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The Note: McCain Brings Attack to Second Debate
October 07, 2008 8:52 AM
ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Tuesday's Note:
NASHVILLE -- Now that the race is suddenly less about what you know than it is about who you once knew, the real question is not -- as Sen. John McCain would have it -- who the real Barack Obama is.
The real question is: Who is the real John McCain? (And is he listening to Sarah Palin?)
McCain and Obama enter Tuesday night’s second presidential debate at Belmont University with a real sense of a race that’s slipping away from McCain -- and a growing realization in GOP circles that the Republican ticket has a dwindling number of chances to reclaim the narrative.
(If the national polls don’t convince you -- take Ohio, please.)
McCain gets the format he wants, but not the backdrop. If the debate follows the logical progression of the week, we will continue down the path of least subsistence into out-and-out, guilt-by-association name-calling -- led there, in all likelihood, by McCain, whose campaign is trying to thrust “character” into a campaign that may not welcome it.
Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
Does McCain want to go there? Will/should even nasty attacks register when compared to the psychological blows arriving in mailboxes these days, depicting shattered 401(k)s? And with Tuesday night’s town-hall format, does a candidate want to throw bombs when there are civilians in range?
It may be too late for those choices: It’s on, and it’s ugly. In the run-up to the debate No. 2, McCain and (particularly) Palin have gone personal -- and Team Obama responded by bringing up the Keating 5.
“Who is the real Barack Obama?” McCain said Monday (with now-casual references to Obama’s “lies”), per ABC’s Jake Tapper and Bret Hovell. “Even at this late hour in the campaign there are things we don’t know about Senator Obama or the record that he brings to this campaign.”
And -- going further, but still not as far as she wants to go -- Palin “invoked fear for the first time when discussing Sen. Barack Obama’s connection to former 60’s radical William Ayers,” per ABC’s Imtiyaz Delawala.
“I am just so fearful that this is not a man who sees America the way that you and I see America -- as the greatest source for good in this world,” said Palin, R-Alaska.
Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.
October 7, 2008 in Biden, Joe, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, White House | Permalink | User Comments (222)
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Ok so let me get this straight BO never heard anything bad come out of Wrights mouth first , then not those words ,ended up not the man he knew. Rezko, just did a couple deals with him not the man he knew. Now Ayers he never knew of the things Ayers did in his past (weather underground) that is his story today from Robert Gibbs own mouth. Give me a f-ing break, so either he is a totally liar (which we know) or the dumbest man living under a rock for the last 40 some years. I am dumbfounded over this guy
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 7, 2008 9:38:45 AM
Anger won't work with voters who want to know how the candidates will get us out of the current economic mess. McCain is in such a hole because of ignoring the economy and an angry campaign - don't perpetuate that.
Posted by: matt | Oct 7, 2008 9:41:55 AM
Ok so let me get this straight BO never heard anything bad come out of Wrights mouth first , then not those words ,ended up not the man he knew. Rezko, just did a couple deals with him not the man he knew. Now Ayers he never knew of the things Ayers did in his past (weather underground) that is his story today from Robert Gibbs own mouth. Give me a f-ing break, so either he is a total liar (which we know) or the dumbest man living under a rock for the last 40 some years. I am dumbfounded over this guy.
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 7, 2008 9:43:05 AM
On Anderson’s Cooper 360 they did a major investigative look at the Ayers/Obama connection.
Money Quote:
“But the relationship between Obama and Ayers went much deeper, ran much longer, and was much more political than Obama said.”
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 7, 2008 9:44:21 AM
The Constitution being thrown under the bus?
