The Tire Gauge Gimmick Far More Dangerous Than You Might Think--And How to Defeat It

[kurtboss]

You may not have thought much about the silly tire gauge gimmick, but it has the potential to be a real game changer in McCain's favor...which is why they're pushing it. Think about what the biggest single issue in Nov is going to be--gas prices. Where is Obama's greatest strength economic and environmental policy. McCain appears to be screwed.

So they work hard to figure out a way to trivialize Obama's advantage. They needed something simple. They wanted it to be provocative and yet silly. So, they took a quote out of context about filling tires and hit upon the idea of the Obama tire gauge. They have run with it since and will continue...unless we realize its danger and kill it.

How to kill it? Simple. Obama gives out his own Obama branded tire gauges...maybe with a disembodied smiling McCain face on it? He jokes about borrowing it from McCain and holds it up, saying it's a great idea, glad McCain stole it, BUT I SURE WISH MCCAIN WOULD TAKE THIS MORE SERIOUSLY.

Here's why it will work:

A. It assumes most people haven't paid close enough attention yet to get the mocking/trivialization

B. It confuses the source of the symbol thereby defusing the potential negative impact (which is actually potentially quite damaging as it seeks to diminish Obama with THE IMPORTANT ISSUE of this election...gas prices).

C. It has all positives for it, no real risks/negatives as the GOP is already pushing this like crazy (putting it on their website, McCain showing one off), now they're selling them

[Egnever]

1. You know what works?

The fact that Obama is right.

[kurtboss]

3. Right, it's Really Kind of a Risk for McCain to Have Gone With This

I see this as a real opening. Of course, McCain's crew knew they were behind and can't be on this issue, so they have to take risks. But it does end up making McCain trivialize THE major issue of the election.


Obama has to jump on this!

[wolverinez]

4. The GOP trivialized Purple Hearts in 2004...

and it didn't matter. People like a president who *pushes*, not one who gets pushed.

[kurtboss]

7. UGH....

I forgotten about that. You're right. But again, here's one we can easily defeat. And maybe it's just this one little thing. We just keep it little and inconsequential. Even that would help.

But thanks for reminding me. That was disgusting.

[wolverinez]

8. I agree with you, offense is what we need

And your plan is offense.

[Orsino]

20. Yep. Conservatives who *do* worry about paying for gas...

...are already using tire gauges, or will use the ones handed out by the GOP.

I think this stunt's a partial misstep by Republican elitists who forgot that their base includes a lot of people who like to fiddle with cars. Their attempt to portray tools as elitist will fail with many/most of the people they need to rally.

[redstate_democrat]

2. I agree. Maybe we should all put pics of tire gauges in our siggy lines.

They should start selling them at the Obama store and the DNC store. Obama should give them out this week.

Even better?

He should be photographed and taped with supporters who are checking their tires and getting tune ups. Then have them talk about how much gas they save.

I know it doesn't solve the energy prices, but with gas so high right now, keeping my car in top driving condition really helps me in the short term" -- Obama supporter.

Bingo, Jack!

[kurtboss]

5. I agree

This is a classic little gem from McCain's team....most people will think it's like Gore wearing plaid. I first heard that I was like ...um, yeah so??? But I didn't realize they were using a symbol to show Gore couldn't be trusted and was a liar (which is actually what they were aiming at as Gore was seen as honest).

I think we have to combat this...but the good part is that McCain has made a joke out of this big issue. It can come back to bite him in the ass if we can turn it.

[Alter Ego]

21. I thought it was "Gore wears earth tones".

[lamp_shade]

18. and paint a HUGE tire gauge on his plane

[lamp_shade]

19. Sell them with the following label:

MCCAIN JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND

[Submariner]

6. It's like this

Republicans are racist pricks who have fucked up the country bigtime over the past 8 years. They are going to lose the GE, and that will become evident when Obama cleans McCrazy's clock during the debates.

Don't sweat this tire gauge and Britney/Paris tripe, just childish whiny repukes regurgitating Rove talking points.

[kurtboss]

10. I Hope You're Right....

But this is just so easy to smack down and so easy for it to grow unnecessarily. I just don't see why we wouldn't want to defuse it.

[madeline_con]

9. The story is being reported in the context of Obama's speech.

The pressure guage ad is out of context. IOW, the MSM is reporting it so people can see the whole story.

It's going to be so talked to death, that no one's going to know where they laid theirs down by Sept.

