It’s going to be a long, hot summer, especially if you’re Barack or Michelle Obama. It seems like somebody gave the signal that attacking Mrs. Obama could be the best way to take down her husband. A string of attempts to catch the possibly future first lady saying or implying things outside the so-called mainstream mindset is proof.
Right-wing web sites recently claimed a tape of Mrs. Obama would show her blaming “whitey” for various problems during a panel at Trinity United Church in 2004. They explain that this tape is being held by, alternatively, Karl Rove, the GOP, a major news broadcaster, or Rudy Guiliani. Supposedly, in reference to Pres. Bush she said, “Whitey attack Iraq, whitey let Katrina happen, whitey leave millions of children behind.” Except that since Michelle Obama doesn’t talk like that, the more likely quote — if she said anything at all, was probably — “Why did he attack Iraq? Why’d he let Katrina happen? Why’d he leave millions of children behind?” Whatever the case, more than a week has passed since the tape was supposedly going to be released and during that time, the bloggers changed the story from Michelle appearing on the panel with Louis Farrakhan to her sharing the stage with Mrs. Louis Farrakhan. And The National Review, which originally licked its chops at the prospect of a such a tape, now doubts its existence altogether.
But that doesn’t mean the Obama attacks are ending. No, the wallopers are just getting warmed up. The New York Post’s Cindy Adams warns the Obamas of the next salvo, this one focused on the candidate himself: a “Swift Book.”
Publisher, Regnery. Ships to stores, July. On shelves, August. Price, $37.95. Title, the longest in captivity: “Scorcher. The Case Against Barack Obama: The Unlikely Rise and Unexamined Agenda of the Media’s Favorite Candidate.”
The so-called scorching? That his politics-of-change will be liberal politics as usual. That the Rev. Wright thing reveals a deceitful nature. That his inexperience is more dangerous than any threat we have today. That as commander in chief this non-Republican is a serious threat to our national security.
Their projected p.r. TV lineup includes Fox’s “Hannity & Colmes” and “The O’Reilly Factor,” CNN’s Glenn Beck, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Radio: Michael Reagan, Laura Ingraham, G. Gordon Liddy.
So cheesy and yet, so tasteless. But like the heat itself, there’s no way around these machinations and no way to drown out the noise. We’ll just have to go through it, knowing that cooler, quieter times are ahead.
It seems that this all follows the process of (1) convincing voters what the issues are (national security), and then (2) convincing voters that a Republican is a better solution to that, than a Democrat. But since (2) is a rather easy base hit, I propose to Obama he better concentrate on (1). That is, demystify it, demyth it, or even ignore it. No, don’t ignore it, but rather explicitly state how overblown it is. Repeatedly ask voters how the economy is doing. How we got into this war. How the war is doing.
But do not, I repeat DO NOT acknowledge a debate on one’s experience or lack of, on war. DO acknowledge the real issues.
Or do this, (a)acknowledge you aren’t as experienced as McCain, and (b)that you wouldn’t be as good a war president as McCain, and (3) “if you want a war president, then vote for McCain”.
Steph