If both McCain and Obama had to run entirely without mentioning the other candidate, who would benefit?

Stoneburner

Diamond Member
May 29, 2003
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Lately, McCain has been using every single breath he takes to criticize something about obama. Obama has freely been linking McCain and Bush since February as well. Attacking somebody's positions isn't necessarily negative, except you can frame them in insidious ways. Both of these candidates have at some point championed a more high brow approach to campaigns as well.

Far as i can see, though, even a comparative ad or attack, when done appropriately, can be as dishonest as a fully ad hominem attack. I mean, McCain is calling Obama a terrorist sympathizer and Obama is calling him McBush.

So, let's ignore 527's and posit neither side can expressly or even indirectly mention the other and they have to win based on their platform. Who wins this election?
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
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Originally posted by: sandorski
Obama, I think, would have the advantage in that contest.

Ditto. I don't think it really matters who McSame chooses. I'd really hope Obama would pick someone with a military background like Powell or Clark.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
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Obama would lose what seems to be the democrats only talking point if he couldn't say "John McCain is a third term for George Bush" every 5 seconds.
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: sandorski
Obama, I think, would have the advantage in that contest.

Of course a leftist would win. Socialist utopia sounds good until you get the rebuttal realities of its policies. Who doesn't want to live in a world with free healthcare and everyone makes $50/hour?
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: JS80
Originally posted by: sandorski
Obama, I think, would have the advantage in that contest.

Of course a leftist would win. Socialist utopia sounds good until you get the rebuttal realities of its policies. Who doesn't want to live in a world with free healthcare and everyone makes $50/hour?

So you're saying the only thing that keeps Socialists taking over is Character Assasination and other nonsense?
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
72,329
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Who is McCain? Is he running? This election only has one real candidate running. America is going Barack to its former glory. Time we look to the needs of ordinary people.
 

Tab

Lifer
Sep 15, 2002
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Originally posted by: loki8481
Obama would lose what seems to be the democrats only talking point if he couldn't say "John McCain is a third term for George Bush" every 5 seconds.

Someones certainly sensitive... :)
 

Rockinacoustic

Platinum Member
Aug 19, 2006
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Obama, and any Democrat for that matter would. Any Republican has to distance himself from the policies his fellow party member has enacted as POTUS these past eight years.
 

jman19

Lifer
Nov 3, 2000
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Originally posted by: Tab
Originally posted by: loki8481
Obama would lose what seems to be the democrats only talking point if he couldn't say "John McCain is a third term for George Bush" every 5 seconds.

Someones certainly sensitive... :)

He's been like that the last few months.
 

Robor

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic
Obama, and any Democrat for that matter would. Any Republican has to distance himself from the policies his fellow party member has enacted as POTUS these past eight years.

Holy crap. I saw your avatar and being in a P&N thread like this I thought it was PJ saying these things and almost fell out of my chair. :laugh:
 

Stoneburner

Diamond Member
May 29, 2003
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Well, obama and mccain aren't shy about calling each other out. If this was the official beginning to the 2008 general, Obama takes round 1. He got in that ass like a prostate exam :)
 

mav451

Senior member
Jan 31, 2006
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Lol how bout a conservative argue on policy instead of using the tired "patriotic" shtick or banging the bible every 5 seconds?

Or as Obama put it more eloquently: "What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon - that sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge, but enemies to demonize."
Anyone who has listened to conservative talk radio - I dare you to count how many times socialist/communist/liberal pigs/etc. is brought up. The conservative platform is based on FUD. When they start arguing on the issue, and not on FUD, then maybe I will be more open to listen.