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McCain Campaign Finds Hillary's Anti-Obama Playbook Helpful

July 15, 2008 4:07 PM

Once again Republicans have stolen a page out of Hillary Clinton’s anti-Obama campaign playbook.

In a letter sent to Sen. Barrack Obama D-Ill. today, Sen. Jim DeMint R- SC -- the ranking Republican on a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that Obama chairs -- tweaked Obama for not having held any hearings on the subject of NATO's role in Afghanistan.

“With oversight of NATO relations and its role in Afghanistan, I believe it is time for us to focus closely on these issues,” DeMint wrote, suggesting a meeting of the subcommittee upon Obama’s return from a much anticipated trip abroad. 

The letter was clearly a shot at the fact that Obama -- chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs -- has only held three hearings. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden, D-Del., told Meet the Press that "the reason Obama didn't hold a hearing on NATO, I chair the committee. Every one of those committee hearings are held at full committee."

Either way, it's not a new shot.

During a debate last February, Clinton said, “I also have heard Senator Obama refer continually to Afghanistan, and he references being on the Foreign Relations Committee. He chairs the Subcommittee on Europe. It has jurisdiction over NATO. NATO is critical to our mission in Afghanistan. He’s held not one substantive hearing to do oversight, to figure out what we can do to actually have a stronger presence with NATO in Afghanistan."

(Our friends at Politifact said this was a clean hit.)

McCain has also recently been attacking Obama for refusing to debate him, another favorite line of attack from Clinton, and for having voted "present" quite often as an Illinois state senator, also a classic Clinton golden oldie.

How soon before McCain starts challenging Obama to meet him in Ohio?

- jpt

July 15, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (56)

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Hillary's supporters in this blog are missing the real point of this story. McCain is using the same playbook as the Hillary campaign. She lost. It is stupid to repeat the same strategy that did not work before. The Obama campaign, instead, showed that there is a winning strategy against Hillary. Obama's campaign was running against old-style politics and politicians, a description that fits both Hillary and McCain. It worked because many people don't like Hillary. Hillary's supporters may have missed this, but about half of the country do not like Hillary. The Republicans know this all too well. In case there is a McCain/Hillary matchup in 2012, Hillary's supporters will remember which party hates her more and longer in the first place.

Posted by: Tony | Jul 16, 2008 8:45:09 PM

What's the surprise. The McCain canpaign doesn't need to reference Clinton for material about the changeling. He has a history of campaigning for a new higher office as soon as he is elected to one. My only question is what he will be aiming at next; what could be higher than the Presidency/ Lord of the World, perhaps.

Posted by: Lynn | Jul 16, 2008 5:10:11 PM

The accountability and responsibilty for "not having one substantive hearing to do oversight” is his fault. If he can't do the job resign the chair position, or does he just want to post it to the short resume.

Posted by: tlintx | Jul 16, 2008 5:09:14 PM

Let me get this right, republicans criticizing obama for the fact he “held not one substantive hearing to do oversight” is not obama’s fault? It's just McCain using Hillary’s old attacks?
The kool-aid must be getting stronger.

Posted by: rrow | Jul 16, 2008 4:40:36 PM

mccain as bad as he is, will be the president. because of the dnc
and all of that stuff about the right wing coming out against sen. clinton. was just hog wash. people will go with the one who makes sense to them. and mccain nor obama make sense to the everyday working folk.

Posted by: the patriot | Jul 15, 2008 7:28:46 PM

------------------------------
Yes patriot,
The DNC has screwed itself AGAIN! Hillary was destroyed so BO could be the ringer. Not happening.
The RNC beat the drum resoundingly, started 2 years ago saying Hillary was poison. They do not want to run against her, ever! Hillary would defeat McCain in a second, but now he has it made. BO is unelectable.

Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 16, 2008 9:35:12 AM

So if the voters can be hoodwinked into electing the shrub TWICE..I say anyone can be president! Maybe we can all vote Nader and shock the crap outa both crappy parties! At least Nader is not in bed with big business or the military. Now he would be CHANGE, I doubt they would let him live. Well at least he is a choice between all the DNC and RNC have to offer.

Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 16, 2008 9:21:01 AM

In Obama's own words, he couldn't call a meeting because "I was appointed to the committee and then immediately began my campaign for president." This is typical Obama - just get the cred on his resume and move on.

