The article submission queue here at OEN has experienced an increasing flow of anti-Obama articles that are ugly, and border on desperate. Often, the articles are poorly written, and don’t bother to enumerate any specific reasons why people should not vote for Obama.
Barack Obama isn’t the official candidate of the Democratic party yet, but the Republican attacks are coming rapidly, and with typical Republican venom and innuendo. The perennial “swift boat” defamation of the presumptive candidate is already in full swing.
The desperation is predicated on the simple fact that Barack Obama is a very popular candidate who draws huge crowds, and who is bringing young people into politics at unprecedented levels, whereas John McCain is a flip-flopping, unpopular, lobbyist-tied Republican in an election year when Republicans are as popular as warts. This fact is certain to bring out the worst in Republicans who are not known for their statesmanship, comity or fair play.
One article that was rejected at OEN this morning was quite telling with regard to the desperation and near panic that has become emblematic of McCain supporters. The article was addressed to Hillary Clinton supporters, and was a plea to them to not write-in Clinton in the upcoming election because that would be as good as a vote for Barack Obama. The article urged Hillary Clinton supporters to go to John McCain's website to try to find one or two points on which they can agree with him. No mention was made of why Clinton supporters should not vote for Obama other than to call him “the enemy”.
The author explains his thesis to Clinton supporters thusly: “Please go to McCain’s web site, or read articles about him - try to find something in his platform that appeals to you so that you won’t feel like you’re selling your soul (yes, that very soul which MO claims BO will heal for you - insert emoticon of disgust here…)”.
“Try to find something in his platform that appeals to you …” ANYTHING! The desperation is palpable.
I have some alternate advice for Hillary Clinton supporters. Go to Barack Obama’s website, and you will find many things there that you can agree with ranging from affordable health care coverage, to ending the war in Iraq, to fixing our broken election system. Plus, unlike Washington-insider, lobbyist-loving John McCain, Barack Obama has not taken money from PACs or lobbyists. He gets his funding primarily from We the People.
2008 will almost certainly turn out to be the most vicious election cycle in recent US history. The Republicans are like a wounded, cornered animal, and they will do anything to win. The Swift boating of John Kerry will pale in retrospect. But unlike John Kerry, Barack Obama will fight back, and if enough young people turn out he will beat John McCain in a landslide.
Dr. John Moffett is an active research neuroscientist in the Washington, DC area, who has published over 45 scientific articles on the nervous and immune systems. Dr. Moffett is also the author and webmaster of the political opinion website www.Factinista.org, and is a Managing Editor at OpEdNews.com.
Remember that the Republicans attack others for their own weaknesses. When they say "Obama has nothing in his platform that you like" that really means "Republicans have nothing in THEIR platform that you like."
The Republican party has been exploiting popular prejudices for years simply to win elections by narrow margins. ( anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-atheist ) It's the "anti" party when you really think about it. The only "PRO" position they have is "make the rich richer." It's the party of the rich, the super-rich and poor fools.
Reject Republicans. The party is indeed a dead zombie. It has no heart and it's out of its mind. Put it out of its misery. Never vote Republican.
You nailed it. Republicans use the Rove technique that I call "Timmy did it". Like naughty children that blame their friends for their own bad actions (such as breaking Mr. Green’s window with a rock), Republicans think they can immunize themselves from blame by blaming bystanders.
The Iraq war not going well? "Democrats voted for it!"
Terrorism getting worse? "Democrats are appeasers."
McCain flip flopping? “He’s a maverick!”
The big question is… will it work on Americans again this time around?
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John R Moffett (80 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 601 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:38:54 AM
I agree with your analysis of the tactics of the Republican party. That said, they are not "finished." Even your description lends itself to suggest we not undestimate them. They will stop at no lengths. Readers should not be too quick to write them off. Stay vigilant my friends.
At the same time, let's not be lulled into the myth that the Democrats will solve all our problems - the war, the economy, the environment. People should be paying less attention to the election and more to demanding our members of Congress, including the presidential candidates, effect change NOW.
