12-21-2008, 09:55 PM
Obama was able to find a middle ground. He found ways to defuse the smears without inadvertently validating them with undue attention, or appearing to be on the defensive. When he did take the time to respond, as in the race speech, he managed to turn it around into an opportunity to explain himself and let people know what he was about.
That is not to say that there were not times that he chose a non-response (example-- overhead projector).
I will never get over my dismay when GHWB repeatedly declared Dukakis a "card carrying member of the ACLU" and Dukakis failed to respond.
Dukakis could have very easily just taken a minute to explain what "ACLU" stands for (the Bush camp was counting on folks not even knowing) and why one would want to support it. But no, he "took the high road" and refused to dignify the smear with any response.
As time and history has shown, that was not the way to respond to swift-boating.
That is not to say that there were not times that he chose a non-response (example-- overhead projector).
I will never get over my dismay when GHWB repeatedly declared Dukakis a "card carrying member of the ACLU" and Dukakis failed to respond.
Dukakis could have very easily just taken a minute to explain what "ACLU" stands for (the Bush camp was counting on folks not even knowing) and why one would want to support it. But no, he "took the high road" and refused to dignify the smear with any response.
As time and history has shown, that was not the way to respond to swift-boating.