McCain Takes Aim At Obama's Character

Politico: Campaign Takes A New Turn, Accuses Democrat Of Putting Politics Before National Interest In Ads, Statements

(The Politico)  This story was written by Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin.

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As Senator Barack Obama traveled overseas, the campaign against him appeared to take a decisive new turn with Senator John McCain zeroing in on his Democratic opponent’s character.

In a year when polls show an easy victory for a generic Democratic candidate, McCain has until now been loathe to employ the tack many strategists see as essential and which anonymous e-mailers and commenters with no apparent links to his campaign have been practicing since last summer: hitting Obama not on his record or his platform, but on his values and person.

The Democrat’s Achilles’ heel in this model is an inchoate sense among some voters that the new arrival on the national stage with the unusual biography-and who’s the first black nominee from either party-isn’t American enough.

Prior to Obama’s trip overseas, though, McCain had instead employed, without appreciable effect, a more conventional critique of his opponent as an ordinary politician, a “flip-flopper,” and, of course, a liberal.

On Saturday, though, McCain released a new television advertisement in which the announcer says that on his trip, Obama “made time to go to the gym, but cancelled a visit with wounded troops. Seems the Pentagon wouldn't allow him to bring cameras.”

"John McCain is always there for our troops," adds the announcer, before concluding with the campaign’s new slogan: “McCain, country first.”

The slogan’s inverse implication for his opponent was made clear earlier in the week, when McCain accused Obama of placing the his political ambitions before the national interest.

"It seems to me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign," McCain said Tuesday in New Hampshire, in a line he’s been using regularly since.

While Republican presidential candidates have long sought to paint their Democrat foes as insufficiently devoted to the country, the military or both, McCain’s suggestion that Obama preferred to hit the gym than to visit wounded soldiers is considerably more personal than, say, President Bush’s 2004 attack on Sen. john F. Kerry for voting against bills to fund troops in Iraq. In some ways, it bears more of a resemblance to the third party Swift Boat campaign that denigrated Kerry’s service in Vietnam.

Further, McCain is uniquely qualified to make this charge, and Obama uniquely vulnerable to it.

A former naval aviator and prisoner of war in Vietnam, McCain is pressing his case against a candidate with no military experience, and who-thanks in part to a subterranean smear campaign that’s tapped a nerve with some voters who because of it or even prior to it-don’t see him as entirely or all American.

While the botched troop visit might have been the stuff of an attack ad in any case, since it was the only significant slip-up in an otherwise well-staged trip, McCain’s new ad dovetailed with the latest viral email aimed at Obama, a widely-circulated-though later recanted-missive from a Utah National Guard officer stationed in Afghanistan, Joseph Porter, who wrote that Obama "blew…off" and "shunned" soldiers during his visit there.

"He was just here to make a showing for the Americans back home," Porter wrote, though press reports contradicted some of the details provided in his email. "It was almost that he was scared to be around those that provide the freedom for him and our great country."

Obama responded with high-minded disappointment to McCain's new round of attacks, and his traveling companions in the Middle East, Senators Chuck Hagel and Jack Reed, condemned them.

"I think John is treading on some very thin ground here when he impugns motives and when we start to get into, 'you're less patriotic than me. I'm more patriotic,'’” said Hagel, a Republicanand Vietnam veteran who’s yet to endorse a presidential candidate and is rumored to be considering a cross-party endorsement.

It’s a tempting line of attack, though, against Obama, who a recent poll found that 55 percent of voters thought was the “riskier” choice for president as against 35 percent who said McCain. It’s also an attack that tap into a major source of that unease, race, and is especially likely to pay dividends with a relative newcomer to the national stage such as Obama, whose public image is not yet as clearly defined.

McCain’s turn to character also reflects his campaign’s deep, genuine contempt for Obama. As the Democrat enjoyed boffo media coverage and a warm reception at every turn on his foreign trip, McCain aides began to openly use their derisive nickname for him, "The One," mock some of his more gushing coverage, and draw a contrast between what they characterized as their candidate's demonstrated dedication to country and their rival's lip service to the same.

The tone is reminiscent of Hillary Clinton's disdainful mocking of Obama in the primary. "The skies will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect” she said, just a touch sarcastically, of her rival. Her attack is also a reminder of the difficulty in landing a clean shot on Obama.

In his book, "The Audacity of Hope," Obama wrote: "I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views."

