The GOP ad redux
Even more than usual has been said about the state GOP ad slamming Sen. Obama, Bev Perdue and Richard Moore in connection with the Rev. Wright, especially since our friends in the national media have chosen to weigh in.
Just this morning, I got to listen to NPR's Juan Williams not only mispronounce Linda Daves' name a dozen times (karmic payback for Daves refusing to use proper grammar when talking about the "Democrat" party) but kind of miss the point on the ad itself.
Here's my 5-cent analysis, free to our Internet readers:
- * Whether you think the ad makes tactical sense or not (I don't) or is fair (since when have elections been about fair) it is hugely popular with the Republican base. I've been getting e-mails all morning about the thing from folks who think this is just what the party ought to be doing.
- * Memo to the national media: It's not all about the presidential campaign. Understand that there is a large segment of North Carolina Republicans who believe the worst thing you can say about a state candidate is that they've endorsed Barack Obama. I know, I know, you want it all to be about the presidential race. But Tar Heels have been doing hard-ball election tactics while no one watched for years. We just have a national stage to play on now.
- * There are two and only two rational reasons for launching such an ad: the NC GOP thinks it will get some campaign donations rolling on or they've made a strategic decision that they'd rather have Sen. Clinton at the top of the ticket this fall.
Since it dings both Moore and Perdue there's no real potential impact in that primary and it's too soon in the election cycle to make an impact in the fall General Election campaign.
Being a cynic, I think the money explanation is the more rational. (Republicans I talked to do not seem to be of one mind about who it would be easier to run against.) This is getting huge press play, comments on blogs from around the country. This is akin to Vernon Robinson's flame-throwing ads in the 2006 race against Brad Miller: the didn't help him win but they brought in some bucks.
- * The people who ought to be really aggrieved are the down-ticked candidates, like those running for the state House and Senate who might look for some help from their party this fall.
The party already has a reputations - at least 'round Guilford County - of kind of letting legislative candidates fend for themselves. If they spend their money on stuff like this but let candidates who might be in striking distance of flipping a seat from the Democrats founder for want of money in November, some folks will be rightfully angry.
- * Daves laid out a pretty robust case for winning votes against Perdue and Moore. I'm not saying I agree with everything in the release, just that the arguments are rhetorically strong and I could see them swaying unaffiliated voters and conservative democrats.
So what does it say that despite being able to point to corruption in government, ineffectiveness in state agencies (yes, division of mental health, we're looking at you) and nearly 130 years of unbroken Democratic control of the levers of power in Raleigh, the Republican party feels the best thing they can put out is an ad linking to candidates for governor to a presidential candidate who is linked to a controversial preacher?
To me, it smacks of a lack of confidence of your ability to win on the issues.
Comments (1)
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If Barack Obama's views may be linked to the tirades of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright then John McCain must certainly share the Reverend John C. Hagee's views that the U.S. must join Israel in a preemptive strike against the Arabs, the Russians and the Chinese in order to bring about the second coming of Christ.
After all, John McCain did solicit and proudly acknowledged the Reverend Hagee's endorsement in March 2008.
Barack Obama has acknowledged that the Reverend Wright did bring faith in God to his life, however Barack Obama never solicited the Rev. Wright's endorsement and he rejected the deplorable comments of the Rev. Wright.
If someone brings faith in God to your life, do you deny that person as Judas did Jesus or do you stand by the positive benefits that person has made on your life? You should no more deny the person who brought you faith in God then you should deny your parentage.
For too long small-minded politicians, lobbyists, the media and talk-show hosts have used fear, division and rancor as instruments to maintain power and position in Washington.
Barack Obama's means of governing through confidence, unity and reason threatens the Republican and Clinton fear mongers who are long accustomed with using fear, threats and ridicule as instruments to maintain power and position in Washington. Republicans want Hillary Clinton as the Democratic party nominee because the Clintons are comfortable with maintaining the status quo "divide and conquer" means of governance.
It's refreshingly nice to see the better angels of America's character prevailing as voters vote for Barack Obama and reject the racial, religious and ethnic slurs being spewed by the divisive fear mongers of the McCain and Clinton campaigns.
Posted on April 25, 2008 9:59 AM