McCain And Palin Go On The Attack

GOP Nominee Asks "Who Is The Real Barack Obama?" While Palin Criticizes Democrat's Ties To Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright

(CBS/AP)  Republican John McCain is calling Democratic rival Barack Obama a liar.

The GOP presidential candidate told a campaign rally: "Sen. Obama has accused me of opposing regulation to avert this crisis. I guess he believes if a lie is big enough and repeated often enough it will be believed. But the truth is I was the one who called at the time for tighter restrictions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could have helped prevent this crisis from happening in the first place."

In some of the harshest language yet, McCain said the campaign comes down to a simple question: Who is the real Barack Obama?

"All people want to know is: what has this man ever actually accomplished in government?" McCain said. "What does he plan for America? In short: who is the real Barack Obama?"

McCain drew the loudest cheers when he said the Democrat has written two memoirs but "he's not exactly an open book."

"I don't need lessons about telling the truth to American people," McCain added, reports CBS News reporter John Bentley. "And were I ever to need any improvement in that regard, I probably wouldn’t seek advice from a Chicago politician. My opponent's touchiness every time he is questioned about his record should make us only more concerned." (Read more from Bentley.)

McCain also said that Obama and Democrats in Congress "encouraged" the corruption at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that led to the subprime mortgage meltdown.

"As recently as September of last year he said that subprime loans had been, quote, 'a good idea' Well, Sen. Obama, that good idea has now plunged this country into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression."

The Obama camp has charged that McCain is trying to charge the subject away from the economy, as McCain's poll numbers have been sinking along with the Dow Jones average, reports Bentley. But Obama said today that the economy should remain front and center on the campaign.

"I’ve got news for the McCain campaign - the American people are losing right now, they’re losing their jobs, they’re losing their health care, they’re losing their homes, they’re losing their savings," Obama said. "I cannot imagine anything more important to talk about than the economic crisis, and the notion that we’d want to brush that aside and engage in the usual political shenanigans and scare tactics that have come to characterize too many political campaigns, I think is not what the American people are looking for."

Meanwhile, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin expanded her own attack on Obama's character on Monday to include his relationship with an incendiary former pastor as well as his ties to 1960s-era radical Bill Ayers.

In the process, Palin toned down her description of the Obama-Ayers relationship after her weekend remarks were criticized as exaggerated, but at the same time she embarked on a discussion of Obama's relationship with his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., which McCain had signaled he did not want to be a part of his campaign.

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Read more on Palin's attacks on Obama in our blog From The Road.

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In an interview with conservative The New York Times columnist William Kristol published Monday, the Alaska governor said there should be more discussion about Wright, Obama's pastor of 20 years at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The Democratic candidate denounced Wright and severed ties with the church last spring after videotapes surfaced showing Wright making anti-American and anti-Semitic comments from the pulpit.

Wright had appeared to be off limits for the McCain campaign ever since McCain himself condemned the North Carolina Republican Party in April for an ad that called Obama "too extreme" because Wright was his pastor. He asked the party to take down the ad and said, "I'm making it very clear, as I have a couple of times in the past, that there's no place for that kind of campaigning, and the American people don't want it."

When Kristol pressed Palin about Wright, she replied, "I don't know why that association isn't discussed more, because those were appalling things that that pastor had said about our great country."

She continued, "To me, that does say something about character. But, you know, I guess that would be a John McCain call on whether he wants to bring that up."

At a morning rally in Florida, Palin kept up her criticism of Obama's ties to Ayers, a founder of the violent Weather Underground group blamed for several bombings during the Vietnam War era, when Obama was a child.

The Illinois senator has denounced Ayers' radical views and activities.

"This is someone who sees America as 'imperfect enough' to work with a former domestic terrorist who targeted his own country," Palin said of Obama. That was a tamer description than Palin used at rallies in California and Colorado over the weekend.

In her earlier attacks, Palin had said that Obama "pals around with terrorists." News reports pointed out that Obama was eight years old at the time of Weather Underground bombings and that the two men do not know each other well although they live in the same Chicago neighborhood, have served on a charity board together and Ayers hosted a meet-the-candidate event when Obama first ran for state office in the mid-1990s.

Obama responded to the renewed controversy over Ayers on the Tom Joyner radio show today. "I served on a board with him. And so now they’re trying to use this as guilt by association, and as you said, they’ve explicitly stated that what they want to do is to change the topic because they don’t want to talk about the economy and the failed policies of the last eight years."

Later, Obama adviser David Axelrod told CNN the Illinois senator "didn't know the history" of Ayers' Weather Underground activities when Ayers hosted the 1995 gathering. Speaking in Estero, Fla., Palin responded, "Today they're saying for the first time that Barack Obama didn't know back then about Ayers' radical background."

Meanwhile, a poll conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center over the weekend found that just over half of registered voters view Palin favorably and about four in 10 think she's qualified to be president, essentially unchanged from a week earlier, before her debate with her Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Biden's positive image improved slightly to 63 percent, and those saying he's qualified to be president grew to 77 percent, the same poll showed.

[maramara2]

Palin''s Attack On Obama''s Patriotism Legitimizes Questions About The Palins'' Association With Group Founded By America-Hating Secessionist

[ibzjem]

I can''t wait ''til Nov. 5th, when she will shut up and go away.

[bbinfla]

First Palin tries to put Obama down for being a community organizer. Now she is going after him for his time as a University of Chicago Law Professor when according to the NY Times article he took on another role as "chairman of a six-member board that oversaw the distribution of grants in Chicago." and "Ayers attended to brief members on school issues."

Apparently Palin''''s comprehension of information when reading newspapers is not very good. Maybe if she would quit trying to read "all of them," she could do better.

[usadude2]

Palin should probably avoid going into the Pastor Wright territory. Let''s not forget the remarks made at her own church not that long ago:
http://www.israelenews.com/view.asp?ID=3026

Moreover, Obama at least repudiated the man, has Palin even suggested that her church was out of place? Here''s a real question that someone in the media should be asking in relation to this, not just swallowing Palin''s nonsense.

[targaray-2009]

Hey, Sarah "The Witch Hunter" Palin if you''re looking for terrorist associations, you might want to start with your husband, Todd Palin, who is a CONVICTED ANTI-AMERICAN SEPERATIST...

[bbinfla]

Yes Sarah, we are an exceptional country, that is cutting back on work programs for Downs Syndrome Adults under the current administration. George Bush is the one you should be going after. What is a real issue Sarah? Of course this won''t affect you, but what about us who work for a living. At least until you and McCain let us loose some more jobs.

[barsellers]

Is anyone really stupid enough to take this dog with lipstick seriously?

[barsellers]

Let''s not forget about the rape kit issue. This animal with lip gloss charged rape victims up to $1200 for the investigation kit used by police to catch rapists. Do you really want this monster anywhere near the Whitehouse??? You betcha I don''t!!!

[briannorwood]

Her friend the witchdoctor told her what to say... he said now "ooh eee ooh aah aah ting tang walla walla bing bang!"

[interobserv]

With the world economy tanking, all this bimbo can talk about is Obama''s relationship with his ex-pastor? Especially after her boss said it was forbidden? What''s next? I guess she''ll discuss how great it was going to five colleges in six years and never graduating! How great being barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen is! How much she loves it when her "first dude" gets a little too much to drink and, well, you know....

[barsellers]

Let''s not forget about the rape kit issue. This animal with lip gloss charged rape victims up to $1200 for the investigation kit used by police to catch rapists. Do you really want this monster anywhere near the Whitehouse??? You betcha I don''t!!!

[liberal4sure]

Your investigation paliar is going on now as we speak so I don''t blame you for trying to distract people. However you are still a clueless pathological liar. WHat about your church that hates jews and is trying to convert them to christians? paliar, there is nothing christian about you.

[repub4you001]

Please vote for John McCain. Please.
Let''s continue the tradition of excellence.

[repub4you001]

Just give McCain a chance, ok? If he screws up, then vote democrap in 2012.

[aboz3]

"Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don''t have much of a vision for the future or you''re not ready to articulate it." John McCain on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000

Just give McCain a chance, ok? If he screws up, then vote democrap in 2012.


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Posted by repub4you001 at 01:10 PM : Oct 06, 2008

F that, you''ve had your chance for the last 8 years. How did that play out for you?

[element51]

repub4you001.....You just don''t get it, do you? We can''t afford 4 more years. If we don''t make some serious changes and get the country back on track there won''t be anything left 4 years from now. Come on man, wake up before it''s to late!

Her friend the witchdoctor told her what to say... he said now "ooh eee ooh aah aah ting tang walla walla bing bang!"


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Posted by briannorwood at 12:57 PM : Oct 06, 2008

Good, but, that would be not walla walla bing bang!
it would be wasilla wasilla bing bang!"

[ixoye_02]

Palin is an idiot...pure and simple. McCain and Palin are so bankrupt with any plans for the American people that the McCain campaign has to resort to lies and innuendo about Obama to attract voter interest. The only ones left who would vote for McCain and Palin are those republicans in denial who can''t see that the republican party has no vision for America and no coherent leadership. Bush and the republican trifecta have had their chance and ruined America''s economy and standing in the world. Keep yapping Palin...maybe the polls will hit 20% approval where your president is sitting now with the American people. What a pity!! As an ex-republican, I am voting for Obama and ignoring the lies that are spewed by Dumb and Dumber.

[spat7378]

Once again, McCain and Palin have no substance and nothing to brag about in their past, so they resort to smear tactic and lies about their opponent. They also seek to divert the attention away from the true issues -- such as the economy and the war. This is exactly the same thing Bush and Company did. When will American WAKE UP and realize that they are exactly like Bush?! They have no desire to change anything. Americans are so stupid. For the love of god, wake up and think for yourselves!

[votefreedom]

It''s about time! Obama should be exposed for who he truly is and for his evil agenda for our country! Hannity''s America did a great job on Obama and Friends. This guy''s a total radical, far beyond just liberal. You''ll never see anything negative about Obama on CNN or MSNBC the "brainwashing" networks. All of Obama''s sheeple can''t think for themselves so they''re a lost cause anyway you look at it. For everyone else, for everyone who''s not afraid of the truth... I''m glad McCain''s not afraid to expose Obama! Keep it up Sarah! Let the people know about this creep.
Democrats = The Party of Death

Keep in mind one thing Sarah, what goes around comes around.

[autumnvic]

Mrs. Palin how could you ever call an order to have wolves killed, and ask for proof by the person doing the killing to bring you the forepaw of the wolf? I am NATIVE AMERICAN and I am a registered voter (since 1981) and I happen to own a wolf I also am a republican who was going to vote for John McCain, but now that I know you have set out to kill an animal who in the history of our great country has NEVER EVER hurt a human, I will vote for MICKEY MOUSE FIRST!!! HOW DARE YOU.
THANK YOU VICKIE WRIGHT

[rebelrepubli]

McCain divorced his first wife who was crippled in an auto accident while he was in Hanoi. One month later, he married Cindy (18 years his junior). Palin''s attack pig antics are so typical of what the GOP has become - the party of BIGOTS. http://rahiemshabazz.blogspot.com/2008/08/mcclain-leaves-cripple-wife-for-beauty.html

[DCropp]

America is hurting, so what does Palin the pit bull do?

She acts like a junk yard dog.

Look at the polling numbers out today.

Palin is throwing McCain under the bus and trying to save her own political career. Just look at her going to Nebraska and saying it was all her idea. Look at her wanting to campaign in Michigan, despite trailing in Michigan by double digits.

[rebelrepubli]

Speaking of Reverend Wright... God has "damned" and condemned his "People" throughout history. God Bless America? What has America done in the past 8 years that deserves God''s blessing? Wake up people!!!

[aboz3]

"Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don''t have much of a vision for the future or you''re not ready to articulate it." John McCain on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, 2/21/2000

[votefreedom]

It''''s about time! Obama should be exposed for who he truly is and for his evil agenda for our country! Hannity''''s America did a great job on Obama and Friends. This guy''''s a total radical, far beyond just liberal. You''''ll never see anything negative about Obama on CNN or MSNBC the "brainwashing" networks. All of Obama''''s sheeple can''''t think for themselves so they''''re a lost cause anyway you look at it. For everyone else, for everyone who''''s not afraid of the truth... I''''m glad McCain''''s not afraid to expose Obama! Keep it up Sarah! Let the people know about this creep.
Democrats = The Party of Death

[kevinjaegers]

I don''t understand how people of the country can defend Obama. Everyone is caught up in his "Greatness" the "Chosen One" but nobody wants to see who he truly is. This man is bad news for our country. His past relationships should stand alone and be the deciding factor of why this man should not be our President. But nobody wants to believe their "Leader" is that way. What is this Country coming to to let a man like this be President? Are we not American''s!?? I have to question anyone''s Patriotism and American values to vote for this man. Wake up America! Open your eyes and look at the facts and the truth!

[element51]

I am sick and tired of having my intelligence insulted by this trailer trash talking backwoods bimbo who has absolutely no idea of what she is talking about. Does she think that we are so stupid that we will soak up every lie she tells and not question a word of it? From the moment this woman appeared we have not heard one single word about the issues, not one. All we have heard from her is maverick, maverick, soccer mom, soccer mom, Jesus, God and a wink, wink, wink. No substance at all. And her recent attack using Ayers is so ridiculous that it is almost laughable. Trying to tie Obama to a terrorist group that was active when he was 8 years old is just absurd. To imply that Obama is guilty of terrorist activities simply because he was on a charitable board that Ayers testified in front of is just to much. The republican faithful are going to continue to lap this crapp up because they know they are losing and they have nothing else to go with. People, we have seen this ***** before in 2000 and 2004. Are we really stupid enough to fall for it again? I hope not for the sake of the country.