While that has helped fuel Obama's meteoric political assent and may have blunted the impact of some attacks on him, it's now proving a stumbling block for many swing voters, particularly older ones. For all the media attention his historic run has attracted, not to mention the quarter-billion he has already spent introducing himself to the nation, 25 percent of respondents in a recent Newsweek poll wrongly believe he was raised as a Muslim and nearly 40 percent errantly thought he attended a Muslim school while growing up abroad.

These claims have also come up repeatedly in Politico interviews voters, including Democrats and independents.

Kathie Steigerwald, a Dearborn, Michigan businesswoman who said she voted for Hillary Clinton but now plans to support McCain, offered an especially succinct recital of a narrative on which other interviewees offered numerous variations:

"I feel John McCain is a true American and I want to support a true American," she said.

But isn't Obama a "true American?" she was asked.

"I don't know," she said after a measured pause. "I question it."

Why?

"I don't know-maybe because of his name?"

Whatever his motives, McCain’s new hit on his foe’s patriotism hints at two years of whispered, viral rumors and myths about Obama centered on his patriotism and American values, or, more to the point, his lack thereof. The emails -catalogued in snopes.com's lengthy Obama section and Obama's own “fight the smears" page -often have contradictory particulars, but the thrust is clear: Obama, various false emails claim, is not really a natural-born American citizen; is not really a Christian, and refuses to pledge allegiance to the American flag.

"[McCain] can't beat him with the old 'liberal' playbook, they can't beat him by deploying the old social-cultural wedge issues, and it seems more and more that they won't be able to beat him on readiness and experience," said Dan Gerstein, a Democratic consultant whose clients have included Senator Joe Lieberman.

"So all they really have left is the personal stuff, first and foremost what I would call fear of the other, which is mostly but not exclusively about race, and goes to visceral issues of trust."

"I'm not questionng his patriotism," McCain said on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopolous. "I am saying that he made the decision [to oppose the surge], which was political, in order to help him get the nomination of his party.

"It really is the first time in the campaign where you have had the Obama online smears, of which there have been many, matching up with the actual paid negative advertising of a candidate," said Chris Lehane, a Democratic consultant.

McCain supporters rejected the notion that this new line of attack is out of bounds.

"It's accurate, effective, and timely," said Rick Wilson, a Republican consultant, of McCain's ad. "It seriously speaks to the calculated nature of the trip and Obama's own [calculating nature].”

Wilson said the questions about Obama's values and patriotism have particular potency because of his background, though he rejected the notion that race played a major role in it.

"Obama is always going to struggle with the cultural disconnect-he scans very much as liberal Ivy League elitist," he said. "People automatically put him in a box with people who are not like middle America's view of patriotism."

Jim Pinkerton, a contributor to Fox News who worked for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and for Mike Huckabee in this year's GOP primary isn’t convinced of the efficacy of this line of attack:

"First they goaded him into going to Iraq and that was pretty successful-for Obama. And now the McCain people are trying to goad him into spending more time with the troops and going to hospitals to visit wounded soldiers.

“They better be careful what they wish for, since Obama just might screw them up and do it.”

[tbweb]

Is that why after listening to petraeus who has been the leader of our resurgence in Iraq he still saw no reason to refine his strategy and continued to go with his usual talking points. Seems he doesn''''t change even if the facts prove him wrong.

Posted by alanrobisch2 at 07:41 PM : Jul 29, 2008,,,

The turn around in Iraq is working for multiple reasons, not just the `surge` alone, which is why Sen. Obama won''t commit to saying the `surge` alone is the reason. 3 things have helped Iraq stem the violence, 1) Sunni awakening and positive participation, 2) The Surge, 3) Concrete barriers all over Iraq separating warring factions from each other and I actually suggested these barriers. But with all that said, the real measurement for success in Iraq will be when the concrete barriers separating Iraqis inevitably come down and the population of Iraq is allowed to freely mix and mingle again, that will be the real test and maybe because of those barriers there is a false sense of security and success, because the violence could flare up once again.

