This was timed to catch who, exactly?
The promised Text Message from Barack, which was purported to be a way of having supporters be "the first to know" who he was "introducing to the world" as the campaign's VP pick (funny, I'd heard of Joe Biden before this -- several times, in fact, like when he said Obama was a dangerous candidate for POTUS because he'd need "on the job training," when he observed that 7/11s always seem to be run by Indians, and when he called his new boss a "clean, articulate" black man), arrived at 2:22am CDT.
With the Friday night reporting being done by ABC's Jake Tapper, the RedState crew, and others, those who waited for that text message were among the last to find out who the Veep pick was, running ahead only of (a) those who locked themselves in their bomb shelters or panic rooms, avoiding all television and internet contact with the outside world until the precious text message from Barack could arrive, and (b) Helen Keller (though Annie Sullivan may have let her in on the secret before the die-hard Obamanites ever found out).
As Ben Domenech pointed out at RedState, "All he's done now is piss off the morning papers by making them miss their deadline, and given the networks a scramble for Saturday morning. How very throwback to think you could avoid the internet attention." The result, of course, will be that this choice will be scrutinized for the first time just as the convention that is supposed to give Obama his bounce across the finish line is getting under way -- something that is the result of poor prior planning indeed.
For a campaign that was built upon a foundation of online outreach and internet communication, the decision-makers within the Obama camp seem to have forgotten all about the potency the internet possesses as a grassfire communications tool. Whoops.
Then again, the manner in which the entire conduct of this Vice Presidential buildup and announcement was handled was shoddy at best. As Erick pointed out yesterday, the delays and game-playing really made it seem as though Obama really didn't want a VP at all.
I don't know that I can blame him; after all, he's had the stage -- and the adoring German crowds -- all to himself for months, and now he has to share that spotlight with somebody who, it will be assumed, has been chosen because he brings to the ticket those things which Barack himself cannot -- like "gravitas," adulthood, and even the tiniest bit of experience actually dealing in the policy realm with the world outside America's borders.
As far as the text messaging fiasco goes, what ObamaCo really wanted out of this entire gambit was the personal -- the most personal possible, in fact -- contact information of millions more people, which they got. The suckers who signed up for it thinking that the campaign was actually telling the truth about making sure they were the "first to know" about Obama's VP pick?
They came out of this ordeal as the big losers -- but that's no surprise to anybody already familiar with them.
Update-8/23@0832CDT: While Obama's die-hards were locked in their storm cellars staring longingly at their cell phones, Team McCain was paying attention to events, and cutting the first of what should be an incalculable number of effective Obama-Joe Biden ads.
Video below the fold.
We think Kay Bailey Hutchinson, US Senator from Texas would be a slam dunk VP pick for McCain. She has the requisite experience to ideally balance McCain's ticket. In addition to this she is a strong conservative and would be very attractive to moderate and swing voters particularly the disenfranchised Hillary block.
Instead of reacting to O'Bama's selection of Vice President, why not select a person who has a strong economic record like Romney to be Vice President. Selecting a woman is only playing up to Clinton's following but what is best for our country? I am a woman and would see right through this rationale for selecting a female and that tells me that people don't see us as intelligent and can think further than our gender. I want to win by having the most qualified individuals as our President and Vice President of this country of ours.
Another huge concern of mine is that no one is attacking O'Bama on the fact that he said that he wants to raise the people from bottom up. Isn't that a Communist idea?? Isn't making income redistribution a perfect Marxist concept?? We should be attacking that. The Democrats are trying to create class warfare by saying that McCain owns so many houses that he can't remember, making him look like an elitist. That is so ridiculous but they would like for all of us to be on one level - all the same. High taxes not only hurt businesses but it punishes success!! No one ever says that!!! But it does!! We need to keep hitting them about them being radical and giving into the radical environmentalists and ignoring the people - the majority that want off shore drilling. If this were a business and the boss was ignored, the boss would have the people looking for a job elsewhere!!!! Maybe Congress ought to view themselves as our servants and we the people are the boss.
