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Obama Attacks McCain As 'Risky,' 'Erratic'
October 09, 2008 1:11 PM
ABC News' John Berman, Sunlen Miller and Ursula Fahy report: Barack Obama described John McCain as risky, erratic, and uncertain, and that was all just in his first event of the day. Obama has had no shortage of critiques of McCain in recent weeks, but he opened up a new front based on the mortgage buyout plan first proposed by the Arizona senator at Tuesday's debate.
McCain suggested Tuesday that the government should buy back some of the bad mortgages now plaguing the U.S. economy. At the time, it was thought he was proposing the government should buy these mortgages at the new, fallen value. That would mean the banks and lending institutions that made the loans would absorb the difference.
However, when the campaign released more details of the plan Wednesday, they made it clear that McCain was proposing that the government buy the mortgages at their original, higher price; higher -- that means -- than what they are worth right now. Which would mean the government, backed by taxpayers, would make up the difference.
It is this, that Obama charged, is a "risky idea."
"We have to act to fix our broken economy and restore the credit markets, he said. "But taxpayers shouldn't be asked to pick up the tab for the very folks who helped create this crisis."
The McCain campaign had issued a paper statement explaining McCain's new mortgage buying proposal Tuesday that said lenders "must recognize the loss that they've already suffered."
But when they posted the plan to his campaign Web site Wednesday, that sentence was missing. A McCain campaign official chalked it up to a "simple mistake," telling Politico, "that language was mistakenly included in the initial draft, and it's been corrected."
Simple or not, Obama pounced, not just on the details of the plan, but the fact the details seem to be changing.
"I don't think we can afford that kind of erratic and uncertain leadership in these uncertain times," said Obama. "We need steady leadership in the White House." These are words that Obama aides have been tossing around for weeks, clearly trying to subtly and not-so subtly question McCain's fitness for leadership, his temperament, and maybe even his age. If you had a nickel for every time an Obama aide used the word "erratic," you might be able to afford to attend one of the senator’s big ticket fundraisers.
But the repetition has a purpose. In the latest ABC News polling, McCain held a 50-44 percent edge in "trust to handle an unexpected crisis." By calling him "risky" and "uncertain," Obama is clearly trying to chip away at that. (It should be noted Obama has a 50-40 percent advantage in trust to handle the economic situation.)
But whatever rhetorical beating McCain took from Obama in Dayton, Ohio, the man who set up the sound for the event suffered even worse.
There was clearly an audio problem in the minor league baseball park that is the home to the Dayton Dragons. Several times during Obama’s speech, people in the audience complained that they could not hear. At one point, he told the people sitting behind him, "I can't turn around the whole time." When the sound didn't improve, he asked somewhat peevishly, "what's the problem now?" Then, in the type of political swipe normally reserved for Republicans, he said, "Where is my sound man? I am gonna have my sound man come out here, so everyone knows who messed up the sound."
Luckily for the sound man, the audio improved, and the audience never got to see him publicly shamed.
Obama is in Ohio five out of the next six days, clearly trying to put an enormous amount of pressure on McCain, in a state that no Republican has ever won the White House without.
ABC News' Teddy Davis contributed to this report.
October 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (599)
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Obama is risky, all his friends are terrorists and thugs. Obama and Osama have the same thing in common - they both have friends that blew up the Pentagon.
Posted by: Norman | Oct 9, 2008 1:15:45 PM
norman, shut up.
IT'S ABOUT TIME Obama pointed it out.
I'VE BEEN SAYING IT ALL ALONG, GRAMPS IS TOO OLD! WAY TOO OLD TO BE PREZ!
geez, how many times did the Republicans REJECT HIM?
Norman, how many times was McCain REJECTED by the Republicans? I forget...
Posted by: GIGI | Oct 9, 2008 1:20:28 PM
MCliar/McPalin are really nuts and their health plan is reckless. They are on the stump talking at a town hall meeting regarding their health plan and the 5,000 deductions, but not mentioning that the $5,000 will go straight to the insurance compaines not to you. Once again bailing out the companies not you.
Posted by: gl | Oct 9, 2008 1:24:18 PM
Norman - You need to stop talking about Obama and his terrorists becasue they are nothing but lies. McCain have shown to have been involved in the KEATING 5 bottom line.
Posted by: gl | Oct 9, 2008 1:26:17 PM
Yes lets trust the candidate that couldn't even pass a background check to work for the FBI.
Posted by: Mack | Oct 9, 2008 1:26:33 PM
"McCain have shown to have been involved in the KEATING 5 bottom line.'
