Obama implies that McCain is senile; And the McCain Camp's Devastating Response

[Wretched Excess]

Obama accuses McCain of 'losing his bearings'

By LIBBY QUAID – 11 hours ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday that Republican John McCain was "losing his bearings" for repeatedly suggesting the Islamic terrorist group Hamas preferred Obama for president.
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At the root of the dispute is McCain's decision to call attention to a Hamas adviser's apparent affinity for Obama. The adviser, Ahmed Yousef, said in a recent interview: "We like Obama and hope that he will win the election."

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In an interview Thursday with CNN, Obama accused McCain of trying to smear him by repeating the comments.

"This is offensive, and I think it's disappointing, because John McCain always says, 'Well, I'm not going to run that kind of politics,'" Obama said. "And then to engage in that kind of smear, I think, is unfortunate, particularly since my policy toward Hamas has been no different than his."

The Illinois senator added: "For him to toss out comments like that, I think, is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination. We don't need name-calling in this debate."

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Linky

First of all, Obama WAS endorsed  by a senior hamas official.  it's a matter of public record.  he may not like it,
but it's true.

But The McCain Camp's response is just DEVASTATING.

First, let us be clear about the nature of Senator Obama's attack today: He used the words 'losing his bearings' intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue. This is typical of the Obama style of campaigning.

We have all become familiar with Senator Obama's new brand of politics. First, you demand civility from your opponent, then you attack him, distort his record and send out surrogates to question his integrity. It is called hypocrisy, and it is the oldest kind of politics there is.

It is important to focus on what Senator Obama is attempting to do here: He is trying desperately to delegitimize the discussion of issues that raise legitimate questions about his judgment and preparedness to be President of the United States.

Through their actions and words, Senator Obama and his supporters have made clear that ANY criticism on ANY issue — from his desire to raise taxes on millions of small investors to his radical plans to sit down face-to-face with Iranian President Ahmadinejad – constitute negative, personal attacks.

Senator Obama is hopeful that the media will continue to form a protective barrier around him, declaring serious limits to the questions, discussion and debate in this race.

Senator Obama has good reason to think this plan will succeed, as serious journalists have written of the need for 'de-tox' to cure 'swooning' over Senator Obama, and others have admitted to losing their objectivity while with him on the campaign trail.

Today, Senator Obama is complaining about comments John McCain made about a senior Hamas advisor stating that Hamas would welcome Senator Obama's election as president. Indeed, on April 13th, senior Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef said, 'We don't mind – actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance.'

The McCain campaign has never suggested that Senator Obama supports Hamas' agenda, but it is more than fair to raise this quote about Senator Obama because it speaks to the policy implications of his judgment.

Just today, the president of Iran, whom Senator Obama wants to meet with unconditionally, called the state of Israel a 'stinking corpse.' Iran is the paymaster and state sponsor of Hamas.

In his victory speech this week, Senator Obama stated that 'wisdom' is meeting with our enemies, including  Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, North Korea's Kim Jong Il, Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Raul Castro. John McCain couldn't disagree more. Rather than giving tyrants and dictators the prestige of meeting with an American president, John McCain will instead meet with the champions of human freedom around the world and opposition leaders fighting for liberty .

We understand why Senator Obama doesn't want to engage in a debate over leadership and judgment with John McCain, but the American people demand that debate take place.

These are serious times that call for a serious debate on the profound issues facing our future. John McCain is ready for that debate and we hope Senator Obama will one day get serious and join it.

THAT is going to leave a mark.

[Baruch Menachem]

No.  Obama is beyond teflon in terms of getting away with stuff like this.   He is like Iago in his ability to smile and smile and be a villain. 

From what I have seen of his ads, he is a very likable sleaze.  He is Bill on steroids, as most of us can see through Bill, but with Obama, I think this attitude is a bit more genuine. 

Getting rid of Hillary, while good for emotional catharsis, may have been a bit of a mistake.  It is good to at last say goodbye to the very bad trash that they were, but Hillary had the good grace to be horribly ineffective and lazy.  Obama seems to be a hard worker who gets things done.  We don't want someone with those opinions to be effective. 

Obama is leading an energized cadre who have taken on the guaranteed winner and humiliated her, and now feel they can march on to easier victories.   Large numbers of Republicans disdain McCain and wish they had anyone else. 

McCain will get no traction on him, even if he is caught in a menage a trois with the live boy and the dead girl.

[Wretched Excess]

No.  Obama is beyond teflon in terms of getting away with stuff like this.   He is like Iago in his ability to smile and smile and be a villain. 

From what I have seen of his ads, he is a very likable sleaze.  He is Bill on steroids, as most of us can see through Bill, but with Obama, I think this attitude is a bit more genuine. 

Getting rid of Hillary, while good for emotional catharsis, may have been a bit of a mistake.  It is good to at last say goodbye to the very bad trash that they were, but Hillary had the good grace to be horribly ineffective and lazy.  Obama seems to be a hard worker who gets things done.  We don't want someone with those opinions to be effective. 

Obama is leading an energized cadre who have taken on the guaranteed winner and humiliated her, and now feel they can march on to easier victories.   Large numbers of Republicans disdain McCain and wish they had anyone else. 

McCain will get no traction on him, even if he is caught in a menage a trois with the live boy and the dead girl.

I disagree.

she has been attacking from the left, and perhaps slightly from the right on an issue or two;  the war, for example. 
but ultimately, there is no difference between the two of them on policy issues, thus no foundation for a choice other
than the "beauty contest" aspect.  that is why she can't get any traction.

mccain is already pointing out the differences, and is, quite frankly, doing a good job of it, in my opinion.  he was teflon
against hillary.  I think it is going to become clear what sort of rank amateur he really is when compared to john mccain.

