False Flag: McCain goes Nixon, uses theft and deception in Dirty Trick Smear

John McCain may have been a man of honor at one time in his life.  He was a man of courage.

Now, he's a liar.  And a thief.  Literally.

Today, on a day he reached out with one hand to reach out in the spirit of national unity, with the other he slaps the very notion of decency in the face.

The lies, the smears, and the crimes below the fold.

The Denver Post exposes the shameful stunt:

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage -- with dramatic effect, no doubt -- and tell the story.

"What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags," a Republican official emailed. "We estimate the total number to be around 12,000 small flags and one full size 3×5 flag."

I'm not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone's patriotism here.

Oh noez!  The Democrats hateses the flag!!  

Not quite.

"American flags were proudly waved by the 75,000 people who joined Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention. John McCain should applaud that, but instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism. On the same day he agrees to join Barack Obama at Ground Zero on September 11, John McCain attacks the patriotism of Obama supporters who so proudly waved the American flag at our historic event in Denver just days ago."

That's right.  

McCain Republican operatives STOLE flags.  That's right.  Not 'rescued.'  

STOLE.

All of the flags at Invesco were picked up and put in bags and into storage, along with the unused flags and campaign signs. The flags were going to be donated, and the signs were going to be sent out to be used elsewhere

But, that didn't stop the McCain Republicans from attempting to lie about the patriotism of Obama supporters.

They did so gleefully.  Because they have no shame, no decency, no honor.

John McCain was a hero at one point.  Now, he's just another lying Republican criminal in the line of Nixon, Bush, and Cheney.



Display:


Geekesque (2.00 / 1)

I hate to tell you this, but Nixon was elected twice by this country.

McCain may be a liar and a thief with no shame or decency, but in case you haven't notice, America has a habit of electing those types of creeps.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 06:54:14 PM EST

Well, the key is to call them out. (2.00 / 2)

Bullies can be defeated, but only if you bloody their damn noses and stop calling them 'heroes.'


by Geekesque on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:01:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama is doing that this weekend (2.00 / 1)

but I would bet money that bloodying McCain's nose will set off a backlash that will scream "WHY IS THIS YOUNG BLACK MAN BEATING UP THIS NICE OLD WAR HERO MAVERICK?"


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:03:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is doing that this weekend (2.00 / 1)

Was there a point to your getting involved in politics online or were you just gonna do a bunch of naysaying and call it a day?


Government derives its power from those that it governs.
by lockewasright on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:55:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

the naysaying (none / 0)

only began after seeing the response to the GOP convention.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:16:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nah man (2.00 / 1)

you've been concern trolling for quite some time.  I am with you in the sense that if McCain actually is leading in both tracking polls on Monday or even tomorrow, we've probably lost the election.  You were pushing nonsense, such as the Obama conceding to HRC at Invesco Field, even before Palin Power became a phenom.


by Blazers Edge on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:18:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Huh? (none / 0)

I was really optimistic and positive last weekend. I even said I was confident that we'd win.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:24:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Huh? (2.00 / 1)

You've been quite concerned for some time now. I don't think you do it on purpose though.

You're a glass half empty type of guy/gal?

( I can also see why you had "trouble" at Kos, they have less patience for handwringing than people on this blog do.)


Welcome to a landslide WITH white working class, latinos, women and holding on sweeties!!!
by spacemanspiff on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:32:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

When you've been disappointed (none / 0)

as much as I have, this is about as positive as it gets for you.

It's really frustrating to talk to people who obviously hate Bush and hate the Republican's policies, but will vote for McCain anyway, it didn't matter who the Democrats nominated, and no matter what you do, you can't convince them otherwise.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:38:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When you've been disappointed (2.00 / 1)

Really?!  You don't see the mountain of evidence that our side wins this time?  You really don't see that Obama is taking the fight straight to them on the campaign trail?!  Biden too?  These guys are not Kerry and Gore.  They aren't taking it laying down.  Your refusal to see that doesn't make it not so.  It just grates.


Government derives its power from those that it governs.
by lockewasright on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 11:22:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I see (none / 0)

and what I see is a Democratic ticket that deserves to win more than perhaps any since Roosevelt/Garner.

What I also see is well education Americans I know NOT seeing what I see. I see Americans who are still buying the GOP crap and still telling me "Obama isn't specific enough" or "Why is he so arrogant and confident?" as if confidence is a bad thing.

I see an e-mail from my cousin, an Independent with a MA in Psychology telling me he's not sure who to vote for because he just saw a TV ad saying Obama and the Democrats are going to tax and spend recklessly. I see him responding to my defense saying "Oh, I can't trust what you say, you'll defend Obama if he's caught raping someone"

What I see is the potential for a great leader and a rebirth of the America I once loved and half the nation rejecting that.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 11:31:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

THE SKY IS FALLING! (2.00 / 2)

O noes!!!

