Obama on Countdown: McCain/Palin "stretching the bounds of spin"
By SilentPatriot Sunday Sep 07, 2008 9:00pm
Senator Obama joined Keith tonight for a major sit down interview and took McCain/Palin's lies head on. Whether it's their claim that Palin was against the "bridge to nowhere" or their promise to change Washington despite being the party in charge for the past eight years, Obama left no stone unturned.
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They're not telling the truth. You know, I mean, it's -- I think we've all gotten accustomed to being able to spin things in politics. But when you've got somebody who was for a project being presented as being against it, then that, you know, stretches the bounds of spin into new areas.
And you know, as far as John McCain is concerned, you know, I think that Senator McCain has, on occasion, broken with his party, but this notion that, as he said at his convention, that he would tell the lobbyists that they're not going to be running Washington anymore, who is he going to tell, his campaign chairman, Charlie Black, his campaign manager, Rick Davis, two of the largest corporate lobbyists in Washington with client lists that extend into every major industry?
You know, there is just a sense that they're making these assertions that ignore the facts of their campaigns and their past history. And I think people should be troubled by that.
Full transcript below the fold:
KEITH OLBERMANN, MSNBC ANCHOR: Senator, thanks for your time. I'm sorry I couldn't join you in person, but I had to update people on quarterback injuries or something like that.
(LAUGHTER)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks, Keith.
OLBERMANN: This is...
OBAMA: Lousy day for quarterbacks.
OLBERMANN: Yes, it is. Brady is out. This is more about campaign tactics to start with rather than issues. But it seems sometimes like tactics have replaced issues altogether. "He fights pork barrel spending," said this new McCain/Palin ad, "she stopped the 'Bridge to Nowhere.'"
I mean, it sounds a little like "Remington Steele," but I'm confused otherwise. As late as October of 2006, Mrs. Palin insisted to voters in Alaska that not only would she defend that infamous bridge, but she also said -- and here's the quote -- "She would not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that's so negative." What are Senator McCain and Governor Palin doing in this new commercial, do you think?
OBAMA: They're not telling the truth. You know, I mean, it's -- I think we've all gotten accustomed to being able to spin things in politics. But when you've got somebody who was for a project being presented as being against it, then that, you know, stretches the bounds of spin into new areas.
And you know, as far as John McCain is concerned, you know, I think that Senator McCain has, on occasion, broken with his party, but this notion that, as he said at his convention, that he would tell the lobbyists that they're not going to be running Washington anymore, who is he going to tell, his campaign chairman, Charlie Black, his campaign manager, Rick Davis, two of the largest corporate lobbyists in Washington with client lists that extend into every major industry?
You know, there is just a sense that they're making these assertions that ignore the facts of their campaigns and their past history. And I think people should be troubled by that.
OLBERMANN: And Governor Palin hired a lobbyist to get earmarks to the tune of $27 million for a 6,000-person town which is -- in its own scope, is kind of a neat trick, but it does seem to counterbalance the basic platform of the Republican Party.
You said that they're not telling the truth here, but when the stuff is a gross distortion, whether it's about their own positions or yours, or facts in your history or whatever, what can you do about it? And why do people hesitate to use the word "lie" about these things?
OBAMA: Well, look, we have been very clear about the fact that this argument John McCain and Sarah Palin are making, that they are agents of change, just won't fly. It defies their history and their background.
And we saw it in the convention that they wouldn't talk about the basic issues that are really going to make a difference in the lives of middle class families.So you know, I'm happy to have legitimate policy debates with them on where we want to take health care, what we want to do about energy, what we want to do about education, what are we going to do about the war in Iraq.
But you know, for them to run an ad that basically doesn't present an accurate record of their positions on issues I think should raise some questions about how they would approach an administration.
OLBERMANN: To something from your own convention, maybe the most compelling moment of your acceptance speech in Denver was that one strongly voiced word, "enough." A lot of people who have felt angry about what has been done to this country in the last seven or eight years have that same sense of urgency and simplicity to it.
