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McCain's (Dis)Respectful Campaign

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 06:06:47 PM EST
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Remember when John McCain promised to run a respectful campaign? Cliff Schecter examines McCain's hypocrisy in painting Barack Obama as the terrorists' choice for president, in his accusation that Obama would rather lose the war than lose the election, and (most recently) in running an ad that falsely implies Obama has been endorsed by Fidel Castro. If this is McCain's notion of a respectful campaign, what will we see if he decides to get nasty?

< 4/08 - McCain Said "No one has supported President Bush on Iraq more than I have." | Kucinich Gets His Impeachment Hearing, Sorta >

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    McCain's (Dis)Respectful Campaign | 34 comments (34 topical)

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    Terrible Campaigner (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 07:14:57 PM EST
    The more angry he becomes the less respectful he becomes. McCain may already be running out of gas. He appears angry, and not angry in a good way but rather angry like a petulant child.

    Seeing him dis a WSJ reporter yesterday; answering a question about Obama in Europe by talking about offshore drilling; and not being able to keep track of his own stance as to whether we have won a war, are winning a war, or will win a war when he is president....he appears to be toast.

    At this point, I am beginning to wonder if maybe McCain should go to a three day week for campaigning to improve his chances. He may benefit most from less media attention at this point.

    Terrible campaigner? (none / 0) (#4)
    by pie on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 07:51:55 PM EST
    I guess so.

    But Obama ain't doing so well either.  That trip abroad didn't make any inroads into the landof the unbelievers, and the cancelled visit to the hospital was a disaster.

    Parent

    He's so toast he's even/w Obama in swing states (none / 0) (#17)
    by fctchekr on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:13:31 PM EST

    We're being to sound like KOS here.....

     

    Parent

    And through it all... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by weltec2 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 08:58:02 PM EST
    Obama floats above it untouched. The more emotional and unstable McCain becomes, the more his style clashes against the onward march of Obama who says nothing to offend anyone. He's like Grapenut Cereal.

    Are there any grapes in Grapenuts? No. Are there any nuts in Grapenuts? No. No substance here. But on the other hand nothing to offend. What there is in his speeches is inoffensive. I cannot imagine anyone being offended by the speech he gave in Germany. It was nice. It will be nice to have a president who says nice things articulately and inoffensively. Sigh...

    I would prefer, however, to have a president who, when she says something, I have a clearer idea of what she is going to DO.

    He's said plenty to offend me. n/t (none / 0) (#16)
    by echinopsia on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 09:59:40 PM EST


    Parent
    When You Can't Run On The Issues (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by john horse on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 09:38:56 PM EST
    you run on your image as a person of integrity.  The irony is that the more mud McCain throws at Obama, the more he tarnishes his own reputation.  

    Exactly... (none / 0) (#26)
    by weltec2 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:19:17 PM EST
    At this point, it looks like the petulant temper tantrum of the defeated.

    Parent
    Oh (none / 0) (#1)
    by cmugirl on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 06:33:17 PM EST
    It is going to get nastier.  Just wait until after the convention when the Republican 527's start.  Then we will have redux of Rev Wright, Rezko, Michelle's college thesis, Obama's thin resume, William Ayers, etc.

    This is child's play compared to what's coming.

    How nasty? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 06:59:10 PM EST
    One can't tell right now.  The media have continued to treat B.O. as the darling, which is fine by me at this point.  Also, with Obama starting to get his Clinton act working foregin policy-wise (allies, allies, allies), it's very hard to paint him as anything other than quite smart about it at this point.  McCain is the chest-out-we're-number-one-who-cares-about-anyone-else act right now, and that is Bush's act -- and anything but a recipe for electoral success.  It seems McCain is much dumber and even less imaginative (if that's possible) that we anticipated.  Still, it's early.  

    Parent
    Hypocrisy? nothing to see here (none / 0) (#5)
    by makana44 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 08:09:14 PM EST
    Hypocrisy? Is McCain's promise to run a respectful campaign any emptier than Obama's promise to use public financing or his promise to filibuster FISA or is his promise to...

    They're all just pols, according the BTD. They will misbehave. Expect nothing from any of 'em. Just move along, nothing to see here.

    You will rightly bash Obama when he (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 08:15:51 PM EST
    says outrageous things, so don't use the "so what" crap when it comes to hypocrisy of your candidate.

