Dem Consultant Shuster to Obama: Get Rougher With Republicans

Dem Consultant Shuster to Obama: Get Rougher With Republicans

By Mark Finkelstein (Bio | Archive)
February 8, 2008 - 07:11 ET

David Shuster: not just an MSNBC "correspondent" anymore -- now a Dem campaign consultant too! In the opening segment of today's Morning Joe, Shuster offered a kernel of consulting wisdom to the Obama campaign, and the message was clear: Barack needs to get rougher with those mean-spirited Republicans.

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: We did get some comments from Barack Obama yesterday about Mitt Romney dropping out.

WILLIE GEIST: I thought that was very interesting. Obama was responding to the comments we just heard earlier where Mitt Romney said Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will "surrender to terror." Here was Obama's response.

Cut to clip of Obama speaking to reporters on a campaign plane.

Story Continues Below Ad ↓

BARACK OBAMA: My reaction to Mitt Romney's comment: that's the kind of poorly thought-through statement that led him to have to drop out. It's a classic attempt to appeal to people's fears that will not work in this campaign, and I think that's part of the reason why he was such an ineffective candidate.

Mika was impressed, exclaiming "Wow! OK, then!"

But Shuster called for more red meat.

DAVID SHUSTER: It's a very intellectual, cerebral comeback. But you know, at a certain point, the Democrats are going to hear this argument again, I think, if not from John McCain then from his supporters, and I think the Democrats are going to need to be sharper and a little more aggressive in the counter-punch and say "wait a second: the Democrats do notsupport surrendering to terror. The Democrats are the ones who wanted to focus on Afghanistan and not Iraq. Afghanistan the place that launched these attacks on us on 9-11." So yeah, it's a fine cerebral argument now, but, I think that a lot of Democrats wish that Barack Obama, and I think maybe even Hillary Clinton for that matter, would ratchet up the counterpunch."

Got it, Barack? Hear that, David Axelrod? Start working it into the shtick.

A bit later, Shuster offered up another analytical gem, reacting to poll results that showed Obama leading in a head-to-head matchup with McCain while Hillary was only tied.

SHUSTER: I think it's still too early. The head-to-head polls are interesting now, but I think Hillary Clinton still has an opportunity if she gets the nomination to use a lot of the money that will be spent in the general election on reintroducing her to a lot of people, who, I mean, right now it's just Democrats who are sort of paying attention, and even only in half the states. Once the Clintons have an opportunity to reintroduce her to the entire nation in a general election campaign, I think her numbers go up.

Hillary Clinton? Never hoid of her. What's that? She's for the children and free everything? Sign me up!

—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.

Comments Policy

All comments are owned by whoever posted them and are subject to our terms of use. They should not be assumed to represent the views of NewsBusters.

Shuster is the worst

February 8, 2008 - 07:26 ET by funkdome

He was almost in tears about Romney's comment that he would not aid surrender to terrorists.

Shuster is the most partisan hack at MNSBC and they use him to as a sub for their only non-liberal hosts, Scarborough and Tucker. Pathetic.

Yesterday morning, Mika was

February 8, 2008 - 07:32 ET by Roger the Shrubber

Yesterday morning, Mika was joking about Shuster going to CPAC to hang with his "peeps".
No bias here, folks!

The fact that she called

February 8, 2008 - 08:03 ET by motherbelt

The fact that she called them his "peeps" says a lot about Mika's maturity. Did she also ask him to give her a "shout out!" when he was on camera?

I noticed that Obama talked

February 8, 2008 - 08:24 ET by motherbelt

I noticed that Obama talked about "appealing to people's fears".. (we want HOPE and CHANGE!!) But he didn't deny Romney's main premise: that Obama would surrender to terrorists.

And even the liberal talking heads agree that he's not going to get away with that line forever. Hence the stragegy session about how to deal with it. ratchet up the counterpunch."

Yeah, maybe he could say "Hope, not fear!!" and pump his fist while he says it!!

Once the Clintons have an opportunity to reintroduce her to the entire
nation in a general election campaign, I think her numbers go up.

I can't believe he said that with a straight face.

Aside: When David Dinkins lost his mayoral re-election bid in NYC, Bill Clinton blamed racism, saying it was because a lot of people wouldn't vote for "someone who doesn't look like them."

Do you think he will say that about Obama if his wife gets the nomination????

