Sen. Barack Obama appeared on CBS's 'Late Show With David Letterman' on Wednesday night. (JEFFREY R STAAB/AP)
Palin effect: Obama camp thrown off stride
The week has shown perils for Obama in running against the new GOP ticket.
By Linda Feldmann | Staff writer/ September 11, 2008 edition
Pat Murphy has a conversation with Monitor staff writer Linda Feldmann about the Democratic response to Gov. Sarah Palin during the first week of the fall presidential campaign.
ERIC RISBERG/AP
Gov. Sarah Palin was greeted by her daughter, Piper, at a welcome-home rally in Fairbanks, Alaska on Wednesday.
Washington
In just two weeks, the 2008 presidential race has become the Sarah Palin election.
How can Democratic nominee Barack Obama, no longer the shiny new object in American politics, recapture his mojo, some worried liberals are asking. For Republican nominee John McCain, the feisty, charismatic Alaska governor has fulfilled his fondest wish: to inject a little star power into his own campaign and give his ticket a fighting chance in an otherwise dreadful year for the GOP.
Even Karl Rove, President Bush’s former political guru and now an informal adviser to the McCain campaign, has some advice for the Democrat: “If Mr. Obama wants to win,” he writes in The Wall Street Journal, “he needs to remember he’s running against John McCain for president, not Mrs. Palin for vice president.”
Obama already knows that, it appears. After Palin’s selection on Aug. 29, the Illinois senator suggested the best approach was just to leave her alone. But the Obama campaign has been going after her, producing an ad, for example, that challenges her image as a reformer by pointing out that she initially supported the congressional earmark for Alaska’s so-called “bridge to nowhere” before she opposed it.
And leading Democrats – including Obama’s running mate, Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden – have made comments now spun in the media as sexist. Senator Biden has called her “good-looking,” albeit in an effort at self-deprecation over his own looks. This week, in a local TV appearance in Milwaukee, Biden said the election of the McCain-Palin ticket would be a “backward step for women,” because “I assume she thinks and agrees with the same policies that George Bush and John McCain think.”
On Wednesday, South Carolina Democratic chair Carol Fowler said to Politico.com that Palin’s “primary qualification seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion,” a reference to Palin’s decision to have her baby who was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Ms. Fowler later apologized, saying she was clumsily making a point about single-issue voters.
Then there’s Obama’s “lipstick on a pig” comment. McCain backers say Obama was taking a dig at Palin, who had quipped in her convention speech that a hockey mom is a pit bull with lipstick. Obama insists that was not his intention – he was talking about Senator McCain’s policies – but the McCain campaign ran with it and fed it into the larger narrative of alleged Obama and Democratic sexism toward Palin.
The string of comments represents only a tiny fraction of what Obama and the Democrats have said and done this week, but they show the perils that Obama has faced in running against a ticket containing a woman.
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, says that, overall with Palin, “The Republican press management strategy has been brilliant.”
“First, they withhold her, and so everything she does is newsworthy,” Ms. Jamieson says. “Second, they’re now building up such low expectations of her performance for [ABC anchor Charlie] Gibson and the debate, if she walks on stage and engages in standard forms of political [discourse], she will be proclaimed as perfectly competent.”
But Jamieson also warns that the media are misreading the state of the race. It is essentially back to where it was before the conventions – within the margin of error – and the idea that Obama has no media strategy of his own is false.
His appearances this week first on Fox, with conservative host Bill O’Reilly, then on CBS’s “Late Show With David Letterman,” allowed Obama to show two sides of himself to audiences that may not be reached by other media. Up to one-quarter of Mr. O’Reilly’s viewers are independents, or “soft leaners” toward a candidate, and so going toe-to-toe against the combative O’Reilly could help Obama, she says. On Letterman, Obama got to present a relaxed, self-deprecating persona and reach voters who aren’t necessarily following all the twists and turns of the campaign.
Not all Democrats are panicking about Obama’s post-convention performance.
“With his Palin pick, McCain has temporarily obscured people’s vision of what the race is really about – a referendum on Bush and McCain,” says Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster not associated with Obama. “It’s up to Obama to get folks fixated back on the fundamental question that’s at stake in the election. I think he’s doing that on the stump, and they’re doing that in the advertising.”
Mr. Mellman says he’s not “unconcerned” about the McCain campaign’s tactic of jumping on every opening to use Palin as a vehicle against Obama, and he assumes the Obama team will respond in kind. “It’s part of the everyday back-and-forth of campaigning,” he says.
Still, to voters who just surf the headlines, this week has probably appeared to be all about lipstick and alleged sexism on the part of Obama. And generally, regardless of how voters took the lipstick comment, the larger theme of “Democrats tied up in knots over Palin” isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.
“Obama had it right when she was first announced: Just leave her alone,” says Steven Schier, a political scientist at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., who does not believe the “lipstick on a pig” comment was targeted at Palin.
“The more they beat her up, the more they lionize her,” he says. “The tactics are all wrong. In fact, they’re making Palin steadily more popular.”
Comments
2. rj | 09.11.08
McCain’s LipShtick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR8IhMMhe8w
(We’re not fooled by McCain’s tactics. His hypocrisy speaks for itself.)
3. LaRae | 09.11.08
As a Christian, It truly concerns me that so many other Christians are still falling for Republican manipulation tactics. Please consider everything carefully before you vote in November.
This is a very interesting read concerning McCain’s choice of Palin from an unusual and surprising religious perspective. I highly recommend checking it out - and send it to those you think need to hear it:
http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/McCain-Hijacks-Christianity-Via-Palin.240929
4. nathan | 09.11.08
I did not realize that the presidential race was a popularity contest, this is what is wrong with our country. People do not vote on the policies they vote on who is more popular. And we wonder why our country is going downhill.
Amazing 200 years to build this country up just to have the Bush administration and his chronies try to destroy it.
5. Sha | 09.11.08
Somebody needs to remind the American People that its McCain running for president not Palin. Heck - somebody needs to remind McCain he’s the one running…he’s been riding her fabricated coat tails for long enough. She’s given almost the same speech at every rally she’s attended - the same speech from the convention, a speech written by old Bush writers and not her. This is not representative of her - its a fabrication, a mirage. I want to know what McCain’s policies are and so far I’ve only heard him talk about the other side and play the sexist card whenever possible. On top of that his latest ad about Obama’s stance on sexual eduction is disgustingly inaccurate. Factcheck.org people, factcheck.org! This married, white, mother of two is not fooled by this woman…she is not the role model I want for my daughter!
6. Thomas from Berkley, CA | 09.11.08
I truly believe that this race is wide open. The sad thing for the OBAMA campaign is, he will lose soundly to McCain in an off script debate. As what happened in saddleback. Then after that, no matter what Biden says in the debate if he doesn’t remain calm cool and bite his tongue on things he’s going to appear as attacking palin. I truly believe Obama has been put in check by the master chess player Rove. It’s on his mind so much lately that he’s been referring to Rove on the trail. He’s also lost that smile and appears agree over the past couple of weeks. It’s really getting to him.
7. mimi | 09.11.08
Gotcha! Barack! **** hath no fury like a woman scorned!
I was a Hillary supporter now I am a Palin convert and so are 5 to 10 more sure votes when I campaign for Sarah!
8. jm@RT | 09.11.08
I think the issue here is not the election and the candidates…it is the media and their insistence on making mountains out of mole hills. I understand that news media is a business (and I an avid consumer) but it seems certain news outlets are aligned with the McCain campaign and are creating the news dialog. The rest of the media is following suit and reacting to a perceived demand, while trying to sift through the aftermath of manipulative politics. I think all male members of the media need to lay off of her and let the female reporters and pundits go to town on Palen for her record, beliefs, etc. I think the media as a whole needs to be more focused on the issues and less on the “strategy” of presidential campaigns.
9. Kevin Pierce | 09.11.08
TWIST AND SHOUT
NEWSWIRE–As Barack Obama tries to regain a poll lead and hold off a newly-charged Republican ticket, he is adding something to his speeches: he speaks louder.
As salesmen before him made the leap,
Like hustlers setting quotas in a phone room:
“It’s okay that talk has turned so cheap;
We can always make it up in volume.”
http://www.newsandverse.com
Light verse, ripped from the headlines
10. Bob Jones | 09.11.08
The Mac-Attack and Sara-cudda definitely have my vote. Why waste your vote on a south Chicago thug.
GO Sarah!!!
Don’t let Washington change you!!
You Change Them, what ever it takes. Kick their butts out.
Nobama is just another ‘Mayor Daley Trained’ criminal, designed to use the people.
And all the little Drones that dance to this Piper are gutless victims who have the emotional maturity of a 10 year old.
