McCain vs. Obama

[Soriak]

I hate to give IRB more ammunition, but a poll seems to confirm that his "lots of racist" angle is actually pretty accurate. But somewhat surprisingly (at least to me), twice as many people are comfortable with a black president as with an old president.

Election 2008: Presidential, Senate and House Races Updated Daily

The Washington Post conducted a poll about all kinds of taboo stuff, like race and age. Three out of 10 Americans admit to racial prejudice yet nine out of 10 are at least open to the idea of a black President. However only two third of Americans are entirely comfortable with the idea. Clearly Barack Obama has a problem here.

On the other hand, the comfort level with geezers is even worse. Less than a third would be entirely comfortable with a 72-year-old President, something they will get if John McCain is inaugurated on Jan. 20. What the poll didn't do is break down these numbers by political affiliation and geography. If the third of the people who are not comfortable with blacks are rednecks from the South, it doesn't matter because they vote Republican anyway. If they are Reagan Democrats in Ohio, it matters a lot.

The article continues and makes another good point: It will be far easier for Obama to exploit this by playing on McCain's age, than for McCain to go after Obama being black. Simply because you can use humor with an old guy in an ad, whereas people are sensitive to racial comments.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

So the ultimate October surprise. Today Neocon Billy Kristol says that Bush will bomb Iran if Obama goes up too far in the polls. If Obama starts winning Iran is toast as are our gas prices so that McCain can win the election. Not only does Kristol advocate this but he lies about Obama's position on attacking Iran.

After all, Bush attacked Iran because Saddam Hussein threatened his Daddy so this is indeed feasible. This the "change" we need to make. We need to change the mindset that allows a party in power that someone like Billy Kristol belongs to.

WALLACE: So, you’re suggesting that he might in fact, if Obama’s going to win the election, either before or after the election, launch a military strike?

KRISTOL: I don’t know. I mean, I think he would worry about it. On the other hand, you can’t — it’s hard to make foreign policy based on guesses of election results. I think Israel is worried though. I mean, what is, what signal goes to Ahmadinejad if Obama wins on a platform of unconditional negotiations and with an obvious reluctance to even talk about using military force.

His statement "obvious reluctance to even talk about using military force" is a lie. Obama said he would attack if it was in the best interest of our country. Obama said during the Texas debate with Hillary that he would use a mixture of diplomacy and military force.

[Kolle]

the race thing keeps annoying the hell outa me. it's what i've always despised about the communities where i grew up in the south. since obama is half black everyone is pushing him as a black man. in some of my schools and neighborhoods this was done to kids of mixed race as well. white kids wouldn't be their friends so if they wanted any friend at all it would have to be with blacks. it's as if white people are pure and everything else is diseased so all the diseased get lumped together.

how can people be so fucking stupid with him being part black...he was raised by white people in fucking hawaii. holy shit he's not gonna try to purge the white race as president. he's just as likely to purge the black race seeing as how he's half white.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Originally Posted by Soriak

On the other hand, the comfort level with geezers is even worse. Less than a third would be entirely comfortable with a 72-year-old President, something they will get if John McCain is inaugurated on Jan. 20. What the poll didn't do is break down these numbers by political affiliation and geography. If the third of the people who are not comfortable with blacks are rednecks from the South, it doesn't matter because they vote Republican anyway. If they are Reagan Democrats in Ohio, it matters a lot.

Of course the rednecks in the South are not going to vote for Obama because of race. They did not matter anyway but I think more of the Reagan Democrats are not than are identified by that poll. That poll as well as any poll with Obama in it is inaccurate because of the Bradley Effect. In the ideal world the Democratic party would not need blue collar people in the party but they do to win. It is an unfortunate reality.

Ohio will be important because the 527s will focus the viral emails about Obama being a Muslim and black racist there. The Republican 527s are also looking for money to run ads such as the one below. This is the guy that did the Willy Horton ad that killed any chance Dukakis had of winning. Obama is no Dukakis and has money to fight off the lies but they will make a huge difference because of his name. A large percentage of people will think he is Muslim as a result. Being called a Muslim is worse than being a serial rapist or Ax Murderer. That is why the mere mention of his middle name is so important to the Republicans. A real Muslim will never be the leader of any country outside of the Middle East for the remainder of the time that our world is in existence. Therefore, if people are convinced he is a Muslim, it is a show stopper.

[Kolle]

i'm sure the peaceful, law abiding american muslims love seeing "muslim" used as a word of slander

[spronk]

a muslim has been president in india, not sure about prime minister. muslims only make up like 15% of that country too, and it would seem muslims hate hindus more than christians (polytheistic, worship totally different god, vegetarian, etc, etc).

its pretty funny when you see all these politicians say what a great democracy America is, when 100% of all our presidents have been religious, white, married men. The only countries that make marriage, religion, sex, and race such an important criteria are Islamic countries. Guess sometimes your worst enemy is closer than you think. And even Pakistan and Bangledish have had women leaders.

[Bristlebane]

This was funny.

[Ashes Emberblade]

Originally Posted by spronk

you know whats interesting, most of the trading sites currently mirror the poll on FoH on who will win fall election - tradesports for example lets you bet on obama at 64, or mccain at 33 (ie if you bet $64 on obama or $33 on mccain you will make $100). These "prediction markets" have been fairly good so far, especially the closer you get to the vote.

