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Blame This Post On Obama

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 07:50:06 PM EST
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NOTE - this post is Obama's fault because he did not announce his VP today.

Kos quoting a WaPo blogger:

If Obama's campaign had planned to roll out their vice presidential pick at any point today, that announcement is likely to be put on hold. Why? The campaign believes the story about McCain's many houses is political gold and they won't want to step on it with a veep announcement that would immediately change the day's storyline.

Actually, it does not make sense to me. Unless, all the Obama camp will be doing tomorrow re: the VP is the text message, which I find impossible to believe. The VP rollout requires an event - where the Presidential candidate and the Vice Presidential candidate appear together. That will happen tomorrow obviously and that clearly was the plan throughout. Which, btw, leads me to linking to poblano making a good point again:

It's probably just a matter of the punditry all being bored and thinking out loud at once, but when you start to see stuff like this... [Halperin speculating about Hillary as VP] ... is there not a little bit of danger to the Obama campaign? If I were a high-information Hillary loyalist, I'd be getting my hopes up right about now.

With that being the case, would it not be in the interest of the Obama campaign be moving to quash the "it could still be Hillary!" rumors -- assuming she is not the pick? And since the rumors haven't been quashed, does this therefore indicate that she might be the pick?

Well, she's not the pick, but the delay has raised some speculation about it and Obama's camp should have quashed it today imo.

Which takes me back to Kos' idea that Obama put off the VP pick for a day to play house hunter with McCain - if they did do it, it seems silly to me, 12 hours of a silly story that will be drowned out tomorrow by the VP announcement? Not buying it and if it is true, it seems a bad call to me.

Nah, Friday was always the day.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

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    Your thoughts out loud, no? (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 07:54:43 PM EST
    Myself, I have no idea. What will be, will be.

    Well thanks (none / 0) (#122)
    by Demi Moaned on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 07:29:46 AM EST
    I'm very much in a no-one-knows-anything mood these days, at least partially colored by my current reading, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable. I don't think anyone has certain knowledge about who will or won't be the pick, though whatever the choice, in retrospect some people will look like they knew what they were talking about.

    Parent
    Whoever the VP will be (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by scourtney on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 07:59:02 PM EST
    it will be lame and disheartening compared to Hillary. (Comedian making fun of Obama VP pick):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5GaaD2-Whs

    Nice Try, Sara (none / 0) (#24)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:19:26 PM EST
    But, that "3 a.m. Ad/Booty Call" joke's been long played-out and even borders on lame this late in the game. A little more originality, please.

    It was funny, for the most part, so thanks for sharing.

    Parent

    I haven't really liked the way (5.00 / 8) (#3)
    by DCDemocrat on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 07:59:48 PM EST
    they have played it.  It just seems like a game.  I was interested for a while.  Now I am getting annoyed.

    poblano does make a good point (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:04:30 PM EST
    Last couple days her name has been popping up more and today, many discussions about her being Veep.

    I think the Obama campaign is afraid to squash any Hillary rumors. Her supporters that are disappointed in his pick will just be blamed for being sore losers, but will get over since they are "allowing" her a roll call vote. I don't know why they think a sham convention will make her supporters happy, but oh well. I think they're hoping a late announcement followed quickly by the convention will hid a dip in his support when it's not her. He squishes it now, his numbers take another hit pre-convention.

    I can't freakin' believe anyone (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Valhalla on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:16:52 PM EST
    seriously uses the term 'high info' voter.

    Most of the highly informed and strong Hillary supporters I'm familiar with don't want her to have anything to do with the ticket.  At best it's 50/50.

    Again, persistence in thinking that everyone follows their hive mind organization.

    Parent

    I was wondering if he meant low info (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:27:02 PM EST
    Obots don't generally recognize there are any high info Hillary supporters  ;) I do agree some hopes are being stirred up. I was surprised her name was brought up last night on our late local news as "being back in the mix". That's going to give an average Hillary supporter the wrong impression. They wouldn't have any idea that PSD was chosen for the VP campaign awhile back and the other signs he's not picking her. That doesn't make the local news or even national network news. I think the average and low info voters are the ones being set up here. The high info ones will be shocked if he does pick her.

    Parent
    No worries (none / 0) (#34)
    by angie on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:27:12 PM EST
    there are not that many "high information Hillary voters." /s

    Parent
    oops, nycstray (none / 0) (#36)
    by Valhalla on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:27:56 PM EST
    I meant that to be a general comment, not one replying to yours.

    Parent
    Paul Begala just said on CNN, NGH... (none / 0) (#14)
    by Teresa on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:13:42 PM EST
    Not Gonna Happen (even though she'd be the best choice).

    Parent
    I love Paul (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by americanincanada on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:16:03 PM EST
    But I don't actually think he knows anything. though I happen to agree with him.

    Parent
    Paul's A Very Close Clinton Confidant (5.00 / 0) (#29)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:24:13 PM EST
    I'm pretty sure they have, on many occasions, conferred with him on a variety of matters and made him privy to a lot of things that many others aren't.

    Parent
    And, his response that it was NGH (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by JavaCityPal on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:33:03 PM EST
    could be because he heard that from Hillary, herself. I think she's way too savvy a politician to trust such a move would be a positive for her.

