Posted on 08/14/2008 12:01:24 PM PDT by pissant
In stark contrast with the Kerry campaign in 2004, the Obama campaign is mapping out an aggressive counter-attack against the new Swift-Boat-Vet style book targeting Obama -- including plans to dig more deeply into the author's past statements, plans for increased surrogate action against the book, and stepped up pressure on high-level media executives to let the Obama team have air time to rebut the charges.
The plan is taking shape amid new signs that the book -- by Jerome Corsi, who wrote the tome that formed the basis for the attacks on Kerry -- will have staying power and become a real factor in the campaign.
We've just learned, for instance, that the Corsi book, called Obama Nation, will be number one on the New York Times best seller list two weeks running, according to an early copy of the list from the Sunday after next we obtained. It was previously known that it would debut at number one this weekend, but the fact that it will stay there for a second week running suggests the attacks will continue to resonate.
We've also learned that a second anti-Obama tome -- The Case Against Barack Obama, by David Freddoso -- will also debut at number five on the best-seller list the week after next.
Obama advisers say that whenever they hear that Corsi has been booked for an appearance on a network program, they are quickly contacting the program's producers to rebut the book's charges in phone conversations and giving them a whole run-down of past Corsi quotes that are controversial.
Obama aides also vow to insist that the producers allow them to have on a campaign surrogate to attack the charges, and are expecting to recruit more campaign surrogates, well plied with talking points, to push back against the book.
Obama aides also say they'll soon be blasting an extensive fact-check of the book to the campaign's national press list. They've also created something called "Action Wire," which is designed to use the campaign's formidable email list to spread debunking of the book's charges.
Obama Camp Knows Media Will Cover Book No Matter What
It's way too early to know whether such a counter-campaign will be successful or whether the push-back will be effective or sufficiently forceful. But the mere fact that the Obama campaign is planning an aggressive counter-attack suggests differences with Kerry's early approach.
Indeed, the planning reflects an uncomfortable reality for the Obama camp: They realize that the book, and any ensuing GOP attacks in its wake, are certain to continue to get extensive media coverage.
"Despite the fact that Mr. Corsi has no credibility, we understand the reality that its going to get covered, and are going to aggressively work to make sure people understand that this is nothing more than a rehash of already debunked lies," an Obama campaign adviser says.
In 2004, when the Swift Boat Vets first targeted Kerry, a debate erupted within his camp over whether it was better to ignore the book or to immediately strike back against it and bring it more attention. Early on, Kerry advisers chose the former path.
Obama advisers have concluded, however, that there's little to no chance that ignoring the book will deprive it of media oxygen. They are trying to strike the right balance, going on the offensive against the book without sparking even more media attention than it's getting already.
To that end, much of the pushback against the book is being done behind the scenes, through the dissemination of controversial quotes from Corsi's past and the planned extensive fact check.
Will it be enough? With Corsi already on record saying that he plans to collaborate with conservative groups to run ads, we'll soon find out.
A Sinclair cramp, apparently
Maybe an interview with a real journalist would help here, I hear Hannity has a standing opening.
Obama, his word is no good his signature is no good, his character is no good. Did I miss anything.
When an anti-Bush comes out, the author gets the red carpet treatment and is the darling of the media, getting tons of free positive publicity. When an anti-Obama books comes out, the author gets black listed and Obama gets the red carpet treatment and plenty of free publicity to respond.
I didn’t even know Kenya had a navy .
Good deal! It just serves to give the book even more coverage and public awareness.
Debunking the truth is a hard to do.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I am sure the Swiftboaters are scared..NOT! You and whose Army Obama?
This is just great. Let this phony, lying, anti-American charlatan reprobate try and wiggle his way out of the TRUTH. Expect a lot of lying, and expect it ALL to be printed by the MSM -—
Obama has an infomercial?
It’s funny how LIBERALS consider truthful,footnoted FACTS as a PERSONAL ATTACK.
Be Careful, osama..errr ... NOBAMA, truth has a tendency to overcome SPIN!! People know truth when they see it. And so far, You’re NOT IT!!
Corsi’s book is #1 this week on NYTimes Book List. Pelosi’s has sold maybe 3000 by now.
Not to mention the barage of dirt the Clinton's are about to unleash about the big O before the convention. As Ed Sullivan used to say: "Stay tuned for a really big show".
But the people who support won’t read the book. Instead they’ll fall lock-step with the attack against Corsi.
Everyone should buy Corsi’s book, even if they never open it. Worth the 22 or so dollars just to see Obama wince!
**Obama has an infomercial?**
He has Several called: NIGHTLINE, CBS Evening News, NBC News, ABC News and the Communist News Network (CNN) .. there are more but...
Swifties sent tons of documentation along with the ads, so when the station got hammered by “surrogates” they could go over it point by point. In this case the station will have the book.
Kerry's surrogates were reduced to screaming over the Swifties on TV so that they could not be heard. That was back in 2004, but the alternate information outlets are much stronger now (I for one person have bought NEW pajamas, have a gilded mug for my hot chocolate, and my new slippers are bunny slippers with a red LED on the nose that blinks when I walk).
I think trying to suppress knowledge of the book and “refute” its research will help Obama Nation, not Obama, no matter what MSM does.
....”and stepped up pressure on high-level media executives to let the Obama team have air time to rebut the charges....”
I would love a sit down, gentlemanly opportunity for Obama to counter these charges and accusations in Corsi’s book.
Problem is you have to have a hard hitting well,
Russert Style, journalist interviewing him and not Larry King or O ‘ Reilly. Both are lazy and ill prepared for hard hitting interviews.
Corsi covers ALOT of ground from the man’s upbringing to the people he’s associated with.
Saul Alinsky e.g. Does Obama think he’s a great man, as does Hillary Clinton, or not?
The association with Ayers is clear and not because of some mutual relationship based on their kids. Ayer’s kids are grown.
Lastly, Obama’s views on the issues. Corsi’s book is really all about issues. It’s not based on rumor and innuendos.
I want to hear Obama’s response to energy, reparations, taxes, Iraq, etc etc.
Bring it on...
“including plans to dig more deeply into the author’s past statements”
Attack the messenger.
Hmmm, doesnt make the message untrue.
Maybe the author should have been “Anonymous”.
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