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Look Past the Mirror to McCain and Victory

After Bill Clinton's impeachment hearings, we were left stunned by the vicious hypocrisy of the Far Right.

When the Supreme Court ruled against Al Gore to anoint George W. Bush president, we bitterly denounced the system.

As Karl Rove successfully orchestrated the character assassination of John Kerry, we lost confidence in the public.

And while the mainstream media focuses on frivolous labels of celebrity, the infidelity of John Edwards, Rev. Wright's latest bombshell, middle names, and race cards, we Democrats are checking the mirror every five minutes to make sure we can still see our reflection. We are obsessed with preserving Barack Obama's image. Instead, we should be determined to reveal the Dorian Gray-like portrait of John McCain.

In a year when playing offense is our best and only option, most of us have retreated to a defensive posture. Half of the Recommended Reader Posts concern rebutting charges about Obama or looking introspectively at our navels. Almost a third of the Recent Reader Posts fall into this category, as well. Another third — at the moment, of course — concern the conflict in Georgia. And almost another third confirm that TPM is open to all viewpoints, including the accusatory lies of Mctrolls and the feigned concerns of Hillary die-hards.

I'm guilty of the same misplaced energy. Too often, I've responded to the ridiculous charges against Obama, reacted to polls and danger signals trumpeted by eager naysayers. But I intend to refocus the narrative on McCain.

There is dirt galore on the war-mongering, corrupt politician the GOP intends to nominate. There are reasons beyond counting not to entrust the future of the country to the tender mercies of another Republican administration. There is no way I will stand for the power of the presidency to be delivered into the hands of John McCain.

I am challenging EVERY pro-Obama poster at TPM to go on offense for on week, starting Thursday morning. Focus your posts on John McCain, not on Barack Obama. Let's start a new narrative that looks beyond the mirror to what's wrong with McCain. Let's spread the word to other blogs that we have met the enemy and — believe it — he is NOT us.


Comments (52)

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I agree. McCain isn't being vetted. He's such an unattractive candidate, that any real scrutiny will hurt him. As Josh points out, he's been up til now graded on a curve.

Among topics to exploit are:
- his affair with Vicki Iseman, literally "in bed with lobbyists".
- His betrayal / abandonment of his ex-wife Carol when she was hospitalized
- Keating Five corruption
- Cheating on campaign finance
- Fraudulent "donors" who are really sockpuppets
- Hiw racist past: Talk of how he "hates gooks". Will Asian Americans vote for the bigot if they heard that rebroadcast?
- His horrible record vis a vis women's rights.

So get going and start vetting.

See my attempt here, where I show that hotheaded MCcain's bluster on Georgia disqualifies him for CinC:


http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/obama-prescient-mccain-failed.php


Good post there, observer. The question McCain raises is "Who is Obama, really?" We have to make sure the press and the public begin asking that same question about McCain.

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This is especially true of McCain, since his self-created public image is so in contrast to his deeds. The gap is astounding. A "reformer" who is literally in bed with lobbyists, mixing sex and sweetheart FCC deals?

first...fabulous post!

second...do you have a list of good places outside TPM where it would be beneficial to post? It would be a great time saver if we weren't all trying to reinvent the wheel...I know a lot of you post on many sites, but my time is limited and not having to do research would be helpful. Thanks!

It's really up to you, stillidealistic. You could post at the usual blogs like Kos or HuffingtonPost or Politico or go with media sites like Washington Post and NY Times or CBS or get really into the trenches at Fox News or conservative political sites.

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I recommend both posts on places like TPM, Daily Kos, Huffington, but some of that is preaching to the choir.

We also should post on the comment boards on the Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com) on articles (you can comment on them, it is often a good place to slam the author), NYTimes caucus blog (http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/), CNN Political ticker (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/). ABC News political blog (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/), MSNBC First Read (http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/).

All of these sites are widely read by voters across the political spectrum, so it is a good place to press your case.

If you want to go into the lion's den and stir up trouble among wingnuts, try The Politico's articles and blogs, you can comment on everything (http://www.politico.com/) and of course FoxNews (http://www.foxnews.com/) sometimes allows comments on news articles. I find it's a good place to vent about their latest outrages.

Thanks a lot! I think laziness may be a factor, but I find the info you presented very helpful!

Charge!

observer, I think that we have to expose both McCain's past and his current policies, flip-flops, dirty connections (as in Georgia, etc.). The news narrative seems to always slam Obama. No more. Enough. Not THIS time.