    I think she told him not to consider her when they met quietly at Diane Feinstein's house.


    Parent

    Surely BHO would have made that known (none / 0) (#103)
    by Upstart Crow on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:20:28 PM EST


    Parent
    Oh so wrong (none / 0) (#115)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 12:47:11 AM EST
    Not if he wanted her to be stuck carrying the responsibility for getting him those 18M voters he knew were loyal to her.


    Parent
    One of the CNN talkers was saying (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:18:52 PM EST
    how the other choices were like Hillary based on what Obama said he was looking for, lol!~  Too funny if others pick up that angle  :P

    Parent
    I was wrong...it's NHD...Not Happening Dude. (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Teresa on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:26:48 PM EST
    He's still advising it but says it won't happen. I agree with BTD (and Pablano!) that this situation has allowed some to get their hopes up. Even the Hillary haters at Kos are preparing themselves for it.

    This is so frustrating! Yeah sure, Kaine is just like Hillary. So is Bayh! I know Biden is known for foreign policy but is he known as a fighter for the middle class?

    Parent

    Biden is feisty (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:29:55 PM EST
    But this whole idea of him being a working class icon is just ridiculous.

    He may have working class roots but he has been a Senator forever for crissakes.

    But Biden is the best of the choices Obama will consider.

    Parent

    Thank you.... (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:37:53 PM EST
    ...a working class hero he aint.

    Parent
    I agree. I hate it for Jeralyn but I much prefer (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Teresa on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:38:50 PM EST
    him to Kaine or Bayh. I see that ad all the time about McCain voting for the Bush tax cuts and he's going to pick Bayh? Makes no sense to me. I can't believe he's even considering Kaine.

    Parent
    After the Bankruptcy bill vote (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by cawaltz on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:52:07 PM EST
    it would be a wonder how anyone could consider him a working class hero.

    Parent
    There is NO change campaign with Biden (none / 0) (#114)
    by SueBonnetSue on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 12:08:24 AM EST
    He's as inside the beltway as is possible.  

    Parent
    That's funny about the Hillary Haters (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:32:41 PM EST
    are they twisting into pretzels yet?

    I think if they don't announce until later tomorrow, I'd like to hear more attempted comparisons to Hillary. Comedic value  ;)

    Parent

    This is very anti-Unity... (none / 0) (#105)
    by Upstart Crow on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:22:55 PM EST
    It's setting up the Hillary camp for disruption at the convention ... so tha HRC can be blamed AGAIN?

    Parent
    How Much Shallower Can Our Political Discourse Get (5.00 / 13) (#9)
    by BDB on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:06:46 PM EST
    than two rich men arguing over their houses?   I'm sure the unemployed in Ohio feel much better about their lives and their future now.

    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by JavaCityPal on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:27:54 PM EST
    He's richer than me! So, he's rich, too! I'm not elite, he is! Wait, what does elite mean?


    Parent
    I think it is a silly idea to delay because (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by inclusiveheart on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:07:32 PM EST
    of the house gaffe.

    Why not have a powerful surrogate to advance it?  That's the kind of job a VP usually does anyway.

    Obama has been late in his pick imo - should have had one before he went on vacation - to cover.

    But whatever.  These people are going to do whatever they are going to do and we are going to be safe from crazy John McCain or not.

    Who has more bathrooms (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Cream City on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:19:55 PM EST
    is not worth making Obama look indecisive, if you ask me.  Yeh, we junkies know he said he decided.  But most don't know that.  Or, I guess, even care.

    Yeh, Wolfie spent some time on the houses.  But Larry King and more time is being spent on will he or won't he (pick a VP, pick Clinton, blah blah).

    And I think Fridays are not good, either.  But it's got to be then.  Saturday is even worse, with people out and about and no one watching news.

    And Sunday is the Olympics closing ceremonies.  I love the closing ceremonies.  Almost as much as the opening ceremonies.  One world and all that. . . .

    Oh, and p.s. to BTD (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Cream City on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:21:31 PM EST
    The other thread closed before I could reply to say okay and thanks.  Fer chrissakes.

    Parent
    Maybe I've been into this for too long, (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Anne on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:35:48 PM EST
    but there's a little part of me that wonders if the Obama campaign is not kind of having fun stringing the Hillary supporters along so they can crush them - and her - one more time.  Maybe it's a case of "so what if some percentage of her voters don't sign on?  We're the ground-game experts!"

    I mean, if they are too short-sighted to see that she should have been his pick, probably on the day they appeared together in Unity, NH - some great optics and a great theme there - they might just be completely blind to the risk they are taking by dragging this out so long.

    I think the house story was happenstance - there's no way the campaign puts a VP announcement on hold for something so trivial.

    Cannot make decision (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by Stellaaa on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:35:50 PM EST
    To me, he looks like he cannot make a decision.  Do I want that in a President?  Hedging their bets.  Why is McCain not making a similar circus?  

    Warped campaigning (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Lou Grinzo on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:41:19 PM EST
    Honestly, I think this kind of rich guy slap fight only angers most voters.  They assume all politicians at this level are filthy rich, powerful, able to get sweetheart deals on everything, etc.

    Real voters in the real world are scared spitless about health care and evaporating jobs and energy prices and a pile of other issues.  When they see this kind of nonsense between two presidential candidates I think many of them just tune it out.

