OK, look. Someone in the Obama campaign is responsible for celebrity-wrangling – they have to be, it’s a modern campaign. If there were any republican celebrities, McCain would have someone, too.
But this is freaking embarrassing. Are you folks tone deaf or just stupid?We’ve got George Clooney doing a fundraiser in Switzerland.
Academy award winning actor George Clooney is set to host a fundraiser for Barack Obama in Switzerland next month.
The event, taking place on the evening of September 2 in Geneva, Switzerland will be split into two parts: a reception and a dinner. According to Obama’s National Finance Committee, tickets for the reception where Clooney will speak are going for $1,000, followed by a dinner at the home of NFC member Charles Adams for $10,000 a plate. Space for the dinner is limited to 75 guests.
Look, anyone who can afford to come to that fundraiser could fly to freaking New York to hold it. Except maybe Marc Rich – can’t he now that he’s pardoned? It’s stupid, tone-deaf, and hands cases of ammo to the right-wing bloggers who are hammering home the arigula image – the one that Gallery Guy is probably so fond of.
And now a Democratic GOTV group is pushing overseas voters to register and vote – Democratic, of course. And Gwyneth Paltrow is their lead spokesman. Defamer comments:
And as for Gwyneth? We’re not sure what it is about you that we’re supposed to identify with as being All-American these days. You live abroad (meaning, you’re not just there temporarily for a job). You’re married to a mopey musician (who was born, raised and currently abides in England). You’re raising your kids to be British. You won an Oscar … for playing a Brit. Forgive us if we’re finding it difficult to find the ties between you and baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet. Except, of course, for the fact that you named your kid Apple.
Look, there are lots of competent Hollywood political advisers (it’s where campaign staff get put out to pasture – working for movie stars and advising them on their political activities). Some of them have to be more competent than this (the ones that don’t work for Barbara Streisand?).
Using celebrity and celebrities is a good tactic – attention getting. But Obama’s supporters are hammering him hard on one of his greatest weaknesses – can you stop, please?
Hollywood is full of professional impersonators… you know, people who portray abilities and qualities they don’t truly possess. With that said, it sounds like the perfect “marriage” for a candidate who’s history in no way matches his current rhetoric.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there were as many Republican celebrities now as there were gay celebrities 60 years ago. Given the stereotypical view of Republicans as superficial, slow-witted creatures obsessed with money and perfectly comfortable making things up, Hollywood should have room for no one else.
From the Democrats Abroad/Gwyneth Paltrow article:
I’m not sure if that was misspelled or not.
I am with you on this one. This is rank stupidity. It ranks up there w/ John McCain pimping out his wife as Miss Buffalo Chip(check Youtube for the rules). Or is this kind of celebrity acceptable to all Republicans.
Robert M. said
“John McCain pimping out his wife as Miss Buffalo Chip”
This is a disgusting comment from a liberal.
Liberals are huge hypocrites who whine about ‘attacks’ then they go right ahead and attack and smear.
McCain made a joke at a rally and his wife was in the joke. So what.
McCain should stop making jokes. Not only are they not funny, they do not do anything to help Republican chances in the Fall. I would think we would have learned where Rovian “Lowest Common Denominator” politics have lead us.
We can’t even beat a freshman Senator with zero experience doing anything. Rail all you will against Hollywood, but you are wasting your time. What Republicans should be railing against is the pathetic politics that have been practice over the last eight years and the abysmal depths to which it has dragged the party.
I find it hard to believe that John McCain now dances to Karl Roves view, delivered by his acolyte. From what I have seen from McCain’s campaign, so far,
1. It is lacking any coherence,
2. Itis reactive and not pro-active,
3. It has taken on the “Vote for me because I am not him” approach that used to be the sole excuse the Democrats had to get votes,
4. It lacks any Philosophical basis, Unlike Reganism and the Contract with America that provided strong foundation on which to build campaigns,
5. Its loadstar seems to be the Rovian gotcha politics that has lost the both houses of Congress, Statehouses and legislatures across the county, essentially destroying the party over the last 8 years.
