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New McCain Robo-Slime Suggests Electing Obama Will Push Us Into "Depression"
A new robo-slime call from John McCain hits Obama on the economy, suggesting that a vote for the Democrat is a vote for a depression, a Wisconsin reader tells us.
The call -- which is not quite as slimy as McCain's other robo-slime -- was sent in by Judi Gunn, a legal secretary in Racine, Wisconsin. Here's audio:
Script:
Hello, I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC because Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats have no idea how to deal with an economic crisis. The stock market's in free fall and their plan to fix it is to raise taxes on income, savings, investment and even social security. A massive tax increase and over one trillion dollars in new spending is the sort of recklessness and irresponsibility that pushes a recession into a depression. This call is paid for by the Republican National Committee at 866 558-5591, and authorized by McCain-Palin 2008.
The author of this call appears to have forgotten which party has been in charge during the years leading up to our meltdown.
In other robo-slime news, Ben Smith reports that a GOP group is running a call in Pennsylvania attacking Obama over Wright and his aunt.
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At some point I would think that Penn would realize that it is being treated like it is the HQ for the KKK - that's how McLame is campaigning there and if I lived there I'd be extremely insulted.
November 3, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not getting any robocalls here in Connecticut (surprise!) but I am getting actual humans asking for support of local candidates.
And the Wright ad is showing here on MSNBC--saw it last night during the Rachel Maddow and David Gregory shows (along with Himes and Shays ads) and this morning.
November 3, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw a Wright ad on MSNBC as well. Seems counter-intuitive. I think those that watch ANY of the cable news channels are probably already well aware of Wright.
November 3, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
They're running the Biden statement scare ad here in New Mexico, a strange feel-good ad on taxes - weird ad - I don't get it and couldn't figure out who or what it was for until the end when McLame approved the ad, and I saw the Wright ad but I think that was on MSNBC, not local.
November 3, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed, electing Obama will lead to depression among republicans.
But at least they'll have health care for that - which is more than they gave us over 8 years of depression under bush.
November 3, 2008 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
heh
November 3, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just incredibly puzzled about this line of attack. The massive tax increase? As it happens, it's mostly about shifting income from those who save and invest it to those who spend it, which is a pretty good way to stimulate an economy. But I'll cede that tax increases are not generally a great idea during a downturn. As a sound-bite, it's reasonably effective.
But "over one trilling dollars in new spending"? It's not what Obama's actually proposed, but in point of fact, massive government spending is virtually the only proven way to alleviate the effects and shorten the duration of an economic downturn. It may be profligate; it may crimp growth down the road; but one thing it's guaranteed not to do is push a recession into a depression. It's an attack that's just wholly at variance with reality.
I think McCain's problem is that his appeal for fiscal conservatives has rested largely on his vows of reducing government waste and cutting spending. The first half of that is fine, even during a recession, provided that you channel the funds toward more productive uses. But cutting spending during a recession? That's precisely the sort of recklessness and irresponsibility that pushes a recession into a depression.
It's not, in the end, terribly surprising that the GOP is dealing with an inconvenient set of facts through up-is-down denials. But I do wish that this point had been rebutted a little more forcefully, if not by the campaign (which would rather talk about Bush's deficits than Obama's spending increases) than at least by the media. Or at the very least, by you, Greg. Any chance?
November 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
But McCain did say economics was not his strong suit.
November 3, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of the few honest comments out of his mouth, no doubt!
November 3, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Along with diplomacy and the environment. Come to think of it what exactly is his "strong suit"? Militarism perhaps; just what we need.
November 3, 2008 7:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Along with diplomacy and the environment. Come to think of it what exactly is his "strong suit"? Militarism perhaps; just what we need.
November 3, 2008 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Along with diplomacy and the environment. Come to think of it what exactly is his "strong suit"? Militarism perhaps; just what we need.
November 3, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's a case of liar fatigue. So many lies to rebut, so little time. Another day, another bunch of bullshit from McSlime & Co.
November 3, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just incredibly puzzled about this line of attack. The massive tax increase? As it happens, it's mostly about shifting income from those who save and invest it to those who spend it, which is a pretty good way to stimulate an economy. But I'll cede that tax increases are not generally a great idea during a downturn. As a sound-bite, it's reasonably effective.
But "over one trilling dollars in new spending"? It's not what Obama's actually proposed, but in point of fact, massive government spending is virtually the only proven way to alleviate the effects and shorten the duration of an economic downturn. It may be profligate; it may crimp growth down the road; but one thing it's guaranteed not to do is push a recession into a depression. It's an attack that's just wholly at variance with reality.