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Cheryl Biren-Wright (17 articles, 16 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 323 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:56:53 AM
This will not be an easy race, because it will be such a dirty contest, driven by Republican fears of losing the House, Senate and White House, and being relegated to chair-warmers.
You are also right that the Dems need to be held accountable for their recent inaction on almost any substantive issue.
Let's keep the pressure on.
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John R Moffett (80 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 601 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:07:31 AM
Republicans are war criminals and I would like to see all 59 million people who voted for Bush thrown in jail and punished for their part in this criminal legacy.
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daveys (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 130 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:13:44 AM
Any real Republican would never even consider voting for John McCain. If given no other option, I might have to throw my support to Bob Barr. Your hatred for 'those nasty Republicans' only serves to divide us and make it more difficult to achieve lasting results for a better country.
That being said, Obama is a tool. His idea of what America should be (eg. a place where the government determines how much we can eat and to what temperature we can keep our homes - link) is not the future I want for our great land. His programs are totalitarian in nature and are of a brand of National Socialism that make me very worried. Maybe he can pull some of our troops out of Iraq in a timely fashion, but where else would he consider sending our troops? Would he do anything about the bases we have in over 130 countries? Will he even talk about the Federal Reserve or any of the problems that actually got us into this economic mess? Will he really stop the government from illegally spying on us? Will he return us to being a country governed by a Constitution and not a tyrannical presidency?
I know that the man seems like your best and only choice, but I hope you seriously consider your decision. You see a savior of the Democratic Party, ready to bring hope to the world, when all I see is an unexperienced Senator with a flawed platform and a little bit of charisma. Look past the facade and see what you are endorsing.
This is one bandwagon that I will let pass me right by..
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Ferdinand (16 articles, 4 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 194 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:27:10 AM
actively endorse Obama (see Justin Raimondo's). In reality the GOP is hijacked and that's why we really do not need 59 million people to be put in jail.. like another commenter says. But.. as for National Socialism- that's a little too far. We must understand that the US had become a country of perceptions; nobody believes in laws anymore. Otherwise we would simply say that we need Obama to restore the rule of law and that rule of law would remove him if we decide that. That's the point- we need to restore the rule of law first and it will give us back OUR power.
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Mark Sashine (47 articles, 19 quicklinks, 235 diaries, 3360 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:54:06 AM
Is best achieved through a Republic. Historically, no democracy has ever existed without some sort of slavery. (Much of our society is still based off of the Greeks.) Additionally, democracies always devolve into oligarchies. The reason The United States was such an amazing idea was because the word "democracy" was never even mentioned in our Constitution. "There was a dream that was Rome.." (Gladiator)
There are many reasons I cannot stomache supporting Obama, but one reason could be that he is too popular. It honestly scares the hell out of me, especially when I can see such glaring errors in his political philosophy. I can understand why very intelligent people like yourself and Mr. Raimondo can support Obama, but I would prefer not vote than cast my ballot for someone in whom I truly do not believe.
Don't like my comparison to National Socialism? It has been the direction of the country for some time now. It is not surprising we have the grandson of a traitor and Nazi profiteer, Prescott Bush, in the White House right now. You can call it Corporatism or fascism or any other kind of "ism" by which the few gain absolute control over the many for extreme profit and power, but we are already there..
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Ferdinand (16 articles, 4 quicklinks, 21 diaries, 194 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 12:42:09 PM
National Socialism had Racial Superiority and Nationalism
at its core. Obama reaches out to all races and religions and countries. He wants to dialogue with everyone. That is an incredibly poor fit for a concept like National Socialism. Nor is Obama a Socialist by any remote stretch of the imagination, nor are any other Democrats.
National Socialism also had might makes right at its core. That is clearly not what Obama is putting forth.
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Steven Leser (193 articles, 38 quicklinks, 32 diaries, 1299 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:17:08 PM
I don't understand Clinton's supporters who say they
...won't vote for Obama in november. If there ever was a case of cutting your nose to spite your face, that's one. I was for Edwards, I am now supporting Obama because voting for McCain would be sheer insanity:
A vote for McCain is a vote for a 100 years war in Iraq, a vote for continued economic mismanagement and himalayan government debt, more free rides and tax cuts for the super wealthy, a worthless dollar, ouTsourcing jobs, etc.
and a vote against health coverage, the middle class, women, blue collars, minorities...
