Is it necessary for Obama to get more aggressive?

[Fuzz]

Just watched the interview with Olbermann. He was given the is Palin qualified question and deflected it to policy.

Now, I always liked the above it all style, the stick to the issues, the whole stay positive thing shows he can be a great leader. But it seems the people don't want that in a campaign, unfortunately. They seem to respond to the red meat lies being crapped out by McCain and Palin.

What do you do in that situation?

[NeedleCast]

1. Yeah, I kinda think so

Needs to attack the right target though. McCain. Not Palin.

[muntrv]

2. Yes.

[texasleo]

3. Yes.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. When the time is right

I'm thinking the Obama people are leaning a bit back right now, because fighting against the novelty bump that The Most Blessed Mother brought to McCain is just a waste of time.

I'm hoping that when the debates take place, Obama will use his brilliance and strength to eviscerate McCain and embarrass him publicly as the horrid, incompetent old man that he is.

Shades of Kennedy and Nixon (on TV, but not on the radio).

[Fuzz]

6. God, I hope so

[RoccoR5955]

5. Not aggressive per se, but assertive.

It would be better if he let them stumble on themselves, and get caught up in their own lies, and he chuckles, and catches them on it in one of the debates or something.

[Fuzz]

7. The own lies thing would be great, but that doesn't stick

[Applepie]

8. I believe Obama has it together

I think he is very aware of all their tricks. He knows how they operate and is able to bring us to victory.

[dogtag]

9. The problem is that unless their lies

are batted down immediately and aggressively, it's like a retraction in a newspaper. Everyone remembers reading the original story, hardly anyone sees the retraction.

Ads need to come out in a steady stream, smacking the crap out of their lying lies.

[Fuzz]

11. That's so right on target there.

[Smarmie Doofus]

10. It's necessary for the *campaign* to get more aggressive.

I understand the 'stay above the fray' thing but the DEMS as whole need to identify the opposition. I do not see that happening.

[fulllib]

19. I agree

"Stay above the fray" is code to the RW, and right-leaning voters, for weakness.

I don't know- lately I am having Kerry flashbacks. Obama on Olberman was talking about giving the voter time to weigh their decision, thinking that the truth will rise to the top.

That is exactly what happened with Kerry- while we sat there and waited for his message to get through, the opposite messages got hardened into the truth.

[Smarmie Doofus]

23. It wasn't just Kerry. Reminds me more of Dukakis so far.

"The average voter isn't *that* gullible." So the DEM high command thought. Hah.

>>"Stay above the fray" is code to the RW, and right-leaning voters, for weakness.>>>

Re . Weakness: I think that's an unpleasant truth. A lot of people actually admire dirty/dishonest campaigning and see that quality in a candidate...esp. a candidate for pres. as an ASSET; not a liability.

Suggests toughness that they'd like to have on their side in what they see as a threatening world beyond our borders. Mostly subconscious. Very Freudian.

I'm not suggesting we go that far... but we absolutely must *plaster* them on the legitimate issues.... there are so many of them and so much material with which to legitimately plaster them .

[trayfoot]

12. Obama Most DEFINITELY Needs to Get More Aggressive!

And.......NOW!

[Subdivisions]

13. I think he should attack like a great white shark while people are talking about

what a liar and self-serving politician Palin is.

[JDPriestly]

14. What do you do? You don't fight human nature.

Most people vote for the person. They want to know all the personal details about the life of the candidate, the candidate's family, the foibles, personal weaknesses, etc. of the candidate.

Very few people have any patience for policy issues. Most people figure that the candidates are really about the same on the issues and that they are both lying about what they will do after elected anyway.

Bush proves that fact. Bush specifically stated in the debates with Gore that he did not plan to nation-build, that he would not commit our troops for nation-building. He turned right around and committed us to nation-building with a vengeance.

So, people are not interested in issues and don't understand them anyway.

Obama has a lot of personal charisma, but his campaign is beginning to get a bit boring. The focus is too much on the Republican VP. And Obama is staying far, far too aloof from personality issues.

Biden is doing OK, but Obama should not hold him back. Biden and Obama have to make clear to voters that McCain and Palin do not have the character to govern. They cannot be trusted to do the right thing. They lie and they cannot be trusted. Palin used her office for personal ends. McCain although a hero has psychological problems that make him unfit to govern and they were not entirely caused by his internment as a POW. McCain had them beginning when he was pretty young. They manifested themselves while he was at the Naval Academy and before he went to Viet Nam. McCain has made a joke of dating a stripper or something of that nature. That's no joke for many, many Americans. It's a sign of questionable judgment and character -- even in a very young man.

No, Obama is not being tough enough on what voters (incorrectly perhaps but nevertheless) perceive to be character issues. He is being too nice and we will all pay for it.

[TahitiNut]

15. To their faces, yes. Passive-aggressive? Nope.

I just don't get the sense that Obama plays his "game" off the court. He "gets his game on" when the other team shows up. I like his style ... and the fact he's doesn't let himself get baited. By either side.

[Cerridwen]

16. One question...just one question I'd like to hear someone ask...

"she's not ready to campaign from day one but we're to believe she's ready to lead from day one?"

No attack. No family stuff. No voting record stuff. No religious stuff.

Just make obvious the obvious.

[AzNick]

17. Yes, as long as he tells the truth.

Which he does. He should go after the liars and expose their lies.

Also he should expose the fact that McCain is anti-veterans.

[peace frog]

18. Yes

He must hit them harder without becoming snide and sarcastic like his opponents.
And he needs to stop complimenting them - he can be respectful without expressing admiration. After all, what's to admire about McCain/Palin? Not a damn thing, and Obama knows it.

[KakistocracyHater]

20. yes

because next the right will try to outlaw voting itself look here
http://www.ladiesagainstfeminism.com/artman/publish/ household suffrage, no voting by women, how selfish of them to demand voting rights.

[bdamomma]

21. just wait for those debates.

[lonestarnot]

22. NO!

[LibDemAlways]

24. I didn't like his non-answer to the Palin qualified question

either. Much better to have said, "I chose Joe Biden in part because of his years of legislative experience and distinguished service as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as a member of the Judiciary Committee. He has the respect of his colleagues and the trust of the people of his state. I know that he is well qualified to assume the Presidency at a moment's notice. Sarah Palin was mayor of a small Alaskan town she left millions of dollars in debt. She's served as governor of a sparsely populated state for less than two years and the jury is still out on her record thus far. I believe Joe Biden is eminently more qualified and I believe the voters will agree."

And, to answer the original question, Yes, he needs to be more aggressive. Smiling and genial doesn't cut it when facing a pack of rabid dogs. You've got to fight back, hard.