Is this a CNN reporter lecturing a McCain supporter with OBama talking points?

Huh?

Now they are after McCain's wife

So let me get these rules straight. Michelle Obama tells the audience at a POLITICAL RALLY that this was the first time she was proud to be American. Barack Obama and the media blasted anyone who criticized her and called this out of bounds. I will not even begin to get into the logic of crying foul when a political spouse decides to make political speeches and says something stupid. What was more interesting was the reaction of Mr. Obama and his severe indignation. Obama was very adamant that spouses were out of bounds.

Now, the New York Times has published a hit piece in Cindy McCain. Let's ignore for a moment how sick the mindset is that would create that kind of article. Remember, this is the same NY Times that created an affair scandal about McCain from whole cloth. Below was the NY Times in June helping remake Michelle Obama after she said she spent her life "not proud to be American".

Then came some rhetorical stumbles. In Madison, Wis., in February, she told voters that hope was sweeping America, adding, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country.” Cable news programs replayed those 15 words in an endless loop of outrage.

Barack Obama often blurs identity lines; much of his candidacy has seemed almost post-racial. Mrs. Obama’s identity is less mutable. She is a descendant of slaves and a product of Chicago’s historically black South Side. She burns hot where he banks cool, and that too can make her an inviting proxy for attack.

The tone here is that these attacks are unfair and she is just misunderstood. Shortly after this article, they tipped their hand when the wrote a puff piece on Michelle Obama. Just read this passage below. Michelle Obama is "too authentic" while Cindy McCain is "too fake".

The amount of scrutiny the two spouses face is not commensurate — Mrs. Obama has endured far more virulent attacks by her critics — but it is somehow symmetrical. Mrs. Obama went on a popular television talk show to combat the notion that she is a little too authentic to be a first lady, while Mrs. McCain did it to undercut the image that she is too fake.

So now they create a hit piece about Cindy McCain. They can write about Cindy McCain's drug use but they can't seem to lift a finger to investigate Obama's. We have said this before at this site that the media has been absolutely incompetent this election cycle. They will go through Joe the Plumbers trash but they won't investigate the public record of Obama. And McCain is fighting back:

The campaign's outrage comes on the heels of a letter Cindy McCain's attorney, John Dowd, wrote earlier this month to New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller accusing him of biased coverage for not pursuing more information about Obama's personal life.

"It is worth noting that you have not employed your investigative assets looking into Michelle Obama," Dowd wrote in the letter, which the campaign has made public now in response to the latest report by the Times.

"You have not tried to find Barack Obama's drug dealer that he wrote about in his book, 'Dreams of My Father,'" he continued. "Nor have you interviewed his poor relatives in Kenya and determined why Barack Obama has not rescued them. Thus there is a terrific lack of balance here."

The McCain camp provided the letter to FOX News on Saturday, the same day the piece was published. In addition to the missive, the McCain released a scathing critique of the story, calling it "gutter journalism at its worst -- an unprecedented attack on a presidential candidate's spouse."

Here is hoping that John McCain keeps fighting back. This election cycle has been unfathomably unfair. First to Hillary Clinton and now to McCain. American's as a whole believe in fairness. I hope Obama pays a terrible price for his quiet approval of this continued trash.

The "kill him" comment didn't happen.

All we have heard from the mainstream media is that during a McCain rally in Pennsylvania, rabid crowds yelled 'kill him' during a rally. Now, according to the Secret Service, it apparently never happened. From timesleader.com:

The agent in charge of the Secret Service field office in Scranton said allegations that someone yelled “kill him” when presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s name was mentioned during Tuesday’s Sarah Palin rally are unfounded.



The Scranton Times-Tribune first reported the alleged incident on its Web site Tuesday and then again in its print edition Wednesday. The first story, written by reporter David Singleton, appeared with allegations that while congressional candidate Chris Hackett was addressing the crowd and mentioned Obama’s name a man in the audience shouted “kill him."

So get this, a story is created by a reporter. It is then repeated ad nauseum all over the media. And it is all a lie.

Agent Bill Slavoski said he was in the audience, along with an undisclosed number of additional secret service agents and other law enforcement officers and not one heard the comment.

“I was baffled,” he said after reading the report in Wednesday’s Times-Tribune.

He said the agency conducted an investigation Wednesday, after seeing the story, and could not find one person to corroborate the allegation other than Singleton.

