The constant painting of Obama as "unamerican" falls into an easy narrative that surprisingly it would seem the Democrats still haven't thought of. What's a single word that represents everything about Republican strategies that involve using attacks on patriotism as a substitute for actual basis, unreasoning animosity towards political barriers, and knowingly presenting false statements as fact? My answer: McCarthy.

Personally I think the McCarthy narrative would be the ideal counter-narrative, namely because every characteristically Republican strategy plays right into it. Every speech about how Obama doesn't love his country rings of exactly what McCarthy would say. Every lie with no regard for the truth - that's McCarthy.

Attacks built on bullshit are what Republicans rely on, and what better symbol for their platform to convey that point? Added bonuses include that Joe McCarthy was indeed embraced by the Republican party to further their goals, and that if people do follow this narrative to its end, they'll remember how McCarthy ended his career as the nation's laughingstock.

Put this word in the hands of someone like Biden or HRC, and all we'd have to do is wait for one of those conservative puppets to open their mouth. "What's that? Oh, Obama's 'unamerican' you say? Typical you'd resort to a McCarthy attack, seeing as he didn't know what he was talking about either." I would expect that with enough reiteration, the "unamerican" front just to collapse altogether.

Maybe it wouldn't work, but it's just an idea I've been throwing around for the past couple days. I just think it'd be neat to see someone in the O campaign pick up on it.

Posted at September 7, 2008 6:02 PM in response to Love of Country

"1. Every time we say "she's too inexperienced", Republicans will say, "If she is too inexperienced to be vice president, why is Obama not too inexperienced to be president?"

Consider that McCain has already tried so hard to frame Obama as being inexperienced. He's already sprung that very same trap on himself: rather than the democrats saying Palin is too inexperienced, they only have to ask, "If OBAMA is too inexperienced to be president, why is PALIN not too inexperienced to potentially serve as president should something bad happen to McCain?"

Posted at August 30, 2008 11:46 AM in response to Vice President Sarah Palin: It Is Over!

Psssssst, people tend to FROWN on the gender card. Might wanna avoid drawing attention to it if you want that to work out for ya...

Posted at August 30, 2008 11:13 AM in response to Sarah Palin and Feminists for Life

Mmmmm to hell with diversity, eh?

Posted at August 23, 2008 2:35 PM in response to The Official TPM Tally: The McCains Own Eight To Eleven Houses

You argue in the interests of compassion and civility yet believe we should deny those we disagree with what they feel they are entitled to? You sick little devil, you!

Posted at June 2, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Why does it matter how we treat Clinton supporters on this site?

Guess what Geraldine - Hillary-haters like me aren't sexist, we're just... gender resentful.

We see Hillary's playing the gender card throughout the campaign and no one calling her for it as frightening. We're not upset with Hillary because she's a woman; we're upset because we don't expect to be treated fairly because we're men. It's not sexism that is driving us, it's resentment over our being purposefully excluded from things like all-women fundraisers.

Yes that's it, now you see? It isn't sexist for us to do our part in enforcing our tradition of a male U.S. president. We just need to know that the interests of our oft-criticized and somewhat-less-socially-dominant-than-before group will be looked after. We just know that women are out to get us, to take our power away for themselves, and so we can't trust them. But don't get confused, we're certainly not sexist.

Posted at May 30, 2008 5:30 PM in response to PLEASE, MAKE IT STOP! Another Bitter Ferraro Screed

What do you mean, pretend?

Posted at May 29, 2008 8:17 PM in response to Obama's Doctor: He's "Lean And Muscular With No Excess Body Fat"

Don't you understand? The very notion of expecting a woman to be above skipping out on her debts is MISOGYNIST!!!

Posted at May 28, 2008 11:07 PM in response to Obama Camp Uses McClellan Book To Parry McCain's "Baghdad Stroll" Attack

He didn't look before... OR after...

Posted at May 28, 2008 11:02 PM in response to Obama Camp Uses McClellan Book To Parry McCain's "Baghdad Stroll" Attack

No, McCain, NO! Don't claim to care about vets while everyone watching you screw them over- don't you get it? You're supposed to make Obama look BAD in comparison to you...

Posted at May 27, 2008 8:52 AM in response to McCain Questions Obama's Lack Of Military Service