This is not the way the Obama campaign wanted to spend day one of the convention, responding to negative ads. We will be hearing a lot about “dirty politics” in the coming days. I asked Jeff Jacoby last night if raising the Obama-Ayers connection was fair game or dirty politics, here’s that cut,
Strangely Timed Obama Response Ad on William Ayers
ABC News’ Tahman Bradley Reports: As Michelle Obama prepares for a primetime speech that will talk about her and Barack Obama’s American values, the Obama campaign is using a new television ad to take on the issue of Obama’s association with a 1970s radical who bombed the Capitol and Pentagon…
…A 501(c) 4 group, acting independent of Republican John McCain’s presidential campaign, last week, hammered Obama for his relationship with Ayers with a provocative television spot in Ohio and Michigan.
“Why would Barack Obama be friends with someone who bombed the Capitol and is proud of it? Do you know enough to elect Barack Obama,” the spot by American Issues Project says.
Here’s the ad,
and here’s the response from Obama,
McCain knows Obama denounced Ayers’ crimes, committed when Obama was just eight years old. Let’s talk about standing up for America today.
Allah Pundit asks the right question,
the salient point isn’t how old Obama was when the crimes were committed, it’s how old he was when he formed the moral judgment that led him to associate with Ayers in the first place.
Rather than shy away from the ad, McCain joined the attack,
“The fact that Barack Obama chose to launch his political career at the home of an unrepentant terrorist raises more questions about Senator Obama’s judgment than any TV ad ever could.â€
Things could turn around for the Obama campaign, the night is still young. Nancy Pelosi is speaking now. Lucky break, Wolf and AC360 talked right over her on CNN. Michelle Obama is coming up shortly. Hillary and the Gang tomorrow. Good times, good times.
UPDATE: Tom Maguire is not impressed with Obama’s response, or his strategy. In fact, he says it raises more questions than it answers,
Obama worked for five years with Bill Ayers on education reform while they were both with the Chicago Annenberg Challenge. Are we being asked to believe that, just as Obama initially claimed to have been unaware of Jeremiah Wright’s views, he was also unaware of Ayers current radicalism?
Coming soon – “That’s not the Bill Ayers I knew”.
Bruce McQuain from QandO joined us once again for Someone You Should Know, our weekly tribute to the troops. Bruce is a veteran of the Vietnam war and spent 28 years in the U.S. Army. He brings a perspective and understanding to these stories that we could never match. It is so great to have him as part of the show,
It is often said by professional soldiers that the heart and soul of any army can be found in its Non-Commissioned Officer’s corps. It is the Sergeants who really run the military. We officers are only allowed to think we do. And every good officer who rises through the ranks to command armies is the product of a long line of outstanding NCOs who taught him the ropes at every level of command.
Tonight I’m going to tell you the story of three courageous Staff Sergeants that fought a key battle in Afghanistan in 2005. It is a battle you’ve probably never heard about. But the story is an inspiring one. Most of the information about Staff Sergeants Matthew Blaskowski, Patrick Brannan, and Christopher Choay comes from the US Army.
The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce has now taken over and he does an incredible job with the series every week. We are so fortunate to have him as a regular part of the program.
Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe joined me last night to discuss Joe Biden and his strengths and weaknesses as a candidate. We also discussed Obama, what he needs to accomplish at the convention and whether or not things like Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers are fair game or dirty politics. We also discussed what McCain needs to do with his VP selection.
Jeff is a true gentleman and it was great to have him back on the show.
Bruce McQuain with the story of Marine CPT Brent Morel,
Heroes are created, lives are lost, sacrifices are made and a very human debt is paid. War is merciless and tragedy is a constant result. But freedom and liberty exact a heavy price which patriots willingly pay. CPT Brent Morel, United States Marine Corps and awarded the Navy Cross for exceptional heroism was one of those patriots, and that is why he is someone you should know.
The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce McQuain from QandO does an incredible job with the series every week.
We have a great show lined up for tonight. Instead of the usual 7-10pm time slot, Pundit Review Radio will air from 7-8 and then 9-10. At 8pm, we’ll be going to a syndicated Democratic National Convention preview show.
Schedule
7pm hour: Republican U.S. Senate candiate Jeff Beatty
Jeff is a true patriot and would be make a great Senator. Why did he decide to challenge John Kerry and what are his most top priorities for Massachusetts and the nation? What kind of support is he getting from the state and national Republican party? How daunting of a challenge is it to run against an entrenched incumbent and raise the kind of money necessary to be competitive?
9pm: Bruce McQuain with another edition of Someone You Shuld Know.
9:30: Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe columnist
Of course, we will talk about Biden’s selection as VP. I also want to see what Jeff thinks McCain needs to do with his VP pick and how much mischief does he think the Clinton’s could be up to this week. We’ll also discuss how foreign policy issues such as China, which Jeff wrote about today, and Russia, have already altered the presidential election.
If you have any questions you’d like to see asked, leave them in the comments. If you would like to participate in the show, the toll-free number is 877-469-4322.
Joe Biden, I think, wll be a mixed blessing for Obama. On paper, he brings things Obama desperately needs, like experience, particularly foreign policy experience. In reality, Biden’s strengths often end up as weaknesses. Anyone who has spent 30+ years in the Senate loves the sound of their own voice. They are used to pontificating. For reference, see John Kerry’s 2004 campaign. Biden likes to talk tough, and he could be a good surrogate on the attack against the Republicans. Given Biden’s longstanding admiration for McCain, I think we will see the Obama-Biden ticket working overtime to tie McCain’s policies to those of the unpopular president. He’ll attack McCain by proxy. The problem is, can Biden contain himself once he gets going, can he stay on script? History says no, he will go off the reservation and say some pretty outrageous things along the way.
What is the over/under on the number of statements Biden will have to apologize for or retract? I’ll set the line at three, and take the over.
As for McCain, he has squarely addressed one concern I had about him as the nominee. Would he would be tough enough on his opponent? Would he play to win? In recent weeks, he has been hitting Obama hard, and the polls show that it is working. Within minutes of Biden’s selection, McCain’s campaign was ready. Here is the statement from the McCain campaign on Biden’s selection as VP,
There has been no harsher critic of Barack Obama’s lack of experience than Joe Biden. Biden has denounced Barack Obama’s poor foreign policy judgment and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realizing — that Barack Obama is not ready to be president.
Along with the statement comes this new web ad, a clever use of Biden’s own words against Barack Obama,