# What tactics will Republicans use against Obama? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 21, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604 "2008-02-21T19:33:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/1 "2008-02-21T19:33:32Z")
So far they are testing out: “It’s not inspirational; it’s creepy messianic. No substance.” “No resume. McCain is experienced.” “He’s an extreme liberal with a Leftist agenda. McCain is centrist.” “His wife hates America.” I am sure they’ll trot out the Rezco horse again too. Will any work with either the middle or with exciting the base? Any other tactics that they may try? Other than, y’know, actually discussing issues and contrasts between them on things like Iraq and stuff, which of course will not be a focus. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/2 "2008-02-21T19:38:18Z")
I hate to say this about a fellow dem but watch the Clinton’s Camp and what they have been doing. Otherwise, the ones you brought up are spot on for the most part. No matter, Obama with Hillary out of his way will trounce McCain. I’d predict a 60/40 or maybe even higher. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/3 "2008-02-21T19:39:07Z")
Some people do seem to have a visceral reaction to the Obama hype, so some of that could be effective for them. McCain’s speech on Tuesday focused mostly on the experience card, particularly in the context of Commander in Chief. That argument hasn’t worked very well for Clinton, but since McCain has a much stronger military resume it could work better for him. He also did play the substance card. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/4 "2008-02-21T19:40:10Z")
They’ve already given us a head’s up: > [@](#): > > [RNC Donor Event Outlines Obama Attack Plan](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/17/politics/politico/main3841826.shtml?source=RSSattr=Politics_3841826) > > Focusing on Barack Obama’s “inexperience” and “undisciplined messaging” are two ways to ensure that the senator from Illinois doesn’t get to be president, according to honchos at the Republican National Committee. > > Big RNC contributors got an earful this weekend about methods the GOP will use to battle the Democrats for control of the White House this fall, as well as other initiatives central to the conservative cause. > > . . . > > RNC Chairman Duncan as well as Co-Chairman Jo Ann Davidson opened the Sunday session with a Power Point presentation outlining five main strategic attacks against the Obama candidacy. The first called for pointing out what the GOP views as a seeming incongruity between Obama and the mantle of commander in chief. The second point harkened back to Obama’s days in the Illinois state Senate, noting how his “pattern of voting ‘present’ offers many openings to question his candidacy.” The third offered hope to the GOP faithful that “we can be confident in a campaign about issues.” A fourth bullet point relayed how “undisciplined messaging carries great risk,” while the fifth and final attack point stressed, “His greatest weakness is inexperience. He is not ready to be president. He is not ready to be commander in chief.” And it seems good ol’ Hillary is going to give them all the ammunition they need for that last one. > [@](#): > > [Clinton: Obama Isn’t Ready To Be President](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/21/politics/washingtonpost/main3855870.shtml) > > Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a tough new offensive against Sen. Barack Obama on Wednesday, asserting flatly that her rival for the Democratic presidential nomination is not prepared to serve as commander in chief. > > “It is time to get real – to get real about how we actually win this election, and get real about the challenges facing America,” the senator from New York told a cheering crowd at Hunter College in Manhattan. > > . . . > > But instead of shifting course, Clinton redoubled her attempt to undermine his change-oriented message. “One of us is ready to be commander in chief,” she told the crowd in New York. “Let’s get real. Let’s get real about this election, let’s get real about our future, let’s get real about what it is we can do together.” Obama has had a “good couple of weeks,” she allowed, but said his victories had come in states that he was expected to win. Clinton predicted that when voters in Ohio and Texas have the opportunity to take his measure, his run of success will end. > > . . . Thanks, Hil! ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/5 "2008-02-21T19:41:40Z")
Well, I’ve heard some religious nutters fiddling around with “Obama is the Antichrist” And then as to experience, there will be, “This is a time of war,” or “These are dangerous times,” and “We can’t afford to give an inexperienced politician on-the-job training in these dangerous times.” ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/6 "2008-02-21T19:44:24Z")
Same sex marriage. Obama’s denomination, the United Church of Christ, is the only mainline denomination to support it. Not sure if Obama’s particular church supports it or not, however. Each church in the UCC has a great deal of autonomy. The United Church of Christ is congregational and each congregation makes their own decisions. Still, I’m sure this issue will get trotted out again, especially in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/7 "2008-02-21T19:47:42Z")
They _were_ hoping to use undocumented immigrants as a wedge issue, but McCain has supported amnesty, so _that’s_ out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/8 "2008-02-21T19:49:46Z")
I think the real question is what tactics WON’T the Republicans use. Honest Debate, reasoned discourse, and not fear mongering are among that short list. With the crack/gay prostitute to the “stealth Muslim” to “all talk, no substance” to “socialist”, there is nothing you won’t hear from them. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/9 "2008-02-21T19:53:24Z")
