Political Punch
Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

« Previous | Main | Next »

Barack 'Isotoner' Obama to Take Off His Third or Fourth Pair of Gloves and Get Tough

September 12, 2008 7:11 AM

Like any number of Democratic candidates before him -- Mike Dukakis, Al Gore, John Kerry -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is once again declaring that he is going to take off the gloves and fight back against attacks from the Republican Party.

This is what you're going to hear from his campaign today, anyway, which is unveiling two new TV ads, including this attack ad against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.


But just so you know -- this is, by my count, the 4th time Obama's campaign has officially or unofficially made such a declaration that Obama will "take off the gloves" and fight back.

That's a lot of pairs of gloves.

The Isotoner campaign, one might say.

Another part of today's claim is that the Democrat is going to aggressively claim the "change" mantle.

As part of this -- the staggeringly fresh assertion that McCain has voted with President Bush 90 percent of the time, a factoid Obama has only made 7,000 times before.

Today will also be, per the Obama campaign, the first day of the home stretch. This will be, to my count, at least the second time the Obama campaign has decreed such a new beginning, perhaps even the third.

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe lays this all out in a memo called "Heading into the Final Stretch" today, saying that "Obama said earlier this week 'enough is enough.' This election is too important and the challenges too big to spend the next 54 days talking about trivial non-issues. Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign."

Continues Plouffe, "We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain’s attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people. We will not allow John McCain and his band of Karl Rove disciples to make this big election about small things."

- jpt

September 12, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (475)

User Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Glove Free and IN THE WHITE HOUSE NOW>
Call him MR. PRESIDENT!

Posted by: Glove Free - | Feb 22, 2009 1:01:45 PM

I do not understand why McCain's age is such an enormous issue. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. That includes young presidential candidates such as Senator Obama (a smoker). The reality is that McCain does not need to know how to e-mail. He needs to know what is right for the country and this is what I believe should qualify him to be our next president.

Posted by: Francesca | Sep 30, 2008 10:26:51 PM

Oh, by the way jake. I love the "Barack Isotoner Obama". Brillant.

Posted by: Darryl | Sep 23, 2008 4:00:37 PM

The two richest senators are Democrats. Guess Whom the richest is. SENATOR KERRY! LOL yes Kerry is richer than McCain way richer.

Posted by: Darryl | Sep 23, 2008 3:50:24 PM

McCain doesn't use a computer because of his injuries as a POW, making typing and bending of his arms painful. Talk about mud-slinging of the lowest order, making fun of a disability...

Posted by: quatty1 | Sep 15, 2008 8:57:45 AM

Obama attacks John McCain saying he is out of touch, doesn't know how to use the computer or send an email..and his would be genius spokeman Dan pheiffer is quoted as saying.."Our economy wouldn't survive without the Internet, and cyber-security continues to represent one our most serious national security threats," Pfeiffer said. "It's extraordinary that someone who wants to be our president and our commander in chief doesn't know how to send an e-mail." The more I listen to Obama and his "Einsteins" like David Axelrod and Dan pfeiffer the more I am convinced that they know they are losing and losing bad. Their comments are from pure desperation. Had they done a bit of homework instead of shooting from the hip as pfeiffer confirmed with another tell tale desperado quote.."We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people."..they would have known that a man that is very much In Touch (as John McCain surely is) with what is going on in the world, and particularly the economey also does not use a computer or send emails..and he happens to be the richest man on the Planet! Warren Buffett!!

Posted by: Al MacLeod | Sep 15, 2008 8:04:36 AM

McCain's ads were insulting and humiliating to Paris, and made statements that were not accurate. But republicans called it funny and said Obama supporters lack a sense of humor.
Well, ha ha ha, McCain's in Washington too long and out of touch, funny funny joke joke wink wink.
Republicans cry foul.
Now who lacks a sense of humor?

Posted by: mere | Sep 15, 2008 2:33:42 AM

Sadly I've come to the conclusion that the Obama crew will lose this race because they hav eno spine. they talk a good game of getting tough but never deliver. If the last ads released or the campaign stump speeches are their idea of being tough we can throw in the towel and say millions of donated dollars were just flushed down the drain. I am coming to believe the hype about Obama's arrogance in doing things his way or no way. He's losing this race big time and yet he holds to the same drill on the campaign trail. Can't someone shake these guys up!

Posted by: h | Sep 15, 2008 12:01:12 AM

Let's see Obama's "new" politics:

Speechmaker Obama talks about an era of bipartisanship, He speaks powerfully about the destructive politics of red and blue states.

Politician Obama has toed his party's line more reliably than almost any other Democrat in US politics. He has a near-perfect record of voting with his side. He has the most solidly left-wing voting history in the Senate. His one act of bipartisanship, a transparency bill co-sponsored with a Republican senator, was backed by everybody on both sides of the aisle. He has never challenged his party's line on any issue of substance.

