(Jake Turcotte)
Obama, Biden declare war on McCain campaign tactics
By Jimmy Orr | 09.15.08
Well this doesn’t happen every day. GOP strategist Karl Rove said yesterday even the McCain camp has gone a bit overboard. Discussing the state of the 2008 presidential campaign on Fox News, Rove doled out criticism to the McCain campaign and the Obama campaign for negative campaigning.
“There ought to be an adult who says, ‘Do we really need to go that far in this ad?’ ” Rove said. “Don’t we make our point and won’t we get broader acceptance and deny the opposition an opportunity to attack us if we don’t include that one little last tweak in the ad?’
Rove added that “McCain has gone, in some of his ads, similarly one step too far in sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the 100 percent truth test.”
Jackpot
Just moments after those words came out of Rove’s mouth the Obama campaign pounced, sending out an email proclaiming Rove to be their newest best friend. Well, kind of.
“In case anyone was still wondering whether John McCain is running the sleaziest, most dishonest campaign in history, today Karl Rove - the man who held the previous record - said McCain’s ads have gone too far,” Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
Another new ad
The Obama campaign is making a strategy out of criticizing recent McCain ads, releasing its own ad this morning that blasted Team McCain for the tenor of the contest. The new ad called “Honor”rips the McCain campaign with a choice selection of quotes from the media.
“What happened to John McCain?” asks the seemingly shocked announcer “He’s running the sleaziest ads ever, truly vile, dishonest smears that he repeats even after it’s been exposed as a lie. Truth be damned. A disgraceful, dishonorable campaign. After voting with Bush 90 percent of the time, proposing the same disastrous economic policies, it seems deception is all he has left.”
Outside of that, the Obama campaign has no problems thus far with his opponent.
Enter Biden
And Joe Biden is back. You know that guy from Delaware. The other vice presidential nominee. No mention of Sarah Palin this morning. In a sneak-preview email from the Obama campaign, Senator Biden is expected to tear into McCain today, saying the Arizona senator is simply a sequel to President Bush and “as everyone knows, the sequel is always worse than the original.”
“If we’re ready for four more years of George Bush, John McCain is your man,” Biden says in his prepared remarks. “Just as George Herbert Walker Bush was nicknamed ‘Bush 41″ and his son is known as “Bush 43,” John McCain could easily become known as ‘Bush 44.’ ”
McCain response
McCain spokesman Ben Porritt responded to Biden’s prepared statement this morning calling the Obama-Biden ticket the “most partisan ticket in modern presidential politics.”
“Barack Obama’s running mate, a long-time Washington insider, entrenched in the status quo is indicative of Obama’s false talk about change,” he said. “Barack Obama and his running mate are insistent upon raising taxes which would kill jobs and continue to refuse responsible energy legislation that would reduce gas prices. Regardless of their rhetoric, Barack Obama and his running mate can’t distance themselves from their records which gives voters zero confidence that they can deliver change when we need it the most.”
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2. Leon Gary | 09.15.08
Actually, and despite all the protests, Obama can hardly claim the high ground here. Not that any of us voters expect either candidate to be dealing with the issues . . .
3. Ted | 09.15.08
When the little white lies are not enough to deflect the American people, it seems that the McCain people just increase the magnitude of the lie. We The People do not need these lies! We Need the truth!
5. greg glessner | 09.15.08
campaigns should be all about being accountable for what you promise to do, not just babble and uttrings you have no way of fulfilling to the public.If not you have what we have had since 64, -puppits!
6. Peter Boettcher | 09.15.08
I couldn’t agree more.
The MC Cain campaign is a disgrace - period. And so is what he and the republican party stands for. We can not vote for 4 more years of the same destructive politics, we need change.
7. lhummer | 09.15.08
The most dishonest thing that the McCain campaign has done so far is to co-opt the slogan of “change.” That has been Senator Obama’s mantra since Day One and for Senator McCain to even suggest that he is the candidate of change is disingenuous at best. His voting record proves that he is nothing more than a carbon copy of George W. Bush.
8. Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba | 09.15.08
Americans are a smart people. They know what they are looking for. I am looking for what the next president will do for me. McCain may think that if he puts enough mud on Obama, then I will vote for McCain. No. I am just looking for what is there for me. If Obama provides that, I am his man dirt and all.
9. Fran | 09.15.08
I liked John McCain’s straight talk express in 2000 but in 2008 he morphed it into the whiner express. There doesn’t appear to be anything that he has not whined about.
10. john p | 09.15.08
I’m so disappointed in John McCain. I really thought he had integrity but the campaign he is running shows me that he will dosay anything to win. He has lost all credibility with me. Sad to see a man of his stature sink so low.
11. TED NORRIS | 09.15.08
Obama has a LOT of money raised,,,,when is he going to use it to counter act Mc Cain’s Bull, I keep waiting and waiting.