Barack Obama is displaying a disservice to every citizen of this country, to our Constitution, to the millions that donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Obama’s campaign. I value the United States Constitution, our ideals, and respect our forefathers that wrote the Constitution so many years ago. Whether Phil Berg’s suit against Barack Obama is “for real or not”, the documents should be presented to the courts. Why hasn’t Barack Obama if he is holding the proper documents turned around with his lawyers and tell Phil Berg to drop the suit, or I will sue you. Prevent the biggest scam yet against the American people and demand that Barack Obama supply the courts with the proper documentation. The Democratic Party said two years ago there is nothing wrong with Fannie Mae---no bills before Congress allowed to fix because there was no problem. The Democratic Party is now saying that Barack Obama has a birth certificate but so far ONLY the “certification of birth” viewed by certain individuals from Fact-Check(an Obama funded site) that can be obtained after the fact by any dishonest means? The suit will be immediately dropped with the documents presented to the courts, yet Obama and the DNC hired lawyers to fight discovery and the facts.
Posted by: HP Boston | Oct 7, 2008 9:48:35 AM
Can the McCain camp's professional bloggers please get off of this site? We're not interested in your dirt. We've had enough! Obama/Biden '08
Posted by: Sickofthesame | Oct 7, 2008 9:50:10 AM
HPBOSTON, for everyone guilt by association smear against Obama republican throw out, the democrats have one for McCain.
The gullibility of anyone willing to believe the most over the top, ridiculous stories coming out in this election right now is too silly to use their mind.
If people stepped back and looked at the smears and innuendos using common sense people with a working mind would see the nonsense they really are.
We meet many people in our lives and some turn out to be not so great. They may have a past or their character turns out be flawed.
There is not one person so pure and perfect to say they have never had that. Everyone knows someone, even just very minimally, in their lives at one time, who turned out to have some kind of past.
Lets get over ourselves and our self righteousness and quit pointing fingers at each other.
It's high time this country grew up and focused on the important issues and quit letting ourselves be distrated by utter nonsense and finger pointing and mind games.
Posted by: vwcat | Oct 7, 2008 9:51:45 AM
I am far, far, far more worried about our utter lack of leadership in this time of crisis than who lived in Obama's neighborhood.
McCain, who used to be a real leader until he turned his campaign over to the Bush-Cheney-Rove team, now provides stunts instead of leadership. Personally attacking somebody isn't leadership. Picking somebody obviously unqualified to be commander-in-chief for political purposes isn't leadership.
For the first time in my life, I will be voting for a Democrat for President.
Posted by: Gus | Oct 7, 2008 9:52:30 AM
This ticket McCain/Palin is hard to
swallow.
Stop name calling and stick to
substance if you are able to.
If not get ready to wave a white flag'
and give it up!
Posted by: few days to go | Oct 7, 2008 9:52:58 AM
No weapon forged against you [ Barack Obama] will prevail, and you [ Barack Obama] will refute every tongue that accuses you [ Barack Obama] . This is the heritage of the servants [ Barack Obama] of the LORD, and this is their [ Barack Obama] vindication from me," declares the LORD. - Isaiah 54:17
" I [ God ] will send my terror ahead of you [ Barack Obama] and throw into confusion every nation you [ Barack Obama] encounter. I [ God ] will make all your [ Barack Obama] enemies turn their backs and run." - Exodus 23:27
The Lord will rescue me [ Barack Obama] from every evil attack and will bring me [ Barack Obama] safely to his heavenly kingdom. - 2 Timothy 4:18
It's time for the American people to get it right and NOT vote for McCain-Palin, instead vote for change. It's time for this country to turn the page and seek a new and better future for ourselves and our children.It's time for REAL change in Washington, it's time to elect Barack Obama for president !
Obama-Biden are the wiser and stronger team to solve the crucial challenges we have in this nation and abroad !
Posted by: Barack Obama IS Our next president and Joe Biden is the VP | Oct 7, 2008 9:56:41 AM
McCain may want to go negative during the debate, but in doing so, he would take a huge risk.
Voters want to hear the candidates discuss the issues, not attack each other. And lot of people -- regardless of their politics -- don't like Swift Boat type ads. Independents -- whose support McCain desperately needs -- certainly don't.