11. Allan Wallace | 09.11.08
Palin won’t go away. That said, most of the campaigns’ strategies seems to have been directed at obscuring the fact that major parties candidates are both senators. The Senate is part of the problem that created this mess - is either one qualified to lead?
12. JohnO | 09.11.08
So let me get this right, one columnist interviews another columnist, who has an opinion, and this is notable why?
Whatever the content, this is one of the reasons the media isn’t trusted. This isn’t journalism, this is schlock.
13. Bob Holderness | 09.11.08
Sorry, but your Republican bias is showing: “Then there’s Obama’s ‘lipstick on a pig’ comment. McCain backers say Obama was taking a dig at Palin, who had quipped in her convention speech that a hockey mom is a pit bull with lipstick. Obama insists that was not his intention – he was talking about Senator McCain’s policies…” Insufficient experience in journalism and in politics to discern for yourself whether Obama was talking about Palin, and to little courage to tell your readers what you thought? Then whatever are you doing covering a presidential race? Shouldn’t you be covering, well, state fairs? How come you forgot to tell your readers that one of McCain’s flacks [literally] wrote the book on “lipsitick on a pig.” Ditto his use of the phrase many time while aiming at Hillary Clinton and Democrats over the last year. Shame on you for not measuring up to the high standards we expect from your periodical. Shame on you for becoming Karl Rove’s pet rock.
14. Robert Elowitch | 09.11.08
The current direction of the polls must be wrong. It’s beyond my ability to comprehend how the American public can possibly want another four years of more or less the same leadership as the last four years – not to mention nominees who think that our being in Irag, apparently like everything else they believe, is God’s will.
15. Priscilla G | 09.11.08
Questions regarding Gov. Palin’s “hockey mom/ pitbull with lipstick” question/joke(?) that I assume was a self-describing analogy: Do the people of the United States really want a hockey mom for VP? Do the people of the United States really want a VP who acts like a “pitbull with lipstick?” One last point: Gov. Palin must not know the truth about pitbull dogs. If they are raised in a loving home and treated compassionately, even if they have been bred to fight and be dangerously aggressive, they can, for the most part, be gentle companions even around small children. What other “facts” could Gov. Palin be in error about?
16. Johns Son | 09.11.08
Mrs. Palin is a great American and a few years away from being our first female president.
17. John L | 09.11.08
Lincoln Chaffee just called Sarah Palin a Cocky Wacko. This only exposes even more the Democrat liberals for the looney, arrogant and condescending elites that they are. Palin exemplifies normal America. You may not agree with all her views, but she connects with middle America and the Democrats response is only to denegrate her. As an Independent that was eaning towards Obama, I am switching my vote to McCain not just because of Sarah Palin but also because of the snootiness of Obama’s supporters.
18. Jack | 09.11.08
Will someone please write on the issues instead of this media circus? Good grief, we have real issues that demand deliberation, analysis and energy, not distraction.
19. Quietus Maximus | 09.11.08
Ever heard of winning the battle and losing the war? The more we learn about Palin, the more obvious it is that she deserves not just scrutiny, but substantial criticism. Even if Obama was referring to her (which he clearly wasn’t), the comment was more than generous.
21. Pamela | 09.11.08
Mrs. Palin is a force to be dealt with, she is an American woman, with guts, a steady loving man to help and encourage her, was able to follow her dream, and use her potential. How many women have had the same dream, and desire, but no one to back them up? I know you have a masters degree, honey, but cook me up some dinner, the boys are coming over tonight.
22. Tom | 09.11.08
McPiggy the moose slayer throwing Obama off track? with what her lack of experience, earmark lies, bridge top nowhere? or that she doesn’t even understand McSame…this is why she’s hunkered down with the McSame dream team. I can’t wait until she comes out an Hillary smacks her back into he hole
23. lucy2008 | 09.11.08
Dear Mrs. Feldman,
This article is in poor taste given the respect due to those that died on September 11. You could have done better than this.
With that said, it is unsettling that your article has a large number of misrepresentations and partisan language. I do not understand the lack of honor and honesty from people like you that have gutted professionalism out of journalism. An opinion or bias is granted but misrepresenting truth to tell a story you wish to spin is so cynical. Our country deserves better.
24. Ivan | 09.11.08
It is nonsense to suggest that the lipstick comment wasn’t about Palin. It is obvious to everyone including his audience (who laughed as soon as he made it). Obama apparently expects people to suspend their disbelief over his qualification as much as they do his obvious flubs. All he had to say was that it came out wrong as soon as he said it and it wouldn’t be an issue. He made it an issue and then pretends to be the victim.
25. Tony | 09.11.08
I love being able to write as the first commentor! Normally you get to see 10-15 responses by democrats crying about every little remark. So to being, why does the media keep focusing on Palins qualifications? They say, is she ready to lead if she becomes president? The REAL question is: Is Obama ready to lead if HE becomes president? She has more political experience for 10years as mayor and 2 as governor over Obamas “community organizer” experience and his 2 years as a senator voting 130times as present.
Democrats never lean. They are in a fixed position and MUST be angry for some reason when the middle class gets a realistic chance. Heres another thing, someone should tell a Democrat to read the constituion and what our country was founded on by our fathers. Thats what America is all about, thats what Republicans stand for.
26. Margaret | 09.11.08
As a Canadian Liberal I have been astounded at the tactics of Obama’s supporters. They jumped on every rumour about Palin and promoted that story instead of doing what he had asked them–not talk about her family. I’ve never followed American politics but I know their success in electing a president is abysmally awful. Obama seems stymied by Palin. Anyway, I wish the country well.
27. Beltway Greg | 09.11.08
Yes, McCain understands and approves of the very same tactics that were directed towards him in South Carolina in 2000 when Rove & Co. smarting from a defeat in New Hampshire called voters and asked them if they would be less willing to vote for McCain if they were aware that he had a black child and his wife was a drug addict. If I have to hear that Vietnam story one more time I’m going over to Fort Myer in Arlington and, though I never served in Vietnam, I’m going to purchase a service ribbon because I feel like “I’m still in Saigon” to quote Charlie Daniels. As a veteran of the Marine Corps, 0331, 81-85 B. Co 1/3 Kaneohe Bay, HI I respect everything McCain has done for this country. But, as Sarah Palin would say, “News Flash,” the war is over. We have new challenges and McCain refuses to acknowledge them in a cogent manner. The deal breaker? In addition to Palin, the whole he wants to raise your taxes thing in reference to Obama. Hey genius, we’ve just moved Fannie and Freddie Mac onto the government’s balance sheet effectively doubling our debt and many of our other banks are beginning to look like a large pile of dung. Simply raising taxes would be a welcome relief at this point. McCain wants to keep the Bush tax cuts which should have never been enacted in the first place. Anyway suckers, elect McCain, and “Drill Baby Drill.” I’ll buy all of the oil and commodity stocks and short the dollar to death like I’ve done the past few years. Yes, I shouldn’t complain Bush, though I cannot stand him, has been good to me. I hope you’ve profited too.
Aloha,
Beltway Greg
28. Longo | 09.11.08
The problem with Obama is not that his message is being distracted with Sarah Palin’s star quality. The proble with Obama is that he has not message beyond the look at me, I’m a cool dude.
29. Caroline E. | 09.11.08
Enough analysis of Palin and her “celebrity” status already. I urge the media to start covering each party’s platforms on resolving economy, energy, Iraq, Afghanistan, healthcare, etc. Help provide the American people with unbiased coverage of the issues these candidates must solve. Help us understand these candidates’ views and experience so that we can make an educated decision on Nov. 4. Let’s get off the side stories and glitz and onto the heart of the matter.
30. PrinceKeith | 09.11.08
With the price of gas fast approaching $4 a gallon, with 4155 of our brave men and women killed for a war to find weapons of mass destruction that were never there, with the war in Iraq costing $10 billion per month, with Petraeus now saying we will never be able to “declare victory” in Iraq, with a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, with Bin Laden still free, with 47 million Americans without health insurance, with a mult-trillion dollar deficit and mortage foreclosures at an all time high….
You want to talk about lipstick and moose burgers.
SHAME
31. sue | 09.11.08
What about Biden’s comment yesterday that Obama should have picked Hillary Clinton instead of him? Where’s that being reported?
32. Phil Waste | 09.11.08
No one has changed their minds. Nothing could happen that would change the minds of the right wing. McCain and Palin could turn out to be axe murders and the right wing wouldn’t change their minds.
But, the rest of the nation, the people who can still think for themselves, well, they are still for Obama and real change. We are not sitting here in panic and are not flocking to the Republicans. What we are doing is sitting here amazed at the nastiness coming out of the McCain Campaign. This shows just how scared the McCain Campaign is, they know they are going to lose and exciting their base is a big nothing.
