Sounds like desperation to me!
No, its a shrewd technique of holding up the most paper thin and extreme examples of dirty politics to reinforce his message of "Change", I'll show you:
"What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon -- That sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge but enemies to demonize. Because we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans, but we are Americans first. We are always Americans first."
Now this is excellent propaganda, my hats off to the guy running his propaganda campaign (they call themselves PR officers).
Some may remember I mentioned elsewhere about how trigger words are used to induce emotion and replace reason, Let me run down a quick list... Look who is RIGHT at the top:
Rush Limbaugh (pointed out that he shouldn't be on here at all, so his name is there for a specific reason)
GOP
Muslim
Radical
Koran
Pledge of Allegiance
So theres my list of trigger words, lets juxtapose those against what he is saying in the quote about what you WONT HEAR from his campaign or party:
1. "Religion as a wedge" plays into; Muslim, Radical and Koran accusations.
2. "Patriotism as a bludgeon" goes with the Pledge of Allegiance accusation.
3. "That sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge but enemies to demonize." This whole line is directed at Rush Limbaugh and the GOP - They are the racist, sexist hatemongers.
So if the technique is successful, bots will come away with a greater sense of disdain for the Political Right - and at the same time - a greater sense of compassion and resolve for supporting Obama.
Some other things Obama will not talk about are all
legitimate criticism. He feels he's above justifying; his ever changing policy positions, long time associations with Racist and Anti-American individuals, fiscal irresponsibility. Those things are all considered "politics as usual" and "have no bearing on the real problems facing America".
After accepting the transparent "Slash and Burn" examples as being typical of
ALL criticism toward Obama, its easy to let him slide when he dodges
Legitimate Criticism.
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Worth noting... Obama did not promise he, or his party, would refrain from: Class warfare, Charges of Sexism, Race-Baiting, Ageism, Tu-Quoque (Ad Hominem of Hypocrisy) during this election.
So expect a great deal of
all of it.