Jake Tapper on Obama [Greg Pollowitz]
Tapper takes Obama to task for playing the race card in retaliation for McCain's portrayal of Senator Obama as a celebrity. Tapper's conclusion:
I've seen racism in campaigns before — I've seen it against Obama in this campaign (more from Democrats than Republicans, at this point, I might add) and I've seen it against McCain in South Carolina in 2000, when his adopted Bangladeshi daughter Bridget was alleged, by the charming friends and allies of then-Gov. George W. Bush, to have been a McCain love-child with an African-American woman.
What I have not seen is it come from McCain or his campaign in such a way to merit the language Obama used today. Pretty inflammatory.
Also related to this, Politico has a piece this morning that talks about the effectiveness of the McCain "Celeb" ad. An excerpt:
And the snickers about Obama’s perceived smugness may have a very real political impact as McCain launched its most forceful effort yet to define him negatively. It released a TV ad Wednesday describing Obama as the “biggest celebrity in the world,” comparable to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, stars who are famous for attitude rather than accomplishments.
The harsher treatment from comedians and columnists – coupled with the shift by McCain from attacking on policy to character issues – underscores the fine line that Obama is walking between confident and cocky. Once at pains to present himself as presidential, Obama now faces criticism for doing it too well.
This seems like a good preemptive strike as well to blunt the upcoming imagery of Sen. Obama's convention speech at Obamastock in a month or so.
07/31 11:00 AM
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