indelible mark on the mind of the listener. The “bitter clingers” know that any apology (assuming Obama would even be capable) would be viewed as either contrived or cynical. Obama might very well lose Pennsylvania, and with it the election, over single comment inadvertantly leaked to the press. And Obama can forget about winning back the PUMA’s; their alienation is complete.
Mr. Obama has so badly bungled things so far that recovery will be difficult if not impossible. Nemesis has made her appearance, and she’s not going away until she feeds on the flesh of the fallen. It’s not over yet, of course, but the signs point to a campaign about to fall over a precipice. The price of hubris is never pretty.
Another great post.
In reference to point #5, to stick with the teleprompter instead of the extemporaneous remarks such as the civilian Pentagon-size bureaucracy and reparations, there is another example of his “vision” for America. Little mention has been made recently by the MSM, of Obama’s Global Poverty Act (S.2433), even though he promised earlier to make passage of that Bill a priority. Although it may sound innocuous, it holds provisions in it to obligate America to spend up to $845 Billion in the next few years, in addition to what we already give in foreign aid.
Especially at this time, when the economy is in bad shape, oil prices and energy in general are rising, food prices are getting more expensive every day, the Fed is running the printing presses day and night, which is devaluing the dollar — can we afford to pay billions more to foreign nations? Do we even want to, when so many countries hate America? I don’t.
How can he think that anyone would believe anything he says about balancing the budget or lowering the deficit, when every plan he reveals will cost billions and billions more in raised taxes, civilian defense, ‘reparations’, and now grossly inflated foreign aid.
Even with his elite Ivy League education it is obvious that in addition to not learning American or world history, he also didn’t learn any math.
As much as I hate to listen to Obama speak, (he is such a phony) I guess I will have to try not to throw up, and watch the DNC convention to hear what comes out of his mouth.
Just like many in America, I could use a lot less empty rhetoric, and a lot more honest conversation on things that would benefit America, rather than ‘the world’.
Very nice!
He especially ought to avoid the use of the word ‘they’ within about ten words of the ‘yes we can.’ -It sounds like he’s declaring some sort of civil war.
The use of the Fleetwood Mac song would definitely cost him a vote or two within the Ludacris fan base, -especially if he dances.
I don’t read you to be balanced!
I am so sick of Obama. Please write about your raisin crop. Now THAT would be some balance.
Good news! Obama is plummeting in the polls.
Me thinks people are waking up to the knowledge that Obama is a Muslim empty suit.
The American right wing is a sad bunch of people.
Well, there goes all of BHO’s talking points. I guess from now on, if he follows VDH’s advise, it will be several minutes of dead air on the news programs. Hmmmmm. Can’t see a down side to that.
Wow Doug, that’s quite a counter-punch you’ve got there.
Doug.
I’m looking forward to the Democratic convention to see what kind of people the left wing are.
VDH for Archon!
Re #6 he has to keep mentioning race. It’s all he has. If he were a white candidate, he would be unexceptional, he’d be John Kerry all over again without the Purple Hearts.
I must agree with “Psychiatrist Is ‘In’” and “Ron Kean”:
Mr. Hanson seems to belong to the group of conservatives exuding an uncomfortable degree of the unhealthy side of overconfidence/self-satisfaction. There is nothing to be gained in the conservative interests of the United States by offering suggestions to The Obamboozler how to improve his campaign. Rhetorically stated: what on earth are these folks thinking?!
The really interesting, and puzzling, question is: “Why isn’t Obama trailing by 10 points?”
Given his obvious strong leftward lean — even after taking account of all the pandering, vagueness, flip-flops, and the rest — that he is neck and neck with even a fairly weak candidate is a frightening testament to how this country has evolved over the past eight years.
It would not be so puzzling if a Democrat who was not a complete socialist zero (socialist in his views, zero in what he actually has to offer) were running instead. Even the tiny man McGovern had more on the ball than Obama. Yet, he still has an even or better chance of winning.
BRussell: please. If he was Muslim, the suit would not be empty. I would tend to agree with Jonah Goldberg, Obama isn’t Muslim, or Christian, so much as Postmodern. He has such values and associations as will assist in advancing his career and the secular pieties of contemporary liberalism, and these may be put on or off as need arises or expediency requires.
I agree with “Psychiatrist Is In”, Ron Kean and Ed Wallis. Don’t help the Obamaniacs with your ironic remarks.
Obama has 99.4% of the Black Vote, 2/3 of the Hispanic vote (Mexican-American, not Cuban) and the young who haven’t had enough life experience to overcome the brainwashing they got in college. He might just win, and although his handlers aren’t geniuses they are not all that dumb. if your suggestions are taken to heart, and he wins, I will never forgive you.