Have you thought of using on the campaign trail and in your speaking engagements, more exclamation points? Have you thought of getting angrier?
OBAMA: Well, I'll tell you what, with two months to go, I think everybody needs to feel a sense of urgency. You know, when I hear John McCain suggest that he is going to bring about change, I am reminded of the cartoon that Tom Toles did in "The Washington Post" where he has McCain say: "Watch out, George Bush, with the exception of the economy, tax policy, foreign policy, health care policy, education policy, and Karl Rove politics, we're really going to shake things up in Washington."
You know, the fact of the matter is, is that not only has John McCain agreed with George Bush 90 percent of the time, this is the party that has been in charge for eight years. And they're now trying to run against themselves despite a few months ago having argued that -- John McCain saying that, listen, I've been supportive of George Bush, boasting about it.
You know, I said, I think on Saturday in Indiana, the American people aren't stupid. They are going to get it. But we've got to make sure that we are being clear, not only that they will not bring about change, but the very specific kinds of changes we want to bring, in terms of green technology jobs in America, investing in our education system, making college more affordable, making health care accessible to every American, that contrast, if we go into November, with that contrast on the minds of the American people, I think we're going to do well.
OLBERMANN: But clearly it must not be fully on their minds because the race is as close as it is. And nobody's burst into laughter at the latest Republican ad, at least not many Republicans have.
Have the Republicans succeeded in muddying up this election in kind of overcomplicating it so the point is not as simple as you just made it.
Sixty years ago Harry Truman went out and campaigned very simply, looked out at people in trouble because of a Republican Congress at that point and the impact it had on their lives and he said, "How many more times do you have to be hit over the head till you figure out who's hitting you?"
I mean, has your campaign in some way not kept it that simple?
OBAMA: You know, we've actually been driving this point home and I think the convention drove it home. But look, the Republicans can't govern but they run smart campaigns and frankly, they are not always policed by the media as effectively as they should be.
I was struck with how little scrutiny some of the claims that John McCain and Sarah Palin were making, how little they were subjected to scrutiny coming out of the convention. It's our job to press the point and make the case and I think that the Republicans have been pretty successful at working the refs during this game.
But yeah, I have confidence in the American people that if we just drum home the fact that the country is off course, that middle class families are struggling, your wages and incomes have gone down under George Bush. Under Democrats, they went up. Unemployment has gone up.
Unemployment was down under Bill Clinton.If we just keep on being clear about how we are going to rebuild this economy, then I think we are going to end up winning this campaign.
OLBERMANN: And there are extraordinarily large developments in terms of that economy. Especially in the last couple of days, especially about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They were created as a kind of gentle encouragement by government to more home ownership, to make it more possible.
There is nothing gentle about it, it is now fully taxpayer funded subsidization of home interest rates and home ownership. Should this be the way it is? Is this a permanent solution or did we just add $5 trillion to the national debt? What do we do now about this?
OBAMA: Well, I don't think it's going to be $5 trillion. That's the amount of debt that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are holding. But a lot of those are good mortgages. People are paying them. We are going to see some losses. Taxpayers are going to take a hit. How big it is, we don't yet know.
And I have to be fair on this one. Republicans and Democrats I think in Congress did not pay enough attention to the structural problem with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which was, they are quasi public, quasi private institutions. They are making big profits and their CEOs are taking in big bonuses when times are good. But there is this implicit federal guarantee when times are bad.
And that was a structural problem that needs to be fixed.
But the problem of not regulating the financial markets effectively generally, not seeing that the subprime mortgage crisis was leading to a mess, not updating some of our financial regulations since the 1930s, that's been, I think, an example of the neglect on the part of the Bush administration over the last eight years whose view is basically anything goes and the government just has to stay out of the way. That has ironically hurt the market and one of the things we have got to rediscover is a little bit of well-applied regulation and transparency and accountability actually helps the market, helps the economy grow.
