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This is exactly how Obama can turn McCain's "Celebrity" garbage on it's head
From C &L writing a suggestion for Obama:
Over at the The New Republic, Michael Crowley writes:
More handwringing about Obama’s optics: I see that tickets for his acceptance speech at Denver’s Invesco Field stadium sold out instantly. In light of the apparent traction Republicans got with their ‘Celebrity’ meme you have to wonder if the Obama team is reconsidering the wisdom of this move. I would recommend any possible stagecraft to minimize the event’s scale.
No. No. No. Crowley’s instinctive response here demonstrates much of what’s been wrong with the Democratic approach to politics over the last decade or so. Obama’s ability to draw large enthusiastic crowds is one of his chief political strengths. It is ludicrous not to showcase that strength just because your opponent has–in classic Rovian style–tried to turn it into a liability. That’s how you lose elections.
The way to deal with the “celebrity” charge is not to lower your profile; it’s to turn that charge back around on McCain. If I were advising Obama, I’d tell him to get up there in front of that sold out stadium and say the following:
My opponent has taken to calling me a “celebrity” in all of his commercials. The suggestion, I can only assume, is that all of you (gesturing to the crowd) show up at events like this and donate your time and your money to this campaign because you’re all adoring groupies who are obsessed with me. Now, that would certainly be flattering if it were true, but I’m not going to delude myself. The reality is I can’t act, I can’t sing, and my personal life is incredibly boring.
The truth is that no one would be paying any attention to me at all if I wasn’t talking about things that really matter to a lot of people. You’re not here tonight–and you’re not watching at home–because you want to be entertained. Lord knows there are plenty of things that you could be doing with your time right now that would be far more entertaining than listening to me. No, you’re here tonight because you love your country and you’re concerned about the direction it’s been heading over the last eight years.
You’re not here tonight to see what kind of outfit I’m wearing or to hear my latest hit single–and if you are, I think you’re probably going to be disappointed. No, you’re here because you want change, you want a government that fights for people like you and not on behalf of powerful special interests; you want a government that keeps you safe by pursuing a rationale foreign policy abroad and keeps your family secure by creating jobs, ensuring access to affordable health care, and fighting for energy independence.
That’s why you’re here. That’s why you’re volunteering your time at record levels. That’s why you’re contributing your hard-earned money in record amounts.
So remember, when John McCain and his surrogates call me a “celebrity,” they’re not insulting me;they’re insulting you. They’re insinuating that you are a mindless groupie rather than a concerned citizen, a fan rather than a voter.
But it’s not going to work. You know why you’re here, you know why you’re watching, and you’re much smarter than they give you credit for.
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My opponent has taken to calling me a “celebrity” in all of his commercials. The suggestion, I can only assume, is that all of you (gesturing to the crowd) show up at events like this and donate your time and your money to this campaign because you’re all adoring groupies who are obsessed with me.
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“So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldn’t find honest employment.” —Mark Twain
The one thing that is apparent is those who do not support Obama, the media, and those on the right have created this mindless celebrity/messiah persona of Obama because he does attract thousands and thousands of people to see/hear his message and to donate money to him because many of us want to erase the past 8 years of poorly run country and administration and because when Obama speaks he calls for personal responsibility for that change and expects the people to make that happen.
Even on this board the word Obama humper was used to try to negatively describe those who support Obama simply because they support him.
And because of those connotations it's supposed to mean that he's loved blindly by those who support him. Look at 40's reaction to my post on a column by Matt Taibbi he was shocked to see an article posted that has relevant info on Obama unlike that of which he posts.
Once those guys get over that idiotic belief that Obama is seen as the messiah they'll see that he's supported mainly because he better resembles (more than any other candidate for me) what we want in a President.
Like him or not, he broke records in the primary thanks in part to another well qualified candidate and a down to the wire primary. This guy has 5% of the registered voters working for him some capacity. That is truly amazing.
The other guy is offering rewards to post talking points.
...
In the meantime McCain will give his wincefully, forcedl smile in front of a crowd of tens of supporters on convention night while Obama drives tens of thousands into drunken celebrity inspired stupor.
Oh and I just got a text last night saying Obama will break the VP news by text between now and the convention.
This guy has 5% of the registered voters working for him some capacity. That is truly amazing.
The other guy is offering rewards to post talking points.
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oderint dum metuant (Latin for 'let them hate, so long as they fear').
Well, in truth I'm actually not a total hawk, but I'm not a dove either -- I'm more like an angry pigeon flying over the political arena after a really big meal. -Abba Gav
So remember, when John McCain and his surrogates call me a “celebrity,” they’re not insulting me; they’re insulting you. They’re insinuating that you are a mindless groupie rather than a concerned citizen, a fan rather than a voter.
That pretty well sums it up. I'm waiting for the McCain campaign to start referring to the "thrill going up the back of my leg" set.
Edit: and how stupid is it to think Obama can "turn the celebrity garbage on its head" i.e. gain an advantage by defending the people who already adore him? It'd be like W trying to gain popularity by telling a crowd of evangelicals that the Democrats really don't like them.
Last edited by Kolo; August 11th, 2008 at 08:30 AM.
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Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won; here's to America's colors, the colors that never run. May the wings of liberty never lose a feather. ....
That pretty well sums it up. I'm waiting for the McCain campaign to start referring to the "thrill going up the back of my leg" set.
Edit: and how stupid is it to think Obama can "turn the celebrity garbage on its head" i.e. gain an advantage by defending the people who already adore him? It'd be like W trying to gain popularity by telling a crowd of evangelicals that the Democrats really don't like them.
its stupid not to address it and the speech will be watched by a heckuva lot more than just his supporters. He will be speaking to the same undecided voters that McCain is trying to reach with those silly ads.
Or by your logic, its stupid for McCain to run those ads because he is only appealing to his base...
its stupid not to address it and the speech will be watched by a heckuva lot more than just his supporters. He will be speaking to the same undecided voters that McCain is trying to reach with those silly ads.
Or by your logic, its stupid for McCain to run those ads because he is only appealing to his base...
Does knowing the answer before you hear the question ever get in the way?
Does knowing the answer before you hear the question ever get in the way?
Being clairvoyant doesn't suck.... but of course, I already knew that... I mean.... being clairvoyant and all... I'd HAVE to know that... but then....
Oh, forget it!!!!!
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Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won; here's to America's colors, the colors that never run. May the wings of liberty never lose a feather. ....
It sure isn't what I was hoping to see out of his campaign. However, in the "which ad was funnier" Obama's was by far. I just didn't think presidential ads and Super Bowl ads were going to end up so similar.
I kind of liked it more when Obama brushed off attacks on him without taking the low road too...stayed above the fray.
Plus, this is really a wussy slapfight, not really "mudslinging." Obama vs. McCain, who is the bigger celeb? Whiny whiny McWhinypants and his bratwurst photo op? Paris Hilton is coming out of this looking like the smartest of all three of them. Yikes.
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I'm the anti-TNT. I don't do drama.
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