12. Doug Leunig | 09.15.08
Lhummer - One question that I have and have not found or heard anything being proposed to answer…just how in the heck is John McCain going to get all the GOP machinery in Washington to move aside in order to enact the “change” he promises? Does he have a secret Republican Relocation Program up his sleeve? If so, how soon after his potential inauguration will he issue pink slips and to whom? I would venture to guess one pink slip would now have Karl Rove’s name on it.
13. Jane | 09.15.08
After the sexist, sleazy, and downright dishonest campaign that the Obama people ran against Hillary and are currently running against a national hero like John McCain I find their complaints disingenuous.
Have you seen the latest one that belittles McCain for not using a computer? I only hope it is their ignorance the injuries McCain suffered during his 5 years of captivity under torture make the use of a keyboard difficult and a little bit painful that allowed this ad to go forward.
14. Bethany | 09.15.08
God does not like ugly! Since McCain’s announcement of his Veep selection, storms and stocks have wrecked havoc on America. It’s the fault of the church for co-signing adultery, fornication, lies, theft, etc. God does not like ugly!
15. MarySmith | 09.15.08
Everybody want’s to blame Obama for having some bad advertisements. Well if you go back through all the adds you will find out that his opposition is the ones who always started it and every time he is on defense from their attacks. After they attack him then he responds with an attack right back at them. I have spent days going and looking at his ads and he is not the 1st one who strikes. He spends most his time campaigning on the defense from the other side. So stop blaming Obama go get to the bottom of it and see who is the ones who start this ****.
16. Tracy | 09.15.08
Hopefully Obama’s team will focus on “dime-ing” out the slurs and exposing the lies of McCain and Palin being Mavericks. McCain hasn’t been a Maverick for 3 years and Palin’s “thanks but no thanks” is not true and has thankfully been exposed by the press.
17. LaRae | 09.15.08
The fact that Republicans can still manipulate people to the extent that they are is amazing - and we’re just a bunch of rodents willing to follow them to the gates of ****…
Say what you want about Obama and all of his little idiosyncrasies - they don’t begin to compare to the “cons” McCain and the Republicans have stacked against them. It’s time to wake up, people! The LAST thing we need is four more years!
Here is a very interesting read concerning McCain’s choice of Palin and Republican manipulation from an unusual and surprising religious perspective. I highly recommend checking it out:
http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/McCain-Hijacks-Christianity-Via-Palin.240929
18. John Rothwell | 09.15.08
Why is this surprising? What else would we expect when we, the American People, respond positively to these emotion-focused campaign ads? The whole Obama campaign is all about emotional appeal with empty slogans and speeches that don’t really say anything but do sound very nice. I am disheartened that neither party has enough faith in the electorate to present issues and ideas from an intellectual / thinking perspective. But maybe they can’t do that because there really isn’t much difference among them when viewed from that perspective.
19. Joe M. | 09.15.08
Maybe we should adopt a bi-partisan campaign judging association. They would rate truth and accuracy in ads. They would also have the ability to level fines to campaigns who do not comply ethically. Just a thought….
20. markm | 09.15.08
Obama can dish it out but he is first to portray himself as a dainty little victim if the GOP hits back. The dirt in this campaign began with Obama misrepresenting McCain as “4 more years of Bush”. Obama is not man enough to run against McCain, so the little coward has to set up straw men to run against while playing pre-emptive victimhood.
21. Eunice Buchanan | 09.15.08
I thought Obama campaign was all about change. Looks like he is willing to engage in the same negative practices we voters have had to tolerate in the past. How is that change?
22. McShame | 09.15.08
This guy has reduced the term ‘war hero’ to the a new level of low. A ‘war hero’ is a person of honor and selfless service, not lies and deceit.
23. Pat | 09.15.08
The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum.
The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.
- H. L. Menken, Baltimore Evening Sun, 26 July 1920
25. John Thomas | 09.15.08
I have a very favorable view of Barack Obama. I think McCain is just like Bush on many issues and as a country we cannot afford four or more years of government in the pockets of big business. Our government is supposed to be by the people and for the people. Those people that give the government it’s power should not be the 1% of the population that controls 99% of the money. Obama wants to tax these people and I’m sure McCain does not; I am certain Obama is the wiser choice! That 1% of the population controlling 99% of the money supply is going to spend a lot of money trying to convince everyone that McCain’s regressive tax policies are the way to go. Resist the temptation to be hypnotize into voting for McCain.
26. PATRICK HENRY | 09.15.08
As Americans, we must be fully informed to vote correctly. Never vote for anyone that refuses to speak openly on the real issues or who is dishonest.
A person that votes based on gender or religion is a fool. Do not be fooled by slanted remarks. Being USA President requires true substances yet reviewing the just recent years, the USA and world are in hot water that cannot afford the wrong person as President.
The American voter and those that do not vote are first class fools.
