National Journal Blogometer: 10/7: Turning Up The Heat

National Journal Blogometer

10/7: Turning Up The Heat

John McCain’s aggressive speech in New Mexico, in which he delivered a scathing attack on Barack Obama’s character and record, generated a lot of commentary in the blogosphere. Conservative bloggers, of course, loved the speech. They were particularly pleased that McCain accused Dems (including Obama) of contributing to the financial crisis by protecting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Righty bloggers love this argument because they believe it is both (a.) true, and (b.) politically effective. AsMoe Lane writes: “Sen. John McCain today [laid] plain the crisis on Wall Street — not to mention Main Street — firmly on the narrow shoulders of those who caused it in the first place: the Democratic Party in general, and Senator Barack Obama in particular.”

Liberal bloggers, of course, were disgusted by McCain’s speech. Glenn Greenwaldcalled it “one of the ugliest, nastiest, most invective-filled personality attacks a major candidate has ever delivered.” Lefty bloggers were particularly turned off by an uncomfortable moment when McCain asked, “Who is the real Barack Obama?” and someone in the crowd shouted “Terrorist!” Liberal bloggers are criticizing McCain for not pausing to denounce the remark, and they’re accusing him of nurturing such ugly sentiments in his supporters. Greg Sargent writes: “No honest observer would dispute that McCain’s speech today was about sowing fears of Obama as a risky, unknown, and vaguely sinister ‘other,’ and this supporter, at least, read the subtext, intended or not, loud and clear.”

In other news, conservative bloggers continue to blast away at Obama over his ties to ex-Weatherman William Ayers. Liberal bloggers, meanwhile, are buzzing about the news that McCain’s chief economics adviser admitted that McCain “would pay for his health plan with major reductions to Medicare and Medicaid”. Liberal bloggers believe that this admission will cost McCain dearly among elderly voters.