Left-wing savior, Obama

February 8, 2008 - 07:57 ET by planetrepublican

Liberals and the Democrats are going to worship Obama in a way not seen since JFK. They will not just be pushing and pulling for him, they will become his disciples, his apostles. It won't matter if they are simple voters or MSM types, they will be in the tank for him in a way we have not seen before. Attacking Obama will be akin to attacking god (with a little "g" in the liberal world), in a word, sacrilege, another word, blasphemy! This will become a very dangerous time for America and the conservative movement. I predict that McCain will be our nominee and he will lose to Obama. The only way we can beat him is to nominate an African-American man or woman in 2012. Of course a terrorist attack could shake Obama up if he doesn't respond correctly (ie, kick the crap out of the Islamo's like W did and does, something that will not sit right with the pacifist and appeasing left, a good example can be read here). I think he will respond like Carter, which will give us a chance. If this attack happens before the election, McCain will have a chance. I think the Islamo's are smarter than that, though, and they will wait. In any event, Obama will be very hard to beat and very hard to fight. Michelle Malkin has an excellent article today about how conservative should start fighting and not sit this election out, read it here.

If we react the way the left would react if Obama were "our guy" we stand a chance. Think about it, would they just lay down their arms and give up if Obama were a Republican and our candidate? Fat chance! They would attack him in any and every way. And so should we. The very fact that the left will worship him will make this task dangerous and delicious at the same time. Throw an insult at Obama and the left will HAVE to respond, everytime. We have been at this war with the left since the 1960's. Don't quit now. Rather, keep your powder dry. We will need it.

Would that be because David

February 8, 2008 - 08:23 ET by dscott

Would that be because David Shuster is a Clinton supporter???? Having Obama change his focus off of Clinton is good for Clinton. Making spurious remarks about Repubs is par for the course in a Dem campaign, but just remember in the general election you may just need some of those EVIL REPUBS. Beware of people who smile in your face because as soon as you turn, you know where that knife in his hand is going to go.

So I'm adding Shuster to the list of Clinton MSM operatives and put him right next to Stephanopoulos.

George Stephanopoulos

David Shuster

Brian Williams

Rick Kaplin
Harold Ickies
Joe Klein
James Carville
Paul Begala
Susan Estridge

Rebecca Traister

Lord Sidious / Darth Vader 2008 Long Live the Empire! Come to the Dark Side, it is your Destiny.

PLEASE! PLEASE!

February 8, 2008 - 10:10 ET by drillanwr

PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!???

Can Mika and David please wear the red and white SNL Spartan (DNC) Cheerleader uniforms when they are on together and talking about the election?

Free Pass Obama

February 8, 2008 - 10:15 ET by KC Mulville

Obama knows the standard liberal trick of labeling. Instead of answering, he just labels the accusation, and avoids it. Being the current media darling, he gets away with it.

It's ironic that the person whose own thoughts are poorly thought out is accusing anyone else of it. Obama's rhetoric is all fluff, and no substance. His foreign policy is literally just talk. His entire platform is nothing more than a feel-good "we can do better." Those airy slogans, when brought to the ground, create real-life contradictions that he can't answer.

For example, his stated position on abortion is nothing other than that he "trusts women" to make the choice. As proof of women's responsible decision-making, he adds that he expects women to consult with their doctors, family, clergy, etc. But he votes against bills that require parental notification. That's a pure contradiction, but he gets away with it because the media prefer smooth talk to consistency.
And while we're on the subject, liberals always oppose notification laws because of the possibility that parents might be rapsist and abusers. So, it's impossible for me to take them seriously when they claim to support families. How can you support families when you're assuming they're rapists and abusers?

Oh well. We're talking about "Free Pass" Obama, aren't we?

Obama doesn't trust woman to raise their kids only to dispose

February 8, 2008 - 10:23 ET by Dee Bunk

of them. Their opinion means nothing when their 12 year old daughter wants to have an abortion.

The rapists and abusers he's afraid of would be more likely caught and punished if they couldn't destroy the evidence.

That's what your going to

February 8, 2008 - 10:24 ET by ConservativeRex

That's what your going to get with Obama, what a class- less thing to say about Romney.

Well, this is going to be a horrendous 4 years. And just when I'm fixin' to retire..damn, I started out with Carter when I got this job, now I'll finish with an even bigger loser as President.

But those between years have been wonderful. I'll not let those knuckleheads in DC affect anything I do in retirement, like I never let 'em get to me while employed. My boys and my Grandbabies are tough, so they'll be fine . I just hope they get to keep a little more of their paycheck down the track.

You can always move to

February 8, 2008 - 10:52 ET by dscott

You can always move to Mexico or Costa Rica when you retire, that SS check will go much further there. <sarcasm>

Lord Sidious / Darth Vader 2008 Long Live the Empire! Come to the Dark Side, it is your Destiny.

Sorry...

February 8, 2008 - 12:28 ET by okiehawk44

But you can't just walk over the border into those countries dscott. No, those countries have respect for themselves and you will have to have permission, and be able to product evidence that you have resources necessary to care for yourself. (That was not meant as sarcasm) They do not want a bunch of illegal immigrants cluttering up their government support systems. What do you think Mexico and Costa Rica are. Some 3rd world country like America?

I'm being sarcastic, it's

February 8, 2008 - 15:38 ET by dscott

I'm being sarcastic, it's part of my charm. However, there are a lot of American Expatriates in both Mexico and Costa Rica, use a search engine on it.

