When All Else Fails – Democrats on the Offence

Barack Obama’s campaign strategy, so far, has been to compare John McCain to George Bush. This has been the go-to tactic since the primary process began to wind down. It does nothing to contrast and compare policy – the charge that one man is so like another, when evidence strongly suggests otherwise, is fairly transparent. Playing off the fears of the base, many of whom have been in therapy for the past 8 years, is the biggest card that the DNC has to play – one has to ask, if it did not work in 2004, then how can they expect it to work in 2008? There are a finite number of elitists who are airing concerns to their steadfast followers on the standard issues that the DNC holds: abortion, Republicans who go to church and war – adding lack of experience into the mix when it appears that the general public isn’t engaged, is fine on both a state and national level. Obama, and Democrats in general, were supposed to have run away with the 2008 election, yet polls appear to indicate otherwise. The problem stems from a disconnect between the general public and those who feel entitled to hold office – the tantrums of children who have lost a turn – so to speak – to rule the playground. What’s a politician to do? Dispatch lawyers and journalists to Wasilla Alaska and go after every single shred of what might be a scandal or a negative against an increasing popular Republican Vice Presidential nominee.

The latest test appears to be Palin’s religion – her affiliation six years ago with an Assembly of God church – complete with You-Tube videos and in-depth analysis by CNN – all warning of extreme faith in God – or “Christian”, a cry that appears fine when referring to Obama (lest someone refer to him as a Muslim), but worrisome when it applies to someone with conservative values. The danger – abortion may be at risk, or worse, someone with faith may pray when faced with a serious decision.

On abortion, the issue has not given Democrats the traction they need to win over Independents; apparently all that is left is a candidates Religion as well as comparisons and ties to the current Bush administration. What is truly important to those caught in middle America – security, the economy, the dismal state of public education – are barely discussed – there is no contrast to be had simply because nothing has been done in Washington over the past two years – and Republicans and Democrats alike spent like there was no end is sight – making it difficult to tell the difference. The exception has been those committed either right or left – the right calling for reform, the left calling for investigations of the Bush administration. It is Us vs. Them -and although they should realize that the general public is tired of this tune, they just can’t seem to help themselves.

Now, in a heated campaign, the left is left holding the bag – so to speak. They must attack – but lacking any real substance, they turn to the old standbys – even when the players are on the same team. A group called Dems For Kerry, in defense of Senator John Kerry and his campaign for Senate (Kerry is facing his first challenger from inside the party.) is going YouTube. As Ed O’Reilly, Democrat challenger appears to be more serious than first thought and with a primary less than one week away, a video charging that O’Reilly is best friends with Jeff Beatty, Republican challenger is up on YouTube. The fact that O’Reilly and Beatty are both pleasant and reasonable men is used in this ridiculous video as an “attack”.



Actual campaign ads for Kerry (all two of them), are downright boring – one rehashes his ties to Veterans and the other his ties to Al Gore. They may do well in certain areas within Massachusetts, but one has to factor that the majority of voters are Independents or Unenrolled – (not unlike the entire country) or the wild card in the state and national races. People in general want to hear about the issues, not about what church someone belongs to, or if they actually are pleasant when speaking to someone with opposing political views. Should the trend continue Obama and Kerry may find themselves in similar situations as Matthews and Oberman - allowed to play to a point, but left out of the main event.