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Obama bumbled a golden opportunity
After the McCain celebrity smear, Obama had a perfect chance to hammer McCain for insubstantial gutter politics. Unfortunately, his campaign clouded the issue with 1) a commercial about "old politics" and 2) comments on the trail about "I don't look like the presidents on the dollar bills."
Response (1) was not too bad, but the clever "age" attack was superfluous and detracts from the emphasis on substance.
Response (2) was just bad campaigning. Nobody thinks that an ad about Paris Hilton has anything to do with Barack's race.
The premise of Obama's candidacy is that we need to change the tone of politics in America and turn the page on the past. That includes turning the page on identity politics.
Obama can project strength and protect his campaign's core message by hammering McCain for being a dishonest campaigner. His introduction of identity politics undermines his core message of representing an alternative brand of politics.
As an independent, I would like to see Obama go this route.
Response (1) was not too bad, but the clever "age" attack was superfluous and detracts from the emphasis on substance.
Response (2) was just bad campaigning. Nobody thinks that an ad about Paris Hilton has anything to do with Barack's race.
The premise of Obama's candidacy is that we need to change the tone of politics in America and turn the page on the past. That includes turning the page on identity politics.
Obama can project strength and protect his campaign's core message by hammering McCain for being a dishonest campaigner. His introduction of identity politics undermines his core message of representing an alternative brand of politics.
As an independent, I would like to see Obama go this route.
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Obama's campaign got back on track with Barack's latest statements:
"Given the seriousness of the issues; given the fact that the decisions we make right now are going to help determine the future not just of the next generation but perhaps generations after that; given the magnitude of our challenges when it comes to energy and health care and jobs and our foreign policy; you'd think we'd been having a serious debate. But so far all we've been hearing about is Paris Hilton and Britney Spears."
Bullseye. More please.
July 31, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Nobody thinks that an ad about Paris Hilton has anything to do with Barack's race"? Take a look in the blogosphere! Plus, Obama made the statement not in reference to McCain, but whiloe campaigning in Missouri, which is hyperconscious of his race. No wonder, mk, you are NOT running a presidential campaign!
July 31, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mandy,
Yes, some folks in the blogosphere think there is a connection, but I expect most voters do not see a connection.
If as you say, Obama was really not alluding to McCain or the "celeb" ad, he needs to make it much clearer what he was referring to.
I think Obama's statement was just a mistake. But I think the campaign realizes it, and maybe they are backpedalling (while keeping on offense) the best way they know how.
July 31, 2008 8:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
A virulent strain of racism is characterized by a profound fear in older white men of black male virility. I swear to God I'm not making this up.
Splicing Obama's image between a pair of blonde exhibitionists is no accident.
I appreciate the response ad that shows Brittany and McCain both placing their faith in the wisdom of G.W.Bush using virtually the same words. That followed by the news that Paris Hilton's Dad is a prominent McCain contributor.
Now if we can only locate the footage of McCain without his underpants.
July 31, 2008 9:46 PM | Reply | Permalink