Via Beltway Confidential: When even Ariana Huffington isn’t buying the premise of Obama’s campaign ad suggesting that Mitt Romney wouldn’t have ordered the Osama bin Laden raid, it’s probably time to re-evaluate that message:
“I agree with the Romney campaign, that using the Osama bin Laden assassination killing the great news that we had a year ago, in order to say basically that Obama did it and Romney may not have done it,” said Huffington. “It is one thing to celebrate the fact that they did such a great job…but to turn it into a campaign ad is one of the most despicable things you can do.”
If the message is so tasteless that it’s even offending Obama’s strident defenders, why did the campaign go ahead with it in the first place? Remember, this wasn’t just one commercial. Vice President Biden also brought up something similar in his foreign policy speech last week when he declared that “bin Laden is dead and GE is alive…If Romney was president, could we have used that same slogan in reverse?”
The way the Obama campaign has handled the bin Laden killing has been odd since the beginning. Sure, there were a few conservative detractors who tried to downplay Obama’s role, but for the most part the president was praised across the political spectrum for green-lighting the raid. He’s certainly received his fair share of credit.
But for some reason, the Obama campaign has needlessly tried to puff up the already-impressive mission, calling it the most “audacious plan” in “500 years” and overselling the risks of the president’s decision. Now they’re claiming that Romney wouldn’t have made the same call had he been president.
Why? Is Obama concerned that the raid itself isn’t extraordinary enough on its own? If that’s the case, ads like this certainly won’t help. Beyond the conceit contained in the anti-Romney message, the campaign calculation couldn’t be more transparent. The Obama campaign could have released an ad highlighting why the bin Laden raid was so momentous and what it meant for Americans in general and particularly 9/11 family members. Instead, it decided to go for a cheap and unsubstantiated attack on Romney. Huffington is right to call that despicable.
Unfortunately, Obama knows politics better than you and Ariana Huffington. The ad will probably work. People don't think like you do anymore. If they did, Obama would never have been elected nor continue to be so popular. n n
BDZ is unfortunately right. Obama is pandering to the typical stupid Democratic Party voter. It is time to take off the gloves—and start talking about their gross ignorance. Probably half of all Democrats are marginally to functionally illiterate. Those who graduated from college with a soft science credential usually received inflated grades. Republicans are more often than not well informed and formally and informally better educated.
I could be missing something — granted — but the Obama zombies I know personally tend to be anti-war to the max (several of them go to Kent State still for whatever annual memorial there is for the Kent State National Guard shooting. What I mean is that my impression is that Obama would be more successful getting his base out to vote if he promised to drop daisies on terrorists. And they're only pacifists with enemies … because they loathe Christians, loathe free enterprise, and loathe the military. So, I don't get what Obama thinks he's doing???
Obama thinks they are like Battered Wives who can't be made to leave home because he supports them. Therefore, he can pretend to be Macho on the Foreign scene gaining some there while keeping his base. n nTo his base he is the perfect President! He is a Minority by choice, a younger, better educated Jackson or Sharpton, who has vast immunity because of the countrys "White Guilt". While it is true that 10% of his support comes from Wall Street (purely for self preservation) Academia for his Marksist Leanings, and Public sector Unions who he rewards generously, the rest of his base lives off the largess of his wealth redistribution (welfare and Medicaid to those in Rio Linda) and since they pay no Federal Taxes, THEY HAVE NO FEDERAL DEBT! n nOnly Federal Tax Payers will ever be asked to PAY ONE DIME of the interest on the Federal Debt and heaven forbid, the Principal!!! So Most Of Obama's Base are Free Riders who's benefits will continue as long as the Government will borrow money from China and obligate only the Federal Taxpayers and their Taxpaying Children to Pay the freight! Sho Nuff, they will vote for Obama. FOREVER!
Obama is throwing a bone to those independents who believe in a strong national defense. He can later soothe the hurt feelings of his peace activists followers. Thomas Edsall argues that Obama has mostly abandoned the white voter. His campaign strategy is to pander to his core constituents sufficiently to cross the finish line on November 6. The odds are against him—but he still has a chance.
There are two things truly offensive in the ad. n nFirst, it is an "end zone dance" that Obama solemnly said he would not do. When true men kill their enemies, they let the act speak for itself. n nSecond, to have a former president claim that a possible future president would not have issued the"go" order is despicable. Such cheap politicking cheapens the presidency. n nAs for whether Mitt Romney would have given the “go” order, no one can know this. n nThen there is the problem that Clinton had more than a few chances to get bin Laden. He chose not to. n nA new low for both Clinton and Obama.
You all do realize the REAL reason why Huffandpuff sided with Romney over Obama dont you? She is pissed after the cheap shots Obama took at her during his little "comedy routine" the night before. Diminished Huffandpuffs Pulitzer by claiming they got it for good linking to hard hitting stories, and the hit about the recent lawsuit she won because the unpaid bloggers want a cut. His reference to her good business model. THATS why Aryn Huffandpuff sided with Romney. nGuess she thought it would be all conservative bashing.
Obama would not even recognize the "high Road"! Just watch all the classy fist bumping adopted by the in crowd at the whitehouse! Following Obama's casual dress, the opening of the situation room first to some black entertainers before even David Gergen or Bob Woodward,, and his marching with the Black Panthers, I will not be surprised when he appears wearing a baseball cap backwards with t-shirt and baggy black "Prison Drawers"! n nHave you been in those tall buildings where you must change elevators midway just to get to the upper floors? Well that what Obama would have to take to get to the level of class a President of the US should have. Remember Ronald Reagan who would not go to the Oval Office without his Jacket on? Lowering the respect for the Office Of Preasident will inevitably lower the respect people have for the Occupant.
They are not that smart — Obama, Axelrod, Plouffe, Messina, Jarrett, et al. Not so smart at governing has been obvious, but it's been taken for granted that they were brilliant at politics. But why? Obama ultimately beat Hillary for the nomination (although only after a prolonged battle) mainly because Obama was able to get 90 percent of black voters in primaries where blacks comprised 25, 30, even 40 percent of the Democratic electorate, while Hillary was obliged to curb attacks lest she be accused of racism in trying to block the first black. Once he had the nomination, Obama was stumbling but was rescued by the financial crisis which handed the election easily to the Democrat. n nThis time, it's not easy.
Inquiring Minds want to know? Were All Those Victory Dances following each successful Battle of WW2 the thing that confined FDR to a Wheel Chair?
I have long argued that Obama's top people are not particularly brilliant. They were simply selling a highly popular product: the possibility of the first black president. This was a very easy sale. Most Americans desperately wanted to prove they were not racists. Obama was cut incredible slack. Hillary was doomed because she was merely a white woman. That does not trump a dark skinned man!
The men who designed and performed the raid were ALL AMERICANS, NOT democrats! nONE MORE TIME, Pr. O is DIVIDING THE COUNTRY.