Atrocious to Smear a Private Citizen

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2008
Atrocious to Smear a Private Citizen
369
Thu, 10-16-2008 - 4:22pm
I think it is atrocious for the press to try to smear a private citizen who merely used his first amendment rights to question a candidate! He didn't ask for all this attention, and he has not stated who he will be voting for, but since John McCain received some points in the debate last night about an exchange "Joe the Plumber" had with Barack Obama the press is out to destroy this man. Good Grief! The man is a plumber! An average citizen. Now the left wing is trying to vilify him like he's George Bush! How HORRIBLE! And the extremists on the left seem to be following in lock step. No compassion for an ordinary man UNLESS he shares their socialist viewpoint. This is about as dirty as it gets!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 7:57am

It has already backfired.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-29-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 8:06am
That is not a good excuse. You can try all you want to turn this around and put blame where it doesn't belong, but it isn't working.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 8:24am

No, it's both simpler and more complex than that. The simple part is the explanation: it isn't a case of "not wishing to appear unseemly," it's the fact that campaigns - especially in the closing days and weeks - are often all about the elusive "momentum." Obama doesn't want to make his own voters, volunteers and donors complacent, because if they feel like it's "in the bag," many people will stop doing the very things they've been doing - including VOTING, which is the really important one - at the point when it's most crucial. In many precincts, voting truly IS a hassle, and if people don't feel either very inspired or very worried (like a lot is on the line), more mundane concerns take over: who's fixing dinner that night, getting the kids taken care of, whatever.

The more complex explanation which Obama won't say because it isn't particularly relevant to his campaign (but is nevertheless true) is that keeping up the pressure to turn out as many Obama voters as possible also has a salutary effect on down-ticket races in every district and state. Though Obama may very well be "over the top" by now, even if we leave aside the obvious argument that it's never a sure thing, there are plenty of reasons for him to keep fighting to bring out as many of his voters as possible, because there are going to be races in which every single Democratic vote WILL matter. Places like Georgia's Senate race to replace the execrable Saxby Chambliss, who defeated triple-amputee war hero Max Cleland by running photos of him alongside Osama Bin Laden in 2002 (Chambliss himself received multiple deferments during Vietnam - the classic chickenhawk). Chambliss' opponent in this race is Jim Martin, a real progressive (which isn't all that common in Georgia), yet the recent swing in the polls has even the Georgia race tightening up, and Jim Martin within two points (inside the margin of error) of unseating Chambliss, which would be a huge upset. It would drive a wooden stake right through the heart of the launching pad of the "Gingrich Revolution," and show Republicans that after eight years of rubber-stamping the worst President in history, they are no longer safe ANYWHERE the put up candidates. A win in the GA Senate race would put the GoOPers on notice that they'd better not consider ANY seats "safe," and be prepared to spend EVERYWHERE there's a challenge. That's a huge victory: the RNC has gotten used to pouring in very micro-targeted dollars to specific races where they think they can pick off vulnerable Democrats by running sleazy, fear-mongering ads - or to do the same (when necessary) to save a seat that even starts to look like it MIGHT be threatened by the Democrats.

It's the same strategy that Wal-Mart uses to displace local small businesses, if necessary: build the store, then - if the local citizenry appears unreasonably loyal to their small-town small-businesses, Wal-Mart simply drops their prices across the board at that one store so low that people would be fools not to shop there. They just raise the prices very slightly at a couple of dozen OTHER stores - so little that the customers there don't even really notice it, but enough to cover the losses at the store that's being kept with artificially low prices. They do this just long enough for the local public to switch over, en masse, to Wal-Mart, and the customer base to dry up at the "mom and pop" stores, which eventually go out of business. And then, when the competition's gone, Wal-Mart raises its prices back up to regular levels, because they no longer have to care about the customer base - they are often the only game in town by then. That's what the GOP's been used to getting away with doing for years, too: after all, hey, it works great for business. Just keep up the attacks in general, and when something looks close, pour tons of money into that race and get as slimy as you have to in order to WIN. Then, after the election's over, you no longer have to worry about it.

That's why - in addition to not allowing his OWN campaign to open itself up to a possible surprise at the polls on the 4th - Obama's pushing so hard not to "slack off" in these last, critical weeks.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 8:31am

**NEWS FLASH**

Voter who was already confirmed to be NOT voting for Obama is OUTRAGED by perceived "new low" by Obama campaign and "leftist" media: promises.....to really, REALLY not vote for Obama now! So there!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 8:37am

Lots of things could sway polls.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 8:57am

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Well, I don't see this as "punishment" and it's certainly not for for speaking his mind.

We also have differences in how we view Obama's plan.

Since last night, I've expanded my view a little of Joe the Plumber. While I think it was disrespectful of McCain to exploit "Joe" in the manner that he did without first informing/asking him (because the use of his name in the debate went far beyond the usual passing mention of a private citizen) and foolhardy to have done so without first properly vetting him....Joe appears to be willingly giving a great many interviews and rather enjoying the opportunity to express his views to the press and America at large. On the contrary, I've seen many more positive comments stating that Joe was the "star" of the debate and stating that he is a rather personable and appealing man that many people can relate to.

I don't see him as a victim the way you do (and again, if there's any "victimhood" here, it's due to the fact that McCain thrust him, without warning into the national spotlight). As for granting all those interviews, it's clear to me after having the opportunity to see them last evening, that Joe knows exactly what he's doing and may end up being able to capitalize on his new found notoriety.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 9:00am
This was getting play by the media BEFORE McCain brought him up in the media.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-04-2003
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 9:04am

There's plenty of examples of ordinary people coming under the scrutiny of the press, particularly once they willingly grant so many interviews....but if you are looking for EXACTLY this example in EXACTLY this context then no, I'd have to say that there are no examples EXACTLY like this one.

However, thoughtful people who pause to think a minute before doing something tend to be able to extrapolate what may occur based upon experiences that are related (experience with the press and public curiosity/scrutiny towards people who have been made into "stars" through frequent mention).

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 9:06am
Isn't it ironic that the media will go after a private citizen who dares to question 0bama, but refuses to dig deeper into 0bama's questionable issues.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2008
Fri, 10-17-2008 - 9:07am
Oh no chilly, don't you get it?

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