Speechmaker Obama talks a lot about finding ways to move beyond the bloody battlegrounds of the “culture wars” in America; the urgent need to establish consensus on the emotive issue of abortion.

Politician Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator. In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a Bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions. No one in the Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the superliberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this same humane measure.

Posted by: Steve | Sep 14, 2008 9:11:55 PM

Exactly, this is so ironic, exception the truth is that Obama is just too trendy for himself, notwithstanding his retro-70s pants and shirts.

Posted by: Patrick | Sep 14, 2008 8:55:22 PM

It's nice to know that Obama & Co. plan to respond with speed and ferocity...rather than just doing it. Talk is cheap.

Posted by: Patrick | Sep 14, 2008 8:51:11 PM

John McCain has be attacking Barack Obama since the day Barack Obama won the primary. It has been negative ads and more negative ads put out almost daily by the McCain campaign!!
John McCain and his disgusting campaign which is run by sleazy Carl Rove, and his disgusting evil, corrupt friends, has been putting out republican ads full of lies, lies, and more lies.

THE FACTS ARE:
- It is John McCain himself who told reporters that he, cannot use a computer!!
- It is John McCain himself who said in a debate during the republican primary that he does not know alot about the economy!
- It is John McCain who has for the past 20 years has voted AGAINST alternative. John McCain has voted AGAINST every single effort made over the past 20 years to get America off foreign oil.
- It is John McCain who claims he will clean up Washington , BUT RIGHT NOW John McCain has at least 9 lobbyists running his campaign. Why does John McCain have lobbyists running his campaign.

The fact is John McCain IS OUT OF TOUCH!!!
John McCain's own daughter call him OLD!!

Posted by: Sara | Sep 14, 2008 8:37:50 PM

Young man like Barack needs to learn a lesson of respect. Cocky, arrogant, yet empty in action. Elect a leader who is a man or woman of record and action.
Former Hillary supporter & Asian-American.

Posted by: Tony | Sep 14, 2008 6:59:56 PM

"McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes."(boston globe) and "because of his war injuries, he is limited in his ability to wield a keyboard."--- shows how out of touch he is... if this was actually true, he'd know that voice recognition has come a remarkable distance in useability, touchscreens and many other technologies avaiable - just ask Richard Hawkings (I think he's just a bit more physically challenged). However, as McCain seems to be able to point, move his hands and fingers, wave all day long and use a knife and fork, I think the excuse is just an excuse and justification for being so behind.

Posted by: Rick_VT | Sep 14, 2008 5:04:07 PM

"McCain's severe war injuries prevent him from combing his hair, typing on a keyboard, or tying his shoes."(boston globe) and "because of his war injuries, he is limited in his ability to wield a keyboard."--- shows how out of touch he is... if this was actually true, he'd know that voice recognition has come a remarkable distance in useability, touchscreens and many other technologies avaiable - just ask Richard Hawkings (I think he's just a bit more physically challenged). However, as McCain seems to be able to point, move his hands and fingers, wave all day long and use a knife and fork, I think the excuse is just an excuse and justification for being so behind.

Posted by: Rick_VT | Sep 14, 2008 5:03:39 PM

Obama won't even recognize that he is stupid and his friends won't let him.

Posted by: Jeff | Sep 14, 2008 4:47:05 PM

This is wonderful Obama who's whole life is a fad is calling McCain outdated. When the leftists get tired of him they will toss him like beanie babies in the trash.

Posted by: Jeff | Sep 14, 2008 4:43:55 PM

Oh no, just had a terrible thought. Imagine this, John McCain is President. It is 3 AM, your children are asleep. An email comes into the White House. Who will answer it?

Posted by: Janet Malinak | Sep 14, 2008 4:01:37 PM

It would be great if Mac explained the nature of his disabilities to Obama during the debate, in front of millions and face to face with Obama. Can't wait to see Obama's embarassment over his own stupidity.

Posted by: Mandelay3 | Sep 14, 2008 3:13:48 PM

Who are these candidates?
What ruse will they wear today?
Why can't we get any credible candidates?
Everything they do is to play on the psyche of potential voters.
They have very little actionable substance.
To date I have never known a president that can actually legislate.
For some naïve reason these candidates tout what legislation they will have power over. The only power he has is the laws the other two branches of government give the presidency to use.
Congress gave authority to Bush to go into Iraq. This was something he could not legally do himself. The intelligence committees failed the American people.
So if you want real change throw the rascals in congress out.
These candidates should be touting how they will honor and uphold the law.
The campaign ads only illustrate how good they will be in finding loopholes.

Posted by: MBell_TX | Sep 14, 2008 3:05:55 PM

Post a comment





 

POLITICAL VIDEOS