Well, it certainly looks to be the case that the McCainiacs see Michelle Obama as more than just "fair game" in the upcoming election; It would appear that the GOP and their 527 minions are bent on making her THE GAME this Fall.
The GOP rumor-mill has been churning for the last few days with talk of a super-explosive Trinity United piece of video showing her saying things that FOX/Hannity would loop endlessly during a the General Election (à la Jeremiah Wright's much sampled chart topper- "God damn America!").
We know nothing for certain about the tape, or even if there actually is such a tape. In fact, the way Turd Blossom and his crew play their game, they don't even need it to wage a campaign of character assassination by spousal assosciation.
Remember, some of the most effective whisper campaigns have done their damage without ever producing an ounce of evidence (i.e. --ironically---see John McCain in SC in 2000). That may be the case here. The suggestion for now is that this is so big that it's the kind of thing they believe should be saved for later in the campaign, but strangely news of it is being leaked now. Accident?
The original post, from Larry Johnson's blog NO Quarter reads:
"I now have it fromThe GOP (perhaps taking a cue from the Clintons), appears to be preparing to make playing the race card a, if not the, main strategy for taking on Obama. As I alluded to earlier, this one has Karl Rove's pudgy fingerprints all over it, and helps explain why Barack declared his wife off-limits two days ago.twothreefour sources (three who are close to senior Republicans) that there is video dynamite–Michelle Obama railing against “whitey” at Jeremiah Wright’s church. Republicans may have a lousy record when it comes to the economy and the management of the war in Iraq, but they are hell on wheels when it comes to opposition research. Someone took the chance and started reviewing the recordings from services at Jeremiah Wright’s United Church of Christ. Holy smoke!! I am told there is a clip that is being held for the fall to drop at the appropriate time. The last thing Barack and Michelle need is a new clip that raises further questions about her judgment and temperament..."
It is beyond sad that McCain and the GOP are preparing to carve an even bigger racial divide in order to avoid having to face Barack on the issues---a playing field on which they will surely loose.
The good news is that Obama has, as his political strategist, the masterful David Axelrod, who is expert at dealing with just this kind of thing and is in top fighting shape after having warmed up with the Wright/Flag Pin/Appeaser salvo the GOP has already launched. The sad news, really, is that John McCain, who promised to run a different kind of campaign, turns out to just be more of the McSame.
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20 comments:
This is just sickening. The Republicans are such alarmists and it's really pathetic. I guess when all else fails, confuse the uninformed with smoke and mirrors.
I don't really mind McCain so much, but if the GOP manage to talk America out of electing such an important and likeable guy as Obama - a truly historical choice for president - I'll be furious.
We're offered the opportunity to show the world what america's truly made of and elected a real icon of change - but instead we vote for the 72 year old white guy.
Tsk. Tsk.
Oh Fierce One I am so very glad you stopped by, and I guess what really amazes me is that we(collectively as Americans)have allowed our Paranoia Switches to be flipped so regularly by so clearly a manipulative group as those who comprise the NeoCon iteration of the Republican Party.
Roland Good to see you again! I agree (big surprise-though not abut Johnny Mac).
If the republicans are able to effectively rely on the subtle and not so subtle racial/religious/xenophobic politics of division...and we as a Nation fall for it, and McCain is elected as a result...well then I must say tsk-tsk indeed. It would be very sad, for us and the World at large to have a generational opportunity like this slip through our fingers.
Not. Surprising. At. All.
Even Hagel is stunned at McLames cattiness.
Perhaps before the run someone the Dems should do their own homework? As Americans we have a right to know about our President and his stance on issues, who he keeps company with and what ideology may have formed him... Next time run a known commodity so that the GOP has nothing to dig up...
Oh... I will not vote for Obama... not because he is black, but because he is a Marxist... Does that make me Racist?
