Genghis said:
"A McCain-Obama match-up promises to be one of the of the most civil and issue-oriented elections in recent memory"

I disagree. It's not a hit on the McCain campaign, just the Republican attack machine that won't necessarily be associated with his campaign--i.e. the people push-polling for Huckabee and that guy that push-polled against Hillary. I expect that kind of crap in high volume.

Posted at February 15, 2008 11:17 PM in response to Obama and the Dirt

noseeum listed these things as possible hit points on Obama that he needs to prepare for (most of them he already has):
-he admitted to using cocaine
-he's black
-he's pro-choice
-he doesn't like the Iraq War
-he's inexperienced
-he hates torture
-he doesn't eat fried squirrel
-he's a muslim

I'd add three things to that list:
-the preacher in his church isn't what most progressives would call progressive
-I've been told there's a part in one of his books where Obama discusses growing up in Hawaii and learning to hate white people (obviously I'm sure he's grown out of that, but we're talking about the Republicans here--same thing with the "Muslim" bullshit)
-There's a rumor on the internets that the Clinton campaign knows something big about Obama's past that they don't feel comfortable using against him, but who knows, it may have already come out? No idea what that could be.

I'd say that the nastiest attack ads will focus on cocaine, hint at the fact that he's black (which will be easy with drugs in the right parts of town), his preacher, and bring up the fact that his father was raised a Muslim.

Those things will passed around on whisper campaigns (already happening, and I'd bet they originate from the far right and not Clinton or other Dems) and maybe even finely crafted attack ads or push polls.

I think he'll have a rough ride but most of those kinds of things will stick most with people who wouldn't vote for him anyway, i.e. Southern whites (I'm from Alabama...there's a lot of resistance to him in certain circles and it's primarily based on this crap). The key is fighting that kind of misinformation with class and tact and truth and hope, all of which Obama has shown he can do.

Posted at February 15, 2008 11:14 PM in response to Obama and the Dirt

I'm not absolutely sure about this, but I think the NY Times article I read said that Obama agreed to accept public funding if he and McCain got the nod and you could do public funding only for the general election. Did I misread that?

He should honor that if so. I'm all for beating down the Republicans but honesty and keeping one's word is also something I admire.

Just a note: I anticipate that what someone willpost in reply to this is that "Republicans make promises and break them all the time!" That means nothing so please don't post that.

Obama '08 baby

Posted at February 15, 2008 11:02 PM in response to McCain - Afraid of Obama's Donor Army - Calls for Obama to Use Public Financing