33. Sandra S | 09.11.08
So the McCain campaign revolves around Sarah Palin, but Rove says Obama should be running against McCain and not Sarah? Did somebody inform McCain that he is running? And who cares what Rove thinks anyway - what kind of hints is he throwing? Of course, Obama should be emphasizing and targeting McCain’s issues, but will someone pull Palin away from him long enough so that Obama can get to him? And since Repubs did not seem to vet her, why should the Obama campaign not question her qualifications? McCain’s tactics are very clever -keep people guessing and create the mystery. We don’t need surprises in the two highest elected offices of the land, and have a right to know about her, including her integrity in public office.
34. jake | 09.11.08
“Lipstick On A Pig” is a common colloquialism across the Midwest (and perhaps other regions), and does, in fact, refer to the application of superficial solutions to serious problems. It’s the same as saying one could apply a bandage to a broken leg. It’s simply cosmetic in nature and does not adequately address the problem.
The term is also very common among Information Technology professionals. We deal with technological ‘pigs’ on a daily basis to which ‘lipstick’ or ‘bandaid’ solutions are commonly applied, making matters much worse than they have to be.
The problem with using colloquialisms on the national level is that they are easily taken out of context, especially in this case when gender (aside from race) is such a hot topic in this election season. Ross Perot was a master at incorporating colloquialisms into his political rhetoric, and his dialogue reached a lot of people on a common level. But he generalized his comments in a way that, at the time, was more entertaining than politically provocative. Unfortunately for Perot, however, his amusing rhetoric wasn’t strong enough to buoy the concrete shoes of his politics.
Colloquialisms of all sorts are the comfort food of the diverse regions of this great nation. I would like to believe that most folks understand this and see the transparency of Obama’s comment for what it is…a simple, down-home turn-of-phrase regarding McCain’s economic plan rather than the alleged sexist slur the media is spinning it to be. But the media has such powerful ways of amplifying the mundane into such distorted misconceptions to the point that most folks, unfamiliar with such terms, are completely deluded regarding the truth of things to the point that focus is diverted from real issues.
It’s an unfortunate side-effect of our society, but a potent and savvy weapon of mass deception, depending on who’s side you’re on.
Good luck, America.
35. thebob.bob | 09.11.08
The choice of Plain was reckless, impulsive and a sign of desperation. Yes, Palin will mobilize the ever decreasing core of Republican voters. It’s also true that the blatant pandering to the women vote and her minimal credentials for taking over the presidency in the event of McCain’s demise, has energized somewhat complacent Obama supporters.
The adoption of the Rove-inspired tactics of lies, distortion and secrecy by McCain just proves that he is no longer the maverick who called for civil discourse but that he has morphed completely into GW Bush III.
The choice of Palin was the last gasp of a failed campaign. Watch.
36. the one 2 | 09.11.08
Some body running for president should know better than to use those word. Can you imagine what he can say about a president from another country like Russia or France.
38. Elizabeth Rogers | 09.11.08
The beginning statement in this article threw me off balance for a few moments. I watched Obama on David Letterman last night. I saw absolute confidence and clear humor in Obama as he answered several questions about his hopes for America, and he was clear as to his objectives when he is elected. The pig statement means very little other than that Sarah Palin is a new face on an old Republican bag of promises. She was a surprise to me, and now after listenig to her beside McCain, I can’t hear anything but repetitive statements. She has said nothing to imply that she has any new ideas of her own about the problems we now face as a nation. Frankly it is a frightening thought that she and McCain might lead our nation anywhere. They are a pitiable sight in my estimation, I hesitate to make this statement, but that is how I feel when I watch them and listen to what they have to say. McCain has served his country in Viet Nam, I think he should retire and Sarah Paln really needs to just focus on her family. I am not a feminist, but I admire many women who hold political and legal positions in our United States of America. After Bush, I must say, I question our freedom to vote, I still can’t believe that the American public voted for Bush to serve a second term as our President.
It is going to take a Barak Obama and a number of advisors from every area of world politics, economics, and environmentalists to get our nation back on track. I think we need to clean house, and start fresh, I am thankful that we have those minds available and willing to do the work. As we, as a nation of good people, work along side, those who can and will lead. Elizabeh
39. jack coleman | 09.11.08
the best attack in this case for obama is no attack remember if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it.is there any noise?
40. Cath | 09.11.08
Obama’s campaign has not been “thrown off stride.” This is just typical media created drama. I think the appearance of Palin on the McCain ticket has actually solidified voters who don’t want to see the US turn into a theocracy or have their reproductive rights taken away by a pair of misogynist, extremist, mentally ill people. My feeling is that women especially find Palin very repugnant, and have absolutely no plans to vote for her just because she’s a woman. Oh, and Catholic Pro-lifers take note: The Assembies of God Church thinks Catholics are Pagans and believe they are all going to ****, so don’t be so quick to vote for Palin.
41. cynthia rowley | 09.11.08
I sat there and listened to Palin dig into Obama from one comment to the next during the RNC and several speeches after that. In my opinion, she’fair game and screw the fact that she’s a woman. I want someone in office who can keep their focus on the job, stand up to the plate and grow some balls, man or woman!
If this “Political Beauty Queen” can’t handle the pressure and feels she needs to turn everthing into a sexist remark against her, she needs to bail out now.The position for Vice President is not some walk down a runway stage!
Anyone who would give birth to five children, one with special needs, then abandon them ,is a self absorbed individual.If she becomes vice President, those children will never see her. If they do, she’s not doing her job. What does this say about her character? She wants to be Vice President more than she wants to be a mother.
We better damn well take this situation seriously. It’s not so far fetched that Palin could become our President should McCain be incapacitated. It’s also a fact that she could get pregnant again at anytime. Why hasn’t the press jumped on that? Would you want your pregnant, hormonal wife running our county?
As far as I’m concerned , Obama hasn’t said enough. Maybe the press should take this one on. Palin’s at a prime age for menopause as well. Everyone was concerned if McCain should be president because of his age and having cancer four times. Why don’t we have the same right to question everything about Palin and look at the myriad of things that could affect her, thus affecting this country.
I think we haven’t dug deep enough. AS far as Palin and her followers are concerned…………grow some balls! Stop playing the ” feminist ” card.
42. Jack Reynolds | 09.11.08
I think Obama was using the “lipstick” comment as a back handed slur at Palin.
43. jack coleman | 09.11.08
note people are being emotionally charged by obamas opponents therefore erasing all interllect and reason emotional decisions are usually rash and rash decisions are usually wrong.shock there intellects bring them back to life,bring back to reality,back to gas prices ,increasing mortgages,bring them back to the bush polices,the bush poverties bring them back and they will move forward in the right direction,enough of this trusting the american people to make the right decision,if that was the case they would not need to be governed.
44. Truth | 09.11.08
There’s not a person in the USA who can EFFECTIVELY speak out in behalf of Barack Obama without being DESTROYED by the media, (just ask John Edwards for instance).
Not even Michelle Obama can do it.
Therefore, since Obama can not run this country by all by himself,…….
45. Jeremy | 09.11.08
Sarah Palin is not the most connected ole’ boys club candidate- that’s Biden. She’s not the most senior - that’s McCain. And she’s not the least experienced - that’s Obama but she is something unseen in an election in some time. And that is a fresh, straight talking, frontier type American who while I do not agree on everything she believes in, do agree on her honest and down-to-earth character which is the most important. And also that America must stand for what is right in the world and not negotiate it away with despots and terrorist minded nations. I trust Mrs. Palin which is a whole lot more than I can say about Obama or his very likeable but Washington you-stroke-me-and-I’ll-stroke-you VP pick.
47. daveinboca | 09.11.08
Obama can’t fall into the trap of confronting Sarah & I do believe that the McCain camp has a lot of fissile material in the “lost” Obama Columbia U. thesis on confronting the Soviets on nuclear, the “lost” records of his race for State Senate in Illinois, the sequestered Annenberg Project materials in which he worked with Bill Ayers & B. Dohrn, the mentoring of Michelle by B. Dohrn at Kirkland & Ellis, a brownshoe lawfirm in Chicago, and Michelle’s bringing Barack to the same firm, with Dohrn as a “paralegal” a year later. There are a lot of missing pieces in Obama’s background the pliant and complicit MSM have “overlooked.” On purpose.
Why not investigate these things instead of Track Palin’s alleged abuse of oxycontin & cocaine?
48. ethel08 | 09.11.08
“And generally, regardless of how voters took the lipstick comment, the larger theme of “Democrats tied up in knots over Palin” isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.”
Indeed. Especially if journalists, like yourself, continue to produce stories like this, with headlines like this.
49. Phil Waste | 09.11.08
Here is a link at YouTube that will go a long way to explain McCains downfall.
