Political Punch

I think it's more of a Pyrrhic victory for Sen. Clinton and the sleazy, smarmy tactics she and her husband have been using to drag racial questions into this campaign all the while denying that they're doing so. It seems that Sen. Clinton is following her husband's tactics of doing anything--and I mean absolutely ANYTHING--to win and then trying to control damages afterward. Unfortunately for her, she may just find the damages irreparable if she or her husband goes too far in using the "race card."

To Brandon,

If Obama was white with the same attributes and experience he wouldnt get the same amount of scrutiny as he is getting.

Hillary Clinton doesnt have any greater amount of experience than Obama besides being married to a former president. Last time I checked the wife of an Engineer doesnt go around signing off on bridges being constructed.

Politically when it comes to actual offices held, Obama has WAY more experience than Hillary who only won in NY out of popularity for the Clintons in general.

Out of this ignorant experience debate, lets examine our current presidents history...

Son of former president and CIA chief, rich history of politics in the family. Served as the Governor of one of the largest states in this country. Served as president TWICE, yet he would be the last person any American with commonsense would feel safe running the country for a third time.

As far as Black voting for Obama, he is the best one that has anything to offer the Black community (reference his experience as a Civil Rights attorney). So why would Blacks in general vote for anyone else?

If Clarence Thomas was running for President versus David Duke, more Blacks would probably vote for David Duke. Has nothing to do with race, has to do with the issues.

As a 22 year-old African-American I cannot wait until my Caucasian & Latino friends get to vote on Feb. 5th. It’s no secret that people like to support people who look like them but this is ridiculous. This man has no experience--would you let a third-year 3rd-year med student do open-heart surgery on you…NO. This means political war and I have distanced myself from some of my family who blindly support Obama because he is black. My city (Memphis) does the same thing—I guess some people love mayors that do nothing as a city declines, but my Mom & dad got a clue and moved to the county, outside of city limits. I am currently in grad school and I want all you Obama supporters to email me at bhubbar@yahoo.com after Feb. 5 so I can gloat.

Race and gender in this presidential contest is like the 'swift boat' against Kerry. "Swift Boat" wasn't true and either is this. But, maybe obama's campaign is the one making a big deal of it and planting people to ask the Clintons about race. Hmmmmmmm

See, that's the problem. No issues, no real information, just a lot of c--p on stupid stuff. How can anyone vote intelligently.

The press has been as bad as the Bush administration in reporting on the campaign. Just as Bush planted "journalists" and questions, the press inserts race by asking about it, when Clinton responds to the question, they report that he spoke about race.

Are we all so stupid that we cannot remember how this all started?

A race-neutral statement about MLK and LBJ became the ember that stoked the race baiting reporting. And the idea that commentary about Obama's drug use 20-years ago raises the specter of race just betrays the reporters' bias. The idea that drug use somehow implicates a person's race is based on the false notion that all blacks are drug users.

Clinton was questioned on drug us as was Bush.

Just some thoughts:

The race card: I don't think that Clinton is playing the race card anymore than Obama is playing it, or the gender card. Sometimes in the debates I find him very patronizing toward Hillary, but not the other candidates.

Obama's Speaking Ability:He's a credible candidate, tho IMHO not really exerienced enough for the top position of POTUS. He is a great speaker, very inspiring, but it doesn't replace experience.

JFK and Caroline: Comparing Obama to JFK is an error - JFK had been raised in politics, and had been in Congress and the Senate since 1947 before he tossed his hat in the ring in 1960; the election prior to that he tried for the nomination and was rejected due to age, experience and religion (Catholic).

South Carolina: I believe it rates between the lowest 47-50 states in the quality of it's schools, educations provided, percentage of high school graduates and quality of physical schools. Most people in SC, I would suppose, are products of SC schools, so I don't place much faith in their judgment.

Democratic Nominee: I would vote for Obama, clinton or Edwards - basically they would do about the same job for us...but first would be Clinton, then Obama and then Edwards. Clinton definitely understands the intricacies of getting things done in DC (and please don't bring up the first health care try...we all learned from that.)

