I polled my friends yesterday and today... smears are working?

[Neutralator]

I talked to around 15 friends(Democracts & Republicans) who had some interest in politics and just wanted to share that information.

First of all, not a single friend of mine liked Palin. Most of my friends think Palin is some sort of a distraction and they don't give a damn about her. Even the ones who liked her during the RNC convention. IMO, she's kinda become what McCampaign hoped Obama would become -- just a Celebrity! If she's a factor, it's negative that includes my republican friends! Going by the crazy crowd that she gets in rallies I think my polling is a biased one :-)


Four friends stance stood out.

#1 She's white(Georgia), in her 60's, was a my colleague of mine years ago. She's christian, pro-immigration, vegetarian, very friendly. When I got laid off during the dot-com crash and ran into severe financial difficulty, she offered her son's room until I get my feet back on ground. I didn't take it but I know she meant it and it really touched me.

Anyway, when I talked to her a month ago, She was bothered by Michelle Obama's statement about loving the country for the first time but she said she's voting for Obama. She was very impressed by Obama and thought his ideas make a lot of sense. She was even having small fights with her husband over Obama who is a staunch republican! In 2004, she flirted with the idea of voting for Kerry but eventually voted for Bush but in past she has voted for Democrat(Bill Clinton).

Today, she told she VOTED for McCain even though she doesn't like him!! She thinks he's too old and also doesn't like Palin. I was shocked! I asked her about voting for Obama, She said Obama's associations bothered her and quote "The President and his wife, both have to love their country as much we love and I'm not sure if Obama does. I didn't wanted to take a chance"

And then she said the strangest thing... that Obama wanted to change our National Anthem!? I was like WTF? I have never even heard of that but I didn't see any point in arguing with her but I was totally shocked to see someone who I had respected so much fall to some crazy smears and then meme them back!

#2 She's a Chinese immigrant(Texas), Christian, in her 30's, a really good friend. She's a first time voter and registered in August specifically to vote for Obama but is not sure about Obama anymore! She's an accountant and hates the idea of "spreading the wealth around". She doesn't think Obama's Bill Ayers connection puts him in good light either. I argued with her for an hour, clarified things and send her all the links but she kept saying "spreading the wealth around" as an ideology is a bad idea. She doesn't like McCain and despises Palin. Now, she doesn't know what to do and thinks she'll not vote! I'm planning to talk to her over the weekend again.

#3 Hispanic friend(Florida), late 30's, as far as I know, he's not a racist but does carry some prejudice against Blacks. A strong McCain supporter to start with but has moved over to Obama's column! He hates all the smears and doesn't believe in any of them. He added, every one of his Hispanic friends are voting for Obama! I was so happy because I honestly didn't expect him to vote for Obama!

#4 He's white (Virginia) in his late 40's, politically very informed of all my friends, always voted for republican but was planning to vote for Obama when I last spoke to him. He does likes McCain but doesn't like how the campaign is being run. He loved the way Obama handled the economic crisis and thinks that should help him win the election. He likes the idea of "spreading the wealth around", mentioned Reagan had something similar but doesn't like the way Joe-the-Plumber was treated by Obama Campaign. Lately, he's also bothered that the association with Ayers goes deeper than he thought(mentioned the book review). He argued that Obama should have come out clean for his own good if he has nothing to hide. He believes Obama will be "tested" if he's elected and not sure foreign policy is Obama's strong area. So he's rethinking his vote but still leaning Obama.

In general, I came out with an impression that some of the tactics employed by McCain campaign & Faux new channel might be working and race may be tightening a bit. May be not enough to do any damage to Obama's prospect but I did get a sense that McCain has changed the subject to his campaign talking points. I feel like Obama campaign is playing defense and hoping to hold on to the lead while McCain is on all out attack.

Looking from this angle I think Obama 30 min special might be a masterstroke and I'm really looking forward to that. I hope this strategy works but I'm a bit concerned.

[rucky]

1. The smear tactics do work. That's why they use 'em.

Best way to fight it is talk to everybody you meet about the election. There's so much bad information out there it's not even funny. Then shit like the National Anthem thing comes out of left field - we don't need to debunk everything point-by-point - just point out how all of this ridiculous shit seems to be coming out in October and if you debunk one lie, it calls the rest in question. Hopefully that will inspire people to turn their bullshit detectors back on.

[Neutralator]

6. I know it was ridiculous I didn't know what to say. But I'm talking all my friends (eom)

[RagAss]

15. True..if we lose I will never forgive the campaign for not refuting the smears.

They have dropped the ball. they have lost sight of the fact that an 80 IQ is King in America today !

