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Palin Attacks Obama Over Wright -- Even Though McCain Said Wright Was Off Limits

Sarah Palin has now attacked Barack Obama over his association with Reverend Wright -- even though John McCain himself explicitly said this spring that Wright was off limits and that attacking Obama over his former minister was "not the message of my campaign."

Palin made her comments about Wright in a new interview with New York Times columnist Bill Kristol, after he asked her whether Wright was a legit issue.

"I don't know why that association isn't discussed more," Palin said, "because those were appalling things that that pastor had said about our great country, and to have sat in the pews for 20 years and listened to that -- with, I don't know, a sense of condoning it, I guess, because he didn't get up and leave -- to me, that does say something about character."

"I guess that would be a John McCain call on whether he wants to bring that up," Palin added.

But in April, when the North Carolina GOP released a TV ad on behalf of two local GOP candidates hitting Obama over Wright in terms virtually identical to those used by Palin here, McCain expressly condemned the attack and said his campaign wanted no part of it.

The ad attacked Obama as "too extreme," asserting that "for 20 years Barack Obama sat in his pew listening to his pastor." That's precisely the same point Palin made.

At the time, McCain his campaign called the North Carolina GOP and asked them to take down the ad.

"It's not the message of the Republican Party," McCain said then. "It's not the message of my campaign. I've pledged to conduct a respectful campaign."

When told that the N.C. party would continue to air the ad, McCain rejoined: "Unfortunately all I can do is, in as visible way as possible, is disassociate myself from that kind of campaigning."

So will McCain now disassociate himself from what Palin said? Or has McCain changed his mind and decided that the gutter attack on Wright he previously condemned in such high-minded terms is now a legit tactic for his campaign?

And if it's the latter, what's changed since then aside from the fact that his campaign is in trouble?


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Donate. Donate money. Donate time. Work the phone lines. Write a letter to the editor. Call your friends, get them to give money. Step up.

Word. And contact your local witch doctor to pray that the pythons and witches that have possessed Gov. Palin are destroyed!

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When I read her quotes now, I can't stop hearing her sing-song back-atcha voice in my head.

I can't help it.  Her charactiture has cast a spell on me!  Help!!!

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I've not said this, because it sounds like such a stereotype of a woman speaker, but the only thing I thought this morning, listening to her smear Obama was that she sounds screechy and annoying.

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It's not her being a woman, it's her.

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All I hear when she speaks is 'Beep beep beep beep beep beep-beep-beep beepbeepbeep.'

Which is the most racist term?:

1) witch doctor

2) medicine man

3) shaman

4) priest

5) exocist

5) exorcist

Yes and yes.

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Distance himself? Not a chance.

If Palin is saying it, then McCain has given the go.

The man has no shame. And he's a goddamn coward for hiding behind Palin's skirt while she levels these scurrilous attacks.

I wouldn't be too sure about that ..... get the feeling this lady does pretty much what she wants. What's he going to do? Toss her off the ticket? Notice how she referred to "a John McCain call" --- clearly implying that "a Sarah Palin call" would be quite different.

Very interesting article on her in New Republic:
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=8c130fe3-adab-4cb3-8443-c363f085cf13
It rings true.

Of course he knew she was going to bring it up, if not with kristol then at some point. In fact, kristol probably colluded with the campaign to raise the issue today.

Just look at the time frame in Greg's post. McCain was vowing to run a clean campaign back in March and April. You would have to have been living in a cave in Outer Mongolia not to realize he went back on that promise a long time ago. (If Outer Mongolia has any caves, that is.)

So will McCain now disassociate himself from what Palin said? Or has McCain changed his mind and decided that the gutter attack on Wright he previously condemned in such high-minded terms is now a legit tactic for his campaign?

I'm assuming this is rhetorical, right?

I mean, what previously held principle has McCain not abandoned in the last few months?

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... what previously held principle...

Who could possibly tell?  Besides the difficulty of unfolding so much flip-flop-flipping, there's this question:  How do you know whether any given principle had been previously held by McSame?  Because he said so at the time?  Sheesh!  Gimme a break!

Here's my question:

Why didn't Palin say to Bill Kristol that there's something wrong with his character for attending the past 20 years a synagogue -- the one where I grew up, and my parents still attend -- where only ten men can lead a service?

So the McCain campaign's answer for overtaking Obama's lead is to.......dig up debunked bullshit that Hillary tried and failed miserably at???

Hey, did you guys see this?

http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/10/05/in-slip-up-palin-calls-afghanistan-our-neighboring-country/

I'd say the Dow sliding another 375 points as I write this is pretty extreme too. Now, which kind of extremism do you think is on most people's minds today?

I made a bet with friends in January that the market would tank below 10,000 before the election. If it doesn't rebound by the closing bell, I won! McCain is good for something, at least.

Obama should come out and address the economic situation.

