How can Obama innoculate himself from the coming attacks?

[4_Legs_Good]

I personally find it hilarious that the media is running headlines saying "McCain to go negative for the next 30 days".

Like he hasn't been going negative for the last 2 months. Ever since the celebrity ads, I've thought McSame has been wallowing in the mud.

But still, we can guess that he's gonna come in and hit hard on:

1. The surge
2. Wright
3. Weather Underground
4. Rezko

Personally I don't think 3 will work at all because I don't think anyone knows what the hell the Weather Underground is anymore. Maybe they can try to connect WU to Osama or something. 2 has really played out, hasn't it. Sure it'll fire up the base again, but isn't it old news? 1 they've been hitting on since day one, but they'll play it out as the white flag of surrender.

Rezko, well, Rezko, yeah, but how damaging is it really gonna be? A tentative link that he's already tried to pull back from.

What else will they have?

And I'm not talking about responses, and tit for tats, but how can he put stuff out there to pull the rug out from under McSame's feet on these things.

For example, he could do an ad with snips from his "A More Perfect Union" speech to try to cut off the Wright attacks and make them seem silly.

Ideas?

David

Edit: typo

[kestrel91316]

1. Reruns, reruns. He can try, but people aren't stupid. It won't work.

If he says word one about Wright, we pull out the big guns and nail his ticket on Palin's pastor and wacko beliefs.

Weather Underground? We whip out Keating. Rezko? More Keating.

[eleny]

2. Here you go

The surge - W told Bob Woodward that it wasn't the surge that helped but methods they couldn't talk about. Woodward discussed it at the beginning of Bill Maher's program last night.

Rev. Wright - Drag out the video of Palin's minister banishing witches from around her. And also video clips of Rev. Hagee's madness.

Weather Underground - Obama was about 8 years old back in that day. If Ayers is still so dangerous - why is he not behind bars?

And if McCain is such a patriot why did he make films for the North Vietnamese when he was held captive? Let's see some of those. 527s can take care of these counter ads.

Rezko - Drag up how McCain got to Congress. He had lots of help from Keating and other dirty dealers like his own father in law. So here's the opportunity to discuss the Keating 5.

[4_Legs_Good]

10. These are all great responses, but I'm also wondering how can we use them pre-emptively?

Since we can easily guess their line of attack, how we can discredit/diffuse their attacks before they come.

Your answer on the Surge would work very well by addressing in speeches and ads the Woodword point, and the simplification of how McSame is using the surge instead of what actually happened. How Obama supported using political/financial tactics instead of just escalating troop levels.

If we hit these points somehow before they do, then when they spend their $ running their ads, they'll just seem silly.

David

[eleny]

22. I disagree about going at McCain first with the issues you raise

Let the McCain campaign go at it first and then the Obama response is the last thing people see.

Better that Obama keep at linking McCain with Bush. Right now, with the economy in the tank, you don't open issues that invite the McCain campaign to change the subject. Let them spend their precious money first changing the subject and then respond to them. At this point, Rezko and Ayers are side issues that won't weigh as heavily as the economy that hits people where they live.

[4_Legs_Good]

26. I understand your point, I just think that when you know what your opponent is going to do

you can use his own attacks against him.

I agree, though, that the best plan is to link McSame to Bush.

David

[Stardust]

3. Great question, wish I had answers. Kicking to check back later. nt

[Cary]

4. Keep hammering away at McCain being Bush 44 theme. n/t

[Democat]

5. My idea: Link all McCain attacks to Halloween!

Oh no, there goes McCain trying to scare voters again - Halloween must be coming up soon!

Run an ad on TV reminding voters that Halloween is coming up and John McCain is telling scary stories, but like most ghost stories, these aren't true either.

Then destroy McCain with relevant attacks on his record and policies.

[4_Legs_Good]

12. OMFG! I *LOVE IT******

Geesh, that's a fantastic idea! We should make a viral video here and hope Obama picks it up.

Oh man, I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!

David

[tpi10d]

6. anything implying a lack of patriotism

Wright, Ayers etc.

Flash some offense at the accusation, state clearly his whole career has been public service to improve the life of citizens-and tie that into patriotism. Briefly touch on other career paths which would have been easier and more lucrative. Then launch onto a brief history of republicans impugning the Democrats with these accusations-Kerry Swiftboats etc. Then show it to be a distraction from the issues most important to the people..economy, jobs, etc. etc. Ask if you want the distractions to work this time? Do you want another four years of this nonsense?

[lligrd]

7. Keating 5, Keating 5, Keating 5

With the economy in the tank, Keating 5 should finish McCain off. Most people never heard of it or never understood it. Joe would be the perfect one to explain it.

[backscatter712]

8. A strong counterattack.

As Kerry and Dukakis have learned, trying to be "above the fray" and treating right wing smears as something beneath our dignity to respond to DOESN'T WORK.

Obama knows this - he's been fighting back the smear machine for some months already, and has been doing a decent job at it.

First, get the facts out. The truth is on our side, and we must be forceful in getting it out there.

Second, counterattack. Hard. Every time they bring out Wright, we bring out Hagee, Parsley and Muthee. Saturate the airwaves with that clip of Muthee praying over Palin IN THE NAAAAME OF JEEEESUS, and don't forget to mention his witch-hunts.

Make sure there is both a response with the truth to each attack and a hard-hitting counterattack.