The spread is lot, lot wider than I expected too, I'd have thought it'd be closer to 55-45 or something instead of 64-33 this far out.

I think it's pretty certain Obama will win this election. I'm personally going to sit it out, because the only thing worse than voting for Obama would be voting for McCain.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

McCain's Low Road to Victory

With all that stacked against him, the only road that could take McCain to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the low road, one of the few pieces of infrastructure left in good repair by President Bush. His father paved it against Michael Dukakis, George W. Bush repaved it running against John Kerry, and the GOP repainted the dotted line in now-Senator Bob Corker's 2006 contest with Harold Ford. The path to success for McCain is to make the election a referendum on his opponent, by working in silent concert with 527 groups and media outlets such as Fox News to pursue character assassination, guilt by association, and, most of all, the effort to paint Obama as different, foreign, unlike "us," and dangerous (and did I mention that he's black?).

Really it is McCain's only hope to win. He has to win dirty and deeply divide the country into Black and White like the Tennessee GOP did with Harold Ford Jr. Otherwise he will lose. It is going to be really bad by October. The Republican 527s will take us back to the mid 1960s all over again.

[Burf]

Originally Posted by I'm Rich Bitch

McCain's Low Road to Victory

Really it is McCain's only hope to win. He has to win dirty and deeply divide the country into Black and White like the Tennessee GOP did with Harold Ford Jr. Otherwise he will lose. It is going to be really bad by October. The Republican 527s will take us back to the mid 1960s all over again.

Dude, we fucking get it. How many times are you going to make this point? You're like a broken record, only way more annoying.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Originally Posted by Burf

Dude, we fucking get it. How many times are you going to make this point? You're like a broken record, only way more annoying.

Pointing out that even Conservative commentary is waiting for it. It is beyond me how a Republican could support that party. I simply do not understand how you could be associated with such an organization.

[Yutnopash]

I couldn't listening to that guy, I kept staring at whatever the fuck was in his left nostril.

[Burf]

Originally Posted by I'm Rich Bitch

Pointing out that even Conservative commentary is waiting for it. It is beyond me how a Republican could support that party. I simply do not understand how you could be associated with such an organization.

Are you somehow suggesting that the Republican party has some sort of monopoly on douchebag retards? Both parties have extremist idiots. I in no way condone or support racist idiots. There are certain Republican/Conservative positions I support, though (just as I support some Democrat/Liberal positions).

But, you have to know your audience. If you, IRB, were on CNN or FOX as a guest speaker, then I'd say the more you bring up how stupid racism is the better. Get the message out there and try to convince people that they're stupid.

However, your audience isn't that big, much to your dismay, I'm sure. Your audience, IRB, is the FOH General forum. Guess what...we've all heard it, many times. We get it that racists are out there. We get it that you hate Bush and McCain and Fox news. We get it that you hate Sean Hannity. We get it that Obama shits rainbows and his smile cures cancer.

I happen to think that Obama will very like win this election. I also happen to know that there is still a lot of time between now and the election and the Democrats have an amazing ability to screw up a "sure thing."

The only thing you're convincing me of, IRB, is that you're an irrational hatemonger. If you would come into this thread and post some worthwhile information that would progress your cause, you might actually be taken seriously and not have -57 internets (or whatever you're up to now).
Instead, you keep rehashing the same crap that everyone here has heard and that nobody, except you, is bringing up.

As I said, know your audience. The majority of us here in the McCain vs Obama thread are actually very interested in a discussion on the two candidates. You are the one who keeps shitting it up with your constant Fox/Hannity/527/Tennessee/Racist love fest.

[I'm Rich Bitch]

Joe Biden is a badass MoFo.

[Sharmai]

Originally Posted by Soriak

I hate to give IRB more ammunition, but a poll seems to confirm that his "lots of racist" angle is actually pretty accurate. But somewhat surprisingly (at least to me), twice as many people are comfortable with a black president as with an old president.

Election 2008: Presidential, Senate and House Races Updated Daily


The article continues and makes another good point: It will be far easier for Obama to exploit this by playing on McCain's age, than for McCain to go after Obama being black. Simply because you can use humor with an old guy in an ad, whereas people are sensitive to racial comments.

Nah, Obama needs to be wiser about this. Going after old people its often a quick way to get yourself in hot water plus its a way to energize republicans who are often old/respect their old greatly. You don't want that to happen.


What he could do is very, very indirectly increase the general attitude of incompetence, failing health, aging ideas, etc. against old people. To do this without it being attributed to him or the democratic party he could pump money into television ads about medicine for old people with mental health problems. Ads about old people with stiff bodies and slow response times and books to help them deal with it. Ads about helping old people regain their lost youth and taking a nice summer vacation.

Basicaly a month before the general pump the media with stuff that says "Hey old people its ok to be old and have 9000 problems but we have ways to help! There, there great great grandpa put down those keys and let me drive you to the store, we don't you to hurt anyone!"

Enough ads like this which have nothing to do with Obama and general subtle assumption will be old = feeble, weak, unreliable, dangerous.