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Yesterday’s town-hall style debate between Barack Obama and John McCain was won by the Democratic contender according to instant polls of debate watchers. While no overt below-the-belt attacks were launched, McCain at one point referred to Obama’s “cronies and friends,” and at another point, pointed to Obama and called him “that one over there.” McCain’s show of disrespect toward his rival has already started to make waves in the blogosphere. But it seems as though the GOP strategy in these last few weeks of the election as McCain’s polls numbers have slipped dangerously, is for his VP to be unleashed as the attack dog. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been addressing rallies of thousands over the last several days, asserting that Barack Obama “pals around with terrorists.” Palin is referring to Bill Ayers, a former member of the radical 60s group Weather Underground, who served on non-profit boards with Obama, and who hosted a gathering to support Obama’s first Senate run in 1995. Obama was 8 when the Weather Underground launched its attacks. Yet, it seems as though the Republican Party is resorting to its traditional tactics of rumor and innuendo to malign its opponents and question their patriotism.

Where did this come from? A new documentary called Boogieman traces these types of tactics to Lee Atwater, a young man from South Carolina who showed Republicans that they could win races by using symbols of American patriotism, by whipping up cultural resentment, racism, and religious bigotry, and by ruthlessly planting rumors and lies in the media to tear down an opponent. Boogieman: The Lee Atwater Story is currently playing in select theaters.

For more information, visit www.boogiemanthefilm.com.