More Attack Ads in 2008
Looks like John McCain will be slinging some mud in his 2008 presidential campaign. There are far worse people that could occupy the White House (oh God why didn’t he get the nomination in 2000?), but this seems like quite a change. What ever happened to the Straight Talk Express?
Part of McCain’s appeal was always his bluntness and candor. He shot from the hip; if you didn’t like it, there’s the door. In 2000 his straight-forwardness was a refreshing contrast to Bush’s Stay-On-Message style, where every twitch was choreographed.
McCain was slimed and slandered by Bush/Rove in 2000. It’s too bad he’s decided to start using the Swiftboat method himself. He’s hired the same hit squad that came up with the “Harold, Call Me” ad that sank the senate campaign of Harold Ford.
Terry Nelson was one of the creators of the racist campaign against Harold Ford. He was also involved in a scheme to jam Democratic phone lines during the 2002 election. Nelson also worked on Wal-Mart’s phony “grass roots” campaign called Working Families for Wal-Mart. (LOL. Sounds like a Saturday Night Live skit.)
And that’s not all: Terry Nelson also played a role in some of Tom DeLay’s money-laundering scandals.
Come on, John, are these the kind of sleazebags you want to be involved with? Bring back the Straight Talk Express.
posted by Tom Harper @ 12:52 PM
9 Comments:
It's truly sad to see what desperation has done to McCain. I even thought as recently as 2004 it would be really cool if somehow he could be convinced to run with Kerry.
J. Marquis: I agree, McCain has really deteriorated. He was already becoming more of a chameleon and an opportunist, but hiring these Swiftboaters was a new low.
Kvatch: Yeah, I think McCain could blow it by taking the sleazy route. He's been known for years as a shoot-from-the-hip person, and that's all too rare in politics. With all the political venom in Washington, I think bluntness and candor would be more beneficial than more attack ads.
Maybe McCain has always been this way, and what we used to see from him was just more choreographed twitching ala Dumbya... and what we are seeing now is the real McCain, a guy who is desperate and will do anything to win, and to gain power. Whatever he is, he is blowing it lately by talking about sending more troops to Iraq, and he will really blow it if he uses attack ad crap artists like Terry Nelson. Sheesh... People will look at that stuff, and they'll be more in a mood to view it critically than they have been for the last 6-8 years. It will look like Bush Redux if McCain doesn't watch his step.
Snave: That’s possible, that McCain’s bluntness was just a persona he developed for the cameras. It wouldn’t be the first time that somebody’s outspoken “take me or leave me” attitude was just a cultivated image. But I think he’ll blow it if he goes the sleaze route. I’ve been thinking this for years, but it really does seem now like the public is tired of Swiftboaters and attack ads.
I find it so disappointing the more and more mercenary McCain reveals himself to be - the thing is - there are those who are truly interested in keeping a balance of power (or getting back) in Washington, so a vote for McCain while maintaining a Democrat house and senate appeals to many. Or did until he started courting the extreme far right and started us questioning. Since the democrats really don't have a candidate - Obama is very exciting, but still too green and the nation is still too retarded to vote for a woman - we need someone we think would be a good moderate who would actually be presidential. Many thought that could be McCain. Now those easy votes are worried - I agree - bring back the straight talker.
Frstlymil: McCain's turned into such a chameleon, it's hard to know where he stands on anything. On almost every issue, he "voted for it before I voted against it." Or as somebody said about Bill Clinton, he "can come out on 3 sides of a 2-sided issue."
Between that and his hiring a sleazy campaign manager, he's gonna lose a lot of votes.
Maybe McCain is getting tired of getting his ass kicked by the sleezebags
Erik
Erik: Yeah, I'm sure that's his reasoning.
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