A gamble but I hope Team Obama doesn't underestimate a McCain/Palin ticket.

[Skwmom]

They are going after those against abortion + angry women + those wanting reform in DC (yeah I know they aren't about reform but since when has the truth mattered in politics, it's all about branding). If I was team Obama, I would put the get out the vote and new voter registration in overdrive and I would plan an all out offensive strategy.

Listening to Limbaugh for a few minutes yesterday, it seems that they are going to use the child with Downs Syndrome to drive the anti-abortionists to the polls in record numbers. Limbaugh bet someone that the Democrats (on a blog, or in the media) would start to say that the child born with downs syndrome should never have been born. I hope outside groups are prepared with ads about how a woman should not be forced to have a child when she's been raped. People need to be reminded that this isn't such an easy issue and forcing rape victims to give birth is extreme. Palin has an extreme view on abortion.

They are also trying to anger women so they will either vote for McCain/Palin or stay home. The same with people looking for reform in DC.


I think there was a reason that they pushed so hard for Obama to pick a Washington Insider. Change, not politics as usual, won in the primary. The paid talking heads, Republicans and yes even big Clinton supporters were on tv constantly saying that Obama should pick someone with foreign policy experience (in other words a Washington Insider). This hurt the Obama change message. When people voiced their dissatisfaction with the VP pick they were ridiculed and told to get on the mother-ship. This type of action does not make the problem go away and Obama bringing real change to DC (as in getting rid of big money lobbyist influence) was one of his major appeals. He needs to keep these voters on board to win.

That ticket is a gamble, but I don't think it should be underestimated and I think it would be stupid to make the sole focus angry women voters.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. Our response: Palin would deny others the same right

she had to make that choice. The government was not and should not interfere with a woman's right to choose to have a child.

[Skwmom]

5. But there must be personal, gut wrenching ads made in response to all of the emotional

appeal that the other side is going to use. The Republicans are going to use that child as a poster child for anti-abortion. That is a very powerful message. The Democrats need to show how extreme her views are and expose her a big oil supporter.

[WinkyDink]

18. I vehemently disagree. The Republicans will do no such thing.

[4themind]

25. We may want to be careful about that

The question is, who are the ads directed towards, are they people that would vote for Obama otherwise? I may be wrong but I have confidence that women who were associated with hillary are pro-choice, and a simple and above all logical defense is best I think, "you were afforded your right to choice and you exercized, the question is do you respect that same right being given out to women other than yourself". SO this is really directed at the religous right primarily i think. Again, Obama has specifically avoided getting too mired in the cultural wars (he hasn't made many ads that don't focus on economic and social issues), because he thinks (and me too) that enough people are pissed off with the economic crises that affect their OWN lives, rather than legislating morality in the lives of others. This move was designed to help McCain gain some fundy votes that he didn't have before, I think we need to accept that some of this will happen. We don't need to respond to each emotional ad IMO, because these ads won't appeal to the type of people that we're going for right now IMO. The move will add votes to McCain rather than siphon them off from obama. We shouldn't fight too much on the new battle field that they want to set up now, they CHANGED it to this because they were losing on the other one. So this will turn out some votes for them, among the fundies, but rather than trying to argue with these fundees tit for tat, I'd focus on the issues that got Obama to where he is, and keep hammering John MCcain directly. I still feel confident that even with the rallying of the base that the abortion ads will generate, voter registration and identification are still in our favor. If we turn them out, we win.

[lapislzi]

28. Let us not make this an election about small things

The man knew what he was saying.

[Colobo]

2. Palin is such a weak candidate that she will expose herself.

[Skwmom]

6. Bush was a weak idiotic candidate.

[cali]

3. I disagree

this is a woman who has NO exposure to the national stage. It's a disaster that WILL happen.

[Cosmocat]

9. IF the media allows it ....

they have been in complete blackout mode with McCain for two plus months now. It will be harder with Palin, cause the spotlight is going to be on her, but they already are providing cover for her.

I have a REAL sense that for the next two months, we are going to be hearing A LOT of "give the fresh face a break." Not that providing cover for bringing in someone WHOLLY ill equiped to be second in charge of the most powerful country on the planet is something they would be even the first bit attuned to.

[Skwmom]

12. No it's going to be about reform, clean up Washington, reform, clean up Washington,

and if she is tough enough to take on Ted Stevens (I think this is a fake story which needs to be debunked) a gun toting, moose-burger eating woman teamed with the maverick Rambo McCain is just what DC needs.

[Skwmom]

11. Maybe, but I think there will be an October surprise and it won't be about

foreign policy. Americans up in arms about those in DC will be driven to vote for a phony "reform" ticket.

The corporate media drives the message. First the focus is the war, then the economy, then foreign policy long enough to get Obama to pick a Washington Insider (McCain should send the Georgian President a big fruit basket though I'm sure he's expecting a lot more than that).

It's been reported that it is likely that a huge bank will fail before year end (since the Bush admin can impact the timing of any takeover my money is on before the election). Then the focus will be on how corruption in DC led to this and that phony reform ticket starts to look pretty darn attractive.

[cali]

16. um, you do realize that that scenario is a loser for Johnyboy, right?

Bank failure? Think Keating 5.

[Skwmom]

23. And they will spin it as he learned from his mistake and has been praised

by both sides ever since then. He was a young, innocent POW victim fooled by Keating.

