How Obama Should Respond to the “Celebrity” Charge

[babylonsister]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/10/how-obama-should-respond-to-the-celebrity-charge/#more-31710

How Obama Should Respond to the “Celebrity” Charge
By: Anonymous Liberal on Sunday, August 10th, 2008 at 9:00 AM - PDT

snip//

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.

[Berry Cool]

1. That's an excellent response.

And if Obama and his people are anything like they have been so far, this is exactly the theme they will use when he gets back. Then they will address those concerns they mentioned, rather than harping on junk that doesn't matter.

[polichick]

2. Perfect - McCain would be backpedaling in two seconds flat!

[scarletwoman]

3. Damn, that's good! I really hope someone on Obama's campaign staff sees it!

It's the perfect response, and extremely well-crafted. Bravo to the author!

sw

[KittyWampus]

4. no, it's not. It's 5 paragraphs long and basically amounts to defending oneself and explaining

oneself.

That is categorically NOT how you win in politics.

The answer to have a counter-charge and go back on OFFENSE.

McCain= Loose Cannon
McCain= Irresponsible
McCain= Failing
McCain= Incompetent

Pick one and hammer it home every day.

[scarletwoman]

5. I think you missed the author's intent - this is a proposal for a SPEECH, not a campaign commercial.

I daresay five paragraphs is quite short for a speech.

[babylonsister]

6. What's wrong with it? This could be said goodnaturedly, as Obama

says things on the stump, but the intent would be unmistakable. Not everyone thinks he needs to be relentlessly on the offensive.