President Bush's remarks at the Knesset:
Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along.
We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if I could only have talked to Hitler, all this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is—the false comfort of appeasement
This is just the latest example of an important facet of the emerging Republican strategy to attack Barack Obama in the general election campaign.
I see multiple dimensions of this strategy, each of which I will try to put forward here.
1. Chamberlain vs. Churchill
Frames a Neville Chamberlain vs. Winston Churchill comparison with Barack Obama playing the Chamberlain part and John McCain as Churchill. Even to people with little knowledge of history and Nazi appeasement, it will be easy enough to convey the idea that Chamberlain was wrong (and weak) and Churchill was correct (and strong.)
2. Experience vs. Inexperience
This strategy plays to one of John McCain's few perceived strengths: foreign policy experience. (Notice I said perceived.) I believe that the republicans will try to use this issue to paint Obama as a foreign policy rookie in a time when we need a pro. John McCain will undoubtedly use his biography and military credentials at every opportunity to appeal to national security voters. This strategy will provide a line of attack on Barack Obama's lack of military experience and perceived inexperience in foreign policy matters and probably on his short time in national politics.
3. Religion and Patriotism
I believe that the republicans will capitalize on those damnable internet rumors that some people are still willing to believe to frame a McCarthyistic attack on Barack Obama's patriotism and religion. Barack Obama is not a Muslim and he is a patriot, but there is definitely enough rumor in the collective consciousness to create doubt. America's alliance with Israel is going to be a large part of this component in the strategy And I don't believe it will be targeted only at Jewish Americans, but at Christians who see Israel as an ally against the Muslim Jihad in the holy war many of them believe us to be waging.
4.The Fear Factor
All of the above accumulate into one big scare tactic. And it's easy to frame in republican images and talking points. They'll say that John McCain will stand up to our enemies and Barack Obama will appease them. They'll invoke Hitler and the Nazis, Hamas, and Al Qaeda. I won't be surprised to see video of a mushroom cloud. They'll quote Jeremiah Wright saying what we all know he said and then they'll ask us if we can really believe that Barack Obama loves this country. They'll at least imply that he sympathizes with terrorists and terrorist states and that his election to the Presidency will put the very existence of Israel at risk, and maybe even that of America, too.
That's my amateur assessment of recent events. I could be wrong, but we've seen what the other side is capable of and how hard it can be to convince people of the truth. I have no doubt that the Obama campaign will be able to respond well to these things, should they come to pass. But I'd also like the rest of us to be ready to respond. It is our campaign, after all.