Time's Halperin: "Things McCain Can Do to Try to Beat Obama" include attacks on his race and name
In a February 25 entry to his website, The Page, Time magazine political analyst Mark Halperin posted a list titled "Things McCain Can Do to Try to Beat Obama That Clinton Cannot," in which he suggested that McCain "can ... [a]llow some supporters to risk being accused of using the race card when criticizing Obama" and "can ...[e]mphasize Barack Hussein Obama's unusual name and exotic background through a Manchurian Candidate prism."
In addition, Halperin suggested that McCain can "[l]ink biography (experience/courage) and leadership (straight talk) to a vision animated by detail -- accentuating Obama's relative lack of specificity." In doing so, Halperin not only failed to offer any examples of McCain's "specificity" "relative" to Obama, he repeated the media myth that McCain is a straight talker, despite his growing list of falsehoods.
From Halperin's February 25 entry at The Page:
HALPERIN'S TAKE: Things McCain Can Do to Try to Beat Obama That Clinton Cannot
by Mark Halperin
Nomination fights are tribal matters. There are certain lines candidates from the same party cannot cross when trying to win. In general election battles, there are fewer rules and constraints.
If Clinton is not able to come back and beat Obama, there will be a fair amount of (to borrow one of her phrases) coulda-shoulda-woulda on behalf of her campaign: things she could have done that she chose not to do -- or was not able to do.
The McCain campaign is staffed with savvy, experienced operatives who have closely watched the rise of Obama, and they have learned from Clinton's failure to take down her Democratic rival.
Things McCain can do when running against Obama that Clinton has been unable to do well or at all:
1. Play the national security card without hesitation.
2. Talk about the Iraq War without apologies or perceived contradiction.
3. Go at Obama unambiguously from the right.
4. Encourage interest groups, bloggers, and right-leaning media to explore Obama's past.
5. Make an issue of Obama's acknowledged drug use.
6. Allow some supporters to risk being accused of using the race card when criticizing Obama.
7. Exploit Michelle Obama's mistakes and address her controversial remarks with unrestricted censure.
8. Play dirty without alienating his party.
9. Dismiss Obama's brief national tenure from his own lofty platform of decades in the Senate -- there will be no ambiguity about who has more experience as conventionally defined.
10. Use his sterling war record to reinforce his image of patriotism and valor -- and contrast it with his opponent's.
11. Emphasize Barack Hussein Obama's unusual name and exotic background through a Manchurian Candidate prism.
12. Employ third party groups like the NRA to hit Obama on issues that might turn off general election voters. Perhaps an ad such as this will run in Ohio: "So, what do you really know about Barack Obama? Did you know he supports meeting with the head of terrorist states? Do you know he wants to get rid of your right to own a handgun? Do you know he is calling for the repeal of the law preventing gay marriage? Do you know he is for a trillion-dollar tax increase? What do you really know about Barack Obama?"
13. Face an electorate less consumed with "change change change" (the main priority for Democratic voters) and keenly interested in "ready from day one" as an equally important ideal.
14. Link biography (experience/courage) and leadership (straight talk) to a vision animated by detail -- accentuating Obama's relative lack of specificity.
15. Give Obama his first real race against a credible Republican. (Clinton has always asserted that Obama would wilt before a fierce Republican assault.)
16. Confront Obama with a united, focused campaign absent of second-guessing, which hits the same themes and message every day.
Has this guy Halperin registered officially as a lobbiest/cheerleader for the rightwing ...
... or is he still pretending to some sort of "journalistic" credentials?
Is running on the issues a losing proposition or something?
It is when the Republicans are on the wrong side of every issue.....
He forgot
17. Lie, Lie, Lie.
OMG.
It looks like Halperin stopped just short of smashing Obama's kneecaps.
This is just a horrible list of "suggestions" for McCain. Drug use, race card, name manipulation, play dirty........If McCain employs these sleazy tactics against Obama he deserves to be trounced more than he probably will anyway.
How disguisting.
If McCain employs these sleazy tactics against Obama he deserves to be trounced more than he probably will anyway.
Tommy, it's not a matter of IF, it's a matter of WHEN. Republicans have been playing dirty politics involving race for years they just need a little help in figuring out how far is too far. Of course their consultant is probably Republican David Duke.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8659.html
My personal favorite...
4. Encourage interest groups, bloggers, and right-leaning media to explore Obama's past.
I'll bet that one hadn't even crossed McCain's mind... ;>)
My personal favorite...
4. Encourage interest groups, bloggers, and right-leaning media to explore Obama's past.
I'll bet that one hadn't even crossed McCain's mind... ;>)
Obama will only have to mention three little words in response, that will remind people about McCain's past dealings:
SAVINGS BANK SCANDAL
13. Face an electorate less consumed with "change change change" (the main priority for Democratic voters) and keenly interested in "ready from day one" as an equally important ideal.
Wow, they have already tried this, all McCain offers is 4 more years of Bush.
