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  • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 16 2008 6:00 AM

Here Come The Swiftboaters

Submitted by FearTheReaper

Edited by nicole_powers

Tags: Election 08, John McCain, Barack Obama, Swift Boat

Did you think the presidential campaign had gotten ugly? Well, you were wrong. Forget McCain’s lie laced ads claiming Obama wants to teach kindergartners how to screw and accusing Obama of calling Sarah Palin a pig, the Swiftboaters are preparing their airwave assault and it will be beyond ugly.

We got a hint of the future during the Republican National Convention, when GOP hatchet man Roger Stone explained to TPM what he was going to do.



Roger Stone was one of the men responsible for the famous Willie Horton ad during the 1992 presidential campaign. And when he attacks, he attacks with everything.


Hit it from every angle. Open multiple fronts on your enemy. He must be confused, and feel besieged on every side.


So, that will be exciting. And he’s not alone. The Swiftboaters are back, this time with a brand new name, The American Issues Project. They’ve gathered a few million dollars and are now finishing up their ads. Very soon they will begin hitting the airwaves.


A new group financed by a Texas billionaire and organized by some of the same political operatives and donors behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign against Sen. John F. Kerry in 2004 plans to begin running television ads attacking Barack Obama, a signal that outside groups may play a larger role than anticipated in the closing days of the presidential race.

"We expect to be doing both issues and express advocacy between now and November and beyond," said Christian Pinkston, a spokesman for the group.


Here’s an example of their “issues and express advocacy.”



Man, if that isn't an important issue, I don't know what is. Especially for those Americans who are incredibly stupid.

Unfortunately for Democrats, they don’t have anyone ready to respond, because Obama foolishly asked the left’s 527 groups to step down after he won the nomination. He also told funders not to give money to groups like VoteVets, Planned Parenthood and MoveOn.org. But just a week ago, Obama realized what a tremendous mistake he had made and asked the 527s to get going again. With only 6 weeks to go, that is just stupid.

But some Democratic groups claim they are ready, like MoveOn.org.


Having spent recent elections watching conservative groups bombard Democratic candidates by taking a disciplined message to the television and talk radio airwaves, the leaders of several major left-leaning groups said they are ready to answer back.

"After years of watching the other side do this, it's finally something we've really gotten strong at," Hogue said.


I’ll believe it when I see it. So far, the Democratic groups are flailing.


On the Democratic side, much of that effort appears to be falling to labor unions and a handful of well-known advocacy groups such as MoveOn.org and the Sierra Club. In the spring, a coalition of liberal groups that included the AFL-CIO announced plans to spend $350 million on political activities during the 2008 campaign season, but they have been slow in coming together.


A tidal wave of stupidity and hate is coming Obama’s way and the left does not seem to be prepared. The Obama campaign did fight the first American Issues Project with a coordinated campaign, putting pressure on station owners not to air the ad and fighting the group in court. But how long with that work? Small television stations make much of their money during political campaigns. That’s just too much money to pass on.

And we are within 60 days of the election, which is apparently the best time for evil.


Four years ago, mid-September might have been too late to organize for November. But the rules for outside groups changed after a recent Supreme Court opinion that loosened restrictions on corporate and union electioneering within 60 days of the general election. That enabled groups such as AIP, which is organized as a nonprofit corporation, more leeway to launch last-minute attack ads.


The forces of darkness been gearing up for the last 60 campaign days for months now, with the help of some classic douchebags.


But Republicans appear to have a head start. In April, Simmons, a corporate tycoon who had spent heavily on the Swift boat campaign, began holding meetings with other Swift boat donors to discuss renewing their effort for 2008-- meetings that included input from Bush's former strategist, Karl Rove.


Has Obama ever dated a white woman? You’re about to find out.

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Comments
CommunistCanuck

CommunistCanuck

Canada
February 2004

SEP 16, 2008 06:21 AM

Well maybe a tit for tat aproach would be in order, you might be able to find quotes from Prairie Fire (the Weather undergrounds manifesto) about nationalisation, que the fact that bush/cain has nationlised Fannie May, help keep Iraq oil nationalised, but has not done anything for Lehman brothers, let alone nationalise american oil companies; pose the question that Bush/cain wants to be able to throw the bombs without a reason but not take responisibility for his actions... unlike the Weatherunderground as they never killed anyone but their own members(I beleive 2 when making a bomb) and alerted the authorities well in advance when they bombed Gov buildings.

BabyBlue

BabyBlue

Portland, OR
August 2003

SEP 16, 2008 08:05 AM

Well, at least McCain is still running a clean campaign, huh? whatever

And yes, I know he can claim that his campaign had nothing to do with whatever filth is put out by the 527s, but I doubt he's going to denounce any of their ads.

rudewordsmith

rudewordsmith

Orlando, FL
August 2008

SEP 16, 2008 08:23 AM

Man... I mean, you have to admire Obama's desire to win a race without having groups back him up but... Shit, man -- this is politics. It ain't pretty. People are going to hit, and hit hard.

