So, it happened in 1992, and wasn’t reported until…when, exactly? Three anonymous reporters quoted in a hatchet job book? There’s even an alleged response from McCain that sets up the rimshot cheeky dig? That story is…well, knowing what we know about McCain, it’s possible…but…not very reliable.
I have no idea if the story’s true or not, I was just posting what the story is, since I hadn’t heard it either and had googled it to satisfy my own curiosity. I agree with you…a pretty dubious source. I did find, however, that McCain has been recently asked directly about the anecdote and pretty much avoided answering: Huffington Post
That SCHIP thing - how’s that working out for them?
There is little that a politician can make more political hay from than an opponent slamming his family. It allows them to channel Jerry in a self-rightous “say what you want about me, but leave my kids alone” way that paints them as being the one who is strong , brave, and principled enough to stand up to the slime of the other side while bringing into sharp focus that the other side is picking on a non-candidate.
Going after a family member is a gift from heaven for a candidate and Obama is way too savvy not to make the most of this opportunity.
Most politicians know this - it’s why despite how many slimy lies thar may say about a candidate is a smear ad, you hardly ever see that extend beyond the candidate themselves. The fact that Tennessee GOP did this is just a sign of how desperate they are.
While I agree that if Michelle Obama is going to stand up and give speeches in public, then her words are fair game just like anyone else’s, I think this was politically astute of Obama. “Lay off my wife” will go over well with people, and few will pay attention to the specifics.
Compare, for instance, with the reaction to Michael Dukakis’ failure to muster outrage at a question about the hypothetical rape and murder of his wife in a 1988 debate.
And to the underlying drama: Saying “for the first time in my life, X” is a common hyperbole for “wow this is cool.”
Given Dubya, it’s amazing the nitpickery in this election. “Oh my God! He said Americans are trying to put food on their families! He’s accusing us all of being sado-fetish-gluttonists! He’s unfit!”
I basically agree with this. The problem I have is the way he did it. He delivered some kind of nebulous mealy-mouthed ultimatum. If he would have said “I don’t think it’s right and I wish it would stop” or “I ask them to stop and to keep the discussion on what matters most”, fine. But some veiled, ambiguous threat doesn’t make the person issuing it look very good.
No, if he’d said “I wish it would stop”, that would have been completely wimpy. As other posters have pointed out, it is a gift when an opponent attacks your family, even if they are fair game. Coming out looking strong and protective made Obama look good to the voters. Which was the point. Obama wins this round.
Remember when John Kerry mentioned Dick Cheney’s openly gay daughter in repsonse to a Presidential debate question about whether homosexuality was a choice? The Cheneys reacted as if he’d called her a whore – They were all wagging fingers and righteous indignation, accusing him of attacking their children. Their response was a complete smokescreen, completely phoney, utterly unfounded and unjustified, but it still worked. The meme became that Kerry had shamefully slandered the Cheneys lesbian daughter. If it can work for people as contemptible and uncharasmatic as the Cheneys, it can certainly work for Obama.
Indeed. I’m hoping that the Democrats vigorously give as good as they get during this election cycle, and do much less ignoring slimy attacks. Kerry would have done much better if he had gotten good and angry at the Swiftboaters. As it was, his tepid non-reponse basically told the voters that he was either in the wrong or had no spine.
So good for Obama for not saying “ohhh, I wish it would stop. Please play nicely, I beg you.” He needs to come out and kick some ass.