Contributors

Friday, April 18, 2008

An Excellent Strategy

Rather than ripping ABC news commentators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulis, as Tom Shales has done wonderfully in the Washington Post, I think maybe I should be commending them. I also think that I should thank the right wing douche bag brigade, especially those in the blogsphere, for continuing to fight their battles using 2004 technology (Guns of August anyone?).

Why?

Since the debate Obama has picked up five more superdelegates which add to his overall delegate lead. I think it is very likely, based on the polls as well as the "man on the street" reaction to the debate, that in the last few primaries, as well as the general election in the fall, the American people aren't going to react kindly to "gotcha" politics any longer. Sure, they might vote against Obama because they think Hillary will do a better job on health care or they don't want government running their health care. That's fine by me. They are voting on the issues and they should keep drilling Obama on why he is not being specific enough on some of his key policy points, my chief complaint about him thus far.

But the rest of it? The flag pin-Ayers-Wright-elitist stuff? I spent most of the week pissed off that people weren't focusing on the issues. Actually, they are. ABC received 15,ooo negative emails in anger that it took 52 minutes to get to an actual issue in the debate last Tuesday. Some conservatives I know are lamenting the fact that we didn't get to see Obama's stance on certain issues so people could really see how off base he is in regards to some of these topics. Even John McCain, recently a guest on the Hardball college tour with Chris Matthews, said he is going to stop any 527s that are running these kind of attacks against Obama. He asked Obama to do the same.

Bottom line, the more these topics come up, the more it benefits Obama. I think McCain knows this and is trying to get the loud mouth putzes in his party to shut the hell up. McCain is a smart guy and he has been out there talking to people. They don't want to hear this crap anymore. It is also becoming evident that these attacks on Obama toughen him up for the fall and exposes, a think a bit prematurely, the right's game plan.

So, by all means, keep piling on. It seems to be working for Obama. Thanks!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree, Mark. You really do need to chill out when righties open their mouths. I realize there was time when they shaped public opinion but that was yesterday. It is important to note that YOU also slip back into 2004 politics by thinking they have more power than they do.

This is understandable given what happened in the 2000 and 2004 elections. The country is in a much different (much worse) place in 2008 and it is largely due to the incompetence and zealotry of the "douche bags" as you so fondly put it.

Anonymous said...

What happened to my party? We used to be so great. You can add me to the list of your conservative friends (although I am family technically) who was disgusted by the debate on Tuesday. People have to understand that Obama's policies on the economy and health care are going to be disastrous. This was a perfect forum for Americans to see how crappy they are going to be and ABC blew it. I bet most people tuned out after a half an hour of tabloid journalism.

If this continues, it's going to be a landslide for Obama.

Anonymous said...

"I spent most of the week pissed off that people weren't focusing on the issues. Actually, they are."

People are focusing on the issues. You would know that if you would get out there and talk to people. ; )

Anonymous said...

I don't know that I have seen the shift yet but then again I am somewhat of a cynic.

Anonymous said...

Truth girl, trust me, it's happening. We are seeing the twilight of an era. Thank God!