The Bare Knuckled Pundit
07-01-2008, 07:47 PM
In a move strikingly similar to tactics used by the Clinton camp against them during the primary campaign, the Obama camp has unleashed the first political suicide bomber of the campaign against Republican opponent, John McCain.
Appearing on “Face the Nation” Sunday, retired Army General Wesley Clark stated, “Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.” This in response to host Bob Schieffer’s contention that Senator Obama similarly lacked the executive experience Clark had repeatedly assailed McCain for.
Following Clark’s remarks, the Obama campaign dutifully distanced itself with campaign spokesman, Bill Burton insisting, "Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark."
Reinforcing his campaign’s statement, the junior Senator from Illinois told an audience in Independence, Mo., that McCain had "endured physical torment in service to our country" and "no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides."
Obama then went on to put Republicans on notice on the issue of patriotism in the campaign, stating, “I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign. And I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine.” This falls in line with his previous statements that he will not stand idly by and be “Swift Boated”, in reference to attacks on Senator John Kerry’s military record that sapped momentum out of his general election campaign early on in 2004.
Attempting to maintain the elevation of the campaign’s tenor, McCain responded, "If that's the kind of campaign Sen. Obama and his surrogates and supporters want to engage in, I understand that. But it doesn't reduce the price of gas by one penny. It doesn't achieve our energy independence or make it come any closer. Doesn't make any American stay in their home who's at risk of losing it today. And it certainly doesn't do anything to address the challenges Americans have in keeping their jobs, homes and supporting their families."
While the incident is reminiscent of tactics used by the Clinton campaign during the Democratic primaries to play on racial issues and Obama’s admitted past drug use http://bareknuckledpundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/clintonista-suicide-bombers.html , there are also indications from Obama’s own campaign that this may be the first of a series of surrogate suicide attacks yet to come.
In April, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said of the presumptive Republican nominee, “McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they (the missiles) get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."
Again, the Obama campaign dutifully disavowed the remarks while reaping the political benefits by stating, "Sen. Obama has a deep respect for Sen. McCain's service to this country and he does not agree with what Sen. Rockefeller said.”
Clearly part of the change Obama believes in is adapting new tactics to the political battleground, much like Hezbollah adroitly adapted the suicide bomber to its needs after having been perfected by the Tamil Tigers in their struggle for independence from Sri Lanka.
The incident begs the question of how much responsibility campaigns and candidates should bear for the remarks of their surrogates and supporters. In cases where a surrogate is an official representative of or expert commentator promoted by a campaign, then there is higher level of responsibility and propriety on the part of both the campaign and the individual.
However, in cases where someone is speaking independently, without campaign talking points or direction, one can hardly hold a candidate responsible for their views and statements. Though questionable, irresponsible or reprehensible, they are the personal beliefs and opinions of a single voter. Furthermore, candidates can hardly be held accountable for the opinions and ads of independent groups; to do so is unreasonable and distracts from the larger and more pressing issues at hand.
The First Amendment guarantees all of us the Freedom of Speech. With that freedom comes personal responsibility and accountability. To hold others accountable for our personal beliefs and statements is immature, irresponsible and indicative of the pettiness that is characteristic of the politics of the day.
Say what you mean, faithful readers. And mean what you say. Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and the feckless finger-pointing escalates.
Appearing on “Face the Nation” Sunday, retired Army General Wesley Clark stated, “Well, I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president.” This in response to host Bob Schieffer’s contention that Senator Obama similarly lacked the executive experience Clark had repeatedly assailed McCain for.
Following Clark’s remarks, the Obama campaign dutifully distanced itself with campaign spokesman, Bill Burton insisting, "Sen. Obama honors and respects Sen. McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by Gen. Clark."
Reinforcing his campaign’s statement, the junior Senator from Illinois told an audience in Independence, Mo., that McCain had "endured physical torment in service to our country" and "no one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign, and that goes for supporters on both sides."
Obama then went on to put Republicans on notice on the issue of patriotism in the campaign, stating, “I will never question the patriotism of others in this campaign. And I will not stand idly by when I hear others question mine.” This falls in line with his previous statements that he will not stand idly by and be “Swift Boated”, in reference to attacks on Senator John Kerry’s military record that sapped momentum out of his general election campaign early on in 2004.
Attempting to maintain the elevation of the campaign’s tenor, McCain responded, "If that's the kind of campaign Sen. Obama and his surrogates and supporters want to engage in, I understand that. But it doesn't reduce the price of gas by one penny. It doesn't achieve our energy independence or make it come any closer. Doesn't make any American stay in their home who's at risk of losing it today. And it certainly doesn't do anything to address the challenges Americans have in keeping their jobs, homes and supporting their families."
While the incident is reminiscent of tactics used by the Clinton campaign during the Democratic primaries to play on racial issues and Obama’s admitted past drug use http://bareknuckledpundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/clintonista-suicide-bombers.html , there are also indications from Obama’s own campaign that this may be the first of a series of surrogate suicide attacks yet to come.
In April, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said of the presumptive Republican nominee, “McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they (the missiles) get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."
Again, the Obama campaign dutifully disavowed the remarks while reaping the political benefits by stating, "Sen. Obama has a deep respect for Sen. McCain's service to this country and he does not agree with what Sen. Rockefeller said.”
Clearly part of the change Obama believes in is adapting new tactics to the political battleground, much like Hezbollah adroitly adapted the suicide bomber to its needs after having been perfected by the Tamil Tigers in their struggle for independence from Sri Lanka.
The incident begs the question of how much responsibility campaigns and candidates should bear for the remarks of their surrogates and supporters. In cases where a surrogate is an official representative of or expert commentator promoted by a campaign, then there is higher level of responsibility and propriety on the part of both the campaign and the individual.
However, in cases where someone is speaking independently, without campaign talking points or direction, one can hardly hold a candidate responsible for their views and statements. Though questionable, irresponsible or reprehensible, they are the personal beliefs and opinions of a single voter. Furthermore, candidates can hardly be held accountable for the opinions and ads of independent groups; to do so is unreasonable and distracts from the larger and more pressing issues at hand.
The First Amendment guarantees all of us the Freedom of Speech. With that freedom comes personal responsibility and accountability. To hold others accountable for our personal beliefs and statements is immature, irresponsible and indicative of the pettiness that is characteristic of the politics of the day.
Say what you mean, faithful readers. And mean what you say. Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and the feckless finger-pointing escalates.