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August 27, 2008
When We Should Worry
There's definitely a palpable sense of panic out there. It's of course a byproduct of the old media script that's being repeated throughout the broadcast day: Democrats weak. Republicans strong. Adding: oh noes! the Republicans mean guys -- attacking us next week -- make Obama look small and gay.
Some things to remember though...
1) Most voters are watching network coverage after 10PM. The downside is that they've missed speeches by Governor Schweitzer and Congressman Leach, for example. The upside is that these voters/viewers aren't seeing much -- if any -- of the Buchanan/Scarborough/Murphy wingnut show.
2) There's a reason why Senator Clinton spoke last night and won't be accepting the nomination tomorrow night. The Obama campaign, contrary to the script, isn't as "weak" as is being alleged by McCain operatives in the press.
3) I have a feeling that next week isn't going to be the lockstep trains-on-time meat slicer it's being made out to be.
However... and this is a big however... If there's no bounce going into Friday's McCain show, then we should probably circle the wagons. And the Obama campaign had better find it's best surrogates -- train them on a series of knockout talking points, and arm them with rapid-response aides -- and camp them out near the press tents in the Twin Cities next week.
UPDATE: And that's almost exactly what they're planning to do.
Filed under: Barack Obama || Congress || Democrats || Hillary Clinton || Joe Scarborough || John McCain || LGBT || Republicans || Same-Sex Marriage
Posted By Bob Cesca | August 27, 2008 3:56 PM
Comments
We should have been worried when the first lie-filled ads came out of McCains campaign and nothing was done to slap it down. It is one thing to go negative by attacking a man personally like the Republicans do. It's another thing to respond in a cool manner and say, "They are liars." I know that's a big no no in politics, but why do the Dems always play by the rules while the Republicans mop the floor with them? McCains ads are nothing but lies and the MSM doesn't question it. Instead, they say, how bad is this for Obama, which implies these things are true. And then if Obama responds with a timid correction, the MSM says, "Obama insists he's not the AntiChrist, but polls show a different story." Until the Dems show up for a fight, they're going to lose, and they're right on track for one heck of a good concession speech in November. Just like a Democrat to bring a knife to a gunfight.
Posted by: camel54
at August 27, 2008 5:41 PM
The Obama campaign should do that anyway, bump or no bump.
But with the "More of the same" war room, the Daily Show billboard welcoming the "Rich, white oligarchs" and what I'm sure are going to be thousands of angry protesters, plus Bush speaking, I think the Republican convention will look paltry and sycophantic.
Posted by: ConstanceRifle
at August 27, 2008 5:41 PM
Our media shapes public opinion for most voters--unless they change the framing of this election to THE ISSUES, the Obama camp will not be able to break through.
I expect no bump, and maybe even more polls showing a lead for McCain--it is correct that most people don't watch the wall to wall coverage, but those narratives seep into the dialogue. It is quite insidious (just look at the Casey/abortion lie that has lasted 15 years). I actually do not think McCain taking the lead is such a bad thing--our media has a "horse race" bias and if McCain starts going ahead, I think they may start focusing on his vicious, negative, lie-filled campaign--and maybe, just maybe point out to the American people that he supports george Bush on EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.
It really is so sad--I thought our media had learned a lesson after they fell asleep on the lead up to the Iraq war--apparently not.
Posted by: JG
at August 27, 2008 6:12 PM
It really is so sad--I thought our media had learned a lesson after they fell asleep on the lead up to the Iraq war--apparently not.
The corporate media learned a lesson alright -- drama and conflict (real or manufactured) are great for ratings.
Posted by: Ogami Itto
at August 27, 2008 6:49 PM
"Obama wins the presidency...but can he govern low income white voters?" - Nov. 5th 2008 brought to you by the MSM.
Posted by: KidDynamo0
at August 27, 2008 7:17 PM
I'll say it until I'm blue in the face: ignore the polls. Ignore mainstream media. Anytime they show McCain ahead every slow slightly they are just spewing utter nonsense. It's really fucking easy to get the result that YOU want from a poll and they have done and will do it until Bob's Gullible Followers despair.
They're playing you, and you're reacting.
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What speech by Shweitzer on what channel? I know CSPAN carried it but I've been watching CNN and MSNBC, too and they suck. Only CSPAN shows it as it's happening.
Posted by: FrictionSoul
at August 27, 2008 11:52 PM