    I guess it lets the yakking head shows fill air time, though.

    I'm sure McCain likes the house issue (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:42:02 PM EST
    Americans don't care about stuff like that. Obama believes McCain will be like Hillary who would not use some issues to avoid alienating Obama's supporters who are oblivious to Obama's weaknesses. Now Obama will find out that Hillary was not throwing at the kitchen sink during the primaries.  McCain will throw the kitchen sink and all empty all the guns he has.

    Link

    Wow. Fighting Fire With Fire (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:55:55 PM EST
    I think trying to capitalize on the "gaffe" may yet be another mistake for Obama.

    In addition to...

    • going on the Rock Star World Tour
    • choosing to accept the nomination at a 75,000-seat stadium
    • taking a one-week holiday in Hawaii
    • teasing and annoying everyone with his Veep choice
    • accepting the invitation to Saddleback, knowing that he's a poor orator (without the help of pre-written speeches and teleprompters)
    ... among many others.

    Parent
    Timing is everything... (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by p lukasiak on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:42:13 PM EST
    ...and Team Obama totally screwed up the timing here, because the focus is now on Obama's weaknesses, rather than his stregths, thanks to a spate of bad polling numbers.

    Obama's pick will no longer be reported as what he adds to the ticket, but what deficiencies in Obama he compensates for -- and what he doesn't compensate for.

    Obama's internal polling numbers had to have 'previewed' the bad number revealed this week, and Team Obama should have rolled out the VP choice to blunt the impact of those number (those numbers would have gotten far less attention simply because more attention would have been paid to the VP pick, and the poll numbers would have been seen as far less significant because they did not reflect the VP choice.)

    As for the whole "house" thing, this is such a huge opportunity for McCain -- and one thing he should do as soon as possible is point out that Team Obama is trying to make this an issue, and how much Obama whined when the press raised questions about Rezko, Wright and Ayres and "bitter/cling".  And he should use the word "whined"... repeatedly.

    Strengths (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:49:56 PM EST
    What strength? I'm serious.  I don't know of any strength Obama possesses.  I see Obama as a weak politician.

    Parent
    Paul, I remember a very specific (5.00 / 0) (#73)
    by MarkL on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:12:11 PM EST
    prediction you made a few months ago about how Obama will be attacked on another aspect of his bio.
    I thought that was a brilliant prediction.. I'm waiting to see if it pans out.

    Parent
    geez.... (5.00 / 0) (#87)
    by p lukasiak on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:34:00 PM EST
    I spend so much time talking out my butt I'm not sure what I've predicted?  Is this a reference to attacks based on Obama being not merely a recipient of Affirmative Action, but an "abuse" of AA (I mean, the whole purpose of AA is to compensate for the contemporary impact of historic racial discrimination -- and an expensive private school in Hawaii doesn't exactly fit that criteria, now does it?)

    Parent
    well, (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:41:44 PM EST
    whether talking out of your butt or using your creative, insightful mind, I want to take a moment to thank you for your Posts.  I often look for them, always enjoy them and, more often than not, learn something new.

    So, thank you.  Or thank your butt for me.  Which could be weird if one thinks about it for too long, but ... ah, what the hell!  It's TalkLeft!

    :-)

    Parent

    I can't discuss it here. (none / 0) (#89)
    by MarkL on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:36:55 PM EST


    Parent
    Such a tease... (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:41:54 PM EST


    Parent
    McCain should say... (5.00 / 0) (#57)
    by p lukasiak on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:47:33 PM EST
    ...that he has only one home, his ranch in Arizona -- that when congress is in session, he lives in another house in the DC area but doesn't consider it his "home", and that his wife's trust fund owns various other residential properties, but that he doesn't keep track of them because taking care of the people's business is more important to him that keeping track of the trust funds real estate holdings.

    He should say (none / 0) (#60)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:52:58 PM EST
    I don't know what my wife owns, and allows me to go to her houses.

    Parent
    Totally bad (none / 0) (#62)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:54:40 PM EST
    McCain should say: "I don't know what my wife owns, but she allows me to go to her houses."

    Parent
    LOL (5.00 / 0) (#88)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:36:10 PM EST
    worked for my Dad!  They both came from families who had -- and still have -- money stretching back generations and would often tease each other about whose house we would be going to THIS time.

    But he didn't pay attention to what was in her Trust or how her Real Property was handled and she didn't pay attention to his.  If you were to ask my Dad today how many houses my Mom and her family had, he wouldn't be able to answer.

    Or, rather, he would say "Just one:  wherever my wife and three rugrats were at, that was home for me."

    McCain's inability to answer made perfect sense to me.  What's confusing is how Obama thought this would be a good issue to run with.  Did he and the brilliant political minds on his staff NOT see the inevitable Rezko-helped-Obama-buy-his-mansion blowback?

    Ugh.

    Parent

    I heard an Obama pundit say tonight (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by zfran on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:17:56 PM EST
    that we should be speaking of issues that are important to the country, and that McCain was making a big deal of this issue. I guess once again Obama does not take responsibility for bringing this up in the first place.

    Parent
    okay (none / 0) (#102)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:20:05 PM EST
    so obviously that one blew up in Obama's face if his supporters are trying to change the subject.

