August 04, 2008
Obama: "He doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills."
That's what Obama said, when he played the race card this past week.
OBAMA: So nobody really thinks that Bush or McCain have a real answer for the challenges we face, so what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, "Oh, he's not patriotic enough. He's got a funny name."
(LAUGHTER)
You know, "He doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills."
Realizing that playing the race card hadn't worked, Obama sent his surrogates out to the Sunday morning news shows, to peddle the line that the candidate never said or implied that McCain is a racist; that Obama never said or implied that race is an issue in the campaign; and that when he said, "He doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills," he meant that he wasn't old.
Or dead.
Or an ex-president.
Or a secretary of the Treasury.
Or something.
Which is, of course, hogwash, because the only defining characteristic the man mentioned was how he looked different from the men on the dollar bills (missing the point that there's only one man on the dollar bill, and neither guy in the race looks much like him, what with the wooden teeth and wig, doncha' know).
And now, in the aftermath of Obama's International Magical Mystery Tour and Racial Pity Party, what do we have?
John McCain ahead in the polls.
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows the race for the White House is tied with Barack Obama and John McCain each attracting 44% of the vote. However, when "leaners" are included, it’s McCain 47% and Obama 46%.
This is the first time McCain has enjoyed even a statistically insignificant advantage of any sort since Obama clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3
A week ago today, Obama had a three-percentage point lead and the candidates were even among unaffiliated voters. Today, McCain leads 52% to 37% among unaffiliateds.
McCain is currently viewed favorably by 55% of the nation’s voters, Obama by 51%. That is the lowest rating for Obama since he wrapped up the nomination. Obama is viewed favorably by 83% of Democrats, 22% of Republicans, and 47% of unaffiliated voters. For McCain, the numbers are 87% favorable among Republicans, 26% among Democrats, and 61% among unaffiliated voters.
Sixty-nine percent (69%) of voters have seen or heard news coverage of McCain’s ad including Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Just 22% believe the ad was racist. But, most say Obama’s comment about not looking like other Presidents on the dollar bill was racist.
I suspect the more the electorate gets to know Obama, the more we'll see McCain's numbers climb, notwithstanding his lackluster campaign and failure to excite conservatives; when it comes right down to it, voters aren't willing to gamble on a candidate more interested in currying favor with international elites ("I am a citizen of the world!" -- B. Obama, Berlin, July 2008) than putting the interests and security of Americans ahead of all others.
Don't get me wrong; McCain still confounds and infuriates. I won't be voting for anyone this year. But I'll certainly be voting against.
Posted by Mike Lief at August 4, 2008 01:48 AM
| TrackBack
Comments
Barack makes me feel that there is hope in my future. I'm tired of old white men and what they've done making war and ruining the environment.
Posted by: Beth at August 4, 2008 09:55 PM