Here are some good zingers to use with your friends over coffee or your colleagues around the water cooler. They would also be effective coming from surrogates for Obama when being interviewed by the media.
When Obama is accused of being a socialist or Marxist:
"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded." (Luke 12:48)
Or: "I guess that makes Jesus a socialist."
Or: "You've got to be kidding. Warren Buffett is one of Obama's most important economic advisors and supporters. Do you seriously think that Warren Buffett would support a socialist economic agenda???"
When people accuse Obama of associating with terrorists:
"He was eight years old when Ayers was bombing buildings. Do you know what everyone you associate with at church (or school, or whatever) was doing when you were eight years old?"
Or: "Obama served with Ayers on the board of a non-profit organization created by the late staunch Republican Walter Annenberg. Annenberg is responsible for inviting Ayers to serve on that board. So I guess it's really the Republicans who associate with terrorists."
When people talk about the need (!!!) to cut taxes even further:
"You get what you pay for."
Or: "If you aren't willing to pay the taxes that support our schools and fund our road repairs, you get students who can't write and bridges that collapse. Haven't we had enough of that?"
Or: "Why do you recognize the obligation to tithe to your church to support its ministries, but not to pay taxes to support the ministries of our broader society, such as schools, roads, and the military?" (This one is only for biblical fundamentalist types.)
When Republicans respond to criticism of the Iraq war, deregulation, or other economic policies by saying, "Let's not play the blame game" (remember Sarah Palin in her debate with Joe Biden?):
"You call it the 'blame game,' I call it 'taking responsibility.'"
Or: "What ever happened to taking responsibility for one's own actions? Isn't that what George Bush and all the Republicans kept talking about, how people haven't been taking responsibility?"
Or: "Why is it that, when homeowners lose their jobs or see the interest rates on their mortgages rise four percent, they're supposed to take responsibility by losing their homes, but when Republicans are reminded of their responsibility for this situation because of their economic policies, it's suddenly 'the blame game'?"
UPDATE: I just got back from early voting. I live in Dallas, in an area that is heavily Republican. Not surprisingly, the attorney behind me in line was voting for McCain. He was resigned to Obama's winning, but was also fearful because of "Obama's socialism." So, I immediately asked him if he thought Warren Buffett was socialist. His response? "He's not a socialist, but he is very liberal." (!!!) I responded that I considered Buffett the epitome of capitalism -- responsible capitalism. He replied that he admired Buffett's having donated so much money to charitable foundations, but reiterated that he considered him very liberal. The guy doesn't listen to NPR but gets all of his news analysis from Hannity and O'Reilly.
Some people really are just beyond help ... and hope.