[QUOTE=Hamlet] there is nothing you won’t hear from them. [/QUOTE] Well, there is _one_ thing you won’t hear: “We think Obama’s a pretty good guy, and will probably be a better President than our guy, so we’re going to withdraw and let him have the office uncontested.” Oh, and they probably also won’t say, “Robot monkeys pound our testicles into Nilla wafers,” either. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/10 "2008-02-21T20:00:01Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] They’ve already given us a head’s up: And it seems good ol’ Hillary is going to give them all the ammunition they need for that last one. Thanks, Hil! [/QUOTE] Oh GAWD - does Clinton really think millions of people are just going to say, Yep you’r right! I’ll vote for you now… There aren’t enough rolleyes to give that one. LOL!! ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/11 "2008-02-21T20:03:01Z")
I don’t think McCain’s campaign will bring out cockroaches like Swift Boat Veterans for Truth or anything like that. He’ll jab at Obama’s percieved lack of experience, his percieved lack of a policy platform, and his percieved ultra-liberalism. He’ll tout his own reputation, his military buddies will campaign heavily for him, he’ll try to convince us that his military background proves he is the better candidate for handling terrorism. I think the biggest issue going for him right now is that there’s a rift between him and the parts of the Republican party that are so distasteful to moderates. He doesn’t have great religious fundamentalist support, which by itself makes him seem more “moderate”. He’s almost in line with Democrats when it comes to environmental issues, and he’s percieved as moderate on tax issues as well. If he doesn’t turn around and try to court the extreme conservatives, he’ll end up with a whole lot of “regular people” votes that wouldn’t ever have considered voting for Romney or Huckabee. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/12 "2008-02-21T20:11:25Z")
Obama himself is against same-sex marriage, although he’s pro-civil union. I can’t really see John McCain making a lot of hay on that issue. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/13 "2008-02-21T20:22:46Z")
Here’s what I see happening: > [@hypothetical campaign ad](#): > > Ad opens with a slightly-past-middle-age couple at their kitchen table. One of them is reading a newspaper. > > Man: “It says here that Ba-rack Obama says [some inspirational thing]. You know, I don’t think I even know what that means.” > > Woman: “Yeah, what does that mean, really? I mean, it sounds nice and all…” > > Man: “Sure, but when you get down to it, there’s nothing there. You put all these words together, and what does it add up to? All sizzle, and no steak.” > > Woman: “I want someone who tells it to me straight.” > > Man: “Especially at a time like this. Our enemies sure won’t be persuaded by fancy-sounding words.” > > Voiceover: “John McCain, tough talk for a tough time.” Republicans don’t attack Dems where the Dems are weak; they attack where the Dems are strong. Al Gore was a sober pragmatist, so they painted him as a liar and loon. John Kerry was a decorated veteran, so we got the Swift Boaters. (The preceding is paraphrased from some ideas of Chris Kelly’s, in a previous article on Huffington Post). Obama is an inspirational genius, so they will paint him as a snake-oil salesman. They will tell us that he’s a smooth talker, but we’re too smart for him. We’re not persuaded by all that talk. Bonus points in Missouri for quoting Willard Duncan Vandiver, who gave rise to the state’s motto with these words: “frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me.” (For the record, I’m voting Obama.) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/14 "2008-02-21T20:48:12Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Obama himself is against same-sex marriage, although he’s pro-civil union. I can’t really see John McCain making a lot of hay on that issue. [/QUOTE] So was Kerry. Still, Kerry was from Massachussetts, Massachussetts had legal same sex unions. I’m not sure how much this issue will be in play outside of Florida in 2008. The issue has been beaten into the ground the past 4 years. ---
**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:** [February 21, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/15 "2008-02-21T20:53:12Z")
McCain is already echoing Clinton on the experience all all speech no plan thing, but the more she tried that, the more votes Obama got. It’s funny, that whenever a candidate goes heavily into policy wonkdom, they get criticized for it. I’m sure they’ll play the military card, but this might just remind people about Iraq. I’m sure they’ll try the “he’ll raise your taxes” ploy also. The real question I think is whether McCain will sell out to the Rovites to get elected, or if he will maintain some integrity. Depending on the answer to that, we’ll see very different sets of tactics. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/16 "2008-02-21T20:54:44Z")
“Obama is the most liberal Senator in Washington.” -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/17 "2008-02-21T21:57:40Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Obama himself is against same-sex marriage, although he’s pro-civil union. I can’t really see John McCain making a lot of hay on that issue. [/QUOTE] Agreed: it initially caused a stir over here and then meh. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/18 "2008-02-21T22:00:28Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Oh, and they probably also won’t say, “Robot monkeys pound our testicles into Nilla wafers,” either. [/QUOTE] No, it would be “Robot monkeys SENT BY HUSSEIN OSAMA WILL pound YOUR testicles into Nilla wafers”. It’ll probably be a 527 for that. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/19 "2008-02-21T22:13:41Z")
He’ll raise your taxes. He has no executive experience. He has no military experience. His courage has never been tested to the ultimate. He has less than one term of experience in Congress. You know - all those nasty, unfair slanders that Republicans use. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604/20 "2008-02-21T22:15:52Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] “Obama is the most liberal Senator in Washington.” -Joe [/QUOTE] Even more liberal than [Bernie Sanders.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders) So they will say. And he’s already being called a “socialist” and a “Marxist” on the more rabid-right message boards. (“Communist,” not so much. Have you noticed how nobody seems to use “Communist” as invective any more?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tactics-will-republicans-use-against-obama/438604.md?page=2)