I am so glad I don't live in the U.S. (although Canada isn't any better). It's ridiculous when people will or will not vote someone simply because of their colour... or their sociological following of certain theorists. -_-
Britt Right? It's almost enough to make a person reach for a glass bowl or a ZipLock bag!). You Rock (but you know that)!
pisio808 On you first point, there has never been even the slightest scrap of evidence that Obama holds any of the maladaptive racially tinged world views of the good Rev.Wright or any other person with whom he has ever been associated, in any way.
To the contrary, in fact, he has gone to great lengths throughout his public life to help erase the kinds of lines to which the GOP is now intent upon taking a Sharpie.
There are times when impugning the character of a principle actor based upon their associations (or a 20+ year old college thesis) is a case of a most fundamental logical error: Guilt by Association. And there are times when it may not be.
If Obama himself had at one point in his life said or written something that might call his own world views into question( i.e.some Ron Paulish newsletter) then a case could, and probably should, be made that the there might be some politically motivated obfuscation involved, and determining the source of the smoke might then be waranted. This is not the cse with Barack.
On your second point, choosing your candidate based upon what you see as his or her ideology is really the best way to arrive at a voting decision, so I'm with you that far, but as for Marxism, I think you are confusing Obama (see above) with the campaign office worker who had a Che Guevara flag on their wall in Houston. Post a picture of Barack in a Che T and we can talk.
~*~Shadow.Crystal~*~ Wonderful to see you again too! Yeah, I suppose the political game is pretty much the same wherever you go. Got no real case to make based upon the issues---begin the smear and button pushing.
What I love about this election is that we really have a shot at changing that game here in the U.S. BTW, I hear Shadow means Rocktar! in Canadian. Any truth to this rumor?
Rocktar? Never heard of it, myself. lol
I just chose "Shadow" as a blogger-name 'cause I like to embrace my dark side.
~*~Shadow.Crystal~*~ I love the way your site is evolving. Thumbs up on the new banner. BTW, excellent clip of Carlin--he really is pure genius.
Although I'm usually a very controller person, I think "angry" is the only word that describes my thoughts when I first saw this headline. Honestly, I think it's just a statement to how great of a candidate Obama really is... they can't find anything decent to criticize him for, so they pull out things like "Bittergate" and now this.
-Shan
www.globallyrational.com
It is already spreading around the internet via email.
I recieved a very bigoted and obviously ignorant email just last night.
This just makes me even more determined to stand even stronger, send in more money, and fight even harder.
What is wrong with this picture? Where are McCain and Hillary winning? In rural, under educated areas of each and every state.
My word...do they think as soon as he becomes president he is going to enslave all whites?
Oh no I forgot.....it's because obviously he is an out of touch, elitist, with ties to the Muslim world....a hidden terrorist...sent to bring down America.
Oh stuff like this just infuriates me. But, I do believe that Obama is going to be our next president.
And, most likely one of the greatest presidents this country will have ever had!!
Shan-ul-Hai it is infuriating, and I get sooo angry that the GOP(the Party of the public display of mortality and family values) is so amoral and rotten to the core that they regularly resort to the kind of tactics that ended up in
Shinade's inbox. Clearly they have no case to make on the issues, and don't have the stones to do this kind of thing in the light of day, so they crawl out from under their rocks every 2-4 years and resort to these nasty campaigns, propgated in the moral void of email anonymity.
If you or anyone else you know would like a point analysis of the truth of the claims made in these emails, check out Snopes.com's Barack Obama page and the excellent and unbiased take on this you will find there
(BTW,Though I doubt that you'll have any real need---- as you will find no "John McCain was a KKK leader BS coming from this side of the aisle. We prefer to make our case on the facts, thank you very much---you McCainiacs needn't feel left out, you will also find fact check pages for McCain, Bush and all kinds of other internet/email rumors/lies/urban legends if you go to the Snopes.com start page and drill down into your area of interest -ie Politics.
Hi PolititGal1
I must say I just love your blog. I have been busy with a sick mother in law and I know I can count on you to get the latest with great humor!!