    Parent
    and Rule #1 is (5.00 / 2) (#109)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:29:01 PM EST
    "it's never, ever Barack's fault ... ever!"

    Low-level staffer, that's not what he meant, he was misunderstood ... whatever.  But it's never his fault.

    Oh.  And yet again we get to watch Barack sissy-slap McCain and then run away crying and looking for someone else to blame when he gets punched -- hard! -- back.

    It's Presidential Politics, Obama, not a friggin' tea party!

    Parent

    McCain gave us all a gift in the house thing. (none / 0) (#108)
    by Christy1947 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:28:19 PM EST
    One of the responses his campaign made was a claim that you couldn't say that about him and houses because he had spent five and half years in a prison. this is  campaign gold and needs its own opportunity to sink in with regular Americans who will, I think, find it really tacky, the campaign and the man jumping the shark on his golden goose issue, a very short step from the giuliani pan His sentences all consist of one noun, one verb and "9/11" His campaign also threw in rezko, arugula and a couple of other silly things to duck it. All in one awful quote.  Such a gift to pull the thorn of the POW issue needs savoring and not stepping on.

    We'll hear who it is because I assume that person will be standing there in Springfield on Saturday morning. But I wouldn't want to dilute the simmering effect of the beautiful leaping shark because of the long term damage it does. And McCain did it to himself.

    Parent

    bull (5.00 / 2) (#110)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:32:09 PM EST
    already we're hearing "who cares how many houses Cindy owns, what's important is how many houses Obama's friends have blown up".

    It was a stupid issue for Obama to bring up which offered -- effortlessly! -- McCain a golden opportunity to begin his conversation about the ties Obama and Rezko have.  

    Try to spin it all you like.  At the end of the day, the more interesting water cooler gossip is not how many houses the McCains have, but that Obama had the help of a now convicted felon in buying his mansion.

    Parent

    What's funny is how what McCain said (none / 0) (#95)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:43:55 PM EST
    is being distorted by Obama. If you listen to the tape they're playing, He obviously didn't want to misspeak and said something about condos. If they have investment property or the property owned by the trust, he would want to get that right and it's my understanding it's his wife's biz. He was doing the same thing Hillary would do. Trying not to feed BS smears.

    Parent
    what? (none / 0) (#97)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:50:44 PM EST
    Obama distorting something McCain said?  But that's so ... so ... Old Politics!

    Heh.

    Parent

    here's a new McCain "house" come back (5.00 / 0) (#63)
    by DandyTIger on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:54:56 PM EST
    about the houses. I just heard crazy Sean said: "which is more important, the number of houses Cindy owns, or the number of houses Obama's friends have blown up." OK, very silly. But no sillier than "Obama's gold."

    Actually (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:13:07 PM EST
    I'm surprised at the gut reaction that statement gave me. It might be a lot more effective than people are willing to admit. Having friends like Ayers is not an asset.

    Parent
    that was a devastating (5.00 / 3) (#85)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:28:03 PM EST
    hit from Hannity.  Easy to remember, concise and to the point.

    The Media putting Hillary, in effect, into a straight-jacket and screaming like banshees with every gentle love tap she gave Obama as if it was a low-blow so as to not ruffle The One may have been the worst mistake made.  

    Or was it?

    I still suspect the Media -- as in the guys who write the checks for the people who write the checks for the on-air bobbleheads -- has been pulling for McCain all along and saw clear as a bell that Obama was effortlessly beatable while Hillary was the real threat.  

    Ergo, Hillary is maligned and undemocratically -- and against the Voter's clear intent -- ousted, Obama is propped up until he's the Official Nominee and then reporters around the Country will suddenly find themselves asking "Obama who?" as they sharpen their metaphorical pens for the inevitable hit pieces.

    This quote from Hannity is only the beginning.  One has to wonder, if it gets as bad as I fear it will, if Obama will have ANY political career left once they're through with him.

    Parent

    the 'really pull for McCain" theory... (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by p lukasiak on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:43:36 PM EST
    ...is overdetermined.

    The media isn't pulling for either candidate -- Obama was just a vehicle for the media's contempt for the Clintons -- if it hadn't been Obama, it would have been someone else that the media built up while denigrating Hillary.

    What the media is 'pulling for' is stuff to sell newspapers ads and television commercials (which are two different things, btw.  Newspapers need actual 'news' to actually sell the papers the ads appear in.  TV depends upon 'controversy' rather than news...and can make up controversies out of whole cloth.)

    Parent

    you're right (5.00 / 2) (#98)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:55:36 PM EST
    with most of it.  Although I know for a fact that the people who write the checks for the people who write the checks for the on-air bobbleheads (or everyday scribblers at the papers) do determine content.  

    And a story getting on-air or in-print can make the difference between a candidate being on defense or on offense.

    As we round out of September and into October, I expect to see Obama on the ground in a fetal position, forever on defense due to the content from the McCain Camp the Media pushed and reported and "allowed" to get traction.

    That's how they'll help their truly chosen candidate.

    Andrea and Keith and Tweety are, after all, just bobbleheads who, in the end, take their orders from the Big Guys upstairs.

