Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008
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OBAMA
Declaration Of Independence Vs. The Federalist Papers
Barack Obama "sharpened his attacks" 9/8 against John McCain in a pair of MI campaign stops. At both stops, Obama described McCain's "Original Mavericks" ad-- released 9/8-- as "shameless."
At North Farmington High School, and an earlier stop in Flint, Obama "struck back at McCain and Sarah Palin's new campaign strategy of portraying themselves as fighters for change." Obama: "It's empty words. They're just saying it. 'That guy Obama has been talking about change, and that seems to have been working, so maybe we should try it too'" (Hornbeck/Cain, Detroit News, 9/9).
And "just in case no one got the message, Obama's team later released a hard-hitting ad that disputed" McCain and Palin's self-description as "mavericks," with Palin's "bridge flip-flop Exhibit A" (Satonstall, New York Daily News, 9/9). The Obama camp released the 30-second response ad, "No Maverick," on 9/8 "in key battleground states across the country" (release, 9/8).
Of Vice And Men
On 9/8 Obama accused Palin "of lobbying" for the Bridge to Nowhere "and then hiding her initial position when she ran for governor and the project became unpopular" (Holmes/Meckler, Wall Street Journal, 9/9). Obama: "You can't just make stuff up. You can't just reinvent yourself. The American people aren't stupid. What they're looking for is someone who has consistently called for change" (Christoff/Gray, Detroit Free Press, 9/9).
AP's Pickler writes, Obama is now "putting as much heat on Palin as he is on the man at the top of the GOP ticket, objecting to the" GOP's "portrayal of her as a reformer" (9/9).
New York Daily News' Saltonstall writes, Obama finally "went after" Palin on 9/8 "casting" her "as a flip-flopper with 'extreme' views" (9/9).
Obama spokesperson Tommy Vietor issued the following statement today after Palin repeated her Bridge to Nowhere claim: "On the same day that dozens of news organizations have exposed Governor Palin's phony Bridge to Nowhere claim as a 'naked lie,' she and John McCain continue to repeat the claim in their stump speeches. Maybe tomorrow she'll tell us she sold it on eBay" (release, 9/9).
Post-Exxon Valdez Partner Stunts
"Pounding hard on a theme he hopes will win the hearts" of MI's working-class voters, Obama "accused" McCain "of wanting to stick with the economic policies that have made it harder for middle-class families to get by." Obama: "You don't have to tell the people of Flint or the people of Michigan that our economy is not in good shape. You do need to tell John McCain -- because just a few weeks ago he said the economy was fundamentally sound" (AP, 9/9).
Obama pointed to "the August national unemployment rate of 6.1% -- the highest in five years -- to criticize" Bush's "stewardship," saying that "the McCain campaign is deliberately avoiding the U.S. economy, hoping instead to make the presidential election a contest of personalities."
Obama "told the crowd of 250 in Flint that he, not McCain, would revitalize the U.S. auto industry with billions of dollars to develop electric and alternative fuel vehicles that will create new jobs" (Detroit Free Press, 9/9). Also in MI, Obama "chided" GOP delegates for chanting "drill, baby, drill" at the convo, asking: "What kind of slogan is that? I could see it if you were cheerleaders for Exxon-Mobil."
Obama's 9/8 visit was his third visit to MI in nine days, "highlighting the closeness of the race" in the state. Obama's MI spokesperson Brent Colburn: "And you'll see us here a lot more" (Detroit News, 9/9).
PG-13 County!
Ahead of his speech today on "A 21st Century Education," Obama launched a new TV ad, "What Kind," criticizing McCain's record on education (release, 9/9). The ad will begin airing today on nat'l cable (Hotline reporting, 9/9).
Obama is in southern OH "today to propose a expansion of public school choice programs, part of an agenda that could boost his appeal to crossover and independent voters but test his relationship with teachers unions."
