Barack Obama on the Republican convention: One key issue ignored

The opening acts of last week's Democratic National Convention were met with middling reviews, with even some party loyalists (such as James Carville) complaining of an unfocused message that, to their dismay, mostly passed on targeting John McCain.

Barack Obama took care of that complaint in his speech accepting the Democratic presidential nod, offering a full frontal assault on his Republican foe. And today, campaigning in Ohio, he offered his thoughts on the GOP confab in St. Paul, Minn.

Not surprisingly, his critique was thumbs down.

Tuesday night's program -- the first full one, due to the disruption caused by Hurricane Gustav -- was dominated by stirring testimonials to McCain's courage and character and included a biting attack on Obama by Fred Thompson.

Here's what caught Obama's attention, though (as well as that of others): “You did not hear a single word about the economy,” he told a small gathering of supporters at a college campus in New Philadelphia, Ohio.

The Times' Noam Levey was with Obama, and he relates that the Democrat continued:

Not once did people mention the hardships that folks are going through. Not once did they mention what are we going to do about keeping jobs here in Ohio. Not once did they mention what are we going to do about all these retirees that are losing their pensions. Not once did they mention how are we going to make sure Social Security is there for the next generation.

The other party and John McCain don’t get it. They don’t get it.

Obama also zinged McCain campaign manager Rick Davis for asserting, in a videotaped interview with the Washington Post Tuesday, that November's election would be more about personalities than issues.

“I guess I don’t blame them," Obama said, recycling a line he's been using often to characterize the Republican campaign. "Because if you don’t have any issues to run on, I guess you want it to be about personality."

-- Don Frederick

Photo: Associated Press

Comments

[Peter]

You know Obama has been hitting harder since Sarah Palin hit the scene., Wonder if he is mad about not being the biggest star in the world anymore. LOL hopeFully Sarah Palin will do perfect tonight at the convention. This will be the single most important moment for her, Everyone will be watching. If you want to know more about Palins Background, Her Families Background., and Pics and Videos they have an extensive amount of info at http://www.veeppeek.com

[Heather]

Why should conservatives care what Obama thinks of the REPUBLICAN convention?

[Ross]

The senator's critique was insightful. In regards to Dan Quayle In A Dress (aka the Republican VP pick), she is collapsing under the weight of her own past. Old "Maverick" should have vetted his Alaska "Goose" first. Strangers in the night, exchanging glances...strangers in the night, the Republican ticket.

[bob]

Of course Palin will do perfectly. Her speech was written FOR her. All she has to do is read it and pretend she knows what it means. Next week, when someone may not be able to keep her away from the press any longer, will tell the real tale.

[Mhamed B]

Obama is very smart, and you know what being from London, he is exactly what the USA needs, he is a joy to listen to, im actually quite jealous that you have someone like him, in the UK we want something like that, the democrats are making British want to be american...Sssh didnt hear that from me!

London, M.

[Change this]

The epitome of stupidity of the liberals is beyond expression. Indeed liberals want change – They want to distort the American values with a false self-gratification pretense that an individual has the right to do whatever they want. I really want to attack Obamma, but too bad he doesn’t have any substance. Carl Marx and Obamma are alike, they have a false ideology: false ideology + liberalism = communism.

[Jill]

Um, "Peter" is it? No, I don't want to know more about her background. What's to know? A beauty queen who knows how to shoot bear and has such little disregard for her family as to drag her 17-year-old pregnant, unwed daughter into the media spotlight while she's stumping on family values? What a model citizen and perfect example of what I want my children to look up to.
You McCain hacks try to get on every message board and think the public is dumb enough to fall for your "advertising." We're not dumb enough to fall for your anti-woman female candidate either.

[Harry Jackrels]

Right on Obama, as a Republican voting democrat this year. I am please to see that the party that i once despised is stepping up with real issues.

[James]

Fred Thompson stated did talk about taxes and how the dems want to raise taxes on corporations. You should only be concerned if you buy groceries at a retailer, get gas from a gas station, or get a paycheck from a corporation. All that is about the economy. Obamba is not a good listener and would fail the comprehension exam in my opinion. . . No surprise there. He hasn't released his grades from undergrad.

[Diane]

"Wonder if he is mad about not being the biggest star in the world anymore."

Peter, like so many other GOP "talking points," this one no longer holds up, especially when your party is the one who had an actual celebrity on stage Tuesday night. I'm sure you know that Fred Thompson was on the TV show "Law&Order" for years. People on the street recognize him because of this. If that's not celebrity status, I don't know what is.

[SWMIssouri]

Peter...I wish you would quit trying to get everyone to go to your website. It kinda sucks.

Tell them the truth Obama!...that always pisses folks off. For all the GOP paid posters that show up in here. How about...what is McCain going to do for the Economy? Jobs?

Anyone?

[Falcon]

Hammer it home Obama!

[JustMusing]

Peter: "hopeFully Sarah Palin will do perfect tonight at the convention".

Doesn't matter. According to McCain it's just a speech. Just another empty "dress".

[No]

You know Obama has been hitting harder since Sarah Palin hit the scene., Wonder if he is mad about not being the biggest star in the world anymore. LOL hopeFully Sarah Palin will do perfect tonight at the convention. This will be the single most important moment for her, Everyone will be watching. If you want to know more about Palins Background, Her Families Background., and Pics and Videos they have an extensive amount of info at

Anyone that uses 'LOL' in their post is an idiot. You're an idiot.

