Posted on 12/16/2008 11:51:42 AM PST by lewisglad
Republicans moved aggressively over the weekend to link scandal-tarred Gov. Rod Blagojevich to President-elect Barack Obama -- a guilt-by-association tactic that represents a significant gamble for a party still looking to pick itself up off the electoral mat.
The Republican National Committee released a web video (read: electronic press release) over the weekend that dug up a series of pro-Blagojevich quotes from Obama -- dating back to 2002.
That video followed hard on a series of statements from the RNC over the last week that sought to raise questions about the nature and depth of Obama's ties to Blagojevich and that demanded more information concerning the number and substance of contacts between Obama's aides and the governor and his staff about the possible Senate appointment.
"Considering Barack Obama's promises of transparency and new politics, so far his less-than-forthcoming handling of the scandal in Illinois is disappointing," said RNC spokesman Alex Conant. "Obama has failed to answer many basic questions about the Blagojevich scandal. This a case where the American people will find out if Obama's campaign rhetoric is met with action or if it's just words."
The goal here is clear: Blagojevich is the prototypical example of political power run amok, and if he can be used in any way to slow Obama's momentum throughout the transition, then Republicans regard that as a worthwhile endeavor.
At issue for Republicans (and herein lies the risk) is whether, in fact, there is any there there as it relates to Obama's relationship with Blagojevich. If not, will voters perceive this strategy as nothing more than a partisan attack at a time when people want political leaders to come together to solve problems?
How hard will Republicans continue to push on Obama-Blagojevich? And will it work in their favor or blow up in their faces?
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
Nuff said.
Hey - how about somebody leak 0bama’s real birth certificate - without official attribution, of course.
Hey - how about somebody leak 0bama’s real birth certificate - without official attribution, of course.
Am I missing something? Seems to me any attempts to attach Blago and Obama have been in the media.
Half the country already thinks Zero knows more than he’s letting on.
RE :”strategy as nothing more than a partisan attack at a time when people want political leaders to come together to solve problems?”
I agree that this is very risky given BoB is so popular (he hasnt done anything yet). This is good for 527s and Hannity at least until it catches. Just my guess, then again, what do we have to lose?
Chris calls Ted Strickland a ‘moderate’ Dem when he’s actually a ‘progressive’!
Chris is a fool!
RNC ad is just about Duncan trying to keep his job.
That’s not the Blagojevich I know.
This POS is the center of the slime pool and no one questions anything?
Hopefully that pool has a fast emptying drain.
Don’t forget in 2006 how many equated Mark Foley with the Republican party. And before that with Newt.
There is a Democrat for President so they bring back out the split approval rating system, peronal and job. Bush only got one rating called "the approval rating". When everyone was sick of Clinton, they dumped personal approval ratings and just used job approval. It's a convenient system
Of course, now that his sycophants have done an internal review and has said the Messiah has done nothing wrong, I’m sure those “doubters” are now convinced.
“Guilt by Association?” Are they kidding? Emmanuel is, I believe, on TAPE with the governor talking about the Senate seat and I doubt that he did anything without Obigula’s blessing. They reek of it.
Voters have zero opinion about the openly partisan RNC fanning the flames of a legitimate scandal. Voters care about the corruption, which is one of those problems they "want political leaders to come together to solve."
At the very best, Obama did nothing to curtail the rampant corruption in the Illinois Democratic machine.
“Obama did nothing”
Sums up his entire career.
With any luck, the Blagojevich matter will not go away despite the MSM’s best efforts. And Obama will spend the next four years with his hands tied.
Pfff. Psyops.
"Democrat" count was... zero.
The author has a point-why can’t we treat the new president with a little kindness and respect-like the Democrats did to Bush during the start of his 2 terms.
Payback is a bitch.
Well, as someone noted on FOX the other evening, there was NO mention of Blago’s political affiliation by any of the major news networks or cable news shows.
Half of the country probably thinks Blago is a Republican and all (R) officials are corrupt - at least according to the DBM.
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