Swiftboats Sunk

• filed under Misc.

Although Jerome Corsi’s book “The Obama Nation” has been out for just a brief period, it is already clear that it has failed to put a real dent in Senator Obama’s candidacy.  The book may sell to hardcore conservatives, but its electoral impact will be minimal.

Corsi co-authored “Unfit for Command,” which did significant damage to Senator John Kerry’s candidacy in 2004.  Democrats feared a repeat in 08.

So what changed?

“The Obama Nation” contains no real revelation or new criticism about Senator Obama.  ”Unfit for Command” purported that Senator Kerry did not deserve his medals and was not really a war hero.  This was a big, easily understood attack which went to the very heart of Senator Kerry’s candidacy.  In contrast, “The Obama Nation” contends that Senator Obama is a liberal.  A Republican calls a Democrat a liberal?  This is news? Who cares?

The message of “Unfit for Command” was carried far and wide by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group of veterans who seemed to have special credibility when they told their stories of Kerry’s supposed duplicity and cowardice.  The only messenger of “The Obama Nation” is Corsi himself, who, well, does not exactly come across as the most sympathetic television presence.

Wealthy conservatives put real money behind an effort to air the charges in “Unfit for Command” on commercial television.  By November the swiftboat ads had a major impact on the race.  There is no corresponding effort this year — in fact, one of the major swiftboat benefactors — T. Boone Pickens — just met with Senator Obama to discuss his climate change initiative.

In 2008 the Obama war room, progressive organizations like Media Matters and the progressive blogosphere attacked Corsi’s work aggressively, pointing out the many errors in “The Obama Nation” and Corsi’s own history of inflammatory comments quickly and effectively.

The media, which all too often covered the claims of Corsi and his allies uncritically in 04, have focused instead on reporting the inaccuracy of his charges in 08.  

The Republicans and their allies will surely make other runs at Senator Obama.  But this first one can be declared D.O.A.

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NYC 3 — DC 0

• filed under Music

America’s best band, TV on the Radio, have announced a third New York City show on Oct. 16 (tickets on sale Thursday at noon).  This is great news except for those of us living in DC, who still haven’t gotten a TVOTR show scheduled south of Philadelphia.  I’ll be making the trek up to New York — but what about all those who can’t?  Isn’t it bad enough that we are taxed without representation?  Will the unfairness never cease?

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