McCain's idea of change is more female lobbyists. ;>)
Especially female lobbyists who resemble his trophy wife - the one he dumped his ex-wife to marry...
It's a good thing for Democrats when Republicans ar forced into this reactive mode as opposed to being proactive.
And you can most likely thank the Hillary campaign for it, her campaign director did not deny it earlier today.
Is that why the picture hasn't been presented here?
I guess color me silly, but If the campaign manager says he has never seen the photo before and tells the media who jumped all over the drudge report like it was a credible source to prove that my campaign sent the photo, I'd say he just denied sending the photo.
Sometimes the internet works for ya, and sometimes it works against ya...
Wolfson is communications director not the campaign manager.
But it's really a distinction without a difference since he speaks for the campaign.
Conservatives are good at thinking something like this is significant.
The Clinton has denied any knowledge through its spokesman.
That's how things usually work.
Conservatives are good at thinking something like this is significant.
What'ya mean "thinking"? BillO might even start his show with this tonight saying, "This Is HUGE!" LOL
What will they ever do when they can no longer blame the Hillary camp for their smears?
Maggie Williams is Clinton's campaign manager.
However, Wolfson is the spokesman for the campaign.
The spokesman for the Clinton campaign isn't good enough for you?
"I just want to make it very clear that we were not aware of it, the campaign didn't sanction it and don't know anything about it," Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said in a teleconference with reporters. "None of us have seen the e-mail in question. If anybody has independent reporting that they've done on it I would welcome it."
All that picture of Obama is to Democracts is an unflattering, girly picture. Like the other pictures Drudge printed. (Search the AP for it, they'll sell you a copy in about two minutes.)
17. Leak story to New York Times about boinking female lobbyist in order to seam more virile than Obama.
That's to sew up the Viagra male vote... ;>)
Not to split any hairs, but just what seam are we talking about? ;)
Oh good. I had thought you were referring to the seam who's hair you can split.
That darn outside voice again. It just likes to get me in trouble! ;)
WTF is a "Manchurian Candidate prism"?
My best guess is that having an "unusual name and exotic background" makes someone more prone to commiting a political assassination (isn't that what the "Manchurian Candidate" ultimately did, and was recruited for, in the movie and novel of that name?)...
If so, I still don't get it, because in the that movie/novel, Raymond Shaw had neither an unusual name nor an exotic background, toward making him a political assassin... he was in fact a red-blooded American, from a blue blood family, and was the step-son of a U.S. Senator...
As the story goes, the assassin worked (unknowingly) for an extreme Republican cause, and was supposed to assassinate someone for that cause (as Republicans seem to enjoy "character assassinations" in their political cause)...
...but of course Raymond's red-blooded American side got the better of his blue blood (and of his post-hypnotic conditioning), and he shot instead his own step-dad and mom too!
Right in their right wing heads he did!
My best guess is that having an "unusual name and exotic background" makes someone more prone to commiting a political assassination (isn't that what the "Manchurian Candidate" ultimately did, and was recruited for, in the movie and novel of that name?)...
I think they mean he's being controlled by Muslims or extremists like OBL.
If Halperin is auditioning for the new Rove, he needs to start being more secretive. Doesn't he know you shouldn't tell the enemy your plan? I swear I've heard that somewhere before...
Rove response to Halperin would go something like this:
"You're semi-evil. You're quasi-evil. You're the margarine of evil. You're the Diet Coke of evil. Just one calorie, not evil enough."
Shall we debunk?
We shall:
1. Play the national security card without hesitation.
Uh, voters don’t trust the Republican Party on NS as much as they used to. 2. Talk about the Iraq War without apologies or perceived contradiction.Sure John, tell us how that surge of yours is working out! Without apologies: you mean like during the last eight years? I think the American people (not to mention those pesky Iraqis) deserve an apology for the lies and mismanagement.
3. Go at Obama unambiguously from the right.Oh no! Not the right!!! Not the same right that has completely FUBARed America for the last 8 years! I’m scurred! McCain’s best hope is to appear as centrist as possible.
4. Encourage interest groups, bloggers, and right-leaning media to explore Obama's past.I think we can apply the Fermi Paradox to this one: if they existed, they would be here. Besides, the problem with Obama is that because he’s new and he’s nice, nothing sticks to him; the ultimate Teflon candidate.
5. Make an issue of Obama's acknowledged drug use.Uh, been there, done that, didn’t work. Dare I say, backfired!
6. Allow some supporters to risk being accused of using the race card when criticizing Obama.
... 7. Exploit Michelle Obama's mistakes and address her controversial remarks with unrestricted censure.So far this doesn’t have any traction; has about as much of a future as flag-burning legislation.8. Play dirty without alienating his party.This is advice to Republicans? After 8+ years of Karl Rove they need to be told to play dirty? That’s your dog needing to be told to lick his balls.
9. Dismiss Obama's brief national tenure from his own lofty platform of decades in the Senate -- there will be no ambiguity about who has more experience as conventionally defined.
