Declarations that Marked the Campaign

From the Democratic primaries battles to the summer debates, and including phrases from the other debates, we return to specific moments that marked the American presidential campaign.

“She’s a monster. She’ll do anything.”

This critique, made during the Democratic primaries by one of Barack Obama’s advisors about Hillary Clinton, illustrates the harshness of the battle the two candidates were involved in. After the controversy sparked by her statement, Samantha Power quickly resigned.

“Race is a question that our country cannot afford to ignore.”

March 18 in Philadelphia, the Illinois Senator and candidate tackled this tricky question, with lyrical accents, in a speech that would be swiftly saluted. But during the rest of the campaign, his skin color was not overtly mentioned.

“You’re right, John McCain has never talked about my Muslim faith.”

This slip-of-the-tongue from Barack Obama during an interview with ABC, relaunched the controversy over his religion. Everyone would emphasize that it was a mistake, but the campaign to prove he was Muslim would start again, especially on the Internet. The results of a survey carried out in Texas at the end of October revealed that 23% of this state’s electors were persuaded that the Democratic candidate was Muslim.

“I’ll follow Ben Laden to the gates of hell.”

John McCain repeated this phrase time and time again, to show his desire to capture public enemy number one, and more generally, to fight against terrorism. But after the economic crisis demoralized the country, these themes would fall to the background because of the electorate’s preoccupations.

“I don’t go to Washington to seek media approval.”

Sarah Palin, the Alaska governor unknown by the public at large, chosen by John McCain as his running mate, wanted to make the most of this unexpected appointment. In her first speech at the Republican convention, she adopted a tough tone against Obama and the media, which she did not abandon in the next speech.

“It is an organization that is totally, 150% devoted to the Democratic candidate.”

When the McCain campaign floundered, his strategist Steve Schmidt overtly attacked the New York Times, and the “liberal” press in general, accusing them of favoring the Democratic candidate. He did this again when the press raised several issues concerning Sarah Palin. The relationship between the large national newspapers and the Republican brain trust would deteriorate throughout the campaign.

“I can see Russia from my house!”

This phrase was spoken by comedian Tina Fey during one of her very convincing imitations of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. The sketches from this NBC series gathered a cult following on the web, and throughout the campaign were much commented on by comedians.

“You can put lipstick on a pig: it’s still a pig.”

The ferocious controversy created by this remark from Obama, interpreted as a joke at Sarah Palin’s expense, shows to what point the theme of sexism was inherent during this campaign. The Republican running mate, like Hillary Clinton during the primaries, complained several times of male chauvinism and the media treatment she had to face.

“Chuck, stand up so they can see you.”

Joe Biden, Barack Obama’s running mate, was accustomed to blunders. During a meeting in Missouri, he asked Senator Chuck Graham to stand up in front of the cameras, before remembering that he was in a wheelchair. In the eyes of Republicans, Biden benefited from privileged media treatment of his slip-ups, which were less replayed than those of Palin or McCain. A sentiment confirmed by several studies by media observers.

“If you earn less than $250,000 per year, your taxes will not increase a single cent.”

Repeated as a mantra during his meetings, this promise is the cornerstone of Obama’s economic program, unlike the general tax decreases put in place by George Bush. He wanted to, as the Democratic candidate declared, “redistribute wealth,” which made him be seen as a socialist. But according to polls, he appeared to be more able to settle the economic crisis and more able to listen to the middle class’s unavoidable problems.

“I’m addressing myself to you, Joe the plumber.”

Joe Wurzelbacher, who presented himself as a plumber, questioned Barack Obama on his fiscal propositions. In response to critics who emphasized that he didn’t mention the middle class in previous debates, John McCain profited from the third televised debate by addressing himself directly to “Joe.” When he became the Republican campaign mascot during the last weeks of October, the press revealed that Joe was not his name and that he was not a plumber.

“I am not George Bush!”

During the third and final debate between the two candidates, John McCain wanted to note his distance with the departing Republican president, while Democrats denounced their similarities. Barack Obama did not hesitate to emphasize that his rival vote “90% of the time” with George Bush, whose unpopularity broke records.

“Sarah Palin is far from being qualified for this position of great responsibility”:

After the euphoria that followed the announcement of the Republican ticket, the Sarah Palin effect was quickly glossed over and, in the eyes of some, turned against John McCain. This is notably the opinion of many of the party’s leading experts, such as Ken Adelman, former diplomatic adviser to Ronald Reagan, who publicly rallied for Obama.

“Barack Obama and terrorist Bill Ayers are friends”

The two candidates made sure, during the summer, that they led a clean fight. But negative publicity later erupted. In public opinion, this came more often from Republicans, even if Obama did not go entirely without resorting to it. In the end, the 2008 presidential campaign was the most expensive in history, notably because of the explosion of budgets dedicated to radio and television publicity, especially on the Democratic side.