Fri, Sep 12, 2008 1:55pm ET

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NPR's Liasson falsely claimed distortion-laden McCain ad "catalogued all of the false or sexist or awful things" Dems have said about Palin

Summary: On NPR's Morning Edition, Mara Liasson asserted that a new McCain campaign ad "catalogued all of the false or sexist or awful things that Democrats and Obama supporters have said about [Gov.] Sarah Palin." In fact, the ad did not "catalogue[]" any "false" statements the Obama campaign or other Democrats have made about Palin and, as FactCheck.org noted, the ad "distorts" each of the three Obama campaign statements it uses "to make the case" that Sen. Barack Obama is "being 'disrespectful' of Palin."
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Posted by DAWUSS

Who has the longer catalog over false accusations? Hah.

Posted by shoes89 in reply to DAWUSS

It's funny that MM is citing FactCheck.org. Even though it is a left-leaning organization, they have found many more egregious falsehoods, lies, lies, lies, and out-of-context remarks in Obama's ads! LOL!

Posted by Brabantio in reply to shoes89

You can claim anything is left-leaning.  Backing it up is another matter.

Even if it's true, MMfA isn't supposed to cite them because of it?  That makes no sense at all.  If they cited a source that noted an overwhelming amount of falsehoods from McCain, you'd dismiss them as biased. 

Posted by BottleBlonde in reply to Brabantio

http://www.factcheck.org/

First off, factcheck.org is not left-leaning. There's much more evidence that they leaned right, when they leaned, in the 2004 election. This election cycle they've shown less bias.

Secondly, if one checks out the link to the website, they'd see that they have catalogued many more lies from McCain than from Obama. They've catalogued many more distortions from McCain's campaign than from Obama's campaign. There have been some minor issues raised with Obama's ads and his campaign's statements - that's it.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jMtvzhUJmkDwVPsjJ0vhp-MDl1-gD9359Q2O0

Even in a political culture accustomed to truth-stretching, McCain's skirting of facts has stood out this week.

To compare Obama and McCain's campaigns as equally guilty of offensive behavior is unpatriotic to the extreme! How can one lie about something so important as who runs our nation?

Posted by funnymanpants in reply to shoes89

Shoes wrote:

>>Even though it is a left-leaning organization

Oh really? And your proof of that is? And why doesn't it bother you that McCain is lying to you? Do you think lies are okay?

Posted by peebs755 in reply to funnymanpants

Shoes thinks its left leaning because it doesn't confirm everyone of his bias' about the left wing.

Posted by see it real in reply to peebs755

To Shoes and other lying right wing Republicans, anyone who busts Republicans for their lies have a "liberal bias".

Anyone who rubber stamps a Republican's lie without comment is allegedly "fair and balanced".

Posted by manndan in reply to see it real

In the words of Colbert "truth has a liberal bias."

Posted by onionhead in reply to shoes89

If they cover Obama's lies and falsehoods, how are they left-leaning?

Posted by cruguru3171 in reply to shoes89

I think factcheck.org actually does a good job of staying pretty impartial.  And while they have called Sen. Obama out on several of his inaccurate statements, they have stated that Sen. McCain is ‘engaging in a pattern of deceit’.

Another fact check website, www.politifact.com, rates statement made by candidates from true to ‘pants on fire’ (outrageous lies).  Based on 113 statements, from each candidate, Sen. Obama’s statements were outright true 34% of the time, compared to only 22% for Sen. McCain.  Sen. Obama’s statements were outright false 15% of the time, compared to 24% for Sen. McCain.  And Sen. McCain was caught with 6 ‘pants on fire’ statements, as opposed to 0 (zero) from Sen. Obama.

Now, it’s possible that the media is biased and tries to find more dirt on Sen. McCain then they do on Sen. Obama.  However, even today on the View, Sen McCain defended two of his recent ads that have been labeled as false by the media, fact check sites and even GOP sluggers like Bill O’Reilly and Mike Huckabee (both stated that there was no way Sen. Obama was referring to Gov. Palin).  Of the ad that claims Sen. Obama called Gov. Palin a pig and the sex-ed ad, Sen. McCain stated that ‘actually, they are not lies’.  So if independent organizations find that Sen. McCain lies more frequently and engages in a ‘pattern of deceit’ and when directly confronted with that accusation, Sen. McCain simply states that he still believes he’s telling the truth, maybe the problem isn’t the media.  Maybe the problem is Sen. McCain.

