The Note: McCain Plays Attack Card as Race Turns Messy
EmailABC News’ Rick Klein Reports in Friday’s Note: Maybe the Straight Talk Express needed to break down to get ready for this highway.
We can debate who played which card to what end, but Team McCain has placed its hand on the table — a big gamble that puts his political nest egg on the line.
Yet this debate makes Sen. Barack Obama put some chips on the table too. Sen. John McCain’s team is not executing perfectly, but it has managed to dominate the discussion for a sustained period of time — possibly for the first time in the general election.
(And how much is it helped by a Congress that’s leaving town without an energy bill — and with Obama lacking a pat answer on the subject.)
Yes, the race has devolved into a he-started-it playground fight that diminishes both candidates. Yes, the McCain brand shrinks when he makes the campaign about Obama.
But consider: Isn’t it the case that the more conventional this campaign is, the better it is for the conventional(-looking/sounding/acting) candidate? (That split among registered and likely voters answers the question: If this is just any other race — not to mention a race about race — might it be noisy enough to make young voters want to cover their ears?)
Read the rest of The Note — and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day — from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.
"The tactic could cut both ways: it might tap into the qualms some white, working-class voters in crucial swing states may have about a black candidate, or it could ricochet back against the McCain campaign, which has been accused even by some fellow Republicans of engaging in overly negative campaigning in recent days," Michael Cooper and Michael Powell report in The New York Times.
And forget the race card: Top McCain aide Steve Schmidt plays the Clinton card. "We have waited for months with a sick feeling knowing this moment would come because we watched it incur with President Clinton. Say whatever you want about President Clinton, his record on this issue is above reproach," Schmidt tells the Times.
Howard Wolfson chooses to play — and chooses his words carefully: "The McCain campaign has obviously been watching our primary very closely and recognized how damaging it had been to be tagged with the charge of race baiting," says the former Clinton campaign communications director.
At least one prominent Democrat plays the McCain card in response: "What they did to McCain in 2000 is what McCain’s trying to do to Barack Obama in 2008," Dick Harpootlian, a former South Carolina Democratic chairman, tells the Los Angeles Times’ Mark Z. Barabak and Nicholas Riccardi.
Who wins if there’s a replay of the Democratic primary race? "The exchange was reminiscent of several flare-ups over race during the Democratic primaries, when the Obama campaign complained about comments made by Bill Clinton in support of the candidacy of his wife," Jonathan Weisman and Juliet Eilperin write in The Washington Post.
Continue reading today’s Note by clicking HERE.
ABC News’ John Santucci and Alexa Ainsworth contributed to this report.
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012 
Romney Makes His Case to Conservatives at CPAC
McSame is going in the wrong direction, the Panamian child has to remember his promise to conduct a respectable political campaign. Now he has become a fearmonger and playng race card to create confusion as he is the confused himself. McSame has to understand as Commander-in Chief of the Panamian Army that negative campaign will back fire. He should know by now that America cannot afford another four years of failed WBush-Cheney policies. America, please sent McSame back to the Panama canal where he came from centuries ago. God save America from McSame. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | August 1, 2008, 8:40 am 8:40 am
Obama has been playing the race card since he lost NH against Clinton. His explanation is beyond belief.
We all know what he meant by not looking like the President on the dollar bill. Now he is lying about that.
Posted by: geevill | August 1, 2008, 8:45 am 8:45 am
“McNasty” and the empire strikes back for all to see. Once again a canidate tries in vain desperately to give us something to fear and vote against, rather than offer something to vote for. This is a sure fire way to lose an election. Which may be what the Republicans had in mind all along. How can you shame the shameless? You can’t beat Obama echoing the polices and behavior of the last eight years!!! And our whole country will have to suffer because of the fact that the Republicans have become so corrupt that they can’t even have a canidate that represents Republican values and must turn to a liberal war hawk to be there standard bearer. Question: Just how does the GOP expect to win with Bush policies and tactics when he has a 16% approval rating? The GOP is in just as much denial as Hilliary was when Bill was in Arkansas and the oval office. I’m embarrased for the GOP and sad that they are throwing this election for four years of Obama. Remember this during the next four years: The fault lies with them, and them alone. They cowered and ran when it was time to take a stand. And they have left us with Obama. Please do not forget who was responsible.