Slavoski said more than 20 non-security agents were interviewed Wednesday, from news media to ordinary citizens in attendance at the rally for the Republican vice presidential candidate held at the Riverfront Sports Complex. He said Singleton was the only one to say he heard someone yell “kill him.”

“We have yet to find someone to back up the story,” Slavoski said. “We had people all over and we have yet to find anyone who said they heard it.”

Hackett said he did not hear the remark.

It is amazing that these stories keep coming up, repeated by the meadia and they aren't true. But the media WILL NOT report real examples that have videos and audio with many witnesses when they are issued by the Obama campaign and their surrogates.

Read the entire article here.

Joe the Plumber and Mark the Trucker

From the Corner on National Review Online:

Joe the Plumber and Mark the Trucker [Kathryn Jean Lopez]


From a proud American wife who gets it because she lives it:

Hello Kathryn,


I always like to read what you write, particularly when you stand for life. Good take on Joe. I am married to Mark the Trucker. He owns a small transportation business (approx 15 employees). He started with one truck in 1978. I'm pretty proud of him. He was also my high school sweetheart and still a hunk.


Anyway, the point I want to make is that small businesses are usually S-Corps or LLCs, and that means what they cannot deduct as business expenses is taxed as personal income. That puts most small business in a higher tax bracket than the one they would qualify for if only their real earnings were taxed. Also, this predicament disqualifies their children from receiving financial aid for college—we are "wealthy" by FAFSA standards.


In the transport industry an owner has to keep sinking-fund, so to speak. Engines blow up, accidents happen, and the price of replacing an 18 wheel tractor or a specialty trailer is very expensive. My husband is taxed a higher rate on income that is really not income. He puts a large percentage of it back into his business, as I know most entrepreneurs do. We live on a modest percentage of what appears "wealth" to Senator Obama.


My husband's employees understand that. They see how we live and they respect their boss because he pays a fair wage and does provide health care and contribute to their 401ks. He's not a Fat Cat or Robber Baron.


They recognize every time they pass through the toll booth and the EZ Pass registers that their boss is being taxed. They see more taxes when they fuel his rigs. They know that Interstate permits are more taxes. He pays Unemployment and Workman's Comp, as well as half of their Social Security taxes. They recognize this.


And Kathryn they all vote Republican.


My gut feeling is that Joe works for a man like my husband, and wants to buy the business. Joe is like my husband and his employees. They work hard and dream bigger. There are a lot of Joes and Marks out here and they all don't own businesses yet, but they dream. They know less government is best government. I sent that Joe clip to my husband as soon as it became available on Youtube. He has passed it around. Thanks for reading this far.


10/16 10:18 AM

Scorecard for the debate.

Since Drudge reported that the Obama campaign has issued their talking points to the press in advance of the debate today, you can keep score to see if the press follows the script. From Drudgereport.com:

-------- Original Message --------
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:37:27 -0500
From: Sean Smith [s***mith@barackobama.com]
To: Sean Smith [s***mith@barackobama.com]

* This is John McCain's last chance to turn this race around and somehow convince the American people that his erratic response to this economic crisis doesn't disqualify him from being President.

* Just this weekend the weekend, John McCain vowed to "whip Obama's you-know-what" at the debate, and he's indicated that he'll be bringing up Bill Ayers to try to distract voters.

* So we know that Senator McCain will come ready to attack Barack Obama and bring his dishonorable campaign tactics to the debate stage.

Obama continues to lead on the economic crisis with a rescue plan for Main Street.

* Over the course of the campaign, Barack Obama has laid out a set of policies that will grow our middle class and strengthen our economy.

* But he knows we face an immediate economic emergency that requires urgent action - on top of the plans he's already laid out - to help workers and families and communities struggling right now.

* That's why Barack Obama is introducing a comprehensive four-part Rescue Plan for the Middle Class - to immediately to stabilize our financial system, provide relief to families and communities, and help struggling homeowners.

* This is a plan that can and should be implemented immediately.

* Obama has shown steady leadership during this crisis and offered concrete solutions to move the country forward - and his Rescue Plan for the Middle Class builds on the plans to strengthen the economy and rebuild the middle class that he's laid out over the course of this campaign.

* Already in this campaign, he's unveiled plans to give 95 percent of workers and their families a tax cut, eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000, bring down the cost of health care for families and businesses; and create millions of new jobs by investing in the renewable energy sources.

