Here We Go (With Updates)

Camp McCain picks Sarah Palin to begin the ultra-negative attacks on Obama:

Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin on Saturday accused Democrat Barack Obama of "palling around with terrorists" because of his association with a former 1960s radical, stepping up the campaign's effort to portray Obama as unacceptable to American voters.

Palin's reference was to Bill Ayers, one of the founders of the group the Weather Underground. Its members took credit for bombings, including nonfatal explosions at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol, during the tumultuous Vietnam War era four decades ago. Obama, who was a child when the group was active, served on a charity board with Ayers several years ago and has denounced his radical views and activities. * * *

Guilt by association? Are you freaking kidding me? Palin is actually married to a man who -- until it became politically inconvenient -- was a member of a radical, America-hating secessionist group. You couldn't make up this shit if you tried.

In fact, Palin herself continues to maintain ties with these America-haters. Just last March, Gov. Palin "recorded a video welcoming the convention of the secessionist Alaskan Independence Party (AIP), saying 'we have a great promise to be a self-sufficient state, made up of the hardest working, most grateful Americans in our nation.'"

McCain undoubtedly sent Sarah out to do his dirty work because (1) the Obama Camp appears reluctant to criticize Palin directly, opting instead to take the fight to McCain himself, (2) Palin will never have to personally defend her attacks given she will, from now to Election Day, only be taking questions from FoxNews and Right-Wing extremists on talk radio, and (3) nobody in the Corporate Media appears to have any interest in running with the Palin/A.I.P. story.

Perhaps that media reluctance will change now that Palin has been tapped to play the role of McCain's attack dog. I have no doubt that a lot of media folks might take issue with her when she lobs in these salvos from a safe position while refusing to take questions from the mainstream press.

By the way -- just in case you are concerned, the Ayers/Obama connection is basically a non-starter. McCain might have better luck going after Obama for his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I know -- that story's probably been played out, but at least there was an actual connection between Obama and Wright.

UPDATE: Looks like the Obama Campaign isn't simply going to sit around and wait for the McCain/Rove Attack Machine to fully engage:

Branding his opponent as “erratic in a crisis,” Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is preempting plans by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to portray him as having sinister connections to controversial Chicagoans.

Obama officials call it political jujitsu – turning the attacks back on the attacker.

McCain officials had said early in the weekend that they plan to begin advertising after Tuesday’s debate that will tie Obama to convicted money launderer Tony Rezko and former Weathermen radical William Ayers.

But Obama isn’t waiting to respond. His campaign is going up Monday on national cable stations with a scathing ad saying: “Three quarters of a million jobs lost this year. Our financial system in turmoil. And John McCain? Erratic in a crisis. Out of touch on the economy. No wonder his campaign wants to change the subject.

“Turn the page on the financial crisis by launching dishonorable, dishonest ‘assaults’ against Barack Obama. Struggling families can't turn the page on this economy, and we can't afford another president who is this out of touch.”

OK, a preemptive ad which focuses on McCain's erratic behavior during the bailout crisis is a good idea, but Obama should do one more thing -- he should run a counter-attack ad detailing McCain's ties to Charles Keating and the "Keating Five" Savings and Loan Scandal. McCain once said that his involvement in that scandal "will probably be on my tombstone." Such an ad should prominently feature that quote.

Hell, Obama should have brought up the Keating Five Scandal two weeks ago when this current financial crisis really started heating up.

UPDATE II: Ask and you shall receive. I know it's just a website and not a commercial -- at least not yet -- but I have no doubt that the Corporate Media will be reporting on Monday that Obama has launched a web page about McCain's "Keating Five" Scandal, which means that we'll probably be seeing a lot of segments in the news over the next week explaining exactly what that particular scandal entailed. Nice move by Obama.