The week ended with a strong performance by Barack Obama and his surrogates. In the wake of the financial crisis and its impact on the election, John McCain came out with lying ads about Obama's connections to former Fannie Mae CEO, Franklin Raines. These ads are patently false and rely on the type of truth twisting that gets countries into horrible wars. For the record:
McCain spokesman Brian Rogers points to three items in the Washington Post in July and August. It turns out that the three items (including an editorial) all rely on the same single conversation, between Raines and a Washington Post business reporter, Anita Huslin, who wrote a profile of the discredited Fannie Mae boss that appeared on July 16. The profile reported that Raines, who retired from Fannie Mae four years ago, had "taken calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters."
Since this has now become a campaign issue, I asked Huslin to provide the exact circumstances of the quote. She explained that she was chatting with Raines during the photo shoot, and asked "if he was engaged at all with the Democrats' quest for the White House. He said that he had gotten a couple of calls from the Obama campaign. I asked him about what, and he said 'oh, general housing, economy issues.' ('Not mortgage/foreclosure meltdown or Fannie-specific,' I asked, and he said 'no.')"
Obama's surrogates represented were great today out in cable teevee land setting the record straight. Former Admiral and current congressman Joe Sestak links McCain to moratoriums in the nineties on regulations:
Later Obama spokesman Ari Melber did what I haven't seen anyone do yet and that is shutting up that insufferable Joe Watkins:
During David Gregory's show, Steve McMahon, who hasn't been the best IMO, came out strong with several great points including Phil Gramm's role in legislation relaxing regulations:
Bob Shrum has a great day too pointing out many examples of McCain's contradictions, absurdities and lies:
Further more Todd Palin came out saying he won't honor the subpoena. The next thing that needs to be nailed down in the public's mind is that the investigation is NOT a partisan venture:
And Sarah Palin's contradictions mount up:
This trickles down to the surrogate level. Watch as Robert Wexler shines with integrity compared to McCain surrogate and once rumored VP pick (??) Eric Cantor:
This has been a bad week for McCain as he looks unable and unfit to respond to the economic crisis, go to extents as to mutter bizarre things like firing the FEC Chairman and have to cover by saying he was speaking colloquially He's had to cover a lot of his statements and while he has to explain his explanations, and Mr. Bush is absent, Barack Obama's presidential persona grows.
Obama has not just handled himself with class and confidence, but his surrogates are working well to get the message out and fight the lies. The fight is far from over, and we have to stay vigilant, but I do feel good, not just about our chances, but in general. I feel good because there is someone out there who represents me, and he's fighting the hard fight. And he's winning.
Here's the man in Coral Gables today:
Class act through and through.
UPDATE: Compare Obama to the dishonesty of the McCain Palin ticket.... Olberman lists Palin lies:
Rachel Maddow and Jonathan Alter get into the egregious Fannie Mae ad of today:
And Olberman covers witches: