McCain prepping for some South Carolina mud-slinging

08.01.2008

This just in from Sen. Straight Talk:

MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES TRUTH SQUAD IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO COUNTER NEGATIVE ATTACKS

For Immediate Release

Contact: SC Press Office

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

803-771-4465

COLUMBIA, SC -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced the formation of the Truth Squad in South Carolina to counter any negative or misleading attacks targeted at John McCain.

"We saw what happened in Iowa with the negative attacks. We see what's happening in New Hampshire, and I can tell you for certain, we won't stand for it here in South Carolina," said Adjutant General Stan Spears. "Some candidates are spending more of their campaign war chests on telling voters why John McCain shouldn't be president rather than telling voters why they should. Voters in South Carolina need to be on the lookout for these kinds of negative attacks."

"Our goal is to set the record straight," said Attorney General Henry McMaster. "As soon as one of these negative attack ads goes up on the air or hits the mailboxes, we'll let the voters know the truth. Hopefully candidates will have learned, given what happened in Iowa, that negative campaigning just doesn't work. But, just in case, we'll be ready."

In the event of a negative attack on John McCain, the South Carolina Truth Squad will issue statements to voters and to members of the media that set the record straight. Additionally, members of the Truth Squad will be available to respond quickly to inquiries from the media regarding negative attacks.

Seems pretty clever. Even if the name "Truth Squad" strikes some voters as cheesy, McCain is shrewd to remind the fine folks of South Carolina just what kind of nasty rumor-mongering their friends and neighbors fell for last time around. Plus, when the '08 version of the illegitimate-black-baby smear does indeed surface, McCain will already have a designated team in place to strike back.

--Michelle Cottle

Posted: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 11:42 AM with 7 comment(s)

Comments

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stgla said:

Barack Obama had TWO black babies! Pass it on.

January 8, 2008 12:23 PM

kerouac9 said:

LOLz!!!

January 8, 2008 1:23 PM

Rhubarbs said:

Are South Carolingians actually embarrassed by what they "fell for" in 2000? I mean, the kind of person who would believe _and then vote based on_ the crap that was slung at McCain then isn't exactly the kind of person who has the moral capacity for self-criticism or regret, I would think.

Whereas when I've discussed the 2008 race with Republican friends (and heard similar discussions in regular-voter interviews), I hear an unstated but distinct undercurrent of desire to use a vote for Obama in 2008 as a way to cleanse oneself of blame for those votes one cast for Bush in 2000 and 2004. "Look! I voted for Obama to make a change! That means that the disaster we had to change from wasn't my fault for voting for it last time!"

But I'll be shocked -- and impressed -- if I see any real evidence that South Carolina Republicans have any shame about being the skankiest groupies on the GOP tour bus.

January 8, 2008 1:32 PM

AaronBBrown said:

So why doesn't John McCain campaign with his dark skinned Bangladeshi daughter? You know why he won't, the same reason that many Whites in the South could never bring themselves to vote for Barack Obama. Just the site of McCain with his arm around a family member with dark skin would cost him votes, large numbers of votes.

The Republican Party is the last haven for the racist sexist ugly small minded elements in this nation, thankfully there are fewer in number with each passing year, unfortunately they continue to pass on these prejudices to their children.

No surprise that John McCain has to head off these rumors once again. It's a sad commentary on the the state of the Republican Party and conservatism in America, that if John McCain had not adopted that little girl from Bangladesh he would in all probability be sitting in the White House right now. And perhaps just perhaps 9/11 would've been averted, there would've certainly have been no invasion of Iraq, and the Republican Party would actually have a chance to win this election.

That's what prejudice and hate gets you in the end, marginalization and rejection. I suggest the conservatives in this country get used to it, unless and until they sternly reject these elements in their party.

January 8, 2008 1:49 PM

epackard-02 said:

That's a conspiracy theory I hadn't yet heard -- perhaps white southern bigots caused 9/11.

*tsk* *tsk*

January 8, 2008 1:54 PM

butchie b said:

Hey Aaron - CRAP.

The people in the South who aren't going to vote for Obama will do so because they disagree with his policy proposals. Whatever they are.

What you mean are the Dems in the South who won't vote for him - the GOPers already won't for other reasons. So why are you in a party of racists?

January 8, 2008 3:59 PM

achester99 said:

"Truth Squad" doesn't sound cheesy, it sounds like something out of 1984. I think Saddam had a truth squad.

January 8, 2008 6:03 PM

For Immediate Release	Contact: SC Press Office
Tuesday, January 8, 2008	803-771-4465