October 9, 2008

Mindgames

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MINDGAMES….John McCain and Sarah Palin (with the help of the entire cast of characters at Fox News and NRO) have been trying over the past few days to talk up Barack Obama’s ties to former 60s radical Bill Ayers. But McCain didn’t bring it up directly in Tuesday’s debate, and apparently the Obama campaign has now decided to start taunting him over it. Today’s taunts:

Barack Obama: “Well I am surprised that — you know, we’ve been seeing some pretty over the top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days — that he wasn’t willing to say it to my face.”

Tom Vilsack: “If John McCain were so concerned about things like Mr. Ayers, why didn’t he just simply turn to Barack Obama and directly confront him?”

Joe Biden: “In my neighborhood, when you’ve got something to say to a guy, you look him in the eye and you say it to him.”

I guess the Obama folks figure there are three things that could happen. First, McCain does nothing and ends up looking like a coward. Second, their taunts get under McCain’s skin so badly that he goes over the edge and does something really stupid. Third, McCain takes the bait and decides to bring up Ayers at the next debate.

The first two possibilities are obviously good for Obama. And the third? I guess they must be really sure they have a dynamite response ready in case McCain decides to unload next Wednesday. Either that or they’re trying to fake McCain into thinking they have a dynamite response, thus scaring him into not bringing it up. Or else, by being so obvious about it, they’re actually trying to sell McCain on the fakeout theory — and then when he falls into the trap and brings up Ayers, they’re going to crush him. Or….um…..you get the idea. Basically, they’re just playing mindgames with the old guy. I wonder if it’ll work?

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WE'LL BE BLUNT

It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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Readers also told us to just give it to you straight when we need to ask for your support, and seeing how matter-of-factly explaining our inner workings, our challenges and finances, can bring more of you in has been a real silver lining. So our online membership lead, Brian, lays it all out for you in his personal, insider account (that literally puts his skin in the game!) of how urgent things are right now.

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