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GOP Offense Crushing Our Prevent Defense
I can't help but feel depressed by the continued attacks of the GOP and the media machine on Senator Obama. Not because the attacks are taking place but because of how ineffective we've been at responding.
The Democrats have been playing "prevent defense" ever since Obama was the presumptive nominee. From FISA to Iraq to the New Yorker cover, the responses to these attacks have been incoherent and lame. The Flip-Flopper label is beginning to stick, with the complicit media absolutely fixated on keeping Obama on the defensive. It's been like this on issue after issue and it scares the hell out of me.
In an election year with a President whose approval ratings are in the 20's to low 30's and a GOP candidate who has the charisma of a wet mop, we should be running away in the polls. Yet we are now looking at a statistical dead heat.
What is going on here, folks?
Comments (9)
Maybe Obama will give a speech on the topic, that's all he seems to do these days. A speech that is forgotten the moment after he is finished giving it, other than for the GOP to pick a sentence, twist it and run with it. So Obama gets 10 minutes of coverage, and the GOP gets a days worth of free coverage rebutting his speech and twisting it to fit their storyline.
One can only hope that Obama is laying low, spending all of his money on the ground, with GOTV campaigns and grassroots organizing for a big blitz come the fall. I just hope that most are not making up their minds now.
July 15, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why do people keep calling this a "statistical dead heat"? I realize everything could change by November, but right now, Obama's doing quite fine, thank you.
July 15, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama's challenge is that he wants to take the high road, for the most part. He's avoided cheap shots, and that puts him at a disadvantage. You'd think he'd get credit for it, but no.
The leftwing is busy sniping at their own side. Meanwhile the MSM does it's usual GOP-slanted spinjob on every issue. I think Obama needs more allies and people hitting back against the GOP, and holding the media's feet to the fire when they go astray. We need o call them on their bullshit, otherwise no one will.
As for the polls, I wouldn't put much credence. If it looks close, that might actually be good to avoid overconfidence and complacency.
Despite Bush's low approval, the GOP can play the fear/hate card quite well. They appeal to emotions, not reason. It can be effective. And of course Obama's ethnicity/name doesn't help in much of the country. He'll have to work hard o convince these people.
This fall will be hard, I suggest we all get to work.
July 15, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm up today 9 in Quinnipiac poll and 8 in ABC poll. Yup things suck.
July 15, 2008 5:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can't deny that things have been trending toward McCain recently on almost all fronts, these two polls notwithstanding. If you don't see it then you need to take a closer look at what's been going on. To look at a couple of polls and conclude that Obama and the Democrats have beem handling things with aplomb is, in my opinion, naive.
July 15, 2008 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Robby, this sounds like sincere anxiety. You're right that no single poll is the answer. So take a look at this rather complete compilation of polls. It's the best way I know of tracking national numbers, more reliable I think than RCP.
http://www.pollster.com/08-US-Pres-GE-MvO.php
As you'll see, the trend is not a bad one. But Ben is also right that what matter are the electoral-vote projections, not the national numbers. And our advantage there is significantly greater.
I don't want to be overconfident. It's only July. Let's all keep working and donating. But despair and complaint are really unwarranted, and "prevent defense" is not accurate. They've been proactive.
July 15, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
During the primary, I realized how frustrated the Clintons got because Obama didn't fight back at them the way they wanted.
(The Clintons are always used to being attacked in typical vicious Republican ways).
Barack stood up for himself, don't get me wrong. But he just watched as the Clintons kept swinging and missing and tiring themselves out.
It wasn't rope a dope because Obama was very assertive and answered attacks in ways no one would have expected.
For instance, the speech he gave on race, when the Rev. Wright issue was big.
Now I'm not saying all he has to do is give a speech every time attacks accumulate.
What he did was highly effective and it worked.
I would imagine he knows the MSM, the Republicans, Clinton loyalists, and even members of his own party on certain isssues, will be swinging at him until November.
I'm not sure you can match that punch for punch, especially when the punches are coming from many different sources.
He handles things differently. What I originally mistook for weakness was actually intelligent strength on his part. He's deft.
Congressional democrats could do a much better job at getting their agenda out there ahead of the Republicans. Editorials, tv appearances, and a FIERCE response to the neocons when neocons ridiculously blame the problems of the economy and high oil prices on them.
I don't know if this is true of everyone, but I think the neocons are sinking rapidly and their accusations somehow don't have the sting or the authority they used to. It's like watching a party in quicksand.
July 15, 2008 6:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Biden sure attacked the hell out of McCain and Lieberman today - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/biden-praises-obamas-spin_n_112921.html
July 15, 2008 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give 'em hell, Joe!
July 15, 2008 7:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
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