To atone, Dr. H, please give 10 commandments to the other side.
The charge of flip-flopping still resonates with the “Gotch media” and the dogmatic religious Fundie, Lefty sort that hasn’t had an original thought enter their brain since age 6.
To such people, anyone who changes their veiw over years or with a sudden paradigm-shaking new reality is unreliable and guilty of not having the “True Purity” of correct dogmatic veiws(10 buck oil! 700 billion in wealth lost to foreigners a year?? OK, I just switched my veiw on drilling and nukes! – To which the response of media, Lefties and Fundies is such a person chnging their mind is a feckless apostate.)
To them, their role models are the inflexible mental certainty displayed by Dubya and Gore and Kuchinich. People who change their mind on security or matters like abortion. The “insincere Romney” who converts on abortion must be despised since he was not a RTL true believer when he was younger. Joe Lieberman, a liberal social progressive Jew if there ever was one – must be hated and scorned for “flip-flopping” on Hollywood purience being “welcome free speech” and his apostasy on Iraq “No More Vietnams!!”
As long as the charge of “flip-flopping” paralyzes politicians, you will have leaders like Bush stubbornly and obstinantly clinging to “purity” matters like loyally sticking with Rummy and Open Borders no matter what. And America gets the poor quality of politicians it deserves like tabula rasa (blank slate) Obama who is immune from flip-flopping for the most part by never having a voting record and the treacherous McCain, immunized by his “deep, POW values and suffering” from flip-flopping charges because he has a Higher Moral Authority…
End the cancer of the “flip-flop” accusation, and you open the way to new leaders who will be more pragmatic and not ideologically stuck in failed policies and helping cripple America in partisan paralysis.
Wake up people! This is classic satire. It should not require any explanation. Either you get it or you don’t.
Maybe nobody expects a conservative to have a sense of humor?
Good points, cedarford. It’s an old Emersonian adage, but it remains true that a “foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”
11. Provide a valid birth certificate that has not been tampered with in any way.
12. Provide proof of Selective Service registration, proving compliance with U.S. law.
13. Stop being a jerk.
Dear Professor Davis,
I agree with the rest of the comments that say you shouldn’t give BO any fodder for improvement. If we read between the lines, I think there is some satire in your words and I’m sure you are not trying to write his playbook for winning in November. He’s got a cast of 1000 campaign advisors for that job.
But I agree with some of those above who said that there is no purpose served in aiding him in any way. And he absolutely should agree to meet Johnny at townhall meetings. What a coward to run from a forum that he knows will be a huge problem for him. He knows that McCain will crush him in this kind of environment.
Hopefully, any more forthcoming advice from you will be of the sort that will make him take the bite, rather than improve,,,
ie: “Senator Obama: Don’t you think it’s time for another trip to the Middle East? You forgot a couple of countries over there, didn’t you?”
Re cedarford:
I would agree that obstinately holding a position when the facts change is hardly a presidential virtue (though, ironically, Bush’s obstinacy in Iraq may prove to be his lasting legacy). Flip-flopping, like pandering, is expected in an election. It’s the degree to which a candidate flips, and whether he has a sufficient public record by which to assess his overall political philosophy or style of leadership, that causes the public to question the changes. Obama seems to me very pragmatic — while campaigning. Thus the changes on drilling, FISA, campaign financing, gun ownership etc. etc., all politically expedient. Does he offer an explanation for this? No. Usually he denies he has even changed positions, and cleverly couches his stances on the issues in double-talk, Bill Clinton-like. So, what does he truly believe in? With his thin record, I honestly don’t know. I doubt he is an idealogue of any persuasion. He believes in himself and may govern based on his interpretation of the public’s mood. That’s not a prescription for pragmatic leadership in these trying times.
McCain has his faults, and he flips and panders too. However, he is more likely to admit he was wrong on an issue – the tax cuts, immigration etc – than he is to obfuscate. Obviously, his 24 plus years in Congress better allows us his to assess his political convictions. Like him or not, you know what you get with McCain. I believe as president he would try certain measures to fix a problem, e.g. the economy, and if it doesn’t work try something else. If he comes into office planning to be a one term president, which he may, he would have great latitude in trying different fixes for the problems in Washington. Some might even work, and allegations of flip-flopping might become irrelevant.
Race is to Obama as Vietnam was to Kerry. In a party where identity politics is king, Obama cannot, not will not, divorce race as an issue.
