There’s a danger in hitting back against wild, unsubstantiated accusations. Do it wrong, and you can end up bringing more attention to the initial smear, i.e. “Congressman Denies Beating His Wife.” But American Crossroads hits the right notes in its latest ad, contrasting the honorable rhetoric of 2008-Obama with the mud-slinging in the Priorities USA steelworker ad. The powerful audio at the end is a great touch (former White House counsel John Dean speaking on the Nixon White House tapes in 1973, informs Mike Allen):
The Romney campaign is also increasing pressure on the Obama camp to denounce the ad. In an interview with Bill Bennett yesterday, Romney tore into the president’s campaign:
Romney said in a radio interview that the ad was “wrong and inaccurate” and that the Obama campaign should be “embarrassed” the super-PAC, Priorities USA, is standing by the ad.
“You know, in the past, when people pointed out that something was inaccurate, why, campaigns pulled the ad,” Romney said on Bill Bennett’s radio show. “They were embarrassed. Today, they just blast ahead. You know, the various fact-checkers look at some of these charges in the Obama ads and they say that they’re wrong, and inaccurate, and yet he just keeps on running them.”
Frankly, it’s interesting that the Obama campaign hasn’t issued a clear condemnation of the ad yet. Is it because he’s worried about hurting Priorities USA’s fundraising if he speaks out against them too harshly? Wealthy Democrats have already been reluctant to give to super PACs, which was why Obama publicly endorsed Priorities USA in the first place — to let donors know this group was approved by the most principled campaigner ever. If he now denounces the super PAC for running slimy and dishonest ads, that could seriously handicap Priorities for the rest of the season.
Hard to claim youre the most "principled campaigner ever" with "get in their face" and "if they bring a knife, you bring a gun."
I think the Dean audio "we have a cancer in the white house" should be run and run and run by Romney — it is priceless. And appropriate because Obama is the first president to be even more corrupt than Nixon…
Alana, you give Mr. Obama too much credit. Mr. Obama likes the ad, and I think he especially likes this one because it is raw and wrong. This negativity is not to be opposed, but embraced. As long as the Obama camp can say they had nothing to do with the ad, why should they ask to have it removed? It keeps the conversation on Romney and even though the ad is a lie, it's a dirty lie about the opponent. From Mr. Obama's view, what's not to like? n nTo believe the Obama camp would oppose the ad is naive. It's right in-line with Chicago politics as usual.
"There’s a danger in hitting back against wild, unsubstantiated accusations. Do it wrong, and you can end up bringing more attention to the initial smear" n nThe reality is that most people are incredibly lazy. They pay attention only to the initial headlines—and refuse to invest the necessary time to find out the truth. We must guilt trip these slothful individuals.
Alana, I could not help shaking my head when you said "Romney tore into the president's campaign"! If that's "tore into" by his calling the ad "wrong and inaccurate", well it sounds like lame "tearing". BHO will NEVER condemn the ad. I can't believe you would ever think he would. Don't you get it? He and his campaign, the DNC, the Democrats in Congress, etc all stand together and all will do anything (lie, steal, cheat, etc) short of murder to keep BHO in office. That is their goal and they will use every tactic they can and will never criticize each other. They are united. But where are the Republicans? Where is Romney?! I don't see any fighting spirit. None. Zilch. The most important election and the fight is not there. We are in serious trouble.
Pehaps President Obama should respond with a stinging rebuke. Something like, "Those are not the words I would have chosen.".
If this Romney team thinks they have responded forcefully to the Obama smear campaign, then Romney absolutely needs a NEW capaingn chief