Even Obama Advisers Have Told Debbie To “Tone It Down”

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DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) “Often Goes To Hyperbolic Extremes.” “Ms. Wasserman Schultz often goes to hyperbolic extremes to make her points. In one of her first appearances in May after becoming DNC chairwoman, she said the Republicans’ record is ‘anti-women’ and ‘a war on women.’ She called last year’s GOP budget and Medicare plan ‘literally a death trap for seniors’ and a burden on young people by allowing insurance companies to ‘throw you to the wolves.’”(Monica Langley, “Combative Top Democrat Gains Clout In Campaign,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/16/12)

Obama Has Enlisted Two Of His Advisers To Tell Wasserman Schultz How To “Tone It Down.” “Obama advisers have occasionally told her to ‘tone it down’ and ‘back off a smidgen,’ Ms. Wasserman Schultz says. She agreed with them to enlist two seasoned Democratic female pros, Anita Dunn and Hilary Rosen, to begin giving her occasional political advice and media training, advisers say. ‘I’m glad to get constructive criticism,’ Ms. Wasserman Schultz says.” (Monica Langley, “Combative Top Democrat Gains Clout In Campaign,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/16/12)

Truth Teams Should Be Called Ottack Teams

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The Obama team announced today that it would be reintroducing its so-called truth teams to counter attacks on Obama’s record of failure. Despite their spin, these so-called truth teams are nothing more than another medium for the most negative campaign of all time to wage more negative attacks. So much for hope and change…

Obama’s So-Called Truth Teams Are A “Dispiriting Acknowledgement” By Obama Campaign That His Reelection Will Be “Ugly And Bruising.” “But it also reflects a dispiriting acknowledgment by the Obama campaign that his 2012 reelection bid promises to be as ugly and bruising as his 2008 insurgent effort was uplifting — and the war must be waged at even the day-to-day micro level.” (David Nakamura, “Obama’s ‘Truth Team’ Aims To Network Its Way To A Reelection Win,” The Washington Post, 2/13/12)

Obama’s So-Called Truth Teams “More Likely To Accelerate The Already Bitter, Ideological Migration Of The Fight For The White House On The Web.” “More likely, however, the Web sites are more likely to accelerate the already bitter, ideological migration of the fight for the White House on the Web.” (David Nakamura, “Obama’s ‘Truth Team’ Aims To Network Its Way To A Reelection Win,” The Washington Post, 2/13/12)

 

PolitiFact: Correct That Obama In 2008 Ran “More Negative Ads In American History” Than Any Other Presidential Candidate.

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PolitiFact: Correct That Obama In 2008 Ran “More Negative Ads In American History” Than Any Other Presidential Candidate.  Rubio said, ‘No candidate has run more negative ads in American history than Barack Obama did in 2008, especially in the general.’  In sheer numbers, that statement is correct: Obama bought many more ads than McCain did, both positive and negative. Nevertheless, two studies suggest that, overall, Obama’s ads were not significantly more negative than his rival. He ran the most negative ads because he ran the most ads. We rate Rubio’s statement Mostly True.” (“Marco Rubio Said ‘No Candidate Has Run More Negative Ads In American History Than Barack Obama In 2008,” Tampa Bay Times’, “Politifact” 2/6/12)

Will Obama Begin Negative Ad Blitz Soon?

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With Barack Obama’s negative ratings in the polls from Americans disillusioned with his presidency, the Obama campaign headquartered in Chicago realized they have no choice but to begin their multi-million dollar barrage of negative attack ads to hide Obama’s record of failure and failed promises.

WITH OBAMA UNDERWATER IN BATTLEGROUND STATES LIKE OH AND FL

Obama Is In Negative Territory In Battleground States Like OH And FL:

OHIO – Quinnipiac Poll: “Ohio Voters Give President Obama 51-44 Percent Thumbs Down On His Job Performance…” (Quinnipiac Poll, 1610 RV, MoE 2.4%, 1/9-16/12)

  • 51 Percent Of Ohio Voters Say Obama Does Not Deserve A Second Term. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1610 RV, MoE 2.4%, 1/9-16/12)
  • 53% Of Ohio Independents Disapprove Of Barack Obama’s Job Performance. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1610 RV, MoE 2.4%, 1/9-16/12)

FLORIDA – Quinnipiac Poll: Obama Has “Solidly Negative” Approval Rating In Florida At 42-54. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1,412 RV, MoE 2.6%, 1/4 – 8/12)

