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October 05, 2008
What I Think Obama Should Say Tuesday Night
The only thing McCain has left - aside from the Republicans who will never vote for the other side and the small group (I think) who will never vote for a Black man (He'll lose some in that group who will never vote for a woman either) - is the "he's not one of us" smear campaign.
So, without rage, I think Obama should roll out the following at some point on Tuesday night...
"Senator... you and your camp have accused me of not seeing America as a force for good in the world, of being unpatriotic, of "palling around" with an unrepentant terrorist, with being unwilling to fund or support the troops already put in harms way in Iraq, with having Fannie Mae's Franklin Raines as an advisor, and the latest game of claiming that the millions of Americans who have supported my campaign financially are now suspect… and we haven’t seen you trot out the former reverend of my church, but I suspect we will… this doesn’t even cover the lies about my policy… so I just want to ask you, Senator… do you really stand behind these stories? Do you approve these smears? Or are you ready to get back to discussing the real issues that face the country we both love, that we both have served, that we both hope to lead to better times?"
Own the smears. Show no fear. Take the one tactic left to McCain away. Because there is no good answer for McCain.
McCain will never have the guts to roll out any of these lies in a debate or town hall situation to Obama's face. Instead, he'll play the safe game in any situation where he or his vice monkey can be questioned and leave the smears to speeches that will become soundbites on TV. Brave.
Posted by dpoland at October 5, 2008 06:42 PM
Comments
Obama needs to come out with something similar to the above. He has to come out swinging in his own way. If not; he lets McCain and his surrogates get away with lies. Which could overwhelm the populace like it did in 2004. Oh wait. Bush and Co. almost destroyed the country in 4 years. HIT'EM EVEN HARDER MR.OBAMA! KNOCK THEM OUT THE F'N BOX!
Posted by: IOIOIOI ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mcnblogs.com/thehotblog/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 5, 2008 08:02 PM
Or, he could just stay above the fray and keep doing what he's been doing, which seems to be working. Undecideds and moderates want a candidate who's positive and confident, not defensive.
Posted by: jeffmcm at October 5, 2008 08:11 PM
It's not defensive to go on offensive. If these tools and miscreants continue to lie. Someone has to call them out on it. Someone like the candidate they are lying about at the moment.
Seriously Jeff; they called the man UNAMERICAN... ALL WEEKEND. Do you really believe he should shrug that off, when McCain is only a few feet away from him?
Posted by: IOIOIOI at October 5, 2008 08:32 PM
Yes.
Posted by: jeffmcm at October 5, 2008 08:33 PM
IO, you're dead wrong. It's good that Obama isn't taking advice from you or Wells or Kos. Obama is winning by standing above, letting McPalin bury themselves.
Obama will not shrug it off, but he won't go in "for the kill" since he doesn't have to. America is tired of this bloodsport and that's why Obama is ahead.
Posted by: christian at October 5, 2008 09:07 PM
Obama may be about to change tactics...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/222101.php
Posted by: Joe Leydon at October 5, 2008 09:16 PM
Posted by: David Poland at October 5, 2008 10:31 PM
I think that the way you do this is not to attack and not to be defensive, but also not to pretend it isn't happening.
I completely understand that Obama not getting nasty is a strong point. But it is presidential to acknowledge that you know what's going on and expect people to answer for it.
Posted by: David Poland at October 5, 2008 10:33 PM
I don't think he should play tit-for-tat with smears, but he shouldn't play dead like Kerry and Dukakis and Gore did, either.
Thank God Shrum isn't involved in the campaign.
Posted by: frankbooth at October 6, 2008 12:22 AM
Christian: it's not about pulling a knife, a gun, or napalm. It's about responding to lies, the people telling the lies, and pointing out those who are telling the lies are not always exactly HONEST. Especially McCain; who has a closet full of secrets and misdeeds (Panama, leaving a scared life for a woman half his age, and the Keating Five), that should lead to him knowing better. So Obama needs to respond in some way to these ridiculous and rather racist attacks.
Posted by: IOIOIOI at October 6, 2008 01:13 AM
I'm sorry, Panama? Please don't tell me you're talking about the Canal Zone.
Posted by: jeffmcm at October 6, 2008 12:07 PM
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