Posted by fantagor in reply to cruguru3171

Wow. Damning, and unflagging truthful. Watch it. Bush has a cell with your name on it (or in it).

Randy

Posted by magnolialover in reply to shoes89

If they're so left leaning, then why are their pointing out Obama's fallacies as well? You really are a muppet, and incapable of actually reading facts from things aren't you?

Here, why don't you read their mission statement:
http://www.factcheck.org/about/

Posted by Marker

Repugs will say and do anything to get elected, its how we wound up with the Worst President Ever.

Posted by Max Dharma in reply to Marker

NPR's Liasson falsely claimed distortion-laden McCain ad "catalogued all of the false or sexist or awful things" Dems have said about Palin

I’m less concerned with who has a longer catalog of accusations than I am with MMFA’s assertion that Liasson falsely claimed anything.

Liasson is saying McCain asserts BLAH BLAH BLAH.

It is not appropriate for Liasson to challenge and clarify these assertions in this particular context. Liasson is not saying they are true or untrue, Liasson is only saying what McCain is saying.

This is Typical MMFA style reporting.

Posted by funnymanpants in reply to Max Dharma

Max wrote:

>> It is not appropriate for Liasson to challenge and clarify these assertions in this particular context. 

Why? 

Posted by mescal in reply to funnymanpants

Because Mini Drama believes that it is not the job of journalists to seek the truth. Their job is simply to authoritatively parrot right wing talking points, allowing Mini to maintain his sacred and unchallengeable beliefs. Journalists have no business introducing such left-leaning concepts as reality into his world.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to Max Dharma

"And the other effect she's had is to flummox the famously unflappable Obama campaign, who has been unsure of how to deal with her and has tried out a whole bunch of different approaches. Some of them have been more successful than others, and as a matter of fact, today, the McCain campaign just released an ad called, "Disrespectful," where it catalogued all of the false or sexist or awful things that Democrats and Obama supporters have said about Sarah Palin."

In other words, Obama has been unsuccessful at attacking Palin because all of the false/sexist/awful things he's said have been highlighted.  If the ad itself is full of false statements, then her comment here is misinformation.

Posted by Max Dharma in reply to Brabantio

I understand your point and it is almost reasonable, but it still doesn’t mean that she needs to prove or disprove what McCain is claiming.

If McCain says “Obama is the Messiah”, Liasson can say “McCain claims Obama is the Messiah” without having to prove or disapprove whether or not Obama is actually the Messiah.

Posted by Governor in reply to Max Dharma

If media is going to run clips or and providing ad space for political campaign to attack an opponent free of charge, it's not too much to ask that they the media provide a little unfettered commentary.

Posted by Max Dharma in reply to Governor

That is a different argument than claiming she *must* do this. MMFA asserts she *must* verify the validity of all claims made (and because it would be too cumbersome to do so, the claims would never be aired)

It’s kind of like argument against the Fairness Doctrine.

If Clear Channel had to give equal time (however boring) to each of Rush Limbaugh’s shows, Clear Channel would begin loosing money, and just say f’it, it’s not worth running the Rush Limbaugh show any more.

This is why the liberal’s think the Fairness Doctrine is a good idea, because it is a sneaky way to squelch conservative views under the guise of ‘fairness’.

Posted by foghornleghorn in reply to Max Dharma

This is why the liberal’s think the Fairness Doctrine is a good idea...

If the right-wing noise machine wasn't a pack of liars, then this whole Fairness Doctrine nonsense wouldn't even come up.

It's about telling the truth.  But you, Max, prefer being lied to.  Kind of sad to go through life believing only lies.

Posted by Governor in reply to Max Dharma

That is a different argument than claiming she *must* do this. MMFA asserts she *must* verify the validity of all claims made

I must have missed that part.

