The debate's over: Here's what you'll hear now about Barack Obama
(UPDATE: A complete debate transcript is available here.)
All campaigns distribute confidential talking points to their surrogate speakers, lists of several things they want said over and over again on TV, online and in print to drive home the message of the day to viewers out there to turn them into supporters or keep them there.
All campaigns write these talking points at headquarters to ensure consiste
ncy.
But only one campaign today e-mailed those post-debate talking points out to the media -- by mistake.
Oops! Where's that UN-send button when you need it?
Someone at Barack Obama headquarters today sent out what the campaign wants its surrogates to say starting right this minute.
Flick your TV remote.
Look and listen for these points below. And, remember, these talking points were written before the debate.
"This is John McCain’s last chance to turn this race around and somehow convince the American people that his erratic response to this economic crisis doesn’t disqualify him from being President.
"Just this weekend, John McCain vowed to 'whip Obama’s you-know-what' at the debate, and he’s indicated that he’ll be bringing up Bill Ayers to try to distract voters.
"So we know that Senator McCain will come ready to attack Barack Obama and bring his dishonorable campaign tactics to the debate stage.
"Obama continues to lead on the economic crisis with a....
...rescue plan for Main Street.
"Over the course of the campaign, Barack Obama has laid out a set of policies that will grow our middle class and strengthen our economy.
"But he knows we face an immediate economic emergency that requires urgent action – on top of the plans he’s already laid out – to help workers and families and communities struggling right now.
"That’s why Barack Obama is introducing a comprehensive four-part Rescue Plan for the Middle Class – to immediately to stabilize our financial system, provide relief to families and communities, and help struggling homeowners.
"This is a plan that can and should be implemented immediately.
"Obama has shown steady leadership during this crisis and offered concrete solutions to move the country forward – and his Rescue Plan for the Middle Class builds on the plans to strengthen the economy and rebuild the middle class that he’s laid out over the course of this campaign."
--Andrew Malcolm
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Photo credit: Daniel Acker / Bloomberg
Brillant, leak this stuff and then your allies don't have to talk about it, everyone is discussing it.
I am very thankful that McCain didn't say maverick even once. I get slightly nauseous when I hear that word lately.
Alright, lets vote, get the Crawford delegation loaded up and moved out, fumugate the White House and get Barack the Reformer in.
Oh yea, we need to have a national evening after the elections when we Democrats, Republicans and Independents join hands and we all sing Kumbaya.
Posted by: Chris | October 15, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Big deal - we pretty much know what Obama/ McCain talking points might look like because talking points are so predictable!
Posted by: Ricky | October 15, 2008 at 08:40 PM
Obama looked cool..yes, he always is ...because that is what con artists do!
He shows no emotions only sarcastic laughs and that scares me more.
After finishing reading his first book, I am almost sure that this guy is not what he wants us to believe.
I run away from socialism from my country to live the American dream which I have done it in the last 25 years. I've never thought that socialism can follow me to America. Obama uses "key words" that most socialist use...I know them, I once was a socialist myself. Too sad to see Americans are falling for it. Ayn Rand is rolling over in her grave!
Posted by: Frieda | October 15, 2008 at 08:50 PM
Hmm, I wonder if Joe the Plummber is the same as Joe Six Pack Palin has been talking about? I felt that Obama"s presence was so much more Presidential than McCains. McCain expressions and mouth movements were as bad as his prancing around the chair at the last debate. He may say he is not Bush but his mannerisms have that same sort of arrogance as Bush. Obama would have to be my choice even though I was a BIG Hillary advocate...........
Posted by: Anna Knapp | October 15, 2008 at 09:15 PM
Check this out folks, it is finally making it to at least local news. Obama is being sued on the basis that he may not be eligible to run for president! Democrat for McCain!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_i8NHifI1g&watch_response
http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/philip-j-berg-lawsuit-video-jeff-schreiber-berg-interview-youtube-video-molotov-mitchell-interview-obama-indonesian-obama-motion-to-dismiss-us-constitution-judge-surrick-ruling-philip-j-berg-e/
Posted by: allison | October 16, 2008 at 12:23 AM
We don't need to read ahead of time the "Talking points“.
WE ALL EXPECTED it (already) what McCain was ready to said during the debate, anyway !
Just by seeing his grumpy all ways, repeating always story from the past when he was a soldier.
We can see that McCain started attacking Obama at the beginning of the debate. We expected it!
We all know that this is a normal reaction of someone who knows that he is not good enough and that his scores at polls are every day down!
Really, this information wasn't need it from Obama camp but I think it is important to all those who aren't day to day with camp news.
This is not a "Secret of State".
We all knew about McCain's temper, inclinations and
struggling disappointed weeks.
Posted by: Liah | October 16, 2008 at 12:25 AM
WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?
And WHY can't McCain frame the issue?
Why should we care that Obama sat in Reverend Wright's church for 20 years?
Why should we care that Obama worked closely with Bill Ayres on several projects and launched his political career in Ayres' living room?
Why should we care that Obama gave $800,000 to Acorn to assist his campaign in THIS 2008 election?
Why should we care that Obama has had a close association with Father Michael Pfleger?
Why should we care that Obama's wife said she "never felt proud of her country?"
Why should we care that Obama refused to put his hand on his heart during the National Anthem?
Why should we care that liberal leaders like Jessee Jackson and Jeremiah Wright are so sure that Obama will lead our country in the most liberal paths it has ever been taken?
Why should we care that Obama did not honor his word in using Federal matching funds in this 2008 campaign?
Why should we care that Obama got a huge financial benefit from a real estate transaction withTony Rezco?
Why should we care that Obama voted "present" 129 times in the Illinois State Legislature, mostly it seems on controversial legislative matters?
Why should we care that Obama has the MOST liberal voting record in the US Senate?
Senator Obama has a slick answer for each of these issues, but does NOT deny them. Each one he slyly explains away, dismissing them as unimportant. BUT, IT IS THE COMBINATION OF THESE QUESTIONABLE ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIONS THAT SHOULD GIVE VOTERS GREAT CAUSE FOR CONCERN COME ELECTION DAY.
WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?
Posted by: Mike Perdue | October 16, 2008 at 02:54 AM
Who is Sarah Palin?
Posted by: brenda in birmingham | October 16, 2008 at 06:57 AM
To answer Mike Perdue "Who is Barack Obama"?
Barack Obama is the person who, when he graduated at top of his class at Harvard Law and was the first black editor of the Harvard Law Review (which is a VERY BIG DEAL! Shows he was considered a leader amongst the best and brightest even then!) chose to return to the community as a $13,000 community organizer instead of making the tons and tons of money he was offered by all the top firms in the country! This shows you the character of this great man. He has committed his adult life to improving the lives of people - to lift up those less advantaged - to show them how they can help themselves. You notice he always says we have to be responsible for our actions. Parents need to turn off the tv and put away the video games. He is going to be such a great role model for young people. You will see when he is President, just by his BEING the President, drop out rates will decline, crime rates will go down. I envision an amazing Presidency. We will have a President we all can look up to and admire. We will want to sacrifice to again make our country great and have the world admire us again.
Posted by: Jayne - Boca Raton, Fl | October 16, 2008 at 07:02 AM
WOW! Reading the comments here, I never realized we had a bunch of McCain loyalists in Los Angeles. I better donate more $$ to Obama - and I better call my friends who live in the swing states and make sure they're gonna vote for Obama.
Posted by: Prantha | October 16, 2008 at 09:01 AM