How many times can McCain and his staffers use the POW sympathy excuse???
Posted 08-21-2008 at 12:17 PM by daveytrainsf
Yes, I understand that McCain is a war hero and spent 5 1/2 years in a POW camp in North Vietnam but him and his staff are using that as an excuse for EVERYTHING. Even things that don't even relate. Check this out:
McCain Camp Plays POW Card On House Gaffe
by Sam Stein (Huffington Post)
Facing a Democratic Party positively giddy over his recent admission that he didn't know how many houses he owned, John McCain quickly returned to a political trump card: his POW experience.
Speaking to the Washington Post, aide Brian Rogers, in full damage-control mode, acknowledged that his boss had "some investment properties and stuff," but added: "This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison."
That the McCain campaign could incorporate his service in Vietnam into a campaign spat over his property portfolio is not so surprising. The Senator has, rightfully or not, used his history as a POW shrewdly and repeatedly throughout this campaign. Earlier this week, for instance, amidst speculation that the Senator may have received in advance the questions to a values forum between him and Obama, spokeswoman Nicole Wallace declared: "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."
When Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Senator John Edwards, ridiculed McCain's health care policy, his aides didn't respond with a substantive retort. Rather, they declared that their boss knew what it was like to get inadequate care "from another government." Even earlier, when the topic was about earmarks, McCain criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton for proposing funds for a museum celebrating Woodstock. He didn't know what there was to celebrate, he said, because he was "tied up" during the music festival.
The Senator has even brought his military record into discussion of his music tastes. Explaining that his favorite song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, he offered that his knowledge of music "stopped evolving when his plane intercepted a surface-to-air missile." Dancing Queen, however, was produced in 1975, eight years after McCain's plane was shot down.
Preceding this election, there was a fairly wide-ranging belief that McCain was hesitant to use his POW experience in a political context. The Senator himself, during the 2004 election, said he was "sick and tired of re-fighting" the Vietnam War.
"It's offensive to me, and it's angering to me that we're doing this," he said. "It's time to move on."
But during this campaign, it seems such reluctance is no longer an issue, with the POW line sneaking into many of the campaign's commercials and -- more subtly -- their foreign policy attacks. Much of this strategy has come at the urging of GOP operatives. Karl Rove, for example, wrote an April 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed urging the presumptive Republican nominee to "open up more" on his Vietnam days or "many voters will never know the experiences of his life that show his character."
Democrats, meanwhile, have been torn over what is an appropriate response. While many attack-oriented strategists have been pleading a more head-on rebuttal (applauding, for instance, Gen Wesley Clark for declaring that one's time as a POW had no relevance to being commander in chief), the Obama campaign seems more willing to deflect any and all attention from this part of McCain's biography.
"The fact is, we respect Senator McCain's service and his courage in Vietnam, but we continue to believe that this election is about who is the best president to lead in the 21st Century," Philip Carter, Obama's veterans director, told the Huffington Post. "As you heard on the phone today with the veterans, the critical issue is who understands the threats facing this country and who will make the right decisions about war and peace. That person is Barack Obama, not Senator McCain."
McCain Camp Plays POW Card On House Gaffe
by Sam Stein (Huffington Post)
Facing a Democratic Party positively giddy over his recent admission that he didn't know how many houses he owned, John McCain quickly returned to a political trump card: his POW experience.
Speaking to the Washington Post, aide Brian Rogers, in full damage-control mode, acknowledged that his boss had "some investment properties and stuff," but added: "This is a guy who lived in one house for five and a half years -- in prison."
That the McCain campaign could incorporate his service in Vietnam into a campaign spat over his property portfolio is not so surprising. The Senator has, rightfully or not, used his history as a POW shrewdly and repeatedly throughout this campaign. Earlier this week, for instance, amidst speculation that the Senator may have received in advance the questions to a values forum between him and Obama, spokeswoman Nicole Wallace declared: "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."
When Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Senator John Edwards, ridiculed McCain's health care policy, his aides didn't respond with a substantive retort. Rather, they declared that their boss knew what it was like to get inadequate care "from another government." Even earlier, when the topic was about earmarks, McCain criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton for proposing funds for a museum celebrating Woodstock. He didn't know what there was to celebrate, he said, because he was "tied up" during the music festival.
