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Karl Rove: Obama Needs to Sell Himself, Not Attack McCain
The Wall Street Journal ^ | September 18, 2008 | Karl Rove

Posted on 09/18/2008 2:09:43 AM PDT by Puzzleman

Be careful not to assign too much scientific precision to polls. They aren't as accurate as portrayed. But several different surveys at roughly the same time that show similar results are useful guides. So three trends in recent polls must worry Sen. Barack Obama and encourage Sen. John McCain...

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: karlrove; mccain; mccainpalin; obama; rove
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Always interesting to read Karl Rove's analysis.
1 posted on 09/18/2008 2:09:44 AM PDT by Puzzleman
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To: All

“...Obama Needs to Sell Himself...”

OPINION:

It’s hard to sell, yet alone give away an eye-catching package filled with nothing.


2 posted on 09/18/2008 2:15:11 AM PDT by Cindy
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To: Puzzleman

Karl Rove needs to apologize to John McCain.

Barack Obama really did try to pass extremist Sex Education legislation in Illinois. It was a “Trojan Horse” bill with language hiding under the banner of “avoiding predators,” designed to allow provocative curriculum which would have sexualized children ages 5 through 8.

This columnist was involved in fighting it and writes about it:

http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2008/09/whats-age-appro.html


3 posted on 09/18/2008 2:18:40 AM PDT by unspun (Mike Huckabee: Government's job is "protect us, not have to provide for us.")
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To: Puzzleman
The problem for Barak is that the more people know him, the less they like him.

This is why his campaign is hiding all the information about him, and why the MSM is covering for him.

In the Dem primaries, where the voters are less suspicious of America hating socialist frauds, this was less of a problem (of course he still only got 50% of the vote).

In the general election, where voters are not so gullible and stupid, Barak has a serious problem. Which is why you want find him talking much about himself, who he is, or what he stands for. Instead, you'll find him attacking McCain, Palin, and indeed the American people - which after all, is what America hating socialist frauds are best at.

4 posted on 09/18/2008 2:20:46 AM PDT by TheWasteLand
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To: Puzzleman

Karl Rove: Obama Needs to Sell Himself, Not Attack McCain

Going negative has given him a huge bump in the polls so I don't see Obama changing his strategy any time soon.

McCain needs to fight back a whole lot harder. Treasongate and the economic advisor's from Lehman and Fannie and Freddie are ammo that McCain has but is for some reason not firing.
5 posted on 09/18/2008 2:32:13 AM PDT by j_k_l
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To: Puzzleman

Hi I’m Barack, I’m a Marxist.


6 posted on 09/18/2008 2:33:23 AM PDT by JohnLongIsland (jackmartins08.com NY 4th Congressional)
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To: unspun

the problem is that it is so extreme that it is hard to believe


7 posted on 09/18/2008 2:34:29 AM PDT by ari-freedom (We never hide from history. We make history!)
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To: unspun

I thought that was an odd claim, and even Rove went for it, add in the complete cover up of the Lipstick on a pig comment in re Sarah Palin via not completely quoting what Obama said and the entire media seems to be at odds with the facts.


8 posted on 09/18/2008 2:36:18 AM PDT by padre35 (Sarah Palin is the one we've been waiting for..Rom 10.10..)
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To: padre35

Hence the current poll numbers from the more opiated masses.


9 posted on 09/18/2008 2:49:30 AM PDT by unspun (Mike Huckabee: Government's job is "protect us, not have to provide for us.")
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To: padre35

No, I think I know what’s going on. We know that Obama is a bit... over-sensitive. Now, this election is not about k-12 sex ed or lipstick but they are used as “sparks” to set him up. The “match” wasn’t meant to last long.
We want Obama to go negative and look very ugly and that’s why Rove is giving advice to do the opposite. Obama will never listen to Karl Rove!


10 posted on 09/18/2008 2:53:21 AM PDT by ari-freedom (We never hide from history. We make history!)
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To: j_k_l
Treasongate and the economic advisor's from Lehman and Fannie and Freddie are ammo that McCain has but is for some reason not firing.

This does seem puzzling but we have to rememeber that John McCain is a soldgier. He understands you don't just empty the clip, because there are bullets in it. Remember how he laid low until right before Barry the Empty Suits convention and then all hell broke loose?

11 posted on 09/18/2008 2:54:24 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: AmericaUnited

I trust that he knows what he is doing. It is far too easy to get impatient. There is a long way to go and perhaps he is waiting until the market crash has settled down a little before going back on the attack.