McCain voted for the repeal of Glass-Steagall on the floor of the Senate but he did not vote on the conference report.
Biden, on the other hand, voted no on the floor of the Senate and for the conference report. (At least that seems to be what occurred based on a look at the legislative record).

So can I see them spinning this in favor of McCain? Most definitely.

The truth DOES NOT MATTER, it's what "truth" you can create in the mind of a voter that counts.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

33. And McKeating5's son, who resigned from a bank in NV that is close to failing.

[kwolf68]

4. I get it about the anti choice people

But since when do these people not vote anyway?

They think Chimp is the messiah and voted for him with religious fervor.

I believe the election will be won in the middle and this is where the Repukes are toast.

So the flanking play is the women vote. That's their only hope...peel off just enough females to push the election to their side.

[Skwmom]

13. They are also targeting voters fed up with Washington.

Have you read the latest poll numbers for Congress?

[Kdillard]

7. I agree with you about not underestimating Palin and McCain.

Team Obama needs to play this carefully but I am sure they will strike the right balance.

[Feminists4Theocracy]

8. Unlike the GOP...

Most Dems don't misunderestimate the intelligence of female voters. :-)

[book_worm]

10. they don't seem to be.

[apnu]

14. Right. The Obama campaign is full of smart cookies

They aren't underestimating McCain or Palin or the right-wing noise machine.

Sadly, the Obama camp will just have to work harder, while McCain and the Republicans, again, will get to be lazy and get a pass. This is typical, inherent racism in our culture and media. More of the same. :mad:

(on edit: typo)

[Skwmom]

15. Well I hope they don't spend their time telling themselves how smart they are.

[apnu]

24. I doubt they are doing that. Seriously.

The Obama camp came to play for real. Biden has always been that way. Its a good match. They have a good team and have been doing very well so far. Not 100% perfect, but then what political campaign has ever been 100% perfect?

They have good people working, and will handle this. They have to, there is no room or time to not address this.

[demodonkey]

21. Plus, the GOP owns Diebold & ES&S. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THAT. nt

[apnu]

27. Yes, but luckly many states have rejected e-Voting as well they should.

Espeically Ohio. Gives me a glimmer of hope.

[demodonkey]

34. Um actually not. OH and FL are still struggling with this and PA is clueless.

Any one of these big three swing states could have massive voting machine problems. Again. Plus disenfrachising in other ways as well, as we saw in 2000 and 2004.

And beware the MSM is laying groundwork with talk of the Bradley Effect, Hillary women defecting to Palin ( :puke: ) so they can justify anything in these swing states...

[WinkyDink]

17. Anti-choice voters are not Democrats, and never will be. I think Team Obama knows this.

And that child ought NOT to be a topic under discussion.

[Skwmom]

19. The Republicans will make that child a poster child for anti-abortion.

[WinkyDink]

20. I'll see you, and raise you ten bucks. That would be exploitation even the Republicans will avoid.

For one thing, the questions would be raised: Why is Momma not home with said child, then? Oh, wait; she's RICH and can afford NANNIES, and NURSES! Wait! What HEALTH-CARE PLAN does Momma have?? Who will pay for that child's eventual EDUCATIONAL NEEDS?

On second thought: Bring it on.

[Skwmom]

26. You think Rove would avoid this exploitation? Are you serious?

[WinkyDink]

30. Did you read the inside post?

[apnu]

31. Fine. Let them. When they do that, disgusting political manipulation of a baby, remind them...

that it was Palin's choice and we respect a mother's right to choose!

Done, controversy over.

[Yavin4]

22. Team Obama Is The Most Focused, Most Disciplined Campaign That I've Ever Seen

They are focused on winning. McCain could have picked Mickey Mouse as his running mate, and the Obama campaign would still be clicking on all cylinders.

[apnu]

29. This would be my response:

The McCain-Palin ticket is about small politics, wedge issues, and political pandering in DC. More of the same. We are about good governance and a better America for all Americans. Regardless of their political affiliation.

[genna]

32. I haven't read your other entries, but children are off limits.

I have watched the primary and the interim between primary and general...the concern has been the same critique: Obama needs to attack the personal, the vulnerable, and the nuisances.

Obama has not fallen for it YET.

Al Gore did.
John Kerry did.

Obama probably will not go in any direction that directs us and our focus off the real issues.

The concerns about abortion for women over 40 who have Down Syndrome babies might be an issue for women over 40, but it is not an issue which will bring troops to Afghanistan or Pakistan nor will it rebuild our economy.

We can't worry about every single dart and arrow the Republicans direct at Democrats. If this is a new politics, then it seems to me that we have to keep it moving on what is THE ISSUE: THE WAR & THE ECONOMY.

Down Syndrome babies are a sad fact of life. If we believe in choice, women over 40 who have that test early in their pregnancies and still choose to have the babies should be respected too. Choice means honoring whatever the woman chooses to do including having the state take care of all special needs children. We are a compassionate people.

If the Republicans think that this is a means to get all us all a twitter, N/T

[Skwmom]

35. Children are NOT off limits to the Limbaugh crowd and based

on the snippets I heard from his show, it doesn't take a genius to figure out which direction they are headed in.

Palin's views on abortion are at the extreme end of the spectrum, e.g., no abortion for rape victims, and that needs to be exposed. The Republicans will try to pull on the heart strings of Americans. They just need to be reminded that this is a difficult subject and extremism is not a good idea.