Obama does not support publicly funded vouchers to pay for private school, as many GOPers do. But 'today he will repeat his support for charter schools, first made before" he won the primary. Obama wants to double the roughly $200M "a year that goes from the federal government to charter schools, according to an adviser. He also will call for a broader array of alternative public schools, from Montessori to vocational to career academies, with first-year funding of his education reforms at just under" $1B (Koff/Stephens, Cleveland Plain Dealer, 9/9).
Some speech excerpts:
• "For decades, they've been stuck in the same tired debates over education that have crippled our progress and left schools and parents to fend for themselves. It's been Democrat versus Republican, vouchers versus the status quo, more money versus more reform. There's partisanship and there's bickering, but there's no understanding that both sides have good ideas that we'll need to implement if we hope to make the changes our children need. And we've fallen further and further behind as a result."
• "Giving our parents real choices about where to send their kids to school also means showing the same kind of leadership at the national level that I did in Illinois when I passed a law to double the number of charter schools in Chicago. That is why as President, I'll double the funding for responsible charter schools. Now, I know you've had a tough time with for-profit charter schools here in Ohio. That is why I'll work with Governor Strickland to hold for-profit charter schools accountable, and I'll work with all our nation's governors to hold all our charter schools accountable."
• "And when our teachers succeed in making a real difference in our children's lives, we should reward them for it by finding new ways to increase teacher pay that are developed with teachers, not imposed on them. We can do this. From Prince George County in Maryland to Denver, Colorado, we're seeing teachers and school boards coming together to design performance pay plans" (release, 9/9).
You Picked Joe Biden For That
Hillary Clinton "made it clear" 9/8 "at a boisterous campaign rally in Tampa that she will be a forceful advocate" against McCain "but that she won't play the role of anti-Palin attack dog." The "only nod she made to Palin came in adding two words to a signature line from her speech at" the Dem convo: "No way. No how. No McCain. No Palin!." Otherwise, she "didn't bite" (Smith, St. Petersburg Times, 9/9). When an audience member shouted out, "Tell us about Palin," HRC responded: "I don't think that's what this election is about." Asked "by reporters after her speech whether she considers Palin qualified to be president, she again declined to answer directly," saying: "I'm going to stay focused on the issues." HRC added that having Palin on the ticket is "a great milestone for our nation" (March/Wade, Tampa Tribune, 9/9).
CNN's Toobin, on whether the Obama camp should send Clinton after Palin: "Maybe I'm naive, but I think, if Hillary Clinton talks about the issues that matter to women, if she's talking about the fact that Palin wants to ban all abortions, wants to have creationism taught in public schools, if those are the issues she should be talking about. But the idea of setting the Democratic woman against the Republican woman I think it's demeaning to Hillary Clinton and it's not a good idea" ("Election Center," CNN, 9/8).
Does The FEC Give Out Title Deed Cards?
After months of record-breaking fundraising, "a new sense of urgency in" Obama's fundraising "team is palpable." Pushing a fundraiser later this month, a finance staff member "sent a sharply worded note last week" to IL members of its nat'l finance cmte, calling their recent efforts "extremely anemic." At a convo meeting in Denver of the camp's top fundraisers, "buttons with the image of a money tree were distributed to those who had already contributed" the maximum $2.3K, "a subtle reminder to those who had failed to ante up."
The Obama camp "does not have to report its August fundraising totals until next week, so it is difficult to tally what it has in the bank at this point." But the camp "is struggling to meet ambitious" fundraising goals it set for itself in making the decision to bypass public financing. "It collected in June and July far less from" HRC's donors than originally projected. Moreover, McCain, unlike Obama, "will have the luxury of concentrating almost entirely on campaigning instead of raising money," as Obama must do.
Obama mgr. David Plouffe said the majority of the Obama's donors "during the primary had yet to write checks for the general election. When they do, he said, it will be the equivalent of the large injection of cash the McCain campaign is receiving from the government" - about $70M or $80M. Plouffe: "We're confident that we will meet our financial goals, but it's hard work. We have a long way to go in the next six weeks." Other signs of hope:
• The camp has created a fundraising cmte, the Campaign for Change, which allows fundraisers "to harvest additional checks of more than" $30K that will then be divvied up among state Dem Parties in 18 battleground states, with FL, OH, PA, and MI receiving the most.