[rucky]

21. They were on top of it for awhile...

but I think they decided it was a better use of their airtime to try and control the message instead of playing defense. Who's to say the polls would be any different, either way?

It's up to us. The ground game is the only equalizer against the GOP/MSM propaganda machine.

[Tikki]

2. Your concern is noted....

And everyone I know is solidly behind Obama/Biden. I know lots of people, lots of
different ages, colors...

Tikki

[rucky]

9. oh, please.

come to my county some time. you won't believe the shit you'll hear.

[LostinVA]

26. I noted it, too

[melody]

3. Well, I polled all of my friends today and they utterly disagreed with your friends

So there

[seabeyond]

5. hey, ... amarillo now has two democratic headquarters. went into both and BUSY..... so busy

sign are popping up everywhere.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Have you consider not having such assholes for friends?

Or are these "friends" like the people who always write to the sex advice columnist with the preface "My friend has this problem with..."

Your "friend" isn't racist but he's prejudiced against blacks?

Pull the other one.

[shraby]

7. mmmmmmm I smell pizza.

[anneboleyn]

13. With extra cheese!!

[Left Is Write]

8. Yes, the smears work.

I wish I had a dollar for every time this week I heard someone repeat a smear or say "I don't like EITHER ONE of them" (and that statement is always followed by a smear against Obama).

If I did have that dollar for every time, I'd give them all to Democratic causes.

[Neutralator]

LOL Good observation! I didn't think of that.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. Absolutely The Constant Repetitions Of The Smears Work On Some, And Have Here As Well.

But what matters most, is that they are not going to work on nearly enough voters to overcome Obama's momentum and poll numbers.

[nevergiveup]

11. The 60 yr old lady from Georgia

never had any intentions of voting for Obama. She is very typical of many older voters I know. The upside to this is that she at least listened to Obama. Maybe he can win her over by 2012.

[Neutralator]

19. You're right. That's the conclusion I had to come. I was foolish enough to trust her at the start.

[anneboleyn]

12. I love how all of these "friends" are repeating mindless myths, like the national anthem B. S.

and how was "Joe the Plumber" "treated" by the Obama campaign? Obama simply answered Joe who isn't a plumber's question during a campaign stop. Then Joe found himself getting a lot of attention after McCain invoked him numerous times in the debate.

I really have no idea what your point is with this post. You seem to be suggesting that people -- based on your poll of fifteen people (what state are you in? Is it a battleground state?) -- are suddenly turning to McCain. This is not confirmed by the majority of state and national polls.

[Neutralator]

17. Like I said I was just sharing my conversation and shocked to see some smear work on my friends...

...Who I thought were good enough to understand a smear. I was wrong.

Anyway, just wanted to share my experience & thoughts. I didn't exactly have a clear point to make but may be bit concerned about playing defense?

[anneboleyn]

22. Look, anybody who buys the national anthem internet rumor is a moron and never would have voted for

Obama anyway. Your post tells us nothing. The polls show the exact opposite of your random survey of fifteen people (how come you didn't report on the answers of all fifteen of your "friends," just the negative people?)

[Neutralator]

24. Sure but...

I didn't know she's a the moron until I heard her say it!

But please don't question my integrity. I posted the one that were interesting or plain right moronic.

Most of my other friends supported obama!

[Cattledog]

14. You got some "F'd" up friends!

[rufus dog]

16. Another low count poster with doom and gloom.

buh bye

[Neutralator]

18. Before you post something like that please look at my other posts please??? /nt

[LostinVA]

27. I don't think we have to

[Overseas]

20. Good luck with your Neutralating. //nt

[TheKentuckian]

23. What is this "treatment" of SammiJo The Stooge?

Obama took time to answer his questions and was as respectful as anyone could ever ask.

Also, this spread the wealth statement is very out of context, he was simply talking about spreading the benefit of tax cuts. Would it have been better to say it like that? Sure, but the context is beyond clear and people aren't adverse to getting some much needed relief. I could sure use the $500 or a thousand bucks and I don't care one iota if those who have been getting a break for the past eight years have to delay the 3rd-7th home for a few months to get it.
Nor do most people support either losing their health coverage or being taxed on an additional 12k or whatever with not a dime extra going into their pockets.

[barack the house]

25. As long as Barack's ad stays completely inspirational it will do him good. It's the repitition by >

media that gets them. It's literal brain washing. You should tell all friends if they are repeatign smear to excessive levels they are using brain washing.

[Midlodemocrat]

28. Oh, FFS.

:eyes:

I hope you like pizza.