50. Moises Gaviria | 09.11.08
The same way thath the Republican were able to minimize adn mock the wonderful international trip of Obama now Obama camp need to get back to the basics regarding oil drilling, the enviroment , jobs etc bypassing the dirty staqff and showing thath Mc Cain tiicket will be dangerous for the US and the worls look the response to the Georgia issue let take advantage of their ignorance in local and interbational issues
51. mary smith | 09.11.08
I definitely think the lipstick on a pig was targeted at Palin. As soon as he said lipstick the audience went wild. Obama knew what he was doing and targeting. I was watching it on TV as his visit was televised in my home town,
Cincinnati. I knew as soon as he said LIPSTICK that he was making a play on words to target Palin and I am not Harvard educated. Just your run of the mill, middle class, independent, christian, and pro-choice woman voter. I think most of Americans know that just one statement can ruin a political career…I think Carol Fowler should be fine tuning her resume at this point.
52. mary smith | 09.11.08
I definitely think the lipstick on a pig was targeted at Palin. As soon as he said lipstick the audience went wild. Obama knew what he was doing and targeting. I was watching it on TV as his visit was televised in my hometown, Cincinnati. I knew as soon as he said LIPSTICK that he was making a play on words to target Palin and I am not Harvard educated. Just your run of the mill, middle class, independent, christian, and pro-choice woman voter. I think most of Americans know that just one statement can ruin a political career…I think Carol Fowler should be fine tuning her resume at this point.
53. M. Moore | 09.11.08
Rather than continuing to fight defensively on the turf of the Republicans’ American Idol candidate, it makes sense to ignore Palin and keep focussing on hot-button issues for the American people. That means not just describing our peoples’ dilemmas, but suggesting a variety of ways these can be addressed, including possible mention of how other countries have dealt with these issues and how successful they have been. Surely Obama had some engaging professors as role-models! Interspersing speeches with moments of Bob Hope-type (inoffensive) humor is an especially effective, time-tested way to increase your audience’s attention.
55. Malibuinvest | 09.11.08
The truth of the matter is that the Democrats (not just Obama)cannot get away with using Bush anymore. Sure it is nice to use the partyline comparison but, the more they do that the more tired the people get. It’s the Democrats battle to loose and they are doing a great job of it.
56. Ruth Canny | 09.11.08
I want Obama and McCain to stop shooting each other down and start talking about issues. The election is getting closer each day and I still don’t have a clue what they will or won’t do if they get into office. I am very disappointed in them both.
57. Palin|Supporter | 09.11.08
The reason Senator Obama is not America’s “shiny new object in politics,” is because the only political game he is playing is slander. All he has done since the convention has been to place the spotlight on Sarah Palin. Sure, Mrs. Palin is by no means perfect, but she has a point to what she is saying about Senator Obama. He has not done anything to prove that change is coming. And it’s ridiculous to believe that he really was talking about Senator McCain’s policies when he made the infamous, “lipstick on a pig” comment. He made that statement after Governor Palin stated jokingly, “the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is lipstick.” We all knew what he meant and he needs to face up to the responsibility and move past it. If he really didn’t mean it, then should we have a president that speaks before he thinks? What if he is having a discussion with foreign diplomats and makes a comment that is offensive. He will not be able to come back and say, “Well everybody took it out of context.” Obama released an ad about a week ago stating that John McCain is not really a maverick because he voted likewise to President Bush 90% of the time, but think what Mr. Obama has done when it comes to voting. What the Democratic Party has left out, is that Mr. Obama votes democrat 100% of the time in the Senate and when he doesn’t want to vote, he says, “present.” I pose one more question; can we have a president who won’t want to hear the issues? Obama needs to get things back to the issues and stop criticizing the republican’s because all he is doing is making he look arrogant and placing more faith from voters towards conservative views.
58. Michael | 09.11.08
I’m waiting! So far I’ve seen a nice pretty smile, beautiful long legs and I’ve heard a nicely delivered, conservative speech. I’m waiting for the interviews and debates.
Sadly, the GOP and the media seemingly have contrived a Palin vs Obama campaign. What’s happened to McCain and Biden? The message I’m receiving is that the average citizen is supposed to buy into this manipulative GOP baloney. Does Carl Rove truly believe that we, as an electorate, are this shallow?
59. Olive | 09.11.08
I think SPalin is so amazingly suitable for Public Office that she will need very little help from media, expensive ad campaigns or opposition gaffes to become popular throughout the US not only in Alaska. In Alaska her popularity rating even after 2 years as Governor fell to a whopping 80%! That star power that she undoubtedly has will possibly bring her ticket enough support to sweep McCain into the White House.
BObama was the Charisma Kid but when SPalin came on the scene she took the title hands down.
SPalin is a natural politician. Her political personae is so firmly embedded in her belief systems that she can spruik her message anywhere at anytime so convincingly that people listen and are instantly impressed.
60. e-man | 09.11.08
Obama had been running on the strengths that he was a fresh face to Washington, a charming speaker, and willing challenge the status quo. Palin definitely outshines him on all of those fronts.
Obama’s only other compelling topics were getting out of Iraq and hunting down Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. It appears that the Iraqi government will already have a time table in place long before the election, and Pakistan’s new President won’t allow US troops into their tribal territory.
McCain and Palin both have reputations for fighting against their own party on issues they believe in. We all remember the GOP comlainig that McCain wasn’t conservative enough to be their nominee. If the Republicans think of McCain as a “Maverick” and the Evangelists movement was leary to join the bandwagon, then it’s going to be hard to convince the Independants that McCain is the same as George W. Bush. Adding Palin just deminished that notion even more.
Both Republicans and Democrats will sheepishly support their own party. But, I believe that this election will go to whoever can appeal to the moderate Independent thinkers. Right now, both McCain and Palin have the reputation of putting their own beliefs above the party’s wishes. Obama never really swithed out of nomination mode, and is still pushing the same topics that he used to win over the far left. Sure, people cheer enthusiastically at his rallies, but he’s preaching to the choir.
Lately, Obama’s strategy is to paint McCain and Palin to be the same as Bush. The Democrats should have learned from John Kerry in the last election. You win elections by convincing the public to vote FOR YOU, as opposed to voting AGAINST the other guy.
61. Mr. Unite Us | 09.11.08
CHRISTIAN Science Monitor does it matter to you or readers.
that McCain and Palin lied repeatedly during her acceptance speech.
Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere - Sep 8, 2008
Sarah Palin, “stopped the Bridge to Nowhere.” In fact, Palin was for the infamous bridge before she was against it THE SPIN: Called “Original Mavericks,” …
The Associated Press - 958 related articles »
Lies, Half-Truths and Contradictions: Now McCain is Lying About … - San Francisco Chronicle - 102 related articles »
FactCheck.org debunks numerous rumors about Sarah Palin’s record - Los Angeles Times - 9 related articles »
FactCheck.org: GOP Convention Spin, Part II Sep 4, 2008 … Sarah Palin’s much-awaited speech at the Republican National … FactCheck.org’s staff, not the Annenberg Center, is responsible for this …
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/gop_convention_spin_part_ii.html - 46k -
Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention - Yahoo! News Sarah Palin and her Republican supporters held back little Wednesday as they issued dismissive attacks on Barack Obama and flattering praise on her …
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check - 75k
62. Mr. Unite Us | 09.11.08
I think a better question is when will the media get back to the issues.
Obama spoke gave excellent detailed speech about improving education this week. But the media stayed stuck lipstick on a pig.
63. Richard M Daum MD | 09.11.08
The crowning glory of Charles Gibson’s shameful attack on Governor Sarah Palin is how much America hates him for his highly predjudiced, hostile, prosecutorial attack on the Governor. I am sure that Howard Dean and Barack Talibama’s checks are in the mail!
65. dee dee | 09.11.08
did anyone hear Mrs. Palin talking to Charlie Gibson?? She doesnt know what she’s talking about. It is now totally obvious that she was picked STRICTLY because she’s a nice looking woman and NOT for her knowledge and abilities - remember she’ll be only a ‘heartbeat’ away from the presidentcy. Arent people worried????
66. Mark | 09.11.08
I just watched the Charles Gibson interview and feel we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief. The McCain/Palin camp weren’t serious when they scared us all with their “Change” slogan. The Bush Legacy will be carried forward through Sarah Palin. What has worked so well over the last 8 years will continue. How refreshing!
67. J. Jonesby | 09.11.08
Today, the National Debt is at $9.6 TRILLION DOLLARS.
Check it out for yourself at the US treasury website:
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np
The Bush administration added hugely to this debt with their wasteful and unnecessary war. They LIED about WMDs to get us into this war, while the real terrorists escaped.