27. CFoy | 09.15.08
Please ask the (self-admitted) left-leaning media to scrutinize Barack Hussein Obama in the next two weeks as much as they have scrutinized Sarah Louise Palin in the last two. Where is the Charlie Gibson interview (testing) of B.H.O.? Wouldn’t it be something if the mainstream media reported all the Obama details (long association with a terrorist (Ayers) and a preacher of hate (Wright)) with the same granularity that produced reports on the behaviors of Pailin’s teen children?
28. Curly | 09.15.08
McCain has reached across the isle more times than Obama has even voted. How many bills has Obama authored alone or with a coauthor dem or rep? Even go back to his state senate days it is still the same. I understane that he was a chairman of a subcommittee how many times the called for a committee to meet?
As for mud sling I have been reading for many months now. I have noticed the languge in comments and news articles by those who support democratic candidates is much more inflamitory than the ones supporting the republicans.
29. Stan | 09.15.08
What plan to McCain and Palin have? None that i could see. It will just be the same thing as bush. 90 percent of the time means McCain is 90 percent just like George Bush.
That means more wars, deficit, forclosure, bankruptcy and the destruction of the middle class. We will see big corporations getting the tax breaks and us nothing. You better believe our gas prices will rise more because of a weak dollar.
We have seen the way the republican way works, And quite frankly its a complete disaster.
Be smart in november and vote. Our lives will change for the better. So what if Bill O Reily has to pay higher taxes. Cry me a handful!
Obama Biden!
31. alpha4 | 09.15.08
Obama may be the candidate of change, but the mantra of change is meaningless when it comes from someone who has never actually changed anything, and cannot even be specific on what it is that he’ll change. His change will be to increase taxes to socialize everything. Maybe he means that he’ll change from his career in sleazy Chicago politics, and his association with anti-American radicals, slumlords, and racist ministers.
32. saucy persian | 09.15.08
So sick of Obama right now. After denouncing negativity, Obama’s right up front. He is so transparent, to say the least.
33. Rose | 09.15.08
When McCain runs out of anything real to say, he starts making things up. he has changed his position more times with the political winds than any candidate I’ve ever seen. His dishonesty and hypocrisy know no bounds. There is no honor in this. I hate to see him sink so low. But I could never vote for him for President. I would have no idea what we’d be getting. Just sticking to the issues, I want someone in office who is going to run a competent, consistent administration, and who has the interests of common people like me — not wealthy, not an oil magnate — at heart. Obama/Biden ‘08
34. Jacob Stein | 09.15.08
You know when you are running a sleazy campaign when Karl Rove tells you that you have gone overboard. Poor McCain. I feel for the guy. His time was 8 years ago but Bush Sr and his friends hijacked the election and put his son in the whitehouse. Now this is his last chance and the only way he can get into whitehouse is by lying, by throwing mud at his opponent, by distorting facts, by babbling about change when in fact he has been Bush’s puppet for so many years. He has shown in last two weeks that he make decision on impulse. Case in point is Sarah Palin as choice for VP. He did not vet her and now trying his best to turn every negative point of her into positive by hiding her from press and telling out and out lies. John I feel sorry for you. Its time for Obama.
35. madeline | 09.15.08
Obama continues to discuss the issues. He has to respond to the McCain attacks and does so with strength, but mostly he is continuing to talk about the economy and what he’ll do, foreign policy and health care. Listen to him. He’s exactly what we need. Our country has had too many years of division, greed and dishonesty. Please not more of the same, lets have real change.
36. The Thinker | 09.15.08
If only Obama had some issues to be debated on! All you can do with an empty suit is take him to the cleaners, ooh burn!
37. cynthia | 09.15.08
When someone dives deeply into the cesspool, as McCain has, Obama is between a rock & a hard place. If he lets it slide that somehow lends credibility to McCain’s slurs and he is considered weak. If he fights back he too is accused of getting dirty.
I would like to see a survey, similar to during primaries, to see who Americans really think is driving the quality of the campaigning into the sewer. Pretty sure Johnny will win hands down.
38. John | 09.15.08
I still think Sarah Palin is the worst choice for VP.
I look back on my childhood and on bringing my kids up, although dad was a good backup when mom had to work occasionally work more then a 40 hour work week , it was still mom who brought the most joy when she came home and gave us that quality time so many kids before their teen years…
So my point is this how much quality time will Mrs Palin be able to give to her family and to the VP position.. This is not a sexist view as some want to label it.. The truth is most Moms are the cornerstone of their household so stop trying to give up your role just for personal gain and blame.
I would think if anyone could understand this it would be the good ole Conservative Christians… not!!!
39. David | 09.15.08
Though I’d rather hear more discussion of the issues I’m glad to see ObamaBiden dishing it out against the McCain campaign. They saw swift boat II coming and acted appropriately to control the damage.
40. Carrie | 09.15.08
It is amazing to me that people ignore that McCain blasted Obama for his “Change” platform, he said “What kind of platform is that?” and then he blasted him for his inexperience. What? So inexperience is only important when you want to argue it? And how can he “Change Warshington” when he has helped create it?