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Phillip Butler is a highly decorated Viet Nam combat pilot who was at the Naval Academy with McCain and also spent eight years in the same POW camp that McCain spent his five years in. He has written a strong article with inside knowledge about why he won't be voting for McCain. Google: Phillip Butler+McCain and you'll find the article that was printed in Today In the Military. It offers much authoritative inside information. For instance, McCain makes much of being offered a chance to go home early. Butler says they all were offered that but didn't take it because of what you had to do to get it. McCain makes much of being tortured for over five years. He wasn't. Some high up guy died and the torture ended much earlier in the time, though not for Butler and others who had been there for three years before McCain got there. Butler talks about McCain's temper and he also gives reasons why he doesn't believe that a POW is a good risk for the presidency. Highly recommend article!!!

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The ticket for those on the Web is to portray McCain in ways that Obama can't.

Here is one way for fun (hey, spreading a few viral images around wouldn't be a bad idea):

"Who Does McCain Remind you of? A New Game for Hard Times"
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

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Add to that list the continuing cover up of the attack by Israel on the USS Liberty in 1967, his Admiral John S McCain started.

McCain refuses to allow the veterans of that vicious attack a fair hearing of their grievances.
this is just another time he turned his back on US veterans just like his refusal to allow veterans of Bush's misadventures a good education from a GI bill.

Why does John McCain dislike helping veterans so much?

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McCain's entire military career makes interesting reading. For instance, he lost a total of five U.S. jets. One went up in an on board carrier fire that took many lives. McCain was removed from the ship before just about anyone else, I think I recall before the wounded, but that would need checking. (Daddy and Granddaddy Admirals) One was shot out from under him eight months after he first started flying combat missions. It's the other three that make interesting reading. He dumped one in Corpus Christi Bay during flight school. He crashed one by flying so low over the Iberian peninsula that he hit utility wires. (He didn't get in trouble for that. He was transferred back to the states and made a flight instructor at the McCain airfield named after his Grandpa.) He crashed another while "borrowing" a U.S. Navy jet to fly to an out of state Army/Navy game. McCain has never been held accountable for his actions, just as the media doesn't hold him accountable for the things he says and does now. He has always been protected; first because of his family and all through his political career because of his POW experience. I thank him for his military service, but he isn't up to being given the keys to the kingdom any more then he was up to being given the keys to the first three jets he crashed. Phillip Butler has more info which can be found by googling, Phillip Butler+McCain. We should all be doing research and posting this info all over the web this week. This was a great idea!

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Here's a good post:

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/the-terror-that-would-be-presi.php

Scary stuff.

I should mention that it's important to Recommend the posts that make the case against McCain.

Ripper, first of all, this is a good post and great reminder of what we're up against. What I have found previously is that posts that called attention to McCain didn't do as well as many of the other posts - some of them excellent, but frankly, many of them frivolous - that crowded the recommended list. I put up a few myself.

So this is great, because it's getting attention and perhaps it will remind people that we need to expose McCain. We don't need to defend Obama all the time, though I think we still need to inform each other when he is smeared.

But McCain has no business being competitive in this race for president, and we need to keep hammering on why, with as many links and videos as possible. It's definitely time to fight for what we believe in. We've been royally screwed time and again this past eight years.

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Good thinking. But I have to ask: what would be the case in FAVOR of John McCain?

There isn't any that would withstand scrutiny. That's why we have to examine McCain's record, claims about himself, etc. If we, in the blogosphere, focus only on defending Obama, we give the media reason to perpetuate negative memes. If we give them other memes to dwell on about McCain, we help the word get out.

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He's a maverick POW full of mavericky maverickness.

The. End.

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I've been saying the same thing for at least the last month. Maybe Ripper's superior visibility will help propagate this message. Rec'd.

Boyd, I missed that one, but it's spot on. I highly recommend your post in solidarity with mine. You were right then and now.

Great job of sharing the glory, Ripper! Great job of sharing your prior efforts, Eastside93!

This is a team effort. Good to have everyone working together!

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There is precious little in John McCain's military record that recommends him for high leadership. McCain was a goofball slacker at the Naval Academy, a reckless hotdog fighter jock who did more damage to the US Navy than to the enemy, and, most famously, a prisoner in Hanoi.

Yet somehow McCain's admirers in the beltway press corps dutifully perpetuate the myth that McCain is a "hero" whose hapless antics in the Navy magically qualify him as commander in chief.