Posted by worrierking in reply to Max Dharma

So what you're saying is that it's the job of the media to re-run the McCain campaign slogans during their political coverage, right?

Posted by Governor in reply to worrierking

I understand your point and it is almost reasonable.  But, quite frankly, Y-E-S, media had better go along if they want to get along!  Plus, McCain is a former POW!

Posted by worrierking in reply to Governor

That's right. I keep forgetting that. And if the media doesn't play nice, they lose access.

God forbid they don't get to attend any more press conferences where people like Jeff Gannon get to ask the questions.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to Max Dharma

The difference is that she is making a judgment on the ad.  She's saying that Obama's efforts aren't working because they've been exposed as false and sexist.

That relies on the honesty of the ad.  Otherwise, nothing anyone ever did could work because all their opponents would have to do is to release a dishonest ad in response.

"Some of McCain's efforts criticizing Obama have been more effective than others.  As a matter of fact, today Obama released an ad claiming that he has in fact been in the U.S. Senate for 22 years."  I guess it wouldn't be appropriate for anyone to note that the ad was dishonest, huh?

Posted by National_Insecurity in reply to Max Dharma

Let me see if I understand you, Max. If Obama were to run an ad that says, "Palin is Mary Magdalen", it's OK if Liasson merely recounts, "Obama says 'Palin is Mary Magdalen.' "

By that logic, why bother with issues or facts? Let's just make up fanciful claims with no basis in fact.

I'm old enough to recall the Soviets were skilled a this. It was called disinformation (English spelling of course).

Once again, the Republicans have imported Soviet and communist methods to America. We've had torture, propaganda and cronyism, now it's disinformation.

Dump McCain. Palin for President!

Posted by see it real in reply to Max Dharma

Max Dharma makes this outrageous pro-Republican statement to defend his sister right wing Republican hate hag, Republican Hate Hag Liar Mara Liasson:

"It is not appropriate for Liasson to challenge and clarify these assertions in this particular context. Liasson is not saying they are true or untrue, Liasson is only saying what McCain is saying."

Tell me when it allegedly became "inappropriate" to call McCain a liar, and when it allegedly became "inappropriate" to challenge Liar McCain's outright lies, and why the partisan Republican hate Hag Liar Mara Liasson is supposed to rubber stamp Liar McCain's lies as the truth.

Rubber stamping outright lies from Liar McCain or any other politician who lies is not polite nor professional, it's both partisan and cowardly.  

Posted by wookie in reply to Max Dharma

She said that McCain catalogued them, not that he alledged them.

Posted by coach777b in reply to Max Dharma

Mara Liasson and Juan Williams are prime examples of how far NPR has fallen since the Republicans infiltrated their hierarchy. For a "journalist" to repeat charges without stating the facts of the statement is misleading, evasive and false. Her job is to state that McCain's campaign "asserts" but the facts are... They cannot bring themselves to do that because it is in their best interests to continue four more years of Bush/Cheyney. It's sad because they both started out as journalists and have now morphed into mouthpieces and flacks. I only listen to NPR now if I want to hear a story about the demise of the Argentinean tree frogs or the economic plight of rug makers in Zambia.

Posted by magnolialover

So let me get this straight.

If you call someone a liar, and you have demonstrated, without a doubt, that said person is a liar (Palin, and many of her comments are outright falsehoods and lies), then you're being disrespectful? Umm, not to much really.

Than again, how dare Obama and "some" democrats attack a former POW, and a Mom of 5?

Posted by Governor in reply to magnolialover

I suppose it would be disrespectful of me to write something like "Hey, lookie here, Senator McCain either lied or said something really really foolish while he was on The View today:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/to-the-ladies-o.html

I don't think McCain is an idiot, so I'll give his the benefit of the doubt and assert that he simply told a lie."

So I won't. 

Posted by Marker

The country will realize these lies and blow the repugs out of the water on election day....Obama/Biden in a landslide.

Posted by magnolialover in reply to Marker

Let's hope, but let's also never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.

Posted by Marker in reply to magnolialover

Common decency and good will come about on election day and we will take the country back from the repugs. 

