Obama Campaign, I look for a response. (UPDATED)

                           

McCain and Company are shaking in their boots.

They don't know how this Obama Trip will play out, but they do know he will have MASSIVE teevee coverage.

So, the first "official" negative campaign ad is out.

Hitting Obama on foreign policy.  Notice the language about Obama not holding Afghanistan sub-committee hearings, a play pulled from the Clinton Campaign during the primaries.

This ad starts running today in 11 battleground states and cable networks, source here.

I expect the Obama Campaign to destroy McCain's credibility of not atttending ANY Afghanistan meetings and NOT VOTING for the G.I. Bill that he was against.

If you have not given to the Obama Campaign, please do so.   This is why money is needed to respond.  No money, no response.

Update [2008-7-18 17:39:4 by icebergslim]:

Response from the Obama Campaign:

Obama spokesman Bill Burton: "While Barack Obama wants to change American foreign policy to wind down the war in Iraq and address the grave threat posed by a resurgent al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan, John McCain offers this patently misleading negative ad. Given his calls for a civil campaign, it's disappointing that Senator McCain has slipped so easily into the same, tired campaign tactics that have become so familiar to the American people."

Update [2008-7-18 17:46:8 by icebergslim]:

h/t to robertacker13

The McCain Campaign has created an 18-pg dossier attacking Barack Obama on Foreign Policy.  This is a press packet to "make sure the reporters" are doing their job.  Is this pathetic or what?  It appears someone is surely scurred of Obama and his overseas trip, to me.  

Information here.

Again, I expect an Obama "AD" response.  Sooner than, later.

::

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama

•  tips/recs.

  by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:14:20 PM PDT

  •  McSame still hasn't learned? Obama is at his

    best when he counter-punches!!!!  Obama's best weapon is the counter, because he provides you with your execution style of choice.....  Gotta love McSame, that great tactician that he is...  XD

    by fromdabak on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:18:35 PM PDT

    •  I'd like to see a fact check type response

      on their respective records and votes re the troops etc.

      by yuriwho on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:21:12 PM PDT

      •  Me too, they have it wrong about

        supporting the troops, he has voted FOR war funding.

        by snackdoodle on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:23:14 PM PDT

        •  These are the same dubious tactics they used...

          ...when claiming Kerry voted to increase taxes over 200 times.  They really need to be called on it this time.

          by sgilman on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:59:15 PM PDT

          •  Obama Team Time to Counter Attack

            Everyone has been quiet about McCain's commander in chief experience (yeah right) or his military expertise which are being sold by the media....
            Now it is appropriate enough in response to this ad, for someone to come up with an ad telling people how many times mc Cain missed voting since he has been running..What are some of the critical votes he missed and how they will impact various constituencies (women, veterans, seniors.etc.)

            Call Mc Cain out Show his hypocrisy...When was the last time he traveled to Afghanistan?When did he attend the meetings on Afghanistan?

            by Auspicious8 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:11:24 PM PDT

            •  this reply from yesterday was amazing ...

              McCain has been at work (30+ / 0-)

              6 days in 2008. 2/7, 2/12, 2/13, 3/13, 3/14, and 4/8. The Medicare vote was the 76th consecutive tally McCain has missed. He leads the Senate in votes missed in the 110th Congress with 61.8% Yet he wants a job promotion. Call his office and ask whoever answers the phone, what would happen if they only showed up for work 6 days this year.

              by number nine dream on Thu Jul 17, 2008 at 07:53:16 PM PDT

              I thought this news was unbelievable.  Obama's team should do an ad showing the above information on McCain, who doesn't seem to be showing up for anything except those Town Hall Meeting that are nothing but 200 Republicans that show up to agree with him.

              by Badabing on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:47:20 PM PDT

        •  which has nothing to do with troop support...

          just getting them killed.

          by kenjisan on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:56:34 PM PDT

      •  My reply is $100.

        I trust the Obama campaign to spend it well. So far they are doing a masterful job!

        by Palmetto Progressive on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:11:19 PM PDT

        •  Hear, Hear!

          I will join you in making a donation.

          by Craig Hickman on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:59:15 PM PDT

      •  Well here's a start

        1. Notice that the "hasn't been to iraq in years" line is in an article from June 15th.  That was an article that was talking about Obama considering this trip he's about to take.  

        2. Hasn't held a hearing, sure, but he's chair of the subcommittee on EUROPE.  Not AFGHANISTAN.  Furthermore, he got that gig right as he started his campaign for President.