[wolverinez]

11. They need a commercial contrasting bright, simple ideas(tire inflation)....

.....with the dated ideals of McCain and Bush. This needs to be done ASAP.
Also, I'd like to see a general campaign ad of people living their daily lives(golf course, kids at school, etc) but instead have an oil rig in every single situation and scene, mocking the Bush/McCain campaign.

Who are the people running this thing, and where is the offense? Where are the creative ads that create a narrative rather than responding to McCains?

[kurtboss]

12. A flat tire

I'm stealing this idea from someone in an earlier thread, but I thought it was good. Like a t-shirt or sign with McCain's Energy Policy and showing a flat tire.

[Beregond2]

13. There are so many things on this site

that people are all riled-up about, that I have never even heard of. I take it Obama once said people could improve their mileage by keeping their tires inflated properly, and then McCain's people did an ad mocking that? Big whoop. No one is paying any attention. It's August, for God's sake.

Nothing that happens before the debates is going to matter a damn, short of a major scandal. Relax.

[kurtboss]

14. This is Why This One Can be Still be Nipped in the Bud

You're even paying attention...coming on a political discussion board, this is heartening.

But, the deal is McCain has been going around at least 2 days now with a tire gauge claiming Obama's energy policy is to keep tires inflated for better mileage.

To give you an idea of what you've missed, not only has McCain being holding one up and people waving them...he's now selling special Obama gauges on his website. Yesterday was Obama's birthday...it included a picture of Obama and a tire gauge bopping him on the noggin. Keith Olbermann led tonight with this story.

This is a big deal. I know it doesn't seem like it. Try to imagine McCain's paid consultants though. They're running with for a reason. They believe they have the single symbol they can use to mock Obama on THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE in this election. It's also Obama's biggest strength.


Yes it is early. But no, this is not the time to chilax because it's early. They have already got these things made. Think about the preparation, time money, motivation and news cycles they've already devoted to this. There is a reason.

Like someone posted above, it's like the purple heart bandaids they passed out at the last GOP convention.

Why are we apathetic about this? Because it's stupid? Or a gimmick? Or cheap and easy to combat? It's all of those things today, it may not be that at all in a week.

[Beregond2]

15. And how many people ever knew about the Purple Heart

bandages? Maybe one tenth of one percent. It certainly had no impact on the election.

My point is, it is really easy to get a false impression of how much impact these things have when you spend a lot of time with fellow news junkies.

Americans vote for the guy they like; period. Put Obama next to McSame on TV, and the contest is going to be so over. I just can't get excited about something as stupid as this. It just makes McCaine look childish and idiotic. Yes, everything Bush has ever said or done has had the same effect, but Bush's "base" is stupid people. Those people don't like McCaine, so this kind of tactic isn't going to help him much.

[Doremus]

22. The most worrisome thing is that it's working.

I've already heard a couple of people say that Obama thinks all we have to do is inflate our tires and all our energy problems go away. :(

The basic problem with infantile gimmicks like these is that most people don't have the time or interest to educate themselves. They tune in to talking heads for a few sound bites and that's it. Whatever drivel they hear instantly becomes gospel, especially if it's easy to understand and employs visual aids.

School yard politics is most effective with Americans who are content with sound bites. How many Americans is that? A whole shitload. That's why it works and that's why they do it.

I'm not so sure a measured, "above the fray" approach is the antidote. In fact, I'm pretty sure it isn't. :(

[geckosfeet]

16. Your are right - I agree - and yes yes yes. Two good points that you made.

One - that upping the ante so to speak - taking that little bit of truth that the McLame campaign mocks, whether it be tire gauges or being extremely popular can be taken as an advantage.

Yes tire gauges help us to improve gas mileage. In fact many newer cars are sold with tire pressure senors in the valve stems - when the pressure gets low you get a dashboard waring. Bottom line - it helps us to conserve gas and improves our economy - something John McLame does not understand or know how to do. It empowers people and gives us a way to help ourselves - instead of putting all the power in the hands of the govm't and big oil.

Second - once Obama learns to run with the flow, (although I think that he does already to some degree) McLames ads will be free advertising for him. But he needs to make sure that the positive message is out there so that people associate it with the McLame ads.

John McLames ads present a kernel of truth, distorted and twisted by cynical and evil thinking. The kernel of truth and the McLame cynical thought process is what Obama needs to demonstrate.

[no_hypocrisy]

17. This reminds me of the derision incurred by Jimmy Carter, the fireplace, and the sweator

when he was advocating conservation of energy.