41. peterlebarre | 09.15.08
New Bumper sticker: “I need another house”—Vote for John your Republican Friend…
42. Carrie | 09.15.08
Speaking of polls, I read that polls are taken from those with home phones. What about the growing number of young Americans who do not have a home phone or live on college campuses? I wonder if the older people taking these polls accurately reflect the younger demographic.
43. RJinchicago | 09.15.08
The McCain we knew is long gone, replaced with a man who will lie, cheat and “mislead” to get a vote. If he is willing to shift his character this abuptly during the campaign, what will bring if he actually wins? As to Palin, I think she needs to realize that if Hillary was chosen, she (Palin) would still be shoveling moose **** from the front yard. I also dont think she gets that she is running for a VP spot our nation’s capital, vs. running for the top spot at the PTA.
44. Derek C | 09.15.08
The only change that McCain has made recently is his previous ethic… that he would rather be honorable than win.
45. rami | 09.15.08
It’s about time the incredibly mendacious and sleazy McCain campaign be exposed for the unqualified, Bush-mimicking group they are
46. CHRISTINE | 09.15.08
John Mccaine is a FRAUD he said he would rather loosw a election than loose the war give me break, the reaseon he picked Palin is to win a hale Mary move is that country frist no thats contry last, he wants to get into the white house to continue bush failing policy which would be even worst!!!!!!!!change thats a joke after 26 years has he just woken up.people the nation is failing please lets vote correctly change we need not MORE MORE OF THE SAME
47. JEFO | 09.15.08
I like this new theme of the Obama campaign, it has a certain WWF Attitude essence to it.
Its time to hit the McCain camp. at the knee cap.
48. Rick Saggau | 09.15.08
In my opinion, this race has become Sen Biden vs Sen McCain. Sen Obama and Gov Palin are the pretty smiles that can draw crowds. Sen Biden has to debate Gov Palin in a few weeks. He doesn’t have that much information on her. I think he had Sen Obama on purpose use the lipstick on the pig comment to test the waters on how much the public will tolerate in personally attacking Gov Palin. I think Sen McCain then retaliated against Sen Biden by running ads with Sen Obamas own words insinuating that Gov Palin was a pig. I think Sen McCain sent a message to Sen Biden that if you are going to get that close to calling my VP a pig then I’m going to plaster your presidential pick on national TV using his own words insinuating that my VP pick is a pig. Kind of like a pitcher throwing a pitch at the head of a batter who is crowding the plate letting him know he better back off.
Rick Saggau
49. mm | 09.15.08
CFOY, DID YOU MISS O’REILLY-OBAMA???
obama can take it. mccain/palin lie and hide like wimps.
“He’s a tough guy, Obama. I looked at him eye to eye, he’s not a wimp. He’s not a wimpy guy.” -. Bill O’Reilly
50. Judy | 09.15.08
Rove has lost his marbles! Perhaps he is upset that he is only a commentator on Fox. (No White House job for him in Mac administraation.) If he keeps this up, he will be promoted to MSNBC.
I spent a day with Obama people yesterday - believe me, there is not one add that crosses the line. They are rude, ignorant and assaulted one of my Mac volunteers. They do have a great ground game and lots of $$$$! I say go for it!
Visit obamajews.com for the truth about this election - Wake up and smell the Arabic coffee!!
Little Karl Rove, shut up, please don’t talk , please don’t talk…just don’t talk!
51. Alice | 09.15.08
I am responding to John: I feel a little sorry for Ms. Palin’s kids, but this is a family choice they have made together. I am in no position to judge their personal family choices. Besides, she has a partner in Todd. He should step up to the plate to care for the kids like so many other spouses of politicians.
I am however in a position to judge her as a candidate by looking at her positions on things I think are crucial. I have concluded that her presence on the ticket ironically presents a real problem for women. Pro-life, pro-gun, (aren’t they in direct conflict?) anti-conservation, pro-oil, against universal health care. I can’t even wrap my head around the idea that any woman with a family can hold those beliefs. She is anti-woman, anti-family, and anti-planet. Plus, she lacks the real experience and knowledge to be the President. Sorry folks, but I don’t believe that being president of the PTA and wearing lipstick to kids’ hockey games, then being on the fast track to mayor and short-term governor qualifies you to hold the highest office in the land. Be afraid America, be very afraid.
52. mm | 09.15.08
michelle obama’s cousin is a RABBI! an influential one too.
what problems do the obamas have with jews now?
53. Jim in SF | 09.15.08
“Middle America” has no interest in complex matters or issues. They would vote for Herman Goering if properly packaged and fed the proper mot juste. Like lemmings they line up and follow blindly any one who espouses Christian values, lower taxes and support for the military (and its contractors). The rest of us are “haters”, elitist or community organizers. Education, leadership abilities and intelligence in politics are not required. It’s all about the wedge. Each day I lose more hope for this great country. Succession is our only hope. Even Sarah Palin embraced it.