        Should I even bother with the opinion quote from the New York F'ing Post? :)

        by sterno on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:26:53 PM PDT

        •  Hillary ran a similar ad

          Before Texas and she believed it served her well.

          McCain thinks the same.

          by Craig Hickman on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 05:00:13 PM PDT

      •  AND the VETS!!! nt

        by revgerry on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:38:40 PM PDT

      •  not sure

        how you attack Mcsame on his voting record,when was the last time he actually showed up to vote?
         

        by bharv on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:30:44 PM PDT

        •  You count non votes as not being bothered

          to support a cause. You also hold him accountable for public statements on whether he supports a bill. He said he was against Webb's GI bill that passed. It would be easy to make him look silly with facts.

          by yuriwho on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 07:30:37 PM PDT

    •  BREAKING OBAMA................. RESPONDS!

      links to below comment

      by robertacker13 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:35:40 PM PDT

    •  Fromdaback, it reminds me of the scene in 'Pulp

      Fiction' when Bruce Willis is picking between his weapons of choice...He doesn't go with the chainsaw, he goes with the sword...Watch Obama slice him up strategically in little pieces.  There will not be much left of McCain after Obama is finished....

      by 3O3 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:57:12 PM PDT

      •  yeah baby, Jed is Dead eom.

        by Badabing on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:48:24 PM PDT

  •  "He hasn't been to Iraq in years"

    Um, he'll probably be there tomorrow, so can't run this ad too long.

    Anyhow, Iceberg you're exactly right, a response is needed ASAP, you can't let this fester.  

    by dansac on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:19:06 PM PDT

    •  that's what I was thinking!

      way to blow money on an ad you can run for like, three days?

      Dumb.

      by zenbowl on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:24:09 PM PDT

      •  were is Lava's Failed Pictures? LOL eom.

        by Badabing on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:49:12 PM PDT

    •  Well - 2 years ago....

      he visited Iraq, but not Afghanistan. I give a lot of credence to someone who reads, thinks, discusses, listens to and talks with those who have been there  on the ground in the war zone - that would be Obama.

      by moose67 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:44:44 PM PDT

    •  Thanks McSame!!

      Um, he'll probably be there tomorrow, so can't run this ad too long.

      Are they going to hit McSame on this, since he disclosed it?  We know the TradMed will give McSame another free pass.

      by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:58:18 PM PDT

  •  Reced. We always need to be kept aware

    of what McSame is doing.

    by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:19:41 PM PDT

  •  Thanks for diarying this

    I was hoping someone would.

    My thinking is that

    1- It's an effective ad. It works on the low-info people, I think.

    2- Mccain actually didn't hold any meetings on Afghanistan AT ALL. Obama held one.

    3- I look forward to the Obama campaign counterattacking. It's what they do best.

    4- An ad with Jim Webb blasting Mccain on the GI Bill would be amazing. Does anyone think he would be up for it?

    by jenontheshore on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:26:16 PM PDT

    •  I certainly think he would. Raises his

      national profile and helps the party. Win-Win.

      by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:27:45 PM PDT

      •  Plus he likes to mix it up, and I'd bet he'd

        be chomping at the bit after the McSame surrogates went after him a couple weeks ago....  Webb seems like a bar room brawler....

        by fromdabak on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:33:34 PM PDT

        •  Exactly. Its disappointing that

          he is so fresh in the senate. He is almost the perfect VP candidate for Obama. If you overlook the chance one of his shoots at the other side possibly turns into friendly fire.

          by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:40:18 PM PDT

          •  I like him but not for the VP slot.... Too out

            of control....  Here is my choice.....

            by fromdabak on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:43:44 PM PDT

            •  Interesting...

              I like that idea, very off the radar.

              by blueyedace2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:48:57 PM PDT

              •  Obama is going to do something off

                the radar...interesting idea.  I keep going back to our Rep. Wexler in Florida.  He and Obama's visuals looked really good together at their Tampa rally a few months ago.  But, I still believe Obama will go with someone with some military experience and I became clueless after Webb totally shut himself out.        

                by mjd in florida on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:55:59 PM PDT

            •  Really intersting, but I'm unsure about it.

              Not a lot of national profile and picking a women not name Hilary is probably an unnecessary poke in the eye at her supporters.

              by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:50:28 PM PDT

              •  So we shouldn't pick someone with national

                security, military, and command experience due to the fact that it's a woman sounds irrational....  This woman laps Hillary in every department because she didn't have a "name" to usher her through her career....  

                by fromdabak on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:53:42 PM PDT

                •  Its not irrational, its politics. NT

                  by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:57:11 PM PDT

              •  All but ~2000 of HRC supporters

                appear to have made the change to supporting the party's nominee, FWIW.

