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GOP: Obama would be 'a weak president'Mike Allen Mike Allen – 2 hrs 8 mins ago
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AP – Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., talks on the phone with a potential voter … A harsh get-out-the-vote robocall message from the Republican National Committee charges that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) would be “a weak president ” who would “endanger American lives.”
Democrats view the recorded call as the most negative attack yet from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).
The script – heard Friday afternoon in the battlegrounds of Wisconsin and Ohio, and perhaps elsewhere — surfaces as Obama switches to a “closing argument” message calling for “an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election.”
Look for Democrats to play up the contrast.
The script is read by Orson Swindle, a former prisoner of war in North Vietnam for more than six years, who spent a year and a half as a cellmate with McCain in the “Hanoi Hilton.”
Swindle, a former Marine lieutenant colonel who has been an adviser to the McCain campaign, warns: “Obama and Democrats’ politics endanger American lives. They are not qualified to lead our military and our country.”
The Obama campaign has posted audio of the call.
Robocalls are recorded messages sent to target voters by automatic dialer. The RNC messages have been so harsh in recent days that NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” had a silver robot named “RoboCall” – loser brother of “RoboCop” — as a guest on “Weekend Update,” chugging oil because he was so depressed at the messages he had to deliver.
The script says: “This is Orson Swindle. I’m calling on behalf of John McCain and the Republican National Committee. John McCain and I were POWs together. I know John’s character, integrity, courage and leadership. He supports our troops and veterans. Over 300 retired generals and admirals, 300 retired staff NCOs [non-commissioned officers], and hundreds of former POWs support John McCain. Twenty-one past VFW and American Legion national commanders support him . They trust his leadership. Democrats attempt to cut off crucial troop funding, accuse our troops of war crimes, and Senator Biden predicts Senator Obama will be tested. A weak President will, indeed, be tested. Obama and Democrats’ politics endanger American lives. They are not qualified to lead our military and our country. When you vote, vote for the team that puts leadership, character and country first. John McCain.”
Another voice adds, “This call is paid for by the Republican National Committee at 866-[redacted] and authorized by McCain-Palin 2008.”
The RNC declined to comment about the script.