    Parent

    Ayers was an asset (none / 0) (#80)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:16:17 PM EST
    at one time.  Ayers comes from a rich family with lots of connections.  The 527 group will spend 2.8 million to air the Ayers ad.

    Parent
    Expect (5.00 / 0) (#84)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:26:28 PM EST
    more collapsing poll numbers then.

    Parent
    Actually that was a very good hit, IMO. (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by MarkL on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:15:37 PM EST
    Democrats have given him on passes on major defects that Republicans will not ignore.

    Parent
    This will backfire...again (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Fen on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:03:45 PM EST
    Compare what McCain and Obama do with their own money. McCain adopts a child from a 3rd world country and raises it as his own. Obama won't even lend a hand to his own half-brother who's stuck in a 3rd world country.

    And Obama intends to portray McCain as greedy and selfish one?


    Charitable Contributions (5.00 / 0) (#77)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:14:08 PM EST
    I do believe in all of 2007, BO/MO contributed about $1,000 to charity. While Cindy McCain made about $6 million in contributions -- I don't know about John McCain.

    (By comparison, both Hillary and Bill made about $11 million in contributions, which includes Bill's foundation contributions as well)

    Parent

    McCain gives away all the money he makes (5.00 / 0) (#81)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:17:43 PM EST
    McCain doesn't need his money because his wife is able to take care of the old man.

    Parent
    Wrong (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by Politalkix on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:40:16 PM EST
    McCain has not been portrayed as "greedy and selfish", he is just being portrayed as "out of touch" with Americans in a humorous way. This "out of touch" narrative may get traction because of various things that Sen. McCain, his wife and advisors have said. eg: Sen. McCain's statement that anyone making less than 5 million dollars per year is not rich (so is middle class), Cindy McCain's statement that one needs a private airplane to be able to travel within Arizona, Phil Gramm statement that Americans are whining about the economy, etc.
    If I was a McCain supporter, I would stay away from all half-sibling stories because of this.
    Please note that even though I support Obama, I appreciate Cindy McCain's decision to adopt a child from Bangladesh.

    Parent
    How about Obama's half brother who (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by zfran on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:21:24 PM EST
    lives in Africa and lives in poverty on $1 per week. He said he'd met his "famous" half brother twice.

    Parent
    Wow. You are really into (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:30:05 PM EST
    cheapshots. BTW, Mrs. McCain adopted the child. JSM had nothing to do with that. Really low, but not entirely surprising...

    Parent
    John McCain (none / 0) (#96)
    by Grace on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:46:54 PM EST
    adopted his first wife's children.  

    Parent
    This campaign has made a turn (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:13:37 PM EST
    into comedy.  I think Obama is not having fun, but the old man is.

    He was here again today. (none / 0) (#4)
    by Joan in VA on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:00:22 PM EST
    Story is that Kaine has a private meeting with him to sell himself. No sale?
    If they have an appearance tomorrow, won't the Springfield event be anti-climactic? Or was that just a red herring?

    ummm....had not has. (none / 0) (#5)
    by Joan in VA on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:01:32 PM EST


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    they can't really think houses = political gold (none / 0) (#6)
    by DandyTIger on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:02:24 PM EST
    can they? I think they have a tin ear if they do. Very silly story indeed. And easily countered as we've seen by a number commenters here. I hope that's not true. If it is, there's less brainpower in that campaign than even I thought.

    But then again, it's got everyone's attention. Just so long as they don't let us all down by it being any of the top ones mentioned. snark?

    Fool's gold, perhaps. (5.00 / 5) (#16)
    by Warren Terrer on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:14:26 PM EST
    It puzzles me how a millionaire with a Chicago mansion thinks attacking another millionaire for having a few more mansions is 'political gold', especially with the name 'Tony Rezko' is tied to that mansion.

    I think Obama is running a lousy campaign. I just had a look at Dkos for the first time in a while and it's like another planet over there now. They think attacking a Republican for being rich is a winning strategy? God save us all.

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    Those grizzled old prospecters have been ... (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by RonK Seattle on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:22:04 PM EST
    ... out in the hills too long, without finding any gold ... or any shade.

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    I know they don't get it. (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:39:40 PM EST
    Republicans are supposed to be rich. Its Democrats that can be bashed for being rich.

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    lol, good point about the repub rich angle too (none / 0) (#22)
    by DandyTIger on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:18:43 PM EST
    hadn't really let that gel in my head. Yea, they're basically attacking a repub for being rich. When they're rich. Genius.

    I think we need to come up with a drinking game for stupid campaign ideas. :-)

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    Wonder how the Edwards supporters (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by MarkL on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:21:36 PM EST
    feel about that?

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    And aren't most Senators (none / 0) (#121)
    by Landulph on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 02:26:00 AM EST
    millionaires in any case? Don't forget that the Democrat's last nominee (in similar financial circumstances to McCain) was repeatedly derided by the Hannity gang as "the kept man of a billionairess." Doesn't using the same line of attack just make the Dems look like idiots and hypocrites?

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    this is the (none / 0) (#11)
    by Edgar08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:08:54 PM EST
    "create your own reality" movement.

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    Somewhere between this morning and.... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:10:25 PM EST
    ...this afternoon, they managed to convince MSM that it was political gold as the coverage of this story changed sharply and by the time Wolf Blitzer was on he was reporting it as a major gaffe by McCain.