I think McCain's problem is that his appeal for fiscal conservatives has rested largely on his vows of reducing government waste and cutting spending. The first half of that is fine, even during a recession, provided that you channel the funds toward more productive uses. But cutting spending during a recession? That's precisely the sort of recklessness and irresponsibility that pushes a recession into a depression.
It's not, in the end, terribly surprising that the GOP is dealing with an inconvenient set of facts through up-is-down denials. But I do wish that this point had been rebutted a little more forcefully, if not by the campaign (which would rather talk about Bush's deficits than Obama's spending increases) than at least by the media. Or at the very least, by you, Greg. Any chance?
November 3, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's playing hard and often here in NC...
November 3, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pennsylvania is interesting in that Obama seems pretty confident about his chances there, whereas the GOP are acting like it's close enough to flip (within 1-2%).
November 3, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Jonzie, all they got left is acting like it's close. Problem is, these guys are Community Playhouse actors. The Big O is an Oscar winner. Big Blue Wave Coming.
November 3, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
He has a bigger margin in Penn than in a lot of states where he's ahead -
They're working hard to scare up every single unreconstructed bigot they can in Penn and get them to vote.
November 3, 2008 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nah, they spent all their money on ads and robocalls to scare them, and partly as a result they don't have any organization to make sure they actually get out and vote.
November 3, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
O I know.
I'm not worried, just remarking on the awfulness of their tactics.
November 3, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
They had better be acting as if its close. If they act as if this is all over, Republicans aren't going to be enthusiastic about voting.
Scratch that. Republicans aren't going to vote. Down ticket races would pay the price. I think this is some of what's going on.
Who knows? I just want this damn election to be over. Now. And I live in Ct. I can't imagine how people in battleground states must feel.
November 3, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah... feel for us!
November 3, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Trying to juice his turn-out.
November 3, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
We got this call in Wisconsin too... they're coming sometimes two a day.
The Wisconsin State Journal predicts that the Wisconsin Assembly (lower house) will flip Democratic! Yay! The Reps had nearly a 2/3 lock before 2006.
November 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Republicans in New York are scrambling to keep their majority in the state Senate. If they lose, it will be the first time since the last Ice Age that they lost it.
Ok. Maybe not the last Ice Age. But a really really really long time.
November 3, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yay you! Yay Wisconsin - I couldn't believe it when Wi was voting Repug.
That was a shocker to me - Wi and Minnesota, both.
November 3, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama live in Jacksonville.
http://www.barackobama.com/live/
November 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shorter (barely) "aunt" robocall: Black anti-American Obama and black anti-American Wright will fill all public housing units (eww!!!) with their black, job-stealing, anti-American illegal alien aunts. And hardworking, pro-American white people will pay for it.
November 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's more commonly known as "lying."
November 3, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've been unable to post several comments here.
Has anyone else had the same problem this morning?
November 3, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
No - it's very slow and very tricksy, but if you treat this server like it is slow and tricksy, it usually works.
What I do is hit submit then open a new page and by the time I load it, get to electioncentral and open comments, I always find my comment has posted = even when I get an error message.
Most people just backpage and find their comment. That works. I load a new page because I have found that's almost exactly the time it takes for the comment to show up .
November 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I tried that and in the past that worked but not this morning.
If you notice, there are a lot less comments than there usually is(are?)
November 3, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
They are overloaded. Whether it's sabotage or just Dems, who can tell?
November 3, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just got a call, at work, from a McCain phone bank, may a 527 or something. Live person, not robo.
The usual urging me to support McCain, stuff, save the economy, etc.
Instead of just hanging up, I listened to the guy. Then I asked him why McCain would be able to restore good economic times.
He told me it was the Democrat's fault. I pointed out that his response was non responsive. He insisted that the Democratic congress was at fault.
I then asked him why his calling me at work wasn't messing with the economy by diverting my time from productive commerce.
He hung up on me.
That's change I can believe in.
November 3, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! Good one...
November 3, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
They are overloaded. Whether it's sabotage or just Dems, who can tell?
November 3, 2008 12:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What will push The Republic into another,,, actually just a continuation of the depression of the last eight years is another micro second of the Bushopublican nightmare.
November 3, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed, play-acting is all they have left at this point. McCain seems to be acting the role of Herbert Hoover, when the topic is economics. Other times, an old-fashioned southern racist. Palin seems to be play-acting as Joe McCarthy. I'll be really glad when this campaign is over. The question on my mind is what will happen to the Republican party post-election - will the moderates leave it? Surely the McCain/Palin behavior is unattractive to any educated Republican of moderate instincts. In New York, by the way, the Democratic party is positioned to capture the State Senate for the first time in seventy years, to be fairly exact. A big deal here.
November 3, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink