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Hittiing McCain on Energy and Claims to Moderation

By The Seminal

In a panel in The Big Tent in Denver moderated by The Washington Note’s Steve Clemons, pollster Geoff Garin opined that the Obama campaign really hasn’t taken on John McCain the way they should.  One example he gave was over the compromise energy plan that Obama made some positive remarks about.  Garin said that here we have a bipartisan plan, Five Democrats and Five Republicans came up with moderate, maverick plan. Obama has said that he appreciates the plan because it illustrates the kind bipartisan, outside the box thinking that he would want to occur when he is President.  How can McCain take up the Maverick, Bipartisan label if he opposes this agreement?  Obama should hit him over the head with it by saying that John cCain is so tied to the oil industry he can’t even support bipartisanship on teh energyissue.

Another item Geoff Garin came up with is the national security issue.  As he said, “John McCain’s answer to international problems is always to send in troops.” Garin pointed out that when the Clinton Administration started bombing Serbia from the air, McCain denounced this tactic destined for failure and said that the only way to solve the issue was to send in massive ground forces.  Well since he was drastically wrong, as the air campaign led to Serbia’s surrender and withdrawal from Kosovo, this example paints a frightening picture of what a McCain foreign policy would be like. It also questions McCain’ judgement.

Garin’s examples show that if used intelligently, McCain’s own record can be used to counter the maverick, wise, bipartisan identity that he is trying to carve out for himself.

Same as the old boss...

Obama tightens grip on podium speeches
By Betsy Rothstein
Posted: 08/26/08 08:15 PM [ET]

By Betsy Rothstein
Posted: 08/26/08 08:15 PM [ET]
DENVER — Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is tightening the reins on campaign speeches and stressing that speakers emphasize a rags-to-riches theme.

Members of Congress and others who have been asked to address the convention must have their speeches approved by the Obama campaign. In many cases, the speeches are drastically changed — to the point where the original speech is completely scrapped, Democratic sources say.

Obama has long expressed his desire to run a positive campaign, but that approach has attracted criticism from some Democrats, who say the Illinois senator must hit Republicans harder.
Still, the practice of making wholesale changes to speeches has some Democrats miffed. “This is politics through and through,” said a Democratic source who has seen firsthand the degree to which the Obama camp has changed some of the speeches of members of Congress. “Everyone gets vetted.”

Obama has made one exception, however. He recently said he will not edit the speech of former President Bill Clinton.

The Democratic source expressed dismay as to why nearly everyone delivering speeches on behalf of Obama has to have a rags-to-riches story, dredging him- or herself up out of poverty and into prosperity. The source conceded, though, that it is Obama’s convention and he has a right to do as he pleases.

Yet not every speech has been completely overhauled. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who was asked by Obama to speak about the economy, was scheduled to deliver his speech Tuesday afternoon. The Obama campaign struck just one line from his speech, which slammed the Republicans and the Bush administration, according to a Democratic source.

That line, addressing Republicans, read: “They’re asking for another four years — in a just world, they’d get 10 to 20.”

Democratic strategist James Carville believes the Obama campaign is pulling its punches.

Speaking on CNN, Carville said his party was too soft on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Monday night. “But I guarantee on the first night of the Republican convention, you’re going to hear talk about Barack Obama, commander in chief, tax cuts, et cetera, et cetera.”

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While I wouldn't want Carville running Obama's campaign, I think he is right. However there is the other side of it. When the democratic politicians do go offensive they tend to hold back even then. If you go on the offensive on a particular issue, you should know the material well and don't hold back.

By f u bush2August 27, 2008 - 6:28pm