Bottom line, 3 of the Keating 5 support Barry. They must see something of themselves in him.
Posted by: Mack | Oct 9, 2008 1:27:23 PM
HANNITY LIMBAUGH FOX NEWS are going to destroy this country with their LIES!
Posted by: angie | Oct 9, 2008 1:27:49 PM
SARAH PALIN = LAUGHINGSTOCK
JOHN McCAIN = LAUGHINGSTOCK
McCAIN/PALIN = FAIL
Posted by: Ed from MA | Oct 9, 2008 1:28:42 PM
"HANNITY LIMBAUGH FOX NEWS are going to destroy this country with their LIES!"
The only lie is the one that Obama has been telling you about his relationship with his terrorist friend. "just some guy from the neighborhood". Lying sack of .....
Posted by: Mack | Oct 9, 2008 1:29:43 PM
McCain is risky, erratic and uncertain.
And we all know it, regardless of who we're supporting.
I've been making this criticism long before it became so blatantly obvious these past few week. I think the way I was describing McCain was kneejerk emotionalism.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 9, 2008 1:29:51 PM
Hot out on the Wire today:
Sarah Palin thought it was a good idea to hire Liddy to promote drilling in ANWR. Did she know Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary, wiretapping, contempt of court and contempt of Congress; was willing to kill a janitor and a journalist as part of the Watergate break-in; admitted plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution? Kidnap plans?
So as you see we can all play these crazy games.
Posted by: becky | Oct 9, 2008 1:30:05 PM
Please Mack. where did we hear this one...Fox News? haha
Posted by: marie | Oct 9, 2008 1:30:11 PM
Nice try Mack
the same deregulating lobby that brought us Keating (and mccain's vacations and plane trips and parties together)
got hired to write Mccain's economic plans for the rest of us.
literally
same team
same tactics
9th year
throw these bums out!
Posted by: dl | Oct 9, 2008 1:30:38 PM
Mack, you can't judge a candidate by their supporters.
I mean, if I judged McCain that way, I'd assume he's an idiot who mindlessly believes and repeats anything he reads on right-wing blogs...
Posted by: Aengil | Oct 9, 2008 1:31:08 PM
Becky
Palin plays the crazy game best...
it takes a native...to know the land.
lol
Posted by: dl | Oct 9, 2008 1:32:02 PM
Sarah Palin thought it was a good idea to hire Liddy to promote drilling in ANWR. Did she know Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary, wiretapping, contempt of court and contempt of Congress; was willing to kill a janitor and a journalist as part of the Watergate break-in; admitted plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution? Kidnap plans?
Liddy served four and a half years in prison in connection with his conviction for his role in the Watergate break-in and the break-in at the office of the psychiatrist of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers. Liddy has acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in “if necessary”; plotting to murder journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a “gangland figure” to murder Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap “leftist guerillas” at the 1972 Republican National Convention — a plan he outlined to the Nixon administration using terminology borrowed from the Nazis. (The murder, firebombing, and kidnapping plots were never carried out; the break-ins were.) During the 1990s, Liddy reportedly instructed his radio audience on multiple occasions on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents.
Liddy has donated $5,000 to McCain’s campaigns since 1998, including $1,000 in February 2008. In addition, McCain has appeared on Liddy’s radio show during the presidential campaign, including as recently as May. An online video labeled “John McCain On The G. Gordon Liddy Show 11/8/07″ includes a discussion between Liddy and McCain, whom Liddy described as an “old friend.” During the segment, McCain praised Liddy’s “adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great,” said he was “proud” of Liddy, and said that “it’s always a pleasure for me to come on your program.”
Posted by: becky | Oct 9, 2008 1:32:35 PM
gl - actually I hope the Republicans do keep talking about Ayers. It just shows everyone how small and out of touch they really are.
Here's how independents hear it:
"The economy is collapsing and you guys want to talk about this crap?"
And when you throw in a few more quotes, like McCain saying he wants "to turn the page" from the economy (before he wanted to turn back, and then turn away again, and then turn back...), and a campaign staffer flatly admitting if the election stays on the issues, we lose...
It doesn't take independents too long to figure out what's going on.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 9, 2008 1:33:36 PM
STINGS LIKE A BEE.
Posted by: Ed from MA | Oct 9, 2008 1:33:47 PM
"McCAIN/PALIN = FAIL
Barry = Terrorist loving liar
Posted by: Mack | Oct 9, 2008 1:36:52 PM
I don't think O should be talking about risky, it might just backfire, considering he is the one who is risky.
Posted by: samhiguchi | Oct 9, 2008 1:37:10 PM
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