Is the Obama Campaign Being Too Ruthless Re Corsi Book?

[Median Democrat]

I saw one article detailing how the Obama camp is not only going to rebut the facts of the Corsi book, but that the gloves are off, and they going to basically go Jerome Corsi on Jerome Corsi. For example, I was surprised to see a fellow with Media Matters giving Jerome Corsi a taste of his own medicine by rebutting the logical fallacies in the Obama book, BY USING JEROME CORSI AS AN EXAMPLE!

For example, when discussing the people Obama hangs out with, the dude from Media Matters, started discussing Jerome Corsi's past affiliations, then asked whether that means that Jerome Corsi is anti-semetic and anti-catholic. When Jerome Corsi protested that he had apologized, then the guy from Media Matters asked him to prove a negative, then pivoted and explained that this was the same type of logical games that are contained in the Corsi book. Jerome Corsi was visibly upset by what he called "ad hominen attacks," which was one of the most irony filled moments I have seen on TV.

Should the Obama campaign simply stick to point by point rebuttals of the book? Or, is it fair game to aggressively expose Jerome Corsi himself?

[DJ13]

1. Theres no such thing as too ruthless when dealing with neocons

After the last two Presidential elections I cant understand anyone who cant figure that out.

[Phx_Dem]

33. lol. I was going to type the identical comment.

Here's to being ruthless. :toast:

[FVZA_Colonel]

45. So long as the attacks are based in truth,

I don't give a damn how far they go. Lies will come back to bite us, but the truth... that's completely fair game.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. As far as I'm concerned, there is no action ruthless enough,

low road enough, when it comes to responding to the "torpedo" that is Corsi's book.

It's time to stop being "nice guys" and win this election!

[Matariki]

3. You're kidding, right?

This guy should be completely, totally, thoroughly discredited and ground into dust, no he NEVER, NEVER, NEVER returns.

Sheesh, people either whine that the Democrats are 'too wimpy' or whine that they're 'too ruthless' if they do anything assertive.

[Pirate Smile]

10. That was my reaction too. His credibility needs to be completely and ruthlessly destroyed.

[Kber]

56. His illusion of credibility needs to the completely and ruthlessly destroyed.

You cannot destroy what does not exist.

[Pirate Smile]

58. Yes, that is what I meant, of course.

:silly:

[NYCGirl]

4. No. NT

[Sulawesi]

5. I am confused...i'd say it is too ruthless but I loved reading your post!

[high density]

6. Let them prove a negative

Fuck these assholes.

[americanstranger]

7. He's slime. Kneecap the son of a bitch.

Make an example of him, so that the next smear merchant will think long and hard before releasing something as insidious as Corsi's latest bucket of swill.

No mercy. Make him regret ever writing that trash.

- as

[pot luck]

8. No.

I say completely destroy the guy's reputation so he can't attack any other Dem.

[Bullet1987]

9. Hell no! TOO RUTHLESS?!?

The guy wrote a book with the validity of tabloid trash to smear Obama. Very little, if anything at all in that book is even remotely true. A couple of points may have kernals of truth, but NOTHING in that book is 100% factual. He basically just took the smear email and expanded on it. The Obama campaign NEEDS to attack back hard.

[Gabi Hayes]

11. sauce for the goose baby! that was one of the most satisfying TV moments

I've had since that monster Joe diGenova almost had a heart attack when he 'confronted' David Brock on Geraldo's old TV show, not long after his Blinded book came out

that was the BEST, and this came close

remember when Corsi tried to say Weather Underground, but kept stumbling, finally giving up, and stammering "Weatherground?"

priceless

[Gabi Hayes]

13. semi-blow-by-blow of the show you reference:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6631502

[rinsd]

12. No way. That sounds fantastic. Anyone got video of it?

[americanstranger]

25. Here ya go.

http://mediamatters.org/embed/larryking-20080813-corsi?f=h_top

Watch it all. Corsi gets his ass kicked.