                I'm sure the talking heads will make the same point you are, but it's not borne out by polling since the primary season's end.

                by thesill on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:00:37 PM PDT

                •  I mean its true that they have made

                  the change, but how strong is the support? Is the move really necessary? And she has no national presence. We are busy introducing Barack Obama, we do not want to have to introduce the VP as well.

                  by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:56:49 PM PDT

            •  She came to our local Dem Party

              meeting to stump for a candidate... she's wonderful!!

              i got a few photos of the event!

              by sc kitty on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:08:04 PM PDT

              •  It's not coming up.....

                by fromdabak on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:11:28 PM PDT

                •  the link is from our meeting

                  it is working for me ...
                  here is the link again:
                  http://www.aikencountydemocrats.org/...

                  by sc kitty on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:13:27 PM PDT

                  •  There we go.... Thanx.....

                    by fromdabak on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:17:20 PM PDT

    •  Remember when Wes Clark went after McCain

      about his 'experience' and in particular McCain, real military records?  Gosh, did McCain ever get pissed off, saying that Clark should apologize, which by the way Clark refused to do.

      See, I think that this is exactly what should be done. Someone needs to do a long detailed report on why the fuck McCain crashed 5 planes?  I mean one or two, ok, but 5 planes?  I have a feeling there is a big story there, and people should be informed, especially the low information voters, that all is not as it seems with McCain.

      Just because McCain spend some time in prison camp does not make him automatically 'hands off' to anyone that wants to know his record, especially after what the Republicans did to Kerry and Max.  I'd like Wes Clark, Chuck Hagel, and Jim Webb to all go after McCain's REAL military record and spill the beans on what we don't know about McCain.  We have the right to know what happened.

      by Badabing on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:55:49 PM PDT

      •  Gore Vidal

        Has the story. Ask him. He'll have no trouble telling you.

        by Craig Hickman on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 05:02:38 PM PDT

  •  Sent my $100.

    by CT yanqui on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:53:42 PM PDT

  •  You're right, McCain must be pretty scared

    National security and war were supposed to be McCain's unassailable strong points, and Obama's ironclad weaknesses. And yet, McCain is attacking him on his...weakness?

    They must sense that Obama can make traction - and perhaps already is making traction - on these issues.

    Poor McCain, if the only sacred cow he has left is POW status, he is so toast.

    by tomjones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:54:35 PM PDT

  •  iceberg,

    Isn't Biden the head of the committee that Obama has that designated sub-committee within?   I remember hearing that that there weren't any assigned tasks that Obama had missed.  It seems that McCain is pulling shit out of his ass about any Obama negligence.  

    by mjd in florida on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:00:41 PM PDT

    •  yes, it's all bullshit

      the "changed his position on Iraq" thing is what infuriates me the most.

      The McCain campaign literally told the MSM to report that. They did. Now they cite the MSM as "evidence" their Obama. Fucking obnoxious.

      Obama needs to hit back hard, and if he hears "flip-flop" out of any ABC/CBS/NBC reporters' mouth, he needs to give Gibson/Couric/Williams a one-way ticket back to DC with no interview.

      by Stroszek on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:06:28 PM PDT

      •  Wasn't Biden that committee chair?

        He needs to get on the horn in a "press conference" and negate that Afghanistan subcommittee misnomer (McCain lie) too!

        by mjd in florida on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:21:31 PM PDT

  •  Just Gave $108

    $100 just because, and $08 because we want victory in '08.

    McCain vs. Obama = Fear vs. Hope; I know which one I want in a president.

    by Guaunyu on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:08:51 PM PDT

  •  Worry not, dear Ice.

    Rest assured: McCain's attack is silly and probably won't move any votes.  I'm more worried about the foreign trip going poorly.  If it goes well -- especially in Berlin -- it'll be great.

    by Drew J Jones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:19:36 PM PDT

    •  Not sure how it could go poorly in *REALITY*.

      People in Europe will go insane for Obama, trust me.

      Obviously, that won't stop the US media from jumping all over any non-issue that arises to provide "balance". And the Republicans will wave shiny objects around during the trip (I'd expect Bush doing or saying something absurd or scary to steal coverage).

      by Antacid on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:29:08 PM PDT

      •  Don't be so sure.