When Wes Clark, who has real military leadership credentials, calmly pointed out the fallacy of the meme, Bob Schieffer almost choked with indignation.

I've got a better idea. Why don't y'all spend a week on the Republican blogs promoting your boy. It's a product that sells itself!

Not necessarily a better idea, just another one...Unfortunately the product doesn't sell itself to closed minds...I'm hoping that exposing McCain's weaknesses, followed by a much better alternative has a chance of working...well worth trying.

Ripper, great post, my favorite of yours to date.

Thanks much. A high compliment from a sage source.

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Wonderful post, Ripper (and eastside93, I'd missed that one too)

I feel like a schoolmarm but want to add that folks who do this should remember WHO YOUR AUDIENCE IS ...... we're trying to reach people who are not committed to Obama and who are either thinking about voting for McCain or have already decided to do so ... but are still listening. The ones who aren't listening can be ignored because they are - well - not listening.

The only way you'll get those leaning-toward-McCain-but-listening folks to shift is by 1) sticking to the facts and 2) ***being civil***. It's not who yells the loudest - it's the one who attracts the attention of the audience and then uses the most persuasive logic. Toss in a word like "Repugs" or call the person who they may consider *their* candidate McLame or McShame and, presto, half (or more) of your audience has just disappeared! That's not the goal.

TPM is a good place to vent the outrage --

like
WHAT THE &^%#@$% IS McINSANE DOING SENDING A 'DELEGATION' TO GEORGIA AND TALKING TO THE GEORGIAN PRESIDENT DAILY????!!!!! HE'S NOT PRESIDENT YET! IS HE TRYING TO ENSURE A WAR AS A WAY TO BECOME PRESIDENT???!!!!

--- so that you can then be calm and reasonable when you post where that not-convinced-but-willing-to-listen audience is:

"Do presidential candidates typically send their own delegations to trouble spots in the world --- or talk daily with leaders involved in armed conflict? That seems awfully foolhardy and possibly dangerous. I remember when Kenya was in chaos, Obama approached Sec of State Rice to ask her if he might be able to help (which he could) and let her guide and approve of his actions. Shouldn't Sen. McCain be doing the same thing now? This seems very impulsive, and perhaps not well thought-out. I hope he doesn't confuse things or make them worse."

Now, to put my money where my mouth is, I have to go find somewhere to post that.

Excellent, excellent post!

Great point you make about remaining civil and credible, Elizabeth2. The first rule of writing is to know your audience.

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Being civil has it's place. But being hitting hard is sometimes justified. Especially with wingnuts, sometimes the only language they understand is when you smack them down. Don't be too nice. This is the future of the country we are fighting for.

Got it. Cold, hard, irrefutable facts presented with geometric logic about McCain/Bush. But no name-calling or cursing.

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This is correct, as usual.

In fact, I'm going to repost a blog entry I wrote about this topic a couple of months ago. Maybe it was a bit early then, but I think we're getting revved up about pro-active behavior now, so it may be time for this post again.

I'd love to read it.

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Sorry, observer2 --- you're correct, but the wingnuts aren't listening. You want to get through to that 'silent majority' (to use a horrible phrase) who don't even post on those sites .... but who do read them.

That's another thing - try to be an early post on the ones that list the posts in order .. and to be someone who posts in early evening on the ones that put the newest posts first.

Anyway, a civil hard hit carries a *lot* more impact when you can manage one just right ..... Obama has actually managed some doozies but people don't tend to remember the blood and gore part when a stiletto was used.

Hey people: e-mail this link to EVERYONE you know, right, middle or left -

http://phoenixnewtimes.com/content/printVersion/848709

Thanks, John. The article you link to is excellent.

E2 is one of my fav posters here at tpm.

However, I'm going to disagree somewhat. I too believe in being civil but sometimes we need to vent too. I really doubt that anyone's opinions are changed because I use the term McLame or McSame in the heat of anger on a specific thread. Firstly, I'm not that powerful; secondly, I doubt civility necessarily changes minds. We heard a lot of this argument during the primaries when we heard people say that the Obama voters were so rude, that they could not conceive how they could vote for Obama in the primaries. Bullshit.

If minds could be shifted just by civility while referring to a candidate (and I do emphatically believe we should remain civil to each other, personally) then tell me, at this point in time, which candidate should be winning? Srsly.