Posted by: ick! | August 1, 2008, 8:48 am 8:48 am
The magnet of the low road candidate McCain draws against the resistance of the high road candidate Obama. McCain’s “Straight Talk Express” bus is out of gas regarding substance so they, like Bush/Rove did with Kerry, go after the strengths of the opposition. So now the race card is on the table in a classic Roveian style, graphically connecting a Black man with two White blonds conveying an image which feeds the racist feelings of many White people. This is the lowest of the low; McCain and his minions of Atwater/Rove decedents need to be put in their rightful place, out of the face of the American people by folding camp which I know they are to dishonorable to do.
Posted by: Lou R | August 1, 2008, 8:51 am 8:51 am
If you make an argument for/against race with Obama, you’ll only be right half the time.
Posted by: Deep Release | August 1, 2008, 8:51 am 8:51 am
And released today: McCain not talking to the Press on his Bus or Plane. A Wall Street Journal reporter reveals that McCain is no longer talking to the press at all on his bus or his plane…….Sounds like someone is a little cranky
——————————-
Sounds good to me, the press is so into Obama and all the HYPE his MONEY can buy! He has bought off the SD and the press is easy to fool. They have become a bunch of lazy, panting celebrity hounds!
John is smart to avoid them and leave them to make up the trash they constantly report without him saying anything.
Posted by: HP Boston | August 1, 2008, 8:54 am 8:54 am
The McCain camp is right. The Obama campaign dragged a US President and First LAdy from their own party through the mud with baseless accusations of racism to steal a nomination courtesy of the DNC. I might add the most successful Democratic President of the last half century. We are all tired of the boy who cried wolf. Bill and Hillary Clinton worked tirelessly for decades against racism. Anyone who supports them should vote against this inexperienced empty suit.
Posted by: s.b. | August 1, 2008, 9:05 am 9:05 am
“We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
We can do that.”
Remember this race card royal flush from Obama in his March race speech?
1) Accuses Clinton of playing the race card.
2) Accuses Geraldine Ferraro of being racist.
3) Accuses all white male supporters of McCain as being racist
4) Ignores all that support him “regardless of his policies”
Thank you John McCain for standing up to this race baiter.
Posted by: geevill | August 1, 2008, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Obama was the FIRST candidate to play the “race” card when he called his own grandmother a “typical” white person. Now he is trying to play the race card again in disgracing our founding fathers by saying he does not look like the Presidents on the dollar bill. Obama is an idiot and is grasping at straws on this topic because he is losing in the polls. I listened to Axelrod this morning and he is completely uninformed and blinded by Obama. Axelrod had to admit that Obama did indeed play the race card first int he primaries, but now is trying to put down John McCain’s ad about Obama trying to be a rock star? C’mon…the Obama campaign is imploding. Axelrod would not comment on the fact that McCain has invited Obama time and again for a town hall meeting by saying they couldn’t “fit it in”. Well hell, man, this is the Presidential race, you better damn sure make some time! Just as is always said, Obama is an “empty suit with no substance!”
Posted by: Lil'Barack | August 1, 2008, 9:14 am 9:14 am
McCain didn’t play the race card! OBama did! Saw it for myself so you can’t lie about it!
Posted by: M. Summer | August 1, 2008, 9:15 am 9:15 am
Obama is just itching to get the race card in there, he uses it every time he is down in the polls!
HE WANTS it to be front and center so he can play victim and underdog. He is pathetic and will never win the GE!
Posted by: HP Boston | Aug 1, 2008 8:23:44 AM
Posted by: HP Boston | Aug 1, 2008 8:39:28 AM
I totally agree….when Obama is losing in the polls, he plays the race card. Guess what, Obammy and Axelrod, its not going to work this time. You’re losing, Obama, now face it!
Posted by: Jane Hussein Obama | August 1, 2008, 9:16 am 9:16 am
I just heard that another 51,000 Americans have lost there jobs, Millions of Americans do not have health care, an obsolete energy plan, and many other important issues not talked about by McCain. It is as if McCain has realized that he cannot compare with Obama on the issues, so his only hope of winning is to start trying to define Obama as an Elitist, Risky, Unpatiotic, frivolous and dangerous. McCain vowed he would run a clean & honorable campaign and make the distinction between himself and Obama on the issues. In the last couple of weeks the ads and statements out of McCain’s camp has been distorted,twisted, dishonest, outright lies & unethical. The MSM has also some blame to share for reporting untruths without a disclaimer i.e., “We cannot vouch for the truthfullness of this Ad”. I was really hoping that the debates would be interesting and that the battle would be about issues, I know that won’t happen now.