  • “Only 45 Percent Of Florida Voters Say They Have A Favorable Opinion Of Obama, Compared To 50 Percent Who Say They Have An Unfavorable Opinion Of Him.” (Quinnipiac Poll, 1,412 RV, MoE 2.6%, 1/4 – 8/12)
  • Only 44 Percent Of Florida Voters Say Obama Deserves A Second Term, Compared To 52 Percent Who Say He Doesn’t Deserve It. (Quinnipiac Poll, 1,412 RV, MoE 2.6%, 1/4 – 8/12)

IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT TEAM OBAMA IS READY TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ATTACK ADS

Obama Campaign In Chicago Looking To Spend Its Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars On Television Ads:

The Obama Campaign Is Already Looking To Spend Its Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars In Campaign TV Ads. “President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign may spend some of the $224 million raised last year to buy air time for commercials in 14 states, marking an early push by the Democrats in swing states, according to a person familiar with the matter.” (Hans Nichols, “Obama Campaign Said To Ask Air-Time Rates For Ads In Key States,” Bloomberg, 1/18/12)

  • Obama Campaign Has Already Inquired About Cost Of Television Ads In Battleground States Like Ohio, Virginia, And North Carolina. “The campaign has requested advertising rates in states such as Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina as it considers when to air its first re-election commercial in the 2012 race, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss an internal matter.” (Hans Nichols, “Obama Campaign Said To Ask Air-Time Rates For Ads In Key States,” Bloomberg, 1/18/12)
  • Other States Could Include AZ, CO, FL, IA, MI, MN, NH, NM, NC, NV, OH, PA, VA, WI. “A final decision hasn’t been made, said the person, who added that the campaign was considering media markets in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin for the potential buy.” (Hans Nichol, “Obama Campaign Said To Ask Air-Time Rates For Ads In Key States,” Bloomberg, 1/18/12)

Obama “Will Run More Negative Ads” Than “Have Ever Been Run In The History Of The World”

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Time’s Mark Halperin: “Look we have a recent example of somebody who talked like this, Barack Obama, he got elected, but he also ran more negative tv ads than anyone has run in the history of the world against John McCain. Barack Obama’s campaign and allies will run more negative ads against this Republican nominee in 2012 than have ever been run in the history of the world.”  (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 6/22/11)

  • Halperin: The Republican Nominee Will Have To Deal With “Over $500 Million In Negative Ads.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 6/22/11)

Watch “Morning Joe” Discuss Obama’s Negative Campaign Strategy

Obama Left With Nothing But “Stale Tactics To Scare The Voters”

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Candidate Obama: “Because If You Don’t Have Any Fresh Ideas, Then You Use Stale Tactics To Scare The Voters. If You Don’t Have A Record To Run On, Then You Paint Your Opponent As Someone People Should Run From. You Make A Big Election About Small Things.” (Senator Barack Obama, Address Accepting The Presidential Nomination At The Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO, 8/28/08)

WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF IDEAS

“Most Of The Measures Have Been Pitched By The Obama Administration In Some Form Or Other Since 2009, Yet None Generated Enough Support To Pass Congress — Even When Democrats Controlled Both Houses.” (David Kocieniewski, “Tax Plan For Jobs Bill Has Familiar Ring,” The New York Times, 9/13/11)

President Obama Has Repeatedly Resurrected The Same Rejected Tax Increases “Offered When Obama Could Expect A More Friendly Reception From Congress.” “President Barack Obama’s budget proposal resurrects a series of tax increases on certain corporations and the wealthy that were largely ignored by Congress when Democrats controlled both chambers. … Many of the tax increases were in the president’s previous budget proposals, offered when Obama could expect a more friendly reception from Congress. Lawmakers from both political parties, however, have been wary of limiting the ability of high earners to deduct charitable contributions out of concern it will hurt non-profit organizations.” (Meta Pettus, “Obama’s Budget Resurrects Reject Tax Increases,” The Associated Press, 2/14/11)

  • Obama’s 2012 Budget Contained Taxes On Businesses That He Pushed For The Two Years Before. “Proposed tax increases for businesses and high earners that play a big role in the president’s budget outline have a slender chance of passing Congress this year. … President Barack Obama’s budget largely restates proposals he has pushed since taking office that have troubled many in the business community. The plan comes after several months of administration efforts to mend relations with business and the president’s call last month for a corporate-tax overhaul.” (John D. McKinnon, “Big Role For Tax Increases Fuels Criticism From Business Groups,” The Wall Street Journal, 2/15/11)

“If Obama’s Fall Campaign To Tackle The Jobs Crisis Sounds Familiar, That’s Because It Is. This President Has Talked About Jobs More Than 200 Times Since Taking Office.” (Nina Easton, “Washington Needs To Wake Up To The Jobs Crisis,” CNN Money, 8/24/11)

Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) Say Obama’s Ideas To Fix Housing Are “More Of The Same.”  CARDOZA: “Thank you for having me on Chuck. I enjoyed my service in Congress. With regard to the president’s housing proposal, I am very concerned that it’s more of the same. … But there’s been far too little and it’s taken far too long. …” (MSNBC’S “Daily Rundown,” 10/24/11)

Obama’s Recycled Proposals “Have Not Fared Well In Congress.” “In 2009, Obama proposed many of the same ideas to help pay for his health care legislation. … But the ideas, which include limiting tax deductions to charitable contributions and increasing taxes on hedge funds and private equity groups, have not fared well in Congress, prompting opposition from key Democrats.” (Jonathan Strong, “Lukewarm Response For Jobs Bill Payment Plan,” Roll Call, 9/14/11)

“YOU USE STALE TACTICS TO SCARE THE VOTERS”

The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus: “Forget Hope And Change,” Obama’s Campaign Is Based On “Fear And Loathing.” “Forget hope and change. President Obama’s reelection campaign is going to be based on fear and loathing: fear of what a Republican takeover would mean, and loathing of whomever the Republican nominee turns out to be. Of course the Obama campaign will attempt to present the affirmative case for his reelection, citing legislative achievements, foreign policy successes and the current flurry of executive actions. But his strategists have clearly concluded that selling the president will not be enough, and the contours of the ugly months ahead are becoming increasingly apparent.” (Ruth Marcus, Op-Ed, “Campaign 2012: Welcome To The Slugfest,” The Washington Post, 11/2/11)

  • Marcus: “And As Much As Obama Presented Himself As Above The Regular Partisan Fray During The 2008 Campaign, He Was Not Averse To Taking The Lower Road When It Appeared The Advisable Route.” (Ruth Marcus, Op-Ed,  “Campaign 2012: Welcome To The Slugfest,” The Washington Post, 11/2/11)

Obama’s 2012 Strategy “Will Be More Accusatory, Alarm-Filled And Defensive” Than 2008. “The strategy will be more accusatory, alarm-filled and defensive than the one used during the uplifting, even joyous campaign of 2008, symbolized as it was by depicting the first letter of the candidate’s name as a rising sun.” (Howard Fineman, “Obama Aide Discusses 2012 Campaign Strategy,” The Huffington Post, 9/6/11)

Obama’s Failed Record Means Smearing Opponent As “Someone People Should Run From”

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Candidate Obama: “Because If You Don’t Have Any Fresh Ideas, Then You Use Stale Tactics To Scare The Voters. If You Don’t Have A Record To Run On, Then You Paint Your Opponent As Someone People Should Run From. You Make A Big Election About Small Things.” (Senator Barack Obama, Address Accepting The Presidential Nomination At The Democratic National Convention, Denver, CO, 8/28/08)

OBAMA DOESN’T HAVE A RECORD TO RUN ON

Obama’s Own Strategists Say They Can’t Focus On Obama’s “Spotty” Record. “But as he and the Republican field launch the active, above-ground phase of the 2012 presidential campaign, Obama’s strategists are planning to focus less on his record –- which is spotty at best -– than on what they regard as the frightening prospect of a Republican Party not only of wrong but medieval thinking.” (Howard Fineman, “Obama Aide Discusses 2012 Campaign Strategy,” The Huffington Post, 9/6/11)

  • The Washington Post’s Fact Checker: “Obama Is On Track To Have The Worst Jobs Record Of Any President In The Modern Era.” “Unless the economy turns around in the next 18 months, Obama is on track to have the worst jobs record of any president in the modern era. That would be an accurate statement.” (Glenn Kessler, “Rick Perry’s Claim That Obama Has ‘Killed More Jobs’ Than Any Other President,” The Washington Post’s “The Fact Checker,” 8/22/11)
  • Politifact: “Obama Is The Undisputed Debt King Of The Last Five Presidents.” “So by this measurement — potentially a more important one — Obama is the undisputed debt king of the last five presidents, rather than the guy who added a piddling amount to the debt, as Pelosi’s chart suggested.” (“Nancy Pelosi Posts Questionable Chart On Debt Accumulation By Barack Obama, Predecessors,” Politifact, 5/19/11)
  • Throughout 2011, Only 17% Of Americans Said They Were Satisfied With The Direction The Country Has Been Headed. “Throughout 2011, an average of 17% of Americans said they were satisfied with the way things are going in the United States.” (Jeffrey M. Jones, “U.S. Satisfaction In 2011 Ranks As Second Lowest Since 1979,” Gallup, 12/22/11)
    • “That Is The Second-Lowest Annual Average In The More Than 30-Year History Of The Question, After The 15% From 2008.” (Jeffrey M. Jones, “U.S. Satisfaction In 2011 Ranks As Second Lowest Since 1979,” Gallup, 12/22/11)