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McCains voting record or lack of voting on every issue is a good place to start.McCains stump speechs and voting record or lack of a voting record do not match up.

You and ghaon below both get it. Thanks.

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hear hear, we need to control the dialogue and that means being proactive in both thought and message.

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Thank you! What a nice compliment.

We're probably each reflecting our own reactions. I'll admit that when I see a post that says 'Oilbama' or 'Nobama' or 'Barack HUSSEIN Obama', I just turn off. Even if I read the rest of it, all I remember is my irritation or sense of distaste. So in trying to appeal to the minds of other people, I shy away from that sort of slash. It's not that I think civility changes minds, but I'm concerned that incivility *shuts* minds.

But Lord knows everyone isn't like me (for which we can all be extremely greatful!!!!). Maybe the best rule is to write something that -- if it could honestly be said about him -- in a way that it would make us question our committment to Obama and give John McCain a second look. Since we each would respond differently to different approaches, that would give a nice (and hopefully effective) variety.

But posting on the MSM sites with solid arguments that will raise questions about McCain is probably the most effective thing we as individuals can do (aside from donating, of course, and if possible working on the ground, particularly in swing states).

I try to toss something in one of those places first thing in the morning and then later on do more if there is a chance. Any effect? I'll never know -- but if one mind gets changed enough so that it creates a vote for Obama or even just convinces someone not to bother going to the poll for McCain, that's something, right?

TPM is invaluable as a source to find some of that hard information needed for such posts. Just wish there was a better (i.e., working) search function. (And also, as I noted, a place where I can scream if I feel like it!..)

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That was a response to Evianne, of courst.

This is the main point I keep bringing up to those who are supporting John McCain. They are not on the web as I am. I just worked in Indiana recently and my hotels basic channel offering included only cnn and fox for news channels... not even an msnbc was offered. When all they see is what the MSM wants them to see this leaves McCain looking like a much more viable option. This is tough to combat. I am not very comfortable emailing family and friends to present my political views but I am willing to risk it at this time because of this. There are too many things that McCain is getting away with and it's ugly and turns my stomach that money rules this entire procss and most of the people who do not have much have no idea what is happening to them.

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That's a particular issue in parts of the Rust Belt.

I recommend coming armed with facts, figures and sources for the same. If you happen to have a laptop with wireless internet, that's easiest.

The idea is, you're doing the job that CNN/Faux *should* be doing. It's uphill, of course, because people often believe what they see in the MSM without question. But you have one huge advantage here: your info is the truth.

Keep up the good fight.

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Thanks.You're right

John McCain is a dick.

How's that for a start?

The problem with using this approach on this blog is that we are all drinking the same kool-aid. Be a shadow troll nation and post FACTS at places like republicanoperative.com or the washington post in response to Krauthammers drivel, or fox news blogs.

FACTS. Things he's said. Things he's done. There is a great article out from a reporter in Phoenix. It basically shows why McCain is a dirty playing, win at all costs repubuglican just like the scum in office now. Link to the article in your comments.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2008-08-07/news/postmodern-mccain-the-john-mccain-some-arizonans-know-and-loathe

The country really doesn't know the real mcCain. republicanfoObama.org is a good one to send to your neighbors, families and friends. Newt Gingrich said McCain will make Bush look like Gandhi or something to that effect.

I disagree, Scarlet. The MSM increasingly takes cues from the blogosphere, reading what's popular on sites just such as this. Besides, it wouldn't hurt to hone the message here AND take it web-wide. At least here, we can critique each other's posts. For instance, it wasn't Gingrich who said McCain will make Bush look like Gandhi.

PAt Buchanan - sorry. Thanks for the catch.

I used to stop by this site many times a day. Now I check it out once or twice a week. Mainly because I've got better things to do with my time than read self-defeating posts from idiots who would rather talk about what's wrong with our candidate than aggressively go after theirs. Folks can spend their time any way they like, of course, but I prefer your approach to the approach of many others on this site. McCain is the one to beat. And we need to do everything we can do to kick his ass. Self doubt is for losers.

Your post is highly recommended.

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There have been a couple of links to articles in this paper, but this is the motherlode:

http://phoenixnewtimes.com/mccain

Lots of promising articles there, with names like "For Sale: One War Hero" and "Opiate for the Mrs."...

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Heck no - post on the MSM blogs and comment section to these stories. Because they do look @ the comments.

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Yes - the link is for source material. Everything you could possibly need is there. Now spread it.

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