Two months ago, I was fairly confident Barack Obama would be our 44th President of the United States. After all, back in May of this year, 81% of Americans believed this country was moving in the wrong direction, so logically, one would assume a different type of president is what would be wanted. Well, just like when I thought my meatball and spaghetti bloody mary mix would eventually “catch on”, I was proven wrong once again.

Now, it’s not like I am extremely surprised by the news that Obama’s numbers are slipping. I have always said that if the election becomes about Obama, he will probably lose. Unfortunately, that is what appears to be happening, so now it’s time to make this election about McCain as well.

So why the dip in Obama’s numbers?

The Media

Sure, Obama is getting more coverage than McCain. This cannot be disputed. The question is, what type of coverage is he getting? The study taken by The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University in Virginia, which has studied network news since the 1980s, “analyzed content on ABC, CBS and NBC news shows and found that when reporters and anchors expressed opinions they were significantly more negative toward Obama and more positive toward McCain”. The study found that “when opinions were expressed 28 percent of statements about Obama were positive while 72 percent were negative. The study indicated opinions about McCain were 43 percent positive and 57 percent negative.” Now keep in mind, this study isn’t even including the “Fair and Balanced” news coverage from the always predictable Fox network.

The media seems to be coddling McCain, cleaning up the poo the old man leaves lying around. Do I think the media does it maliciously? I hope not. Perhaps the media isn’t quite sure how to cover him and is afraid of being demonized as having pro-Obama coverage. I don’t know, but for whatever reason, they need to do better or we are in serious trouble.

Three examples off the top of my head, that if they happened to Obama instead of McCain, the major news media would have been all over it:

1) CBS News covering up a wrong answer McCain gave by re-editing and replacing the incorrect answer with an answer from a different question asked. Awful journalism. This would have been front page news and all over Fox if it was done for the benefit of Obama, claiming CBS was part of that “liberal media” we hear so much about.

2) McCain constantly mentioning Czechoslovakia as if it still exists and repeatedly confusing Shiites and Sunnis when talking about al Qaeda. If this was Obama, his “inexperience” would be to blame for this. You would think a pro-war candidate like McCain would know more about the mid-east.

3) Hardly any of McCain’s false comments about Obama are being disputed. Is McCain completely forgiven for going this negative? Where is the hard-nosed journalism?

Lack of Support from Prominent Liberals and Local Politicians

The most recent McCain ad compares Barack Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, with Obama’s picture in front of the words “More Foreign Oil”. Really, John McCain? You approve this message? And what was that? You’re proud of it? Yikes…well... OK. It seems Paris Hilton’s mother, one of your major contributors, isn’t too happy with the ad and writes on huffingtonpost.com, “It is a complete waste of the country’s time and attention at the very moment when millions of people are losing their homes and their jobs.”

McCain’s recent barrage of negative attacks has been riddled with dirty, untrue statements that are frankly beneath him. McCain knows better and that’s what saddens me the most. I liked McCain. I read his book years ago and found the guy to be a true patriot. If it was the John McCain from seven years ago running, I would consider voting his way, but unfortunately it’s the radically different John McCain who went from patriotic G-Man to dishonorable D-Bag in less than a decade.

Now is McCain to blame for Obama’s dip in the polls? No, not really. Even though I am surprised with McCain’s decision to go this negative, it’s a tactic that obviously works, so he went for it. Obama could do it too, but luckily he’s decided not to.

That is why it is time for prominent Democrats to step up and defend Obama, and start saying the things that he can’t. It’s time to get loud and get pissed. Come on, Hillary, prove that you really want that VP job.

As for Wisconsin, I haven’t heard much from our own Democratic senators (Feingold and Kohl) about Obama or McCain. Once in awhile, there’s a little, harmless snippet here or there, but nothing that could actually help to serve a purpose. I understand they know and respect McCain and that this state will probably go blue anyways, but the message can still spill over to other states. The party needs to plan a coordinated effort from every local Democratic politician in the country to become more involved, having a clear and distinctive voice. Why is this always so hard for the Democratic party to accomplish?

Obama’s Campaign

Dear Obama Campaign,

It seems you are having the same problems that the Democrats in office are having: the inability to find your balls and use ‘em. Don’t get me wrong, I respect that you are still refusing to go negative even though McCain clearly has. However, when these attacks occur, the campaign needs to promptly and feverishly defend the issues. Don’t be mean, just be assertive with the truth…and do it immediately.

I personally enjoyed how our own Wisconsin senator, Russ Feingold, dealt with the vicious negative campaigning done by Tim Michaels back in 2004. Feingold just sat in front of a camera and explained in plain English what was incorrect in the ads and why. I loved that.

Also, don’t be afraid of Fox News. In fact, go on The O’Reilly factor. That show attracts blue collar America, a demographic you are failing to reach. Sure, some of O’Reilly’s questions and observations are going to be ridiculous, because he is, but don’t be afraid of it. Go into the Lion’s Den and show him who is boss. It helped with Hillary and it can help you.

Keep on fighting!!

Fist pump out,

Adam Schabow

P.S. Also, don’t be afraid to accept McCain’s offer for a town hall meeting. Sure he’s good at it, but so are you!

The Sheep/People are Idiots

Hey, guess what? Obama isn’t a Muslim and for the 12% that think he is, I want you to go in the bathroom and look in the mirror. Yeah, that person you’re looking at is a moron. Hey guess what? That’s you!

For those that think offshore drilling will help gas prices, look it up. The earliest it could possibly have an effect is in the year 2030. I understand that gas prices are high and times are tough, but let’s try to get some perspective on the matter and put the blame where the blame should lie: the pro-oil company policies of the Bush administration.

If, for some reason, John McCain becomes president and for some reason, you voted for him and for some reason, he decides to keep those same failed Bush policies, I don’t want to hear any complaining about the economy, sky high gas prices, the Iraq War still not being won, the government spying on us, not being able to sell your house, the increase of natural disasters due to global warming, wasteful spending and so on. If I hear any of you pro-McCainers complaining about these things, my new strategy will be to simply flick you in the ear. Yup, right in the ear. Because honestly, I have run out of ideas to get through to you all and I’m sick of having to pay the price because of your mistakes.

Now if you can muster together a coherent, logical reason why you are voting for John McCain in November, then I can respect and try to understand that, but if you’re not going to vote for Obama because you think he’s “too much of a rock star” or because he’s black or because you think he took his Senate oath on the Quran, or because “you’re scared of him” (which is code for “he’s black” or “he’s Muslim”), or because you think he’s “inexperienced”, or because you think he wants the troops to fail or because ....WAAAHHHHPPP. I just flicked your ear. How do you like that? Yeah, you didn’t, did you? OK, I guess my main point is that you need to try and shake that ideological view and try to be a bit more curious so that you...WWWAAHHHHHPPP...yeah, sorry...where was I again?

In all seriousness, I, of course, don’t want to cause physical pain on anyone for having a different view, but am merely trying to emphasize the frustration and déjà vu that has suddenly infected me. Remember 2004? I swear I felt that tide turning, much like I do now, and was heartbroken on that sad November night when the incorrect choice was made. Luckily, Obama is a more viable candidate and has a much better chance at winning, but it hasn’t stopped my nervous ‘fingernail biting habit’ to reemerge.