Cjsp4
Janet :)
Turd Blossom is Right!!
too funny* ;))
What wasn't funny was reading about some o the Political Dirty Tricks these Repube NeoCon Clowns will pull to get ReElected!
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080522-the-future-of-political-dirty-tricks-and-deception-online.html
Make sure your driving record is clear, citizen. See that you've paid off your parking tickets and paid up your child support, and remembered to bring two forms of ID before showing up to the polls on Thursday. That's the preposterous, predictable refrain of the voter "information" flyers and robocalls that crop up like clockwork—usually in minority neighborhoods—during election season, touting ersatz endorsements, fictitious voting requirements, and precisely-wrong times, dates, and places at which to make your voice heard in the democratic process. With old-fashioned smear campaigns already proving disturbingly effective in digital form, civil rights activists worry that it's only a matter of time before voter suppression tactics make the leap to the Internet.
As NAACP attorney Jenigh Garrett explained, traditional vote-suppression campaigns often targeted African-American communities. African-American voters have for decades supported Democrats by huge margins, making race a reasonable proxy for partisanship, while geographic clustering makes it possible to contain the misinformation. The best lies often contain some small kernel of truth, making them seem more plausible to their intended audience. So often, Garrett noted, voter suppression fliers capitalize on the combination of aggressive policing practices and high incarceration rates in urban black neighborhoods, as well as the fact that many states do disenfranchise felons, to attempt to persuade potential votes that any interaction with the law renders them ineligible.
Peace*
Dolly's Diary You are incredibly sweet to take the time out of what sounds like a very hectic and stressful schedule to post such a kind comment here. Please do stop by again, and please accept my heartfelt wish for your mother's return to health. Thanks again.
BillyWarhol That is a great link! Thanks for popping in and taking the time to share the info about this new internet/e-mail iteration of the repulsive practice of targeted voter suppression.
The story has as a sadly familiar ring doesn't it? It is the kind of thing that is, at once, immensely infuriating and deeply saddening.
Shhhhh! If there really is such a video around, the Clintons would love to use it. Also, if such a tape exists, Obama better take steps to defuse the issue right now. He waited much too long to deal with the Rev. Wright stuff, and I consider that to be the only serious misstep so far in a beautifully run campaign.
First of all your blog is great!
You would think if there was a tape the the Clintons would have used it by now.
If "said" tape comes out would Obama dump his wife like he dumped his preacher?
I think that you are confusing the various republican camps with the candidate and maybe yourself guilty of the same logical flaw that you described in your own comment. Whatever the various interest and pressure groups run and what McCain's own campaign is responsible for are two vastly different things. In your post you describe the actions by those very groups; however, not once do you provide something that McCain or his campaign actually supplied.
It is also important to examine the media. Gatekeeping is a term that I will throw at you. It comes from sociology and it basically means that there are a number of people at the top who have the control of what gets through. Then, you also have to keep in mind that it is all privately controlled. Then you have to consider the sources of the news. The news originates in fewer sources than ever before. AP is the main source of the news, for example. Profit motives are also considered in the news business. Here is another term - infotainment (I love this one) basically entertainment for the masses.
Now I will just throw some stuff that describes itself. Limited geography of political news (NY and DC), Dependence on Official Sources - pub officials, Newsworthiness - editors decide, Templates - example with China - before Tiananmen Square news from China focused on prosperity, emerging freedoms, etc.; however, after that incident occurred everything became sad, Episodic Foreign Coverage - something exciting happens in a little known country such as Iraq and everybody jumps in on it, Interpreting - no explicit interpretations on the networks.
I will also guarantee you that you will see a lot more garbage from both democrats and republicans. They are all part of the same machine and there is no way to avoid it. That is why I rarely watch anything on any of the major networks, I tend to stick with NPR, C-Span, my pol sci professors and Jon Stewart, as well as books.
Also, I do not know why so many republicans believe that Obama is a communist. Perhaps it has something to do with the welfare state. In that case examining Keynesian economics would provide the answer to the Milton's state.
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