[DixieBelle]

^I agree. Anyone who thinks it's over already and that Obama is teflon is lapping up the spilled kool aid. (no offense to you baruch!)

[Wretched Excess]

^I agree. Anyone who thinks it's over already and that Obama is teflon is lapping up the spilled kool aid. (no offense to you baruch!)

it's difficult to make any sense out of national poll numbers this early, but let's give it a try.  the impression is that
the economy is suffering from a depression the depths of which is unheard of in the history of economics, and that
the won war in iraq is lost, and that afghanistan is next.  not to mention every ghey sex scandal of the past two
years was a sitting (no pun intended) republican lawmaker.  and george w bush, quite honestly, holds the MSM in
such disdain that he obviously doesn't give a damn what they think or write or broadcast.  while I like his style, it's
costing republicans on the PR front.

anyway, despite all of that, mccain and obama are running neck and neck, nationally.  that is pretty amazing.  it
won't stay like that, of course.  I am sure when The BarackStar! takes the stage at his coronation/convention/rock
concert, the public will swoon, and poll numbers will jump.  but I'm not sure this guy has the staying power.

OOPS! didn't meant to edit your post --dixie

the "quote" and "modify" buttons really shouldn't be that close together  -- WE.

[DixieBelle]

Only a compliant media and complacent public can make that happen. I can't wait until the libtards are just *shocked* that McCain is holding his own and beating the Baroque one.

[Wretched Excess]

Only a compliant media and complacent public can make that happen. I can't wait until the libtards are just *shocked* that McCain is holding his own and beating the Baroque one.

how long before it dawns on them that not only can we steal elections via hacking into voting machines, but we have learned how to manipulate the polls, too?

silly of them, really.  they were almost on to us because of the exit polls.

[Chris_]

Only a compliant media and complacent public can make that happen.

Unfortunately, right now we have BOTH........

doc

[DixieBelle]

I know, hence the Baroque one's glory. Oy.

hey that rhymed.

[Chris_]

I know, hence the Baroque one's glory. Oy.

hey that rhymed.

Yes, you've had too much coffee to day.   

[USA4ME]

Through their actions and words, Senator Obama and his supporters have made clear that ANY criticism on ANY issue — from his desire to raise taxes on millions of small investors to his radical plans to sit down face-to-face with Iranian President Ahmadinejad – constitute negative, personal attacks.

That's very true of all liberal Democrats.  McCain has received the same treatment from the press to some degree when he attacks his own party and people turn around and attack his position, but in this race Hussein Osama will get the preferential treatment.

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[Wretched Excess]

Through their actions and words, Senator Obama and his supporters have made clear that ANY criticism on ANY issue — from his desire to raise taxes on millions of small investors to his radical plans to sit down face-to-face with Iranian President Ahmadinejad – constitute negative, personal attacks.

That's very true of all liberal Democrats.  McCain has received the same treatment from the press to some degree when he attacks his own party and people turn around and attack his position, but in this race Hussein Osama will get the preferential treatment.

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yes, it is, and yes, he probably will.

but the difference is that this guy is selling this silly little game as "new politics".  and it isn't.

[Chris_]

Through their actions and words, Senator Obama and his supporters have made clear that ANY criticism on ANY issue — from his desire to raise taxes on millions of small investors to his radical plans to sit down face-to-face with Iranian President Ahmadinejad – constitute negative, personal attacks.

That's very true of all liberal Democrats.  McCain has received the same treatment from the press to some degree when he attacks his own party and people turn around and attack his position, but in this race Hussein Osama will get the preferential treatment.

.

yes, it is, and yes, he probably will.

but the difference is that this guy is selling this silly little game as "new politics".  and it isn't.

The real question is.....do the "great unwashed" really care.......I doubt it....

doc

[Lauri]

that actually is a beautiful response from McCain and I saw his response to Jon Stewart on the Daily Show two nights ago; Stewart asked McCain about Hamas endorsing Obama, and Stewart was trying to get McCain to back down and say it was over the top.

McCain did not. In fact, he said, "Hamas hates me.. they do not like ME at all."


but in response to this quote:

Today, Senator Obama is complaining about comments John McCain made about a senior Hamas advisor stating that Hamas would welcome Senator Obama's election as president. Indeed, on April 13th, senior Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef said, 'We don't mind – actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance.'

i posted an article in a forum (cant remember which one) and the OBAMA rep was quoted as saying, "we find it flattering when anyone compares Obama to presidetn Kennedy." but they made no response to it being Hamas..

I hope its on tape somewhere.... maybe we need to send it to John McCains campaign?

[Lauri]

Rush is discussing this right now - he will set the record straight.

and what's up with Rush's impersonations this week? He is cracking me up .. that whole long rant in Bill Clinton's voice... just beautiful. 

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Let me see if I'm tracking this correctly...

* Hamas says they want Obama to win and they see him as a JFK-like figure.

* Obama's campaign manager David Axelrod gloats about the JFK comment.

* McCain mentions this fact.

* Obama gets pissy over McCain's noting what his campaign has already accepted as a compliment.

* and NOW--after this whole hullaballoo--Obama says, yes, I should be loved, even by Hamas:

While maintaining an ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, Barack Obama says he understood why a top Hamas adviser voiced support for his presidential bid.

“It’s conceivable that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, ‘This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so he’s not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush,’” Obama said in an interview with The Atlantic.

“That’s a perfectly legitimate perception as long as they’re not confused about my unyielding support for Israel’s security,” Obama said.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/05/13/2008-05-13_barack_obama_understands_hamas_view.html

It's also quaint to read, "has a middle name of Hussein" because apparently using his middle name to invoke images of muslimishness among the American electorate makes you a racist scum...if you have an R next to your name.

[DixieBelle]

^That Audacity is showing again isn't it? Oy....