[mlr_08]

Absolutely disgusting. Palin (and McCain) can give no specifics on their own campaigns or agendas, can''t win on their own characters or accomplishments or qualifications, and so it''s time for attack, innuendo, lies, deceit and/or misleading statements.

I would have continued to vote Republican if not for Palin, though I was not honestly not too happy with McCain as a candidate. As he''s become increasingly snarky in his interviews and flip-flopped OUTRAGEOUSLY, I no longer trust his word either.

[briannorwood]

"ooh eee ooh aah aah, ting tang walla walla bing bang!"

You tell em Sarah! We can''t tolorate those crazy preachers now, can we?

[steeepe]

Palin is a nitwit. She fired the town librarian for refusing to ban books and took lots of money for staying in her own house while governor. She is also a religious kook who doesn''t believe in evolution and thinks man has not contributed to global warming. She is not only anti-science, she is anti-intellectual. That''s not what we need -- another dumb ideologue like Bush who doesn''t know what''s going on and doesn''t care about the causes of anything. Jefferson and Franklin would role over in their graves if they could see how stupid and ignorant America has become.

[afmca]

Initially people had to explain to Palin that the Weather Underground had nothing to do with dissident meteorologists. She just a worthless and stupid political hack!

[earthmomjs]

Sarah Palin should be careful when she talks about how ''we'' see America. Her vision of America is a scary picture: standing triumphantly with a baby over a slaughtered animal; aiming a rifle at a camera; getting de-witched in a church that prays for campaign finances and pipelines instead of people; butchering the English language; twisting truths and running over people who don''t share her views.
Thank God Sarah Palin is no representative of what ''we'' the majority see America as today.

[merlgrey]

theres a 50 dollar bill on the edge of my dresser and a plane ticket back to alaska honey.... you can let yourself out...

[earthmomjs]

Sara Failin is going to sink McInsane''''s campaign single-handedly.

Go home, Sarah. You''''re not wanted here.

Posted by jcnbma1 at 01:30 PM : Oct 06, 2008

No! Please don''t send her home until she has COMPLETELY and FULLY derailed the Crazy Talk Express. We still need her - her work here is not done yet.

[pughenry3]

Bill Ayers and a Barack Obama connection.

Chicago has a long tradition for bomb makers beginning with the Haymarket affair bomb that killed 7 police officers in 1886. The bomb was thrown during a May Day rally for striking workers. There is a statue in Haymarket Square marking the place of the bombings.

A Chicago native the Unabomber is now serving a life sentence at SuperMax Federal Penitentiary in Florence Colorado for killing three and injuring more than a dozen people with mail bombs. The Unabomber Ted Kaczynski grew up in the Chicago area, graduated from Harvard University before getting his PhD in mathematics from the University of Michigan, and then taught at U.C. at Berkley. The Unabomber received his moniker by targeting universities and airlines. Ted Kaczynski targeted professors at Northwestern University in Chicago and a United Airlines President with his bomb packages. As a radical environmentalist, Kacyznski later used his mail bombs to murder a timber industry lobbyist and an ad executive that handled an account for Exxon.

William Ayers the Weathermen bomb maker is two years younger than Ted Kaczynski the Unabomber, but both have Chicago connections and both received degrees from the University of Michigan about the same time. Bill Ayers received an undergraduate degree in American studies and Ted Kaczynski received his Phd in mathematics from the University of Michigan a year earlier.

[element51]

kevinjagers.....So you question my patriotism. And you question my values. Who the he11 are you to question anything about me or anyone else? I have worked all my life and never asked anyone for anything. I served my country in a war that when we came home we were spit on and called all kinds of vile names. But we didn''t complain. I put myself through school and devoted 26 years of my life to educating kids. And just recently we saw our retirement fund disappear because of the thieves on Wall Street. But ******** I''m still an American and a proud one. And you have the audacity to question my patriotism. You can kiss my arse. You go ahead and support this stupid woman and an old man who won''t last 2 years in the White House if that''s what you want. But let me caution you...be very careful what you wish for because you may get it.

