All's Fair When Running for President

[Semnae]

This conversation was started in another forum.  I'm going to post a couple quotes here:

Obama made a point of saying that the families of the nominees are off limits.

So sad that people here and around the world would use them against McCain, something Obama doesn't even want done.

Shame on them all.

Nonsense.  We are talking about control of a global super power and the leadership of the free world here.  Every presidential election is an attempt at a bloodless revolution.  Both sides will, and should do everything within their power to win, as if it were a war.  Any unfairness is a problem within the election system itself, but until those problems are addressed, exploiting them is fair game.

I think that McCain and Obama knew what they were getting their families into when they made their decisions to run for president.  If they didn't, then shame on them for being so naive.  The United States election system is designed such that family is a potential media target.  This isn't anything new.  Both candidates were Senators prior to running for the presidency, and neither made any attempt to pass legislation making family off limits to the media during a presidential election.  They've only themselves to blame.

If you don't like the rules of the game, don't play.

Edit:  That goes for the VP choices too.  Nobody put a gun to Palin's head and forced her to accept McCain's appointment.

The second quote sums up my attitude toward elections.  Anything the candidates can get away with is "fair".  What do you think?

[nates1984]

I think elections are pointless. America is ran in closed rooms by people you will never turn on the TV and see. It is also run by lobbyists and special interest groups. The people you vote into office are controlled by the elites within various sectors of our economy. We just shuffle the shit around every four years, but the people who have the real power (and in most cases the wealth) are in everyone's pockets.

Elections just make us feel like we have power, but really we don't. Even if our elected officials did hold supreme power they're still rich aristocratic assholes who don't give a shit about the common man. That goes for Obama and McCain.

[psyren]

FFS, do we REALLY need to start a new thread for every single little issue that comes up in ONE part of the world?

[Semnae]

FFS, do we REALLY need to start a new thread for every single little issue that comes up in ONE part of the world?

Isn't this why the a Politics category forum was created?  I'd understand not wanting to flood the forums with tons of politics threads, but the new layout prevents that, keeping all these threads in one place, and allows us political junkies to go as post crazy as we want.  If you want to talk about some other part of the world, nobody is preventing you from making a thread.  Anyways, it sound to me like you're just getting sick of hearing about the US presidential election all the time.  Relax, there are only two months of this left.

[fuddle36767]

Splinter threads that don't provoke thought die quickly.

On topic, I would say that all's fair because the whole point is to make the other person look bad, even if that position is unfair.  The calculation is how much mud will splatter on you when you throw it.

[psyren]

The politics forum was created so that political threads go in one place. It does not give people license to create threads like mad.

Obama farted. NEW THREAD!
McCain had a muffin for breakfast. NEW THREAD!

[nates1984]

McCain's wife sustained a minor injury to the hand! NEW THREAD!

[AceHigh]

Obama farted. NEW THREAD!
McCain had a muffin for breakfast. NEW THREAD!

Bwahahahahahahaha!!!

[mgz]

McCain's wife sustained a minor injury to the hand! NEW THREAD!

that was good old fashion funny when i started that and has roots in politics


On a seperate note i think i might actually agree with sem, pretty much anything goes in a presidential race. I dont care as long as its not name calling and is more digging up dirt, or twisting their own words against them and all that wonderful stuff

[lx4]

Both candidates were Senators prior to running for the presidency, and neither made any attempt to pass legislation making family off limits to the media during a presidential election.  They've only themselves to blame.

You talk as if our actions should only be limited by laws. Just because something isnt illegal doesnt mean it isnt wrong. Its a liberal principle that the government shouldnt get involved in peoples lives more then absolutely necessary, especially when it comes to speech. But that doesnt mean that we should act immorally. The reason we can have freedom is because we have morality.

We should demand from Obama that he doesnt use that poor girls misfortune to win the presidency. Because it would be wrong to do so and I respect him for his stance.

[mgz]

Both candidates were Senators prior to running for the presidency, and neither made any attempt to pass legislation making family off limits to the media during a presidential election.  They've only themselves to blame.

You talk as if our actions should only be limited by laws. Just because something isnt illegal doesnt mean it isnt wrong. Its a liberal principle that the government shouldnt get involved in peoples lives more then absolutely necessary, especially when it comes to speech. But that doesnt mean that we should act immorally. The reason we can have freedom is because we have morality.

We should demand from Obama that he doesnt use that poor girls misfortune to win the presidency. Because it would be wrong to do so and I respect him for his stance.

just because 1 person views it as wrong doesnt mean another does politicians will use their judgment on how far to go with attacks if they go to far it might cost them votes and that would be their own fault

[lx4]

just because 1 person views it as wrong doesnt mean another does politicians will use their judgment on how far to go with attacks if they go to far it might cost them votes and that would be their own fault

Sure, there are different views on whats morally right and wrong. Obama should decide how far to go based on his view and of course based on how people will react. A lot of people probably believe like me that she is a poor 17 year old whos life is hard enough as it is right now without Obamas organization attacking her.

[mgz]

meh i doubt it she prolly has zero responsibility and is mooching off her mom still and her life isnt hard at all yea it might suck a few months down the road to have the baby but life sucks deal with it, your the whore who didnt use birth control

[lx4]

The way I look at it she made a mistake. Shes 17 and should probably not be having sex (funny how that view changes the older you get, I couldnt imagine saying that when I was 17) and definitely not unprotected sex. But everyone makes mistakes, especially kids. Now she is forced to have the baby and get married to the dude, probably because of her family. The best thing would probably be for her to just get an abortion but that isnt possible when your mother is a conservative politician. Her youth is over and she has to become both a wife and a mother at the age of 17. Add to that the guilt she must be feeling over embarrassing her mother and possibly hurting her chance of becoming VP.

So I really dont think Obama should do anything to hurt the girl, its enough as it is. In my view that would be very wrong. If he did it would effect my view of him in a negative way.

[kyanwan]

OMG OBAMA TOOK A SHIT!   I gotta start a new thread.

But,

Senator Palpatine wants YOU to vote for McCain

[mgz]

The way I look at it she made a mistake. Shes 17 and should probably not be having sex (funny how that view changes the older you get, I couldnt imagine saying that when I was 17) and definitely not unprotected sex. But everyone makes mistakes, especially kids. Now she is forced to have the baby and get married to the dude, probably because of her family. The best thing would probably be for her to just get an abortion but that isnt possible when your mother is a conservative politician. Her youth is over and she has to become both a wife and a mother at the age of 17. Add to that the guilt she must be feeling over embarrassing her mother and possibly hurting her chance of becoming VP.

So I really dont think Obama should do anything to hurt the girl, its enough as it is. In my view that would be very wrong. If he did it would effect my view of him in a negative way.

are you kidding obama should go after that whore and her whore mother as much as he can fuck em both

[vicious796]

Did you see her at the RNC last night? I'd hit it. Twice. Shit, I live in the DC area, you need a baby daddy?

[Semnae]

"Let me be as clear as possible. I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president."  -Senator Barack Obama

Well... I guess my candidate and I won't be able to agree on everything.

[mgz]

"Let me be as clear as possible. I think people's families are off-limits, and people's children are especially off-limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance as governor or her potential performance as a vice president."  -Senator Barack Obama

Well... I guess my candidate and I won't be able to agree on everything.

yup if you are going to parade your family around with you on your campaign they are perfectly within limits to attack

just like sarah palins retard baby