Did he mention he is black? As with Kerry and his experience (all four months), the answer is ‘let me count the ways’. I’ll bet he has at least a third of his three hundred ‘advisers’ dedicated to the task of coming up with new subliminal suggestions and inferences to race. The guy who came up with “I don’t look like the other people on the currency” probably got a raise which was recinded when Rasmussen polled it and found that people found it ‘racist’.
Prof. Hanson, I adore your work, but if you really want to help BHO you must throw in the towel and send your suggestions on subtle racial innuendo to the campaign. That’s all the advice they are interested in currently.
I have a few suggestions for Obama’s speechwriters myself:
“They are going to say, that I, BHO cannot be Jesus, because Jesus was not black.”
—-
“They will warn you against me because I did not check the caucasion block on my application to Harvard.”
—-
“I know I don’t sound like politicians you are accustomed to. My life story is different (look down nose)”
__Sorry, I think he used the last one today. My bad.
No need to worry Sandra, “Psychiatrist Is In”, Ron Kean and Ed Wallis.
Obama is not going to take Hanson’s advice. Any other candidate I might be worried. But never in my life have I seen a politician so arrogant and high on himself. This is a man that says foreign policy is his strongest suit.
Pride comes before the fall. Why would the Messiah need to listen to anyone?
With all due respect for Hanson, there is not much novelty there – nevertheless the truth is there. The chemstry of all those elements (and of a few other) have brought Obama where he is – basically in a tie with McCain, when he, according to the conventional wisdom should have been well ahead.
As far as worries that some Obama operatives might take Hanson’s advice and re-shape Obama’s trajectory, I don’t see that happening, because one hidden, yet important trait in Obama’s psychology is “death-wish” or a latent desire for self-destruction – he will be always hubristic, nature & very unusual career have shaped him that way, and, at a certain point this trait will make him err in a destructive manner. How this might come, from something like Hart’s fly problem to ignoring Ptolemaios’ or other companions’ good advice, I don’t know.
I and the mob would sure love a huge, cathartic, selfdestructive act – yet more likely Obama’s defeat will be generated by the incremental arrogance we’re observing every day in his acts.
But what will happen if he wins?
I like George Carlin’s ten commandments better –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCz0-HY1TLU
Pride comes before the fall.
Dear “Olivia,” Please take note that the “fall” of which you speak could well occur after The Obamboozler’s election to the Presidency come November. …and – rhetorically posed – THEN WHAT is to become of the United States under such a “leader” (sic)?
One thing about America: we love to knock self-important people off their high horses. See Bill and Hillary.
Never in my life could I have foreseen the likes of Chris Mathews turning against HRC. Yet it happened.
When Obama stumbles, he will be discarded.
The mighty will fall headlong.
Nice set of advices. If someone gave them 6 months ago that woulds make difference. And BTW, if you try to push hard offended women, they are going to be mad even more.
Because of the uncertainty of the world that exists more so today then ever, the Presidency will not be decided until just days before and maybe even the day of the election.
Obama is horrible. I cannot say anything new about him that has not been said by other posters, but the small group of people that are truly undecided will make up their mind much later then now. They arent even going to remember what Obama said in July and August. As long as the Democrats will not drill and can keep gas prices high, if we get a big hurricane this summer which kills a bunch of poor or black people, or if there is some kind of attack on our millitary that creates a lot of casualties, the undecideds are more likely to vote Obama.
If Obama is elected, and I think he will be because the dumb part of the American voting public will increase because blacks now have a reason to vote in their mind, watch him change his positions. He will start drilling, become Chavezs best friend and we will get more oil from Venezuela, and keep the troops in Iraq all while increasing taxes and social programs at the expense of those who truly work for a living. He will not do anything that makes us more susceptible to a terrorist attack because if that happens, he will be in a bad spot. Once hes in power, he could care less about the country.
He does not need advice, he just needs to keep quiet and continue with Congress to sabatoge our economy with rhetoric and inaction. That will get him elected because anything going on that is bad is Bushs fault to the stupid sheep that exist in this country and the rich liberals that lead them around.
THIS TIME REMINDS ME OF A SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE WHERE THINGS ARE REALLY BAD IN THE FUTURE AND THEY ARE SENDING SOMEONE BACK TO THE PAST TO TRY TO CHANGE THE EVENTS OF THAT TIME. THIS IS THAT MOMENT. IF OBAMA GETS IN, OUR COUNTRY, NO THE WORLD WILL CHANGE FOREVER, AND NOT FOR THE GOOD. WAKE UP PEOPLE OF AMERICA, LEARN FROM THE PAST. THIS IS HOW HILTER GOT IN POWER. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN.
A little truth in the sea of lies
The MSM has a shield around John McCain!