This war also KILLED 4,155 AMERICANS and WOUNDED 33,324 MORE AMERICANS. Source: http://icasualties.org/oif/
McCain says he would vote for this war all over again. He has terrible judgment. Don’t put him in charge of your lives and dollars. Your life might end up lost and all your money going to the richest of the rich, who are his lobbyists and donors.
68. Pandorales | 09.11.08
I still have no doubt Senator Barack Obama will become President Barack Obama. If the American people are intelligent enough to select Obama as their Democratic Party Presidential candidate then I have faith that this same group of voters is intelligent enough to realize McCain is not about Change; the vice presidential candidate selection is a red herring and while noteworthy in the news, is not really able to provide substantive policy ideas of her own. Finally, I believe in my heart, America is sick of being lied to. We may love Reality TV, and over-the-top, heat of the moment, combative zingers slung in the press and from behind podiums — but in the end, we want the person who’s right for the job.
Imagine if McCain or Palin’s speech at the RNC was a job interview. As a hiring manager, did you hear anything that tells you what he is actually going to do in the job as president, or did you hear innuendo and demeaning, petty, snide comments about why “the other guy” gunning for the same job shouldn’t have it. I’ve never gotten a job by denegrating other applicants.
I believe in this great country and the ability of its people to see through the GOP attack strategy for what it is: More of the Same.
Enough is enough.
70. G Diggins | 09.11.08
The Democrats are in danger of losing this if they handle it incorrectly. Basically, what McCain has done is reckless, selecting someone to be Vice President who lacks the experience to be President should the need arise. AND the chances of the need arising is really quite high with a man of McCain’s age and medical history.
i agree that Obama needs to forget Palin and concentrate on fighting McCain. Biden needs to forget that she is a woman and treat her like a person - he should not be timid when debating her.
I wish the best of luck to Obama and Biden and hope they will be successful because I shudder at the thought of another warmonger as President and a Vice Presidnet who believes that it was God’s will that the present government sent the troops to Iraq. We just don’t need any more of that nonsense. It is astonishing how gullible people are - let’s hope sense prevails.
71. Carlin | 09.11.08
It should not be hard for Obama to get back on the horse. Palin has made her splash, she has done her interview. Palin appeared utterly clueless and yet cocky about her breathtakingly lacking qualifications to serve as VP. She ducked the questions on national security. Palin did not explain her “God’s plan in Iraq” quote. She suggested that she would consider war with Russia! Palin did not even know what the “Bush Doctrine” was! Scary.
But as we saw with Quale and Aggnew, attacking no.2 only gets you so far. Obama should go back to hitting McCain hard. I mean the man lies and lies and lies in his stump speaches and he (and his running mate) continue to tell the same lies even after being called on them. Even after these lies have been shown for what they are. McCain won’t talk about the issues. McCain appears to be tired and simply going through the motions every time he speaks. McCain has zero energy without Palin, which should make us worried. McCain trumps out this “country first” slogan even after he made his shockingly irresponsible vp pick for political reasons. The shear number of lobbiests that work for him while he claims to fight against them is staggering.
72. indi | 09.11.08
In a way, many of the Obama’s supporters are ruining Obama’s campaign. They are nasty and mean spirited, exactly theimage Obama is trying to avoid. This will not be totally up to Obama. The liberal left will ruin him the way they behave.
74. Republican VN Era Veteran | 09.11.08
If today’s ABC News interview is a harbinger of what is to come; Palin can no longer be considered a serious candidate.
75. election observer | 09.11.08
If the Senator from Illinois cannot cope with the gym in Lebanon, Virginia, how on earth is the going to deal with the other Lebanon when the time comes. Mixing your metaphors Senator can be a dangerous past-time!
76. Palin Insider | 09.11.08
I never understood why Obama has been so bent on attacking her anyways. You never hear McCain attacking Joe Biden. From the beginning Obama has known he couldn’t beat John McCain, that’s why he acts as if he is running against Bush. I think now he thought Sarah Palin would be an easy target but he has soon found out she is a very strong formidable woman.
77. Ross E. Judy | 09.11.08
Sarah Palin is the very deciding factor that I will not vote for McCain this election. Her arrogance and general attitude is what I feel to be cold and pessimistic. I won’t cheapen this statement by mentioning her inability to manage her household.Oops..I am an American and I want optimism. Am I wrong? -Ross - Former Republican.
78. Jean | 09.11.08
“The Republican press management strategy has been brilliant.” It’s “brilliant” to tell and repeat lies. It’s “brilliant” to ignore the issues and to smear your opponent.
All of this is “brilliant” if the electorate is not — if the electorate falls for the Big Lie because we, collectively, are too lazy or uninterested to keep track of the truth. One could wish that the media would help with this task, but no — you can put lipstick on a reporter, but he or she will still be a mouthpiece of the latest bit of shock schlock.
79. dragonfly777 | 09.11.08
Obarbie is sure mad someone else has some spotlight. What a pompous little guy! With all his questionable associations he makes Palin look look like a dream! Strange how people don”t mind voting for Obama who thinks they are stupid, gun totting, religious clinging white rubes..Guess they don”t care he sat in a racist church, or has associations with unrepentant terrorist like Ayes, the radical Muslim Farrakhan, supports late term abortion, leaving a downs syndrome child to die in a filthy closet like garbage thrown out. Has the worst record of education in his Chicago district. Thinks his change won”t cost them a dime. Personally, I gave them more credit than to follow the pied piper.
Also, why is Obama at the Twin Towers memorial? It was the likes of his terrorist friends who killed our people! He doesn”t truly believe in the American Flag or Patriotism! He is just grandstanding! The Towers dedication is to real hero’’s who sacrificed terribly and some paid the ultimate price. Obama has no business stinking up the place!
80. RT | 09.11.08
Deal with it Democrats.
Palin has so badly “bombed” Obama’s qualifications, character and reputation that he is shattered just like “Nasser who has just lost all his warplanes (1967)”.
Obama’s choice of VP is the first time where the “present” vote is not allowed.
He failed to pick a VP with 18 Million votes but picked one with 70,000 votes.
In business such type of decision leads to bankrupcy.
In war, such type of decision leads to defeat or heavy casualties.
Obama is the WRONG nominee of the DEM.
McCain-Palin 08.
81. Rebecca | 09.11.08
Palin:
She has next to no experience in government. When ask about national security back ground or knowledge regarding foreign affairs the best Ms. McCain could come up with was “she lives right by Russia.”
She has only traveled outside the country twice in her life.
She was associated with to a 3rd party which among other things supports allowing Alaska to secede from the United States and feels the only thing wrong with the John Birch Society was it was to liberal! Her husband “First Dude” was registered as a member of this party between 1994 and 2004!
She tried to have a local Librarian fired for not banning books. She used her political office to try to have fired and smear a state trooper who is in a custody battle with her sister. She fired the guy who stood his ground and would not fire the trooper. She is being investigated for this and is worried enough about the outcome to have recently “lawyered up.”
82. Lynn Garrison | 09.11.08
The Bridge to Nowhere is great theatre
The fact is Palin supported a small low-priced bridge to nowhere.
When the costs escalated she vetoed the concept.
The Democrats ignore the balanced facts when using this as a propaganda vehicle
83. PennPals | 09.11.08
My husband & I are Pro-Life, long long time residents of Pennsylvania and we will be voting for Barack Obama and Joe Biden. We thought highly of John McCain years ago but his constant lying and deception are too much. The choice of Sarah Palin convinces us more. She is also a liar and not to be trusted. We are glad that Obama’s campaign is going after both McCain and Palin for their lying. We want our leaders to fight for the truth!! Barack’s experience is not perfect but we think he has the characteristics necessary to make the changes that we need in this country. When election day arrives, we think that a majority of Pennsylvanians will see it this way and vote for Barack and Joe.
84. Josef Stuhlreyer | 09.11.08
Mr. Mellman’s comment about the election being “a referendum on Bush and McCain” is not working. John McCain’s VP selection, coupled with a move away from the Republican “Good Old Boys”, appears to have wrecked the Obama campaign. Trying to tie the left’s hatred of George Bush with John McCain was a flawed strategy to begin with.
85. Dave Mattheisen | 09.11.08
Finally, the American public wakes up to the possibility of Obama as the SCOTUS. Praise NO ONE (I’m an atheist). We DO NOT NEED another messiah, especially a commie one…
86. Chet Misiolek | 09.11.08
Sarah Palin scares the **** out of me. She makes me feel if McCain wins 5 minutes later she’ll pull her NRA weapon of choice out and blow his brains out. I’d be worried if I were him. I feel to many people who backed Hillary and were excited about a woman in The White House will feel this is their answer. I hope they look beyond the image for what she really stands for. Personally, I found McCain much more viable before this choice.
