Well if it's a similar line of attack, it should be just as effective.

Specifics like offering people $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona?

Well, McCain's got a point. As I've said before, Obama does great speeches and rallies but has no plan. And yes, I have checked out Obama's policies.

I'm not a McCain fan but just saying....

Wow, this coming from John "I won't dignify that question with a non-answer" McCain...

Maybe 20-minute speeches aren't the right place to look, John.

@1 Let's Hope so.

And yet it still looks like he'd kick your ass. Someone else said it in another Slog thread, something like, "If an empty suit is beating you, you've got problems".

How does someone give speeches obviously? Is it the opposite of giving speeches obscurely?

I think the point of this line of attack is to goad him into taking the dull policy crap and lists of statistics from his website and white papers and write them into his speeches. That way they can make him into boring Al Gore or snide John Kerry.

It's much easier to laugh off somebody who puts all the details into what should be rousing oratory. What Hillary and McCain are really saying to Obama is "Can you please turn into an easier target for me?"

Did he really attack Obama for lake of specifics in speeches that he hasn't heard, without even using any specifics himself to back up the point? Did he say that with a straight face?

@3: Neither Clinton nor McCain have more specific policy statements than the breakdowns Obama has posted on his website. His "Blueprint for Change" (barackobama.com/issues) document is a 64-page rundown of every issue that's been brought up, and it references hundreds of other documents detailing each issue, in addition to hundreds of pages on the individual issues.

McCain offers very few details (johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues) and fewer numbers. Clinton has detailed plans (hillaryclinton.com/issues/) - but they're no more or less detailed than Barack's, and certainly there's not enough to justify this ridiculous assertion.

I'm sick of this meme that claims Obama has no plans. Matthew Yglesias, Carpetbagger, 60 Minutes, and Barack Obama have pointed out the absurdity of the claim, and that the reason his speeches are the way they are is because (A) they're very good at gaining him support, and that (B) people were whining about him being "too professorial" early on, when he did include the specifics.

So. Criticize Barack's policies, please. They are there in the most public place he can put them... without sounding "professorial."

@9-11 Unfair attacks have worked for Republicans over and over again.

@12: Sure, but I keep hearing this from Clinton and Democrats.

So, where can we find these $50 an hour jobs picking lettuce?

In other words, "No, you can't."

McCain's approach will set-up Obama beautifully in the general election. If undecideds view the presidential debates expecting Obama to be "light" on policy, he will seem even more impressive when he presents his strong policies, and in manner for more convincing and appealing than the sarcastic, easily flummoxed McCain. Granted, Obama needs to shore up his debating skills, but I believe his team will address this matter the same way they've addressed his other "weak areas." McCain has debated the same way for decades; the old man ain't gonna change. Also, Obama and his team are savvy enough to know that you don't present a PowerPoint on policy specifics at a massive rally, which are the events that are enabling the candidate to dominate the news cycle.

Obama has learned that 10 point plans don't win elections. There is no point in talking about specifics if you can't get elected. Anyone that has watched him on one the few shows that actually talk policy (Meet the Press) rather than horserace (most the rest) can see that he has a firm grasp on policy and specific ideas. Policy doesn't fit into soundbites unless it is $50 lettuce picking jobs and 100 years in Iraq.

Obama is being very smart. He is projecting a message that people want to hear, but he has the specific policies for when he actually wins and they become necessary.

@17 Indeed. If it were the wonkiest candidate who won, we'd be talking about how fantastic the two terms of President Cuomo were.

A two second Google search using "Obama +Issues" will tell you everything you wanted to know about where Obama stands, what his votes were, and his ideas for the future.

Just another baseless accusation from politicians running on empty.

um, no, that was us at our local caucus location. obama sucks at promises.

Clinton is right, and McCain is right, and sooner or later the lack of plans to match his rhetoric will catch up and entangle Obama.

It might happen in the primary (though big media seem disinclined to take it up).

It might happen in the general, possible extending Republican rule.

It might happen in the transition period, giving rise to headlines of a formative administration is disarray, and "another failed presidency".

Or it might happen when he's President, and god bless america.

Public confidence is a prerequisite to progressive governance, and Obama is setting us up for an epoch of disenchantment the likes of which we've not seen before.

[And yes, I have reviewed the campaign policy briefs, and I am familiar with Obama's public record.]

RonK, Seattle: Yet you yourself offer no specifics. Name which Obama policy you say is lacking in detail. I bet the detail is there if you were to Google it. Lets find out.