        Europe is run by conservatives right now.  The only "liberal" is Gordon Brown, who as much a liberal as I'm an astronaut.  Given Merkel's behavior, I wouldn't bet against the Bushies fucking with us in some way.

        by Drew J Jones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:45:20 PM PDT

        •  Our conservatives are different

          The word doesn't mean the same thing over here. The typical European conservative leader is to the left of most Democrats as far as policy goes. Obama's recent positions on the death penalty and guns would be major gaffes over here. The leader of the British conservative party is falling over himself to cuddle up to Obama.

          The real problem for foreign heads of state is that they don't want to appear to take a side in an American election. If McCain wins, and Merkel appeared to try to help Obama, it would be a big problem. The vast right-wing conspiracy isn't truly global yet, it's just expediency.

          by Antacid on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:59:34 PM PDT

          •  True.

            Just saying, they still seem to bend over for Junior over there, unfortunately.

            Cameron has clearly modeled his campaign on Obama's, although I'd guess Cameron can't generate anything like the enthusiasm Obama generates.  I don't think Cameron necessarily needs to cuddle up to him, though.  Brown is a doofus, although I think it's clear he's paying for the sins of Phony Tony with little justification.

            by Drew J Jones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:11:29 PM PDT

            •  Agreed 100%, except,

              Cameron is basing his campaign on Blair's, not Obama's. It's one of the reason British politics is so difficult to care about right now compared to yours - here both parties are using the same image consultants.

              The thing about bending over for America is just because you're America. Our leaders don't have any option. Bush doesn't get away with "world's biggest polluter" stuff because they like him.

              by Antacid on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:19:46 PM PDT

              •  Yes and No, I think.

                The bending over for Junior, I think, has more to do with a lack of confidence in Yurp, and with the ease with which divisions are exploited.

                Agree 100% on Cameron As Blair 2.0.  I wish to God the Lib-Dems could get their shit together.

                Maybe they finally will with Clegg, but I doubt it.

                by Drew J Jones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:42:52 PM PDT

          •  Cameron

            I did see Cameron was going to get a meeting with Obama.

            That ought to be, erm, cute.

            by Drew J Jones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:13:30 PM PDT

            •  The ironic thing is

              that McCain was the only Repub presidential candidate to meet with Cameron. It's the next big conservative schtick: purge your party of racists, pretend you care about the environment and go all touchy-feely whilst pushing all the usual shit. Unfortunately it doesn't work as well when you're 25 years older than your opponent and your base is made up of hyper-aggressive neurotic religious zealots.

              by Antacid on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:23:57 PM PDT

              •  True

                Believe me, though, I'd happily trade the Reps for the Tories.  At least the hyper-religious ultranationalists are largely tossed to the BNP there.

                Cameron is talented, though.  Gotta give the little shit that.  He's improved a great deal as a debater.  Tony used to beat him like a rented mule, but he's been owning Brown at PMQs for a while now.

                by Drew J Jones on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:36:24 PM PDT

      •  I'd love it if the European crowds gave a little

        USA chant when they go to see Obama--it would be a tangible sign to American square-heads that Europe will like us again after we elect Obama.  Not that European  opinion matters, of course......;)

        by St Louis Woman on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 04:47:49 PM PDT

  •  Not only respond, but escalate

    with a "Social Security is a disgrace" ad counterattack.  If the traditional media won't point out that McCain hates old people who don't have a beer-heiress to support them, then Obama should do it.

    We need our 527's back.  Obama's not mean enough.

    by Magster on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:31:29 PM PDT

  •  I wish they'd respond to dipwad's claim

    that he can't believe that Obama is trying to set policy BEFORE he goes over or speaks to the commanders with something along the line of:

    "And I can't believe that a man who HAS been there, multiple times, and seen what's really going on, through the veil of the Blackhawks and all, and spoken with the servicemen & women on the front lines, isn't working harder than I to get the troops home."

    Just a thought...

    by sophistry makes me tired on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:55:05 PM PDT

  •  McCain's record is much worse: (from ABC)

    It turns out that presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain has attended even fewer Afghanistan-related Senate hearings over the past two years than Obama's one. Which is a nice way of saying, McCain, R-Ariz., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Service Committee, has attended zero of his committee's six hearings on Afghanistan over the last two years.

    Meanwhile, Obama attended the full Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Afghanistan in March 2007, although he used the opportunity to ask Gen. James L. Jones, then the commander of NATO, about Pakistan.