54. jody | 09.15.08
come on both teams running are sad these are the worst Candidates we have ever had on both sides. this is truly choosing the lesser of two evils
55. Check into It | 09.15.08
Campaigns for quite some time have gone to the negative side since that seems to wake people up about checking into things. So Americans start doing some checking on your candidates.
Market is way down more financial institutions are having trouble, is this a cause of a republican president, no not at all - Alan Greenspan did some things that really helped the economy during President Clinton’s administration, it then lead to rising home prices, Interest only loans, and stepped interest rates - which have lead to all these troubles that financial institutions are in now. President Bush has urged Congress to get some work done to help with these issues, to take oil off the market so it does not become higher priced than it needs to be. But the democratically controlled congress won’t even consider looking at those options.
Look at the voting stand for each Obama and McCain in the last few years that is the fairest way to consider the two candidates.
Obama does not have much to attack McCain about since he has followed most of the same stances and voting, all he can hope for is pointing at McCain being a part of the same party as the current administration. How can we as Americans allow any party full control. And looking at the tax plan that is in place for Obama that will only hurt the economy more than it is hurting now.
Go to snopes and your favorite news outlet and do some reasearch find out about the candidates and where they stand. We are safe now, make a choice on what makes you safe, your job safe, your family safe, not what a party is based on.
56. Erik | 09.15.08
I was starting to agree with McCain until his choice of Sarah Palin came about. Way to go by picking the quintessential ultra conservative who probably has no clue what the world outside of alaska is like. Since that choice, his campaign has become truly sleazy, picking the worst woman candidate to help him win over the conservatives and women voters. Shame on you McCain. Your war hero legacy is slowly being flushed down the toilet. I’m not voting for Obama, I’m voting against John McCain.
57. Justaintright | 09.15.08
Do all you bloggers really belive all the b.s you are saying? If in fact you do, this country is in real trouble, as anyone who can still think for themselves already knows that both parties are stacked with leaders who are in it for themselves and the only difference between the parties is how thay are going to do you in, not if they are going to do you in. If this wan’t true, don’t you think that during the past 2 years of DemoCongress that the righting of the ship would have started? But no, same old same old. When the politicians begin talking about getting rid of the two tier system that separates us from them, then you may belive that you have a change agent in the mix, but as long as we have our paltry at risk retirement and medical systems, and they have their fully funded, not at risk system, I can’t count any of them as my allies. Get a grip people, we are the problem because we let both parties get away with lyin, cheatin, and stealin. Nancy Pelosi and the democratic congress has accomplished NOTHING. hello…………
58. Ira | 09.15.08
Obama/Biden are starting to make the same mistake Kerry/Edwards did, endlessly attacking your opponent does do much good for yourself.
neither one of these candidates should be using the “change” platform. for example..name one thing the president (regardless of who is elected) is going to do to “fix” health care. NOTHING the president must rely on congress to legislate.
59. Joe | 09.15.08
I was undecided, but with John McCain lies he just made my mind up for me.
He is a very dishonest man and could be very dangerus to our country. Obama on the outher hand is byracial and may be able to bring the nation together for the first time in history.
60. sam | 09.15.08
I had a lot of respect for McCain in the past. But, watching his campaign and his ads, looks like, he has sold his integrity, his morels and his ethics and given up his mavericknism to get elected! His new slogan should be “I would loose my credibility than loose this election”
61. ChangeVotes | 09.15.08
McCain has so much voting history against him - just think when Obama has a voting history, and what it will look like - ‘Present’.
62. navajo kid | 09.15.08
Biden a 35 year veteran. Wow what a fresh new CHANGE. I think I will go dig up Teddy Roosevelt’s bones for the republicans.
63. Paul Kopper | 09.15.08
I have no clue how the Fascists have an ounce of credibilit on any isue whatsover. Just look around! This is freedom??? You can’ even smoke. Every phone call, computer lookup,e-mail is monitored. You can’t even drive down a road without being viewed by a camera. The cops dres in military black. Who in the **** is kidding who???
Also if Barck wants change, why in the World won’t he embrace soe of Nader’s proposals against corporatism???
64. My Vote | 09.15.08
Obama gets 500,000 new donors, and takes in 10 million after the convention. So that makes about $200 per person. This is just below the limit where he needs to qualify where the money comes from.
With so many Arab leaders endorsing him can we be sure Obamas money is really from the US?
Who’s president is he going to be? And who is this guy?
65. dadahorse | 09.15.08
the republicans are the party that wrecked america. that anyone wants four more years boggles the mind.
66. pmh | 09.15.08
Obama claims he wants change, yet who is the one with the female vice presidential canadate?
