For those of you who missed it, I busted John McCain on a blatant, bald-faced, pandering lie that revealed McCain to be a two-faced, say-anything-to-win politician.
A man who will lie about even the most personal and important events in his own life to gain votes.
But, to summarize, McCain said that in order to trick his captors as a POW, he gave the names of the Steelers defensive line instead of his squadron mates. This, it turned out, was a blatant, obvious, pandering lie. (See my diary from yesterday for the iron-clad details). Now, the lie is getting a little bit of play in the media.
In an interview this week with a local Pittsburgh TV station, John McCain provided the following anecdote about his time as a POW in Vietnam:
Transcript:
"The Steelers really made a huge impression on me -- particularly in their early years."
[...]
"When I was first interrogated and really had to give some information because of the physical pressures that were on me, I named the starting lineup -- defensive line -- of the Pittsburgh Steelers as my squadron-mates!"
I have a simple suggestion: whenever the Democrats, us or the Obama campaign refers to anything said by John McCain's so-called "Trth Squad," we should refer to it by its most prominent member: Orson Swindle.
A simple, straightforward statement by the Obama campaign justifying its decision to forego federal funding for his Presidential campaign could blow his critics out of the water, and actually make John McCain look bad.
I previously likened McCain's play for Hillary voters as akin to a 1970's, chest-hair exposed, medallion-swinging, platform shoe-wearing, Hi Karate-smelling, polyester liesure suit-donning, swinging lothario.
PREFACE ADDENDUM: I think many of the commenters are not seing the forrest for the trees. Flat out rejecting Hillary as the VP, and saying there is no way she can be on the ticket is a recipe for disaster. It takes away any incentive Hillary may have to act responsibly in the ways I set forther below. If she believes she has a legitimate shot at being put on the ticket -- provided she responsibly follows the steps I outline below at a minimum -- she is more likely to unify the party and make Obama stronger. Not because she has great character, but because it is in her self interest to do so. We must harness Hillary's ambition and self interest to our advantage. With that understanding -- please read my diary.
In the heat of the moment, and after a grueling and ofttimes divisive primary season, the last thing Obama supporters want to read about is Hillary Clinton becoming Barack Obama's running mate.
This diary is not about whether she should or should not be Obama's running mate, however. It is advice to Hillary Clinton on HOW she could make that happen -- or at least dramatically improve her chances.
John McCain is taking a specific tone toward Barack Obama: That of the wise old veteran who will school (in both the literal and street sense of the word) the young neophyte about the world.
McCain is talking playground trash. Here is what the Obama campaign must do in response:
Sigh. The utter stupidity and ignoramce of our media is contributing to the perception that Barack Obama made a "gaffe" yesetrday when he claimed we need more Arabic translators in Afghanistan.
There's a reason why John McCain went after Obama on Bill Ayers yesterday.
He wants to blunt any last minute Obama surge in Pennsylvania to keep Hillary in the race as long as possible. He knows that as soon as Hillary bows out of the race, Obama's considerable resources, organization and rhetorical gifts will pivot around like the guns of a battle ship onto McCain -- anbd start blasting away.
Americans have short memories. Back when George Stephanopolous, James Carville and the Clintons had to withstand attacks from George Herbert Walker Bush about draft dodging, extra marital affairs, and post smnoking -- the famous Clinton "war room," had a one sentence motto that guided them: "It's the Economy, Stupid."
Lord all mighty....have the pundits and Democrats gone coo coo over recent polls showing that up to 30% of Obama or Hillary supporters will defect to John McCain in the fall election -- if their favored candidate does not get the Democratic nomination.
But, those very same polls tell us something quite different.
It would be irresponsible for any Democrat not to point out what the Republicans will attack Hillary on in the general election if she were the nominee.
