November Looms. What's the worst the repukes can do, and which candidate is better able to withstand

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what we all know is coming.

I have tried to raise this subject before. Last time the thread was locked. But how can we not think about who'd be better against the coming repuke attacks? Is it not a fair question to ask which of our candidates would be most susceptible to such attacks? I mean, they made war veteran Cleland out to be a traitor.

Really, shouldn't we be talking about this?

[tekisui]

1. I think that either will handle the puke attacks well.

Obama has a great rapid response team, and Hillary is a fighter.

Either would be able to withstand McSame, the 527 and the goppers smear-machine.

[Johnny__Motown]

2. Laura Bush and Barbara Bush both go on tour saying First Lady Experience doesn't count

Yes I know I know. but still. We are talking about what will sway undecided voters.



I think Barack can weather that a little better than Hillary can.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. LMAO that's funny in more ways than I can count

[Johnny__Motown]

24. Undecided voters may buy into it. Besides Laura is still popular

How can Hillary fight that type of attack when the papers that can confirm (or refute) her claims of experience are locked away in Bill's Library?


Sorry but it is a serious possibility if Hillary had won the nomination, good thing she lost.



as for your ability to count... well.... I can see why you still have hope for her

[Hippo_Tron]

27. Oh no you misunderstood me...

I absolutely would not put it past Pickles and Babs to do something like that. The thought is so ironic that it's almost mind blowing. That's why I said it's funny in more ways than I can count.

[OhioBlue]

3. why? to let fear of Republicans make our minds up for us?

Here is how I see it.
If Obama is the nominee they will smear him with all kinds of unmentionable crap.
If Hillary wins same thing.

Who can most effectively deal with it? Well that remains to be seen. I put my money on Obama. They don't know him as well. They know Hill.

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7. No, not to fear. To be prepared.

And wtf else can they throw at Hillary that they haven't already?

I see Obama as far more vulnerable.

[OhioBlue]

9. plenty, plus the stuff they already threw will resonate

in voters minds because they have heard it for years.

[democrattotheend]

4. Hard to say

I think it's a fair question, and it is something we need to think about. But I think we'd be foolish to assume that Obama is more vulnerable because he has less experience or is less well-known. In 2004, we went with the safe, experienced candidate instead of the insurgent because people got nervous about electability. Kerry seemed like the safest choice but he still fell victim to Republican smears. So it's foolish to assume anyone would be immune to it.

[SoonerPride]

5. Economic collapse looms

Any Democrat will win

[Forkboy]

6. We don't know yet, and we'll find out.

:)

[eileen_d]

8. I think we should be talking about this

But I think the answer you'll likely get to "which candidate is better able to withstand repuke attacks" is "my candidate!" ;)

Clinton and Obama are both highly susceptible to right wing attacks - and as people have pointed out, repukes can always make shit up if there isn't anything real to dig up about them. I don't know who is the MOST susceptible and I don't know how that can be measured, how and when that decision should be made, because there's always more information out there.

So I'm being wishy-washy. I may as well just have kicked the thread I reckon. :kick:

[MojoMojoMojo]

10. Obama supporters dont realize how deep the Hate America swiftboat ads will effect the voting

population.
All Americans will react with rage similar to how the "N" word has affect .Or if someone said God Damn your mother.
"God Damn America" with the picture of Obama with his hands not on his heart is all it takes.

[MojoMojoMojo]

11. Not only will Obamas weakness to swiftboating cost him votes,it will get out huge numbers for Mccain

[Quixote1818]

12. Accept McCain has already denounced these attacks. Obama could just run an ad

showing McCain saying it's bull shit.

[MojoMojoMojo]

13. Swiftboat ads dont come from the candidate,It doesnt matter what Mccain says

They will still be used.

[Skip Intro]

14. Absolutely. And they will do it.

Recent history points to it. Common sense points to it.


November will be a disaster for Dems if Obama is the nom. imho

[DemGa]

15. Obama will crumble like a cheap empty suit

He's given the right-wing the ultimate in fuel for attacks -- he's thusly VERY WEAK. Hillary is stable in this regard and clearly the stronger of the two. The Party should have coalesced around Hillary, yet here we are -- screwed by the divider Obama.

[SoonerPride]

16. Hillary lost.

Deal with it.

[anigbrowl]

17. Sez you...without any evidence

Hillary's already shown that she's not that great at running a campaign (having pissed away her huge advantages going into the contest) and that she gets snippy under pressure. To turn a popular argument right around, what she's been getting from the Obama camp is nothing compared to waht the GOP will accuse her of in the GE. Dislike him as you may, Obama's been pretty much a gentleman.

While it's legitimate to assert that Obama will face tougher opposition from the rpublicans that he does from Hillary Clinton's campaign, the exact same is true of Hillary. To argue that she's somehow immune from being swiftboated or hit below the belt is just nonsensical - she faces at least as many problems in this respect as Obama does.

[DemGa]

21. At least as many problems as Obama?

The anti-American angle is the most potent the right-wing can throw at an opponent -- Obama has set them up for a field day. And Hillary may not be immune, but she's been tested.

[Yurovsky]

18. Can't be any worse than what the Clinton hate machine is spewing now ...

I'm not talking about DU posters, I'm talking about the campaign proper. No one ever accused the Clinton Bros of playing nice, but the damage they are doing to the party is disturbing.

If they somehow steal the nomination from Senator Obama, look for African American support of the Democratic party to sink to a low not seen since Reconstruction.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. There's not a whole hell of a lot you can do against attacks

Other than to respond as quickly as possible with your own ads. Kerry held off with the swift boaters hoping to save money. In retrospect that was obviously the wrong call but it does highlight just how important money is in that process.

Obama has shown thus far that he can raise money and spend it wisely. I think that's definitely something to consider.

[BenDavid]

22. HRC will receive 370 plus electoral votes.....enough said!!!

[loveangelc]

23. .....no

[better tomorrow]

25. it won't matter because the Repukes will....

make sure that something happens, either weather control or something spectacular, that will disrupt the voting patterns in key states. They have been experimenting with it for the last four years. Just make sure you do early voting......

[ginnyinWI]

26. What really matters is inspiring voter loyalty

People who identify with and are inspired by a candidate's vision will stick with them despite smear attacks.

The RNC will attack, but their credibility isn't so great, nor is their money pot compared to what the Dems are raising. But still they will make some inroads. The question is whether the people are firmly in the camp of the Democratic candidate. To be inspired, the people need a positive vision of the future. I think you know where I'm going with this.

Take for example Road to the White House tonight. First Michelle Obama, speaking in PA, her basic stump speech where she talks about who Barack is and what he stands for, what he wants for America's future. She speaks passionately about Barack being attacked, as usual--says that they've heard it all before. Communicates their determination to keep on speaking about bringing something new to politics and the country. You can hear the deep conviction in her voice.

Then Bill Clinton came on with a speech from last Wednesday. It was the standard Dem-style laundry list of issues, heavy on the wonk and heavy on producing anxiety and worry in the listener. He rattled off a long list of social and economic ills, his theme being, "we have oh so many problems, and Hillary (alone) can fix them"

So which do you think is more likely to inspire a voter who will stay through thick and thin? I thought Bill was very boring after hearing Michelle.

[CreekDog]

28. The Republicans don't fret in this particular way

Why should we?

I mean what if the world ends? What if it gets worse? :crazy:

Just do your best to support the candidate unless you feel they will be worse than McCain.

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29. No one's fretting. Sheesh. It's called political strategy. Reality.