Obama's 'Attack Watch': Paranoid or 'just politics'?
The president's re-election campaign launches a site to respond to "smears" — and conservatives insist he's promoting Nixonian snooping
President Obama's re-election campaign has launched a website called "Attack Watch" to "fight smears" and criticisms from Republicans. The site offers Obama supporters an efficient way to "report an attack," and promises that "when another unfounded attack surfaces, we'll arm you with the truth." Conservative bloggers have mocked the site, saying it makes Obama look like "a creepy authoritarian nut job." Is Attack Watch a sign of paranoia, or just a smart way to spot campaign attacks and nip them in the bud?
Obama is being paranoid and scary: This is positively Nixonian, says Seth Mandel at Commentary, except that Richard Nixon had the political instinct to hide his Enemies List. "Obama is openly promoting a program to 'report' on private citizens." It might have been OK back in 2008 when, as a senator running for the White House, Obama mounted a similar online effort called "Fight the Smears," but presidents should rise above such inappropriate antics. Attack Watch helps validate the GOP complaint that government is "too meddlesome."
"Obama to supporters: 'Report my critics'"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But Republicans really are out to smear Obama: This is rich, says Media Matters for America. Right-wing bloggers spend years relentlessly smearing Obama, "pushing the claim that he was not born in the United States, claiming he was educated in a madrassa, attacking his faith, and claiming the administration committed federal crimes." And now they're calling him paranoid for concocting a way to fight back? Who's the silly one, again?
"After years of smearing Obama, right-wing media mock Obama for anti-smear site"
And candidates have to counter rumors somehow: Attack Watch isn't paranoid — it's "just politics," says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway. It would be silly for Obama to respond personally to "every stupid rumor" that appears online. The internet has a way of feeding bogus attacks — I'm looking at you, Birthers — and "investing a few campaign resources... to bat those rumors down is a good idea."
"Attack Watch: It's just politics, folks"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Horror stories of women having to carry nonviable fetuses'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 26, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - teleprompter troubles, presidential immunity, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published