The Senator has even brought his military record into discussion of his music tastes. Explaining that his favorite song was "Dancing Queen" by ABBA, he offered that his knowledge of music "stopped evolving when his plane intercepted a surface-to-air missile." Dancing Queen, however, was produced in 1975, eight years after McCain's plane was shot down.
Preceding this election, there was a fairly wide-ranging belief that McCain was hesitant to use his POW experience in a political context. The Senator himself, during the 2004 election, said he was "sick and tired of re-fighting" the Vietnam War.
"It's offensive to me, and it's angering to me that we're doing this," he said. "It's time to move on."
But during this campaign, it seems such reluctance is no longer an issue, with the POW line sneaking into many of the campaign's commercials and -- more subtly -- their foreign policy attacks. Much of this strategy has come at the urging of GOP operatives. Karl Rove, for example, wrote an April 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed urging the presumptive Republican nominee to "open up more" on his Vietnam days or "many voters will never know the experiences of his life that show his character."
Democrats, meanwhile, have been torn over what is an appropriate response. While many attack-oriented strategists have been pleading a more head-on rebuttal (applauding, for instance, Gen Wesley Clark for declaring that one's time as a POW had no relevance to being commander in chief), the Obama campaign seems more willing to deflect any and all attention from this part of McCain's biography.
"The fact is, we respect Senator McCain's service and his courage in Vietnam, but we continue to believe that this election is about who is the best president to lead in the 21st Century," Philip Carter, Obama's veterans director, told the Huffington Post. "As you heard on the phone today with the veterans, the critical issue is who understands the threats facing this country and who will make the right decisions about war and peace. That person is Barack Obama, not Senator McCain."
Total Comments 8
Comments
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Man... ur really into this election aren't u?
California is going to vote for Obama anyway so it doesn't matter what u say to Cali folks.
Ohio and Michigan must go blue for Obama. You gotta convince the Ohio and Michigan folks.
If Mitt Romney is McCain's VP then the Republicans will get Michigan for sure. And McCain is your new prez! Yay!Posted 08-21-2008 at 01:21 PM by Niceguy
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I totally get your point that CA will go to Obama anyways but it's not an excuse not to reach out and inform others, right?
Plus, I'm originally from VA which is a possible swing state this time around.
Unfortunately, I'm almost thinking for the sake of just winning the election Obama may need to have Clinton as his VP.Posted 08-21-2008 at 01:34 PM by daveytrainsf
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No way! Clinton as VP = automatic loss.
Virgina will be close, but I think Virginia will be edged out by Republicans.Posted 08-21-2008 at 01:43 PM by Niceguy
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Why automatic loss? I think picking her would show a sign of strength on his side to accept his major rival in the primary as his running mate plus it would shock the world AND ignite a fire under the Clinton-ites thus truly unifying the party and rallying around this dream team.
Sure, the Republicans would strengthen more with Clinton on the ticket but McCain is narrowing Obama's lead in the polls and he needs a real game changer.Posted 08-21-2008 at 01:57 PM by daveytrainsf
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Barack needs an economic expert as a VP.
Obama doesn't know anything about economics. He's graduated from Law School didn't he?
Hiliary might be credible with economics, but her husband BILL is a huge distraction. Whether you like it or not, the media will eat this up and only focus on the negatives of the duo.
I see more risk than reward with the Hilary Pick.
Main question is..... can Hilary help Obama win Ohio or Michigan?Posted 08-21-2008 at 02:18 PM by Niceguy
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I think Hillary will most definitely help Barack with several key states - Ohio, Florida, Michigan, and some southern states. And Bill, yes he is the great former president but having him as a surrogate campaigning for you is a huge thing.
I'm not saying Barack needs Hillary to win because I also think there's other great choices as well - Biden, Clark, even Kerry but choosing Hillary will be a game changer after all this down talk of her becoming the VP. It would be a big shock and surprise but more in a good way in the long run. At this point with the polls so close you have to think about winning first and foremost.Posted 08-21-2008 at 03:09 PM by daveytrainsf
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watever. It's Obama choice. I still believe Obama is not going to win. I sorta knew the Democrats were gonna lose ever since Obama won the nomination. Well, all hail President McCain. Get ready for more war fellas!Posted 08-21-2008 at 03:17 PM by Niceguy
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Shit, this country is so fucked if McCain wins. Well, I'm about to post another blog...just for you buddy!!Posted 08-21-2008 at 03:43 PM by daveytrainsf