I hope Obama's guys enlist Paul Waldman as a surrogate to beat this back. He's good - unflappable, on point, telegenic.

- as

[rinsd]

30. Thank you.

I am spreading that far and wide.

[City Lights]

I'm watching now...thanks for the link! nt

[City Lights]

46. Waldman was outstanding!

:applause:

One thing that jumped out at me was the number of times Corsi cited world net daily as a source. They're not credible and should not be taken seriously. Billy Kristol has cited them in his NYTimes column and has been forced to issue a correction. I :scared: at the thought of them being viewed as a serious news source.

Thanks again for the link...:yourock:

[americanstranger]

47. Yes, he was.

I love seeing our side reduce wingnuts to gibbering idiots - however redundant that may be. :)

- as

[bluestateguy]

14. Attack the facts in the book and yes, go after him personally

And mix it all up with some bullshit rumors too.

Payback should be a bitch.

[vaberella]

15. Expose Corsi. Expose them all. n/t

[Peacetrain]

16. Gloves off!!

[npincus]

17. No. Impossible.

Grind him up, make him into patties and fry him on the grill.

[Overseas]

18. Poor little Corsi's interview on racist radio will replay on Aug 17

That his book is rife with inaccuracies hasn’t stopped Corsi from promoting it on dozens of talk shows, where he has peddled additional falsehoods about Obama. On Fox News’ Hannity’s America, for instance, he made the ludicrous claim that Obama supports abortion “after a child’s born.”

Perhaps Corsi’s most telling appearance, however, has been on The Political Cesspool, an overtly racist, anti-Semitic radio show hosted by self-avowed white nationalist James Edwards. Corsi was interviewed on the Cesspool on July 20 and is scheduled to appear again this Sunday, August 17, joining a recent guest roster that has included Christian Identity pastor Pete Peters, Holocaust denier Mark Weber and former Klan boss David Duke.

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2008/08/13/bestselling-anti-obama-fabulist-appears-on-white-supremacist-radio-show/

[The Magistrate]

19. Not In The Least, Sir

Put bluntly, nothing could be too ruthless for my tastes in this matter.

This reptile should be converted into a small spot of grease, for people to piss on.

[City Lights]

20. Expose Corsi. The sooner and the louder, the better!

Beat them at their own game.

Poor widdle Juwwome. :nopity:

Can't wait to see a video of that exchange!

[americanstranger]

26. See post # 25.

It's a long clip, but watch it all.

Corsi folded like an umbrella in a windstorm. Like McCain, he's old and slow.

Put Daivid Plouffe on him. Corsi would be crying inside of five minutes.

- as

[CakeGrrl]

21. Why should any quarter be given to a swiftboater dedicated to derailing Democrats?

He's flinging the dirt; he deserves to have his efforts turned back on him.

First Obama gets slammed for not doing enough against McCain, now there's concern about whether he's going too hard on a guy who systematically tries to kneecap Democrats?

This isn't a 'nice white lady' (Hillary) or a stately 'war hero' (McCain) that the MSM can pick on Obama for attacking. This is a dirty player who ought to be able to hold his own. I'm sure the Obama response will be well-planned in anticipation of backlash.

[Riddler]

22. No more so than you would ruthless for scraping dog shit off your shoe, and that's

exactly what Corsi and his right-wing surrogates are...dog shit.

[supernova]

23. Jerome Corsi needs a dose of his own medicine

People who indulge in this behavior don't see it as applying to them. He needs to learn that lesson. GObama!

[ErinBerin84]

24. is this a parody post, or are you serious?

Heh, I remember that your first couple of posts were parodies.

[Median Democrat]

38. Yikes...

No comment. :)

My impressions is that Denocrats and Republicans often underestimate the Obama campaign, because they have not gone Karl Rove on anyone, thus they are perceived as week. Yet, I am sure they have a timeline of the 2004 campaign, and roughly when the GOP will launch its smears as we approach the election.

