Like many others, the NY Times thought McCain's reference to Obama as "That one" was an unintentional "slip" but there's evidence to the contrary. And now that McCain has been thoroughly mocked and questioned for that phrase, it's all the more ironic that he intended to use it against Obama. Instead, like so many other actions during this campaign, McCain has boomeranged against himself.
There are three dots of evidence (so far), and I'll draw the line between them
Normally, I would pass off McCain's statement as a trite remark. But after I saw the dots below and then read many reviews that assume McCain's statement was accidental, I decided to write this diary.
The first dot
McCain's statement.
The second dot
Last night, Kos posted this on the front page:
Ben Smith:
A Republican official emails, on background:
The most memorable line of the night belonged to John McCain. McCain pointed out that "That One" vote for the 05 energy bill. Look for Republicans to note in coming days that "That One" also voted for higher taxes at least 94 times; "That One" has associations with unrepentant terrorists, etc
Third dot
H/t to David Kroning for his comment this morning that posted a link this article:
Obama "The One"? McCain camp spoofs rival with trinket cufflinks
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
October 7, 2008
[...]
The Republican presidential candidate’s staff handed out cufflinks — yes, cufflinks — on Tuesday to surprised reporters with an unexpected decoration on top: a mock presidential seal for rival Democrat Barack Obama and the Illinois senator’s web site.
That’s not all. On the back, carefully engraved, were the words "The One."
The lines between the dots
Republicans prepare cuff-links in advance of the debate, and then hand them out to reporters. McCain makes his "That one" statement. Ben Smith gets an "off the record" email pushing the meme, and telling him that is will be the next attack tactic for the McCain campaign.
::::::::::
Obviously, this failed effort by McCain has already backfired on him, in addition to the mocking he has received. No one thought it was funny, and many debate reviews thought the phrase suggested McCain's rudeness, his pettiness, and even the racist overtones of the comment.
Yet another example where you have to ask yourself of the McCain campaign, "What were they thinking?"
My expectation is that this phrase become will become memorialized as one of the catch-phrases of this entire election campaign in mocking tribute to John McCain. For better and for worse, similar catch-phrases from the past: Walter Mondale ridiculing Gary Hart with "Where's the beef?"; Ronald Reagan's "There you go again" to Jimmy Carter; Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy"; etc.
Whaddya you think?
P.S. And please feel free to link to your own line of clothing, bumper stickers, etc., that already use "That one" in support of Obama. I saw lots of such links in the Open Threads last night before the debate even ended!
[updated 11:25 ET] After reading comments, I realize the difference between McCain saying "That one" and the cuff links' engraved "The one" can be construed as a tenuous link. I modified the title to replace "was" with "may have been" premediated. Thanks for your comments.