Get a grip, dude.


Welcome to a landslide WITH white working class, latinos, women and holding on sweeties!!!
by spacemanspiff on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 12:27:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I see (none / 0)

Your point about your cousin illustrates to me that the Obama campaign is failing to get their message across.
Then again people like your cousin only need read what Obama has to say ( or pay closer attention if he's paying ANY  at all) and  they would see that what he's afraid of is absolutely  false with a capital F.
 If you don't mind me saying so ,for an independent and one who presumably is bright ,for your cousin   to make a statement like that is pretty ignorant.I mean no offense.
by Lodgemannered on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 12:58:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

See, that's my point (none / 0)

It's obvious he needs to hear more of Obama, but you can't MAKE him hear more of Obama. The media probably isn't covering all the good stuff he says and does. I don't know, I'm not there, but based on my experience with the media, it wouldn't surprise me.

Having said that, my cousin watched Obama's speech and still made that comment. If you still believe that after hearing Obama's acceptance speech in Denver, then I don't know what the fuck else to do.

Yes, he's pretty ignorant. My point is...even educated Americans can be very ignorant. It runs wild in our nation.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 01:49:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: See, that's my point (none / 0)

You could start with the facts and links contained in this diary over at DKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/5/1 8518/97242

There's also this from 2004, Center for American Progress:

While Republicans talk a good game about the need to be fiscally responsible and their desire to balance the budget, reality shows that Democratic presidents clearly have produced better results.

The past four years, for example, have seen the budget collapse from a $236 billion surplus to a $413 billion deficit. Large deficits mean higher taxes in the future, painful cuts in federal services - like Social Security, the national park system, and funding for education - or both. With large deficits, needed government investments will be under pressure and will be underfunded. In the long run, large deficits mean less private investment, and it means that we are passing a massive debt burden down to our kids and grandkids.

A new analysis by long-time fiscal analyst Richard Kogan shows clearly how different presidents have fared on their budget scorecards. By separating historical data by presidents, he finds that under Democrats, the country has had better budget and economic outcomes.

For example, over the last 42 years, Democrats have been more fiscally responsible than Republicans:

The biggest deficits occurred under Republican administrations; and

The budget has been balanced five times, and always under Democratic presidents.
Under President Bush's watch, the budget has seen a historically unprecedented deterioration:

There have been four straight years of a fiscal deterioration - the first times this has happened since WWII; and

This is the first time in U.S. history that deficits have continued to grow this far into an economic recovery.
When it comes to generating a strong economy, Democrats have out-performed Republicans as well:

After-tax income grew faster under the responsible, progressive tax policies of Bill Clinton than under the supply-side, trickle-down policies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush;

Job growth was also nearly four times stronger under Democratic presidents than under Republican presidents;

Output growth is 1.6 times stronger under Democrats; and

Wage and salary growth is over three times as strong under Democrats.
The evidence shows that the fiscal responsibility of Democrats pays dividends in the form of a stronger economy and that the Republicans' talk of fiscal responsibility are little more than empty promises.

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/is sues/2004/manage_economy.html


"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 07:21:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nah man (2.00 / 4)

The idea that if McCain enjoys a lead in the tracking polls NOW means we've lost is just stupid. Now if he gets that lead and then holds it for a week-10 days I will admit we are in trouble.

Here is the thing though- For the last week we have seen very little from the Obama/Biden campaign. However, on Monday night Obama is going to be on Olberman. That should be good and I can only imagine that is just the beginning rather than the end of Obama taking back his fair share of the national limelight.

We are in for a fight, but it is a fight we can definitely win.


ENOUGH!
by JDF on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:53:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nah man (none / 0)

Tomorrow he's on This Week.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 12:25:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Nah man (none / 0)

Obama on Olberman isn't exactly reaching out to anyone else other then the already converted.

I don't really get why he and his surrogates  almost always seem to be slow off the mark.Always on the back foot.Sorry,but for my money the Obama campaign isn't being nearly as  agressive as it both needs to be and should be to bag this thing in November and rid the world,let alone America,of the threat that absolutely is McCain and Palin.Dangerous people both.
The Democrats need balls to win this  and  for the most part I haven't seen much in the way to convince me that it has any...and I regret saying that very very much.


by Lodgemannered on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 12:50:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Geekesque (none / 0)

They are indeed liars and thieves. Nixon and his Watergate team sabotaged every dem candidate except McGovern because they knew he was the easiest to beat. It was a stolen election, but in a different way than 2000 and 2004.


