Even if I want to... Obama and guns

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

Even if I want to... Obama and guns

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Even if I want to... Obama and guns

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Even if I want to... Obama and guns - 9/9/2008 7:19:09 AM

Thadius

Posts: 5091
Joined: 10/11/2005
Status: offline

Sen. Obama tried a new tactic the other day while talking to a crowd in PA. When asked about his positions on gun control, the Senator took this route.

quote:

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/09/05/obama-im-not-going-to-take-your-guns-away/?mod=fpa_blogs
“If you’ve got a gun in your house, I’m not taking it,’’ Obama said. But the Illinois senator could still see skeptics in the crowd, particularly on the faces of several men at the back of the room.
So he tried again. “Even if I want to take them away, I don’t have the votes in Congress,’’ he said. “This can’t be the reason not to vote for me. Can everyone hear me in the back? I see a couple of sportsmen back there. I’m not going to take away your guns.’’

That sounds like a great selling point for getting more Dems elected to congress...

_____________________________

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb

Profile

Post #: 1

RE: Even if I want to... Obama and guns - 9/9/2008 7:39:28 AM

Bethnai

Posts: 492
Joined: 11/8/2007
Status: offline

He was being honest. Don't want guns? You need an amendment.
Pro-life? Need an amendment.
Anti-gay marraige? Need an amendment.

(in reply to Thadius)

Profile

Post #: 2

RE: Even if I want to... Obama and guns - 9/9/2008 7:51:38 AM

celticlord2112

Posts: 5732
Status: offline

Frankly, I'm more amazed by the next sentence: "This can't be the reason not to vote for me."

It is going to be a long 8 weeks for the Democrats if Obama is reduced to refuting the myriad reasons "not to vote for [him]."

Policies and platforms aside, there is a serious tactical problem with Obama's unprepared remarks of late: they are reactive. Obama is not driving the rhetoric the way he did during the primary season.

Mondale, Dukakis, Bush I, Dole, Gore, and Kerry all lost their Presidential bids because they failed to command the rhetorical high ground. Kerry and Dukakis especially highlight the dangers of this--both started the general election cycle arguably with a leg up over their opponent--and still got bogged down in a repetitive cycle of having to explain and "clarify" earlier remarks. Bush I, coming off the military successes of Desert Storm, should have won in 1992, but got tripped up over his "read my lips" pledge, which ceded the economic high ground to Clinton (the brilliance of Carville's "it's the economy, stupid" was not that it highlighted an important issue, but his relentless hammering on that single message gave Clinton the rhetorical edge in 1992--Bush was having to respond to Clinton, which was a dramatic reversal from 1988).

Obama is on the defensive and back on his heels. That does not translate to victory come November.

_____________________________

(in reply to Thadius)

Profile

Post #: 3

RE: Even if I want to... Obama and guns - 9/9/2008 8:00:10 AM

Thadius

Posts: 5091
Joined: 10/11/2005
Status: offline

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122091851312912585.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks

Here is an example of his reactionary positions on taxes... I think the editorial spells it out quite well.

_____________________________

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends." ~ Japanese Proverb

(in reply to celticlord2112)

Profile

Post #: 4