Wednesday, September 10, 2008
All Speech can be divided into two groups:
…that favorable to Barack Obama and "diversions":
"The McCain camp would much rather have this be about phony and foolish diversions," Obama said.” ABC News: Obama Says 'Enough' About 'Lipstick' Smear
The problem with not fawning over the Illinois Senator? Let’s ask him:
“… Obama declared. “Because then we go another year, or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you." Obama Talks Lipstick and McCain The Trail washingtonpost.com
…which is a recurring theme of The One:
“They seem to be focused on a negative campaign what I think our campaign wants to do is focus on the issues that matter to American families." Obama responds to race card charge
Of course, not everyone agrees that this is what Mr. Obama’s campaign really wants:
“A day after John McCain's campaign accused Barack Obama of having "played the race card," the senator from Illinois was confronted by self-described members of the "International African Revolution" concerned he doesn't talk enough about race.” Obama Heckled on African American Policies
Famously, Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, recently opined that:
“This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates." McCain Manager: 'This Election is Not About Issues' - The Fix
Eliciting this:
““I guess I don’t blame them,” Obama added, “because if you don’t have any issues to run on, you want it all to be about personality.” Ben Smith's Blog: Obama hits Davis on 'issues' - Politico.com
Now you would think if it really was to be all about “personality”, Senator Obama would win in a landslide. But of course, that’s not what Mr. Davis said or meant. For the non-Harvard Law educated amongst us, I think most would recognize that what Mr. Davis meant was that we won’t just be voting for the person we most agree with on the certain issues that are important to us now but rather we will apply issue affiliation in determining which of the two we most trust to govern responsibly. This would be a lot more obvious if those quoting Mr. Davis included the next line:
"And of course, issues will play an important role in people's final decision." Transcript: Rick Davis on 'FOX News Sunday' –
So, by all means, let’s talk about the issues that matter to people. Perhaps some organization could sponsor a Town Hall-type meeting where the candidates would answer questions directly from the non-press public. And, if the issues that people care about happen to include past affiliations (cough*Jeremiah Wright*cough*Bill Ayers*), past votes (cough*Born Alive Act*) or public service jobs right out of college (i.e. US Navy*cough*community organizing) well, it would be better than going “…another year, or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you.”
"The McCain camp would much rather have this be about phony and foolish diversions," Obama said.” ABC News: Obama Says 'Enough' About 'Lipstick' Smear
The problem with not fawning over the Illinois Senator? Let’s ask him:
“… Obama declared. “Because then we go another year, or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you." Obama Talks Lipstick and McCain The Trail washingtonpost.com
…which is a recurring theme of The One:
“They seem to be focused on a negative campaign what I think our campaign wants to do is focus on the issues that matter to American families." Obama responds to race card charge
Of course, not everyone agrees that this is what Mr. Obama’s campaign really wants:
“A day after John McCain's campaign accused Barack Obama of having "played the race card," the senator from Illinois was confronted by self-described members of the "International African Revolution" concerned he doesn't talk enough about race.” Obama Heckled on African American Policies
Famously, Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, recently opined that:
“This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates." McCain Manager: 'This Election is Not About Issues' - The Fix
Eliciting this:
““I guess I don’t blame them,” Obama added, “because if you don’t have any issues to run on, you want it all to be about personality.” Ben Smith's Blog: Obama hits Davis on 'issues' - Politico.com
Now you would think if it really was to be all about “personality”, Senator Obama would win in a landslide. But of course, that’s not what Mr. Davis said or meant. For the non-Harvard Law educated amongst us, I think most would recognize that what Mr. Davis meant was that we won’t just be voting for the person we most agree with on the certain issues that are important to us now but rather we will apply issue affiliation in determining which of the two we most trust to govern responsibly. This would be a lot more obvious if those quoting Mr. Davis included the next line:
"And of course, issues will play an important role in people's final decision." Transcript: Rick Davis on 'FOX News Sunday' –
So, by all means, let’s talk about the issues that matter to people. Perhaps some organization could sponsor a Town Hall-type meeting where the candidates would answer questions directly from the non-press public. And, if the issues that people care about happen to include past affiliations (cough*Jeremiah Wright*cough*Bill Ayers*), past votes (cough*Born Alive Act*) or public service jobs right out of college (i.e. US Navy*cough*community organizing) well, it would be better than going “…another year, or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you.”