67. tp | 09.15.08
Why lie? Most people don’t factcheck, so they pass along the same partisan talking points. It is obvious when they speak the same exact words as the pundits of their party that they haven’t looked into the facts at issue independently. Swallowing spin is worse than useless, it is deceptive. Take it upon yourself to learn the truth from independent sources. Please. Because this election matters, the truth matters.
68. Dave | 09.15.08
I know many people who do not have healthcare and cannot afford healthcare. I know many people who do not get medical treatment or medications because they cannot afford it.
Does everyone realize that McCain-Palin have bluntly said they will not reform healthcare? That people need to take care of their own bills?
Does everyone realize that Obama has a clear plan to provide the same health coverage that everyone in Congress gets for every American?
The economy and our ability to survive are important.
Does everyone realize that Obama introduced 127 bills in 2007, many of which were aimed at reducing our dependence on foreign oil, intelligent healthcare reform, and bills to improve the quality of peoples lives?
DO YOU REALIZE that John McCain has only introduced 37 bills? Bills designed to increase profits for the companies hired to manage the mess in Iraq? Haliburton and others? Bills designed to protect the profits of oil companies?
Has the world gone insane?
69. Carrie | 09.15.08
I still hear some people say that Obama doesn’t have any plans. I say this without any sarcasm or any bite. Seriously, have you been to the Obama campaign website? It details many plans. Just as McCain’s website details his ideas. This is part of the research. You have to look at both sides before you pick one. If you just take info that you read in an email, you are misinformed. If I ran with every email, I’d believe that McCain eats babies.
Look at they said a year ago, look at what they say now. Compare, contrast, then make your decision. This is too important to just be a puppet.
70. MP | 09.15.08
Rove is a Coward, also misguided, and has contributed to the rise of negativity. He is less than honorable citizen for lacking accountability to speak under Oath. His name does not belong in public sector or any policy matters. His “services” to GW Bush have caused this country heaps of troubles that continue to unfold.
71. Pat | 09.15.08
So … These people claim that McCain is doing a sleazy campaign. Why don’t they back their ‘claim’ with evidence. There is a reason there isn’t a single quote from a McCain add in this article - because this article and Rove are wrong.
So please, when someone finds more evidence I will be glad to listen to them whole heartidly. But until then, only fools believe everything on the internet as seen by the number of supporting replies written on this article.
There should be an IQ test required to vote, that way the people who believe every word ever written or spoken won’t be able to harm the country.
72. beevee | 09.15.08
It is high time that the Obama campaign hit hard on McCain on policies and even try some smear campaign like Rove and party did in 2000 primaries. Americans seem to love and believe such untrue campaign ads. Both Obama and Biden should totally ignore the bimbo Palin. Let her say whatever she wants. But continue putting her down through surrogates. After her interview with Gibson many people know that she is a fool and knows nothing about national politics. She may be a governoer of a far removed arctic state of USA. Who cares.
73. Steven Wilson | 09.15.08
Yes Obama….we don’t need the lies. Especially the one you are telling about the economy being the Republicans fault. You let the Democrats and yourself off the hook. All of you clowns were sitting in the Senate when these loans were made. Not a one of you put a stop to it. The Democratic Party as well as the Republican party have been spending money, and hiding the books from the American people, for the last 60 years.
How about the 70 Trillion dollars of on the book, and on the book debt, the United States owes? You are just as culpable and responsible for this finacial catastrophe. You said nothing as the banks sold these fluctuating loans to people instead of fixed rate loans.
If all the loans were fixed rates with valid credit searches….none of this would have happened in the first place. Both parties are to blame. They are to blame for the collapse of the United States dollar also. That will be the next calamity to visit us. When we can’t pay the 70 Trillion dollars back.
Foreignors will unload our debt. We will have hyperinflation. Obama had his pig snorting face in the pot just like everyone else did. He’s just as guilty and culpable of collapsing the United States economy.
74. heidi | 09.15.08
Americans are NOT smart voters. Our citizens are perhaps the dumbest ever in knowing what’s going on in the world let alone where Georgia is or what the Islamic threat is really about. Recent attention to Palin’s church without comparing it to Obama’s past and perhaps current associations with black theology and Marxist friends is certainly a glaring example of biased media coverage. Our decades-long aura of victimhood and sense of entitlement, focus on self-esteem instead of real accomplishment, increasingly leftist secular-driven movement of self-preoccupied, ignorant “girly men”, strident women and obese children lead me to believe our Republic is accelerating towards it’s demise.