[lpdrjk]

Why should conservatives care about the REPUBLICAN convention? After all, the Largest Deficit in American History Party can make no claims to the affections of conservatives. Running up the Largest Deficit in American History is the exact opposite of conservativism. Expanding, not contracting, government (as the Largest Deficit in American History Party has done) is anathema to any true conservative. No true conservative would vote for the train wreck of the REPUBLICAN Party.

False ones, who seem to exist in some bizarre world that allows them to pointedly ignore the Largest Deficit in American History will, over and over and over again. Social conservatives, who either aren't intelligent enough to know what true conservatism is or aren't Christian enough to be honest, will claim the mantle of conservatism for themselves.

[Dr. Dave]

As Peggy Noonan said (live mic on MSNBC), "It's over." Of course the partisans are going to slap on grins and worship whatever candidate McCain straps on. Nothing they can say will fix the problems: Economy Destroyed by GOP, and Palin Views Abhorrent to Voting Public. Then there's the entertaining details of her abuse of power.

[Jeff]

>Why should conservatives care what Obama thinks of the REPUBLICAN convention?

It helps to at least listen to all sides. (The mind is like a parachute - it doesn't work if it is not open. -- Frank Zappa)

[TimL]

"Wonder if he is mad about not being the biggest star in the world anymore." -- Peter

Do you not understand that Palin is only receiving media attention because this whole pick seems like a circus act. This woman may be an excellent leader someday... but right now she is a complete unknown running in one of the if not the most important election of this decade and possibly century. What does she have to offer? Who is she? Why would McCain even pick this specific person? These are the questions being asked.

To top it off in less than 4 days there has already been reports of several scandals concerning this woman. It took months/years to find dirt on Obama. This woman appears to be careless and a knee-jerk decision maker like our current administration. The christian extremists in this country needed something to grasp onto and apparently Palin is it... Its really sad IMHO because she has done nothing to justify her role other than become Governor of a state smaller than most metropolitan cities in the USA. Her being mayor of a town of 5500 (2000 census) is on par with a principal of a major public high-school.. heck probably even easier.

This woman is miss popularity because she rode on her looks. Looks fade people. Her positions on issues, her truthfulness, character and intelligence seems very underwhelming. But I guess in the next few weeks we shall see.. if she does not botch it tonight. Thankfully someone else wrote the speech eh? So they can pander to the right-wing christian nut jobs.

[Les]

More rhetoric out of Obama, "You did not hear a single word about the economy". Hummm let's see, there are two possibilities here:

1.) Obama and staffers didn't actually listen to Fred Thompson's speech last night.

or...

2.) Obama is a flat out liar and is desperately trying to confuse American's with his rhetoric and misinformation.

Here is a direct quote from Fred Thompson, about THE ECONOMY:

"We need a president who understands that you don’t make citizens prosperous by making Washington richer, and you don’t lift an economic downturn by imposing one of the largest tax increases in American history.

Now our opponents tell you not to worry about their tax increases.

They tell you they are not going to tax your family.

No, they’re just going to tax “businesses”! So unless you buy something from a “business”, like groceries or clothes or gasoline … or unless you get a paycheck from a big or a small “business”, don’t worry … it’s not going to affect you."

Making American's prosperous, reducing taxes, taxing business, groceries, clothing, gas... all of that sounds like he's talking about the Economy to me?

Obama, the bottom line is that you're economic policy is so bad that not even you and your rhetoric can properly defend it.

[Tom Welch]

Sarah Palin is simply white trash!

[Mark]

Conservatives should be paying close attention to what Obama thinks. After all he will be in charge of cleaning up the mess the are leaving behind.
I was not surprised that the GOP was half empty last night, I know it was not because of the storm. Palin is soon to be forgotten after the election and McBush's no issue campaing shall expire as well. Leaving conservatives to wonder when the economy picks up in a few months. What they will do will the affordable healthcare is in front of them?

[Geo]

BO wants to give 7% of our GNP to third wold countries. If the stories are true about BO having a step brother in Africa living in dirt poor poverty - doesn't charity begin at home? BO also wants to lower taxes on 95% of the American people and raise taxes on the remaining 5% and Corporate America. One, he knows he won't be able to pull it off and two, if he some how managed to achieve this feat, Corporate America would need to make it up somewhere. Higher prices, less benefits for employees, wage freezes, layoffs and in some cases pay cuts. This has always been the case, BO knows it. He is apparently hoping that the American people won't notice until after he is elected. Some change!

[Brian Musah]

Obama has quite rightly pointed out a feature of Republican Politicians: most lack the ability to understand or empathise with the common folk in the street

[Cryos]

Poor liberals. They don't know what they want. It's obvious the things they claim they want they don't really want.

They claim they want bipartisanship and unity - People like McCain and Liebermann actually walk the walk that Obama can only talk and liberals denounce and attack the people that actually do practice this ideal.

They claim they want to stop gridlock in Washington - Based off my answer to the bipartisanship issue "stopping gridlock" means getting fillibuster proof majorities in congress and the presidency so they don't have any inconvenient nuisances to stop the enacting of socialism.

They claim to want diversity in candidates and that republicans are racist and sexist - McCain nominates a female VP and then liberals come out and prove who are the ones who are sexist and hypocritical.

I guess that is one of the reasons liberals are so angry all the time. They can't even figure out what they want much less ever come up with a rational, logical plan on how to get there. It must be frustrating.

[treetracker]

Peter - you can learn a little more about Gov. Palin from a fellow Wasillian at this website: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/an-wasillan-on.html