    I happen to believe that most people won't give a rat's patootie about this story, just like the Clinton income taxes. It seemed like the only people that bashed the Clintons for being rich were pretty well-to-do themselves.

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    And now every time it's reported (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Valhalla on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:25:10 PM EST
    McCain's response is put out there:

    Obama blah blah blah blah made $4 million last year blah blah blah blah vacation on private beach in Hawaii blah blah blah blah worries about the price of arugla blah blah

    That's what people will hear.

    And all the echo chamberists banging about how "there are no private beaches in Hawaii!" are beyond mockworthy.  That sort of clever parsing may win BIG points in junior high debate club, but trust me, most Americans are not going to feel that it's an election-changing distinction.

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    Powerful Response (5.00 / 0) (#37)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:29:50 PM EST
    I think it plays right to the "Celebrity/The One" ad messages of Obama being a high-roller/elitist, power-hungry and a celebrity.

    Speaking of the Celebrity ad, the McCain campaign launched a sequel to it tonight, but I've yet to see it.

    Hopefully, it doesn't have Paris Hilton or Britney Spears in it.

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    The One: Road to Denver (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:35:53 PM EST
    check his site or youtube. I linked it in an earlier post. Body surfing was added in and a few others. And I think this is the first time they answer the ready to lead question.Oh, and they got Nancy's G-d quote in, lol!~

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    OMG! Too funny, LOL (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:46:44 PM EST
    Sorry, it was a sequel to The One.

    I got to hand it to the McCain campaign, yet again, for making a hilarious ad. I really love the soundtrack for it, with the 'celestial choir,' and the scenes of the films spliced into it. The voice-over guy is good too. It sounds very familiar; like the voice-over guy for Hollywood films.

    I can't believe Pelosi actually said that; a quote tailor-made for an attack ad. And I couldn't quite make out what Kaine was saying. Either the sound quality was bad, or he was yammering (doesn't bode well if he's the VP pick)

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    Apparently after the supposed ceasefire (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:56:18 PM EST
    Kaine went on TV and said something about them listening to Obama.

    If Obama isn't handing out material, his supporters are. Iirc, Nancy said that at a fundraiser in . . .  San Francisco, lol!~ They really need to stop having fundraisers there!

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    If it's the one that invokes (5.00 / 3) (#55)
    by Anne on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:46:56 PM EST
    Charlton Heston as Moses, it made me laugh out loud...very clever and something people are going to remember.

    It is so mocking of Obama, but in a way that cuts right to who he just might be.

    Parent

    there was the first ad (5.00 / 3) (#61)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:53:26 PM EST
    which had Charlton Heston and now there's a Sequel which also has him as well as some more clips from the film.

    The quotes from Kaine and Pelosi are classic (in a stomach turning-type of way) and the body surfing shots are gold ... for McCain.

    McCain's sense of humor may get him more voters in the end than Obama's sense of serious indignation.  

    One is fun to witness; the other, not so much.

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    If he's smart (none / 0) (#46)
    by cawaltz on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:36:06 PM EST
    he'll use the tack several here have pointed out. According to John McCain's definition Obama is middle class.

    On a sidenote ccpup I wanted to respond to you on the other thread but couldn't.

    1)I'm not an Obama supporter and won't be unless Hillary is on his ticket 2) I'm pragmatic. As I stated I respect McCain's service but I'm not going to allow him to use it as a selling point for him. Why? I also respect the service of Iraqi war veterans who have lost lives and limbs and did so because folks like John McCain wrongly believed and continue to believe that the President was right to cherry pick intel and dupe the American people into believing the war in Iraq was the right thing to do. At the end of the day THAT is far more relevant than the fact that John McCain had bad things happen to him(through the fault of fate)as a prisoner of war.

    For the record, wearing the uniform comes with risks which is why you respect someone who takes the time to put one on but at the end of the day you recognize that no one really "wants" to be a hero, not when the price tag of being one is so high.

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    I agree with you. (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:59:29 PM EST
    Bad things have happened as result of his vote for the Iraq War and bad things happened to him as a result of his service many years ago.

    But his experience as a POW IS a huge part of the Bio many Americans know of him and, like it or not, when people think of McCain, they think "POW" and "Straight Talk Express".  It's what I call his "cultural shorthand".  Of course there's more to his story, but many Americans are too busy to delve deep.  They know "POW" and "Straight Talk Express" (or "Maverick").  It's successful branding.

    Obama's Campaign won't be able to redefine the POW part of McCain's history, so don't even try!  Stick to the issues and he may have a chance to win.  Turn it to the personal story and Barack's in a heap of trouble.  

    Obama just can't compete on that score.

    Parent

    His bio (none / 0) (#74)
    by cawaltz on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:12:36 PM EST
    is the same as many living in obscurity during the particular era he lived in. There are many Vietnam veterans I admire and respect but I would not want running the country(and I feel particularly that way if they had McCain's opinion on Iraq).

    If the Obama camp was smart they'd make sure that the part of his bio that is more relevant today(his position on Iraq) is not engulfed by his waxing poetic about a terrible time in his life and how that makes him "fit to lead(For the record he stayed in the POW camp because there wasn't much of a choice,hence the name POW).