87. Harry Daley | 09.11.08
It both too late for Obama & Lettermen be knw what they are really about.
88. Sam Sutton | 09.11.08
Barrack Hussein Obama managed a lucky escape against a lady (Hillary Clinton who is 100 times better than him as a presidential candidate) in the primaries after he and his supporters falsely accused her as the status-quo. After all, he won in the primaries by a slim margin and by the DNC’s one-sided undemocratic support.
Now in the next two months, Barrack Hussein Obama will face a defeat against a lady (Sarah Palin who is a candidate with average experience but with a much better star power than him) by accusing her all sorts of things.
Poor selection by the democratic party to nominate Barrack Hussein Obama.
89. chet mccabe | 09.11.08
Let us examine OBAMA vs. mccain and the real meat. Consider mccains’ judgment in selecting a competent vp and all the things he has said about bush. When one looks at the issues there is no contest as to who will change as change is necessary.
91. LauraC | 09.11.08
Palin’s first one-on-one interview is helping to shed some light on the personality and viewpoint: She appears adamantly fixed in her views, with absolute certainty even though she cannot at this point have all the details — remind you of anyone else, George W and McCain, eh? — and ready to go into war with Russia over a breakaway region of Georgia that has had its civil liberties threatened. March right into a civil war. If being kind, I could imagine that she doesn’t truly imagine the Pandora’s box she wants to unlock. But then, I also know that Rove and Cheney will use her to do so just the same. And she won’t have a clue. They aren’t kind.
America - Do really you want to begin again a cold war with Russia? I don’t. Not over this.
Tear down the wall, Mrs. Palin.
93. Tony | 09.11.08
Sara Palin Senator McCain running met didn’t know what the Bush doctrine is VIDEO http://www.ecadforum.com/Sara_Palin_abc_interview.html
94. Hilary Smith | 09.12.08
Yeehaaaaw! Praise the Lord, ole Sarah’s gonna exorcise the demons! Tell you what, Ten Commandments is all the Constitution I need. Burn the heathens!
95. Kevin Gets | 09.12.08
Here’s my view… Hillary won the popular vote in the DNC, while Obama was basically “selected” by the Delegates. I lean in the direction that Obama was chosen for his race, rather than his resume. How can the Delegates ignore 35 years of experience over someone with virtually no experience? The DNC played the Race card with the Obama pick.
When the Republicans saw what the Democrats did to Hillary, they picked Sarah Palin to secure both the “disgruntled women voters” and the “conservative base”… nailing two birds with one stone at a bargin basement price.
Sarah Palin has the Executive experience that Obama does not have, not even Biden was a Governor. She has a proven track record. It’s no wonder why the Democrats and the liberal base went after her. Sending 30 liberal attorneys to Alaska to dig up dirt on Plain shows the fear she injected into the liberal base.
She is a winner!
96. Cynical Observer | 09.12.08
If all it takes is Palin to throw him off stride for two weeks, how is he going to face the far bigger surprises and challenges that confront any US president?
This is just the latest episode in which we see that most of what we have been told about Obama’s “attractive” personality and “different” style as a politician is not true.
He folds under pressure (Palin) or runs to an older, more experienced man to back him up (Bill Clinton, Joe Biden). There’s not going to be anyone to run to in the White House. Responds with grandiose, inappropriate threats (bringing a gun to a knife fight — it’s a US political campaign, not a gang war in Moscow).
When confronted with dangerous global developments, he dithers (Russia-Georgia). Avoids taking a stand if at all possible (from the Illinois state legislature to Saddleback). Can’t just flat out admit when he’s wrong (the surge); wasn’t that supposed to be Bush’s problem, the stubborn refusal to admit to facts on the ground?
Obama’s never seen an opportunity to show leadership or to accomplish something tangible and distinctive, that he couldn’t let go to waste. We’re not allowed to mention “community organizer” anymore, so let’s just mention the legal profession, the state legislature and the US Senate. Obama has had opportunities that most of us never get and has done nothing with any of them.
98. Katharine | 09.12.08
Come on Media, you know the truth: say it out loud and in your headlines: MCCAIN LIES. HIS ADS ARE LIES. PALIN LIES. Any honorable person would be put off stride. I am doing my best to trust the American people to sort the truth from the ****, but the media isn’t making it easy.
99. jefflz | 09.12.08
We are entitled to know who Sarah really is. We want to know: Is he is a creationist? Is she anti-environment? Why does she shoot animals down from an airplane? Does she deny man-made global warming? Did she try to fire a city librarian for resisting censorship? Did she fight for huge earmarks for her tiny town? Did she appoint a man convicted of sexual harassment to be in charge of the Public Security Commission? What about the Bridge to Nowhere that she was for until it was a dead issue? Why did she say she sold a plane on eBay and made a profit? We know that is not true. In the absence of the facts we can only hope that Gibson will pursue these matters in a journalistic fashion and not just lob her softballs for which she has been preparing for days. Anything less than a solid performance as an experienced interviewer that can go after the facts will be not only a failure journalistically, Gibson will be letting down the voting public. He has his obligations and work cut out for him. Damn the right wing critics, get the facts!
100. don | 09.12.08
This race is between McCain and Obama and not Obama and Palin. I think it is pathetic that McCain would use a woman with 5 kids to fight his battle for him, taking into consideration that he calls himself a war hero while he just sits back and relaxes.I am just concerned that he might get his 95yr old mum to help him fight his battle as well.
I am still of the opinion that Obama is the best man for the job, he does not need anyone to fight his battle for him
101. Triangle Man | 09.12.08
Everyone go to http://therealmccain.com/ and see just how incidiously and repeatedly he’s lying to us all.
102. drz1rt | 09.12.08
The republican party is using that lipstick comment often but I recall McCain using a comment on Hillary a while back and no one made a big fuss about it. Obama explained it was a saying in Ohio about how things don’t change by putting lipstick on a pig. People should stop focusing on the literally stupid things Republicans are using to throw people off track. This is the only reason I think McCain in using Palin because if in any reference Obama or Biden make of her (which is not on the lipstick on a pig comment) they think its offensive, especially when it comes to debates… I don’t think they can debate her without the fact that women would be offended nonetheless if OBiden says anything to her. People need to open their eyes and get past all these silly advertisements and see the policies being offered by each Campaign. If you want to remain controlled by Bush vote McCain I mean Bush is Endorsing McCain after all, and if you want change vote Obama, after all he is being endorsed by the Clintons whom we came to love in the 90s!! Its all up to you…
104. Debra Schrishuhn | 09.12.08
We have serious issues to discuss and serious problems to solve. The McCain/Bush/Rove machine is trying to distract us from issues and policy discussion because they have nothing substantive to offer America. Obama-Biden offer real change and real ways of dealing with the problems that face our nation.
105. Cooday | 09.12.08
Over 70 retired generals and admirals have endorsed Obama/Biden ‘08
Hope and Change backed by strength. Democrats and Obamacans’s courting all Republican and Independent Voters!
Our World!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY
Obamacan’s - “The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.”
William F. Buckley, Jr. quote
The real change team for the last 19 months
Change we can believe in.
Vote Obama/Biden ‘08
106. Joan | 09.12.08
Thank you for this. I’ve been getting many emails from organizations around the country, asking me to write/add to blogs saying why I am a woman against Palin (and I am). My response to them has been I’d rather write about why I am a woman - & a U.S. citizen - FOR OBAMA. My reason being, writing why I’m for Obama keeps his name in the press & before our consciousness, and tempers the opportunities to “lionize her” (as your report says). I was beginning to feel I was alone in this stance. Your report indicates otherwise.
107. Jean Barker | 09.12.08
Leaving Palin alone is the best strategy. She is not running as a presidental candidate. May the truth come out and people be directed to the heart of the election which are the issues needing to be addressed in the nation i.e.: environmental climate change realities, health care, ending war in Iraq, civil rights, education, working with other nations to solve tensions without resorting to military action. I want Senator Obama to address these issues as he campaigns.
108. Jean Barker | 09.12.08
Leaving Palin alone is the best strategy. May the truth come out and people be directed to the heart of the election which are the issues needing to be addressed in the nation i.e.: environmental climate change realities, health care, ending war in Iraq, civil rights, education, working with other nations to solve tensions without resorting to military action. I want Senator Obama to address these issues as he campaigns.
109. Drs. William K. Gelok | 09.12.08
Indeed, making more of Palin than the uninteresting woman she is is not the brightest thing to do. But the real mistake is Hillary not running for VC. You sinply cannot ingore the 18 million who voted for her. Either Obama or Hillary - or both - are to blame for the loss of interest.
110. Eric Fairfield | 09.12.08
What has surprised me is how inept the Obama campaign’s response to Palin has been. As professional politicians, I expected them to see this coming and have a much better response.