You may agree or disagree with Obama's policies (I happen to agree with most of them), but Obama is a very gifted politician and leader who has managed to win the nomination without pulling a John McCain and chucking the themes of his campaign, and running negative even though many people on this board advocate such attacks.

That is why I am almost surprised at the ferocity and ruthlessness of the Obama campaign's handling of Jerome Corsi.

And, I have to say, I have no problem with Corsi getting a nice helping of the type attacks he has built his career on and best, yet, the attacks on Corsi are true. He is a racist and anti-semetic, so exposing him as such is a bonus.

[ErinBerin84]

42. maybe they feel more comfortable attacking his character since he is not

"associated" with the McCain campaign (wink,wink)



Even when I disagree with your posts, I always enjoy them :hi:

edit: oh yeah, and I wasn't trying to be an asshole...maybe I have you mixed up with another poster, but wasn't your first post on DU an admitted parody post?

[Kutjara]

27. Nobody ever seems to complain that McCain is too ruthless.

Just another thing the GOP gets a pass on, while Dems waste their time in pointless soul-searching. It's important that we be ethical, truthful, and forthright. It is not important that we be "nice."

[Spazito]

28. Exposing Corsi IS exposing his book for the putrid garbage it is, imo

They go hand in hand.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

29. If they cracked his skull open with a spikey baseball bat and then

proceeded to take a mean nasty ass runny shit inside his skull. That would be too ruthless.

I exaggerate of course but it's time to stop bringing water pistols to real gun fights.

[mvd]

31. Definitely give him his own medicine

He'd probably cower like a bully would.

[Alexander]

32. No. Obama learned from Kerry's mistakes and won't be swiftboated.

[blm]

41. Kerry handed over his research on Corsi to Obama long ago. That's why Obama can hit the ground

running on this.

[Ashy Larry]

34. Media Matters is an idependent organization

so they should do whatever they can to make sure people understand the truth.

[mitchum]

35. Pointing out the widespread rumors that Corsi is a nazi child molester...

hardly constitutes "ruthless"

[cliffordu]

37. No, as far as I know he IS a NAZI child molester and a frotterist, besides.

[Alexander]

40. Can Corsi prove he isn't? Then he might as well be.

[cliffordu]

44. I read on a blog somewhere that he is a NAZI child molester so that must be true

and I believe that he is a NAZI child molester.

And a frotterist.

Or maybe a Coprophilia aficionado.

Who's to say???

[Gabi Hayes]

77. frotteur, as in auteur

frottage

Leonard Cohen's book, Beautiful Losers, has an interesting section dealing with that.

[cliffordu]

36. I say we nail his penis to a board and set the board on fire.

[americanstranger]

48. Seconded!

You get the board, I'll bring the hammer and nails.

We'll have to get somebody else to actually do the nailing - I ain't touching that thing. :)

- as

[beac]

50. I think this situation calls for a nail gun.

That way, no one has to get too close to the offensive organ.

:)

[cliffordu]

55. No sweat, I have needlenosed pliers

[Occam Bandage]

39. No. You cannot go too ruthless against Jerome Corsi.

[Middle finga]

43. Bravo! the dems got to learn to use a sledge hammer to kill those

cock roaches.

[Matariki]

49. He knows the words 'ad hominem'

:rofl:

he hasn't seen ANYTHING. yet.

[Faygo Kid]

51. Nuke him. Nuke the bastard. And Mary Matalin, too.

As a matter of fact, there's a laundry list. But those two would be a good start.

Nuke 'em.

[Hamlette]

59. Thank god we won't have Carville around any more. I've been pissed at him all day over this.

How can you be married to a person who publishes this trash about good, honest, hard working men like Kerry and Obama?

It would be one thing if he was married to an honest, honorable republican (there are a few left, Hagel, Collins, Snowe) but Matlin? Trash and he is too for living with her.

[PA Democrat]

52. NO mercy for that putrid liar. His book of filth helped the murdering bastards steal the

last election. Expose every lie, every bigoted remark, every unsavory association of that pig. I won't be satisfied until he cannot show his face in public.