Can easily be countered with: if experience is everything, how come John McCain hasn’t been awarded the nomination before? Talent, here seems to far outweigh experience.
10. Use his sterling war record to reinforce his image of patriotism and valor -- and contrast it with his opponent's.
McCain lost the Republican nomination last time to a draft-dodging coke-sniffing reprobate rich boy who looks a lot like a chimpanzee. How the heck didn’t his War record work for him then? Oh yeah, that’s right: because he’s crazy!
11. Emphasize Barack Hussein Obama's unusual name and exotic background through a Manchurian Candidate prism.Hussein, Hussein, Hussein. Anne Coulter has recently been the standard bearer for this sad little smear. As we all know, when crazy Annie gets hold of an idea, she immediately strangles and kills it. 12. Employ third party groups like the NRA to hit Obama on issues that might turn off general election voters. Perhaps an ad such as this will run in Ohio: "So, what do you really know about Barack Obama? Did you know he supports meeting with the head of terrorist states? Do you know he wants to get rid of your right to own a handgun? Do you know he is calling for the repeal of the law preventing gay marriage? Do you know he is for a trillion-dollar tax increase? What do you really know about Barack Obama?"Careful there, Halperin old sod: use of words such as “NRA”, “hit”, and “Obama” can easily trigger (oops) the visit of Secret Service agents.
IOW, this tactic is generally known (and perfected by Darth Vader himself) as “scare the sh** out of the electorate”. Its getting old.
13. Face an electorate less consumed with "change change change" (the main priority for Democratic voters) and keenly interested in "ready from day one" as an equally important ideal.This isn’t working for Hillary among Democrats or Independents. Why would it work for McCain? I also fail to see how the two ideals are mutually exclusive.
14. Link biography (experience/courage) and leadership (straight talk) to a vision animated by detail -- accentuating Obama's relative lack of specificity.All of this was of course tried against JFK, and it didn’t work. Obama has these guy’s scared sh**less.
15. Give Obama his first real race against a credible Republican. (Clinton has always asserted that Obama would wilt before a fierce Republican assault.)Puhlees people! Can’t you do any better than this? There are no more credible Republicans, thanks to Dubya! I mean, were talking about the same party whose propagandists in the media have screened calls that they can cut, staged debates, “fair & balanced reporting”, et cetera, et cetera.
16. Confront Obama with a united, focused campaign absent of second-guessing, which hits the same themes and message every day. <snickers>These guys are freaking toast…I have cited some of these same tactics that I think the right wing will use against Obama...I don't think the problem is recognizing what dirty tricks may come his way. I wonder if putting it out there mght actually desensitize the electorate so when the card is pulled it won't be new. I also think it is one thing for me to have a conversation with others about the tactics they can use and another to actually publish it for public consumption...that is an extremely fine line to walk. I also don't think MCCain will touch the racial ones directly...possible he wouldn't even condone it due to his own background but no doubt with or without his support the independent groups will embrace the racial tactics with open arms. I think on both sides the independent groups will make things ugly as usual and sometimes even when the candidate doesn't condone it. Not to say that sometimes they do condone it too.
I also think it is one thing for me to have a conversation with others about the tactics they can use and another to actually publish it for public consumption...that is an extremely fine line to walk.
Maybe this is a retaliatory response to not being able to post the 10 Commandments for "public consumption"?
Hmmm....I kept looking for this among the suggestions:
* Offer a positive vision of where you want to take the country. Include specific ideas for things that will make Americans' lives better.
Of course, then I remembered this was advice for a Republicant and I came to my senses... :)
These are all IFs. Yet the drug claim was brought up , plagerism, and now the African/Muslim photo surfaced. Both played by Clinton - a DEMOCRAT.
Is there any outrage over that here?
thing. Watergate would have worked if only somebody had not screwed up. Whatever happens, don't get caught, and if you do, lie, lie, lie. Keep in mind that the only thing that is important is that your party remain in power at all cost. A lot of rich people are counting on you.
Besides, what does the photo establish? It's all in the narrative, the picture is nothing. The right-wing nuts already think he's a secret Muslim. We Democrats think it's an unflattering photo that looks a little girly. Care to look at all the photos and distorted headlines at, say, the Huffington Post about Hillary for the last year? At MSNBC? Drudge surely doesn't mean the Hillary campaign any good.
But I get very tired of the cries of "racism" coming from David Plouffe's e-mails. They always seem to come around crucial primaries, when they have to change the subject, and win votes for Obama. It's demagogic, actually.
HALPERIN'S TAKE
If this is what McCain needs to be coached on, then that's perfect....I insist thats what the Repubs do, pleeease!!!
That way, if it's Barack whose representing, he'll have a wealth of topics to hone in on....where does a concerned American start, the lousy economy?.....warrantless wiretapping??.....the bumpersticker "War on Terror"???....shall I go on.....the infringement on the Constitutional law????.....Habeas Corpus?????.....torture??????......FEMA???????.....Katrina??????I'm not done yet but if he makes light on any of these issues, put a fork in John John