111. Jack Fuller | 09.12.08
I was just about convinced that I should hold my nose and vote for Obama. I would have closed my eyes at the last second so I would not have to actually see what I was doing, but I was seriously thinking I would do it. I wanted someone else in charge who at least gave lip service to stopping the hemorrhaging budget and I knew the Republicans 8 year decent into financial oblivion showed where their heart is. I figured the Democrats probably wouldn’t spend less but raising taxes was better than borrowing more and more money. Then came Sarah.
She certainly got Obama’s attention. Not only is she easy on the eyes but she is smart, articulate and apparently actually adheres to her convictions. Her slashing of the Alaska state budget by 10% immediately got my attention. She said she would do it and then did. What is that all about? A politician who actually follows what she says she believes? Maybe there is something new happening in Republicanville.
It was not a sure thing but it looked promising. I didn’t know. I would have to wait and see, I told myself. She hadn’t taken on the OpFor yet –also known as the main-stream media- and I it was a sure bet they wanted her hide. They were all lining up for tickets at the Obama Presidential Balls and now maybe they wouldn’t be the honored guests they thought they should be given the overwhelming pro-Obama force they have turned out to be.
Well, it hasn’t taken long to see what Sarah has done to the Dems. She has given a new meaning to opposition research and creating political disarray in the other guys. For certain there is turmoil in Demtown .They seem to be eating their own. Biden is wondering out loud if Hillary wouldn’t have been a better VP choice. What was that – a trial balloon? And yesterday Obama went to Bill for advice. I’ll bet that was interesting. I wonder if the Dems know something few of us outsiders know. I guess we will find out, but for now, Sarah changes the whole picture. So, am I still seriously considering voting for Obama? Not so much.
112. EV | 09.12.08
Are you people really so ignorant to the facts to believe this republican BS.
Common lets not embarrass this country anymore, I love it to much to let uninformed people make stupid decisions based on religion.
113. Mike of Minnesota | 09.12.08
I hate to admit it but I, too, have observed a shift in Obama’s media strategy. His appearance on O’Reilly helped him enormously (the left wing blogs hated it, but they, of course, are clueless). Obama came off as a fighter instead of this laid back cool guy and it became clear O’Reilly likes and respects Obama - which is HUGE. If exposed to Obama, like on Letterman or O’Reilly, people naturally like Obama. It is not possible to dislike him (unlike Clinton, Gore, and Kerry) which is a huge advantage. If they get Obama in more one-on-ones before independent/conservative audiences this just might flip the election. Next up! Hannity.
114. Les Livingstone | 09.12.08
I am a black Conservative Republican who was very lukewarm towards McCain. I was going to skip the November 4 election and take the day off to view the beautiful Iowa fall foliage.
No longer! The choice of Sarah Palin as VP made me sit up and pay attention! The lady is dynamite. I love how Sarah has spooked Democrats and liberals and transformed them into political contortionists!
McCain was a bitter pill to swallow. Palin definitely sweetens the Republican ticket. Sarah has my vote!
115. John Smith | 09.12.08
The last sentence of the article, “The more they beat her up, the more they lionize her…….[and] they’re making Palin steadily more popular” has it right on! The Democratic party’s and liberal news media’s natural inclinations of attack, attack, attack plays into the hands of Republicans and Palin sympathizers much as it did for Hillary Rodham Clinton being a female.
Another major obstacle not mentioned in the article is that candidate Palin’s executive experience, however modest, is greater than Barak Obama and Joe Biden combined.
116. Alexis H. | 09.12.08
Sen. Obama is a good person if he has a chance, Sen. John McCain is another good person and he had his chance. Obama won over Hillary because she blown her chance. Gov. Palin is a great person because she had her chance, she didn’t blown it as Hillary did. McCain and Palin would take their responsibility and deal with it (His prisonment in Vietnam, her carried of the beautifull baby boy and issue with her state). If Obama was not condole for the irresponsible people (get pregnant but don’t want to responsible). He would had his chance. Responsibility generated trust among good people.
117. Frank L | 09.12.08
The more Dems and Libs attack and slime Palin, the more they drive undecideds like me to vote Rep.
118. Sara | 09.12.08
It’s amazing how so many people are willing to convert to the right b/c of a female name on the ballot . . . way to go sheep!
119. Lynne | 09.12.08
I guess I’m surprised that the media is reporting based on blogospheric rumors and innuendo and not on the facts. All four candidates have been stretching the truth, yet the media does not seem to realize that they can do a small amount of research and come up with some really good stories. “He/she was for it before he/she was against it”. What a tired phrase–Joe was for the war and now against/Sarah was for the bridge and now against. Puleeeeze–give me something I can work with. I am an Independent and a woman. This is the trashiest and meanest campaign I’ve ever witnessed and I’m doing my own research out of great necessity. I hope others will do the same–there is lots out there that is not bloggy garbage or mean-spirited emails.
120. Frank L | 09.12.08
It’s not about female names on the ticket. It’s about displaying a modicum of even-handedness.
What the lib media and Dems are doing really riles up the fair-minded amongst us undecided! From someone who couldn’t care either way, I’m now inclined to go to the polls in Nov to tell the Dems to shove it!
121. Joanna | 09.12.08
Anyone who is informed about our deblt, who cares about policies affecting our economy and our children’s future would never pick McCain/Palin. Drill baby drill? How flippant, how scary, how devastating to the health of our planet! No one benefits long term from drilling in the Arctic.
Don’t be so easily fooled. Focusing us on a few cents a gallon is distracting from BILLIONS of DOLLARS OF DEBT that the Republican military campaign is racking up by the day! They don’t even report the war spending as part of our deficit. What do you think the quality of life will be for your children with when the US creditors come to collect? What will happen to infrastructure, social services, scholarships, law and order?
No one benefits from new drilling in the Artic. Except maybe the oil execs and those whose palms they greased that invest their profits quickly. They don’t even know if any oil is there, how long whatever they find would last, but it’s an absolute sure thing that it would end the viability of the ecosystem.
I’m voting for Obama because he is inspired, he is committed to finding alternative energy sources, is planning longterm economic reform for the domestic economy, and I am absolutely sure that his ethical conduct is more respectable, more representative of the America I love.
122. tedbohne | 09.12.08
The saddest aspect of much of what has been written is despite the lack of an elected president for eight years, the worst economy ever, and two unwinable wars, people are voting based on gender. The fact that the republicans throughout the last century were on watch for every economic disaster, war, except WWII, the only war this country HAD to fight, despite the fact FDR had to drag the US kicking and screaming to the beaches of Normandy after the “sneak attack” at Pearl harbor, the only president and his VP that had to resign or be impeached and then pardoned by another republican. The October suprise with the republicans arranging for the release of the Iranian hostages almost immediately after Reagan was sworn in. Or George Herbert Walker Bush and Oliver North’s running guns to Iran and Cocaine into the states to sell for money to provide money for the American terrorists, the Contras. There is so much more for these mental light weights. But, they never got it before, and won’t get it now. To announce oneself as a republican is to admit to being a simian..
123. Oscar Garcia | 09.13.08
I don’t think that Ms. Palin is trustworthy…There’s something more to her, something awry…She seems fake and definitely not a convincing speaker. As for Obama’s statement referring to the “Lipstick on a pig,” statement; I do believe there are worst things said for watching a live feed from British Parliament in action than Obama’s one line comment.
124. Mary Pat | 09.13.08
Barack Obama and his lovely family are a vision of middle America if I ever saw one. He worked hard to get where he is. Those are the midwestern values I appreciate. Regarding Sarah Palin, I do not understand why people aren’t disturbed by the way she is being used as a pawn by the Republican party. Why aren’t Palin supporters questioning the fact that she is being hidden from the media? Why should she (or anybody) get such special, deferential treatment? Her campaign is obviously plying her with “the right things to say”. She’s already changed her stance on global warming, and has put her comment about Americans doing God’s work in Iraq in a context using a quote from Lincoln. Do you really think Sarah Palin knew a quote from Lincoln? No! She was fed this line, and is being fed more and more lines, by her campaign strategists.
America is not getting to see the real Sarah Palin. By the time she’s finally able to speak to reporters like EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE IN OUR HISTORY, she’s going to be a programmed robot.
Barack Obama IS a natural born leader, and President Obama is going to restore our country to health, both on the national and world scene. Thank you, President Obama!
125. susie | 09.13.08
I don’t get it. The economy is in the dumps, our financial system is on the verge of collapse, Putin is thumbing our nose at us comfortably assured that we remain stuck in Iraq for years to come, Osama bin Laden is still running loose in Afghanistan/Pakistan because the GOP administration thought better to start a war with a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 just to prove a point that we’re tough, the dollar is in the toilet, and we’ve lost the world’s esteem.