I get tired of the back and forth, but if you're in the race it's crucial. Even if you don't intend to fight dirty, you still have to have some people on your side taking/giving blows. Until this mudslinging shit gets under control, at any rate.

Ascanius

Ascanius

USA
October 2006

SEP 16, 2008 08:28 AM

FearTheReaper said:
We got a hint of the future during the Republican National Convention, when GOP hatchet man Roger Stone explained to TPM what he was going to do.



"My first thought was, he lied in every word,
That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
Askance to watch the working of his lie
On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby."

xazapdmytinu

xazapdmytinu

Fort Collins, CO
July 2007

SEP 16, 2008 08:56 AM

Sadly you can't discount the fact that even some democrats think that media is liberal and there is next to no press about Obama now that Palin is on the scene (Then again I don't watch the news, just read the papers and Time) Palin has become this looming figure that everyone targets and it is hurting Obama.


I really hope the people can get their act together and hit them back.

unfiltrator

unfiltrator

San Francisco, CA
April 2004

SEP 16, 2008 09:15 AM

Perhaps Karl Rove was trying to prepare an atmosphere of credibility for future attacks like these.

I'm not sure these ads do anything except excite fanaticism in right wing voters. I just looked at the American Issues Project and saw they feature the dubious connection of Bill Ayers to Obama. Only someone who doesn't do fact checking will care.

Colada

Colada

SUICIDEGIRL

USA

SEP 16, 2008 09:16 AM

Dirty campaigns always seem to preside over the clean ones. Politics are a very dirty job and unfortunately if you aren't educated, like way too many stupid americans, a ridiculous propaganda-like ad from McCain is going to do the trick to scare the pants off of the undecided voters.

I love that Obama is running a clean campaign, it really plays on his character, but I think its time that he gets down and dirty so he can win this damn thang!

Reaver

Reaver

I'm lost
August 2003

SEP 16, 2008 10:20 AM

Yeah, pointing out the guy with nerve damage from defending his country in a war can't use a computer because of it, and then presenting it as he just doesn't know how to use a computer is running a clean campaign.



Reaver

Reaver

I'm lost
August 2003

SEP 16, 2008 10:21 AM

Go clean campaigns!

Remember Truth about Democrats? Swiftboating.

Lies about Republicans? Clean Campaigning.

Kouvre

Kouvre

Moline, IL
April 2006

SEP 16, 2008 10:31 AM

Ah, the good ol' GOP. "It's OK as long as we're doing it and the liberals aren't."

FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

SEP 16, 2008 10:41 AM

Reaver said:
Yeah, pointing out the guy with nerve damage from defending his country in a war can't use a computer because of it, and then presenting it as he just doesn't know how to use a computer is running a clean campaign.



Please explain how John McCain can use a Blackberry, often taking reporters Blackberrys on his plane and looking at the web, and yet can't use a computer.

Thanks.


''Am I a tech freak? No,''he said. ''And I don't like to text message because I'd rather call somebody on the telephone.''

''I do understand the importance of the computer. I understand the importance of the blogs,'' he said.

''It doesn't mean that I have to e-mail people,'' he said. ''Now, I read e-mails,'' and staff is ''constantly showing them to me as the news breaks during the day.''

While he hasn't developed a regular computer habit, he added with a grin, ''but I am forcing myself ... let me put it this way, I am using the computer more and more every day.''


"I use a computer almost every day. I go on different web sites ... ours and the various media," he said.



You must be very angry at the people who lied to you, Reaver, which led you write something completely untrue.

smithers_jones

smithers_jones

I'm lost
November 2003

SEP 16, 2008 10:45 AM

FearTheReaper said:

Reaver said:
Yeah, pointing out the guy with nerve damage from defending his country in a war can't use a computer because of it, and then presenting it as he just doesn't know how to use a computer is running a clean campaign.



Please explain how John McCain can use a Blackberry, often taking reporters Blackberrys on his plane and looking at the web, and yet can't use a computer.

Thanks.


McCain invented the Blackberry, duh.

FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

SEP 16, 2008 10:55 AM

And he uses it, with his "nerve damaged" hands.


Q: Do you use a Blackberry or e-mail?

Mr. McCain: No.

Mark Salter: He uses a BlackBerry, just ours.

Mr. McCain: I use the Blackberry, but I don't e-mail, I've never felt the particular need to e-mail.



Reaver, are you setting your friends straight about their lies?

FearTheReaper

FearTheReaper

NEWSWIRE

I'm lost

SEP 16, 2008 11:07 AM

Reaver? Where did you go?zoom image

Are you getting a text from John "I can't use my fingers" McCain?

GrayRains

GrayRains

Twin Lake, MI
January 2008

SEP 16, 2008 11:19 AM

"Am I a tech freak? No,"



"And I don't like to text message because I'd rather call somebody on the telephone."



How is knowing how to email, text message, etc, being a tech freak if I may ask...?

I don't consider myself a tech freak yet I'm doing all the things he "forces" himself to do on a regular basis, from gaming online to sending emails. Whee!

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