From TPM Reader KB …
Josh, I don’t know if you have anyone back in NY running the Tivo machines today, but on the ABC roundtable today Mark Halperin made the point (obviously whispered to him by McCain folks) that the houses flap of last week will end up being “worse” for Obama because it “opened the door” to Rezko, Ayers, Wright. But even Cokie Roberts and George S. seemed puzzled saying that the Houses story relates to the economy while the other stories are about past associations. Halperin seemed to be saying that the aggressiveness with which the Obama people drove the Houses story was a mistake because it woke a sleeping giant. He seemed to be arguing that Obama shouldn’t be too aggressive because then McCain will go after him (he even used the word “machisomo.” You have got to get this clip. Run it all the way through Roberts and Steph’s disagreeing.
It’s like a comic parody of the mentality I described a few days ago. Don’t get in McCain’s face because it’ll just be so much worse for you if you. By God, just keep your head down and try to muddle through! If you’re nice maybe he won’t hit you.
Is the Limbaugh, Drudge, McCain IV really so deep in Halperin’s arm that he thinks the McCain camp feels like it needs an opening to get into the Obama/Terrrorist/Scary Black Man menagerie? They were holding back on Rezko? Really?
Late Update: Wow, we’ve got the video coming shortly. And I have to say, far worse than KB describes. It’s a very tough standard, but I think this may be the stupidest thing Halperin has ever said. (Yes, I know, I know …) The McCain folks must be both loving and laughing at the guy at the same time.
Here’s the video:
Shorter Halperin: If you’re a Democrat, you really just better take it. Because the more you fight back, the worse it’s gonna be for you.