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to Marker

Funniest entry I've heard so far in the suddenly-feminist-and-outraged-wingnut sweepstakes was this morning-- Laura Ingraham, in response to Harry Reid calling Palin's speech "shrill";

"At least she's not boring!"

Yes, she is. Boring and shrill.

I didn't catch much of the forum last night , but I heard a clip played on a righty am radio show this morning, and I think it was trying to support Palin. Anybody hear her answer to the question about her "Mission from God" Iraq statement? She tried to compare it to an Abe Lincoln statement, but seemed oblivious that she was saying the exact opposite of what Abe's message was, regarding knowing God's will.She's really coming off as more of a dimwit every day.

Posted by funnymanpants in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

Col wrote:

>>Anybody hear her answer to the question about her "Mission from God" Iraq statement? 

Unfortunately, that quote is out of context. She may have meant that Iraq was a war demanded by God, or she might have meant that God was just protecting the soldiers. See the dailyhowler.com for the full quote.  

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to funnymanpants

Funnymanpants, thank you, and I stand corrected. Her actual quote is closer to the sentiments of Lincoln's statement. Now I have to wonder how Gibson chose that quote out of many others I've heard from her, in proper context, that would have served his purpose better.  
Also interesting that the show I heard it on didn't try to clear that up, but was defending the statement as the clip (and Gibson) spun it.

Posted by funnymanpants in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

Col wrote:

>>Now I have to wonder how Gibson chose that quote out of many others I've heard from her, in proper context, that would have served his purpose better.  

Because our frickin media is a joke. When the Repubs lie through their teeth, the media should report the lies thoroughly and accurately. By being so sloppy, they allow the right to come back and give credence to their mantra "liberal media." Take the bridge to nowhere claim. In actuality, Palin was not for it and then only against it when it became unpopular. She was for it when it was unpopular--that's why it was even an issue in the governor's race. And then when she pulled the plug, she was still for it. The true facts on her stance are even more damning.

But don't think our millionaire press corps will ever get anything right.  

Posted by worrierking in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

Is she linking herself to Abe Lincoln or Abe Simpson?

She can try to weasel out from under the God's will thing about Iraq, but at the same service she most definitely said that the gas pipeline was the will of the big guy. Here's the quote.

"I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that."

Posted by see it real in reply to Col. Harlan Sanders

"Funniest entry I've heard so far in the suddenly-feminist-and-outraged-wingnut sweepstakes was this morning-- Laura Ingraham, in response to Harry Reid calling Palin's speech "shrill";

"At least she's not boring!"

Yes, she is. Boring and shrill."

Which one, Hate Hag Liar Sarah Palin or Hate Hag Liar Laura Ingraham?

Then again, BOTH of these lying Republican hate hags are shrill.  Among other negative things. 

Posted by see it real in reply to magnolialover

I concur.  The stupidity, as well as the bigotry, the racism, the ignorance, and the dishonesty, of the American people has reared their heads too many times, often at the country's detriment.

Posted by Boduloli in reply to magnolialover

re: "Stupidity of the American People"

Well, by definition, half of the American people have IQs under 100; and one of the great difficulties for Democrats is addressing that part of the population. (In recent times the Republicans have been comparatively good at this. There simply is no competent equivalent to Karl Rove  the Democratic ranks.) This isn't a low blow at the Republicans -- part of any election campaign involves addressing this portion of the population (they're Americans too, after all.) You have to (1) keep it simple, using basic slogans and hammering them home (but: these can be slogans that encapsulate genuine truths) (2) appeal to basic emotional values (but: there is always a internally contradictory set of "hot buttons" here, and it is open to the campaign to push those which are actually defensible) (3) deal with the distraction problem; find a way of getting the addressees to focus on the message. One way -- not the only way, to be sure -- is to be entertaining!

I think figuring out how this election will go really comes down to this: if the Democrats succeed in the above project, they will win (perhaps win big.) If not. . . .

I'd be very interested in getting some feedback on these thoughts.

 

Posted by eweston8542983 in reply to Boduloli

Intelligence does have a part in who you vote for. I'm not sure its the major part of that desicion.

Finding trustworthy information is not easy if the main stream media is your primary source. And some people do consider Jeff Christy a trustworthy source of information.