Democrat Pollsters Pat Caddell And Doug Schoen: Obama Can Only Win By Running “The Most Negative Campaign In History.” “Put simply, it seems that the White House has concluded that if the president cannot run on his record, he will need to wage the most negative campaign in history to stand any chance. With his job approval ratings below 45% overall and below 40% on the economy, the president cannot affirmatively make the case that voters are better off now than they were four years ago. He—like everyone else—knows that they are worse off.”(Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen, “The Hillary Moment,” The Wall Street Journal, 11/21/11)

“Democrats Say The Man Who Ran On Hope And Change In 2008 Will Have To Claw His Way Toward A Second Term With A Sharply Negative Campaign.” (Charles Babington, “Tough Economic Climate As Obama Seeks 2nd Term,” The Miami Herald, 9/5/11)

  • With Americans Disapproving Of His Job Performance And Believing The Nation Is On The Wrong Track, Obama Is “Resigned To Running For Re-Election In A Glum Nation.” “Obama remains personally popular, but pluralities in recent polling disapprove of his handling of his job and Americans fear the country is on the wrong track. His aides are increasingly resigned to running for re-election in a glum nation.” (Ben Smith And Jonathan Martin, “Obama Plan: Destroy Romney,” Politico, 8/9/11)

“And So The Candidate Who Ran On ‘Hope’ In 2008 Has Little Choice Four Years Later But To Run A Slashing, Personal Campaign Aimed At Disqualifying His Likeliest Opponent.” (Ben Smith And Jonathan Martin, “Obama Plan: Destroy Romney,” Politico, 8/9/11)

AND WILL TRY TO PAINT HIS OPPONENT AS SOMEONE TO RUN FROM

Watch “Morning Joe” Discuss Obama’s Negative Campaign Strategy

Time’s Mark Halperin: “Look we have a recent example of somebody who talked like this, Barack Obama, he got elected, but he also ran more negative tv ads than anyone has run in the history of the world against John McCain. Barack Obama’s campaign and allies will run more negative ads against this Republican nominee in 2012 than have ever been run in the history of the world.”  (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 6/22/11)

  • Halperin: The Republican Nominee Will Have To Deal With “Over $500 Million In Negative Ads.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 6/22/11)

Obama “Must Begin Aggressively Attacking Republicans Now To Overcome The Hurdles In The Way Of His Re-Election.” “The comments suggest Mr. Obama and his political aides believe he must begin aggressively attacking Republicans now to overcome the hurdles in the way of his re-election: a 9.1% unemployment rate, a lethargic Democratic base, disengaged independent voters and energized Republicans.” (Carol E. Lee and Jonathan Weisman, “President Goes On The Attack Early,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11)

2012 Will Be About “Dragging Down His Republican Opponent” Rather Than Lifting Obama Up. “If 2008 was about lifting Mr. Obama up, 2012 will have at least some strong element of dragging down his Republican opponent (who the campaign believes will most likely be Mitt Romney).” (Jim Rutenberg, Op-Ed, “Team Obama Gears Up For 2012,” The New York Times, 11/26/11)

Obama “Needs To Start Bruising His Opponent” Before He Has One. “More accurately, it reflects the political calculus that if Obama wants to win next year, he can’t wait for the GOP to crown a nominee. He needs to start bruising his opponent now.” (Sam Youngman, “Obama ‘Can’t Wait’ To Fight Romney,” The Hill, 11/2/11)

  • Obama Ignored His Plans To Stay Out Of The Republican Nomination Contest And Already Gone Negative Against His Potential Opponents. “President Barack Obama has sharpened his line of attack against Republicans during a West Coast swing and injected himself into the GOP presidential-nomination fight, setting aside his plans to stay out of the 2012 campaign until an opponent is selected.” (Carol Lee And Jonathan Weisman, “President Goes On The Attack Early,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/27/11)

Obama Is Allowing His Aides To Push Brutal Character Attacks On His Opponents. “The early salvos are also familiar moves in a strategy that has worked in each of the four federal campaigns Obama has run: disqualifying character attacks from aides or outsiders, executed brutally as Obama himself floats above the fray.” (Ben Smith, “Obama’s Style: Go Negative, Stay Clean,” Politico, 11/3/11)