    It's about reframing the narrative. I'm not confident the Obama campaign can do it because they haven't done so thus far. I am forever marveling that we can't past playing defense. Sigh.

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    Hey (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Politalkix on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:41:16 PM EST
    how many of you think that the McCain campaign is blowing a fuse for no reason about the "McCain doesn't know how many houses he owns" comedy gold by angrily bringing up Rezko, argula, POW, etc. Maybe the Senator from Arizona should just try smiling off his gaffe. Gotta have humor in the campaign :-) :-).
    BTW, everytime McCain's campaign calls Obama "elitist", Obama can insist that he is middle class with a smile and a wink because in McCain's world, middle class consists of people who earn upto 5 million dollars per year.

    Parent
    Again, it's an argument that might (5.00 / 0) (#66)
    by Valhalla on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:58:41 PM EST
    win jr high debate club, but will not win over voters.

    It only gives McCain another opportunity to talk about how much money the Obamas have, and bring up Rezko.  And throw Michelle talking about what a burden the girls' $10,000 a year ballet lessons are on the Obamas.

    Even in jr high debate club, they know the other side's going to have a response.

    Parent

    When Forbes (none / 0) (#117)
    by JThomas on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 01:33:41 AM EST
    put out the net worth numbers for candidates in 2007 these were the numbers:

    McCain- 50 million+
    Obama-  1.3 million

    Now where I come from, McCain,who we know is actually worth 100million+ when you add in Cindy, is almost 100 times richer than Obama.
     Obama is about the poorest nominee in decades.
    The media is crushing McCain on this tonite.
    It is in the bloodstream with even local news picking it up.
    And the POW response makes it even worse. Lt.General Robert Gard wrote a piece asking McCain to not denigrate vets and POW's by using his POW status to deflect questions like today.

    This was a good day to let the media stew about the VP pick and focus on McCains gaffe.


    Parent

    Obama is 47 years old. (none / 0) (#120)
    by EL seattle on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 02:04:42 AM EST
    How much will his next book contract(s) be worth?  Movie rights?  Michelle's book(s)?

    If Obama isn't worth $100,000,000 by the time he turns 50, he isn't trying.

    Parent

    McCain just needs to trot out (5.00 / 0) (#68)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:03:39 PM EST
    the video. he was joking when he said that. I don't think at 4.5mil Obama should be joking he's middle class. Not when he's not hurting like they are. Nod and a wink is the last freakin' thing they need. He needs empathy, which he has been sorely lacking.

    Parent
    Joking? (none / 0) (#78)
    by cawaltz on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:14:17 PM EST
    No. That's the definition he used during the debate. There is not a person in the world that is gonna believe he was joking.

    Parent
    blowing a fuse? (5.00 / 2) (#70)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:04:02 PM EST
    try again.

    more like driving a Rezko-semi through the huge Hole of Opportunity Obama's inept attempt at an attack created.

    McCain was waiting for the chance to bring up Rezko without it seeming like he was personally attacking Obama first and, boom!, there it was, all wrapped up in a pretty red bow with a little love letter from Barack attached.

    As I said earlier in a different thread, when it comes to juicy water cooler gossip, McCain having a lot of homes comes nowhere near Obama buying a mansion with the help of a convicted felon.

    "Oh really?  NO!"  "Yeah, a MANSION with a convicted FELON!"

    Ugh.

    Parent

    Suggestion: watch your convicted felon stuff. (none / 0) (#111)
    by Christy1947 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:34:53 PM EST
    Ayers was never arrested much less convicted. rezko was subsequently convicted for fidoodling, with Republicans.

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    Ayers admits he did the bombings. (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by MarkL on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:37:41 PM EST
    He isn't remotely repentant.
    "Innocent until proven guilty" does not work in the court of public opinion when the perp proudly owns up to his acts.

    Parent
    excuse me? (5.00 / 2) (#113)
    by ccpup on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:46:40 PM EST
    I wasn't talking about Ayers (whose only regret is he didn't bomb more).  

    I was talking about Rezko who IS a convicted felon and WAS under Federal Investigation when he helped Obama buy his house.  Unless Barack is deaf, dumb and blind -- or just ensconced in a protective little bubble where he doesn't read the papers --, there's no way he could NOT have known the trouble his friend of twenty years was in.

    Those are the facts.

    And keep your "suggestions" to yourself.

    Parent

    How many? (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by Romberry on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:16:31 PM EST
    Other than people wearing Obamarose glasses, I suspect that the answer is zero.

    Seriously, Obama opened up a door wide enough to drive a semi-truck through. He lives in a million+ dollar property that the purchase of was made possible by Tony Rezko. He made 4+ million dollars last year. And the fact that McCain married money is not news.

    Sorry...but McCain's houses are likely to land on Obama about the way that Dorothy's house landed on the Wicked Witch of the West.

    Parent

    Please stop spreading false (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by zfran on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:23:42 PM EST
    statements. McCain's $5million answer was a bit of humor, the audience laughed at it, and he went on to answer the question.

    Parent
    Obama's favorite movie might be a hint. (none / 0) (#7)
    by Lysis on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:03:51 PM EST
    He told Entertainment Weekly his favorite fictional president is Jeff Bridges in The Contender.  