    Parent
    Moreover... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Thanin on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 08:29:11 PM EST
    McSame being a hypocrite is a comment on his character... an area a few people around here claim hes untouchable on.

    Parent
    "so what" (none / 0) (#29)
    by makana44 on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 05:01:46 AM EST
    McCain is not my candidate. The crap that I'm referring to is this whole thread. It's a total non-issue if/when McCain utilizes negative framing to paint his opponent, even if he promised not to. Especially compared to broken promises that have real impact on people's live and represent real deception and profound hypocrisy. So again I say, "SO WHAT?"

    Parent
    Lighten up... (none / 0) (#35)
    by Thanin on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 02:21:20 PM EST
    its one FP post on a Liberal-leaning site.  There are plenty of substantial posts here so just calm down.

    Parent
    Hmmm (none / 0) (#8)
    by echinopsia on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 08:48:53 PM EST
    I thought the promise of a respectful campaign was predicated on his running against HRC.

    If you thought that ... (none / 0) (#9)
    by TChris on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 08:56:34 PM EST
    reading the article linked to the word "respectful" would cause you to revise your thinking.

    Parent
    The 527s will do all the nasty work for him. (none / 0) (#13)
    by Angel on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 09:45:17 PM EST
    Wonder who will do Obama's nasty work?  The media?  heh

    For all the disrespect McCain is gaining on Obama (none / 0) (#15)
    by fctchekr on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 09:52:38 PM EST
    Why is that? And why isn't talkleft discussing it?

    McCain has pulled even with Obama in Minnesota
    and the latest Quinnipiac Poll shows he is closing in on Obama in important states.

    You can troll rate us all you want, but Obama's risk rating is getting higher every day.

    Why aren't we talking about it?

    The numbers (none / 0) (#18)
    by TChris on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:14:44 PM EST
    at RPC do not show McCain running even with Obama in Minnesota.

    Parent
    TChris you are trying to ... (5.00 / 0) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:31:41 PM EST
    discuss facts with those grasping at straws.

    The Obama haters are grasping at straws and pulling numbers out of the air. If one poll out of ten shows McCain within the margin of error they raise their glass in celebration. You can't use facts with those trying to create their own reality.

    Parent

    WAPO or TalkLeft? Same now? Guess so (none / 0) (#24)
    by fctchekr on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:54:55 PM EST
    You're obviously choosing not to look at all the polling out there.

    McCain gained in June/July and he is gaining among Independents and younger voters in MN according to Quinnipiac.

    http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/25854059.html?location_refer=Homepage:6

    "So we can assume that a two or three point gain for McCain over the last month is probably real."

    http://www.pollster.com/blogs/is_the_race_narrowing.php

    Parent

    CNN's poll yesterday had (none / 0) (#34)
    by zfran on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 10:04:24 AM EST
    McCain 1 point behind Obama in Minn. in which Obama had been ahead by 17 at one time.

    Parent
    RCP, that is (none / 0) (#19)
    by TChris on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:15:56 PM EST


    Parent
    I don't think he cares about your point TChris (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:22:54 PM EST


    Parent
    MN poll (none / 0) (#31)
    by DFLer on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 07:21:18 AM EST
    The Q-poll shows a 2 point gap in O's favor in MN is from July as referenced in the Star Trib article below. The RCP average includes the Raz poll at 13 points up, the Survey USA at 1 point up.

    I don't know how the Q-poll is rated vis a vis reliability, etc.

    Senator Obama should win MN hands down. That Q poll is quite troublesome.

    That poll also said that the number one concern of respondents was energy crisis and cost. I wonder if this is where Senator Obama is losing voters. I know I look at the cost of heating oil and natural gas every day, and wonder about the cost of heating this winter.

    Parent

    Answering my own question: Whoa, Nellie. (none / 0) (#33)
    by DFLer on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 09:51:19 AM EST
    Is the McCain-Obama race really close in Minnesota?

    Eric Black, vet Strib reporter, now blogger, has a good analysis on his blog.


    Parent

    That would be because (none / 0) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:24:42 PM EST
    Maybe it isn't discussed because your statement carries very little weight in that you are cherry picking.  For instance you say McCain is even in Minnesota but there have been two polls out of Minnesota in the last two days. Both have Obama in lead, one at +2 and the other at +13.