To quote The Untouchables... "He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue!"

[RBInMaine]

9. By beating them to punch and PUNCHING McLAME GOOD AND DAMN HARD FIRST !! And,

if they try the dirt campaign, you hit McLAME with the Keating scandal, his connections to Haggee and that other nut preacher, his affair, his MULTITUDES of cars and houses, etc. etc. etc., AND you hit Palin-the-Whacko with her talking-in-tongues Pentecostal insanity, and all the rest of her nuttiness thereby attacking McBUSH's ROTTEN, CRAZY, JUDGMENT !! And, most of all, you put that footage of McCain BRAGGING about voting with Bush 90% of the time ALL OVER THE AIRWAVES !! (Why in hell isn't it out there already?)

[Starry Messenger]

11. I just posted this in another thread.

More details on the anti-terrorism legislation opposed by McCain:

"At issue is a 1994 law protecting abortion clinics from anti-choice terrorism. In May, 1994 the Senate passed the legislation by a 69-30 margin, and John McCain was among the cabal of anti-choice Senators who voted against the bill.

McCain's opposition to the legislation is rather remarkable. Its provisions were narrowly tailored to protect clinics from the wave of anti-choice terrorism that was sweeping the nation at the time. (Read the full legislation here.)

Here's how the New York Times described the new law when it first passed the Senate in November, 1993 (it passed by the same margin as the final bill, and McCain opposed it both times):"

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/04/john-mccains-do.html

Lot's more at the link. John McCain actually votes to protect terrorists.

[Heather MC]

13. They always have this one...

He's Black He's Black!
He has a Black Wife
he has black kids
he has a black father from a foreign country
He rides in black suv's
He dies his hair black to got the white hairs out
he dances like a black man
his wife has a black women's booty
he's got jungle fever
people in his family are black
his former pastor is black
Don't you people understand he is BLAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

[4_Legs_Good]

17. I particularly think the "just for men" line will work

and will probably sink our ticket.

:)

David

[Heather MC]

20. Obama is an "elitist" I think he perfers the Greshun formula

:rofl:

[melody]

14. The question is how can McCain possibily defend himself against Obama's onslaught

The "poor" GOP has no clue what they have coming at them. :evilgrin:

[blue-kite]

15. Robust attack on the issues that matter... but don't let any smear let lie also.

1) The Surge: I don't think Obama has anything to answer on this. By admitting its success (although if I were IRaqi and only putting up with 28 deaths per day rather than the 2006 average of 72 I might question the word success) Obama undercuts the argument - McCain's inability to understand the difference between the successful Surge Tactic and the failed war in Iraq Strategy is key also.
2) Wright: McCain has his own 'interminable' priest also. Is this still an issue? Maybe for some but for independents I don't think so so much. Again, hold McCain responsible for his god-awful worldview and policies. Don't let any slander lie still.
3) Weather Underground. I've read a bit about them... but do the vast majority of people remember them. They were pretty much a failure even when they were their most successful. Interesting material for a movie perhaps.
4) Rezko: That one is put to bed... The John Kerry website has a detailed page on it plus journalistic links. Surprisingly I couldn't find such a page on the obama anti-smear site.

I think its up to everyone to be educated on all the smear possibilities... if you hear them from someone correct them.

Cheers
BK

[Bubbha Jo]

16. He needs to stay away from running negative ads himself

but to run ones that explain his plan for change in words that Joe and Jo Sixpack can understand!

People are craving hope and the potential for positive actual leadership. He needs to fill that need the next 30 days.

[Starry Messenger]

18. And I don't think they are going to come after us with Rev. Wright.

Pastor Muthee is way more toxic and there is video of Palin putting her up there on his pulpit while listening to his weird brand of Dominionism. Obama campaign can just float that stuff out with surrogates.

Rezko: snooze. Foreclosures are a far bigger issue on the subject of real estate. Anyone who is going to make a federal case out of the Obama house side yard isn't going to vote for him anyway.

edit: pre-coffee thinking

[4_Legs_Good]

25. Great line on Rezko!

How about an add, saying "While McCain wants to base his campaign on whether or not Obama got a deal on the back lot for his house, Barack Obama wants to make sure that Americans can keep their houses, as the disasterous financial policies of the Bush administration, which McCain seeks to continue, force more and more Americans onto the streets."

Then if McCain runs an add about Rezko, everyone will just see McCain putting families out on the street

David

[TexasObserver]

19. By pressing McCain on issues in many states, Obama will force him to play defense everywhere.

McCain does not have the resources to fight back, so he'll pick his markets and use the negative ads. Some of the ads will be so vile they'll get tons of free media coverage, which is part of McCain's scheme. He wants to make Obama and his associations the topic of the day.

I don't see it working, because all the people who will respond to that are already voting for McCain.

[janx]

21. It's going to be Ayres and Rezko. I just read an article about that.

How desperate can they get?

[Bucky]

23. Focus on the economy. Hammer them for failing to address the economy.

[tekisui]

24. Maybe by a hard fought, year long Primary against one of the biggest

political machines in the country?:shrug:

[4_Legs_Good]

27. Yeah, you know, as much as I didn't like it,

it might actually have helped after all.

I mean Wright is old news now. When they hammer on him, it's just gonna be "Yeah, we know all about that and we're still Obama supporters"

David