• Obama officials also "expect their Internet fundraising engine to ramp up as the election approaches."
• They're also hoping "that much of the high-dollar" fundraising can be done without Obama. In the NY area alone, there are some 18 events planned in September, all with surrogates, including HRC, Caroline Kennedy and NM Gov. Bill Richardson (Luo/Zeleny, New York Times, 9/9).
He's Like The Viagra Of Dysfunctional Campaigns
PA Gov. Ed Rendell (D) "blasted" the GOP and McCain 9/8 for what he says is their "dishonorable" attempt to mislead the American public about Obama's tax plan. Rendell, speaking on a conference call to reporters: "The entire Republican National Convention, virtually every speaker lied about Senator Obama's tax plan. Their TV ads continue to lie. It's the big lie strategy." More Rendell: "Say if often enough and it will stick."
Rendell also disputed Palin's "record of rejecting earmarks, balancing the budget and involvement in 'Troopergate.'" Rendell: "Can you imagine if I did the same thing in Pennsylvania? You'd be calling for my impeachment." Rendell "said he's met Palin before and that he liked her," but added "in no way, shape or form is she ready to be president of the United States, and that's something we gotta get across to the American people" (Roarty, "PolitickerPA," 9/8).
It Took Everything He Had Not To Issue A Mark Penn-Like Post-Poll Memo
In a briefing for reporters 9/8, Obama mgr. David Plouffe "dismissed polls taken in the wake of Palin's nomination," saying commentators were "hyperventilating" over them and he expects the numbers to settle down in the coming days. He also disputed the ABC News-Washington Post poll's finding on a shift among white women, saying the campaign's internal polls "are not seeing any movement like that." Plouffe: "Your poll is wrong."
Still, Plouffe "sought to downplay" Palin's significance in the race, even as he acknowledged that the "Republican brand" has "improved a little bit" in the last few months. Plouffe: "At the end of the day, this is a choice between McCain and Obama." He added that it has been interesting to watch the reaction to Palin, who has drawn larger crowds to joint McCain events in recent days. Plouffe: "People are out there, you know, chanting her name and not McCain's, so it's kind of a curious thing" (McCormick, Chicago Tribune, 9/9).
On The Bright Side, Russia's Presence In Georgia Still Strong
In another sign that Obama's camp is questioning its commitment to GA (See 9/8 Hotline), mgr. David Plouffe said 9/8 that some staff will be moving out of GA and into NC (Nicholas, Los Angeles Times, 9/9). Still, Plouffe said the campaign remains "full speed ahead" in trying to win "other traditionally red states" like MT, ND, and IN (Chicago Tribune, 9/9).
Somewhere, Mick Jagger Is Pouting
The leader of the PA college Republicans "has been forced to resign after posting racially insensitive comments" about Obama on the Internet. PA Federation of College Republicans exec. dir. Adam LaDuca wrote on his Facebook page in late July that Obama has "a pair of lips so large he could float half of Cuba to the shores of Miami (and probably would.)" LaDuca, who previously had called Martin Luther King Jr. a "pariah" and a "fraud," also wrote: "And man, if sayin' someone has large lips is a racial slur, then we're ALL in trouble."
The College Republicans "asked LaDuca to resign after his remarks were publicized by the Pennsylvania Progressive, a blog written" by Dem cmte members from Berks Co. The group announced LaDuca's resignation on its website 9/5 (Rubinkam, AP, 9/8).
Way To Give Sexual Affairs A Bad Name, Rev. Wright
New York Post's Goldsmith and MacIntosh report, Obama's ex-pastor Jeremiah Wright had a "steamy sexual affair" with another man's wife, whom he romanced while she worked at a church in Dallas run by one of his disciples. Elizabeth Payne, 37, said she had a sexual relationship with Wright this year and that she was fired from her job "when word of the unholy alliance for out". Payne: "I was involved with Rev. Wright, and that's why I lost my job and why my husband divorced me." She said she has filed a wrongful-dismissal claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commis (9/9).