And that's what I want to restore when I'm president.OLBERMANN: You pointed out last week how little time at their convention Republicans spent talking about the economy. I think the time might have been zero, zero, zero. I'm not sure. We weren't running a clock. But if the election does, in fact, hinge on the economy, on how Americans are doing, has there been thought given to breaking this down to its simplest element, in much the way one of the Republican icons, Mr. Reagan did during the 1980 campaign, and ask the voters if today, are you better off now than you were eight years ago?
OBAMA: Oh, absolutely. And I often do that on the campaign trail.
And we're going to just keep on repeating that.I mean, this is -- this should not be complicated. Here's what it comes down to. Under George Bush's stewardship, with an assist from John McCain and the rest of the Republican Party, the economy is weaker now than it has been in a very long time. Unemployment is higher.
Poverty is higher. More people are uninsured. Wages and incomes have flat-lined. Middle-class folks who used to feel secure now feel unstable. We've got more homes being lost to foreclosure than at any time since the Great Depression.And John McCain does not have any discernible difference from George Bush when it comes to economic policy. He's got the same economic policy. So if you like what has happened under George Bush's presidency, you should vote for John McCain. If you think that we have to move this country in a fundamentally different direction, then you should vote for me. And that is going to be the case that we make throughout this election, and frankly, that's not the conversation that the McCain campaign wants to have.
Rick Davis was very explicit. John McCain's campaign manager said this campaign is not going to be about the issues. That was his assertion. Well, I think that the American people expect it to be about the issues. They deserve it to be about the issues. That's what we're going to keep on pressing in the weeks that will remain.
OLBERMANN: In terms of getting that and other messages out, Rachel Maddow wanted me to ask this question, so I'm doing this on her behalf, because her new show is starting tonight. Given -- given the tone that the campaign has taken, I mean, this Georgia congressman last week, Mr.
Westmoreland, who called you and your wife, quote, "uppity." In that context, do you regret putting the brakes on the 527 groups who would have produced or could have produced hard-hitting ads that would have been sharing your sympathies?OBAMA: You know, I'll tell you what, Keith, I am confident that the American people, once the dust has settled, are going to say to themselves, "Do we really want to do the same thing we've been doing for the last eight years? Or do we want something new?" I think there's a genuine sense of anxiety out there, not just about immediate economic prospects but the sense that we are not living up to what's possible in America, that we're not delivering on the American promise.
And I think that understandably people are saying to themselves, gosh, we like Obama, we like his message, but we haven't known him that long, let's really lift the hood, kick the tires, you know, take them out and watch them work hard.
And you know, let's take a look at these debates and then we're going to make up our mind in mid-October. And I think that by the time this thing is all over, the contrast is going to be clear and I believe the American people are going to make the choice for a new direction in the country.
And I'm looking forward to helping to lead that.
OLBERMANN: One more campaign question. It pertains to not knowing someone or something. This is a question I have not really heard asked directly of anybody in a position perhaps to answer it, let alone answered.
In your opinion, is Governor Palin experienced enough and qualified enough to become president of the United States in the relatively short-term future?
OBAMA: Well, you know, I'll let you ask Governor Palin that when I'm sure she'll be appearing on your show.
(LAUGHTER)
OBAMA: But rather than focus on a resume, I just want to focus on where she wants to take the country. As far as I can tell, there has not been any area, economic policy or foreign policy, in which she is different from John McCain or George Bush.
In many ways, in fact, she agrees with George Bush even more than John McCain. So if John McCain agrees with Bush 90 percent of the time, maybe with her it's 97 percent. And so my -- the thrust of our argument is going to be that the McCain/Palin ticket is offering the same stuff that has resulted in the middle class struggling, not seeing their incomes go up, seeing their costs go up, falling deeper into debt, at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure, unable to save or retire.
Those are going to be I think the issues that ultimately matter to the voters, and that's why I'm trying to offer to them a very clear set of prescriptions, very clear ideas about what we intend to do, how we want to change the tax code, stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, give 95 percent of Americans tax relief.