[AlinPA]

53. Ruthless? What the hell do you think Corsi is?

[karynnj]

54. I think they have to go after Corsi - who is an easy target

I n 2004, within one day the Kerry campaign wrote 36 pages refuting SBVT claims - but this was lost in the noise. They continued proving more and more lies. The problem was the sheer number of lies. The media then just went to other claims. This whole process led people not paying attention to think there was something there. In fact, Kerry's service was not really controversial - all the official records show he was a war hero.

He wrote those despicable posts 4 years ago, not as a kid. They are truly ugly. The fact that they could turn Corsi's technique on him was great - because he called tham ad-hominen attacks - though they were more justified than the Obama or Kerry attacks.

[Hamlette]

57. The guy is a freeper, posts there regularily

I've been directed to that site from time to time over the years. Those people are not credible. Corsi needs to be destroyed. His credibility, his politics, his bigotry.

To think he gets an hour on Larry King (and every other show I'm sure) and he's such a pig. (Read the last few pages of the stuff from Obama.) People need to know who he is.

[Sugarcoated]

60. If there are any Coast to Coast AM listeners

Corsi is a once or twice a month guest where he talks about border issues and Iran propaganda. I know some of you might say Coast to Coast is BS anyway so, who cares, but most of it is all in fun and entertaining to listen to, as well as one of the only places that will seriously look at people's experiences that can't be explained. I've listened for years and there's never been any overt political agenda. I subscribe to it online since it's not here on Philly radio, so I sent out polite but firm emails to the producer and hosts to say I'm unhappy with having a regular guest who is promoting RW twisted agendas.

[ecstatic]

61. Ruthless? Why did you choose that word?

Ruthless applies to the liar who wrote the book full of lies to make a fast buck!

Defending oneself from slander should not be described as ruthless.

[Median Democrat]

66. No, Ruthless Means "Having No Pity" Per Websters

[DevonRex]

62. No respect is due to a liar. I say go for it. nt

[Sugarcoated]

63. Rip his throat out

[Populista]

64. Hit Corsi with any weapons possible

There's no excuse for deliberately writing a book filled of lies with the intention of smearing an opposing candidate.

[JustAnotherGen]

65. Telling the Truth

About someone is never a baseless attack.

[cyr330]

67. Go for it!

Only the Democrats are told they are going too far. Nobody ever says anything when the Repigs do it. I am so sick of seeing them get away with it. I, for one, will be delighted to see the Dems take a lesson from those asshats and turn the tables on those idiots. Corsi is such an easy target. The Dems would be very foolish to not trash him, as he well deserves. . .

[last_texas_dem]

68. No; not in my opinion

The right-wing enables the Repugs to win as many elections as they do based on going all-out and throwing whatever they can at any Democrats or liberals, whether they are politicians, media talking heads, etc. The way I see it, the fact that Democrats and liberals seem to finally be waking up and giving the right a taste of their own medicine is a good sign.

[workinclasszero]

69. Too ruthless with lying right wing fascists?

Yeah thats prolly what John Kerry's campaign thought about the swiftboat bastards.

See what being above the fray got him?

[eleny]

70. You forgot the Smilies...

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[JVS]

71. Too ruthless?

:rofl:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

72. There's no such thing as too ruthless when it comes to scum like Corsi.

Gut and fillet him.

[donco6]

73. "Hoisted by his own petard" was created for such as this. n/t

[Political Heretic]

74. Is this a joke? Know how you handle a bully? Punch him squarely in the face.

He'll cower, and wither.

[ljm2002]

81. Ha ha!!!

I should have read all the responses before I posted mine -- we think alike on this topic, I said you have to punch bullies hard in the nose!

I'm loving the responses -- lots of *righteous* anger here against that putrid steaming pile Corsi.