The amount of information needed to make a good choice is not small either.

This leaves a large population voting more from an emotional basis than an informational basis.

From this basis an emotional connect with the voters is very important for a candidate. Obama's tallents here are pretty good. Thats where the Missiah comments are coming from. A classic Rove thought, make a strength a weakness.

Currently there are 11 million more registered democrats than republicans. The most important thing to me would be encouraging voting. Lotta people agree. Disenfranchising these voters is another returning theme.

Making a prediction using voter intelligence as a major factor is likely to fail. At least in the current media/information situation, and one of our political parties has no use for an intelligent population anyway.

Posted by Boduloli in reply to eweston8542983

Dear Eweston,

"Making a prediction using voter intelligence as a major factor is likely to fail."

Sure. You don't have to be stupid or irrational to vote Republican. All you need is an appropriate motive -- like e.g. being rich, or really believing that the world is out to get us.

My thought was more that, as close as presidential elections tend to be, whoever wins is going to need a lot of "2-digit" votes to do it. While the Democratic advantage in registrations speaks for success (and yes, actually getting that vote out is ENORMOUSLY important!) the Democrats still need far more technical competence in addressing the intellectually challenged.

While I'm on this particular rant, two further thoughts:

You're right about the information problem(s). But -- taking the Palin phenomenon as an example -- it's seems clear that having the information isn't sufficient. The ability of some parts of the population to ignore information is remarkable. In the Palin case, the Republican machine had succeeded in convincing in advance large parts of the population that the (nasty leftist) press would soon attack Palin, would send dirt-diggers to Alaska (etc.). Thus, those portions of the population to whom Palin had been successfully sold were already immunized again any negative information that might come out. Indeed,  that information serves to strengthen the "three-wise-monkeys" effect, since "one of us" is now under attack from "them". Truth of the information? Completely irrelevant. The glimmer of hope here is that -- if the Republicans overdo it -- even a true moron will gradually notice what is being done; and the two-digit portions of our population are still by no means morons. . .


I suggested that entertainment-value can play a major role in the attention/focus factor, but this applies only at a time of comparative calm. Much more powerful (and dangerous) are (a) fear, and (b) jingoism ("we-they"ism). The Obama campaign cannot -- by its very nature -- appeal to these. But the very rejection of this sleazy sort of appeal can in turn be packaged positively as a politics-of-hope-and-of-sleeves-rolled-up-problem-solving. And the campaign can -- legitimately -- build on the fear of the consequences of a different approach. The question is how to do this really effectively.

Posted by shaggles

Maybe she meant to say "false or sexist or awful things the McCain campaign claims that Democrats and Obama supporters..."  Did she misspeak or was it intentional?  hard to say.  Good catch though.

Posted by funnymanpants

The whole problem with the media coverage of presidential races can be found in this statement by Liasson:

"But, you know, this might not be straight talk, but just like those celebrity ads with Paris Hilton that the McCain campaign ran earlier, they -- it seems to work, and I think winning is important whether you win pretty or win ugly."

You see, to the media doesn't care if a politician lies (except when Gore *allegedly* lied). To them, it is sport, and if the other side can win by dishonesty, they think its fun. Read Liasson's line again and try to wrap your head around it. Yes, this is what the press really believes: if a poll can win by lying good for him!

Posted by shaggles in reply to funnymanpants

That bothered me too. 

Posted by Governor in reply to funnymanpants

They do see it as sport.  Chuck Todd made a comparable comment to Liasson's this morning.  I guess it matters not how you play the game.

Posted by funnymanpants in reply to Governor

Governor wrote:

>>They do see it as sport. 

Except even in sports the media would show more of a sense of fairness. If one boxes beat the crap out of a judge, I doubt sports' commentators would say "it seems to work, and I think winning is important whether you win pretty or win ugly."

Posted by Governor in reply to funnymanpants

Agreed. Perhaps the biggest difference is that, regardless of bias or fairness, sports commentary, whether it's play-by-play or before or after a game, has zero impact on the outcome.  These pundits do affect the game and, by and large, they really suck at their jobs.