Time would be better spent in self examination and calling these incompetent characters that pass for our political advisers to be called to task.
But, it seems Rove and his minions have brainwashed Republicans that if John behaves like a comedian and hands out tire pressure guages, he is accomplishing something.
When the party gets slaughtered this Fall, I am sure it will be a case of creative destruction. My Republican Party never used to think that behaving like a clown was a way to win an election.
TOC, while I;’m happy to be critical of McCain’s campaign (although he’s done a good job this week, I think), criticizing him for having a sense of humor is flat wrong, I think. I both think it’s critical to electability in the modern era, but am distrustful of someone who proposes to lead and doesn’t have one.
Jay Tea has a “good blog post on the subject.”:http://wizbangblog.com/content/2008/08/06/the-presidency-is-no-laughing-matter.php
A.L.
AL
My comment was not about his sense of humor, but was aimed at the rapid demise of the Republican Party since it embraced Rovian tactics. Obviously, something that my fellow Republicans would rather ignore.
From my point of view, John McCain appears, day by day, more and more like a clown than a serious person, tied by the neck to a crank organ operated by the Rovians, who I might add have proven themselves as not being in possession of a clue over the past eight years. Re: Their meticulous destruction of the Republican brand.
BTW, will you be giving me a call?
Dems have got to keep the rich and famous under wraps, it’ll kill the myth that they’re for the little guy!
Why do I find this quote, delivered today, not surprising:
“The Republican idea factory has been a little stagnant in the last decade,” Pawlenty told a gathering at GOPAC, a Republican group that served as a catalyst of the 1994 Republican Revolution.
Finally, a Republican mentions the unmentionable. the Party has become devoid of ideas. Blame it on Rovian politics.
I see this as Pawlenty already positioning himself for a run in 2012.
TOC: You know that Pawlenty is McCain’s campaign chair and probable Vice President pick?
As Dr. Samuel Johnson said: “Ignorance, Ma’am. Sheer ignorance.”
#11 from PD Shaw at 8:27 pm on Aug 06, 2008
TOC: You know that Pawlenty is McCain’s campaign chair and probable Vice President pick?
Yes, and I also know that politicians are politicians and ambition is ambition.
Remember Edwards in 2004
More to the point is _what_ he said and the truth behind it.
There is generational warfare going on in the Republican Party as their was in The Demo Primary this year. It is only natural and I can’t help but seeing this as one of the first public salvos.
TOC (#10, #13) and PD Shaw (#11): Also keep in mind that McCain, given his age, is at least as likely as not to be a one-termer even if he wins this year. So Pawlenty as McCain’s VP would by no means rule him out for the top of the ticket in ’12. Imagine that, the historically Democratic stronghold of Minnesota, that brought us Dem VPs Humphrey and Mondale, finally sending someone to the White House… and it’s a Republican!
It will be very interesting to see what kind of role Pawlenty plays at the GOP convention next month, which of course will be right in his own backyard.
I don’t have any opinion on Pawlenty whatsoever. In comments #6 and #8, TOC seemed to be blasting McCain as someone beholden to Rovian politics and then in comment #10 seems to see Pawlenty as a cure to Rovian politics. If there is someone who might be described as a McCain Republican (other then Lindsey Graham) it might be Palenty, who has been involved in the Mccain campaign before day one.
(But I do like the Governor of Alaska, but then again, um, I’m a guy)
I love that song…
“…you see a priceless French painting, I see a drunk naked girl…”
A.L.
The celebrity doing the most for Obama is the one McCain recruited: Paris Hilton. She singlehandedly crushed the McCain Obama=Paris campaign. What’s more, she looked pretty good doing it.