Lord Sidious / Darth Vader 2008 Long Live the Empire! Come to the Dark Side, it is your Destiny.

Don't know about Costa

February 8, 2008 - 16:37 ET by drillanwr

Don't know about Costa Rica, but I do know Mexico's Constitution is 100x tougher/more enforced than ours, and American's there even LEGALLY are NOT granted half the stuff Mexican illegals are GIVEN here ...

When you men get home and face an anti-war protestor, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend because she knows she’s dating a pussy… ~ Attributed to General Tommy Franks

This might already have

February 8, 2008 - 17:16 ET by Roger the Shrubber

This might already have been mentioned, but Shuster was suspended by NBC for his comments about pimping out Chelsea. Nobody in the media is safe When Clintonistas atttack!

→ Roger

February 8, 2008 - 17:24 ET by Cool Arrow

We wouldn't have any old footage of Shuster commenting on the Imus fiasco, would we?

♣ a seal

Cool... Now that would be

February 8, 2008 - 17:55 ET by bigtimer

Cool...

Now that would be delicious.

Mt Pet Goat

February 8, 2008 - 17:37 ET by

We all know who, and which party he's with, was sleeping on the job on 9-11.

Pizza Breath,

February 8, 2008 - 17:44 ET by R D Helm

You must be referring to Wee Willie Clinton, who slept through the five attacks Osama's goons carried out against this country while he was busy servicing interns.

I thought you might be.

Mangi bene

None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe

Kool-Aid Jingo

February 8, 2008 - 18:14 ET by

More Kool-Aid legend jingo.

Pizza Breath, so you deny the five attacks under Wee Willy?

February 8, 2008 - 21:36 ET by R D Helm

Were you locked in the smokehouse with all that peperoni during the 1990s?

None are so hopelessly enslaved as those who falsely believe they are free. -J.W. von Goethe

Yes, we know who was

February 8, 2008 - 21:49 ET by dscott

Yes, we know who was responsible for 911 and whose policies encouraged it, that would be Clinton. 911 was conceived, planned, financed and trained for years under Clinton(s) watch by a man who Clinton had 10 chances to kill, but instead got 3000 people killed on one day. Yeah, Pizza Boy, we certainly do know the PARTY that incompetent boob was associated with, the Democrat Party. And that idiot blind sided all of us to the danger by not telling George W Bush about it. Instead his childish infantile cronies spent November to January removing the Ws from computer keyboards. I think that pretty much sums up the degree of professionalism of Clinton Democrats. Lord Sidious / Darth Vader 2008 Long Live the Empire! Come to the Dark Side, it is your Destiny.

Ah, Newsbusters' latest

February 9, 2008 - 11:17 ET by Roger the Shrubber

Ah, Newsbusters' latest out-of-touch liberal chimes in.

Are these geniuses frozen in ice in 2002, to be revived one at a time to come here to vomit up 5-year-old lefty talking points?

Why do any of you guys bother to respond to little immature douchebags like this?

Hey shrubbo... keep up the

February 9, 2008 - 11:37 ET by Jack Bauer

Hey shrubbo... keep up the good working SPEAKING POWER TO DOUCHE

I guess said douche will be doing ALL in his power to stop Bush/Cheney08.

Check out my exclusive edit of BBC News America's interview with Mrs Clinton: It's news to me!

You mean Evil Robot

February 9, 2008 - 15:04 ET by Roger the Shrubber

You mean Evil Robot Bush/Cheney '08, right?

I respect Romney and had

February 8, 2008 - 17:50 ET by Jer

I respect Romney and had been sufficiently impressed with his debate performances that I felt comfortable with the possibility of voting for him in the event of a Hillary nomination.

However, while the issue of national security is of paramount importance, leading off his campaign suspension speech with claims of a Clinton or Obama "surrender to terror" was outrageous, tasteless and pathetically misguided.

Obama's reaction was perfectly justified.

Jer

Did you hear? Under

February 8, 2008 - 17:54 ET by fitzfong

Did you hear? Under pressure from the Hillary department of propaganda, the network suspended Shyster for his "pimping out" comment relating to Chelsea. It's so easy to catalogue the litany obnoxious, offensive and factually erroneous statements Shyster has made about Republicans just in recent months...but don't cross the Clintons. They don't call it MSDNC for nothing.

Make

Sure

Nobody

Bashes the

Clintons

Very clever, fitz...

February 8, 2008 - 18:13 ET by Jer

Very clever, fitz...inaccurate, but clever. The Clintons have been taking a pretty serious bashing on MSNBC for years.

Jer

Yes, Jer. And like

February 8, 2008 - 18:51 ET by fitzfong

Yes, Jer. And like Shuster and Chrissy Matthews before him, they always end up having to read prepared statements apologizing for offending the Clintons. I'll have to check out Shuster's apology tonight to see if he's blinking in morse code.