Posted by see it real in reply to funnymanpants

"You see, to the media doesn't care if a politician lies (except when Gore *allegedly* lied)."

The time the corporatist conservative Republican Party controlled news media doen't care only when Republican politicians lie. They only care when Demcrats and/or anyone else dares to hold Republicans accountable for their lies. 

Then the corporatist conservative Republican Party controlled news media begins to attack those people and groups who seek to make these lying Republicans pay for their lies by claiming those people and groups are "disrespectful" and/or "mean" and/or "hateful".

Posted by cArn

Shoes89: It's funny that MM is citing FactCheck.org. Even though it is a left-leaning organization, they have found many more egregious falsehoods, lies, lies, lies, and out-of-context remarks in Obama's ads! LOL!

You're unknowlingly complimenting liberals by claiming (falsely) that a reliable organization like factcheck.org is a left-leaning site. Their articles are extremely accurate, thoroughly well-researched, objective. and based on facts. Thanks! But unfortunately, they are nonpartisan site, per their mission statement:

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

While factcheck.org has cataloged the misleads and falsehoods of both candidates, it's actually clear from looking at their archives that McCain is far more likely to engage in these deceptive tactics. Here's just a few only dating back to July:

Belittling Palin?
McCain-Palin Distorts Our Finding
Off Base on Sex Ed
FactChecking McCain
Maverick Misleads
A New Stitch in a Bad Pattern
Context Included: Obama on Iran
Rezko Reality
More Tax Deceptions
Wind Power Puffery
Obama's Celebrity Cred
Snubbing Wounded Troops?
McCain Links Castro With Obama
A Full Tank of Nonsense
The Truth on Troop Support?
McCain's Small-Business Bunk
A False Accusation About Energy
The $32,000 Question
Errors en Español

FactCheck Archive

Shoes, maybe this is the reason you label them left-leaning: they don't have the same volume of articles catching Obama in a fib as they do McCain? Sorry to burst your bubble, but that has nothing to do with bias. It just means the McCain camp is more willing to lie and distort reality. Being fair and balanced doesn't require one to make up or cover false stories about Obama to "even things out". That's only how it work in the MSM...

 

Posted by NiceguyEddie

Out of context quotes, exagerations, and forward looking specultaion about policiy that not everyone agrees is not the same as a BALD FACED LIE.  None of the items you listed for Obama even approach the utterly nreathtaking dihonesty that McCain has displayed.  NOT. EVEN. CLOSE.

Posted by see it real in reply to NiceguyEddie

Absolutely right on ALL counts, NIceGuyEddie.  BOTH McCain and Palin have lied about, and continue to lie about everything.

And their allie in the corporate conservative news media continue to coddle and protect these 2 Republican liars.

Posted by cArn

Are you referring to my post or Shoes? I'm disagreeing with him.

Posted by see it real

It goes without saying that Liasson is a right wing Republican herself,as she is yet another member of Liar McCain's Media, in their onoging efforts to assist the election of Liar McCain-Liar Palin.

Posted by Limit Corp. Ownership in reply to see it real

I just sent Lie-asson and Mongagne an e-mail...

National Putrid Radio has hit rock bottom.

 

Posted by worrierking

"When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism, or maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, 'Man, that doesn't do us any good, women in politics, or women in general, trying to progress this country."

–Sarah Palin, on complaints from Hillary Clinton's campaign about sexist coverage, Spring 2008

http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/sarahpalin/a/palin-top-10.htm

Posted by Limit Corp. Ownership in reply to worrierking

Nice one Worrier...

You think Liasson or Montagne would bring that up? 

Posted by peebs755

Oh, come on now. You're not showing the proper "deference". ;)

Posted by see it real

If Liar McCain and Liar Palin don't like being called liars, then both of them should stop lying.

If the Liar McCain-Liar Palin supporters don't like their candidates being called iars, then they should tell their candidates to stop lying, and the McCain-Palin supporters/voters should also stop lying.

