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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Saying it don’t make it so Howard. BTW, would it hurt to acknowledge that Kerry himself did the real damage, both with his despicable post-war comments and his lame attempt to explain it away lo those many years later.
Howard, you appear to need a vacation.
Your post is delusional. Obama has sunk in the polls since the Corsi book came out. You can debate whether this is coincidence, but only an ideologue would rule out the possibility.
You can also continue to try to convince yourself that the Corsi book is a dirty trick by the Republican Party. If you would actually read it, you’d find out that Corsi is no Republican, has long been critical of George Bush, and has no intention of voting for John McCain. The GOP had nothing to do with Corsi’s book. If you cannot accept that, you are too paranoid for your own good and like I said, need a vacation.
Great I am happy you are expressing your opinions… i agree with you…
the reason obama is doing bad recently in the polls could be because he is not attacking McCain- instead he is talking about himself - and McCain is attacking him
isadore -
Project much? You seem unhinged and dire need of rest.
Six seconds of research proves the links between the GOP and Corsi:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2008/08/18/mary-matalin-jerome-corsi-and-the-gop-political-hit-job-disguised-as-a-book.html
Corsi is a racist conspiracy nut who the GOP, with some exceptions, has embraced.
Isadore, take the first 11 words of your post and replace ‘Howard’ with ‘Isadore’. By the way, his name is ‘wolfie’.