At the Democratic Convention -- Coffee Talk with Rev. Rivers

By Keith R. Schmitz

Being big fans of Morning Joe, Lana and I were planning to make it over to the remote broadcast over at Sams #3 diner on 15th St. here in Denver. Our hotel was just that close, and having caught that Howard Dean was up we had to shoot over to see if we could catch the Governor. We made it.

Great line-up of guests including Sen. Jim Webb, the affable mayor of Denver John Hickenlooper and Tim Russet's son Luke. Got to joke with Willie Geist about the Brett Favre trade. As McCain campaign guy Rick Schmidt was ambling out wished him luck, and added "sorta."

Had a nice chat with MSNBC commentator, the Rev. Eugene Rivers about Michelle Obama's speech last night. Though he rode Obama a bit hard during the primaries, Rev. Rivers felt that Michelle had definitely turned the corner of public opinion. According to Rivers, "after last night, no one can question Michelle's love of America or her authenticity."

That of course leaves out the McCain camplaign.

Rivers also felt that based on the McCain's status as underdog, the camplaign feels they have no alternative but to attack.

On that note...

As a follow-up, this from Andy Borowitz:

New McCain Ad Attacks Obama Kids
Cute, Not Ready to Lead, Ad Claims


In what might be his most controversial attack ad in a campaign dominated by them, presumptive G.O.P. presidential nominee John McCain today launched a new TV spot attacking Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill)'s two children.

According to political insiders, a negative ad targeting a rival's offspring is highly unorthodox, especially when the children in question are under the age of ten.

But after the two Obama kids scored in their performance on national television last night at the Democratic convention, "we had to do something to give the American people some straight talk on those two brats," Sen. McCain said today.

In the ad, which is being broadcast in key swing states, an announcer intones, "They're the cutest children in the world - but are they ready to lead?"

The spot uses visuals to link the two Obama kids to other famously cute kids, such as the young Drew Barrymore and the Cabbage Patch dolls.

The commercial goes on to blast the Obama children for "smiling and giggling but refusing to state their position on offshore oil drilling."

While some critics questioned how well the ad would play in living rooms across America, Sen. McCain defended it, telling reporters, "It played very well in all of my living rooms."