Wolf Stands Alone
Obama "competed against himself" in dueling cable interviews with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly and MSNBC's Keith Olbermann. In one interview Obama "had to fight -- not always successfully -- to keep from being shouted down. In the other he couldn't succeed in keeping a straight face at the ease of the softballs tossed at him. We'll leave you to guess which is which."
O'Reilly attacked Obama "or an income tax plan that Obama said "would lower tax rates for 95% of Americans while increasing rates for the richest citizens to Clinton administration levels," but O'Reilly said the plan "promotes class warfare." He called him "Robin Hood Obama" and said his tax plan was a "socialist tenet" (AP, 9/9).
Can I Rest My Hand On Your Knee?
Olbermann spoke with Obama from the campaign trail in Flint, MI. Highlight's from the interview:
Obama, on the new McCain/Palin ad: "They're not telling the truth. ... I think we've all gotten accustomed to being able to spin things in politics. But when you've got somebody who was for a project being presented as being against it, then that, you know, stretches the bounds of spin into new areas. And you know, as far as John McCain is concerned, I think that Senator McCain has, on occasion, broken with his party, but this notion that, as he said at his convention, that he would tell the lobbyists that they're not going to be running Washington anymore, who is he going to tell, his campaign chairman, Charlie Black, his campaign manager, Rick Davis, two of the largest corporate lobbyists in Washington with client lists that extend into every major industry? You know, there is just a sense that they're making these assertions that ignore the facts of their campaigns and their past history. And I think people should be troubled by that."
More Obama: "This argument John McCain and Sarah Palin are making, that they are agents of change, just won't fly. It defies their history and their background. And we saw it in the convention that they wouldn't talk about the basic issues that are really going to make a difference in the lives of middle class families. So, you know, I'm happy to have legitimate policy debates with them ... but for them to run an ad that basically doesn't present an accurate record of their positions on issues I think should raise some questions about how they would approach an administration."
Obama, on campaign strategy: "The Republicans can't govern but they run smart campaigns, and frankly, they are not always policed by the media as effectively as they should be. I was struck with how little scrutiny some of the claims that John McCain and Sarah Palin were making, how little they were subjected to scrutiny coming out of the convention. It's our job to press the point and make the case, and I think that the Republicans have been pretty successful at working the refs during this game. ... If we just keep on being clear about how we are going to rebuild this economy, then I think we are going to end up winning this campaign."
Obama, on the gov't bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: "Taxpayers are going to take a hit. How big it is, we don't yet know. And I have to be fair on this one. You know, Republicans and Democrats, I think, in Congress did not pay enough attention to the structural problem with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ... But the problem of not regulating the financial markets effectively generally, not seeing that the subprime lending crisis was leading to a mess, not updating some of our financial regulations since the 1930s, that's been, I think, an example of the neglect on the part of the Bush administration over the last eight years whose view is basically anything goes and the government just has got to stay out of the way. That, I think, has ironically hurt the market and one of the things that we got to rediscover is is that a little bit of well-applied regulation and transparency and accountability actually helps the market, helps the economy grow. And that's what I want to restore when I'm president."
Olbermann, on Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) calling Obama "uppity": "In that context, do you regret putting the brakes on the 527 groups who would have produced or could have produced hard-hitting ads that would have been sharing your sympathies?"
Obama: "I am confident that the American people, once the dust has settled, are going to say to themselves, 'Do we really want to do the same thing we've been doing for the last eight years? Or do we want something new?' I think there's a genuine sense of anxiety out there, not just about immediate economic prospects but the sense that we are not living up to what's possible in America, that we're not delivering on the American promise. And I think that understandably people are saying to themselves, gosh, we like Obama, we like his message, but we haven't known him that long, let's really lift the hood, kick the tires, you know, take them out and watch them work hard. And you know, let's take a look at these debates and then we're going to make up our mind in mid-October. And I think that by the time this thing is all over, the contrast is going to be clear" ("Countdown," 9/8).
