Obama To Preempt McCain Assault

The Politico: Dem Goes On Offense With New Ad Calling GOP Rival "Erratic In A Crisis"

(The Politico)  This column was written by Mike Allen.

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Branding his opponent as "erratic in a crisis," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is preempting plans by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., to portray him as having sinister connections to controversial Chicagoans.

Obama officials call it political jujitsu - turning the attacks back on the attacker.

McCain officials had said early in the weekend that they plan to begin advertising after Tuesday’s debate that will tie Obama to convicted money launderer Tony Rezko and former Weathermen radical William Ayers.

But Obama isn't waiting to respond. His campaign is going up Monday on national cable stations with a scathing ad saying: “Three quarters of a million jobs lost this year. Our financial system in turmoil. And John McCain? Erratic in a crisis. Out of touch on the economy. No wonder his campaign wants to change the subject.

"Turn the page on the financial crisis by launching dishonorable, dishonest 'assaults' against Barack Obama. Struggling families can't turn the page on this economy, and we can't afford another president who is this out of touch."

Then Obama says: "I'm Barack Obama and I approved this message."

McCain officials told Politico that the new offensive is likely to focus on Rezko and Ayers. The officials said the campaign will not bring up the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama’s former pastor, because McCain has forbade them from using that as a weapon. Without being specific, the officials said outside groups may focus on Wright.

When word of the planned attacks leaked Saturday, Obama officials said within hours that it was an attempt by McCain to distract voters from the economy.

"“We think the McCain campaign made a huge error by telling the press that their strategy was to distract from the most important issue facing voters," a senior Obama official said. "Every attack going forward will be easy to characterize for what it is - an attempt to distract from the Bush-McCain economic record."

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds hinted at the tough new line Saturday on "Fox & Friends."

"There are associations that are important to who Barack Obama is as a candidate, who he’d be as president," Bounds said.

Obama-Biden communications director Dan Pfeiffer said about the new ads: "If John McCain thinks he can ‘turn the page’ on the economic crisis facing American families, he is even more out of touch than we imagined. Now there may be no good answers for John McCain due to his erratic response to the financial crisis, but his desire to avoid discussing the economy is something we will remind voters of everyday for the next month."

[dicktracy200]

The fact that Fox News Network is taking the position of launching a series of all out assaults against senator Obama%u2019s character is a sad day in journalism. They should be ashamed of the immoral and unethical standards that their network displays on a continual basis. What they must be made to understand is that as citizens we rely upon networks for their fair and accurate reporting of events and we will not tolerate anything less, especially when its over the top or maybe I should say as far right as Fox News Network is. If your views are the same share this message with others. It is time to take a stand against Fox and look to other networks for fair and accurate news coverage.

[basementfrog]

Good grief, Obama was 9 years old when this man was in the Weatherman organization in the 1960s.

As for you Ms. Palin: you sleep with a man that has openly worked for the destruction of the Union. That is a far different situation than the Chicago professor. Mr. Palin was a member of the party working for the secession of Alaska from the Union. And she praised them only 6 months ago....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvPNXYrIyI

Secession party 6 months ago. 7 year membership, Mr. Palin and his wife was a supporter if not a member.

MRS. AND MR. PALIN HAVE OPENLY WORKED FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE UNION.

What is her vision of America, or the Republic of Alaska for that matter?

[repub4you001]

If Obama wins I''ll move out of this country. Pls vote for John McCain. Please.

[duffer1960]

Has anyone checked into McCain''s connection to the Bonnano crime family? I''ve heard that he spent time with them, even attending birthday parties. If you''re going to check Obama, you need to check McCain too.

[dicktracy200]

The fact that Fox News Network is taking the position of launching a series of all out assaults against senator Obama%u2019s character is a sad day in journalism. They should be ashamed of the immoral and unethical standards that their network displays on a continual basis. What they must be made to understand is that as citizens we rely upon networks for their fair and accurate reporting of events and we will not tolerate anything less, especially when its over the top or maybe I should say as far right as Fox News Network is. If your views are the same share this message with others. It is time to take a stand against Fox and look to other networks for fair and accurate news coverage.

[repguy]

NEW YORK %u2013 Campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made to Barack Obama may backfire if the Democratic presidential hopeful wages an aggressive campaign to cast blame on rival John McCain and the Republicans in Congress for the mortgage-related losses that forced the U.S. Treasury to take over the quasi-governmental mortgage giants.

A review of Federal Election Commission records back to 1989 reveals Obama in his three complete years in the Senate is the second largest recipient of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae campaign contributions, behind only Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., the powerful chairman of the Senate banking committee. Dodd was first elected to the Senate in 1980.

Cont...

[repguy]

From 1989 to 2008, Dodd received $165,400 in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac campaign contributions, including contributions from PACs and individuals, followed by Obama, who received $126,349 in such contributions since being elected to the Senate in 2004.

In contrast, McCain warned of the coming mortgage crisis as he pressed in 2005 for regulatory reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac %u2013 known as government-sponsored entities or GSEs %u2013 and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market," McCain said on the floor of the Senate in 2005, speaking in favor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005.

[repguy]

From 1989 to 2008, Dodd received $165,400 in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac campaign contributions, including contributions from PACs and individuals, followed by Obama, who received $126,349 in such contributions since being elected to the Senate in 2004.

In contrast, McCain warned of the coming mortgage crisis as he pressed in 2005 for regulatory reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac %u2013 known as government-sponsored entities or GSEs %u2013 and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market," McCain said on the floor of the Senate in 2005, speaking in favor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005.

[repguy]

NEW YORK %u2013 Campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made to Barack Obama may backfire if the Democratic presidential hopeful wages an aggressive campaign to cast blame on rival John McCain and the Republicans in Congress for the mortgage-related losses that forced the U.S. Treasury to take over the quasi-governmental mortgage giants.

A review of Federal Election Commission records back to 1989 reveals Obama in his three complete years in the Senate is the second largest recipient of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae campaign contributions, behind only Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., the powerful chairman of the Senate banking committee. Dodd was first elected to the Senate in 1980.

Cont...

[repguy]

Barack Obama has claimed to be the candidate of change who steers clear of lobbyists. Once again Obama is lying. One lobbyist
Obama has ties to is Joe Biden%u2019s son, Hunter Biden. Now we learn that Obama was the third highest recipient of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that have just been bailed out by the government. Here are the top recipients of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 1989-2008:

Name Office Party/State
Total

1. Dodd, Christopher J
S D-CT
$133,900

2. Kerry, John
S D-MA
$111,000

3. Obama, Barack
S D-IL
$105,849