Letters to the Editor
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kaweahdave:
While the Dems in 2006 did a great job standing up to the right-wing attack machine, Obama's candidacy is different. As an African American man with a Kenyan father and a Muslim family background, his candidacy unfortunately is ripe for racist and xenophobic attacks.
The RWNM was able to do the following in 2000 and 2004:
a) turn a telegenic and affable moderate southern senator with a visionary legislative record into a lying bore who was substantively identical to a dullard fake cowboy patrician from texas.
b) turn a vietnam-volunteer war hero with an impressive prosecutorial and investigative legislative record into a pandering coward and phony
Both of these men were white, christian males with decent family lives, moderate election platforms and no scandals worth mentioning.
So for me, I'm done worrying about who is "easier" to attack from the perspective of the attack machine. They can destroy any Democrat with any record if they are not properly countered. Neither Hillary, Obama, Edwards nor even Richardson would be somehow immune to their attacks.
It's all in the response. Bill Clinton has a litany of vulnerabilities to attack, mostly along the lines of being a philanderer, and yet he beat them. So it can be done, and I think the response is more important than the particulars of the person involved or the line of attack.
It simply doesn't matter to the right who we nominate, all that changes is the specific charges levied or the "incidents" they harp on to push their framing. Barely anyone on the right knew who Kerry was in March 2004, yet by the end of 2004 he was viscerally loathed.
However much they hate Hillary now, they will hate Obama with equal fervour come November. That's what they do, they're very good at it as they've been practicing this art since Nixon.
Whether that hatred extends beyond their 20-30% of the populace into the persuadable 30% depends purely on Obama's acumen. So far so good on that front IMO.
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Patriotism is the new P.C.
THAT is how it should be framed! All this business about the pledge of allegiance and lapel pins and being "proud" of your country or not is PURE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS. Nothing more.
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Sting like a bee.
Obama comes from the Muhammad Ali school when it comes to boxing, especially Ali later in his career. Deflect the jabs dodge the hay makers, let your opponent tire and in the late rounds, when he can't raise his arms to punch or defend himself, annihilate him. It's a thing of beauty, if you've never seen Ali employ this technique I suggest you find some video and watch poetry in motion. I guarantee Barack has.
My favorite part of his last acceptance speech was when he brought up John McCain. His audience booed, and he hushed them down, talking about how he respected Senator McCain and his service to this country. Then he demolished McCain's policy positions, point by point. The crowd went nuts.
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i never understood or believed in "momentum" till now
i can understand "lesser of two evils" and i can understand not voting at all, but changing your mind???? remember when ron paul had a following here? (it's now down to one) and remember when at least a third here vehemently supported clinton? (down to two or three). but the very notion that i'm in the same lifeboat as as Baldie McEagle pulling at the same oar is so head-shakingly inconceivable that i can almost allow myself to hope - obama actually *will* be our next president.
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Oh, 'tis true, 'tis true
Has more to do with the mooing going on.... -- Pedinska
Yeah, what with all the mooing, and baa-ing and hand-wringing, it's a wonder anyone can concentrate on the tasks at hand. Does bebop have a herd dog he could lend us? I swear that the snarlers and sneerers, out beyond the campfire flicker's furthest reach, are less worrisome. They're well aware that if they come any closer, they'll get a stick across the snout. The faint of heart concern me a lot more.
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Get Real
"It's all in the response. Bill Clinton has a litany of vulnerabilities to attack, mostly along the lines of being a philanderer, and yet he beat them. So it can be done, and I think the response is more important than the particulars of the person involved or the line of attack."
That is exactly the simple point I'm trying make. But Clinton didn't just respond, he also attacked.
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@Scientician
I hope you're right. As an Obama supporter, I hope his responses resonate in the general election. I doubt there will ever be a way to completely quiet the attack dogs or to extinguish the doubts or rumors they raise. I do believe, however, that his background will continue to attract attacks and that he must continue to counterattack forcefully and more viscerally.
They are not going to go away and they are not going to stop questioning his patriotism. It's going to get even dirtier. It is far too premature to pat ourselves on our backs.
@Kitt
Nice rant.
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Jim White, as you say,
if the surge proves ineffective, McCain loses. But if it *does*, americans will concern themselves with the economy - and McCain loses.
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It's not that difficult
I think the point you make is completely correct Glenn. It's not, and it's never been difficult. When people are raising ridiculous points, simply call them on their BS. It has a tendency to make this stuff stop real early.
Or, to continue the boxing metaphor, when someone tries to bloody your nose, bloody theirs. Sure seems like Obama gets it.
Oh, and I can't see any rational reason for the Clinton campaign not to deny sending that e-mail to Drudge if they didn't. I would have thought it's the first thing they would have done. I'm guessing they actually did send it. If they did, that's a perfect example of the kind of politics America should be moving away from...I'd be a bit disappointed if they did send it. I don't think I'd be surprised though.
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Kaweahd
They are not going to go away and they are not going to stop questioning his patriotism. It's going to get even dirtier. It is far too premature to pat ourselves on our backs.
@Kitt
Nice rant.
-- kaweahda
And you call what I posted a "rant". All you've been doing is ranting at ghosts and straw people. "Be afraid, be very afraid. The almighty right wing Rovian slime machine is going to dirty up the black buy with the Muslim background".
We aren't saying they're going to go away. That's the only note they no. They don't know how to change. We aren't "patting ourselves on the back". We're saying, right on, Obama, play these filthy fools for the fools that they are instead of being afraid of them.