12 posted on 09/18/2008 3:01:18 AM PDT by j_k_l
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To: j_k_l

The next couple of days will be the Economy.

The good thing is, this is an opportunity for McCain to take away Obama’s last major advantage.

* Hit hard with Obama not wanting a bipartisan commission because he is a BIG part of the problem. It was important enough for 9-11, why not now?

* Highlight despite 12 years in public office, Obama/Teleprompter has zero major reform accomplishments. Anyone can read from a teleprompter, but it takes guts to take on corruption.

* Highlight that Obama’s policies are detrimental to the Economy. Increased small business tax mean more job losses and you will pay more for things.


13 posted on 09/18/2008 3:03:45 AM PDT by igoramus08
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To: Puzzleman
I don't agree with Karl Rove. There's nothing wrong with going negative as long as it is done correctly. Your opponent and the media may not tell the truth about him. Then its your job to bring to light relevant facts about his background, beliefs and record to the public for it to judge. It can decide if the attacks are fair and if the things said about one's opponent lead them to change their opinion about him. Voters would rather hear the truth than hear nice things. And in an election as critical as the one, the former is definitely a good deal more important the latter. What it spells is the difference between victory and defeat. We know how the MSM/Drivebys treat Obama. Its time to set the truth about him straight. The American people who don't know anything about need to have him defined and that happens to be just where negative attacks can be devastatingly effective before the media can correct its errors. That, Karl Rove, is what a good campaign must do for the voters. Let's hope the McCain-Palin campaign does that job.

"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

14 posted on 09/18/2008 3:06:51 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: All

I hope Rove is putting out diverisions and misdirection. He hurt McCain by saying both sides were going negative and saying McCain was over the top (without specifics).
The media trumped that for 2 days, “Even Rove thinks McCain is McNasty”.


15 posted on 09/18/2008 3:08:08 AM PDT by shalom aleichem
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To: j_k_l
I had an interesting conversation with a friend of my son's last night.

He was talking about how he doesn't trust Obama and wouldn't vote for him. He is in college and all of the kids in his school are in the tank for Obama. He said he doesn't discuss his preference for McCain with them in fear he would be called a racist.

I thought it was very revealing and got me thinking that maybe some of the poll results lately that have given Obama the bounce that he has is indeed a result of the Bradley effect. I noticed that a lot in the media are once again bringing in the race card and that may have something to do with it.

Of course most is due to our current financial conditions, but I do believe there is more behind it than meets the eye.

I noticed Karl was on fire during H&C last night. He was strongly defending McCain and nailing Obama. I think he is ticked at how the media and DNC took his quote out of context in regards to his attack ad remarks.

16 posted on 09/18/2008 3:09:51 AM PDT by MissyMa
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To: Puzzleman

Obama has nothing to sell!


17 posted on 09/18/2008 3:10:05 AM PDT by DooDahhhh (AMEN)
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To: Puzzleman

How do you sell ten pounds of bullship stuffed into a five pound bag?


18 posted on 09/18/2008 3:24:46 AM PDT by Carley (she's all out of caribou.............)
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To: MissyMa

As a musician, I know a lot of libs and their families. They are all fired up about 0bammy. These are people who have never voted before, but will be voting this time. I believe that the youth vote, and the brain-dead liberal mom and sister vote will be quite substantial this year. I find it very scary, because all these jerks aren’t counted in the polls of “likely voters.”


19 posted on 09/18/2008 3:34:33 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: AmericaUnited
This does seem puzzling but we have to rememeber that John McCain is a soldgier. He understands you don't just empty the clip, because there are bullets in it.
Nice metaphor but the fact is that several times in this campaign the McCain people reacted to events with incredible swiftness and agility, getting the right message out at the right moment.

How can the financial bailout announcements not be the right time to go after Barak Omoney and all the other money-grubbing democRATS who caused this debacle?

What's the point of waiting in regards to THIS story?

The answer is there IS no point in waiting.

What's REALLY going on is that McCain got 2 points ahead in some polls and typical of "Republican strategists" since at least 2000, as soon as Republicans get a little ahead they become paralyzed with fear that if they do ANYTHING they'll blow their own lead.

Message to the McCain campaign: snap out of it boys and girls. Act aggressively, not fearfully. Please. A lot of folks are depending on you.

20 posted on 09/18/2008 3:40:04 AM PDT by samtheman
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