Senator Obama was right on every point:
February 26, 2008 – In the GOP stronghold of Cincinnatiduring a
McCain rally, right-wing radio host Bill Cunningham whipped up a
crowd of more than 300 supporters by using Barack Obama’s middle name
often, ripping Hillary Clinton as a first lady and referring to former
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as an “ugly, old
woman.
McCain addressed the issue, saying he repudiated the comments
and has respect for his Democratic opponents, and that he
accepted responsibility for the speaker while also saying he had
not been in the room and had not heard the comments himself.
As you may recall, this incident brought the first attention to
Senator Obama’s middle name. McCain apologized, but the damage
was done. At his campaign. I would say that this fits into the
category of trying to scare voter about Obama.
April 8, 2008 – McCain supporter David Bellavia: “You can have
your Tiger Woods, we’ve got John McCain.” McCain, who was on
stage when Bellavia made the comment, hugged the candidate
before taking the podium.
McCain’s campaign never apologized for this obvious racial
reference to Obama.
One month ago — in late June — a McCain ad superimposed
Obama’s visage on a one hundred dollar bill as part of an effort
to mock his supposed ‘presumptuousness.’
Note: A video of McCain supporter David Bellavia is on the
“Talking Points Memo” Website.
“The really interesting, and puzzling, question is: “Why isn’t Obama trailing by 10 points?””
Perhaps because your side has had its way for two presidential elections, and most thinking Americans have seen quite enough.
Herb: “most thinking Americans”? Heh. Is dcollins an example? Heh, heh.
“Herb,” do you REALLY think your arguement is enough to justify voting for someone with socialist policies? I think not.
Obama still links McCain to Bush as in ‘…the Bush/McCain administration’, etc.
I wish McCain would say that he ran against Bush for President before because he felt he was different and better than Bush.
Or he could say that Bush never ‘mentored’ McCain or McCain never gave $20,000 one year to support Bush. Obvious key words and references without being too explicit.
Hey, dcollins: It’s not polite to start a post by accusing people of lying; it’s even worse when you follow it up with a lie. This one: “February 26, 2008 . . . As you may recall, this incident brought the first attention to Senator Obama’s middle name.”
That would be literally impossible to recall, because it is false. For crying out loud, do you really have so short a memory that it goes no further back than the beginning of the year? Just check out the number of posts you can dig up from 2007 and 2006 about Obama’s middle name. It was actually Democrats who got that ball rolling, of course. Not a Republican radio voice.
My advice to Obama would be that he stand for things that work, like smaller government, lower taxes, and a stronger military. (Now that would be change I have been waiting for). I would settle for him at least being honest with the black community and telling them that their own behavior and not white racism is creating the majority of the problems for them.
“Perhaps because your side has had its way for two presidential elections, and most thinking Americans have seen quite enough.” Herb
My side? Why do you assume that because I’m surprised at a socialist candidate doing so well, I’m a conservative or Republican or whatever “your side” is supposed to mean?
If you’re attempting to suggest that the Bush administration represents individual freedom and capitalism, you could not be more wrong.
More, if you think that thinking leads to socialism, you should think again.
Sandra M:
Don’t assume that the Hispanics are in Obama’s pocket, they’re not. This is why:
1. The Hispanics (Cubans) are at least 80% (in Miami metro area) Republican. Democrat-favoring left-wing liberal rag polls don’t go asking these folks about Obama. They have had to live in juxtaposition to Castro’s communist Cuba after leaving their home to live in freedom with liberty. Obama is communist influenced. (Google Frank Marshall Davis and Obama).
2. The Hispanics (Roman Catholics) heed the call of the Pope to a) not use contraceptives and b) not do or favor abortions. This is not a liberal position; the current drop in Obama’s polls have been the 26% loss of these folks to John McCain. The liberal rags delete the poll results from these folks — they’re turning out to vote for conservatives.
http://www.nextgenerationcorp.com/nextgenblog/
Herb,
Most non thinking americans have not had enough their whole lives yet continue to vote Democrat. That is whats funny. Obama is just the latest savior that for a moment gives the poor, stupid, and lazy hope that more money will flow into their pockets from government handouts. For the most part though their lives dont change. The smart hardworking people just have to do a little more when the Democrat is in office. Its the price of being able to enjoy the american dream.
I happen to love arugula.
Obama only need one commandment, make sure the colleges and universities have plenty of places to vote. He only have a base completely of the uninformed voters looking for change and they define it as electing an interracial American, the best of everyone. McCain only have to get his message out and pray for rain Obama base does not get wet, they stay inside and play video games.
I for one would like to ascertain if Hussien did in fact, as required by law, register for the draft.