Posted by Blueneck

So here is what Anne Kilkenny a resident of Wasilla, Alaska has written about Palin. Note that she is not entirely critical; but she raises legitimate concerns over several of her actions as mayor. I would say, based on this, that Palin is unfit for public office--but I'll leave that to the reader to decide. Please note that the person posting this material has also posted materials that cast these events in a different light. At very least this material as a whole is about issues and not barnyard animals. Will rumors about a lipstick wearing sus domestica and fear of rampaging Muslim hordes determine the outcome of the November election? Pity us all if they do.
Palin for President!

Dump McCain while we still have a chance.

Posted by magnolialover in reply to National_Insecurity

Are you serious? I hope not. Palin is a freakin' joke of a candidate.

Posted by foghornleghorn in reply to magnolialover

I've had a chilling thought that this could be part of some sinister plan.  Gramps has one foot in the grave, and if he should pass on, Palin would be free to name an interim vice-president, who would then conceivably continue the Cheney-esque behind the scenes control of the White House.

Posted by pithaughn in reply to foghornleghorn

Give 5-1 odds and I'll wager Palin is not on the ticket come 11-4.

PALIN FOR SOCCER MOM VAN DRIVER!!!

Go home Sarah, your children need you!  God wants you to be at home.

Posted by paleocon

hitler was a community organizer - franklin d. roosevelt was a governor.

Posted by Limit Corp. Ownership in reply to paleocon

Aren't you the one who had the Elvis sighting the other day?

Posted by Craig in reply to paleocon

I forget, which one do conservatives like?

Posted by Col. Harlan Sanders in reply to paleocon

Paleocon thinks Jesus =Hitler. Now that's a real conservative!

Posted by fantagor

One good thing will come of this: till the end of time, the GOD shall never disparage a woman for being a woman. Forever.

Start holding your breath, ladies. It'll be the last you take.

Randy

Posted by fantagor in reply to fantagor

Did I say GOD? I meant GOP. Freudian slips are a bit**.

Randy

Posted by xxxxx in reply to fantagor

Hee hee--I couldn't figure it out! That's one of the all-time great Freudian slips.

Posted by MikeSays

An organized strategy needs to be utilized by Obama. The high road and ignoring Palin would work best. She got her 15 minutes of fame, why make it 15 weeks?  Biden is a great attacker and Palin's policies should be his meat. Obama must look presidential and go after McCain ONLY. Perceived attacks need to be eliminated since they are harmful to the campaign even if unintentional. This is not rocket science. The PR war is in full force and a successful surge is now required.  Deployment to the wrong areas will result in failure.

Posted by proudconservative

mikeeatsanything,

Hey, have your heard about the ad from Obama mocking McCain's lack of knowledge regarding the internet?  Turns out McCain has been savvy with regard to the internet since 2000.  The reason he doesn't do email?  He can't because of his POW injuries.

Nice and sensitive Barry, you approved of attacking a man who cannot salute the flag or use a keyboard because of injuries he received while serving in Vietnam.  That looks very presidential for sure!

http://www.slate.com/id/74812/

And as far as Bide attacking, he's already proving to be a great assest to the team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRV5Y1JCGRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM537BgCsMg

Keep getting the message of the left out there and watch Americans run away!

Posted by Brabantio in reply to proudconservative

What the hell are you babbling about?  The ad stated:

"He admits he still doesn't know how to use a computer, can't send an e-mail..."

And here's McCain from July:

"I am learning to get online myself, and I will have that down fairly soon, getting on myself. I don't expect to be a great communicator, I don't expect to set up my own blog, but I am becoming computer literate to the point where I can get the information that I need."

They didn't say he wasn't aware of the internet.  He said himself he wasn't computer literate and didn't know how to get online.

As for the POW excuse, give me a break.  Does he have carpal tunnel syndrome because the VC set him in front of an Underwood for 16 hours a day?  He seems to be able to use a Blackberry pretty well, he doesn't have any problem typing on those.  Of course McCain can't raise his arms very high because of his torture.  But with a laptop you don't have to raise your arms up very high, because you can set it...on...your...lap.  Hence the name "laptop".

McCain made an admission he's regretting, and he's trying to lie his way out of it.

Posted by proudconservative in reply to Brabantio

braburner,

I just wanted to point out the blunder of mocking him about this.

