This is happening even more quickly than I had expected. This is taken from the New York Times blog:

This is the first step in the attempt to attach any Democrat running for office with Obama - and then with Jeremiah Wight. This is quoted from the Charlotte Observer:

Meanwhile John McCain has denounced the ad, as has the RNC. Mccain addressed Linda Daves, Republican chairwoman in NC. This is also quoted in the Charlotte Observer http://http://www.charlotte.com/poli...ry/594180.html:

So the idea that "no one cares" about the Wright scandal and that it is "old news" is clearly nonsense. And this is just the beginning. This ad is making news because it is the first, and because McCain has denounced it (which is both appropriate and probably a shrewd move as it turns it into a national story). But it won't be the last.

Obama and his campaign and the media pundits that have so carefully protected and cushioned Obama made a very stupid collective decision when they decided to behave as if the Wight story didn't exist. They needed to come out strongly and clearly against Wright, without any hesitation. They have set themselves up for this by not taking it seriously and misreading their impact and their use in ads.

Many people have not seen those videos. They disappeared quickly, as the media rushed to protect Obama. Now they will be repeated constantly - both in ads and in stories about ads.

How many Dems around the country will want to be connected with Wright in attack ads?

Is it fair to attach the name of someone in NC - or Oregon or Maine or Okalahoma - with Wright? Of course not. But this is election season and those Wright speeches are stunning in their visceral impact. They go beyond rational thinking and hit hard where it hurts the most.

No doubt that was Wright's intent with his frenzied explosion of rage and bitterness. Now a lot of people are paying a high price in a way he could never have anticipated.

It's going to be a long summer.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

I'm impressed, but this is the type of behavior I expected from McCain. I recall that during the 2004 election he blasted the anti-Kerry Swift Boat ads as "dishonorable." Not sure if it will elevate the level of debate, but it would be nice. What do you think?

I think our threads need to be merged....

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

I think it would be lovely not to see this or any other ad in my state, but my hope is for nothing. It's like standing in line for a booster shot, you know its coming, and you just want to get it over with.

I'll be looking forward to May 7th.

Ah, and good on McCain, but like you, it doesn't surprise me. He usually seems above all of that.

__________________
"We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell." - Oscar Wilde

There are three really interesting things about this story to me.

One, the NC GOP has clearly decided that Obama will be the Democratic nominee. The election for governor is in most states on the same day as the presidential election -- true in NC as well I assume. Right? And so if Hillary Clinton comes out of the convention as the nominee, this ad will end up a big waste of money.

Second, trying to tie a gubernatorial candidate in NC to Obama is not only unfair, it's probably not even good electoral strategy, especially at this point when Obama isn't even the nominee yet. I can only conclude that the state party is more concerned about the national race than about the state race for some reason, and is trying to get some licks in early.

Third, and really most intriguing of all, is McCain's response. I've always had a good deal of respect for John McCain. It just went up a notch or two.

Yes - to get the licks in early, and to strike fear in Dems across the country: This is what you can expect, so get ready.

It is absurd and utterly unethical to attack people who have nothing to do with Wright. But attack ads work.

However, the relationship between Obama and Wright is definitely fair game and deserves to be explored.


Agreed.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

Kudos to McCain; perhaps there's some hope that with him at the helm the Republicans will run a clean(er) campaign (as such things go) this time around.

__________________
To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. -Theodore Roosevelt

They're a little behind the times, aren't they?

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

Are you going to elaborate on this gnomic non-sequitur, or are we left to make of it what we want?

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

Oops.

No problem! I think you were creating yours just as I was posting.

Maybe one of our many helpful and courteous mods will help us out here.

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1

It just seems like they are a day late and a dollar short on the Wright "scandal."

The media had their circus, and now we've moved on to the bearded lady and the seal who can balance a ball on its nose.

__________________
"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

(Shrug.) I suppose. Although it hasn't worked well for Clinton.

For the Republicans, it might help to galvanize their base, which is needed this year. It's not going to have much traction with likely Obama voters, but it might get Republicans angry enough to show up at the polls more than otherwise.

merged....

__________________
No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

The Road to Serfdom
FA Hayek (interpretation)


Mortgage Backed Security survivor

Holy mackerel, have you got it wrong! No wonder I didn't understand...

A day late?! Did you read the story? The show is just beginning! Step right up, ladies and gentleman - in the center ring....

The greatest (well, not greatest, but at least the loudest and nastiest) show on earth...

__________________
"Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep; in his royalty of nature
Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares;
And, to that dauntless temper of his mind,
He hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour
To act in safety."

Macbeth 3:1