[Vogon_Glory]

75. Let Corsi Receive His Karmic comeback

Let Jerome Corsi receive his karmic comeback. Corsi has chosen to make a career out of sliming Democratic and progressive politicians and until recently, nobody has done much to stop him. The extreme right and the GOP have not only distributed and repeated his attacks, but some of them have clutched the fellow to their metaphorical bosoms, press-titutes of the corporate media have failed to research and/or challenge his assertions, and sadly, Democratic political chieftains and progressive columnists have chosen to indulge in publicly deploring Corsi and wringing their hands.

When discussing Citizen Corsi, we are not discussing an honorable man who is dedicated to the truth or a man who practices truth, honor, and integrity in his person life or in his dealings with others. Instead, Corsi has been practicing character assassination and filthy politicking for years now. He knew what he was doing, and chose to do it anyway. Jerome Corsi has chosen his path as well as shaped the forces that could wreak his undoing. Let Corsi receive his karmic comeback; there is no reason for undeserved mercy.

[bklyncowgirl]

76. Expose the SOB stripped naked and hung out to dry in Macy's Window

Seriously. Don't allow this schmuck to gain the slightest bit of credibility.

[Gabi Hayes]

78. wow....bloodthirsty, or what?

doesn't look so good to me

fine and dandy with calling him out ruthlessly, but what's with the ultraviolence?

[KingFlorez]

79. Too ruthless?

The book is full of lies, something like that should not be allowed to drop without a harsh response.

[ljm2002]

80. Excuuuuuse me???

You ask if it's fair to be ruthless against Corsi??? Friggin' CORSI????????

Good grief.

The only way to beat a bully is to punch him hard in the face. Give as good as you get. Especially this kind of bully.

Good on Obama's team for knowing that and fighting back.

And by the way, they aren't "going Corsi" on Corsi -- because to "go Corsi" would mean to promote lies and distortions. Whereas, you don't have to lie or distort anything to show what a sleazoid this man is, and everyone who voluntarily associates with him is covered with the same dripping slime.

If the media can rake Obama over the coals for every wacky statement of every person he ever rubbed shoulders with, then Obama can certainly take Corsi to task for the outright lunatics he has been cozy with over the years -- including Corsi himself, who is a none-too-savory character.

About time we had a little righteous anger on our side, and some truth-telling in the face of the barrage of lies that has been fed to an unsuspecting public for lo, these many years.

Geez, still shaking my head that anyone could seriously ask the question.

Or did you just forget the sarcasm tag? If so, then -- well, try and remember it next time.

[Paladin]

82. Attack, Attack, Attack

The only way we're going to prevail in this election is to get down on the same brutal level as the rightwingers. Anybody who doubts this need only look at the Hannity/Colmes tape from earlier this week, where Colmes, after a seeming lifetime as a wussy dishrag liberal, finally got in Hannity and others' faces about the well-documented history of John McCain's serial adulteries. Hannity was not only apoplectic---he was obviously scared. Let's rumble....

[Arkana]

83. Fuck no.

Corsi deserves to be savaged if he's going to try and derail Obama like he did Kerry.

[anonymous171]

84. No. I want his name to be destroyed. No one should take him seriously after this.

We should have done the same thing to the swiftboaters back in 2004. Go through their private lives and destroy them all.

[Common Sense Party]

85. I wonder if we don't make the story bigger by publicizing his "book."

Most neocons don't even take Corsi seriously.

[Demi_Babe]

86. Hell NO

[CitizenPatriot]

87. fight back

make sure we post this link on Amazon and other book sites....:-) Just sayin'...

GREAT INTERVIEW

[CitizenPatriot]

88. P. S. Does Corsi use a diaper to wipe up after he writes?

Just using his "techniques" of "asking the question" so he can't be accused of saying something inaccurate. It was a question, he whines.

Is Corsi really a Islamic extremist infiltrating America through his "books"? I didn't see a flag pin on his suit. Is he an American? He seems kind of exotic.

Etc.

[tsuki]

89. Corsi has made his character fair game. Expose him. nt

[Colobo]

90. Corsi should be blasted, and I'm glad Obama's doing it.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

91. the best form of defense is ATTACK!