Great Moments in Political Flackery: Final Two Weeks of the Campaign Edition
This morning, Politico's Mike Allen gave us a slice of an upcoming Rolling Stone article in which Obama explained why kids like him over Romney. Within hours, Obama adviser David Pfeiffer was on the trail, giving the glossed-over version of quote to reporters.
.This morning, Politico's Mike Allen gave us a slice of an upcoming Rolling Stone article in which Obama explained why kids like him over Romney. Within hours, Obama adviser David Pfeiffer was on the trail, giving the glossed-over version to reporters. Here is what Pfeiffer had to work with, as Douglas Brinkley writes in Rolling Stone and Allen excerpts.
We arrived at the Oval Office for our 45-minute interview … on the morning of October 11th. … As we left the Oval Office, executive editor Eric Bates told Obama that he had asked his six-year-old if there was anything she wanted him to say to the president. … [S]he said, "Tell him: You can do it." Obama grinned. … "You know, kids have good instincts," Obama offered. "They look at the other guy and say, 'Well, that’s a bullshitter, I can tell.'"
This plain vulgarity coming from the commander in chief about, ostensibly, his opponent, Mitt Romney, sort of took the political Twitterverse by storm.
Mr. Pfeiffer, it's time to gaggle with reporters on the trail in Virginia, you're up! Can you translate b.s. into political flackery b.s.?
The president is someone who says what he means and does what he says and Gov. Romney's answers in the debates on domestic issues and foreign policy raise real questions about that.
What a save! Pfeiffer, like all his fellow flacks, publicists, advisers, and communication managers, has been working very, very hard to spin gaffes into political gold over the past few months. In a little over a week these folks will be able to relax and look back ... at least, until 2016. But for now, it's on. In their honor, we've highlighted the best of their work over the past few days of mopping up their candidate's spills, shills, and attacks.
When the Other Guy Calls Your Guy "a Bullshitter"
The Quote: "You know, kids have good instincts ... They look at the other guy and say, 'Well, that's a bullshitter, I can tell,'" said Obama in the upcoming Rolling Stone interview.
The Flack: The Romney Campaign.
Flacker Spin: "He's running on empty and has nothing left but attacks and insults."
When You Google This Mourdock Guy That Everyone's Talking About and Find Out He's a Republican Endorsed by Romney
The Quote: "I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God, and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen," said Mourdock.
The Flack: The Obama Campaign.
Flacker Spin: "Romney’s endorsement of Mourdock is just the latest example of the severely conservative candidates he supports," the Obama campaign tweeted via Obama's official twitter account.
When Donald Trump Says Something Stupid
The Quote: Any.
The Flack: The Obama Campaign; David Plouffe
Flacker Spin: "Direct those questions to Boston because Donald Trump is Romney's biggest supporter so he owns everything he says," Plouffe told reporters on Wednesday.
When the Other Guy Schools Your Guy on the Navy
The Quote: "You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets," said Obama during the last presidential debate.
The Flack: Virginia Governor Bob McDonell via the Romney Campaign
Flacker Spin: "... Unfortunately, President Obama’s dismissive comments about the Navy tonight should be concerning for any voter who cares about the safety and security of Americans at home and abroad."
November 6 is a little over a week away. Keep up the good work!