[earthmomjs]

Looks like Palin''''s "You Betcha" debate performance had the effect of causing Obama''''s lead to increase:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows Barack Obama attracting 52% of the vote while John McCain earns 44%. This is the highest level of support ever recorded for Obama and is his largest lead of the year. It also continues a remarkable twenty-five days in a row where the Democrat%u2019s support has never declined by even a single point.

It is worth noting that Obama%u2019s lead is now bigger than any lead enjoyed at any point by either candidate in Election 2004.

Posted by raflin10 at 01:46 PM : Oct 06, 2008

''Say it aint so, Joe!''. Does this mean she will go back to studying foreign policy in her back yard now?

[kathyjay1]

"If you lay down with dogs,you''ll get up with fleas"
A perfect example of Bush = McCain & Palin = 4 More years of the Bush administration.
She''ll leave Todd with the kids and hang with Rove & they will use her as she deserves/What a feeble minded creep McCain is to egg her on then make jokes about her, and she thinks he''s a leader. Ho Hum, How Dumb can this person be? I feel sorry for her neglected kids too.

[america1st1]

I am amazed at how ignorant the American people have become. Would you seriously vote for someone who won''t even salute our flag? What is this world coming to? Everyone is so quick to judge Sarah Palin saying she lacks experience.. GOOD ONE.. Look at how much Obama lacks in not only experience, but also in everything that else that we as American''s should stand for. WAKE up people.. DO YOUR research on OBAMA.

[barsellers]

Let''s not forget about the rape kit issue. This animal with lip gloss charged rape victims up to $1200 for the investigation kit used by police to catch rapists. Do you really want this monster anywhere near the Whitehouse??? You betcha I don''t!!!

[element51]

I distinctly remember John McCain saying that he was going to run a CLEAN campaign. What happened to that? Now he sends his pitbull Palin out to spread the lies and smears while he sits back and says, "I didn''t do it." The man is a coward and hides behind a woman''s skirts. Come on out John and do your own dirty work. You lied to us when you said you would run a clean campaign. Do you think we are stupid enough to forget what you promised us?

[njmet5]

Palin has to find some away to make noise so she can avoid having to answer important issues facing our Country. She is unqualified to be VP and in the race for the White House. And by McCain selecting her to run with him it shows bad judgement and lack of concern for this Country.

[briannorwood]

Sarah:

Does "ooh eee ooh aah aah ting tang walla walla bing bang" ring a bell?

[barsellers]

Let''s not forget about the rape kit issue. This animal with lip gloss charged rape victims up to $1200 for the investigation kit used by police to catch rapists. Do you really want this monster anywhere near the Whitehouse??? You betcha I don''t!!!

[earthmomjs]

Congratulations to Sarah for saluting the flag; so what if that is only a gesture. Whatever about respecting ALL of the people in the country, whatever about helping ALL of the people in the country, whatever about supporting ALL of the people even if they don''t share your views. Thank goodness her fake and phony act is working for some folks since there is absolutely nothing but a cold-hearted, snide woman underneath that salute, who drags her children around like pawns in her bid to throw women back in time.


I am amazed at how ignorant the American people have become. Would you seriously vote for someone who won''''t even salute our flag? What is this world coming to? Everyone is so quick to judge Sarah Palin saying she lacks experience.. GOOD ONE.. Look at how much Obama lacks in not only experience, but also in everything that else that we as American''''s should stand for. WAKE up people.. DO YOUR research on OBAMA.

Posted by america1st1 at 01:56 PM : Oct 06, 2008

[janiebarrera]

It''s about time that someone ANYONE has the "Guts" to bring this relationship to the American People!!! Why have we waited so long? Obama''s character and judgement have EVERYTHING to do with this Presidential race and election. I can''t believe that we would actually consider putting someone in the White House who has ties to these types of "Radicals" including Reverand Wright!

WAKE UP PEOPLE! This man IS NOT who he claims to be and I pray that someone makes him address the facts and this issue in particular in front of a huge American audience soon!

[earthmomjs]

Oh he did address and explain it, about 8 or 9 months ago. I guess Fox forgot to report it since you and Sarah missed it.

It''''s about time that someone ANYONE has the "Guts" to bring this relationship to the American People!!! Why have we waited so long? Obama''''s character and judgement have EVERYTHING to do with this Presidential race and election. I can''''t believe that we would actually consider putting someone in the White House who has ties to these types of "Radicals" including Reverand Wright!

WAKE UP PEOPLE! This man IS NOT who he claims to be and I pray that someone makes him address the facts and this issue in particular in front of a huge American audience soon!

Posted by janiebarrera at 02:04 PM : Oct 06, 2008