Jackson Free Press

After acting at the last debate as if Bill Ayers didn't matter all that much, John McCain launched the following "robocall" (recorded message) to voters in many states today, creating yet another firestorm about his vicious and misleading campaign tactics. Take a listen.

Previous Commentsshow

What I don't understand is how the campaign and RNC can "coordinate" on this call. I thought that was against the rules. I'm forced to assume that I'm wrong on that...

Todd Stauffer

Oct 16 2008

I thought so, too, but it's apparently going out wide around the country today. It's hard to imagine that it will help them. Maybe they think it's worth a try even if it's against the rules at this point; what is the penalty? Haven't they seen the polls? Ayers isn't playing; it just makes McCain, and the RNC, look desperate and out of touch. Remarkable that they can't see it. It's as if scaremongering is the only card in their deck. I smell blood in the water.

DonnaLadd

Oct 16 2008

The RNC - Real Nasty Commies - have Gone Off Politically. Hopefully, I'll get one of these calls eventually. Instead of a recording I would prefer Palin calls me. I'd like to talk to her and give her a good reason to have that ole eye action - the wink, wink, and fear of an all inclusive planet where white is just another color. That voice, character, eye and looks take us back, way back.

Walt

Oct 20 2008

Joe Klein at Time is calling McCain on the carpet over his dirty tricks. First he quotes what McCain said about those horrifying robocalls when Chris Wallace of Fox asked if McCain was going to stop them in light of all the criticism, even from Republicans: WALLACE: ... and you said the following [after the South Carolina primary campaign in 2000], "I promise you, I have never and will never have anything to do with that kind of political tactic." Now you've hired the same guy who did the robo calls against you to — reportedly, to do the robo calls against Obama and the Republican Senator Susan Collins, the co-chair of your campaign in Maine, has asked you to stop the robo calls. Will you do that? MCCAIN: Of course not. These are legitimate and truthful, and they are far different than the phone calls that were made about my family and about certain aspects that — things that this is — this is dramatically different, and either you haven't — didn't see those things Klein's response: Oh, and the "same guy" Wallace was referring to is none other than Warren Tompkins, whose name was a synonym for satan among the McCain inner circle in 2000. I can imagine John breaking the news to Cindy, "Hey, honey, great news! Remember that guy who was involved in spreading the rumors about your addiction to pain killers and Bridget being an illegitimate interracial child? Well, we've got him doing that same sort of high-minded stuff for us!" So get this straight: McCain has hired the same guy who did robocalls about Cindy's drug problems and their daughter on behalf of Bush to do ugly robocalls against Obama. You can't make this up. He's dug himself in so deep that it's hard to imagine that he will ever salvage his legacy. It is so tragic. He's a fallen hero.

DonnaLadd

Oct 20 2008

I rather hope they don't stop the robocalls; it seems to be political suicide, alongside McCain's choice of Sarah Palin to be the president should something happen to him. Per ABC/Wash Post poll out today: More challenges for John McCain: Likely voters overwhelmingly reject his effort to make an issue of Barack Obama’s association with 1960’s radical William Ayers. Fallout continues from McCain’s pick of Sarah Palin for vice president, with 52 percent saying it weakens their confidence in his judgment. And on optimism, it’s Obama by 2-1. Skepticism about the Ayers issue was one of the factors cited by Colin Powell in his endorsement of Obama yesterday, and in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll likely voters broadly agree: Sixty percent say Obama’s relationship with Ayers is not a legitimate issue in the presidential campaign; 37 percent say it is.

DonnaLadd

Oct 20 2008

The McCain-Palin ticket does bring out the best in people. Per a Richmond, Va., TV station: On Friday night, a large Obama sign was stolen on Bailey Bridge Road. It was replaced with something that has shocked the community. In the sign's place was a confederate flag. "I was kind of upset and shook up," said Reverend Leroy McLaughlin, the signs owner. Rev. McLaughlin does not hold back when he describes the culprits. "...evil folks, mean and got the devil in them."

DonnaLadd

Oct 20 2008

Donna, did you take a look at the blog entry I did about Obama being hung in effigy? Also, here is another incident that tops anything I've seen so far: CULLOWHEE – A dead bear was found dumped this morning on the Western Carolina University campus, draped with a pair of Obama campaign signs, university police said. Maintenance workers reported about 7:45 a.m. finding a 75-pound bear cub dumped at the roundabout near the Catamount statute at the entrance to campus, said Tom Johnson, chief of university police. “It looked like it had been shot in the head as best we can tell. A couple of Obama campaign signs had been stapled together and stuck over its head,” Johnson said. University police called in N.C. Wildlife Resources officials to remove the body and help in the investigation. Bear season is currently under way in Western North Carolina.

LatashaWillis

Oct 21 2008

Gee, these nuts are really scaring us. I hope Obama doesn't decide to drop out. I'm keeping my family at home on November 4 as some klansman might gun us down.

Walt

Oct 21 2008

Obama won'r dropout, Walt. Just make sure you vote on Nov. 4 before you barricade yourself in your house. :)

LatashaWillis

Oct 21 2008

Bear season is currently under way in Western North Carolina. posted by L.W. on 10/21/08 at 01:59 PM L.W., Are you sure they didn't say "beer" season?

HardTravelin

Oct 21 2008

"We ain't gonna let nobody turn us around, turn us around, turn us around." I wonder how much of that stuff or alcohol you have to be on to think in 2008 these old klan-like moves would scare anybody.

Walt

Oct 21 2008

Unbelievable. I just didn't think McCain was the type of person who would allow, or defend, this. I guess we're seeing the man who left his disfigured wife for an heiress. Sen. John McCain this week gave his personal stamp of approval to one of the toughest pieces of direct mail in the 2008 campaign. The brochure, which is being sent to voters in Virginia and Missouri, features a picture of what is either a plane about to crash into a building full of people or an airport departure gate, along with the words: "Terrorists Don't Care Who They Hurt." The other side of the mailer says: "Barack Obama Thinks Terrorists Just Need a Good Talking To." Controversial? Yes. But is McCain proud of it? Absolutely, according to an interview McCain gave to KDSD, a local television station in Missouri.

DonnaLadd

Oct 21 2008