Posted on 10/10/2008 11:10:28 PM PDT by Gordon Greene
The political rhetoric continues to heat up in the U.S. presidential race. On Friday, Democrat Barack Obama accused Republican John McCain of trying to divide the country with angry remarks and negative television ads. For his part, McCain demanded that Obama answer questions about his relationship with a 1960's anti-war radical, William Ayers. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has the latest from Washington.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama waves at a rally at the Genoa Park and Amphitheater in Columbus, 10 Oct 2008 Democrat Barack Obama continued his campaign swing through the critical state of Ohio by focusing on the economy.
Obama urged Americans to remain calm even as they tracked the hour-to-hour volatility of the stock market and their dwindling retirement accounts. "So now is not the time for fear. Now is not the time for panic," he said. "Now is not the time to turn Americans against each other. Now is the time for resolve and steady leadership."
Obama also noted the continuing attacks on his character from the McCain campaign. Obama said it was part of a McCain strategy to divert public attention away from the ongoing economic crisis and whip up anger among Republicans attending McCain rallies.
"Nothing is easier than riling up a crowd by stoking anger and division, but that is not what we need right now in the United States," he said. "The times are too serious. The challenges are too great. The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country. They are looking for someone who can lead this country."
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain greets supporters at a rally in La Crosse, Wisconsin, 10 Oct 2008 Senator McCain campaigned Friday in another key Midwest battleground state, Wisconsin. McCain urged supporters to rally behind his campaign in the final weeks before the election on November 4.
"I am here this morning to ask your help in a tough and hard-fought election," he said. "And it is tough and we are the underdogs and we are going to come from behind like we have every time in the past. How many times, my friends, have the pundits written off the McCain campaign? We are going to fool them again. We are going to fool them one more time."
McCain argued that he would be a stronger leader to deal with the financial crisis.
But McCain also kept up his attack on Obama over the Democrat's ties with 1960's anti-war radical William Ayers. Ayers and Obama live near one another in Chicago and have served together on charity boards, but the Obama campaign says the two men are not close.
During his Wisconsin rally, McCain said it was time Obama was more forthcoming about his relationship with Ayers. "Rather than answer his critics, Senator Obama will try to distract you from noticing that he never answers the serious and legitimate questions he has been asked," he said.
The McCain campaign has also released a new television ad that accuses Obama of lying to cover up his links with Ayers. Many political experts question whether McCain's strategy of attacking Obama's character will have much of an impact in the midst of a financial crisis.
Larry Sabato directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "They will be determined on the basis of those big issues, especially the ones bundled with the economy," he said. "That is what will determine this election no matter how many charges are made back and forth about William Ayers or the Keating Five or all the rest of it. These are almost irrelevancies."
The continuing focus on the economy seems to be helping Obama and hurting McCain in public opinion polls.
The latest Reuters-Zogby-Cspan poll gives Obama a lead over McCain by a margin of 48 to 43 percent. Other national polls in recent days put Obama ahead of McCain by margins of anywhere from three to eight percentage points.
The quote about Obama asking us all to "remain calm". Kind of ironic; the guy who's causing all the panic trying to soothe the masses.
IMO, McCain should frame it not as character flaw, but as dangerous person to be in the White House. Those attacks on affiliations with Ayers, ACORNS, etc., should not be about characters. It should be about policies that might be instituted by 0bama if he win the election.
Obama doesn’t like his past questioned does he?
The MSM says it is bad to do that. McCain should stop because it is just making people angry.
They ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
A simple question McCain should be asking at every opportunity:
"Senator Obama, when have you led, ever? And what were the results?
"And how does this prepare you to run the world's most powerful economy AND most powerful military?"
I heard someone questioning Hannity about it being called a “lack of good judgement” that Obama has. Her opinion was that it was not a lack of judgement but a lack of character.
Hannity disagreed with her, but he was dead wrong. Obama does not have a lack of judgement. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He has judged it correct to hang out with terrorists and hate white people and America...
Either way, you’re dead on. It ain’t a simple character flaw and the McCain camp doesn’t need to tiptoe around it.
Obama is a horrendous, evil character with destruction in mind.
I don’t remember one sympathetic article in the scumbag “media” saying “Governor Palin Responds to the Attacks On Her Family.” These maggots were all too busy piling on.
This terrorist-loving punk ought to “respond” by dropping out of the race and resigning from the Senate. Failing that, he should be arrested for abetting treason.
The little turd isn't there yet. But I'm really uncomfortable with the fact he might be. What the hell is wrong with people who support this turd?
Its easy to be all sweetness & light when your rabid followers in the MSM, entertainment industry, electorate, etc. will do all the character attacks for you. That way you can be all hopey/changey. The Lamb of Chicago isn’t even working all that hard against McCain/Palin, he doesn’t have too.
That is the only sensible explanation for why people would favor a hostile black racist who practices Stalinism and support for terrorism.
Obama preaches change. Here is something to think about. You wake up monday morning feeling good. Friday you have a doctors appointment. The doctor tells you you have cancer. That is a Change. But is it a good one?
It must be something in the water. Hell that's too simple. It is years of brainwashing that goes unrecognized by simple minds that don't realize it's being done to them.
I think McCain should harp on Obama’s ability to lead anyone out of any crisis. Would you want to follow Obama into battle? Would you want to even serve alongside him in battle? Would you want to put him in charge of your future? What has he done to warrant anyone’s confidence in his ability to govern ANYthing or ANYone?
So Obama is good at pointing out the obvious that a lot of people are suffering economic hardship at the moment. Are his solutions to this suffering more government handouts?
What kind of change does Obama want for the U.S.A.???????
Hell. He and many of his buddies caused it. Now he wants us to believe he can cure it?
The question of the hour. You know the answer.
Yup. His cure is to give more nonexistent $$$$$$$ to people.
I was talking to a friend the other day who is having her own financial woes. She heard Pelosi talking about another stimulus package for regular folks, and the friend was almost violently angry. She’s one of the demographic that Obama wants to sway, and she’s fed up with these people who want to destroy the country and rebuild it in their image.
Fire up the printing press and inflate the currency. That will do the trick.
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