I have liberal convictions, but first and foremost I will vote for Obama because it's clear that it's in my best interest and in the country's best interest--voting for McCain would be shooting myself in the foot to get even, an utterly self destructive temper tantrum.
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francine (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 299 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:32:57 AM
Obama will likely get Americans better healthcare, investment in renewable energy, and generally have a more sensible, just approach to foreign and domestic policy than McCain (or Clinton).
I may vote for him in the general election; i would prefer a Kucinich/Paul ticket, because they aren't Republocrats, and have a much more solid record of commitment to the public's interest, not special interests, than any of the "top tier" this season.
According to WhiteHouseForSale.org, 14 of Obama's bundlers are lobbyists- way less than Clinton's 22 and McCain's 70, but still- 14. And while he may return donations he finds out are from lobbyists directly, he takes their money when it comes in bundles, apparently. He also employs them on his staff (as do Clinton and McCain). While a lot of it comes from individuals who work in industries or at companies, cumulatively Obama has accepted millions from the oil, financial services, insurance and other industries with tarnished/horrible public service records. I wrote and linked about this in a previous diary.
All that said, of the "top tier", I think Obama's the least evil and most likely to be moved by the People's will, and truth and justice- and it will certainly take popular support to move the inertia of entrenched and experienced and uber-funded elites profiting from the current corrupt system. Obama speaks in a lot of vague generalizations about his views and intentions- more than specifics about what he's gonna do and how. He seems well aware of how the cancerous Establishment political process works- and he's doing a great job of working it, though he talks a lot about changing it- is he really gonna change something that works for him?
However, in this network age, i don't believe our options are limited to Republocrats anymore, and many things might happen between now and Nov.
Anyone who does want to see Obama elected should also be agitating for paper ballots and hand-counting- or turn out in force to monitor and exit poll, prepared to use the new media to expose any evidence of fraud. Also, consider the lapses in Obama's Secret Service security, as well as the history of popular liberal/progressive political leaders in the USA dying in assassinations and plane accidents. Citizens can make such things more difficult by being alert.
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Better World Order (4 articles, 408 quicklinks, 26 diaries, 875 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 11:36:05 AM
Obama may be a millionaire now, but that certainly is not his life's story. I say give him the benefit of the doubt. There is no doubt about McCain as the ultimate Washington insider, and we all know Mrs. Clinton pretty well policy-wise by now. But Obama will be much more of a blank slate, so let's not just assume he will be ‘more of the same’.
You might just be pleasantly surprised.
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John R Moffett (80 articles, 14 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 601 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 12:14:02 PM
While some may say that difference doesnt mean much, working for and accumulating that over the course of 35-50 years doesnt exactly put you into the robber baron category.
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Steven Leser (193 articles, 38 quicklinks, 32 diaries, 1299 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:18:49 PM
Republicans and the Clintons Are Liars, Bullies and Crooks.
They are basically a species of organized crime who will use any form of force or fraud to win. A story is cirulating accusing Obama of Homosexuality and murder with Ref. Wright. Remember. The bigger the lie, the further it travels.
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John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1094 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 12:54:35 PM
of Obama and I share this opinion too. My reason though is he stated he want to be "Inspirational" like Reagan.
This turncoat republican that the Reich props up like a God is most laughable.
Most republicans say they want less government and federal spending. Can you name one republican that has ever delivered on this promise? No, they are responsible for increasing government, devoting most of the increases in federal spending to the MIC and fomenting illegal Wars Of Terror around the world. And delaying through tax cuts the repayment to successive generations.
If they really "Love" their children and grandchildren, how could republicans live the lifestyle they desire now and delay the payments unto them?
You say your considering voting for Bob Barr, this man like "Youthful Indiscretion" Henry Hyde were accusing Bill Clinton of being an adulterer, when they themselves were doing and had done the same. So, your willing to support this type of person and their actions?