Posted by: HoosierSue | Jul 16, 2008 7:42:25 AM

Obama is a FRAUD - the DNC picked the WRONG guy and he will never win.
WHY won't obama debate McCain??? - His campaign won't let him - he cannot answer a direct question without a prepared answer from the teleprompter.
He is a Staged Show!
Life-long Dem - will turn to the GOP for my guy of Change!

Posted by: Molly | Jul 15, 2008 10:29:43 PM

Is anyone concerned that even after Clinton called him out on the meetings, he still hasn't held a single hearing on such a crucial matter. The whole country, including military, should be screaming about this.

Posted by: Ron |

No they don't care, they just look at that as her being hateful. I personally think they should look into it myself, especially with the escalation of violence lately.

Posted by: J | Jul 15, 2008 8:11:03 PM

It is amazing how the American public can be bamboozled into another idiot like Bush. Can't speak, doesn't have a clue. God Help us if Obama wins.

Posted by: J | Jul 15, 2008 8:04:40 PM

How could he have had any hearings? He only served as the junior senator from US Illinios for 140 days before he began running for POTUS. --------------
---------------------------------------
Exactly, all he has been doing is running for President. WAnting a promotion before he ever completed his current job...

---------------------------------------
how can the man have hearings when hes campaiging all over the country?????

Read the above answer....


-

Posted by: Patti | Jul 15, 2008 8:04:02 PM

Actually, this form of attack worked quite well for Hillary. Once she started using it, she started beating Obama like a drum. She just started too late.

Posted by: Buford Gooch | Jul 15, 2008 7:54:47 PM

>"s.valenti+Jen, get over it, Hillary has lost the primaries and her great friend McSame they will lose the general elections.


Posted by: BKMC | Jul 15, 2008 5:00:33 PM

__________________________________________

i wouldn't count on it............

B O couldn't even hold a meeting; how's he going to run a country..... or stop a running nose............

Posted by: be careful what you wish for..... | Jul 15, 2008 7:39:45 PM

Is anyone concerned that even after Clinton called him out on the meetings, he still hasn't held a single hearing on such a crucial matter. The whole country, including military, should be screaming about this.

Posted by: Ron | Jul 15, 2008 7:34:29 PM

hp boston
the dnc knew this, and they will regret in nov. they backed the lesser.I was listening to a group of african american women this past weekend.
and they were discussing uni. healthcare.
they are not pleased that is not front and center with obama, after during the primary they were bamboozled by obama over sen. clinton plan. they see the writing on the wall that obama will not be able to deliver what he promised when he beat sen. clinton.
mccain as bad as he is, will be the president. because of the dnc
and all of that stuff about the right wing coming out against sen. clinton. was just hog wash. people will go with the one who makes sense to them. and mccain nor obama make sense to the everyday working folk.

Posted by: the patriot | Jul 15, 2008 7:28:46 PM

Rasmussen reports that while McCain and Obama are locked in a tight race - today separated by 2 points, Clinton would beat McCain by 8 points.

---
So we will see who gets to be prez...
The convention and the delegates have a rude awaking. They will blame everyone but themselves when McCain IS the president.

Posted by: HP Boston | Jul 15, 2008 7:13:36 PM

Everyone I know saw Clinton's ploy for what it was. Disgusting.Posted by: Jane Hussein

What ploy? That she was smart enough to leave her name on the ballot?

Posted by: J | Jul 15, 2008 7:12:20 PM

McCain should also use the AD. 'It's 3 AM, who do you vote to answer the call?'

Yes, It's right for McCain to use those shots to attack Obama.

We should put country first, party the second.

We need to elect the one good for the country.

Posted by: golfgirlusa | Jul 15, 2008 6:59:02 PM

You know if he loses it will be Hillary's fault in some way, shape or form. I hope she keeps her distance from this flip flopping liar.

Posted by: J | Jul 15, 2008 6:55:09 PM

Before Hillary ever mentioned it, I read about his NATO non-leadership and found it a huge turnoff. Obama had this great opportunity with the subcommittee chair position to show he could lead on Afghanistan, and he called not a single hearing.

At some point it's Obama's fault that he never called a hearing.

Posted by: AF | Jul 15, 2008 6:42:54 PM

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