I don’t have a TV so this was the first time I heard Paris. The dumb blonde act is just a shtick. I owe her an apology, and I’d like to deliver it in person.
#15 from PD Shaw at 3:53 am on Aug 07, 2008
Well, I do see McCain beholden to Rovian politics. I do not see Pawlenty necessarily as a cure, but his comment, “The Republican idea factory has been a little stagnant in the last decade”, plays into what I have been saying on the boards for months. That for the past ten years or so, when Republicans have not only been devoid of ideas and philosophy, but have abandoned basic principles, Republican politics have been dominated by Rove. Anyone following the Party’s demise during that period cannot but agree that the Age of Rove has left the party in shambles or as some put it, severely damaged the Republican Brand.
As far as anyone being a McCain Republican. Tell me, what is a McCain Republican? McCain is all over the place. He seems to say anything that pops into his head when asked a question.
My point about Pawlenty is that he seems to see what has become obvious, ie, the party has been cut loose from its moorings, has not come up with signifigant ideas since the Contract with America and has no philosphical foundation as it did under Reagan.
Personally, I do not care what the Democrats do or say. They have always been deeply flawed in their basic views towards personal freedom and a whole host of other basic rights.
The axe I am grinding is about the state of the Party, that, during the Age of Rove was dominated by lightweights, including the Neo-Cons. McCain’s embrace of a Rovian campaign manager and a frivolous campaign that seems to be totally based on name calling and jokes further weakens the party and McCain.
Honestly, is the adolescent fart joke campaign McCain is running one that you thought he would run. I am surprised. He is certainly not the substantive guy I thought he was in 2000.
Paris Hilton bashes McCain and instantly goes from brainless hosebag to shiek intelligencia. Now i’ve heard it all.
Stupid.
Good catch. Maybe Instapundit will give you a link.
ah, metrico – we’ve missed you. Actually, I keep pimping Kevin Drum for a link, but even though we’re friends, it never materializes…sigh.
A.L.
I thought Kevin Drum is for Obama? Right, that’s why he’s not linking to you.
Drum wouldn’t tout a minor story about one fundraiser. An unpleasant duty of candidates is to have fundraisers; after all, didn’t McCain have a fundraiser in London? Who cares?
Why would Drum want to promote the right’s “memes” about Obama’s celebrity, elitism, luxurious living, effete europeanization, world citizenship, etc.? It’s all bullshit.
Reynolds, on the other hand . . . I suggest you contact him. That’s the way it usually works, isn’t it?
But metrico, “so do I”:http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/a_hawkish_case_for_a_democrat_any_democrat.php …
A.L.
AL —
Obama is doing this because he IS a celebrity, he even has started to think like one. Surrounded by yes-men, adoring crowds, in a bubble.
It explains his mis-steps. His showing up at a big fundraiser in Geneva with George Clooney will of course be a disaster on the order of Edwards showing up for a 2 am rendezvous with his mistress.
An easily avoided problem that lack of experience makes into a disaster.
What in Obama’s experience has led him to intuitively understand what middle America and middle class people want? Desire? Find stupid or attractive? He’s got great experience with the Black Nationalist “hate whitey” groups in Southside Chicago, and the uber-rich liberals of Dohrn and Ayers, along with the cheap anti-Americanism of third world Big Men. What he lacks is the experience Clinton brought of winning middle class white votes where victory lies.
As for TOC’s comment on the lack of ideas among Republicans, I think that is coming to an end.
We can see in Georgia a direct test of the theory advanced by Obama that international community + organizations + “moral authority” will trump armed force. So far, Putin seems to win his bet (brutality on an industrial scale) against Obama’s.
Republicans, since they understand the Cold War dynamics of using force and credible threats of force, are better positioned to win against those who’s experience is George Clooney prevailing in a Hollywood meeting because he has better agents and lawyers.
