# What is McCain's message on Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 12, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547 "2008-10-12T02:15:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/21 "2008-10-12T06:50:58Z")
> [@choie](#): > > The difference is that the polls and instant debate trackers have revealed that every time McCain goes negative, his approval rate plunges. So now This Week’s McCain (they differ by the week, don’tcha know) has decided to try playing Good Cop; everyone else on his team gets to be Bad Cop. > > Honestly, no matter what’s behind his lurching from one message to the next, he looks horrible. If he believes the crap his campaign is spewing yet still claims Obama’s a ‘decent man’, he’s an ignorant coward who lacks the courage of his convictions and who’s afraid to own this negativity. If he knows his team’s vile accusations are false (and he isn’t a stupid man, so I believe this is the case) but hasn’t ordered them to shut the fuck up, he’s a lying, cynical, disgraceful hypocrite who’ll do anything to gain power. > > Either way, this is not a man to trust with the presidency. Above all else, a president has to be a leader and an organizer. McCain, being driven by his advisors, and Palin perhaps, to go negative, is hardly acting as a leader. The chaos of the message hardly makes it seem he’s a good organizer. He’s either a skilled politician with a hateful message or a tool of those he should be leading. I agree, not a man to trust with the presidency. After all two years of doing a job well is far better as experience than 20 doing it poorly. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/22 "2008-10-12T07:34:03Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > …is this a case of McCain’s deteriorating campaign… They say timing is everything, and let’s be honest, the timing of this is suspicious to say the least. Unless I missed some new nugget, all of this “shocking information” about Obama and Ayres has been vetted and discussed since the early days of the Primary Election. If there was a single unturned stone in that story, do you think Hillary (or Fox Gnaws) wouldn’t have brought it up? Are they suddenly going to run ads on October 31st claiming to be shocked to discover that Obama’s father was, ohmygod, from Africa?! This is the usual attempt of a desperate campaign to distract voters with things that are shiny and keep them from discussing things like the economy, war, health care and, you know, that other unimportant liberal crap stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/23 "2008-10-12T09:13:44Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > My “one step” is getting over what I have thought for my whole life, and making sure my Dad never finds out if I do vote for Obama. 🙂 The second part is easy. For the first part, keep in mind this maxim: do not discard the good while waiting for the perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/24 "2008-10-12T09:29:41Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > My “one step” is getting over what I have thought for my whole life, and making sure my Dad never finds out if I do vote for Obama. 🙂 Who knows? Maybe jtgain senior is saying to _his_ buddies: “My ‘one step’ is getting over what I have thought for my whole life, and making sure my son never finds out if I do vote for Obama.” you never know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/25 "2008-10-12T11:56:33Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Is he a dangerous guy who is “palling around with terrorists” or his he a “decent family man” who we “shouldn’t be scared” to have as POTUS? > > If he is associating himself with terrorists then why shouldn’t everyone be scared? If he is a decent family man, then why is McCain standing by Palin’s inflammatory remarks? > > Or is this a case of McCain’s deteriorating campaign’s left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? > > I have voted GOP in every election my whole life. I am one step away from breaking that tradition.. McCain is desperate, Trying to tie Obama to a terriorist who when Obama was only a young boy. I wonder, would McCain and Palin spread the same things about the present Pope? The pope as a boy was in the Nazi youth movement. McCain semed to imply that because Obama worked on an education project with Ayers he is paling around with terrorists. I say, Shame on Palin and shame on McCain, they both are touted as “Good” christians yet spread such dirt. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/26 "2008-10-12T14:44:30Z")
The beauty of “he pals around with terrorists” is that many of their potential voters immediately assume that means Arab, Muslim terrorists, because they believe Barack Obama is a stealth Muslim and a half-Arab passing as a half-African. Then when they refer to Bill/William Ayers as “[Willie Ayers](http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200810060018?show=1),” it makes the unconscious mental connection with Willie Horton, a scary murderer who was black. It’s amazing what misinformation if floating around out there, accepted as truth. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/27 "2008-10-12T15:20:59Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Is he a dangerous guy who is “palling around with terrorists” or his he a “decent family man” who we “shouldn’t be scared” to have as POTUS? > > If he is associating himself with terrorists then why shouldn’t everyone be scared? If he is a decent family man, then why is McCain standing by Palin’s inflammatory remarks? > > Or is this a case of McCain’s deteriorating campaign’s left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? > > I have voted GOP in every election my whole life. I am one step away from breaking that tradition.. I thought the McCain campaign was talking about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, or John Adams. Didn’t they “pal around” with terrorists - and far more than Barak Obama? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/28 "2008-10-12T18:24:29Z")
How about an ad that questions McCain’s self control. After you read the article at… > **[Report: McCain Exploded With Rage During Gambling Outing](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/report-mccain-exploded-wi_n_133242)** > > Report: McCain Exploded With Rage During Gambling Outing …click on the video beneath it. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/29 "2008-10-12T18:33:03Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > How about an ad that questions McCain’s self control. After you read the article at… > > [Report: McCain Exploded With Rage During Gambling Outing | HuffPost Latest News](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/09/report-mccain-exploded-wi_n_133242.html) > > …click on the video beneath it. Meh. I don’t buy any of that. Like anything else, there is probably an element of truth to it, and a lot of it is exaggerated. If McCain was that explosive, he would have been arrested a few times for it.. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/30 "2008-10-12T18:43:44Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Meh. I don’t buy any of that. Like anything else, there is probably an element of truth to it, and a lot of it is exaggerated. If McCain was that explosive, he would have been arrested a few times for it.. Splendid rebuttal. You’ve convinced me. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/31 "2008-10-12T19:00:05Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Meh. I don’t buy any of that. Like anything else, there is probably an element of truth to it, and a lot of it is exaggerated. If McCain was that explosive, he would have been arrested a few times for it.. Just don’t let him close to any buttons that you wouldn’t want Mr. Smithers to push. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/32 "2008-10-12T19:02:50Z")