I can certainly understand concerns about Obama’s approach to policy, but really, seriously, the world isn’t going to come to an end if he is elected. You will find similar statements about McCain on liberal blogs, about how he’s essentially pushing for Bush’s third term, as if there is no discernable difference between McCain and Bush. Like them, you all seem to me blinded by partisanship. Did the country devolve into a third world country when Clinton was elected in 1992? Of course not. There always seem to be the same old charges in every campaign — the Democrat is a closet socialist, the Republican a closet fascist. Every time, everyone seems to be speaking with the same sincerity about how the opposing candidate will bring upon America a new dark age. A McCain presidency might be preferable to Obama in the eyes of the people here, but give me a break.
I live in Australia, and judging by all the stuff we are hearing about Obama, you guys are in real “strife” if he becomes your next President.
Strange how the over-hyped Obama-Rock-Star-Tour seems to have been a huge turning point for him, and not in the way his campaign anticipated. Upon his return to the US, he did not get the surge in the polls that they expected. Whether due to the Peter Principle,
that ‘in a hierarchy every employee rises to his level of incompetency’, or that more people are beginning to notice how arrogant, inexperienced, racist and shallow he really is. Many are questioning if he is a good choice to be President, and even some of the media are starting to write columns wondering the same thing: ‘Where’s the Landslide’, ‘Could Obama Still Lose the Nomination?’, ‘Obama wrestles With the Hillary Factor’.
Hillary could be a huge factor at the Convention. Her followers vow that they have not given up, and that they and PUMA will be front and center. Even if the Dems are beginning to have ‘buyer’s remorse’ about their chosen candidate, they are between a rock and a hard place if they try to do anything about it.
Nobamanetwork.com is said to have a directory of 479 sites — over 100 more than last week, and many of them operated by Dems that are anti-Obama.
CR:
‘(he should) provide a valid birth certificate that has not been tampered with in any way’. Agreed. I have puzzled over why he refuses to produce one. Perhaps because 1. his parents may not have been married to each other, 2. he lived in so many different countries in his earlier life, that he does not want to divulge where he was actually born, or 3. if his father was born in Africa, it does not necessarily mean that his father had much if any Black African blood. Some say that his father was of Arab blood, and BO may think that if his Black African American followers realized that, they might not see him as really ‘one of them’. Too, many Arabs were slave traders, which Blacks seldom mention, as they would rather focus on their perceived ‘sins’ of Whites.
Per the media, BHO is having a difficult time choosing a Vice Presidential running mate, and McCain says that he will wait until BHO announces his choice for VP. One Republican columnist, Alex Castellanos remarked; “The shift in his (Obama’s) political personae has been startling. Obama has moved right so far and so fast, he could end up McCain’s Vice Presidential pick”.
The country did not “devolve into a third world country when Clinton was elected”, but his dereliction of duty led to the 9/11 attacks, the embassy bombings, the North Koreans development of a nuke while Clinton was bragging abouthow he had brought peace to the world, etc.
In this case, Obama is not a “closet socialist”; his stated policies are right out there in the middle of the Socialist living room. His is indeed the second coming of JC: that’s Jimmy Carter, not Jesus Christ.
Heaven Help Us!!
Obama, this… Obama, that… Can’t we get do over?
I for one, am tired of all the media lovefest! Bring Brittany back… or for goshsakes, don’t we have another OJ show to watch or better yet… who did shoot JR?
And why is the American public in a lovefest with an extreme socialist who apparently has a groupies who follow the Star Trek series…? We must be sick as a society to consider electing this guy with all the talltales of socialist extremist who has a free questionable friends…
Hey… the more… the merrier… And… if the youth of today want everything spoonfeed to them… be my guess.
The youth want a man nswered that has gained insight from his work as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, constitutional law professor, key club president, 4H treasurer, lunch room monitor, two years of jazz, and four years of tap… more power to them.
Its so much going on with the Pro Choice then the right to carry weapons in public and putting loads of money in the educational system. I don’t see a Change. Student Loans will cause the people to be in more debt when they have to pay all of those back then it could be people that need to pass a psychological background test before they are allow to carry conceal weapons especially amongst children and the elderly community. Then I will not mention why the issue of health care will increase because of teenagers having the right to abortions of course we will need health care so the abortions can be legally paid for because the medical field has to get paid some way. The house situations with the mortgages companies is not good because the public has all this money for houses more money that is needed then they apply for a $400,000,00 loan and can not afford it and guess what the rates will eventually increase then it will take more than a fix rate of 30 years to pay for the houses. Society is in a mess- I respect this Country’s leadership but when we have to keep borrowing monies from other countries- some how someway the line needs to be drawn.