[vincan-2009]

I would take anything a Bush military officer said with suspicion and make sure to verify. This is not something that we Democrats have to ponder. Bush, after all, got rid of every one of the officers who ever stood up to him with the truth. Bush got rid of Colin Powell because he spoke the truth. Petraeus is a Bush boy who has done plenty to please Bush. Paying off the Sunnis to keep them from attacking our military will last only so long. Iraq is in a sorry state and it is because of Bush. McCain loves everything Bush does, voting 95% of the time with him. But when it comes to the troops McCain really is Bush. Apr 2003 - tables a motion to provide 1 billion dollars of National Guard and Reserve Equipment. Oct 2003 - Voted against eliminating abusive tax loopholes that would have increased Veteran''s medical care by 1.8 billion. Mar 2006 - Voted against closing corporate tax loopholes that would have increased veteran''s medical care by 1.5 billion. Apr 2006 - Voted against providing 430 million to Veteran''s Outpatient Care. May 2006 - Did not vote on a resolution to start redeploying US troops by Mar 2008. Sep 2007 - Voted against Senator Webb''s amendment that would specify minimum rest periods for U.S. troops between deployments. May 2008 - Spoke out against Senator Webb''s GI bill that would provide 100% tuition and assistance to our Veterans, then did not show up to vote on it. McCain really knows how to care for the troops.

[actornaught]

You have to giving BO his due for not handing Lying John his hat by replaying those many lies. Yet.

By election time, John will probably be sitting on the sidelines, only getting votes from the raging racist and people that don''t pay attention to anything.

[alanrobisch]

If Obama doesn''''t know something well or trust his own judgment he will refer to an expert and listen to them, not many peoples egos will allow them to do that! Obama is not scared to say "I don''''t know the answer but I will find out", how many people can seriously do that? Answer: Few!



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Posted by tbweb at 02:38 PM : Jul 29, 2008
+ report abuse

Is that why after listening to petraeus who has been the leader of our resurgence in Iraq he still saw no reason to refine his strategy and continued to go with his usual talking points. Seems he doesn''t change even if the facts prove him wrong.

[jewelsgold]

Obama is sinking in the polls now and will continue to. Hee Hee

[eddynewhope]

First he mocks Bush for listening to his generals...


------------------------------------------------------Posted by WellHell3 at 03:18 PM

Hahahah - Had Bush listened to his Generals, namely Colin Powell, we wouldn''t be in Iraq. LOL Had he listened to Obama, we wouldn''t be in Iraq. Keep trying RowdyAzzFace. LOL

[obama8years]

It is always been interesting to see Obama supporters resort to the name calling about McCain. Guess they forgot about his working across to both sides to get the best legislation. And they''ve forgotten his disagreements with Bush on issues speaking to his independence. They forgotten his decision making abilities shown in the service, and as Senator. But Obama supporters don;t see any flaws in their candidate, such as inexperience, and lack of leadership. His not having 1 meeting as Chair of the subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations commiittee on Afghanistan or his 130 ''present'' votes as a State Senator or as a Senator not visiting the troops in Germany because he couldn;t get any press coverage. No leadership showing there. And how about his siding with the anti oil drilling Democrats when 74% of Americans want drilling to create more supply in America. And the associates he seems to attract. Rezko, Wright, his terrorist neighbor who helped him get started. And then taking campaign contributions while passing legislation for the same companies when he says he doesn''t do that, or the government housing he had built that ended up helping his backers and friends but none of the people because they were substandard. Or the tax proposals that are blatantly ant-business and anti-investment. All those well documented issues swept under the rug by Obama supporters, because he gives them hope for change. People are finally catching on.

[dnsallday]

McCain Takes Aim At Obama''s Character
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McCain might want to look in the mirror before he ever, ever takes a shot at Obama''s character!!!

[wellhell3]

Posted by tbweb at 02:38 PM : Jul 29, 2008

Fact is, the bravest of the two was actually McCain if you''ll remember in the ''I don''t know'' department.

With Obscamma, who the hell knows? First he mocks Bush for listening to his generals, claims he''s not doing his job because of it, then makes the statement that it''s his (Obscamma''s) job to state the mission and the generals jobs to carry it out! Then he has to refine and polish his own withdrawal plan while he listens to the generals, then he comes back from Iraq and remarks that he''s SURPRISED at the progress there...although our soldiers shouldn''t be taking so much credit. Especially when he originally screeched that all we had to do was sit down and tea TALK with the Islamofast bastwards, and now he''s ready to cowboy up and fight...

I mean, c''mon...where the hell is this guy?

[tbweb]

O.K. smarty pants, the same can be said of G.W. Bush and that didn`t prevent him from becoming President! :)

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Posted by tbweb at 02:26 PM : Jul 29, 2008

So it makes sense to elect another one just like him...or WORSE!?