Have an energy policy that is serious about climate change, is serious about weaning ourselves off of Middle Eastern oil, investing in solar and wind and biodiesel so we've got energy independence and creating jobs here in the United States, having a health care system that makes sure that we don't have 47 million people without health insurance.
That message of possibility is, I think, the one that the American people are looking for.
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The better quote was the simplest. "They are not telling the truth"
Barack is Hulking-Up!!!
Keith Olbermann Prods Obama to Get Tough
Don Davis @ 3:
He better get tough. Or he's going to be standing on the floor of congress all day watching Sarah Palin boss people around.
MCCAIN IS A LIAR! SPIT IT OUT FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! He has been lying his whole career! This "Maverick" crap is just another lie. He looks into the camera, calls everyone "my friends" and lies through his teeth! BOLD FACED LIES! If he is not called out on this ASAP he will get away with it and win.
King of Kings @ 2:
Still sneaking a few puffs when possible I heard but putting on former cigarette addict smoker weight.
Ok, Obama is great. Love him. BUT, the whole taking the high road, thinking the American people are smarter than they appear, that when the dust settles... NO NO NO NO NO. Am I wrong? I mean, the commercials write themselves??? What the hell? Start throwing some hard balls at these mavericks for Christ's sake.
Hope Obama has something big on the cons to drop on them soon. Watching the Pubs fall apart with the Foley bomb was hilarious.
exactly what js above said, and i thought it before i read the comment but agree wholeheartedly
call McCain and Palin liars. period! we have got to draw the line in the sand. the country is on the brink. if they lie call em out dammit
If you were him, would YOU be worried about seeming too "angry"?
mock turtel @ 9:
You're right..
Say it simply...
LIARS....
& back it up...
Man, all this McPaleolithic crap makes me want to take a debate class, and play the Republican. I could just make shit up, and people would believe it. I think the catch to the world-class bullshit artistry must be that it has to completlely negate any sentient being's capacity for logic and reason -- essentially overloading their "logic and reason" circuitry. "Evolution is just a theory! Abortion hurts the wimmins! Guns GOOD, fire BAD! Church and state are supposed to be TOGETHER because we are a CHRISTIAN NATION!"
...Do you think after Tokyo Rose gets his ass handed to him in November, he'll still play the "My friends, noun-verb-POW" card every ten seconds?
...On a sidenote, I think the Obama campaign should order $50,000 worth of flip-flops from an online shoe outlet and have them delivered to the McPaleolithic campaign's head office.
I'm listening to the repeat of the 8 PM show, and I'm simultaneously puking and shitting. Obama's "um, ah,well", extreme nuance is killing him. The Repugs pick 3 things and beat into the ground. That is what the majority of "wow, tomorrow is the election" Americans think about. Rrrgghhh, Obama just said "I have to be fair about this". Aaaarrrrrrrrrghhhhh. These assholes are throwing it away, Obama is insuring a McInsane/Moosebureger administration will be inaugurated in January. How in the fuck to we wake these people up???????
Barack needs to be more direct. I you are positive that they lied, call them what they are - liars.
Time to stop being nice to not just McSame also to th moose hunter
mock turtel @ 9:
definition of a liar someone not telling the truth. so he did call them liars
Can anybody explain why on C&L and also on Americablog every video is gone and the statement "no longer available" appears??? Some from only 2-3 hours ago.
[Maybe it has to do with the site maintenance being done at YouTube right now-Sitemonitor]
Paul in Boca @ 13:
Did you see Pat B. on Rachel's show?
He was a total attack dog...
We need to bite back...
Paul in Boca @ 13:
I totally agree with you. He just pissed me off watching this. Seriously, call 'em out!!!
Paul in Boca @ 13:
and none of them having todo wth the issues.
liberAL @ 16:
I saw (or didn't should I say) that too...
Okay mediator...what's up with that?....
Haven't they coached up Obama to get rid of the "you-knows"? It's so, well...1970's and I remember my mom yelling at us kids to just slow down and delete. It really makes for a weak interview and he better reform before the debates!