YES! And it's a fantastic, wise choice! OBAMA/BIDEN '08!
So long, McSame!
John McCain needs to pick Sarah Palin as his VP and Michael Bloomberg as his Chief Economic Advisor. This would be a winning combination. Palin brings youth, attractive family, governor status, great accomplishments in Alaska where we need to be drilling for oil. Bloomberg brings economic experience, independence and the Jewish vote.
Interesting:
McCain; To Old
Joe Biden-65 years
McCain; Cancer
Joe Biden; aneurysm
McCain; 26 years in Senate and did not create change.
Joe Biden; 36 years in Senate and did not create change.
Will Joe Biden agree to one term in the V.P. position.
Drum roll please!!! Biden? The same Biden that has stuck not only his foot in his mouth over and over and dropped out of the presidential race more than once because NO one was paying any attention to him except when he stuck his whole leg in his mouth, is supposed to inspire confidence in Obama's ability to surround himself with top knotch intelligent people who do have the experience he so sorely lacks? Unbelievable. Do they have so little respect for the intelligence of the voters that they can try to pull the wool over our eyes by tossing into the mix a Dan Quayle wannabe as a vice president, while passing him off to be the second coming and good compliment to Obama due to his knowledge of foreign policy. My daughter who has lived in Australia for 9 years has more foreign policy knowledge than Obama and Biden is not going to make up for it. I was and still am an Independent. One of those dreaded female Hillary supporters until she was derailed by the phantom "super" delegates, basically disenfranchising the rest of us, and I would not vote for Obama if he was the only one running. I may actually vote for John McCain, due to his integrity and honesty and the ability he has to surround himself with intelligent, knowledgeable people. The measure of any president is whom he/she has working for him/her. Not a bunch of starry eyed, sycophants, that cannot tell you one real reason to vote for Obama. McCain has already demonstrated his ability to bridge the political gap. We will need that or the Democratic congress will hold the country hostage again. If I hear that word "change" one more time I think I will scream. Its utterance will forever feel like running fingers down a blackboard. Do we need change from the past 8 horrific years, yes. Do we want change for changes' sake? I think not. With Biden and Obama, it will be like the blind leading the blind and potentially 8 more years of on the job training. That one thought makes me quake in my reef flip flops!!!!!
I think the new ad featuring a Democrat voter turned Republican hits the spot. The McCain camp cannot afford to leave the Obama/Hillary division in the background. It is great that they have brought out a Democrat to show support of McCain.
Obama's chosing Senator Joe Biden, shows that he is conceding to the fact that, he is not ready to lead. He is an amateur politician, unfit to be the Commander in Chief.
He made this abundantly clear, when he was virtually unheard from, when Russia invaded Georgia. He remained silent, as he body surfed on Waikiki Beach. John McCain, on the other hand was engaged and acting like a Professional, ready to lead.
The Democrats choice for Commander in Chief is Joe Biden, not Barack Obama.
vote mccain08 for beter jobs john mccain has a amasing econamick plan to give you more jobs unlike obama ho is going to raise your taxes iv tryed johns plan so vote mccain08
Where is Obama's grandmother? Why is it only Michelle's family we are seeing.
I am not in love with any political party or candidate and believe that there has been a general failure of government across the board over the years. I would expect more from any government than to get us into Iraq. The average high school history student could have predicted that outcome and given a choice of raising a family in 1949, when I was born, versus 2009, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to pick 1949. The only true progress has been in medicine which the average person can no longer afford.
No I'm not in love with any party or candidate but I know my vote for President Bush was not in vain. By his veto full term abortion is illegal in this country. I am voting for Senator McCain to continue the veto of full term abortions.
Len Romano
Hi, I just want to say that as liberal voter after watching the DNC on TV On wednesday. I never got to see Michelle Obama waive an American flag. I don ot know this family and will not suppoert anyone who will not be proud of the American flag. My vote is for John McCain.
America First.
Good Choice! Anonymous! Character Counts! Actions speak louder than words!
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