Georgia is Obama’s Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan.
bq. _Celebrity Supporters Risk Torpedoing Obama_
I think it’s more that Obama’s celebrity supporters risk him torpedoing them. As a fan of Scarlett Johannson, I was annoyed that when she said nice things about Obama, saying he was accessible and has responded to her, he dealt with it in the media by making her seem like a delusional fan.
He doesn’t seem to appreciate people. He doesn’t provide them with the support and respect their volunteer efforts deserve. He just thinks they should do a very good job for him, but not get above themselves, because he’s deserving.
The touching democratic zeal of the “Yes we can!” people is worthy of a better cause and a better candidate.
On one side in Georgia we have Obama, Bush, NATO, and the EU.
On the other, we have the McCain campaign, whose manager is late of the Georgian payroll.
Irrespective of the merits of the positions, whiskey’s dreams of the anti-Obama silver bullet are going nowhere, not with that lineup. And what’s this about armed force? If we invade Ossetia, what troops are left over for the further Glorious Adventure of Iran?
But how can I forget: John McCain, of the rich wife, the eight houses, the private jet, and the $520 shoes knows how to connect with the middle class: with mindless belligerence and impossible tax cuts.
I don’t see it.
AJL, what’s happening in Georgia right now is bad news with no off-the-shelf solution. What Bush can say in front of the curtain is obviously constrained by the real-world potentialities he has at hand.
Obama and Big Mac, I want to see some posturing from them.
Hopefully on the side of the good guys.
Another win for Johnny Mac.
I see, Mark. When you are the President, what you can say is constrained by real-world limitations in confronting bad news with no off-the-shelf solution. But when you are running to be the next President, you should be maximally truculent and criticize your opponent for adopting the same stance as the existing President.
I take it back; I don’t see that. Can you explain it again more slowly?
Sure, AJL. When you’re running for President, don’t show your Chamberlain side. It makes the guys in jackboots get frisky.
It’s always good policy to seem ballsier than the guy who’s on the way out, when it comes to foreign relations. Pardon me if that basic psychology is lost on you.
#30 from Andrew J. Lazarus at 6:17 am on Aug 10, 2008
Truculent – Reminds me of the days when people had a working vocabulary. 🙂
Poor Mark awoke today to find that the Georgians have for all practical purposes capitulated. If only the McCain Expeditionary Force had been available! I’m sure it had the capacity to take on Russia on less than 48 hours notice.
Mark, if it’s Chamberlain-esque for Obama to acknowledge reality, then, (a) it’s just as much so for George Bush and (b) in this case, everybody (including Vladimir Putin) knows that reality on the ground has a Chamberlain-esque tinge. What I don’t understand is how, in your first comment, you realized (quite correctly) that our options were very limited, and nevertheless you insist that a Presidential campaign should write checks our military can’t cash.
Is it just that you need to hear something belligerent every week, even if its feasibility is zero? Go rent a superhero movie and leave the rest of the world alone.
And now, right on cue:
Obama talks to Rice about Georgia, condemns Russia
AJL: “Mark, if it’s Chamberlain-esque for Obama to acknowledge reality, then, (a) it’s just as much so for George Bush and (b) in this case, everybody (including Vladimir Putin) knows that reality on the ground has a Chamberlain-esque tinge.”
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I am way displeased that the situation deteriorated to this point, and pretty much blame the Bush Administration for taking his eye off the ball on this. Georgia has been agitating for, and should have been getting, more support from the West for years. Of course Russia has been attempting to subvert those efforts, but hey, effective foreign policy is all about pushing your country’s interests in the face of obstacles.
Shorter version: If we’re arguing about who is being more Chamberlain-esqe, we’ve been screwing up for some time. Bush deserves the hit.
Obama’s new stance is a good one, even if it’s a day late and a dollar short; the last thing Russia would want would be, say, Australian peace keepers in South Ossetia. (Not likely to happen, considering Russia’s Security Council seat, but it would be a nice play by Obama.) And calling the Russians on their bad behavior, instead of mush-mouthed “both sides have erred” baloney, may have some effect on the pluto-olicratic imperialists in Moscow. More importantly, it may indicate Obama realizes those same actors may be a problem for him if he gets his shiny new office.
I’m not looking for superheroes, AJL; I’m just looking for a candidate who won’t repeat the mistakes of the past. And before you start, every administration has committed some doozies. The booby prize you get when you actually win the Presidency is the opportunity to royally screw the pooch. Welcome to history, enjoy the ride.
Putin doesn’t give a fig about South Ossetia and Abkhazia; much like Von Papen (no need to play the Godwin card) wouldn’t have care about the Sudetenland. Russian consolidation of the ‘near abroad’ in a neo-Czarist fashion is the main goal. Cutting the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipelines to the West restoring the lost oil revenue is one of the sidelines. Ironically, destabilizing Georgia and letting the Wahhabis in the Pankisi Gorge, have at it, is another unexpected side effect.
The Second Chechen War (ostensibly to protect Dagestan), with roots in Ryazan is instructive in this regard. They led to the rise of Basayev and “Khattab” over the elected Chechen leadership of Zandarbichev. The calamities of Nord Ost, Beslan, the scourge of “the Black Widows” suicide flights, all helped Putin achieve almost absolute power. Yet ‘Citizen of the World” Dunham
really thinks its about South Ossetia.
You mean, narciso, that a leader might conduct a war, despite blowback in Beslan, Fallujah, etc., just to consolidate and extend his own power? No! Couldn’t be!
How do you say Executive Privilege, Unitary Executive, and Article II Inherent Power in Russian?
I believe that is: _Etot mužÄina platit za vsë._
But is the mužÄina Putin, or Georgia?
Funny, AJL, but Putin, is what you lefties imagine Bush or Cheney is
really like. If there was a Western leader with a trail of bodies from Stairova to Politskaya
to Litvinenko; that would attract some attention; but no, the other guy, whose tried to handle the real crisis with as little collateral damage; is painted as the antiChrist. A figure it should be pointed out, would have extraordinarily high poll ratings world wide, for promising peace but delivering war.
A fair question, NM. As for me, I will stand with Georgia: they were with us in Iraq, as I well know who ate with them and smoked with them. I favor diplomacy and diplomatic solutions, but one way or the other, I’m for Georgia and St. George.
Russia is looking to seize Georgia, step by step, using every new skirmish as a justification for the next. At some point they will demand the removal of the current government to be replaced by one of their liking. We need to be prepared for that eventuality.
Bush is making a huge mistake staying in China. He needs to hold a press conference announcing how serious the crisis is, and fly back immediately to assess our options. We need to consider how far we are willing to go- a quick reaction force should be sent as ‘peace keepers’ if we really do intend to take this to the hilt. If not, we need to figure out which pressure points we need to push politically and economically. One way or the other we need to be seen to be doing our best.
Its beyond an embarassment at the moment that one of our staunchest allies in Iraq is being invaded. It sends a terrible message to the world what it means to be a friend to the US when the crap hits the fan.
The Hungarians have claimed for years that the West had promised to support the 1956 uprising, right up until the Soviets moved in, and we did nothing. I wasn’t around then and I don’t know how true it is.
I do know that Georgia is outnumber 30:1 and up, going up against Russia and that Western forces are much further away from Ossetia than they ever were from Hungary. What the Georgians had in mind and what support we could possibly have promised, given how it would be nearly impossible to deliver, I can’t imagine.
Kick China out of the G8, replace them with Brazil.
Oops.
Kick _Russia_ out of the G8, replace them with Brazil.
This Russian agression is outrageous. Im angry at Bush for not taking this seriously (hey, team USA is lookin good) and the Democrats/left for ignoring it completely (all protested out? or just not interested in imperialism and bombed civilians that cant be pinned on the US?).