Obama Tells Allies He Is Ready to Hit Back

[davidnc76]

ALBUQUERQUE, Aug. 18 -- Sen. Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Monday after a week-long Hawaiian vacation and tried to assure anxious Democrats that he is ready to fight back against Republican character attacks that grew sharper in his absence.

At a town hall meeting here, Obama slammed Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) for continuing the politics and policies of President Bush, part of an attempt to tether the presumptive Republican nominee to the unpopular president. In recent days, the campaign and its supporters have also begun portraying the wealthy McCain as too out of touch to represent the common man.

Late last week, the campaign dismissed the rising concerns of Democrats as arm-chair quarterbacking with little understanding of Obama's strategy. By Monday, not even the candidate could let such concerns slide.

"Everywhere I go, people have told me, 'I'm getting nervous. The Republicans, they're so mean. They're going to Swift-boat you. They're doing things to you. What are you going to do?' " Obama said. "I have to just remind people that, it is true that, just as John McCain has embraced George Bush's policies, he's embraced his politics. And the same people who brought you George Bush are now trying to package John McCain."


Read more:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/18/AR2008081802177.html

[calimary]

1. What are those guys doing in your sig line?

Polishing bowling balls?

Thanks for posting this - I HOPE Obama is aware of how worried many of us are. We're sick of losing presidential election cycles because our candidate simply MUST take the "high road" (which leads straight over a cliff).

[davidnc76]

3. Yes, they are polishing their balls. Have you seen

this movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iglG98RB7ow

[Hekate]

2. About time. I'm beginning to hope his veep is a pit bull let off the leash. nt

[Frances]

4. Obama does need to hit back hard

But he needs to be very cool, calm, and collected about it. His body language and his voice need to show confidence.

I remember how hard I worked for Gore and how hard Gore worked for me and the rest of America. But while Gore projected concern, he didn't project confidence.

[davidnc76]

7. Yeah he doesn't need to go loopy like Howard Dean...

[regnaD kciN]

10. He can't do it himself...

...without losing his aura of "a new kind of politics."

In short, he needs what presidential candidates have needed since time immemorial -- a "hatchet man" as VP, who will carve up the opposing candidate while the nominee rides serenely above the fray.

Maybe this time, the best "hatchet man" for the job...is a woman?

[AZBlue]

5. Phew!

K&R

[az chela]

6. It is the only way he will win.You cant be Mr nice guy to

someone like mcinsane

[rockymountaindem]

8. Gee, already?

I hope it's not too late.

[bburt]

9. Obama is smart and media-savvy ...

... McCain knows how to turn on that newfangled teleo-vision machine.

It's all in the timing. McCain is like a clumsy bull in a china shop.

Obama is like a cobra, waiting just the right time to strike.

[deacon]

11. He has to hit them EVERY day. No Kerry Part II stuff. He needs to be

fearless like he was in the primaries.

[Naturyl]

12. Then get to it.

Don't just "be ready" to hit back, start actually doing so.

I'll believe it when I see it - and I don't meant these lukewarm half-assed jabs. They are going to hit hard and we need to do the same.

[davidnc76]

13. Seriously