Do smears and character attacks work?

tbone · 10-05-2008, 05:14 PM

Palin defends terrorist comment against Obama
By JIM KUHNHENN – 56 minutes ago

BURLINGAME, Calif. (AP) — Sarah Palin defended her claim that Barack Obama "pals around with terrorists," saying the Democratic presidential nominee's association with a 1960s radical is an issue that is "fair to talk about."

Obama has denounced the radical views and actions of Bill Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground group during the Vietnam era. On Sunday, He dismissed the criticism from the McCain campaign, leveled by Palin, as "smears" meant to distract voters from real problems such as the troubled economy.

Palin, the Republican vice presidential candidate, launched the attack Saturday, repeating it at three different events and signaling a new strategy by John McCain's presidential campaign to go after Obama's character.

The Associated Press: Palin defends terrorist comment against Obama

Do smears work in campaigns or general turn off voters?

Scrum · 10-05-2008, 05:35 PM

It's all they have left.

HughRuss · 10-05-2008, 07:35 PM

Studies have shown that negative imagery is more likely to stick with voters than that of positive imagery --regardless of factuality.

Photon1001 · 10-05-2008, 07:40 PM

If Obama is a terrorist, then Sarah Palin is a demon.

motivez · 10-05-2008, 08:42 PM

I think it does when the candidate hasn't had a chance to establish themselves in the minds of voters

I don't think that's the case with Obama, and I expect this to look very pathetic and desperate on the part of the McCain campaign, especially since Obama has already pre-empted this with an ad that is running in the battleground states ( I saw it air earlier here ) saying essentially "No wonder they want to change the subject" after going after their policies..

Schrödinger's Cat · 10-05-2008, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

If Obama is a terrorist, then Sarah Palin is a demon.

Can't be, she was blessed by that witch hunter.

Photon1001 · 10-05-2008, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by Schrödinger's Cat

Can't be, she was blessed by that witch hunter.

You're assuming that that Sarah Palin, John McCain and their crazy kook witch doctors are working for God. the Bible clearly says the devil knows the scriptures as does the Lord.

HughRuss · 10-05-2008, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

You're assuming that that Sarah Palin, John McCain and their crazy kook witch doctors are working for God. the Bible clearly says the devil knows the scriptures as does the Lord.

Does it?

Heres Johnny · 10-05-2008, 11:41 PM

I hope Obama sticks to his plan and doesn't decide to slum it with smears. I know both side have already flung a little, but he seems a little more dignified than that. If someone wins by being a slimeball or a fear monger, then there's something wrong with the entire system.

Scrum · 10-05-2008, 11:46 PM

It's really easy to see why they are going so dirty.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/...wont-work.html

Remember all that garbage in the beginning about McCain running a civil campaign? Numbers change everything. They are in kitchen sink mode.

Heres Johnny · 10-05-2008, 11:50 PM

When's the last time an American President won without resorting to this?. Sure would be nice to see again.

HughRuss · 10-05-2008, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by Scrum

It's really easy to see why they are going so dirty.

Remember all that garbage in the beginning about McCain running a civil campaign? Numbers change everything. They are in kitchen sink mode.

Impressive

Photon1001 · 10-05-2008, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by HughRuss

Does it?

you betcha.

Matthew 4:

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'[a]"

5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[b]"

7Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[c]"

8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

10Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'[d]"

11Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

More on the Devil:

http://www.scripturesforamerica.org/PDF/devilsatan.pdf

HughRuss · 10-05-2008, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

you betcha.

Matthew 4:

More on the Devil:

http://www.scripturesforamerica.org/PDF/devilsatan.pdf

*nod*
Jesus is a better Talmud scholar than Satan. Who would have guessed?

Schrödinger's Cat · 10-06-2008, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

You're assuming that that Sarah Palin, John McCain and their crazy kook witch doctors are working for God. the Bible clearly says the devil knows the scriptures as does the Lord.

Are you saying they are working for the Devil? That's a stretch.
God or Devil, neither exist.

Photon1001 · 10-06-2008, 03:00 AM

^shhh, don't tell ppl that.. they might have to actually think for themselves...

Swift · 10-06-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Heres Johnny

I hope Obama sticks to his plan and doesn't decide to slum it with smears. I know both side have already flung a little, but he seems a little more dignified than that. If someone wins by being a slimeball or a fear monger, then there's something wrong with the entire system.

So what would you call commercials that say "MCain can't use email and doesn't know how to use a computer"? The reason he can't is because of his injuries in teh war but the commercial doesn't mention that part. Just that McCain hasn't changed in the time he's been in the senate.

Biden Says Ad Mocking McCain Was 'Terrible' - FOXNews.com Elections

I'd say that's a smear and a half.

Even Biden thought it was a low blow.

Scrum · 10-06-2008, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Swift-Bass

So what would you call commercials that say "MCain can't use email and doesn't know how to use a computer"? The reason he can't is because of his injuries in teh war but the commercial doesn't mention that part. Just that McCain hasn't changed in the time he's been in the senate.

Biden Says Ad Mocking McCain Was 'Terrible' - FOXNews.com Elections

I'd say that's a smear and a half.

Even Biden thought it was a low blow.

We've been over this before.

Plenty of people with physical disabilities are able to use computers. He doesn't know how to use a computer because he hasn't bothered to learn.

Stephen fucking Hawking can use a computer.

Swift · 10-06-2008, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Scrum

We've been over this before.

Plenty of people with physical disabilities are able to use computers. He doesn't know how to use a computer because he hasn't bothered to learn.

Stephen fucking Hawking can use a computer.

Right, with very specialized equipment if I'm not mistaken. Should he use taxpayer money to get that all kins of speical equipment just to use a computer or have his staff, that already gets paid, take care of it?

DosEquis · 10-06-2008, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by Swift-Bass

Right, with very specialized equipment if I'm not mistaken. Should he use taxpayer money to get that all kins of speical equipment just to use a computer or have his staff, that already gets paid, take care of it?

I have 4 computers, 3 of which i don't really use. I'd be glad to give him one. Its not "all kinds of money". Besides with the trillion we just spent on bail outs, we could make it 1,000,000,001,000 and get a computer put in there for John McCain.

Or he can take one of his 13 cars to a best buy nearest to one of his seven houses and pick one up.