So if McCain turns a town hall debate into an opportunity to practice character assassination, he will be booed, and the booing will appear in the next Obama ad.
I can't wait.
Posted by: Kate | Oct 7, 2008 9:57:11 AM
I wish that these attacks would back fire on McCain. I hate to think that a man who has no plan for American could get into office just because he WAS a hero a long time ago.
His actions right now are disgusting and greedy. I can't vote for the John McCain of 2000. That man is in the past and all that is left is someone willing to do anything, destroy anyone who wants to do good for people, just so he can be called Mr. President.
McCain has no plan for America. He'll show that tonight by attcking Obama and putting forth nothing more than "I'm a good guy." But he isn't. Not anymore.
I hope America does not fall for it. We have suffered under one president with no plan to help average american's. I hope we don't have to suffer under another one...and that one is McCain.
Posted by: Greg | Oct 7, 2008 9:58:15 AM
McCain - Flailin '08
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows Barack Obama attracting 52% of the vote while John McCain earns 44%. This is the second straight day that Obama has led by eight percentage points, his largest lead of the year. For the past twelve days, Obama’s support has ranged from 50% to 52% while McCain has been at 44% of 45% every day.
Posted by: Jeff | Oct 7, 2008 10:00:55 AM
From the Washington Post today. I feel horrified - the McCain / Palin campaign is now inciting violence. Yesterday, McCain allowed someone to shout out that Obama is a "terrorist" - that's right. This is completely irresponsible.
McCain had said that racially explosive attacks related to Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, are off limits. But Palin told New York Times columnist Bill Kristol in an interview published Monday: "I don't know why that association isn't discussed more."
Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."
Posted by: Wiscon108 | Oct 7, 2008 10:01:04 AM
McCain and the Republicans are looking small.
The guilt by association stuff just doesn't seem big enough to get people to not notice the economy.
And by telegraphing their attacks, I'm pretty sure most independents see this latest turn toward the negative by John McCain as basic acknowledgement that McCain knows he can't win on the issues.
Posted by: Paul | Oct 7, 2008 10:01:08 AM
McCain = DISHONORABLE; Palin = SCARY!!!
Posted by: Howard Gallas | Oct 7, 2008 10:06:13 AM
Todd and sara palin belonged to aig an independent anti-american group that hates america and doesnt want alaska part of it google it the things these people say about our country are disgusting SARA AND TODD HATE AMERICA!
Posted by: angie | Oct 7, 2008 10:08:28 AM
McCain paid help blogs their slanders, lies and smears.
That is what the candidate stands for: more Bush, Atwater and Rove. The lowest of the low, evil, treasonous people.
Sick of you all.
Posted by: susan | Oct 7, 2008 10:09:06 AM
To test the importance of the Ayers connection people need to ask themselves if they would consider a guy who's house they visited once, 13 years ago, for a work-related meeting, a friend.
Obama did not chose time and place for that meeting, and the only connection between him and Ayers was his predecessor in the Illinois State Senate who arranged the meeting to announce her run for Congress to some of her constituents. Obama did not know about Ayers' history and why should he?
You have to be pretty biased to see an Obama-Ayers connection there. But if you do you will have no problem with the next step, which is radicalizing Ayers beyond who he actually was in the 60's and who he developed into later. But that is already beside the point because what he did has absolutely nothing, NADA to do with Obama.
What Palin was really saying was:
There's less that a month until the election. We are behind in the polls. We have no answers to the challenges facing America so we have to divert people's attention.
Pathetic.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | Oct 7, 2008 10:10:17 AM
Let the truth be told: "It is about time someone attacks Obama."
Wow, the Republicans are really going all in on the Big Lie approach, aren't they? How stupid does this hack above think we are to have forgotten the press pounding Obama took from Clinton in the "Kitchen Sink" primaries?
Posted by: jhw539 | Oct 7, 2008 10:11:36 AM
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