Posted by WellHell3 at 02:29 PM : Jul 29, 2008,,,

It hasn`t been established McCain is actually better, maybe the McCain of 2000 was, and maybe the Military smart McCain is, but overall it`s not clear cut because this `new` McCain has flipped and flopped a lot. If Obama doesn''t know something well or trust his own judgment he will refer to an expert and listen to them, not many peoples egos will allow them to do that! Obama is not scared to say "I don''t know the answer but I will find out", how many people can seriously do that? Answer: Few!

[wellhell3]

I think a new cabinet position created would be excellent for Obscamma.

Secretary of Marketing Scam! Now he''s an expert and should certainly know how to spot one since he''s used such a great number of them in his campaign.

[wellhell3]

O.K. smarty pants, the same can be said of G.W. Bush and that didn`t prevent him from becoming President! :)



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Posted by tbweb at 02:26 PM : Jul 29, 2008

So it makes sense to elect another one just like him...or WORSE!?

[wellhell3]

O.K. smarty pants, the same can be said of G.W. Bush and that didn`t prevent him from becoming President! :)



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Posted by tbweb at 02:26 PM : Jul 29, 2008

So it makes sense to elect another one just like him...or WORSE!?

[wellhell3]

In response, I will say one word Republicans hate to hear: Proof?



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Posted by jon2012 at 02:14 PM : Jul 29,

Frankly, I''d say, if you don''t know enough about your candidate''s voting record to know how very liberal he is...then how do you propose to know whether you want to support him or NOT!

You need PROOF of his voting record? Don''t you KNOW it already?

[tbweb]

Well it''''s a for certain Senator McCain couldn''''t appoint Obscamma as Secretary of Defense, now isn''''t it?

As a matter of fact, is there even a CABINET POSITION that Obscamma would be able to fill and provide a meaning support roll!

WOW! Come to think of it...there''''s NOT one!

Posted by WellHell3 at 02:22 PM : Jul 29, 2008,,,

O.K. smarty pants, the same can be said of G.W. Bush and that didn`t prevent him from becoming President! :)

[wellhell3]

McCain isn''''t going anywhere and will still be available for military advice, in fact Sen. Obama could make Sen. McCain Secretary of Defense since Sen. McCain has all this military expertise and that actually may be the best Post for McCain, not President where he is weak on economics by his own admission!



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Posted by tbweb at 01:19 PM : Jul 29, 2008

Well it''s a for certain Senator McCain couldn''t appoint Obscamma as Secretary of Defense, now isn''t it?

As a matter of fact, is there even a CABINET POSITION that Obscamma would be able to fill and provide a meaning support roll!

WOW! Come to think of it...there''s NOT one!

[jon2012-2009]

All in all, Americans are pretty happy with America as built. And, Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama Senate voting record has proven him to be the number one most libtard member of the US Senate.
Posted by JonGood65 at 11:50 AM : Jul 29, 2008

In response, I will say one word Republicans hate to hear: Proof?

[aj4321-2009]

Obama should visit any VA hospital to show how the republicans have forgotten the vets and how our honorable vets are living in squalor.

[tbweb]

Sen. Obama has already demonstrated that he will surround himself with intelligent people and he is smart enough to have intelligent conversations with them, understand and exchange. This idea that if Sen. McCain is not President America will lose out, not true! Sen. McCain is not Commander and Chief now and still tells the Bush administration how to fight the Iraq war and the Bush administration listened and an Obama administration will listen too! Sen. McCain isn''t going anywhere and will still be available for military advice, in fact Sen. Obama could make Sen. McCain Secretary of Defense since Sen. McCain has all this military expertise and that actually may be the best Post for McCain, not President where he is weak on economics by his own admission!

[obama8years]

No experience

in executive leadership role, military service; business,or implementing major change, resulting in unsound political policies

No judgment

resulting in his keeping company in Chicago with crooks, bombers, racists, sexists and anti-semites; divisive rhetoric, narcissism, overbearing arrogance and cronyism

No integrity

leads to broken promises, hypocrisy, under-hand political tactics, flip flops and Obama''s list of 90 Documented LIES
Barack Obama, the very junior Senator from Chicago, lacks the most basic of experience needed to be President; he is easily influenced and doesn''t have the judgment to know what he doesn''t know; even worse he lacks the integrity to learn from his mistakes preferring to use gifted oratory to deflect criticism and blame others. Thats why millions of life-long Democrats, and other moderate Americans just say no deal.