When McCain-Palin moved ahead in the polls, Obama’s supporters began to worry. McCain’s lead is not sizable and not even uniform in all polls, but the perception that “we’re gonna frickin’ lose this thing,” as one columnist at the Huffington Post recently wrote, is driving some panic. Ariana Huffington wants Obama to get all huffy and put the smack down.
Various Dems have offered support, including President Bill Clinton. I am also hearing that the word is ignore Palin and attack McCain, specifically on the economy.
Given the ongoing, bad economic news, finding lots to criticize won’t be hard. However, it is very difficult to pin that on McCain since he has been a persistent critic of Bush administration spending.
In any event, the campaign promises to get uglier and uglier.
Tag: obama
Still stumping for Hillary; Ohio Dems mixed on Obama
This article from the Daily Telegraph reports some Hillary supporters who are not ready to let go of their gal, Hillary.
I have been quite surprised how many women I have talked to around Western PA who were not in favor of Hillary because of her stance on social issues or other issues for that matter, but favored her nonetheless. Rather, they really believed it was simply time for female leadership. Palin has resonated with them and may be the ticket going forward. There are so many demographic groups which may do some shifting this time around. I continue to wonder if evangelicals will break at the last minute toward Obama; not in large numbers but enough to offset some of the 18 million HIllary voters who might defect from Obama toward McCain.
Obama supporter: Americans are being fooled by "incompetent, corrupt liars"
Liberals cannot figure out why John McCain is doing well in the polls. It is making them restless. Witness Bob Cesca’s column, “Fooled Again,” at Huffington Post (Mr. Obama’s other home page):
It’s happening again. Regardless of the outcome of this thing, it’s clear that half of America is falling for the same superficial trickery that gave us eight years of George W. Bush. You know the routine. Who do you want to have a beer with? Who is more plainspoken? Who would you like to drive your kids to hockey?
Only this time around, America is exponentially worse off than it was in 2000 or 2004, which only makes the degree to which certain voters are being tricked all the more infuriating and incomprehensible.
The left is nonplussed about why people are not lining up for the Democratic ticket. They reason that current events and the Republicans are sooooo bad, how can any thinking person vote for McCain?
According to Cesca, perhaps these McCain voters are thinking, but what they are thinking is just bad. In fact, most likely, these Republicans are just bad, awful people. He says,
Given their record of success in years past, it’s no wonder why the Republicans do what they do. But this goes beyond cause and effect. It’s their nature. They’re simply unable to govern, so all they have left are their basest, most cynical and depraved instincts. Their presidential ticket is composed of two incompetent, corrupt liars who want to continue the Bush legacy (while also lying about their “change” message). But they’re good at whining; they’re good at smearing; and they excel at fear-mongering. John McCain has fully embraced Karl Rove’s brand of insect politics.
Don’t hold back, Bob. How do you really feel about the other half?
Cesca then blames the media for failing to inform the dense American people of how bad the Republican ticket is, saying
With a complicit barbecue media at their disposal — a team of fainting goats on cable news and AM radio — their screaming and stomping gets plenty of airplay.
Strange to hear an Obama supporter complain about the media. A recent Rasmussen Reports poll showed that 69% of those polled perceived that the media plays favorites in their reporting of the presidential race. So Cesca is on to something, right? Not at all. According to the Rasmussen folks,
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of voters think most reporters are trying to help Obama win versus 11% who believe they are trying to help his Republican opponent John McCain.
Five to one, people think the media is biased toward Obama. Maybe Cesca thinks that this is as it should be since a little over half of Americans are so prone to believe “corrupt liars.” Maybe he thinks the media should work a little harder to get Mr. Obama elected.
Being stupified that Americans might resonate with the conservative positions articulated by McCain-Palin may reflect a kind of elitism. Senator Obama got into some hot water for a similar perspective during the primary season when he told wealthy San Francisco donors that rural Pennsylvanians were “bitter” and “cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
I don’t know which is worse, Cesca’s sense of superiority or his dim assessment of the perspicacity of Americans who disagree with him.
No need to decide since I am obviously unable to see through the trickery.
Poll: 69% think media promotes favorite candidate; Obama benefits most
The Rasmussen Reports website reported yesterday the results of a poll showing that most people think members of the media slant stories to help a favored candidate. And most people believe Obama gets most of the love.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 50% of voters think most reporters are trying to help Obama win versus 11% who believe they are trying to help his Republican opponent John McCain. Twenty-six percent (26%) say reporters offer unbiased coverage…
I have some items I would like to sell that 26% group.
And then,
Just last week a Rasmussen Reports survey found that 51% of voters believed reporters were trying to hurt McCain’s running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, with their news coverage.
After reviewing many of the claims regarding Palin’s policies, specifically the allegations about her so-called budget cuts, I can understand well this result.
As an aside, we may see a correction coming from a mainstream source soon…
Obama says faith-based is okay if it isn't entirely based in faith
I am not sure my headline captures it but it is close. In this New York Times article, Barack Obama is shown Zanesville, OH (near my old stomping grounds) promoting a kind of faith based initiative. After all the reading, I think the issue at odds is whether faith-based groups should be able to take Federal money if they can discriminate in hiring by only hiring people who support the faith on which the group is based. John McCain and most conservatives say such groups should be able to participate if they can control the hiring and Obama says no, groups cannot exclude people of other or no faith from working in their organizations.
I think Obama is very smart. He is courting Evangelicals by speaking an Evangelical dialect. Many rank and file Evangelicals would not support his bottom line positions but his public ideological opponents of late are attacking him without lifting up the alternative in corresponding positive tones. Until Evangelicals begin to promote McCain instead of merely attack Obama, the Illinois Senator is going to scoop up interest and possibly support among moderate Evangelicals where McCain could be strong. Mr Obama is seizing the opportunity.