Should Obama come out tomorrow and say that "wives are off limits"?

[Lucy Goosey]

I know that there is the further issue of John McCain's own ass-covering, but maybe Obama wins some points by saying that he sympathises with Cindy and she should not be raked over the coals?

Thoughts?

[marylanddem]

1. No. Wives who break the law are not off limits.

[stckyfngz]

18. agreed

you know they'd do it to us

[MrModerate]

2. At minimum, he should instruct his surrogates to not touch the issue. n/t

[casus belli]

We don't need to go there...

this is easily one of those cases where they immediately turn it around and try to get it to stick. And besides, I really don't see it resonating with any but a small contingent who, in all likelihood, are part of McCain's base.

[emilyg]

26. Agree.

[scheming daemons]

3. Nobody associated with his campaign should TOUCH this

[mitchum]

4. Actually, that would be a very savvy thing to do

[Richardo]

5. He's already said very plainly that families are off-limits - at least twice.

And I think it's the right tack.

I see it as another distraction from the REAL issues that will affect ALL of us - economy, war, energy, etc. Compared to those issues, and how McCain/Palin will mismanage them, Cindy's addictions mean nothing. Who cares?

[TwilightGardener]

15. Well--the fact that McLame did a lot of interfering to cover it up is a problem.

It's like Palin's Troopergate--family squabble that should have remained a family squabble, but instead turned into an abuse of power issue connected with her position.

[elkston]

6. Naah. Just let it ride in the media and don't say anything. (eom)

[EarlG]

7. I don't think Obama has to go anywhere near it

It's on the front page of the Washington Post. The Obama campaign can just sit back and watch, assuming it gets legs. No comment is necessary.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TwilightGardener]

9. No--he shouldn't mention it at all, unless someone asks directly, and THEN

he should say it's not appropriate for him to comment on.

[old guy]

25. Bingo!!

[tomnjoy]

31. Agreed!

[truthisfreedom]

10. Sure. Perfect timing, with the WAPO front-page article on Cindy destroying so many people's lives

trying to cover up her addiction.

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Getting a diplomatic passport is almost impossible ...John got her one

to hide her addiction......

Abuse of power by John.

[AllentownJake]

12. Yes

He should than make a statement on the need for more rehab centers for other families so more people can get help in this situation and never speak of it again and instruct all surrogates to not mention it.

[LooseWilly]

13. I'm thinking NO.

I don't think the Obama campaign itself will pile on. He/they have too much class.

McCain and his ilk, on the other hand, have shown no compunctions about attacking spouses.

I think Obama should just ignore it for a day or two... and then say that wives are off limits.

In the mean time... it would be very satisfying to see Cindy dragged over the same coals that her Hubby has been flinging at Obama.

[Curtland1015]

14. Wives ARE off limits. However, their law breaking husbands...

...are NOT.

If this whole issue is true, then Johhny boy should get nailed to the wall. No reason to mock his wife, but if he broke the law, then he should certainly get called for it.

[LooseWilly]

16. Down By Law quote just occurred to me...

"You trwoa de ball a' me, I trowa de ball a' you."

[marlakay]

17. If she wasn't rich and a senators wife she would be in jail now

what about all of us? kind of reminds me about paris going to jail...i think if cindy had a few weeks there her life would have changed.

[PA Democrat]

19. No. It is not Obama's place to tell the WP what they can and cannot publish.

He and his campaign should say nothing about the story.

[Lucy Goosey]

23. See, I agree that

I just fear that this is somehow going to be spun as the Dems attacking Cindy, and maybe he should just cut that off right away.

He will be asked about it, though, so he can't completely pretend it isn't happening. By rights, this should disqualify McCain, but we can't count on that.

Anyway, this is a really interesting discussion.

[melody]

20. If she can be arrested for it which impacts directly on her spouse, no

That is stuff we need to know. It's not ten years ago, it's now.

[rgbecker]

21. We're talking potential first lady here. Read the New Yorker article. It's freaky.

Newyorker.com.

[catnhatnh]

22. Yeah-call me silly, but if he did...

John McCain would attack him for being sexist AND partisan in ignoring AND failing to protect Sarah Palin's family, since she has no "wife" but HAS a spouse...see now how the game is played???

[JimWis]

24. We should not touch this -

And I would suspect that if Obama is asked about it, he will just offer his sympathy. The wife is off limits. Even if he doesn't touch it, I would not be surprised if some idiot republicans blame him for this being released now during the campaign.

[stillcool]

30. It isn't about Cindy McCain..

it's about John McCain's penchant for covering up his own and others criminal acts.

[Barack_America]

27. He should decline to comment on it at all.

And his surrogates should do the same.

[angee_is_mad]

28. He already did

when the repubs (and yes some dems during primary) were unjustly attacking Michelle.

He also mentioned it this week about families should be off limits. He doesn't need to keep saying it every week.

[stillcool]

29. Husbands who cover up for their wife's

criminal behavior by abusing their power are definitely on the table.

[Beaverhausen]

32. this is about McCain himself helping with the cover-up- it's not just about Cindy

[SweetieD]

33. yes

[FrenchieCat]

34. Yep.

That would be the perfect move.

[wisteria]

35. I think we should leave the wives alone.I know they do it to us, but

this addiction incident is in the past and she has over come it. You have to have some sympathy for people who have addictions. It is old news and I don't think it adds anything to Obama's message of changing the tone in Washington.

[eshfemme]

36. Yes, he should say this but the media shouldn't listen to him because they need to do their job

Obama will never go down in the dirt like that but that's it.

[justiceischeap]

37. Would that mean we couldn't diss imPalin anymore? She's a wife. (eom)