If you don't want to read another diary questioning or criticizing or expressing concern about Obama's strategy, then don't read this one.
I'm just wondering why aren't the Obama's team running ad after ad quoting all the news organizations calling McCain a liar? He can't just let the stories run in the news and then not mention it. He HAS to highlight it in ads after ads after ads. Calling them for what they are . . . damn lies.
If he only relies on the media and the blogs to call McCain out, I think its a gigantic mistake.
McCain and Palin both offered up gems these past couple of days. Why aren't there ads about Palin wanting a war with Russia? Why aren't there ads showing her not knowing what the Bush doctrine is? There should be ads showing her contradicting herself about global warming. And most damaging of all, WHY ISN'T THERE AN AD THAT SAYS HOW MCCAIN AND PALIN BOTH THINK RAPE VICTIMS SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR EXAMS? That in itself is most damaging and would help put them on defense for a change.
McCain says "He's divorced from day to day reality", McCain says "Mayors and Governors aren't ready to be president", McCain says Palin NEVER took an earmark. Why aren't there ads slamming him about it? Why aren't there ads questioning McCain's temperment?
After his convention speech, many commentators on MSNBC mentioned how it sounded like Aaron Sorkin's "American President". And they were right. I was finally happy to hear a Democrat stand up and be proud of our progressive ideals. However, if you watch the movie, there's a line in there that I think is relevant right now and I hope the Obama team understands:
Lewis Rothschild: You have a deeper love of this country than any man I've ever known. And I want to know what it says to you that in the past seven weeks, 59% of Americans have begun to question your patriotism.
President Andrew Shepherd: Look, if the people want to listen to-...
Lewis Rothschild: They don't have a choice! Bob Rumson is the only one doing the talking! People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone. They want leadership. They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.
All I have to add to that quote is that Americans want someone who will fight (especially in these dangerous times). They hate bullies, but what the public hate more than a bully is someone who WON'T stand up to a bully and fight back. If Obama himself doesn't call McCain out on his lies (especially about the Sex Ed for Kindergarteners), then people will being to wonder why and "they'll drink the sand".
The Obama team cannot rely on the blogs, and news people to do all the dirty work for them. Most regular Americans aren't reading Kos, Huffington Post or TPM. Most regular Americans don't follow politics as closely as the people who frequent these sites or reads the news fervently.
THE OBAMA TEAM HAVE TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY!!!!!
I'm sad to say, but in this country, a candidate needs to get in the mud if he wants to win. He can change that once he's in power, but to get in power, you have to do some viscious and unseemly stuff. If he's unwilling to do that, then he can enjoy his sense of self-righteousness when he's teaching law at the U of Chicago in four years instead of sitting in the Oval Office.