    In that film, the VP has died in office, and the media is speculating until the very last minute about which guy will be the president's choice for VP.  Then they are shocked when it's Joan Allen's character.

    The media assassinates her character to the point where she withdraws her name from consideration.  Then the president just nominates her again.  


    And, the president makes a (none / 0) (#107)
    by zfran on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:26:31 PM EST
    very rousing speech to congress regarding his pick and he stands by her 100%.

    Parent
    The house situation is getting a lot of (none / 0) (#13)
    by Teresa on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:11:18 PM EST
    coverage. I don't know how many news junkies don't already know that McCain is married to a very wealthy woman.

    I wish they would talk about health care. I've read that McCain's tax credit could encourage many younger people with good jobs to opt for his credit rather than employer subsidized plans which could destroy the plans we have now at work. It's weird that so many of Obama's younger supporters would actually benefit from McCains's plan more than his (while leaving the ones most in need left out all around).

    TVA just announced today that rates for electricity will go up 20% all over the southeast in October. That's what they need to be talking about.

    What's More (5.00 / 0) (#17)
    by dissenter on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:15:03 PM EST
    I can't believe they think this is a gold story when someone is going to quickly point out Obama got his house off a deal with Rezko. The stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

    Parent
    Done (5.00 / 0) (#41)
    by Lou Grinzo on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:34:57 PM EST
    On Hardball, Matthews showed a McCain ad that already makes explicit reference to Rezko.

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    But I thought (none / 0) (#15)
    by jtaylorr on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:14:11 PM EST
    Nate was just a dumb "Obamabot"...

    blind pigs and acorns (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:17:43 PM EST


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    heh, nice saying (none / 0) (#31)
    by DandyTIger on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:26:08 PM EST
    (even blind pigs can find an acorn) I think I like it better than the broken clock one.

    Parent
    The house story is poison for Obama. (none / 0) (#20)
    by MarkL on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:17:39 PM EST
    Although, in a backwards way, this gives me some confidence Obama will win in November.
    I'm terrible at political predictions. In fact, when candidates do things I consider boneheaded, this can be a good sign.

    Still.. he wants to allow discussion of Rezko??
    Hard to fathom.

    For McCain, maybe (none / 0) (#42)
    by pmj6 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 08:34:59 PM EST
    Reporting today was very much pro-Obama on this story on all channels (well, maybe not Fox). They seem to have landed a blow with this one for the first time in a while.

    Parent
    How many houses did McCain own... (none / 0) (#71)
    by EL seattle on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:05:13 PM EST
    ... when he was 47 years old?

    I'm just curious about that.

    Apples, oranges, etc.

    McCain is not rich (5.00 / 0) (#72)
    by Prabhata on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:11:21 PM EST
    but his wife is.  Some people believe is the same, but it's not.

    Parent
    Don't most Senators have TWO houses? (none / 0) (#82)
    by Grace on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:22:22 PM EST
    One in their home state and one in Washington?

    Most people who have a fulltime job in Washington (like Senators, Congressmen, Supreme Court Justices, etc.) would have a house in Washington.  It only makes sense.

    So why doesn't Obama have another house in Washington?  Could it be because he just never planned to occupy that seat he won in the Senate?    

    I think he does have one... (5.00 / 0) (#83)
    by JimWash08 on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:24:49 PM EST
    In fact, I read somewhere that it is located two streets up from where I live ... maybe he doesn't own it, but rents it.

    Parent
    Schumer and a couple others (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 09:40:05 PM EST
    share a place. It was on some show about 2 yrs ago and was pretty d@mn funny. Can't remember who he roomed with, but they were fairly casual about their living conditions . . .

    It may depend on how far away they live and their personal needs in DC. It makes sense that Hillary has a place their and isn't bunking with the "girls", same with Feinstien (sp?!), Boxer and a few others.

    Parent

    Back in the day... as I understand it... (none / 0) (#99)
    by EL seattle on Thu Aug 21, 2008 at 10:02:47 PM EST
    ... it was really common for new representatives to share housing.  Sort of like dorm days on Capitol Hill.  This resulted in some real odd couple combos, but it probably did a lot to help behind the scenes / across the aisle camaraderie.

    There should be a web site that lists the more interesting and offbeat matchups of the past.  Somewhere...

    Parent

    Political Gold? (none / 0) (#116)
    by facta non verba on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 12:57:40 AM EST
    Hardly. Look at the response:

    McCain Hits Obama with Rezki in a New Ad

    McCain does actually own a home. His wife has eight either hers outright or through a trust or through her corporation. McCain earned $400K last year, the Obama's earned $4.2 million. Cindy McCain hasn't disclosed her income. It's estimated at around $7 million and she has a prenuptial agreement.

    The point is (none / 0) (#118)
    by JThomas on Fri Aug 22, 2008 at 01:42:40 AM EST
    that he is  kept man whose wife runs his life and he cannot even answer a straightforward question without seeking his staff for help.
    Not a strong leader picture. Out of touch picture.
    Like George H.W.Bush not knowing about scanners in grocery stores. Superwealthy guys like this struggle to fake being average guys.

    Obama has already been thru the rezko grilling...nothing new has happened..never anything there as determined by Patrick Fitzgerald of Plame fame.

    No, this was a bad day for McCain,finally.

    Parent

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