Just like Bu$h and Buckshot Dick running on a platform of "Compassionate Conservative" and once this self-appointed administration took control of the government, did exactly the opposite. Such War Criminal murders and profiteers hypocrites!
Democrats may be labeled as tax and spend, but the money goes into programs that benefit many Americans. And Bill Clinton created tax surpluses, which Bu$h & Co. squandered and made deficit spending in their first term.
Do you buy the Bu$h administration's lame story about 9/11?
If you support the conservative agenda, why are you not in Afghanistan or Iraq as part of the War Of Terror illegal occupation today?
How can a political faction in the 80's call Saddam Hussein and Osma Bin Laden "Freedom fighter's" then, and now re-label them as "Terrorist's"?J
Just like many of the former GOP puppets like Pinochet of Chile, Somoza of Nicaragua, Marcos of the Philippines, and Noregia of Panama.
How can Bush claim he wants democracy for the ME without acknowledging that a democratic elected president of Iran in 1953 with CIA assistance was replaced by the Shah?
That's why my vote this November will go to Mike Gavin, the congressman from Alaska who is the only candidate who will withdrawal all troops from the current War Of Terror theater.
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Stanimal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 437 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 1:43:32 PM
"That's why my vote this November will go to Mike Gavin, the congressman from Alaska who is the only candidate who will withdrawal all troops from the current War Of Terror theater."
Ya might have a bit of a challenge accomplishing that -
it's former Senator Mike Gravel (running on the Libertarian ticket).
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Cheryl Biren-Wright (17 articles, 16 quicklinks, 8 diaries, 323 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 2:25:57 PM
This man has guts. His eyes narrowed slightly when he said "The GOP should be very careful. Don't mess with my wife". He never loses his temper, he is brilliant (no 1 at Harvard) (not like the pathetic dry drunk) and people can see what integrity looks like, not like the weasely psycophants who flutter around the ruling class, who will rape their own mothers for that new BMW and the all expense paid tour on the private jet. Obama is one of the greats, like Lincoln or FDR. Throw mud on him and it will come back to you a thousand fold. He is pure magic. God bless Obama and God bless America.
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Antonio (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 63 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 2:05:03 PM
The People United Will Never be... oh, never mind.
"Anyone who does want to see Obama elected should also be agitating for paper ballots and hand-counting- or turn out in force to monitor and exit poll, prepared to use the new media to expose any evidence of fraud."
I spend plenty of time at BradBlog.com with the other 10 regulars, so I think I can safely say...
Fat chance.
If the mass media decide to "end" an election and "declare" a winner, then the rest of us are pretty much powerless to stop them. There simply aren't enough of "us"now and the media control the "them" way too strongly.
It's almost impossible to GET the news out without the help of the mass media, and the blogosphere simply doesn't have the REACH yet.
When they steal the election in November, or do something major in October to prevent it (those are the Rethuglican's only two options, and they will undoubtably choose one of them), it will all come down to the mass media and how much they cover the resistence. If they gloss it over, belittle it, and otherwise make it into a non-story, as they did with the tens of millions who marched against the Iraq war in 2003, then we won't be able to do a thing, and no amount of sitting at keyboards and typing "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any more" will do any good.
How many people who read OEN have planned to take off 9/11/08 for a general strike? How many have COMMITTED to losing their income for the day and NOT BUYING?
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Charlie L (2 articles, 2 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 638 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 5:51:31 PM
Nixon was liberal, he established the Endangered Species Act, the ERA, OSHA, and he was outspoken in favor of affirmative action. He instituted wage and price controls. Under today's political spectrum, he wouldn't even qualify as a Democrat. So all the comments about Obama being a socialist are ridiculous and laughable.
But from what I understand the core "Goldwater" conservative values are: fiscal responsibility (balance the books), avoid foreign entanglements, and stay out of my bedroom. Nobody, however staunchly they defend Bush et al. can lay claim that the latter two are important to the present criminals in the White House.