If he's using a blackberry, I guess he probably uses it for email and such.   His comments in July may have been self-depricating in nature but back in 2000 and until about 2 years ago, it was just the keyboard.  If you have ever had an injury, beyond CT, in the upper arm and shoulders, it is very difficult to align your hands properly to type with any dexterity or speed.

Glad to have cleared up the mess for you.

Posted by sportsguydave in reply to proudconservative

*Yawn*

That all ya got, ProudCon? Tnanks as usual for the laughs ...  :)

Kinda funny to see you whining about unfair attacks when your side has run one of the sleaziest campaigns in history. Often, borderline racist.

See those "Obama Waffles" for sale at the so-called "Values Voter" conference this weekend?? Nice bunch there ... a group of folks who are just dying to show their true colors and use the "N" word in public, like they do in private ...

Posted by proudconservative in reply to sportsguydave

bandgeekdavey,

Didn't see that 'waffling' thing but your racist sentiments are yours and not from conservatives.

You ask if that is all I got, have you seen any of the threads here?  The leftists and their candidate need to be talked down off of the ledge.  Media Matters (for very little) will soon be called Voter Matters for America because the leftists are angry that individual voters are not bright enough to grasp how wise leftism is.  Funny, why Americans repudiate leftism has nothing to do with them, nothing to do with how the left gets its message out but it is with the message of marxism that American voters run away.

So, that's all I got, but apparently that's exactly what America has needed.

Posted by Brabantio in reply to proudconservative

That's brilliant stuff.  You don't know what he's talking about, but any racism must just be in his head.  I guess there are no racist Republicans.

So taking McCain at his word is a huge political mistake, but racist imagery isn't.  Funny how that works. 

Posted by Brabantio in reply to proudconservative

Was he lying with his self-deprecating remarks?  Because they certainly suggest that he's physically able to use a computer.  Otherwise there's no purpose in him learning at all, since he'd always need someone else to get on there for him anyway.   And personally, I rest the heels of my hands on the computer, as I think many people do.  Alignment is not a problem if you do that.

What I also notice is that he can hold a phone up to his ear.  Now, if you can raise your arm that high, you can straighten your fingers out and put them up to your head.  You might not get your elbow as far out as you'd like, but it would still be a salute.  So is it that he can't salute the flag, or is it that he just doesn't feel like it?  Remember, this is a guy who didn't wear a flag pin on 9/11, while that Obama guy did.

I don't really believe that he doesn't want to, it just seems like your type of argument.  I'm just not buying that he's unable to do these things.  His mobility in his shoulder may be limited, but he's not an invalid or anything.

Posted by jdsloanlv7884

Mara Liasson says, "I think winning is important whether you win pretty or win ugly, and that seems to be the strategy that the McCain campaign is following."

Most voters under the age of 40 have never heard of Lee Atwater, the architect of modern political dirty tricks.  He was the original Darth Vader of the Republican Party.  Karl Rove, who everybody knows, gets most of the credit for this style of politics that attacks the character of opponents and attempts to destroy their reputations and careers.  Rovian Politics means to: ridicule, personalize, polarize, goad, turn strengths into negatives, exploit vulnerabilities, lie, distort, and deny.  It is rumored that Karl Rove is now advising John McCain.  Steve Schmidt, McCain’s top campaign adviser, was Karl Rove’s protégé. What does this say about John McCain?   And, what does this say about Mara Liasson who appears to condone the Rovian tactics employed by McCain?

 

Lee Atwater died in 1991 of a brain tumor at the age of 40 years old.  Shortly before his death he had an epiphany and converted to Catholicism.  He issued public apologies and sought the personal forgiveness from political opponents who were the casualties of his attacks, ridicule, lies, and false rumors.  He said, “my illness has taught me something about the nature of humanity, love, brotherhood and relationships that I never understood, and probably never would have. So, from that standpoint, there is some truth and good in everything."

 

I’m not expecting an epiphany from anyone else anytime soon, but I am very proud of Barack Obama for already understanding the “nature of humanity” and for not engaging in the style of politics that Lee Atwater only came to reject on his death bed.