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| Obama and the netroots: looking a tad desperate these days |
| 2008-08-19 |
| Megan McArdle Megan's Fourth Law of Politics: The party that starts looking for implausible and unprovable conspiracy theories about the opposition candidate is in trouble. This spring, it was bizarre accusations against Barack Obama: he's a closet muslim, his wife is a black nationalist, etc. Now, suddenly, the Democrats are the one frantically hunting for buried treasure. . . . there are the insinuations swirling around McCain's performance at the Rick Warren event, which his supporters are calling a win, and which Obama's supporters are calling a draw, from which I infer that he won. Since we all know this is impossible, of course he must have cheated: John McCain reportedly was somewhat more coherent than average at Rick Warren's forum. But there's now some doubt about how he achieved that. The two This was a serious misstep on the part of the Obama campaign, and his supporters could best help him by never mentioning it again. Sure, it's conceivable that this could have happened. Is there any way to get any evidence that this happened? No. There are two possible scenarios: 1. After a bad showing, they make an accusation they can't possibly prove, thereby looking like bad sports. I've obviously seen the tightening national polls, and what I'm starting to hear is that among likelies and battlegrounds, McCain's gaining a commanding lead. Since I'm hearing that from McCain supporters, however, I've been a little sceptical. Less so after this weekend's performance. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #8 yeah, pretty surprising a "debate" in a Christian church would have questions about choices, abortion, ethics.... well played, Rick Warren, - fair and balanced - and it showed the empty suit for what he was... expect that to be the last of the non-scripted "debates" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-08-19 23:23 |
| #7 McCardle's commentary is semi-OK but sort her usual obvious blather, with one big error. The weirdos raising questions about Obama's religion etc. back in the day were fringe folks - the people pushing the absurd "cheating" idea are "mainstream" Obama types, including their press agent Andrea Mitchell. Big difference. |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2008-08-19 20:29 |
| #6 Both candidates received a note from Rick Warren outlining the kinds of questions that would be asked, from what I understand. Which means that Candidate Obama's people did not prepare him properly. He should not only know what he thinks about the subjects on which the questions were asked, he should be able to provide soundbite answers as well as be able to expand his answers intelligibly. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-08-19 16:37 |
| #5 Warren did ask McCain how he felt in the cone of silence and McCain answered jokingly that he had his ear to the wall. Nobody said anything about limousines or cell phones. I thought Obama was doing OK until McCain came on and did so much better. His answers were so much more concise. You knew right away what his answer was instead of having to ponder the meaning of Obama's equivocations. When asked if there is evil in the world, McCain talked about al Qaeda strapping bomb vests onto retarded women in Iraq and sending them into a crowded market. It made Obama's answer about abusive parents and street thugs in America look silly. I'm still having serious issues with McCain but it looks to me like Obama is in trouble. He can cry about Britney and Paris all he wants but he's a rookie up against an old pro and his glitter is wearing off. If the rest of the campaign goes like it did at Saddleback, Obama's gonna get a drubbing. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-08-19 15:54 |
| #4 While I don't believe McCain cheated, Barak Obama's performance was abysmal. All this talk from progressives about McCain cheating, is just a smoke screen to keep people from focusing on how terrible 'The One' did. Wont work, though. BO. after the convention, has several debates that he can't wiggle out of and he will bomb there, too. The guy is a really inept speaker who sucks energy out of his audience instead of infusing them with enlightened vision. That is, if he has to come up with and deliver the words spontaneously. Reading scripted words written by someone else, the guy is great. But, he's just another teleprompter messiah. Ho hum. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-08-19 10:08 |
| #3 Cyber Sarge, you're right. The problem is that if Obama told the truth NO ONE right of Teddy Kennedy would vote for him. He has to play those weasel lawyer games cause otherwise he's toast. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2008-08-19 09:40 |
| #2 It depends on how you take the poll. If you poll Boston, during the day, including voters not likely to vote anyway, I'm sure obama is blowing him away. Now if you take a national poll, in the evening, including only likely voters. Well, that might show a different picture. Frankly I think most of the polls we see are cooked, I can't imagine that a majority of our country wants this tool as president. I find it hard to believe that 20% wants him, but alas, I digress. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-08-19 09:21 |
| #1 If BHO asnwered honestly what could McCain do to "cheat"? BHO sounded very lawyerish and not commited to one side of any issue. Came off sounding like a cheap John Kerry knock-off. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2008-08-19 08:57 |