Pat B. was a total a** on Rachel's show. Didn't he get the message that Palin now says she didn't support Pat when he was on the ticket.
ronhohn @ 14:
Exactly! Not being direct killed Kerry in '04.
Just say it:
"They are lying. Now, Let's move on and talk about the real issues..."
liberAL @ 22:
Rachel should have caught that....
I would of liked to see the look on that jerk....
I'm just wondering what Palin's interview will be like. Will Gibson hit her with hard questions? Yeah right! Remember the Democratic debate? With Stanop(I can't spell his name)? What a joke. Will Gibson ask about her church? The bridge to nowhere? The controversial lobby scheme used to secure million of dollars of pork given to Alaska? Maybe. Then again, maybe not.
bigwup63 @ 15:
NO he said they're not telling the truth which is the definition of lying/liar.....all that
Coast at 17, no I missed it, but it's probably best.
Seriously at 18, you are right, but howq do we do that?
Shit, he just said "my process of that argument is"..........aaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhh!!
Obama - you're not running for class president. This is serious shit. You don't have to lie or make shit up. Just tell it like it is, ok?
Quit sugar coating it, they're fucking lying, just like they did about the Iraq war, just like they did about Kerry in 2004, just like they did in stealing the 2000 and 2004 elections, just like they will about anything the MSM and your campaign don't call them on.
Just blurt it out: There they go again, nothing but lies for the last 8 years. Now Palin is lying about her record in Alaska and McCain is claiming to be different from Junior.
The only difference between McCain and George Bush is that McCain wasn't a deserter.
"McCain's real running mate is George Bush and the failed policies of the Republican Party. Even if they are dressed up in a skirt, lipstick, and Tina Fey glasses."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/sarah-palin-a-trojan-mo...
What is wrong with using one syllable words, like lies? Like crooks? Wash and repeat. And repeat. The war "hero" is a liar. The barbie doll isn't qualified and is a wacko to boot. It's not that much of a stretch. You don't have to get nasty, but you do need to go after them. There is so much to go after, and they aren't doing it. Regular people don't use 3 syllable words. But too many people hear the rethug ads again and again and have doubts. They don't believe their own lives. They believe what they are told everyday. KISS.
And sorry to say, Obama can be a bit long winded. I found myself zoning out a bit (maybe it was the Rolling Rock) but really, it's time to start calling a spade a spade. Why is the "how many houses do you own" bit gone already? Oh come on??? That was your "I was for it before I was against it" thing - aiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Barack is excellent as usual, has good points. I just wish he not only be more direct, but stutter a bit less too. I kinda worry how he's going to perform in the debate with McCain. I'm sure his stance on issues will trounce anything McCain can spin, but he simply need to stutter a bit less :(
*puts on flame-guard*
McCain learned spin from the best and sad to say, People are falling for it once again.
I want to see Obama transform into Cassius Clay here soon.
thomas @ 32:
No flame guard needed. I noticed the "stuttering" too although I'd call it more of a hesitation. He'd start commenting... kind of drift off... yea, I know what you mean. That can't happen in the debate.
I don't understand how the media is not being held accountable in allowing McCain and Palen to lie. Who is holding these people accountable? How can this happen?
Are there not rules about false advertising? Are the McCain ads on T.V. not monitored for this?
The media obviously loves this because it's in their best interest to cause more tension.
It's a crime!
this is a quick read interview with chomsky some may appreciate some not ....it's about deceit why people do it.
kind of a psych/anthropology approach. it plays into politics
http://seedmagazine.com/news/2006/09/noam_chomsky_robert_trivers.php
Does anybody think Obama is playing rope a dope with McCain? Specifically, is Obama laying back in order to drop shit all over the old fart at the debate, or am I just being naive?
AmericanInsurgent @ 29:
I tend to agree with Paul in Boca, although not nearly to the point of spewing excrement.
