Note To Obama Campaign: Lay Off The Crack

Obama's campaign has issued an initial statement about the Palin choice. If I were running the campaign, here's how my statement would read;

"Today, John McCain has chosen an ideological clone for his running mate. That Governor Palin is a woman should note blind people to the fact that she is also a right-wing ideologue, a person who offers little change from the policies of the current Administration. This election is not about electing characteristics, whether gender or race. Rather, it is about changing American for the better. For those who might be thinking of voting for Governor Palin because of her gender, we ask you to keep in mind that she represent GOP politics as usual."

Instead, they say

Today, John McCain put the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience a heartbeat away from the presidency. Governor Palin shares John McCain's commitment to overturning Roe v. Wade, the agenda of Big Oil and continuing George Bush's failed economic policies -- that's not the change we need, it's just more of the same.

Okay, they do hit the policy issues - inelegantly, but they are there (why is it that campaign spokesmen sound like they're running for eight grade student council?) but to cite her lack of experience...when the top of the Democrat ticket has less executive experience and a thinner record of accomplishments...how does that make any sense at all? Okay, so according to the Dems we should be concerned about Palin being a "heartbeat away from the presidency" because of "zero foreign policy experience"...but their guy, who has the exact same amount of foreign policy experience...he's okay to be president.

How does that make sense?

I am not saying that Palin's foreign policy experience isn't an issue. I'm not saying that the Obama campaign shouldn't eventually bring that up.

Instead, wait a week or two, let he make some statements related to foreign policy (which, of course, will be different than those recommended by Obama) and then say her lack of experience is leading her to these inappropriate conclusions.

But to lead off with the experience issue - and to ignore the fact that she is governor of Alaska, a move that could easily be spun into an attempt to denigrate HER accomplishments (and if I were in the McCain camp, whenever possible, I would be hammering any criticism of Palin as being sexist) - is just stupid.

These people are supposed to be professionals...and they lead off with a statement that could easily be used against their candidate.

Lay. Off. The. Drugs.

That's my advice.

(Source: MSNBC)