    In addition you say McCain is closing in important states. You are taking your argument from one article from one polling outfit without doing the research to back it up. McCain is leading in zero states won by Kerry and is in a dead heat or trailing in seven states won by Bush.

    Nothing has changed over the last week except that the daily tracking polls have shown an increase in the lead for Obama with Gallup at +6 and Rasmussen at +5.

    If I'm not mistaken, no Democrat has won by 5 points or more since 1964. A five point lead for a Democrat is a virtual landslide.

    Parent

    Don't assume... (none / 0) (#23)
    by fctchekr on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 10:46:15 PM EST
    Evidently you didn't read about the poll methodology.. for Quinnipiac and Rasmussen..(see below)  

    Pollster says, "So we can assume that a two or three point gain for McCain over the last month is probably real." They are talking about June/July. Why isn't TalkLeft talking about it?

    McCain pulls even with Obama in Minnesota

    "A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday found that Obama leads McCain 46 percent to 44 percent among the state's likely voters, a statistical tie.

    That tossup result is at odds with other recent polls showing Obama with an average lead of more than 5 percentage points. A Quinnipiac poll last month found a whopping 17 percentage-point Obama lead.

    The poll also conflicts with another survey released Thursday by Rasmussen Reports, which shows Obama with a 49 percent to 37 percent lead in the state.

    In the Senate race, Quinnipiac shows Coleman comfortably ahead, with the support of 53 percent of likely voters, compared with 38 percent for Franken.

    Again, however, the Rasmussen poll reveals a different picture, a tossup with Coleman at 44 percent and Franken at 43 percent.

    The polls have different sample sizes, methodologies and error margins.

    The Quinnipiac poll was conducted among 1,261 likely Minnesota voters between July 14 and Tuesday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. The Rasmussen poll was conducted Tuesday and reached 500 likely voters with automated calls and has a margin of sampling error of 4.5 percentage points.

    According to Clay Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute in Connecticut, McCain has picked up support among younger voters, independents and voters in the Twin Cities suburbs.

    But he added that the race is still in flux because more than a third of independent voters say they haven't made up their minds.

    http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/25854059.html?location_refer=Homepage:6

    http://www.pollster.com/blogs/is_the_race_narrowing.php


    Parent

    And I still say (none / 0) (#25)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:03:55 PM EST
    That's all wonderful, and you are still cherry picking one poll that shows Obama in the lead. So I will agree with the polling and admit that Obama leads in Minnesota somewhere  between +2 and +17 which are the two extremes in polling in July.

    Parent
    Okay fctchekr you have provided us (5.00 / 0) (#28)
    by weltec2 on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:31:11 PM EST
    with this data and then complained that no one here is discussing it. If you think it's so important, why don't you discuss it rather than complaining that none of us are? Seriously... what's your take on it? Do you have an important point to make?

    The information you have provided is not important to me. Please explain to me why I should find it important.

    Parent

    The Trend in Polling shows McCain Narrowing (none / 0) (#30)
    by fctchekr on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 06:16:29 AM EST
    Just remember GWB devotees still don't see any wrong doing where he is concerned. They look at the facts and they don't see the problem(s).

    You look at the numbers and won't admit that Obama should be 20 up now. But he isn't, despite all the media and party support and the damage to GOP branding.

    You ask yourself why?

    Parent

    I just have to respond... (none / 0) (#32)
    by rottenart on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 09:33:39 AM EST
    20 points? I really don't think any reasonable person expects Obama to EVER be 20 points ahead in this race. As was mentioned above, 5 points would probably be considered a thrashing, especially given the closeness of the last two elections.

    (I'm pretty close to past the 1st 24 hours, so I'll assume I'm in the clear, BTW. BTD? Am I cool?)

    Parent

    Reasonability and Partisanship do not mix (none / 0) (#36)
    by fctchekr on Sat Jul 26, 2008 at 03:59:58 PM EST
    Evidently. By all measures he should be up more than a thread..he's not...

    Parent
    Question? (none / 0) (#27)
    by CoralGables on Fri Jul 25, 2008 at 11:25:07 PM EST
    Speaking of disrespectful, does anyone know the story behind McCain snubbing Elizabeth Holmes of the Wall Street Journal yesterday at his question and answer outside the Fudge Haus?

    McCain's (Dis)Respectful Campaign | 34 comments (34 topical)

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