My message to Barack Obama is that there will always be something for Repugs to be "outraged" about. Bowing and scraping over every remark made by someone else is just going to keep you on defense and make you appear weak. Even if you came out tomorrow as the reincarnation of Saint Ronnie, Darth Cheney, & Antonincompoop Scalia, Conservatives would still invent reasons to criticize and demonize you.
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By disavowing Clark so quickly and categorically, you've taken who I believe to be the best choice for VP off the table. I think one of the reasons such a big stink is being made about this by McCain and his cohorts is for just this reason.
What we've learned over the past 7 years, is that the general public likes to see someone who is resolute (no matter how wrong they may be). What could be more powerful and appealing in a candidate then to be resolute and correct? The only thing I can admire about Repugs is their superior ability to frame issues. With the proper framing, stands on topics like the recent SCOTUS decisions (and some of their frightening dissents) along with FISA/Retroactive immunity can be winning issues. Oh, and as an added bonus, they are also the right thing to do!!
When McCain or his people [and earlier, Clinton and her people] have said crazy s**t, Obama tends to absolve them and take the "high road".
I say STOP IT!!
If they are drowning, don’t throw the life preserver. Drive the boat away as fast as possible. To further torture the analogy, there’s no need to toss em an anchor as you rev the motor, but by all means stand aside and let everyone observe the flailing.
For Obama's own campaign, there are many different levels of denouncing and/or rejecting.
For example, here's how Obama could have responded to the so-called Clark controversy:
I know General Clark and I'm confident he honors and respects Senator McCain's service to this country as much as I do. Nobody can argue that his time as a POW and his entire service during the Vietnam war is anything short of heroic*. I categorically reject any statements to the contrary. I will be touching on these themes in my speech later today.
*[CS - Yes, I’m gagging, but the MSM loves this kind of crap]
I'm not looking for pure ideology. I predict that I will be disappointed many times before this is all over. What I can't accept is for the Democratic candidate to again let himself be defined by the opposition and spend the entire campaign trying to "not lose" instead of win.