And we’re talking about these trivialities? McCain-Palin throw up a blizzard of lies to obfuscate the fact that they have no real solutions to our problems and that most of the economic stimulus that they offer is directed to the top 1% — we’re talking people earning over $3 million dollars a year. Do you think they’ll buy enough yachts to jump start the economy? And on top of that, they propose to tax your health care benefits. Good luck to small businesses on that.
This demonstrates why the GOP cannot be trusted with governance. When there are real issues to fix, they gin up some fake controversy and empty rhetoric to distract their howler monkey followers.
Please, don’t make us go through another 8 years of this garbage.
126. jonathan broad | 09.13.08
I watch your campaign from over here in the UK with some interest.
If BO had done this thing right it would have been a black man and a white woman against a white man
now you have a pretty white woman squaring off against a black with a funny name.
race - it’s the ultimate reality tv show
does white misogyny beat black misandry that’s the question
we’ll know in november
127. Surfkat | 09.13.08
# 18: Ivan:
Did it ever occur to you that all the democrats may have actually been laughing at the ridiculous policies of the McCain-Palin party that have only been dressed up to look different than the GOP policies of the last eight years? Palin is nothing to laugh at - she is just plain frightening.
129. Solyd Truth | 09.13.08
That is correct Kim, there is no Bush Doctrine. What Gibson mistakenly tried to push off on President Bush and grill Gov. Palin on is this administration’s view on manifest destiny. In fact, the question was so highly inappropriate and open ended that there is no correct answer. It is laughable. After Gov. Palin’s response, Gibson’s haughty response alluded to “his” understanding of the “Bush Doctrine.”
This interview proved that Gov. Palin has what it takes to maintain her objectivity on the hot seat.
Nice try Charlie but this interview only lionized Gov. Palin and has sent ripples of support through the core of America. The silent majority has a voice now and we will be heard. Our next President, John Sidney McCain III and Vice President Sarah Louise Heath Palin will ensure that Americans can fulfill it’s destiny without compromising its past or future.
130. Daisy | 09.13.08
Here are the facts
Fact: George Bush launched a preemptive strike against the country of Iraq.
Fact: George Bush has demonstrated an inability, like his father, to lead.
Fact: More people are losing their jobs.
Fact: Gasoline prices are out of control.
Fact: The mortgage crisis has hurt millions of Americans.
Fact: The handling of Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that George Bush has no moral compass.
Fact: George Bush is a Republican.
Fact: John McCain is a Republican.
Fact: John McCain is old, very very old.
Fact: It is time for the American people to recognize that after Bush 41 and Bush 43, neither who possessed the skills or capacity to lead, the Republicans can only come up with a 72 year old candidate who couldn’t beat George Bush eight years ago when he was 64 years old.
Fact: John McCain is looking more and more like George Bush simply by the people who are working in his campaign.
Fact: The Republicans really don’t have anyone else to run for president.
Fact: John McCain is old, very very old and does not have the skills nor physical capacity to lead this nation.
Fact: Obama is smarter, extremely well educated, talks in coherent sentences, is energetic, has demonstrated a capacity to negotiate and is prepared to lead.
131. Hung | 09.13.08
I always thought you voted for the best qualified candidate, who cares what Palin looks like. Her looks have nothing to do with carrying out the job of the vice-presidency, her brain does. So I guess that’s why you hear so much about her looks ’cause she’s lacking in the brain department, makes sense not to vote for her. She is also extremely comfortable telling untruths, that’s not good. McCain also worries me, he is behind the times and lives in the past. We need to move to the future. So this year (I am an independant), voting the Democratic ticket is the only way to go. The team of Obama/Biden are the golden ticket. They have such strengths and experience, which they’ll need to clean up what the Republicans have left behind. I’m so glad all the research I have done on all the candidates have shown me that Obama/Biden are the logical choice. It doesn’t get any better than this.
132. Hung | 09.13.08
I hate to break it to you Kim and Solyd Truth, you are spreading lies, it’s people like you who give a bad name to people that do not deserve it. SHAME ON YOU. Before you make a comment, check your facts. There is a Bush Doctrine, so your lack of brain power is at the same level as Palins. I could outline the doctrine for you here or give you the site where you can find the information, but why not pull all your resources together and see if you can find the answer yourself. In the futre don’t speak ill of others or are you walking in the shoes of McCain and Palin, but that’s not an excuse.
133. Richard Kiley | 09.14.08
My Prayer for our Nation, and this great Political Debate:
In the heat and the fervor of our great political debate, I pray that we recognize the blessing of democracy, and our freedom to participate in this process.
Let us focus on the VITAL matters that face our great nation, true Christian and human values such as PEACE, CHARITY, LOVE for others, and STEWARDSHIP of resources, (especially fiscal ones).
Let us move beyond our petty differences, respect the positions of others, and strive to reach beyond our own agendas – to the course that our founding fathers set for us.
134. Michael Hutchinson | 09.14.08
With Obama I’ve seen solid family values. He’s stuck to his word on keeping this campaign clean. While McCain and his campaign have gone off the rails with their sinful deceit, they really lost me when they openly mocked Obama’s contribution the community he called home.
135. Vero | 09.14.08
Who are the women out there who would vote for Palin ? She’s back in the middle ages with her views on reproductive health - no abortions even in cases of rape and incest !?!? That’s completely nuts ! She is not for women rights at all ! … and how about environmental causes - a pathetic record - wanted to sue the Bush Administration (Bush Adm!?!? haha) for wanting to put the polar bear on the threatened (not even endangered) list… I didn’t know there were so many morons in this country… no wonder it’s not a super power anymore… just pathetic…
136. R.Muttsky | 09.14.08
The American electorate deserve better coverage in the Presidential race by the news media, (print & TV). Don’t you know its in their self-interest to make it seem that the Republicans & Democrats are in a so-called “Dead Heat”. That way, no matter who is victorious, their interests are served, i.e., a divided, but equal audience. They try very hard to make their coverage “balanced” by making it seem both sides are equally legitimate. This is the nature of the disservice. The elephant in the room is not the Republicans, but their unbelievable policies and notions that are such a disaster to the nation and the world at large. In fact, this is a very UNEQUAL election because the Democrats under Obama have such a lock on reasonable ideas for getting the nation out of the mess created by the current bunch of right-wing warmongers and high spenders. Further, the support for Obama can’t be measured by the old, traditional methods! Just take a gander at his ability to raise money from small, but very numerous supporters. Is this the sign of a “Dead Heat”??
137. Jerry McIntire | 09.15.08
I don’t read People magazine. Okay, can we go back to issues now?
Jerry
138. Gracie | 09.15.08
To Sam Sutton’s comment,
Do you really feel the need to bring up Obama’s middle name over and over again? It is simply a name,nothing more.You are a racists, and probably have a very low IQ.
139. Ivan | 09.15.08
Barack Hussein Obama is no more Racist than saying George “dubya” Bush.
In fact the use of Bush’s middle name in this fashion is blatantly offensive to people in the south. Using Obama’s middle name is somehow off limits? What exactly is racist about using someone’s full syntactically correct name?
What is racist is that you think that any part of his name is something that should be ignored or something that he should be ashamed of. Racism is when you have different standards POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE for people based on what they look like or where they are from and that is what you are doing.
140. Common Sense | 09.16.08
Obama and Biden keep accusing McCain of not being a change agent referring to his 90% voting record with Bush and the Republican party as proof. Sounds like a pretty good argument until you look at the facts…
According to a Washington Post database, Obama votes with his party 96% of the time, which makes him tied for the eleventh most partisan member of the Senate. At 96.6 percent, his running mate Joe Biden is the eighth most partisan senator, voting with the most unpopular Congress in history, mind you.
By comparison, John McCain votes with his party 88.3 percent of the time which makes him 65th in the partisan rankings.
Now, which is the change agent?
141. Iggy Zee | 09.16.08
McCain will win by a landslide! Why? Because when push comes to shove and the majority white voters are in the voting booth. They won’t be able to vote for a black man for President. It happened in 1982 in California governer election when LA mayoru Tom Brady was way ahead in all the polls before the election. He lost because white voters(who said they supported him) did not actually vote for him. Blacks make up 13% of the total population whites are 74% of the population. Do the math people!
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1. politicjock | 09.11.08
John McCain is running a campaign almost entirely based on straight-up lies. He is running the sleaziest, most dishonest and race-baiting campaign of our lifetimes. His pick of Sarah Palin is proof that he is no maverick and that in the Republican party greed always trumps values. Picking a woman as the spearhead of the assault on women’s rights is ingeniously depraved. Way to go Carl Rove.