75. a republican | 09.15.08
And this is the Maverick POW with high integrity. I used to have a lot of respect for McCain but not after the last 4 months. What a shame, politics got the best of him…
76. sparky | 09.15.08
I thought Obama was going to run a nice clean campaign. One free of “old style” politics. What does 35 year veteran Biden have to do with this ? He must be the latest iteration of flip-flop “Change” we can believe. Want some more change ? If you think everything you purchase today is expensive, just wait till Obama imposes all those proposed taxes on the business man (he hates American business men anyway, they are filthy rich capitalist). Is that going to make them give up ? Hardly. If they are smart enough to have their own business, then they are certainly smarter than a silver tongue lawyer. They will simply raise the price of their products. And that is everything you need to survive. Now what happened to your fabulous tax cut ? I am a small business owner, worked my own way through school without the government’s help. In my business you will pay a lot more for your electrical parts, even a little bit extra. I have a right to self protection against future Obama tax hikes, which even a moron knows will come. If Obama s_____ me, that’s fine I will s____ the public. But my children are not going to go hungry while Obama feeds “the multitude” with my taxes. So go get the NAACP or the ACLU or any other piece of trashy liberal organization you can find and SUE me. Good luck Obama fans.
77. BEEEZO | 09.15.08
13. Jane | 09.15.08
…
Have you seen the latest one that belittles McCain for not using a computer? I only hope it is their ignorance the injuries McCain suffered during his 5 years of captivity under torture make the use of a keyboard difficult and a little bit painful that allowed this ad to go forward.
——————————————————————————
We know!!!! John McCain was a POW…he and the campaign have told us a million times…. They make computers and keyboards for all kinds of disabled people!!! He could sit at a lower desk so his arms can stay lower.
No one types above their head. You can’t be President of the United States and not have a basic understanding of computer (sending an email!!!). Would you hire a CEO of your company that could not send an email?
Nice try but everything can’t be logically connect to his Military service or his POW status!!!
PLEASE STOP!!!
78. Cal | 09.15.08
McCain’s campaign is the sleaziest ever by far. I can’t believe I ever liked the guy! The new McCain is even worse than Bush!
79. Ritaa United Kingdom | 09.15.08
Leon Gary, your thinking is warped! To think that you would want to compare the two camps and tar the Obama Camp with the same brush as McCains is just wrong. Is like asking your child not to respond ever to the play ground bully… This is why our world is messed up. People that excuse the evil and even try to suggest that the good are no different!
80. David Pope | 09.15.08
The desperation is beginning to show in the Obamites. They followed their messiah out of the valley of darkness and found that the light at the end of the tunnel is the McCain/Palin express. And it is headed right at them.
McCain IS telling the truth about Obama and tax increases. Here are some of the myths that Democrats are promulgating:
1. A capital gains tax increase is a tax on the wealthy.
No - it will increase the taxes paid by small businesses, corporations and investors. Small businesses are owned by the middle class. Corporations are primarily owned by the middle class. Most investors are middle class. There will be less capital invested and therefore the mechanism by which jobs are created will be slowed.
2. Allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire will only effect the upper-class.
No - The dividend tax rate, the first-year expensing of new equipment, the lower tax rates schedules, etc. etc. will increase the overall tax rate primarily for middle income families. The largest sector of taxpayers that benefitted from the Bush tax cuts was the middle class. Allowing them to expire will be an indirect tax increase on the middle class.
3. Increasing corporate tax rates will only effect the wealthy.
No - Who owns the corporations? Pension plans, mutual funds and individual investors. A corporation is not a living entity unto itsself, it is a conglomerate of individual investors. If corporations have less in bottom-line income, then the pension plans have smaller profits, the mutual funds make less money and the individuals make less money. The middle class is overwhelmingly the largest sector that has interests in pension plans, mutual funds and individual investments.
One last item - we have heard the democrats promiose not to raise taxes before. We have also heard the democrats promise “middle-class tax relief” before. Bill Clinton made that promise in 1992. The first thing he did was RETROACTIVELY create a 35 and 39 percent tax rate in order to punish the wealthy and he did NOTHING to lower the taxes of the middle class. He did all of this under the guise of “things were worse than he thought they would be”.
Now the democrats are asking us to trust them again?
Not me. Not now. Not ever again.
81. mtobias | 09.15.08
Come on America, Wake up!
This is the reaping of the unbridled GOP agenda. After years of posessing all three branches of government, they have been able to free the market.
This is what it reaps.
They have borrowed borrowed borrowed and spent spent spent.
82. Dan | 09.15.08
Obama is running the most despicable campaign i have ever seen. He is the most negative, he runs on change but has never in his life ever stood up and try to change anything. He is the most inexperienced Presidential candidate ever. Can anyone here name one, just one thing he has done to promote change, one thing he did in the senate that stands out, one thing besides words, besides speeches. Do any of you here know of what he wants to change with any kind of specific, _no_ you don’t you can’t name one can you not one….
83. Heather | 09.15.08
Karl Rove saying someone else is too sleazy, is like Cheech and Chong saying someone is too high. Like McCain’s ads, this is unbelievable!
84. Vincent Yue | 09.15.08
The Republic campaign makes a big deal about John McCain’s war hero stature. Being a president or not, John McCain is a great role model for our country. But being a war hero has nothing to do with presidency per se. Our 175,000 soldiers in Irag are all heroes. Shall we made them all our president?
The presidency is about issues, and job qualifications. Character issue is a given, not an entitlement.