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/...

    by Tamar on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:58:45 PM PDT

•  With 72 million COH in the campaign coffers

  I feel really confident about our ability to respond this year.

  by smash artist on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:15:00 PM PDT

  •  this is a large ad buy,

    at this point and time, McCain has more money along with the RNC.  remember that.

    by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:16:08 PM PDT

    •  Large ad buy

      while folks are dealing with kids on summer vacation and BBQing -- the response will come, but at this time of year, I'm guessing people don't give a shit.

      by gchaucer2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:17:38 PM PDT

      •  Again, no attack must be left unanswered. n/t

        by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:19:31 PM PDT

        •  I'm guessing it will come

          too delicious to ignore.

          by gchaucer2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:20:13 PM PDT

      •  You can't save up for a response

        If there's one lesson from 2004, you don't strategically try to time your responses, you smack back immediately as quickly as possible always.

        by dansac on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:19:42 PM PDT

        •  And, as I said above,

          a response will come. This ad is like a gaping chasm begging to be filled with reality.

          by gchaucer2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:21:36 PM PDT

          •  If done right, it is a softball over the plate

            by dansac on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:23:08 PM PDT

            •  One that even I could hit

              and I have no hand-eye coordination.

              by gchaucer2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:24:51 PM PDT

          •  Predictable, Too

            I'm sure the Obama campaign is more than prepared to respond to an a dumb, predictable spot like this one. I'd be surprised if they didn't have a something written pretty much ready to go already.

            by HatchInBrooklyn on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:25:15 PM PDT

    •  yes, but it is a crumby ad!

      hearings???  geeze, how many hearings has old mac been to lately?  what a moran poor old mac is.  he has lost his bearings again.

      by ratador on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:21:31 PM PDT

      •  Disagree

        I hate the ad and think it's substantively garbage, but it's effective

        by dansac on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:22:49 PM PDT

        •  effective at what?

          I fail to see its effectiveness.  it opens mac up to the question of his attendance at hearings and votes the last two years.  funding the troops?  mac opposed the GI Bill for god sakes.  This ad does nothing to diminish obama other than the usual poor picture quality of obama.  it is IMHO a very weak attack ad.

          by ratador on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:27:51 PM PDT

          •  Effective ≠ tactically sound. n/t

            Shirley Schmidt: A Democrat.

            by Jyrinx on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:49:58 PM PDT

        •  I agree

          It's a good ad. I mean it's a SLIMY BULLSHIT ad. But it might work.

          by jenontheshore on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:28:50 PM PDT

      •  The execution is poor.

        I agree with that, but after 2004 I don't want any false bullshit sitting out there unanswered.

        by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:22:54 PM PDT

      •  He's been to zero

        hearings on Iraq in two years.  His campaign staff are maroons for providing an opening that will bite them in the ass.  I'm an old timer, thus, no one for instant gratification.  Sometimes you have to have a pause, and then fire your gun.

        by gchaucer2 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:23:24 PM PDT

    •  I think we have like $92 mil

      And they have like $97 mil. So we are not too far behind.

      by jenontheshore on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:27:54 PM PDT

•  Welcome to the General Election Folks

  this won't be the last of it...but I have a feeling that Obama will rise above all this muck this year.  Time for him to start proving all of us right.

  by bleigh82 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:15:11 PM PDT

•  First negative ad?

  It seems like there have been many, both by the RNC and McCain,  particularly criticizing Obama on gas prices/energy.

  by jj32 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:16:57 PM PDT

  •  It is looked upon as the first...

    negative ad.

    by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:18:49 PM PDT

  •  that distinction is just an excuse

    for CNN, Fox, and MSNBC to replay it for free as "news."

    by Stroszek on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:55:57 PM PDT

    •  Use the same "excuse" to replay the response n/t

      by thesill on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:03:19 PM PDT

•  Obama is well positioned to respond to this. He

  can use the letter by Senator Joe Biden which stated that Afghanistan was considered by the whole committee and his trip to the middle east will pre-empt the other nonsense. He should also point out that George W. Bush and John McCain didn't think it was necessary to visit Iraq before authorizing an invasion.

  by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:18:28 PM PDT

  •  Your latter point is better than your former

    Because the first is defensive.  He should always be on offense.  He shouldn't respond to McCain's garbage accusations, but launch his own, fresh attacks.

    by dansac on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:20:33 PM PDT

    •  Probably true people don't care much about

      letters from Biden and the full committee vs. Subcommittee is a bit nuanced. Oh well always have McCain's sterling record of cutting veterans benefits to go after. Let er rip!

      by bbxcountry25 on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:23:02 PM PDT

      •  Something like Eric Stolz's ads in 2006

        First McSame doesn't give them armour
        then McSame doesn't care when they come home

        by christomento on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:40:06 PM PDT

  •  Maybe Mac should respond himself

    ...as Slinkerwink recently noted:

    But I think the real crunch is going to come after Afghanistan is settled

    There's enough McCain flip-flops by now to simply keep using his own words against him, on pretty much every topic under the sun.

    by thesill on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:14:28 PM PDT

•  Gore showed the way yesterday and I think

  Obama sees it.  Tie it all together.  Don't get caught up in minutia.

