Out of respect for the day, I’ll be avoiding any political posting tomorrow. But I’ve got plenty more to talk about today …
The belipsticked-pig story is getting the most media play, despite the the media being quite aware that they are being manipulated by the McCain campaign into focusing on it. On the bright side, most of the analysis has been brutally critical of the GOP tactic and ad — and, in fact, CBS has had the YouTube version of the web ad taken down for using (and misrepresenting) one of their reporters in a political advert.
The one bright side to the whole mess is that Obama has managed (in my eyes, at least) to come off as for more a statesman and leader than I expect McCain or Palin can ever be. His response was appropriately firm, critical, but non-hyperbolic. He spelled it out for people that these are the tactics of distraction, and a tacit admission that the McCain campaign has nothing constructive to say or argue from.
Of course, that not the only ad where an Obama quote is being distorted out of context. But what it all boils down to is, honestly, a true tragedy. Eight years ago, McCain was held in respect, even admiration, by a sizable amount of the electorate. He really was seen (with some justice) as a maverick, as someone who might have feet of clay, but who could be counted upon to fight the good fight. Even if you didn’t agree with all his positions, his foul mistreatment by Rove and the Bush Campaign during the 2000 GOP primaries garnered tremendous sympathy.
Now, though, the campaign being run in his name is the same Rovean engine of distortion and lies that brought him down in 2000, and by letting that happen McCain has utterly lost the respect of both his opponents and a number of his friends. There are only two explanations I can see: either he’s shown his true colors as an angry, power-seeking demogogue, willing to sell his soul in order to win — or else he’s a latter-day John Gill, insulated, unaware, or otherwise powerless to do anything to rein in his handlers.
I’m charitable enough to assume the latter, but neither seems a good choice to be the next president.
And since no election post can go past without a mention of Sen. McCain’s running mate, the tale of earmarks and Troopergate keep getting incrementally more and more interesting, and damning. Nothing exciting and new, but more rocks to add to the stone bucket.
Did you hear the delightful piece on NPR where, after noting that the lipstick-on-a-pig meme is an old politician’s rhetorical chestnut (used by pols of both parties over the years), they actually had a pig farmer go out and try to put lipstick on a pig and report the result “live?”
Unfortunately, the pig in question kept eating the lipstick, and the farmer was amused to relay that pigs don’t really have lips, so most of the Ruby Red ended up on its snout, and that he was not sure it was a great improvement.
Well, of course. Ruby Red is totally the wrong shade for a black-and-white pig, unless you’re going for the Vampire Goth look.
Yes, it was amusing. I also enjoyed hearing Dick Cheney use the phrase, as did John McCain himself regarding Hillary Clinton’s medical insurance plans during the primary. I also seem to recall that when the Clinton campaign made general complaints about sexism, it was Gov. Palin herself who suggested essentially that such whining was unbecoming from a candidate or campaign for national office.
The DNC (note: not the Obama campaign directly, more on that below!) needs to run commercials with tape of McCain and Palin refuting everything they’re saying now. Liberal talk radio (Hi Air America!) is doing a good job airing these sound bites, but it needs to get in front of folks other than the core audience.
I honestly think that the Obama campaign and Mr. Obama himself need to stay out of the mud. Point out contradictions on the part of the GOP in a forthright and non-snarky manner.
The nearly 60 days remaining in the campaign is a political eternity (and will definitely feel like that before its done!). He’ll only damage himself by using Republican tactics. It might be satisfying to the Dem base, but will definitely turn off more voters.
The Obama message of change will be stained beyond redemption if he descends into the tried and true dirty tricks.
Other than corrections of Republican untruths (pretty much any time they open their mouths *sigh*), the Obama campaign will be well served by waiting until after the first round of debates to pull out the big guns.
I’m thinking that there will be a very effective campaign that simply shows McCain and Palin and switches to big red letters: LIARS. Then goes off to catalog the outright lies they’ve told on the campaign.
I can’t disagree with anything you’re saying.
On obsidian there were loads of “No books were removed, the librain wasn’t fired” posts on the Book Ban controversy.
They point out the librarian was asked to resign because “didn’t fully support her [Palin’s] agenda”. Eh? Is every Obama voting civil servant going to be expected to do the same if the Oven Chip wins?
More and more “eh?” moments keep appearing and getting explained away (apparently there is no actual evidence any rape victim was charged for a rape kit, just the law was enacted) but more and more of this stuff keeps appearing. Politically, she’s not very bright is she?
I haven’t caught up with the “rape kit” news since the story actually broke. I don’t know the actual crime numbers from Wasilla, but (a) I would suspect that some victims might be warded off by being confronted with the charges at the time, and (b) some law enforcement officers might supportively suggest that a victim visit another jurisdiction so as avoid those charges