The Obama-Biden attack on Palin's family?

Posted: Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:16 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Joe Biden, Sarah Palin

From NBC's Mark Murray
This afternoon, the McCain campaign issued a Palin fundraising solicitation for the joint McCain-Palin-RNC fund. (After this week, McCain no longer can raise money after accepting $84.1 million in public funds, but the Republican National Committee and state parties can.)

"I cannot tell you how special last night was for me and how enthused I am to be John McCain's running mate," Palin said in the email solicitation, adding: "Unfortunately, as you've seen this week, the Obama/Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward me, my family and John McCain. The misinformation and flat-out lies must be corrected."

Unless we're mistaken, neither Obama nor Biden nor the campaign has attacked Palin's family. In fact, Obama said this after it was revealed that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant: "I have said before and I will repeat again: 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 governor Palin’s performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

Reached for comment about the charge, RNC spokesman Danny Diaz cited a comment Obama's Florida spokesman made noting (incorrectly, it seems) that Palin supported Pat Buchanan, whom Jews -- at least according to this spokesman -- have called a "Nazi sympathizer."

But Diaz didn't cite a single Obama or Biden charge against Palin's family.

*** UPDATE *** Obama spokesman Bill Burton fires off this email in response to this story: “The only ‘flat-out lie’ is this ridiculous claim, and it proves that John McCain has wasted no time in teaching Sarah Palin the ways of the Washington he’s inhabited for the last twenty-six years. The continued dishonesty and divisiveness from John McCain’s campaign has made a complete mockery of the reform and bipartisanship he’ll boast about tonight, and it’s not the change we need to bring this country together around an agenda to create new jobs, cut taxes for middle-class families, and make us independent of foreign oil."

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Comments

In her speech, she did a whole lot of blaming "them" for attacking her unfairly, with out any reference to who "they" are...except, of course for her references to the "east coast media elite."

I guess they're hoping that if you haven't been paying attention, or if you're inclined to believe the worst of their opponents. Opponents = anyone who doesn't immediately jump on board and support the idea that she is qualified to be VP or Prez... afterall, they've pointed to the PTA, small town mayor, and brief governorship of the "largest" state in the Union(largest by land area, 47th by population)

David, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:34 PM)

Obama's comments for the media to leave Palin's family are honorable....assuming he's not just playing a public perception game and letting everyone else do the attacking while he's the "hero" who stands against it. Only he knows that for sure. But I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume the best in his motives.

One question for liberals, did you also give President Bush the same benefit of the doubt when 4 years ago he called John Kerry an honorable man in the midst of the Swift Boat attack ads? Most of you did not...you automatically assumed he was playing political games. This is the same situation...as Bush defended Kerry 4 years ago, now Obama is defending Palin's family. Just please be consistent...if you attacked Bush and assume false motives in his defense of Kerry, you have no business giving Obama credit now for standing up for Palin's family.

Be consistent--Remember Bush defended Kerry (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:34 PM)

Palin has already started lying to Americans having been on the national stage for a mere week. It is just disgusting!

Independant, Houston TX (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:34 PM)

so sad! When will the media finally call their bluffs and lies? They have just told you to F off, so what do you do now?

TJ, Tampa, florida (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:35 PM)

Of Course because REPUBLICANS are LIARS. The use SCARE tactics to get people scared about being safe and using the media against them. John know the media was going to try to Define Palin...instead now they love her....WHY you ask...because the MEDIA LOVES DRAMA....it would be boring if she came out flat and did a horrible job....she has only spoken directly to the media one and gave one speech before last nite....She needs to be vetted like Hillary and Michelle and Barack....they were all ran through...it just shows how divided our country is..McCain introduces her wrong to try to squash Obama's great speech and crys faul when the Media is all over his VP pick which is what he wanted just not in a negative way....this is pitbull SH**...with lipstick....!!!

James Harrison, Clementon NJ (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:37 PM)

She said "Obama/Biden Democrats" not the Obama/Biden Campaign. Cuz, you can be sure there are many posters here who are working at local campaign headquarters.

Rob, from Iowa (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:38 PM)

MaGoo and the Bimbo better be careful about the rock throwing. As they are making personal attacks on the Democratic Candidates they leave themselves open for attacks on their families. Quid Pro Quo.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:38 PM)

"Unfortunately, as you've seen this week, the Obama/Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward me, my family and John McCain. The misinformation and flat-out lies must be corrected."

Please point out to me exactly where she said Obama or Biden or even their campaigns had been vicious in their attacks. What she said was Obama/Biden Democrats. Now, I won't presume to put words in her mouth, but even the most basic reading ability shows that Democrats is a noun and Obama/Biden is the adjective that describes the noun. So, any Democrat that supports the Obama/Biden ticket is who she is speaking about. And I think you can plainly see that many of THOSE have been vicious in their attacks. I am certain that the disgusting slug at DailyKos that demanded proof that her youngest son is actually her son is an Obama/Biden Democrat.

Sherri, Texas (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:38 PM)

All is fair in love and war!?! When did truth matter, LOL.

DCortez, Houston, Texas (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:38 PM)

WOW!!!!...........OMG!!!
Ok FR, this is a first for you guys actually telling us that this woman has just came right out and LIED, I mean just FLAT OUT and LIED.
____________________________________________________
Palin said in the email solicitation, adding: "Unfortunately, as you've seen this week, the Obama/Biden Democrats have been vicious in their attacks directed toward me, my family and John McCain. The misinformation and flat-out lies must be corrected."

WOW!!!! I can`t beleive it, you have just proved that you may be true reporters after all.
_____________________________________________________
FR:
Unless we're mistaken, neither Obama nor Biden nor the campaign has attacked Palin's family. In fact, Obama said this after it was revealed that Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant: "I have said before and I will repeat again: 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 governor Palin’s performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories."

OMG!!!
Can you beleive this woman, now I am starting to beleive that she did try to get this Trooper fired and fired the safety guy because he wouldn`t fire him.

And look at the McCain campaign, flustering trying to fix the LIE that she has just told. No wonder they don`t want her to speak to reporters.

Like the republicans
SHE IS A BALD FACED LIAR!!!

Littleoldme (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:39 PM)

This makes me sick. It appears they are willing to say anything, just make stuff up, in their desperate attempts to win. McCain's campaign manager said this week that this election was not about issues. What happened to the John McCain who called for a civilized debate between members of the same American family? Any hope they had of winning my vote is completely gone!

Art San Francisco (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:40 PM)

Mark Murray, You are such a hypocrite! I don't see Obama denounce his supporters for such vicious lies. His is just on the sideline off course, where he has been even as a senator. Nothing is ever Barack’s fault!!
I guess Sara Baracuda is really intimidating to you Media elite :)
Why don’t you introduce the real Barack Obama? The one who cannot even help his own step brother living in poverty.
MSNBC is such an embarrasment to this country. Be fair or be square!

Lora, Atlanta, GA (Sent Thursday, September 04, 2008 4:40 PM)

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