How about balancing the books? Who was the last conservative Republican to do that? Nixon balanced the books, but he was liberal. Eisenhower was a moderate - Clinton was quite like Eisenhower in governance. Surely can't count the Bush's or Reagan because they spent like crazy. Hoover? Nope, something called the Great Depression happened to him, set up by his predecessor Coolidge. Coolidge really was a Goldwater, Laisse-faire Republican for sure - and he laid the ground-work for the Great Depression.
The fact is, that the Republican party since McKinley has been a party that represents inherited wealth and Wall Street. And given the chance they'd make a 3rd world nation out of America. Not that they are bad people, they're just stupid and greedy.
Today the whole Republican mentality is based on the zero-sum-gain result. They cannot imagine that helping someone might allow that person to contribute back to society and actually return the favor. Nope, they think that helping people is a waste. But what kills me is I know several Republicans who struggled when they were young. And they cannot even see the similarity with those who struggle the same now.
And I reject the idea of the self-made man. Nearly everyone who succeeds gets help. College? Public schools? Thank you citizens for your tax dollars. Private college? How did you pay? Mom and Dad. So much for self-made. Even those who didn't go to college can look back at some point where somebody helped them, even though they didn't have to. The idea of self-made man is for those who need to rationalize their greed.
So the core values of conservatism have been abandoned by the neocons, who are really fascists.
2nd, Republicans are the biggest socialists around
This year the offer is the continuance of an illegal war, more torture, more rendition, and more spying on citizens. Those with Goldwater sensibilities are, or should be, appalled, but it’s what they’ve let their party become and they’ll have to deal with it.
But even the old Goldwater party was flawed. Why do so many support a party that uses tax dollars to support a bunch of failed business ventures? Through a myriad guaranteed loans, rebates, kick-backs, abatements, loop-holes, offshore accounting, out-sourcing, etc. they ensure that the rich will stay rich and in charge. This is not free enterprise folks, and it ain’t a free market either.
The same folks who were screaming that those who were ripped off by unscrupulous mortgage companies should have read the fine print and take responsibility for their actions are the same people who whined about losing their shirts in hedge funds and begged the Fed to diddle the interest rates for them – which happened right away of course. So much for responsibility.
When the government bails out a company it is essentially rewarding failure. And the other gimmicks handed out to companies reinforce this. And this is called socialism, because the US socializes the costs of business.
3rd, Big government fallacy
The argument is not about the size of government. Republicans scream big government when a law is passed that might threaten wealth, or perceived to threatened wealth. They don’t have any problem with laws that protect wealth, like the new bankruptcy laws, or patent laws, or property protection. They love these laws and want more of them.
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Houston Radical (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 76 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 6:27:18 PM
It is astonishing that people at OEN who seem to have a superior intellect with a good deal of political acumen and also common sense compared to ordinary citizens would ever bother considering to vote for any of the three candidates who are nothing but gangsters in disguise picked up by the corrupt Establishment to perpetuate wars of agression abroad and to carry on the same agenda that has led to the present catastrophic situation. Not one of them speaks of peace for the planet, not one has a project to break down the war machine, not one has called for an honest investigation into 9/11 massmurder. Why would you put your trust into anyone who is peddled by the corporate MSM ? Let's talk about Ron Paul and Kucinich who do have some honor and dignity left and who have not sold their souls to AIPAC and other devilish lobbyists. Time to wake up
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ramsheyi (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 412 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 6:37:30 PM
women fought for 100 years to get the franchise, and in the beginning people said that it wasn't supposed to be, unnatural, a big mistake, it will never happen
1000 years ago slavery existed all around the world
these things take time, never give up - apathy is exactly what the aristocrats want
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Houston Radical (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 76 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 8:01:43 PM
While I agree on alot of issues with Kucinich and I am very glad he has a reasonably strong voice in the democratic party, I have never understood the allure with Ron Paul. Someone who's core belief is that government is bad and that health care and the education of our kids should be a for profit endeavor sounds like more of the same of where we are already heading.
And if you honestly believe the country (50% voted for the idiot we currently have) in one election cycle would vote in a Ron Paul or a Dennis Kucinich then I need to be smoking what you are smoking.
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E. Nelson (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 77 comments)
on Monday, May 19, 2008 at 8:08:49 PM