NotARebpulicanOrDemocrat
85. brkdckdwg | 09.15.08
the fictional war hero/no maverick mcfake campaigns attempt to blame sen obama for running negative smear ads reminds me of the fictional eddie haskell character who dreams up hairbrain ideas and idiotic pranks that always have a way of backfiring so he tries to deny his culpability by feigning mock innocence shock and outrage that anyone could or would stoop to do such a thing even though all of the evidence pionts back to him,the fictonal eddie haskell much like the fictional war hero/no maverick mcfake would also try and take credit where it was not due by claiming and good idea or plan as his brainchild even though all the evidence points to others and no one with half a brain ever took him seriously.so mcfake to paraphrase the immortal words of wally cleaver “cut it out eddie or the voters are going to bop you a worst lost than the one you’ll get
86. Sam | 09.15.08
“The American people are smart”
-#8 Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba
HAhahahahahahahahaha
ahahahahahahahahahhahah!!!!!!!
Man, I like your sense of humor 
87. Ruth | 09.15.08
New thoughts:
John McCain isn’t in charge of his campaign.
On The View, he denied that Sarah Palin has taken earmarks while she was governor which is blatantly false.
I think Old Geezer either didn’t know she took earmarks or he forgot.
The man is mentally and physically unfit to be presidednt — from this seventy-three year old woman’s point of view. I know all about forgetting and how difficult it becomes to commit facts to memory at this age — and I’m among the sharper ladies my age.
McCain is being manipulated by his Neo-con team including Phil Gramm who rammed through the legislation that enabled the sub-prime melt down. Until today, McCain is on record as opposing regulating the financial institutions.
think that John McCain did not intentionally lie.
He either didn’t knows that Palin asked for and go earmarks or the old Geezer forgot.
I’m 73 and I know all about forgetting.
88. Danny | 09.15.08
I love how in a single attack, critics will say Obama/Biden are clearly not for change for one reason or another, then immediately follow with “they want to raise taxes.” Agree with tax increases or not, that’s a change.
Both campaigns are playing dirty, and the people losing out are the American public. Representatives on each side of the issues do little more than regurgitate the mudslinging–actual information is precious in its rarity. I can’t say if the “media” is to blame or not. The so-called “blogosphere” seems to be doing little to clarify matters. More people are simple gathered together with their own bullhorns.
90. aycee | 09.15.08
Heidi, where do you get your facts, referring to Obama as having “current associations with black theology and Marxist friends.” And with a righteous attitude you say “Americans are not smart voters.”
91. Dan C. | 09.15.08
Republicans: stop the LIPSTICK LIES and focus on some issues. “Country First”…hardly.
92. Dylan Voltaire | 09.16.08
Isn’t is sad that McCain has hired the guys who smeared him so heavily in 2000. He will do and say ANYTHING to win, just win; that is all he really cares about. Sad, sad, sad.
93. WelcometotheShow | 09.16.08
McCain pawned is values, lost the claim ticket, so it’s all or nothing. Obama’s emotions force him to over react at the smallest opposition. Biden never listens to what he is saying. Palin reminds everyone, the mind is a terrible thing to waste. What a group of cartoons….
94. Underdog | 09.16.08
David Pope told us… “McCain IS telling the truth about Obama and tax increases.”
Actually just google this for yourself folks. Snopes also decimated the email attacking Obama. There are simple charts showing the diffences. Both camps want to cut taxes (even in this economy) but McCain wants to give the lion’s share to (surprise) the rich and Obama wants to raise taxes on the wealthy to PAY for his cuts. Go figure. Paying for stuff. Hmm..
95. Jimb | 09.16.08
Which guy’s campaign said that this election won’t be about issues? That is some maverick thinking right there.
Issues are boring, name calling is awesome. Welcome to election ‘08!
96. Cantwait! | 09.16.08
It’s funny how people say its the Republican party that has caused everything to go bad…
Must I remind you that the Democrats control congress? Where do you think the decisions are really being made? Maybe you should ask Pelosi (D)why things aren’t better.
The last few years of the Clinton administration, where everyone thought things were so good. The congress was Republican controlled.
Obama claims that “enough is enough” and Dan C says in the above statement “91. Dan C. | 09.15.08 Republicans: stop the LIPSTICK LIES and focus on some issues. “Country First”…hardly”. Then why is Obama running ads that show McCain barely knows how to use a computer. Yeah, that sounds like the real issues (sarcasm, in case you are unable to recognize it).
Let’s talk about experience… Obama is focused Palin not having enough experience. Hilary Clinton has claimed Obama did not have enough experience. Even Biden said Obama did not have enough experience… His own party does not think he has the experience to be President…not VP.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. rural americans | 09.15.08
Bottom Line:
Obamination dotes on every Rove’s every word. Good to know they’re listening to him so intently. Now watch as a they discover how Rove’s notions are for their personal lives.