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Hmmm.  Sounds like a good idea, just maybe not this instant.  Wednesday morning, after the debate...

McCain is flailing. It's like watching a bad swimmer speed up the drowning process.

http://pufferfish.typepad.com/

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It's true, he's all over the map right now. If he wants to gain back ground his "no plan" plan is a way to destroy any remains of his formally honorable reputation.

Hell, he's already a caricature of his formal self.

John McCain = all the staying power of Kimbo Slice

I like the part about her using basically the same text as the April ad. Even their attacks are leftovers...

NOW that the DOW is below 10,000, what if anything with McCain saying?

NOTHING..CRICKETS...

Oh, I forgot, there's always Rev. Wright and Ayers. People really want to hear about them don't they?

McCain's Organ Grinder Flings Feces.

Hate the imagery.

Love the line.

i'd say nothing has changed, 'cept this time McCain won't pretend that he does not condone tactics of this nature.

Hmmm, I wonder if McCain thinks it's unpatriotic to be more afraid of the economy than of a supposed friendship Obama has with a former anti-war extremist who long ago changed his ways.

Who should be more scared...us or McCain who has a running mate who claims Afghanistan is our neighboring country??

edit;

McCain's Organ Grinder Monkey Flings Feces.

"If only Barack had agreed to my town hall meetings...." will be his attempt at a fig leaf.

I imagine he is steaming about Keating. How dare he respond with truth against my sleaze!

We'll give them the truth and they'll feel like its hell.

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Boy how they've laid the groundwork!

Why is McCain doing this? Well, from Ras's poll today:

It is worth noting that Obama’s lead is now bigger than any lead enjoyed at any point by either candidate in Election 2004.

Reverend Hagee and the African witch doctor is now fair game.

No those aren't important. See for McCain and Palin they are able to hold separate and distinct thoughts from their associates. Not Obama. Anyone he comes in contact with, he automatically mind melds with and adopts wholesale every thought or pronouncement they've made. Ever. See, that's why it's important.


Grade A snark, right there!

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...for twenty years?

"African witch doctor"? Hmmm. Now, what kind of racist images does that conjure?

You do realize that the guy literally is associated with witchcraft, right? It isn't some random, racist connotation that people here have come up with. The guy is famous in Africa for his accusations of witchcraft against people. Kind of like a modern day Salem Witch Trials.

didn't palin sit there -- and NOT get up and leave -- during a guest "sermon" that declared terrorist attacks on israeli citizens to be god visiting judgment upon the jews? repeat: SHE STAYED, SHE SAT THROUGH A BLATANTLY ANTI-SEMETIC SERMON.

in her words, "what does that say about [her] character?"

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...for twenty years?

This must be your new "but she's got more experience..."

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Only for the current subject.

Who cares about the economy? I certainly don't. Two wars? Meh. What I really want to hear more about is Obama's associations. That's going to make the difference in my life.

The DOW just went down 10,000.

See what happens when the markets find out about Obama's dangerous associations. His relationships are the cause of the market falling and for the mortgage crisis. Why Obama? Why do you hate the world economy so much?

I'm hoping you meant "below 10,000" cuz if the down went down BY 10,000 it's time to start hoarding food and water.

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No shit! Jesus don't scare me like that.

Can we talk about the Witchdoctor now?

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...for twenty years?

Good point. Why would we want to try to copy the impotent tactics of your guy's campaign? McCain and Palin are running with William Ayers and Jeremiah Wright because, weak as that stuff is, it is the best your side has. We have much more damaging ammunition in our arsenal, so why play around with the cap guns that your side is firing?

Why not???

I bet if people wanted to start digging into Sarah Palin's religious history, it wouldn't be hard to find 20 years worth of "end-times," witch-craft believing, promise-keepers Man is in charge bs.

Can we find a less racist way to talk about him? After all, exocism is a time honored tradition for white people (firmly enshrined in the Catholic church's dogma), yet when people of color conduct the same ritual suddenly it becomes "witch doctor" with all the attendent racist stereotypes and images.

Please see my post above. It isn't racist....the guy is famous for his "witchcraft" hunting.

Please see my response to your reply.

McCain's comments in April boxed him in. If he starts throwing around Wright, there is a clip out there of him saying that his own campaigning tactic is disrespectful. So, he's going to need to get surrogates to do it and dance around why he isn't condemning such attacks in light of his earlier remarks about them being off limits. That is, this would be the scenario if the media would stay off the tire swing.

In that vein, I think the new DNC ad (I believe it's a web ad) is a great idea. There's much room for improvement about the execution though, I think, as it looks a bit confusing. But I'm hoping they will revise and air it.

If they want to go with Reverend Wright, we go with Hagee and Muthee. Wow, they rhyme. Heh.

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...for twenty years?

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Keep it up.

Tell me again how the fundamentals of the economy are strong, SFC. That's what you and your hero were arguing three weeks ago. Have you flip-flopped?