Bloggers respond to TN GOP attack ad controversy

Local bloggers are calling TN Republican Party Spokesman Bill Hobbs everything from the new Karl Rove to low class following another controversial attack ad against Barack Obama's campaign to become the next President of the United States.

Some bloggers suggest Hobbs is aiming for bigger and better things despite the negative attention from both the media and senior state Republicans. The folks at Red State Update posted this video in response to the controversy.

The controversy stems from an ad posted on YouTube by the TN GOP that attacks Michelle Obama for saying "for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country."

The ad has been seen more than 600,000 times and resulted in both of Tennessee's Republican senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander condemning the ad. Obama responded to the ad on national television yesterday, warning the party to "lay off my wife." The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported today that one of those featured in the ad owned a strip club in Nashville.

Memo to Obama - TN Republican Party Spokesman Bill Hobbs
Barack, really now, you can't have it both ways. You can't send your wife out on the campaign trail to give campaign speeches and do fund-raisers on your behalf and then complain that she gets a little criticism. And if you think she ought not get public scrutiny, then you probably shouldn't take her with you onto Good Morning America and condescendingly demand she be left out of the spotlight.

Statement on the Tennessee Republican Party Divide - TN Democratic Party Chairman Gray Sasser
Going so far as to use a former strip club owner to make their point, the TNGOP betrays their voter’s confidence and further increases the likelihood that their deplorable attack against Sen. Barack Obama’s wife will be one more national news item mischaracterizing the vast majority of Tennesseans. It appears that the Tennessee Republican Party would rather use a pornographer as their spokesperson than their top elected officials Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator Bob Corker.

Where is Hobbs Headed? - Tiny Cat Pants
What does this mean for the TNGOP? I’m not sure. The trouble they face is that, in the grand scheme of things, one man is like a tug boat and the party is like a giant ship. A tug boat can maneuver and turn and even steer the ship. But what the people on the ship have to be aware of is that, once the tug boat has sent them in a direction, they need time and room to turn away from that.

The Game Has Two Opposing Sides - Newscoma
Want to see non-scandal du jour? Call on Hobbs these days. Hobbs is this decade’s new Rove. Little Rove, if you will. Instead of lurking, he’s out there. Mark says this is not the way usual shillers do it but I’m not sure if Hobbs is just changing the game. Hobbs has gained infamous celebrity. Addictive, ain’t it Bill.

Taking a Break From All My Worries - DorkNation
I can understand that. He wants to move on to bigger and better. It isn’t a tough, challenging gig being the TNGOP flack. It doesn’t take much to motivate the home team, just put up a picture of a brown person looking vaguely foreign or feign outrage at the lack of a colorful pin or attack, then retreat and complain that others have taken your attack too seriously. Mention God a little. It’s as easy as that!

TNGOP smear ad against Sen. Obama’s wife is really a “ligthearted video” - The Donkey's Mouth
At what point does the Tennessee Republican Party believe they should attack a candidate’s wife? Apparently, they do it even before her husband is the nominee. Attacking the not-yet candidate is presumptuous, but attacking the candidate’s wife is the sort of low class attacks one could expect from the Tennessee Republican Party through November.

Obama Tells TN GOP “Be Careful!”, I Ask “Or What?” - Blue Collar Muse
Excuse me? It is not the GOP that turned Michelle Obama into a target. It was Obama himself. He is the one who sent or permitted her to be sent in his name out into the political arena to bear his standard. If, for whatever reason, she does a poor job of standard bearing, how is that the fault of the opposition?

Corker sides with Obama - Right Minded
It looks like Tennessee Republicans have found an enemy in an elected Republican, similar to McCain's beef with the North Carolina GOP. Bob Corker, do you want your party to win, or not?

Please, cry me a river - Kay Brooks
Seems to me Obama can't have it both ways. He can't complain about how unfair it was and then be the agent that ensures hundreds of thousands more people see it. I have to assume that he intended to flip what was originally a small swipe at the Mrs. by one state GOP PR arm into a much bigger opportunity for his campaign's benefit.