I realize that this is wasted effort on my part, but I’d hate for some well-meaning lurker to think that you actually have some sort of point here.
I have not seen evidence that this specific tactic originated in the McCain campaign organization.
OTOH, having watched the McCain interview with The Des Moines Register editorial staff, I am forced to conclude that McCain would heartily approve of it and if he is not behind it he is cheering them on. On several questions about how dirty the campaign has gotten, McCain baldly stated that the lies and innuendos his organization had posted about Obama, including the absolute lie that Obama was promoting sex education for kindergartners, were actually true and that he had the substantiating “documentation.” I would not have expected him to admit that they were simply manufactured, but instead of doing a bit of good political misdirection, he simply lied and declared that he had documentation proving that they were true.
The man is scum. (I have never trusted him, but I would not previously expected him to be so blatantly a liar.)
IOW, you have no evidence that McCain was behind this other than your reflexive habit to assume the worst about your political adversaries.
It’s not like this sort of tactic is something new and unexpected in politics. By all accounts, the Obama campaign has had a team in place to combat negative campaigning for some time; sort of like Clinton’s “defense department” squad in 1992, who were very effective in rebutting the bullshit.
Anyone want to speculate what its going to be?
Gay marriage? Don’t think so, that ones pretty well worn out, that dog won’t hunt, that dog is dead. They’ve put out a couple feelers with the whole “Victory in Iraq!” (that “white flag of surrender” nugget of horseshit she delivered with such spunky aplomb…), but that is definitely an uphill struggle. They’ve also gestured in the direction of re-branding themselves as the People’s Republic Party of America, sworn enemy of fat cats, but thats like Blackwater rebranding as day care providers.
They could just wait and hope that something falls from the sky into their laps, Obama caught with a live boy and a dead hooker…but the clock is ticking, the sand in the hourglass running out.
So, any day now, they will come running at us with their hair on fire and shrieking at the top of their lungs about Obama, something horrible, something terrible…but what?
Yeah, desperation is setting in bigtime. This sort of crap is easily defended and deflected, however. Bush I tried this crap in '92 and Clinton’s war machine just kept hammering on the economy. Obama’s campaign will continue to steer the conversation to the economy, lost jobs, bank collapses, and the fact that “maverick” is just a polite term for “loose canon”. McCain contradicted himself at least six times on Thursday and Friday. He’s all over the place on policy and what he does or doesn’t support. As the tension gets greater, look for a meltdown in a debate forum if Obama pushes the right button.
Oh Noes, they’re “victims” of slanted poll questions. What harm do they suffer?
The people telephoned aren’t harmed. What about those who are making the calls? Or do conscience, honor and character mean nothing to you?
Oh, wait–
:rolleyes: Carol, getting hung up over the use of the word “victim,” of all things, not only is very silly and picayune given all the more important ramifications of this story, but implies your approval of the tactic. I hope that was not your intention. If you wanted to cast doubt on the McCain campaign’s responsibility for this, as others in this thread have done, that would at least be relevant. (But, if this story is not a discredit to the campaign, then it is a discredit to the broader conservative movement. Which at this point should be no surprise.)
I agree that it is a sleazy tactic, but frankly I wish the Dems would engage in some sleaze themselves. Too often do they stick their noses in the air and say, “We won’t lower ourselves to these kinds of politics” while watching the election slip away.
How about:
[ul]
[li]Do you believe Sen McCain’s previous health problems and bouts with cancer will affect his ability to be president?[/li][li]If Sen McCain’s cancer were to return and he were to die within the next year, would you be comfortable with Gov Palin as president?[/li][li]If Gov Palin is convicted of a crime in Alaska, should she step down?[/li][/ul]
I’m sure the Republicans wouldn’t mind if that sort of thing occurred, right?
[quote=“leander, post:51, topic:466308”]
[li]Do you believe Sen McCain’s previous health problems and bouts with cancer will affect his ability to be president?[/li][li]If Sen McCain’s cancer were to return and he were to die within the next year, would you be comfortable with Gov Palin as president?[/li][li]If Gov Palin is convicted of a crime in Alaska, should she step down?[/li][/QUOTE]
None of those questions contain an implied untruth, although I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with the second one.
Nitpick. It’s “spiel” though the pronunciation is somewhat as you spelled it.
I can’t believe y’all are getting so worked up about this. So a political campaign is making push-poll calls. So what? By your own admission, the “callees” are not harmed. Is your issue that some people are stupid enough to fall for that crap? If so, the fault is their own.
That fact was established quite some time ago. See also: confederate flag, South Carolina state capitol.
You really are a despicable little cunt. Deliberate, vicious lies are just fine and “harm” no one. And if somebody is stupid enough to believe them, hey, their fault anyway. Ends justify the means! No tactics too sleazy so long as it’s your ‘team’ using them.
I’d think you’re a troll but no, you’re probably really that morally empty.
But by all means keep puking your bile. You couldn’t expose yourself more thoroughly if you tried.
I think the pubbies actually put that in their party platform this year.
See my post #49 for elucidation. She is what she is… but she’s OUR CarolStream, boy howdy, you betcha!
Bile, you mean like calling someone a “despicable little cunt”? Watch out for that beam, there.
Now, now. You’re edging into Bricker territory. Your sole point of credibility has been you’re a despicable little cunt but you usually don’t pretend to anything better. You usually glory in it, in fact. So enjoy your refreshing wallow!