First, while I generally like KO, I have to say he was thoroughly unprofessional. If I see Charlie Gibson give an 'interview' like that to Sarah Palin, I would not be amused. I'm no more thrilled watching KO do the same with Obama. It is beneath him and totally unprofessional. He's supposed to be a journalist - not a fanboi.
Second, Obama needs to get his shit tight. Way too many 'mhms' and 'uhhs' peppered throughout his comments and no clear zingers. Every paragraph he utters should have a tagline (like we use in advertising) that sums up the entire thought:
That is all anyone will remember.
Third, Obama at his worst is still better than McCain at his best.
Obama advisors need to bring their A game and attack Mccain/Palin ruthlessly. Bring in Hillary or other women. Obama is losing momentum and will be very difficult to gain if Mccain does well in debates.
Paul in Boca @ 13:
I had the same sick feeling watching Obama. Ums and uhs. But then, it is Countdown. He's chatting with people who are already voting for him.
In any case, here's how I would have advised Obama to answer the first question in the clip:
Olbermann: As late as October of 2006, Mrs. Palin insisted to voters in Alaska that not only would she defend that infamous bridge, but she also said — and here’s the quote — “She would not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that’s so negative.” What are Senator McCain and Governor Palin doing in this new commercial, do you think?
Obama: What are they doing? They're doing what they always do. What Republicans always do. They know they're basically lying, but they say it anyway because they think it will get them votes. Look, you can't trust these guys on anything. John McCain was never even liked by his own party because even they couldn't trust him. Now, to get their nomination, he had to sell out every position he once held dear, so he did it. And you know what? Even that wasn't enough for them. They still didn't trust him enough, so he caved to the far right to pick Gov. Palin. What does that tell you about his judgment? And now that he's done that, he has to distort Gov. Palin's record. Why? Because they know the American people are fed up with the way the Republicans -- all with McCain's approval and help -- have flushed the country down the drain. That's why they've adopted the "change" mantra, Keith. They know it's nonsense to think they're the ticket of change, but they'll say it to get votes. That's what they're doing. That's what Republicans always do. That's all they know how to do. They sure don't know how to govern.
constituent @ 37:
Possible. Would make sense in that people remember more towards the end... BUT... swift boat Kerry - that started in August. And the debates? I really don't think they make much of a difference. Kerry cleaned up with Bush. And the one unknown factor out there? Osama Bin Laden. Yep. Remember that lil' video he released the week of election 2004? Maybe he'll do it again.
seriously @ 43:
Oh damn. Quoted the wrong comment! sorry!
oncall @ 38:
Strategy could be to let McCain wear himself out then unleash with a pulverizing flurry of jabs hooks, exclusively attacking the head of the opponent.
I agree. Obama just needs to say the word "lie" and "liar". On the stump, he's great but something doesn't translate when he's off the cuff. That's going to hurt him in the debates since off the cuff is where McCain excels. The guy needs to be more punchy and less nuanced. Just get straight to the damn point!
oncall @ 38:
that's a good way to put it.....i think it's a chameleon
strategy....we realize that every interview/speech anything is reviewed/analyized by the opposition. haven't said that i do hope i'm correct and he becomes more effective with debate political style.
personally i would to see a YouTube format mccain would be so fxxked....start off with i know the economy.
Obama's right, he makes lots of good points. Mclame and Pain-in the butt are both freaking liars as is becoming increasingly clear, that's why Americans shouldn't vote for them.
I can't stand always hearing the high road phrase "the American people are smart enough to know etc. etc". No the American people are not smart enough to know, they are the people who brought us the LAST 8 YEARS!!!
The Palin nomination was brilliant. It has once again mobilized that massive block of people who would vote for a cabbage if they thought it would mean overturning Roe v Wade. The Republicans have completely stolen the focus - they can just say whatever they want, repeat it enough times and now Obama and Biden are in response mode, completely on the defense (and a timid one at that). Sadly the truth doesn't seem to matter, issues don't matter, only slogans and image matters. Somehow they need to regain the spotlight and without a meltdown of some sort in the McCain campaign, I don't see it happening. Good grief, not again.