Obama 08
Posted by: Elitist | August 1, 2008, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Obama has the anatomy of looser written all over him.
352 superdelegates and Al Gore are wrong.
PUMA 08, you bet!
Posted by: Sylvia Johnsen | August 1, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am
It’s sad to see McCain sink further and further into the gutter as it becomes apparent he’s clueless about what he actually stands for. 30 years in Congress and very little to actually show for it, other than his fluffing of the Beltway Insider Punditry.
Posted by: Florida | August 1, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am
“We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.
We can do that.”
Remember this race card royal flush from Obama in his March race speech?
1) Accuses Clinton of playing the race card.
2) Accuses Geraldine Ferraro of being racist.
3) Accuses all white male supporters of McCain as being racist
4) Ignores all that support him “regardless of his policies”
Thank you John McCain for standing up to this race baiter.
Posted by: geevill | Aug 1, 2008 9:13:33 AM
Obama has nothing else to play. He is afraid to debate McCain; he flip flops all over the place on issues; he refused to visit wounded America troops in Germany; he called his white grandmother “typical”, first time race was used and by Obama; lied about Hillary saying she was playing the race card; his wife says she hates America, but yet he defends her; Obama is a complete idiot if he actually thinks America will put him in office! Gallup yesterday showed Obama 45%, McCain 44%; you will continue to see Obama’s numbers drop as McCain’s numbers will rise. America is waking up and realizing the lies and empty rhetoric Obama stands for and America does not want Obama in the White House. Plain and simple, NoBama!
Posted by: Lil'Barack | August 1, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am
McCain’s ad speaks the truth and tells volumes about the lack of depth in the DNC presumed nominee. Each of Obama’s events is preceded by a ‘warm-up celebrity’ such as Fergie, or a top local band that will attract young and groupies. When a North Carolina event drew less than 50 people, Obama’s plane suffered a ‘mysterious break-down’ and he landed at the nearest airport, which was 100 miles west of Chicago and in the opposite direction of his NC destination. He probably has his celebrity events lined up for the next few months. I like the message in Obama’s speeches, but these are another’s words-not his- and to date – he has not performed well in debates or town hall meetings to understand the ‘little people’s concerns’ who represent the majority of the US. We need a leader, and McCain is the only candidate qualitifed to lead Day 1.
Posted by: PopOpinion | Aug 1, 2008 9:09:37 AM
Posted by: Lil'Barack | August 1, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am
My bet is on the substance and experience of John McCain who stands up for what he believes in. He does not have to continually backpedal or “refine” what he just said. This latest ad really does tell it like it is. Your spin does not work with me, and it will not work with the voters.
Posted by: georgia | Aug 1, 2008 12:52:13 AM
Posted by: Lil'Barack | August 1, 2008, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Obama camp used the race card on Hillary and Bill and got away with it – 100%. They have their fingers crossed now that they can pull it off a second time, again, with the full blessings and blind eye of the media.
Posted by: Ex-Dem | August 1, 2008, 9:30 am 9:30 am
Obama played the race card first, “typical” white person. And, in every speech, he makes reference to his “color”, whatever that is. Obama is a joke….It’s showing in the polls!
Posted by: UglyMichelle | August 1, 2008, 9:38 am 9:38 am
Polls are not a good indicator of what’s really going on in public sentiment. Most polls go through landlines. Most people I know rarely can be reached that way. Polls never worked except in Never Never Land and even then you knew you couldn’t trust the pirates and oil barons to give a honest answer. But monkey conservatism (A branch of conservatism started by a Bonobo monkey) states that if you’re fellow rival monkey goes one way, you go the other way (as an alpha male) and hope that the group will follow you. So this is what we are seeing, as Barack Obama didn’t really attack McCain’s “popularity” (LOL) but his stand on the issues, McCain decided to go the opposite. Now we have come full circle. Where is the ad of the “Mad Hatter” (the current RNC mascot)? Where are the candycanes and lemondrops? Viva La Vida!
Posted by: Tone | August 1, 2008, 9:39 am 9:39 am
@ Tone:
Polls matter to you Obamabots when he is winning. But, when Obammy is losing as he is now, they don’t matter. You are definitely a “typical” Obamabot. BTW, Obama has yet to accept a debate with President John McCain, why, because Obammy can’t debate…he lost every debate in the primaries with Hillary…..even Axelrod avoided the question this morning as to why Obammy won’t debate….Axelrod’s response, “we just can’t seem to fit it in the schedule”. Antother way of saying that Obama will lose if he debates McCain. Obama=empty suit, no substance!
