By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
The economy is tanking, but it's still dirty tricks time for the Republican National Committee.
Its new Web attack ad tries to link President-elect Barack Obama to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Frankly, the ad is par for the course in political circles.
The video raises questions about Obama's ties to Blagojevich, using some audio bites of Obama and the governor, along with semi-inflammatory headlines.
Here's the twist: The ad has drawn dramatic criticism not only from Democrats but also from leading Republicans.
John McCain, who just happened to be the GOP standard-bearer in the 2008 presidential race, said over the weekend:
"..Right now, I think we should try to be working constructively together... on the economy stimulus package, reforms that are necessary."
On Tuesday former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wrote RNC Chairman Mike Duncan that the video was a "destructive distraction" at a time of national peril.
Gingrich knows what he's talking about; he certainly landed enough low blows in his days at the House helm in Washington, D.C.
Of course, both McCain and Gingrich are right: Given the tenor of the times, Americans are tired of politicians who nastily attack each other without offering better ways to improve the country's economy.
If the RNC has some great ideas to offer Obama to boost America's financial system, for instance, that would make a great Web video.
Or if the RNC has rock-solid evidence that Obama conspired with Blagojevich, offer it up.
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They're going to get labeled
They're going to get labeled modern day Hoovers. The core supporters are down to 20-25% of the electorate yet there seems to be some element in the extreme right of the party that believes that they need to get even more extreme. It's like to old story about the guy hitting himself in the head with a hammer.
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Poor yael can't even offer a
Poor yael can't even offer a compliment to a repub without without a snarky critique(Newt).
Mccain, Newt (and even Yael!) are quick to speak to the need for an end to the political divisiveness. Spare us please from the platitudinous poop.
Reid, Pelosi, yael and the star were active fomenters of the rampant divisiveness over the the last 6 plus years......now that Obama has been elected it's suddenly a civic responsibility to be supportive and toe the line?????
What happened to the postulation that it is the responsible thing to speak one's mind and challenge the man in charge, Yael?
kcgrh ditto as former
kcgrh ditto as former President Clinton would say we will help President Elect Obama feel our pain.
ursalt, good analogy... I
ursalt, good analogy... I need to keep that in my mind... the gift that keeps giving, the gift that keeps giving....
Obama with all the
Obama with all the questionable political ties if he last 4yrs, like OJ, will be the gift that keeps on giving.
Steven, Good to see you libs
Steven,
Good to see you libs are already saying the reason we couldn't do more was because President Bush left everything soooooooooooooooooooo messed up...
Like I said, I think the next 4 are going to be a blast with the big 0.....
Steven49 a couple of marbles
Steven49 a couple of marbles missing, remember the democratic congress was inplace during the last 8 years.
OK - I read the
OK - I read the article....What did Rahm Emanuel offer for the seat?
Oh...You don't know. That's what I thought.
The next 4 yrs couldn't be any worse than the last 8...I take that back...The next 4 yrs could be A LOT worse due to the mess created by the Bush administration.
twas_was, there you go again
twas_was, there you go again with facts. Libs do not like facts such as asking them the last time they were fussing over unity....
I remember all the fussing over federal judges confirmations, NOT. That was certainly a time of "unity".
Not to worry, the big 0 will merely raise his hands and there will be peace and unity over the land....
Sweetwater - I agree we need
Sweetwater - I agree we need unity, but I want to ask you a question. When the Democrats were in the minority, when was the last time they were fussing with each other because some wanted unity? I can't remember back that far. Why is it the the Right always has to move to the center - the the Left never does?
I think the Right's negative
I think the Right's negative reaction to Newt's and McCain's call for unity just about sums up why the Republican party base is going down in flames. Too many in that base cling to, even relish, gutter tactics and division.
Since so many good Republicans are getting on the unity bandwagon to help fix the economy and the rest of the country's current troubles, it seems the party's diehard rabble rousers and racists will ultimately be isolated, their members exposed for who they are, and held in utter distain by the rest of the country.
Maybe we can ship them all off to China, or Siberia.
This the change you libs
This the change you libs voted for????
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1334979,CST-NWS-rahm17.article
Good ole Chicago/IL machine politics and the big 0 is in the middle... what a fun 4 years we have to look forward to, NOT!!
Radaclizedmoderate excellent
Radaclizedmoderate excellent hammer comment but where did you get your stats on core supporters being 20% of the electorate. Anyway opposition by any other name still smells as sweet. It’s nice to know that there is an opposition party no matter what the percentages are to keep a check and balance on the extremist of the far left. By the way opposition helps protect that freedom of speech.
Yael, when you said "Given
Yael, when you said "Given the tenor of the times, Americans are tired of politicians who nastily attack each other without offering better ways to improve the country's economy." - I typically don't like to answer someone's criticism with "but, the other guy did it too" - and I am ready for both parties to work together - but I need to remind you that the Democrats have been doing exactly that for years (when they were the minority). It's kind of funny when the shoe is on the other foot, that you don't have any memory. Is Alzheimer's setting in?
Although I voted Obama, I
Although I voted Obama, I thought Gingrich showed a lot of class during the election and here is another example. I don't remember him very positively when he was in office, but it seems like he has mellowed. Both Gingrich and McCain represent voices of moderation within the GOP. I like the fact they are putting the country first. If the GOP is smart, it will listen.
I was hoping that the
I was hoping that the republicans would take the role of loyal opposition and want to be an active part of the rebuilding of the economy, health care reform energy and the other problems we're facing, maybe get some credit as problem solvers. Instead they're back to their Rovian ways. They're going to get labeled modern day Hoovers. The core supporters are down to 20-25% of the electorate yet there seems to be some element in the extreme right of the party that believes that they need to get even more extreme. It's like to old story about the guy hitting himself in the head with a hammer. When asked why he was doing it he answered, "because it feels so good when I stop".
If we don't protect the freedom of speech how will we know who the a$$h@les are?