New Mexico’s GOP is attacking Barack Obama, who hasn’t even won the nomination yet. The attacks are in the hinterlands, aimed at small town residents who, of course, are the natural constituency of the party of Big Business and the Rich. Of course, Republicans share your values, especially the prime directive of “every man for himself” and “anything goes if it gets you ahead of the next chump.” Gawd bless Das Volk for buying that (and literally paying for it in the process).

Is this early attack a first? Where did the Democratic Party pay for attack ads before McCain (aka Duhbya Too) became the presumptive nominee? Must be a proud moment for Minister of Truth, Scott Darnell, who is the picture of “wet behind the ears.” It was Darnell who explained some months ago that the NM GOP waits until June for its primary because they have better things to spend their money on: i.e., let the public fund the GOP’s contest while the Dems pay their own way. Sound hypocritical? In effect, the taxpayers are paying for these attack ads.

Darnell has been tapped by Gene Grant of *public* TV’s In Focus (ironic) to fill the shoes of Whitney Cheshire (Gene’s bud from the Wilson camp), who had stepped into the the huge void left by John Dimdahl, the great dragon of the NM GOP. Darnell’s no Dimdahl (I’m not sure who that insults), but maybe he can grow up to be a mini-Rove, former Minister of Disinformation. peace, mjh

ABQJOURNALNEWS/STATE: NM GOP Airs Ads Criticizing Obama’s ‘Working Class’ Comments By Deborah Baker/Associated Press
SANTA FE — The state Republican Party is airing radio ads in eight New Mexico communities criticizing Barack Obama for his recent comments about bitter working-class voters who “cling to guns or religion.”
The first of the ads began Thursday, and they’ll continue through April 25, said Scott Darnell, the party’s director of communications.
Darnell said the GOP wants to make sure rural voters know what the Democratic presidential candidate said, characterizing his comments as “out of touch with them and possibly not respectful of their values.”
He declined to say what the party is spending on the ads.

PS: On this week’s In Focus, Scotty D sported a very cool trace mustache and proto-chin hairs. I’m sure the graybeards of his party share his values on facial hair. More importantly, Scotty made the same case made in those radio ads, but nobody called him on it or mentioned the ads.