Karen @ 42:
Karen,
You are right. But the problem again is a noun, a verb, and thirteen and a half variations. The Repugs don't do that, the Obama camp does. What do we do to tell them that?
oncall @ 38:
I was thinking the same thing. I know for a fact Biden is playing the expectations game with Palin with all this "tough" and "formidable" talk. I sure hope that's the case and the debates are when the fury is going to be unleashed. Obama is one of the smartest people I've ever seen run for president strategy wise.
Obama is behind because he is getting punked on a daily basis by McCain/Palin. Today I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw a MCCAIN commercial describing Obama with the phrase, "That's not change, that's more of the same." WTF??!! Obama needs to say, "They say they are going to bring change, but they have so few new ideas they have to copy everything Joe and I say, word for word!"
He also needs to quit stammering. It makes him sound like he's afraid to just spit it out and call it like he sees it. Also weak and childish.
He told Keith Olberman Palin's resume wasn't relevant. Oh yes it is! Why continually take away your best arguments again and again? First they won't talk about her family, because it's off the table. Now they won't talk about her resume, because it's off the table. If he doesn't want to run for President, he needs to resign from the campaign and let them run Hillary. And I don't even like Hillary.
Speaking of which, why does HILLARY refuse to attack Palin? Is she afraid it will be "sexist" to kick her ass? She sure didn't have a problem kicking Obama's ass every chance she got. Are all these people being blackmailed by McCain/Palin? Why won't they do their jobs?
Mike Aimer @ 10:
I hope to God Obama has bright people running his campaign.
But let's face it, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to win (barring election fraud with the computerized voting machines).
It's almost like producing a film. No producer makes a film then just throws it into theaters "hoping for the best". You have screenings and focus groups and have them fill out questionaires about what they like and don't like etc. Then you re-cut the film until the groups LOVE IT!!! Hit!!!
Perhaps Obama's people need to do more "listening" on the campaign trail, and working with Obama to tweak his message accordingly....of course keep flashing that winning smile and upbeat, intelligent manner.
If the focus groups agree he should do "x,y and z" with Palin for example, then he should seriously consider doing it.
Speaking of focus groups, I didn't see any discussion of the fact that McCain/Palin did not do well with the Republican focus group at their own convention!!:
http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/08/focusedthe_sequel.html
Not to mention that Keith upstaged Billy-O’s spreading Obama’s interview over two weeks. Having him on tonight to offset the Billy bashing was brilliant.
Obama's moving in the right direction. But it's Biden's job (where was he today?) to call them what they are:
LYING LIARS who will cater to the super rich and to the corporatocracy at the expense of EVERYONE else (including the gullible religious right that Palin is
energizinghoodwinking).fresh air last thursday interview with david kirkpatrick
of NYT talks about the mccain brand and the maverick
which isn't that old of a brand....it's a good listening inteview
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=13&prgDate=09-04...
Why does Keith have to prod him? I thought Obama was real weak with his responses. For a week now they have been bashing Obama and are getting ahead. All I heard is a bunch of ahs.
I have supported him all along, but maybe Hilary would have been a stronger candidate. I thought he learned something from Kerry's campaign.
It is a shame that we have to wait until next time!
Two comments about Sarah Palin,
1) Why shouldn't her comments about "Thanks, but no thanks" Be her version of Al Gore supposedly claiming he invented the internet
2) Given not only the congruence between Palin and Bush's political views, but also the news that she treats disagreement the same way as Bush and the fact that she is only appearing before sympathetic audiences. What's the difference between Sarah Palin and George Bush? Lipstick.
After watching the first part of this interview, I can go back to watching baseball and grading papers instead of wasting more of my time.
This election is over. Obama is going to lose.
Because he will not get down off his high horse and crawl into the gutter with these people.
Unless he turns the 527s loose, and calls these people out for the liars and frauds and crypto-fascists they are, he will lose. Like the line of high-minded Dimocrats before him.
I thought he was a smart guy. Like Al Gore, this is right in front of him, there for the taking.