If McCain’s “message” seems incoherent, consider the tips he’s getting from his frellow GOPers: ADVICE FROM GOP LEADERS: He Should Highlight Rev Wright, Ayers… He Shouldn’t Highlight Rev Wright, Ayers… He Needs To Show “He Really Knows How To Strengthen The Economy”… He Needs To “Change The Subject To Something Else”… He Should “Essentially Go Back To The Basics”… He Needs To “Focus On A Single Message”… > **[HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News](https://www.huffpost.com/)** > > Read the latest headlines, news stories, and opinion from Politics, Entertainment, Life, Perspectives, and more. I almost feel sorry for the SOB. :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/33 "2008-10-12T19:09:37Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Meh. I don’t buy any of that. Like anything else, there is probably an element of truth to it, and a lot of it is exaggerated. If McCain was that explosive, he would have been arrested a few times for it.. Really? The same was as a Navy pilot who’d dropped several planes due to bad judgement and assing off would lose his wings and be grounded? Like that? ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/34 "2008-10-12T19:21:45Z")
I howled with laughter at the article (again at Huffington Post) in which Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager said On Fox News, that he wants Obama to apologize for John Lewis’s remarks about McCain’s George-Wallace-level of hate stoking. I’ve gone back to HP to find that story, but I can’t. It’s so fucking bizarre, I must be making it up it up. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/35 "2008-10-12T19:33:14Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Is he a dangerous guy who is “palling around with terrorists” or his he a “decent family man” who we “shouldn’t be scared” to have as POTUS? > > If he is associating himself with terrorists then why shouldn’t everyone be scared? If he is a decent family man, then why is McCain standing by Palin’s inflammatory remarks? > > Or is this a case of McCain’s deteriorating campaign’s left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing? > > I have voted GOP in every election my whole life. I am one step away from breaking that tradition.. Look, while I believe that Obama is the best bet for president, I’m not comfortable with the prevalent charge that McCain’s attempt to link Obama with Ayer’s as a terrorist, with Rezko as a felon, and Wright as a subversive racist shit disturber is unwarranted. In each case Obama associated himself with these people as his benefactors financially or spiritually. At best he used these people (I personally don’t have a problem with that), or at worst he lacked judgement or just plain naive. On the other side we have Obama linking McCain with Bush. Never mind that association was not voluntary. McCain was a Republican long before Bush and involved in federal politics even much longer than Bush. Never mind that the animosity between the two has been ongoing for at least 8 years. Yet given the general contempt throughout America for Bush, far greater than Ayers, I’d say that McCain got the short end of the stick on this particular issue. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/36 "2008-10-12T19:47:33Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > I howled with laughter at the article (again at Huffington Post) in which Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager said On Fox News, that he wants Obama to apologize for John Lewis’s remarks about McCain’s George-Wallace-level of hate stoking. > > I’ve gone back to HP to find that story, but I can’t. It’s so fucking bizarre, I must be making it up it up. :rolleyes: [Here](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/12/mccain-chief-uses-pow-car_n_133959.html). ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/37 "2008-10-12T19:50:36Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Look, while I believe that Obama is the best bet for president, I’m not comfortable with the prevalent charge that McCain’s attempt to link Obama with Ayer’s as a terrorist, with Rezko as a felon, and Wright as a subversive racist shit disturber is unwarranted. In each case Obama associated himself with these people as his benefactors financially or spiritually. At best he used these people (I personally don’t have a problem with that), or at worst he lacked judgement or just plain naive. > > On the other side we have Obama linking McCain with Bush. Never mind that association was not voluntary. McCain was a Republican long before Bush and involved in federal politics even much longer than Bush. Never mind that the animosity between the two has been ongoing for at least 8 years. > > Yet given the general contempt throughout America for Bush, far greater than Ayers, I’d say that McCain got the short end of the stick on this particular issue. …Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/38 "2008-10-12T19:54:33Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Meh. I don’t buy any of that. Like anything else, there is probably an element of truth to it, and a lot of it is exaggerated. If McCain was that explosive, he would have been arrested a few times for it.. [http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain\_temper\_boiled\_over\_in\_92\_0407.html](http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_temper_boiled_over_in_92_0407.html) Do you buy this. His explosive temper has been well known for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/39 "2008-10-13T11:47:29Z")
Just a post script, but wasn’t Jesus accused of being a wino and that he hung around with sinners? Would they use that against Jesus if he was running today? Besmirching a person is a poor way to act as a Christian. Monavis ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547/40 "2008-10-13T12:34:03Z")
I find it funny that the word “pal” is being dissected since it came out a week or so ago. No one was very interested in what the word “neighbor” meant when Obama used that description way back when. Whatever the message is, McCain has a perfect opportunity to make it the focal point the last couple of weeks since the libs are so outraged over all the inflaming going on. \ If you wouldn’t think of voting for a black man because of his skin color… I don’t want your vote. Go away. A man’s character doesn’t have anything to do with skin color. Here are the character reasons you shouldn’t vote for him … Ayers, the Reverand… \ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-mccains-message-on-obama/467547.md?page=3)