What do you say when you have nothing to say

I've noticed the McCain campaign using this line twice now, and I have a feeling that I'm going to be hearing it a lot more.  Obama or Biden wil attach McCain or Palin on a substantive issue, and the GOP response will be something along the lines of "that's just a desparate attack".  This is clearly the politics of avoidance.  They have nothing to say, so the best thing they can do is belittle any reasoned argument.

(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday detailed his plan to strengthen the education system and charged that the Bush administration's "failure to act has put our nation in jeopardy."

Sen. Barack Obama talks education in Riverside, Ohio, on Tuesday.

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"Our kids and our country can't afford four more years of neglect and indifference. At this defining moment in our history, America faces few more urgent challenges than preparing our children to compete in a global economy," Obama said at a campaign event in Riverside, Ohio.

Obama also charged that Sen. John McCain hasn't done "one thing" to improve public education.

Obama's speech came as his campaign released an ad that said McCain's economic plan would divert funds from public education. McCain's campaign called Obama's allegations a "desperate attack."...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/09/campaign.wrap/index.html

Here's another example.  Anyone who understands anything about science and medicine know that stem cells, while not a sure cure, are our best hope at finding cures for numerous diseases and yes, helping special needs children.  You can still disagree on policy or moral grounds.  But, when Joe Biden discuses this, he is called "desparate".  This is such a ridiculous distortion.

McCain camp says Biden 'sunk to a new low'

Posted: 04:44 PM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Was Biden referencing Palin in his comments about stem cell research?

(CNN) — John McCain's campaign hit back hard at Joe Biden Tuesday after the Democratic VP candidate appeared to suggest Republicans who do not support stem cell research — like GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin — are lacking in their support of children with disabilities.

“Barack Obama’s running mate sunk to a new low today launching an offensive debate over who cares more about special needs children," McCain-Palin spokesman Ben Porritt said. "Playing politics with this issue is disturbing and indicative of a desperate campaign."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/09/mccain-camp-says-biden-sunk-to-a-new-low/