* John McCain has been erratic and unsteady since this crisis began - staggering from position to position and trying to change the subject away from the economy by launching false character attacks.

END

The Great Obama Coverup

I continue to be amazed at the level of active campaigning being done by the mainstream media in this presidential election. Time and time again, both candidates don't seem to get the same treatment and yet it is accepted by everyone as status quo. Yesterday, a McCain supporter expressed he outrage. This is happening because regular people are frustrated that this has degenerated to something far less than a fair fight. And mark my words, someone (likely the print media first is going to pay and pay big).

Need examples? McCain is tagged with the economic problems despite attempting to reform the system that caused them. Obama accepted major campaign contributions directly from the corrupt institutions second only to Chris Dodd. No questions asked of Obama by the media. The story? McCain is erratic because he went back to DC and tried to do something (he should have known that is much easier to be "present").

Obama's campaign war chest has been feathered by massive donation fraud. Basic checks have not been made to verify donors. This includes gibberish typed from a computer keyboard and numerous Dallas Cowboys without valid addresses. Any questions of Obama? No. But there have been plenty of questions about McCain having someone who was once a lobbyist in his campaign.

Obama is clearly a byproduct of a "go along get along" corrupt Chicago political establishment. As a matter of fact, his defense to his connections with Weather Underground Terrorist William Ayers (as told to Michael Smerconish yesterday on 1210 in Philadelphia) was that he was just a guy who was part of the political establishment that he worked with in Chicago. He made a long term habit of voting "present" in the legislature. He has stood for and continues to stand for nothing. But he is a transformational candidate. And no one asks questions about it.

During Obama's time in Chicago he touts being a "community organizer". Funny thing is that an organization he trained, ACORN (Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now) is right this minute under investigation in 11 states for voter fraud. Has anyone asked Obama about this? Nope. The story? Republicans are trying to suppress turnout.

Joe Biden sounded really good in his debate last week. The trouble is, virtually every single thing he said was not just shading of the truth, but an outright lie. And the story? Sarah Palin winked.

Barack Obama in this week's debate couldn't wait to highlight his man of the people meme about how he would cut taxes to 95% of the people in the United States(paid for by the 5% who will see a tax increase). Trouble is, 40% of the people in the United States do not pay taxes at all due to the Bush Tax Cuts. So in reality, Obama just announced a massive welfare payment payed for by the small business establishment stupid enough to be in his top 5%. Any questions by the media? Nope. The story? McCain is taxing healthcare (a convenient lie by Obama who leaves out that McCain has proposed a credit that would more than offset any tax on the premium).

And then the whoppers. I cannot even count the disgusting and nasty rhetoric that come from direct Obama spokespeople, supporters and media people in regard to McCain and Palin. McCaskill, Reid, Axelrod and hollywood celebrities all spewing negative bile ("I hate McCain" Harry Reid, "McCain injecting race into this election" Axelrod, "That is one crazy b*tch" Betty White). And NOT ONE time does Obama tell his own people to tone it down. As a matter of fact, you can probably collect dozens of these kinds of insults each week for the past two years. And does the media report on that? No. They report that someone referred to Barack Obama by his middle name, Hussein. And Obama then goes on the radio and says McCain should tone it down.

If Obama gets elected and a flood of bad news comes down the pike that should have been reported beforehand, it may be time for a real revolution against the mainstream media. While I would be extremely sad to see an institution like General Motors go out of business, I would not blink an eye if the New York Times ceased to exist.

Too Tired of Obama's Weakness being Hillary's Fault

In the election cycle, the Democrats kept attributing Barack Obama's failure to secure the deal on Hillary's cynical attacks on him. I am not nor have I ever been a Hillary fan outside of general respect for her and Bill's Presidency which I respect as I respect any President of the USA. But the creepy thing is that somehow, she gets brought up as a problem for Obama and his failure to get beyond black voters, elitists and the general uninformed. What cracks me up is that Obama is getting beat up by normal folks that don't seem to get his 'holier than thou' rhetoric.

John McCain had a good week. While Obama was on vacation, McCain (who I am still not sure I could ever vote for) acted presidential. And Obama tried to play politics and have it both ways. It is a shame we can't have Lincoln/Douglas style debates between these two. The Obama camp won't have it until it is too late. And McCain wants it until Obama tanks. Either way, the one on top doesn't want to take a chance. If Obama wants real change, he should debate everywhere. Debate in the street, the hills, the mountain top and the workplace. But he won't. Because I suspect he is more formidible as a myth than as a real person. Shame.