  Gore:

  Yet when we look at all three of these seemingly intractable challenges at the same time, we can see the common thread running through them, deeply ironic in its simplicity: our dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels is at the core of all three of these challenges - the economic, environmental and national security crises.

  We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change.

  But if we grab hold of that common thread and pull it hard, all of these complex problems begin to unravel and we will find that we're holding the answer to all of them right in our hand.

  The answer is to end our reliance on carbon-based fuels.

  Obama:

  "For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency of this threat. I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as President.  It’s a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer."

  It's not about attending committee meetings.  It's about fixing a broken America. Making us great again by actually fixing the real problems.  Not the politics of the old, not the bs of negative ads, but actually doing what we need to do.

  by TomP on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:19:12 PM PDT

  •  I agree. Again, don't let this set out there.

    and fester.

    by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:20:23 PM PDT

    •  Yes, and don't buy the "it's summer no one cares"

      argument.  You hit back fast immediately all the time.  And you launch offense, all the time.

      by dansac on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:21:23 PM PDT

      •  that worked REAL well

        in August 2004 .... NOT!

        by billlaurelMD on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:28:02 PM PDT

        •  It was an exCELLent month for Kerry

          ((slaps forehead))

          by christomento on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:41:49 PM PDT

        •  It took Kerry about a month to respond...

          while that swiftvote ad was like the energizing bunny that just kept running and running....

          NOT THIS TIME...

          by icebergslim on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 01:43:36 PM PDT

          •  That's a myth that's been debunked repeatedly

            But here you (and all the Kerry second guessers) go:

            Over the last week or so, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has been attacking me. Of course, this group isn’t interested in the truth – and they’re not telling the truth. They didn’t even exist until I won the nomination for president.
            But here’s what you really need to know about them. They’re funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They’re a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the President won’t denounce what they’re up to tells you everything you need to know—he wants them to do his dirty work.

            Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam.

            As firefighters you risk your lives everyday. You know what it’s like to see the truth in the moment. You’re proud of what you’ve done—and so am I.

            Of course, the President keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: "Bring it on."

            by NYFM on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:05:19 PM PDT

            •  Unfortunately, they brought it on...

              and Kerry responded with speeches, not ads. Like it or not, wee li'l ads seem to be preferred by the talking heads.

              IIRC the swiftboat liars' ad buy was relatively small, but it got huge air time as Fox skewed coverage of the manufactured "issue" and the others followed along.

              by thesill on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 02:21:13 PM PDT

              •  Of course when you have Fox and Sinclair

                and all the other collaborators amplifying/legitimizing the lies then you're at a distinct loss to come up with an equivalent response.  The only thing close to a fair rebuttal (on the TV at least) came from ABC's Nightline when they actually went to Vietnam and found at least one participant to the ambush where Kerry counterattacked, beached his boat, and chased down and killed one of the attackers.  The participant confirmed the truth of Kerry's account, and debunked the lie that Kerry killed a helpless teenager.

                by NYFM on Fri Jul 18, 2008 at 03:20:52 PM PDT

            •  No it hasn't, because unfortunately it's true

              Sorry. The American public needed to hear it directly form the man himself, and that didn't happen for two weeks, though the campaign made several efforts, even early ones right after their press conference, but that didn't work. Kerry listened to Bob Shrum's advice not to respond himself and that the DNC(under terry Mcauliffe's failed leadership) would take care of it. Here is a time-line:

              http://www.democraticunderground.com...

              April 14, 2004 - The website for SBVT was registered under the name of Lewis Waterman, the information technology manager for Gannon International, a St. Louis company that has diversified interests, including in Vietnam. (1) (note - Gannon International does not appear to have any relationship to Jeff Gannon/Guckert, the fake reporter.)

              May 3, 2004 - "Kerry campaign announced a major advertising push to introduce 'John Kerry's lifet