And he's blinking. And ducking.
Maybe he's not tough enough for the job after all.
McCain really does think you're stupid.
"Stretching the bounds of spin"? C'mon, Obama. It's not being negative to call it "lying", so much as holding them accountable for their tactics and discouraging their dishonesty. Weak language doesn't persuade - strong, direct language does.
Really, it's far too soon to get worked up about trailing in the polls. If it were the last week in October, I'd get a bit edgy. But it's the first week, plus a day, in September. Chill out. It works to the thugs' advantage for them to develop an air of inevitability. All they have is the ability to bluff.
One thing to watch for is an October surprise. I hope Bush doesn't pull one, but I'm sure he will. I hope Obama is prepared just in case, and I hope the American public won't get sucked in by Republican skullduggery.
Also remember that what matters is the electoral college, not the popular vote. I can't see Obama losing any of Kerry's states, which means that all he needs to do is pick up a few states that went for Bush in 2004, and there are a solid handful of them in play. If Colorado and New Mexico and Iowa go for Obama, I believe that'd put him over the top. Ohio is in play, as are Virginia and Nevada. I'm sure his guys and gals are ready to begin hitting the close states with ads during the last two weeks in October.
If McCain wins, it'll be an electoral squeaker, no more than plus/minus 20 EVs. If Obama wins, he may break 300, maybe 320.
"Investing" in government programs is neo-liberal, Keynesian code for "borrowing" money.
He's going to print money out of thin air, a plan that's probably not that much different than John McCain's plan, and devalue our currency.
Sure. "Invest" in education so the kids can go to school... after all, THEY'RE going to be the ones PAYING FOR IT!
Why does the Federal government have to do ANYTHING with public education? Exactly what does NATIONAL education have to do with interstate commerce?
I mean, I UNDERSTAND why YOUR state needs help with education, but the Commonwealth of Virginia can take care of it on it's own, thank you very much.
It's all about authoritarian fascists, trying to FORCE your children to learn something, because they can't get all the schools to agree otherwise. They'll turn us all into uniform programmable drones. And the hilarious irony is, YOU WILL BEG THEM TO DO IT!
And it's all because you're too lazy to pay for whatever it is yourself, amd because you're too spoiled to deal with the word "no".
Stop trying to ROB ME... so you can make the world better.
It's a lie, perpetrated by BOTH SIDES!
they got a bump post convention people. the polls aren't
linear......we all know that.....palin is a fade....my intentions
are NOT to be disrespectful.....they want us to hang ourselves....obama isn't going for it. i'm just hoping BUSH
and cheney stay out of it. they are getting aggresive with
iran and sanctions.
Karen @ 42:
Karen,
That was great, not an umm, ah, or well in there. Lot's of great stuff too, and just the right amount of anger.
I'd like to hear Obama mention sometime how John McCain is the nominee that was rejected for George Bush in 2000. So NOW John McCain is the best guy the Republicans can put up, and he was second to Bush?
Peace.
Obama is bringing a wet noodle to a gun fight.
Olberman was trying to give him some needed advice; ENOUGH!!
I guess it's just not quite enough...
Pardon my crudeness, but I heard it put very well: He's got to be as confident as Cleopatra's pussy.
Yes, Obama said they were not "telling the truth", but that line has no strength, no verbal power. LIAR! Now that shocks. That wakes people up. Saying it with conviction and backing it up with facts gives it even more power.
Someone needs to sit Obama down and get him to understand that when you really believe, not kinda believe, but really believe you're right you have to shout it from the rooftops with a passion that makes people want to say, "Damn, maybe he IS right!" That's how you win.
jay @ 41:
Speaking of bringing Hillary in, I think it would be a smart move to offer her the Secretary of State nod BEFORE the election and have her accept.
Here's the thing though. Obama is bringing it on the stump. Out there he's tough and straight forward but when he's in an unscripted format he's......this. I hope to God he's just playing head games and psyching the other side out for a sucker punch at the debates but I'm not so sure.....