Posted by: Lil'Barack | August 1, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am
Tone, you are completely wrong. McCain has stuck to the issues repeatedly. Your boy, Obama, who thinks he’s a “rock star” continues to flip-flop at every turn. The dominoes are falling in the Obama camp and now they are crying like little babies!
McCain 08!
Posted by: Will | August 1, 2008, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Obama camp says McCain tactics worse than Rove’s
————
Does Zero-bama think his from bottom of the deck tactic to derail HRC and Joe Biden is any better than Rove’s?
At least Rove did it from the top of the deck, in the open, and told you so.
Posted by: fact check | August 1, 2008, 10:09 am 10:09 am
You should not even consider 0bama a legitimate presidential material because he has been against the use of nuclear energy and the development of a clean, and only essentially unlimited energy source on this planet.
What is his solution to the oil-dependence in the US? Inflate your tires!
Can he be serious??!!
You?
Posted by: lazy to think | August 1, 2008, 10:36 am 10:36 am
So the NoBama camp is up in arms about the McCain ad. Gues what, Axelrod: This is just the tip of the iceberg. If you can’t handle this, you won’t last when the heat is REALLY on by the GOP! As Hillary once said, Obama can’t close the deal. We are seeing that more and more each day. Obama is spending all this money, courting all these votes, trying to move to the center, to the left, to the center (sounds like a Beyonce’ song), and is still falling in the polls.
I applaud John McCain and this ad. Obama played the “race” card first by referring to white people as “typical”. Now he can’t handle the repercussions…..when the pressure is on, Obama folds….thats why America is refusing to let him become our President.
Posted by: Thomas | August 1, 2008, 10:36 am 10:36 am
Tiff, anyone who supports Obama is belittled by small minded people who feel they know best by voting McCain. They try to intimidate which doesn’t work and only shows their desperation. They especially love the kool ade remark. Seems they have nothing original to say as a comeback. For some reason they can’t get it through their heads that most of us vote on policies and we just don’t agree with McCain’s.
Posted by: erin | August 1, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am
The fact of the matter is that the GOP and the McCain campaign are trying to scare voters about Obama. So for these McCain supporters and their faux outrage about Obama playing the race card know they’re full of it.
Obama has basically predicted the GOP tactics and he was right.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 1, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am
The fact of the matter is that the GOP and the McCain campaign are trying to scare voters about Obama. So for these McCain supporters and their faux outrage about Obama playing the race card know they’re full of it.
Obama has basically predicted the GOP tactics and he was right.
Posted by: Jennifer | August 1, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Senator Obama is wrong more times than right on issues.
Senator McCain is right more times than wrong on issues.
Senator Obama says no on off-shore oil drilling yet, some oil people have said they could have some gas at the stations in three years. Also there are thousands of capped oil wells that could start producing again, now that prices are so high.
Yea, Obama If I give my car a tune-up again and put more air in the tires, I might save a nickel a week on gas. Ridicules.
Posted by: Mary | August 1, 2008, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
The GOP and McCain do not have to scare voters. Senator Obama does a fantastic job of doing that every time he opens his mouth. If you want a real scare, read about his background. His positions on the economy only seems to take from the rich to give to the less rich. A modern day Robin Hood.
Posted by: Martin | August 1, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Obama used the Race Card and then
denied using it!
Now Axelrod has admitted the Obvious!
Obama di use the Race Card!
It won’t work! Just Say No To Obama!
No You Can’t!
Posted by: reaganfan | August 1, 2008, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
The hecklers at the Obama rally was a set up. Lets have some ambitious Reporter, if you can find one thats not in the tank for Sen Obama, to check on it. Also, say what you will about Sen McCain, either he is really smart with his adds, or Sen Obama is making to many silly mistakes, or sounding silly. Example: If I put the proper air in my tires, it will be the same as the gas I would get from Drilling. Notice the Gallup Daily Poll.
Posted by: Will | August 1, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
Its sad to see such a different McCain from the guy we thought he was.
Posted by: Paul | August 1, 2008, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm
Wow, the race is tied and it’s only August? News reports of polls usually have democrats leading by double digits in the summer – right before they blow it in November.
No wonder the press everywhere is attacking McCain. Is that going negative or doesnt that count?
looks like the empty suit (can I say that or is that racist?) is going to need all the help they can give him.
Posted by: tr88 | August 2, 2008, 7:28 am 7:28 am