Obama can dish it out but can't take it.

Yesterday the New Yorker published an astonishingly stupid cover depicting Obama as Osama and his wife as a jihadi with an afro topped off with a flag burning in the fireplace. The New Yorker claimed that it is was really trying to support Obama by lampooning the stereotypes that many hold in regard to the Democrat nominee-in-waiting. Their apology is that their visual hit job on Obama was really a hit job on anyone against Obama (read McCain supporters even though most of these canards were planted by Democrats from Hillary's campaign). As is often the case when ultra-liberals attempt to be funny, they overreach.



But the real joke here is the complete lack of any sense of humor by Obama. Everything seems to offend him and his supporters. Late night comics are not allowed to make jokes about him or else their audiences gasp in fear of offending any Obamacolyte (devoted Obama worhsipper) attending the show. So while Obama comments that McCain is confused(read OLD), George Bush lied about the war(read WAR CRIMINAL), General Petreous as misguided and wrong(read GEORGE BUSH TOADY WHO LIES TOO BECAUSE THE SURGE REALLY FAILED) and conservatives are clinging to their God and guns(I really don't know what his point was there), apparently it is not fair game to fight back.



Obama constantly rails about any attack directed at him as 'just that old kind of politics as usual' or 'I am for change, change from these kinds of political attacks'. Candidate Obama continues to cloak himself in linguistic teflon with the ready and willing media and Hollywood crowd covering his back. But sooner or later, he is going to be exposed for the what he really is deep down. And here's hoping that he isn't the stiff we have seen so far.



I once said that I thought he passed the beer test. From the way he has been acting, I was wrong. Lighten up Senator.

A Society of Whiners!

Former Senator Phil Gramm sparked a major controversy this past week by saying that we have become a nation of whiners. Now, of course from a political standpoint, this was a completely stupid thing to say. McCain did the expected two-step backwards and threw Gramm under the bus. Obama responded with his typical snide and condescending "we don't need another Dr Phil" comment that sounded less funny every time it has been played. But the real question is whether or not Gramm is right.

The Media

The media outlets in this country live to whine. The New York Times front page is less often filled with real news than it is with whiny pseudo-news opinion pieces. For example, with all of the constant drumbeat over warrant less wiretapping for terrorism, no one has yet to find a single person to come forward to declare that they were unfairly targeted. It's like listening to my children complain because one or the other is "looking at me". In addition, the television media has created so many cable shows that propagate constant bleating like a sheep on steroids. Need proof? Watch Keith Olbermann just once.

The Political Class

All whiners. There are no statesmen left in politics. What remains is a pack of political hacks bought and paid for by union and industry money. The only ones who go against the grain are the outright kooks (see Kucinich and Paul) who are so marginalized that they will never advance politically. Too many of the elected class serve to feed the media whining about the topic of the day. Chuck Schumer of New York has made a career of the Sunday Morning Whine. You see, it is much easier to get in front of a camera and blame someone else that it is to do something about it. Need proof? Every knows that the oil situation is a problem. Democrats refuse to act as they refused to act 10 years ago. So now, they will go home for the summer having done nothing. But you will find them in front of the camera every day moaning about gas prices.

New Jersey's leaders

I used a small 'l' because I really don't consider there to be a single leading figure in the state's political classes. There is far too many political positions in the state and the bureaucracy is downright silly. The entire state is completely unhappy and the leaders don't care. Why? Because between state workers unions and paying off inner city poor, they remain in power. They whine about worker benefits, rebates for people who don't pay taxes, free health care, national politics, global warming and drilling offshore. But they never whine about the leadership in Trenton that is driving families and business out of the state at a rate unheard of anywhere but Michigan.

Bloggers

Of course bloggers whine. We exist because we feel that we have little of no influence on the political process as taxpayers and voters. If you are of the working class in this society, you have no say. Why? There is no lobbyist organization advocating for you. So we blog. It is the one opportunity to have your voice heard beyond your circle of friend (where you really don't want to advocate anyway). Thank God we are in this country where blogging is robust and our freedom of speech is protected. Been to any good Chinese blogs lately?

Me

Hellooooo? This post is one big WHINE!

McCain and Obama-'nuff said!