OK so John McCain will be the Republican nominee. Democrats are ready to attack him. But once again Democrats and Progressives are trying to do it intellectually. The main reason why the GOP has been better at these types of attacks, is that they go for attacks based on emotion response. So let me explain how the GOP would attack McCain. It involves strippers and bills.
STRATEGY #1 ATTACK HIM FROM THE RIGHT TO PREVENT HIM FROM CONSOLIDATING HIS BASE, THAT MEANS HIS YOUTH IS NOT OFF LIMITS
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We all know all the dirt that has been brought up about Obama's youth ( I won't repeat it hear) what about McCain's youth? Let me cite Slate, John McCain dated a stripper! Excuse me since we are progressives trying to sound fair they called her an "exotic dancer."
As a fighter pilot in Pensacola, Fla., 30 years ago, McCain and his exotic-dancer girlfriend dropped by the dinner party of some married ensigns and were greeted with "disbelief and alarm." They left quickly. This week as he tried to crash his way into the nomination of a party from which he has often broken, his mother predicted Republicans would have to "hold their nose" to vote for her son.
Why would Slate make such a claim without fair of a libel suit? Well Faith of My Fathers authored by some guy called John McCain claims this. You never heard this? You mean it took the media 2 weeks to get the story of Obama's teenage drug use from the Drudge report, but you still haven't heard this one? Why isn't the blogosphere going crazy on this. How old was he 30+ years ago? I know Republicans in their late 30s get to still have youthfull indescretions.
THE GOP WOULD GET FEMINIST ON RECORD IF A DEM HAD DONE THIS
Remember how feminist were asked repeatedly about how they could support Bill Clinton after he cheated on his wife?
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHY HAVE NO CHRISTIAN WOMEN ORGANIZATIONS BEEN ASKED ABOUT JOHN McCAIN DATING A STRIPPER! What message does that send our children?
Dear Concerned Woman of America can I get your board of directors on record for voting for a man who dated a stripper? Do you think retelling that story in a book with the word "Faith" in it's title was a little crass? Sincerly Concern Troll
Beating McCain means we have to attack his weakness. Movement Conservatives don't like him. He is going to spend the next several month consolidating the conservative base. So why are we sitting here letting him? Use his own words againt him to seed dessension in the ranks.
WHY HASN'T KOS MADE THIS A FRONT PAGE STORY
If we use this tag repeatedly, eventually the MSM will do a "story" on it. It will be "balanced" they will say "Democrats complained about attacks on Obama" now they are doing it to. That will wrap up a 15 minute segment on a weekened and they will never touch it again. The republicans will keep on bringing up Obama smears right up to the elction. We need to mention this every week. Give him a nickname "Good time John", "he is after all a John" ect. Forget how "mean" we sound. Send out emails to Christian women orgs, call talk radio, let's get moving people. (McCain notes in his book that her stage name was the "Flame of Florida." Washington Post 5-30-2005)
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STRATEGY #2 USE THE LEGISLATURE AGAINST HIM
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The Senate will bottle up most votes in comitee but we can use the House. Use the fact that most hard right conservatives can't stand him. Bring up to vote peices of legislature McCain wrote that conservatives can't stand. His immigration, his climate change bill (yes I don't like it, THAT IS NOT THE POINT), a sense of the house "no tax cuts without cuts in spending", bills against using churches for intollerance (hello his attacks on Pat Roberts 2000), bills supporting Judicial filibusters (pointless but effective), etc. After each vote we ask the media "if his own party, the Republicans can't support his legislation and positions why should America." Make it a story that especially the Conservatives are voting against his bills. Make it a story over and over. The easiest thing to do is to keep a story line going in the media, they are lazy and like story line whose background is already set.
By the way don't have any fear the bills will become law they can be killed in conference. The House was almost designed for this sort of electionering. Oh I know, the media will attack partisan Washington, and how unfair Democrats are. Well they are silent as Bush runs roughshod over congress so eexcuse me as I shed crocodile tears. Oh and I know Bush won't use the power of the Presidency to help McCain, never never never.
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