John McCain: Country Club First!
by demwords on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 03:24:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

If The Flags Were Stolen... (none / 0)

Someone should ask that they be returned to their rightful owner.
Who will step and ask McCain's people to do the right thing?
by susie on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:44:01 PM EST

No one (none / 0)

If it was up to me, I would make the biggest stink out of this ever in the world.

This is the ultimate symbol of Republicanism. Stealing flags, lying, and saying democrats are unpatriotic.

The election is over. McCain will win in a landside, if democrats don't stand up and fight for their country.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:34:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (2.00 / 0)

I agree with your first two lines, but not your title, nor the last line.

However, I am very conflicted about the way things are going.  Certainly very little news from the Dems the last week and no bounce to speak of.  

Hope Joe Biden "gives'em hell" Sunday morning on Meet The Press.  I say that, knowing he must be measured in how he handles the Gov. Palin factor, but I believe he's up to the task.


by susie on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 01:28:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

She's easy to handle. (none / 0)

Biden just has to say 'McCain and his running mate'.  Or 'Senator McCain and Governor Palin'. Can't call it sexism if he just refers to her position.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 02:34:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Okay (none / 0)

I feel better now after watching pissed off Democrats fight back against the Republican talking heads on the Sunday talk shows.

You can't embrace change when your VP is even more conservative than Bush.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 01:24:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sniff, sniff, sniff... (2.00 / 2)

I smell Karl Rove.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:57:28 PM EST

Re: Sniff, sniff, sniff... (2.00 / 2)

It smells like bacon. Kinda stinky, rotting bacon; but bacon none the less.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 07:59:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I predict McCain wins in a landslide (none / 0)

He just stole the democrats patriotism.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:32:01 PM EST

If the democrats aren't willing to stand (none / 0)

up and fight for their flags, then it's over.


overthrow the government~participate
by missliberties on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:35:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: If the democrats aren't willing to stand (2.00 / 1)

Seriously?


by AntiStipes on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 08:56:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: False Flag (2.00 / 2)

You know, this is the absolute last straw for me.

This is such a symbolic slap in the damn face.  Can we not have SOMEONE on the Dem side stand up and say "LIARS!  DAMNED DAMNED LIARS!!!!!!!"  I mean, really.  No more AP articles and MSM reports about 'stretching the truth'.  These.....are....LIES!  And it can not stand.


by Particle Noun on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 10:00:24 PM EST

Done and Done (none / 0)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/06 /obama-takes-first-direct_n_124507.html

Not that you'll ever see it on the 24/7 Sarah Palin News Networks.


The American people; they were for the war before they were against it.
by nrafter530 on Sat Sep 06, 2008 at 11:32:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Were you this indignant when Daily Kos (none / 0)

bloggers suggested that Gov. Palin's child was actually borne by her own daughter??? People on Kos were gleefully slinging these rumors around earlier in the week.

The people playing these games with the flags are McCain supporters, but are probably free lancing without direction from the candidate. If you have evidence to the contrary, go ahead and produce it.


by BJJ Fighter on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 01:42:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Rachel Maddow (none / 0)

on Countdown.  She said it isn't stretching the truth, it's lying.

You got your wish.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 02:37:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Seems like an easy thing to fix. (none / 0)

The DNC reports the bag of flag stolen.

McCain campaign drags a bag of flag out on stage claiming they are from the DNC.

Someone in the audience calls the police and reports they have found the missing flags.

The police show up and confiscates the flags. (video of this would be handy)

Get get our flags back, they get shown up for the thieves they are.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 02:32:10 AM EST

Geez, sorry for plethora of typos. /nt (none / 0)


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 02:33:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

This fucking pisses me off to no end (2.00 / 1)

In the words of Barack Obama:

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America.

So I've got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first.

Apparently John McCain didn't get the memmo.


Gobama!
by USArmyParatrooper on Sun Sep 07, 2008 at 06:50:34 AM EST

Re: False Flag: McCain goes Nixon, uses theft and (none / 0)

Well, face it.  Everyone knows that the Dems pretty much Hate America and have never really been that "patriotic" in the first place.  The Dems always seem to find a way to cut down the USA when ever they can.    The flags were just a stage prop for the convention to try to look "patriotic" to the TV viewers.  No big news here.  

So the Repubs saved the flags that were sitting right next to the garbage bins for about a week, and now all of a sudden the Dems care about the American flag,  Riiiiiight!

Complain if you want about all this, But most people have know where the Dems are on this for a very long time!

Radical Socialist like Obama have their own view of what America should look like, and it's not good. I am surprised Libs are in favor of More government making your decisions and less freedom to the individual.  Very weird!


by moniqueO on Tue Sep 23, 2008 at 02:03:32 PM EST


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