Never Got The "411" At The "02138," Huh?
And "O'Reilly Factor" aired part two of Obama's interview with Bill O'Reilly, where the two talked about tax policy.
O'Reilly, on the wealthy: "You're taking money away from them and you're giving it to people who don't. That's called income redistribution. It's a socialist tenant. Come on, you know that, you went to Harvard."
Obama: "Teddy Roosevelt supported a progressive income tax."
O'Reilly: "Not at the level you do."
Obama: "I don't like paying taxes. You think I like writing the check? What I believe is that there's certain things we've got to do. And we've got to help people who are having a tough time affording college so they can benefit like we benefited from this great country. People who [are] having a tough time, they don't have health care. People who are trying to figure out how they are going to pay the bills. And there are certain things we've got to do."
More Obama: "The Bush record, the numbers are what they are. $4 trillion. Now we've got a choice. We can keep on just borrowing and dump it on our kids. That's option number one. ... Or we could have across the board tax hikes."
O'Reilly, on part three of the interview: "Now tomorrow, it's Reverend Wright and the associations. You think that was lively? Wait
until you see tomorrow" (FNC, 9/8).
Ah Yes, Years Of Advocating
Obama issued the following statement on Pres. Bush's speech: "Today, President Bush announced very modest troop redeployments from Iraq.... President Bush also announced additional troops for Afghanistan. I am glad that the President is moving in the direction of the policy that I have advocated for years. But the most substantial increase will come when an additional Army brigade is deployed five months from now - in February, after the President has left office. His plan comes up short - it is not enough troops, and not enough resources, with not enough urgency."
More: "What President Bush and Senator McCain don't understand is that the central front in the war on terror is not in Iraq, and it never was - the central front is in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the terrorists who hit us on 9/11 are still plotting attacks seven years later. Today, the Taliban is on the offensive, al Qaeda has a new sanctuary, and its leaders are putting out videotapes. Yet under President Bush's plan, we still have nearly four times more troops in Iraq than Afghanistan, and we have no comprehensive plan to deal with the al Qaeda sanctuary in northwest Pakistan" (release, 9/9).
Breaks Into An Umbrella-Twirling, Puddle-Splashing Routine
Michelle Obama appeared on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" 9/8, where she discussed how her family is getting through the campaign season.
Ellen DeGeneres: "Now, I gotta say, and your husband's a good dancer, but you're a better dancer than him."
M. Obama: "I know! That's what I've been telling him all these years: I'm a better dancer."
DeGeneres: "Has he been disagreeing with you up until now?"
M. Obama: "You know, he tries to. But I think this will settle it today."
DeGeneres: "This will settle it. ... Well, we should congratulate him ... It's official now. He's officially our Democratic nominee [for president]. ... I have to say, now, it's one thing for your husband to say, 'I'm going to run for president,' but then you're now roped into it. You've got to speak [at the convention]. By the way, you did an amazing job."
M. Obama: "Thank you."
DeGeneres: "I can't imagine how nerve wracking that must be, to know that you have to stand up there and deliver that speech to millions of people watching."
M. Obama: "It was nerve wracking. But just to give you a sense of how we maintain our groundedness, when I walked off the stage from giving that speech, Malia, our oldest, came up to me, and she said, 'Mom, I have something important to tell you.' I was like, 'What is it?' [She said], 'We have to have a sleepover tonight.' I'm like, 'Kid, the biggest speech of my life, and this is the most important thing you have to say? You want a sleepover?'"
DeGeneres: "That's hilarious."
M. Obama: "That's the sort of ying and yang of this year."
DeGeneres: "It keeps you real."
M. Obama: "They don't care."
DeGeneres: "No, they don't care. They were more excited [when] they thought that it was going to be the Jonas Brothers were going to be onstage instead of talking to their father. ... [It's] just your dad, running for president" (NBC, 9/8).
To see scenes from the interview, see today's "Play of the Day."