Youth Vote: I noticed some surprise from whites in particular that so many young white, Asian, Hispanic, etc., are enamored of Obama. But since my child was little in the '70's parents and social systems have worked hard to erase old racial stigmas that were so wrong...so why wouldn't our youth like Obama as much as any other candidate. I don't think it's a racial thing. We've also educated our youth that women are as capable, smart and competent as men, so I don't think it's a gender thing.

Issues: Why don't the candidates and their advisors see the racial/gender/religious disparities are things of the past.....and get on with discussing the issues...not just what they are, or how everyone is going to bring us together. But, really getting into detail on what each candidate would do as President, how they would accomplish it, what it would cost, who it would benefit...the devil is in the details, and I'd like to know what the details of these issues, answers and implementation are. Getreal2008

By the way, Lynn Swann was just addressed this exact question of who would the GOP rather face. Swann essentially seemed to suggest Obama would indeed be more formidable.

I know the Republicans want Obama to win, but Hillary is going to be the nomination. So, no White House for the Republicans!!!

Posted by: will | Jan 27, 2008 3:27:09 AM

I think you have it totally backwards, will.

Republicans do not want come up against Obama. Have a look for yourself at some of the comments coming out of conservative blogs last night and this morning.

Look at Scarborough's comments last night immediately following Obama's speech last night about his blackberry blowing up with messages of admiration for Obama's performance.

Face it, Republicans have over fifteen years worth of ammunition stored up to fight Hill and Bill, and Bill's antics over the last several weeks only serve to reinforce the point. That's a fight the GOP is ready for, make no mistake about it.

Meanwhile, apart from Obama's policies and positions (which admittedly count for a helluva lot), Republicans would have little else to go against the guy on.

Couple that with the fact that many conservative bloggers and pundits have admitted that Obama's message of unity is appealing, and it's clear it would take a Herculean effort on the part of the GOP to beat him.

Billary, meanwhile, especially of late have shown an alarming propensity towards beating themselves, nevermind the opposition.

So I ask again, do you honestly believe Republicans would rather face Obama than HRC? This is planet Earth, right?

In our talks about the media and their calculated or irresponsible depiction of the Clintons political motivations, i think we forget just how good the Clintons are. I think that they are fully aware of everything the press says before it says it, and they use this to their advantage. We have short memories in America (and probably the world). The part that makes me sick is that, I am certain that these intentional attacks on Obama will be forgotten by January 5th. The guttural feeling it induces, however, will stay for a while. Bill is completely willing to tarnish his presidency for the opportunity to have another. Who could deny that Obama is the future of our party. The only question is when. Its sad to see the Clintons become in democratic eyes what they have always been to republicans: calculatedly callused and self-serving...just to get another chance in the white house.

The Clintons are desperately trying to paint Obama, who once was too white too be black, as now suddenly too black to be President now. All of this from Mr Clinton who self proclaimed himself as the first black President.

Bubba tries to depict Obama as being just like Jesse Jackson in this attempt to paint Obama black. Jesse is nothing like Obama and Obama is nothing like Jesse. But most importantly Obama is nothing like either of the Clintons.

My only concern is that Hillary will be just like Richard Nixon when defeated.

Jeff. I didn't get the impression that the ABC was undermining Obama's candidacy here. This blog writer's comments are (quite accurately I thought) feeling the "pulse" of this contest, that's all.

Naturally journalists are gonna write headlines that grab our attention (and it worked, didn't it?), but I didn't detect any bias against Obama as I read on. If anything it read as an indictment of the Clintons, and besides the text consisted mostly of quotes of other commentators' views, not necessarily the writer's own.

I like the fact, too, that he asks our opinions, which suggests that he values our input, and that makes him a good listener, which is in turn a prerequisite for a good media commentator.

It stands to reason there are going to be questions as to whether Obama is really winning in light of the recent attempts by the Clintons to undermine his candidicay. It seems to me that the writer was merely verbalizing our own questions about that. He was certainly verbalizing mine.

Said one: If you were going to hire a President Of Anything for your business, would you hire the college grad with 15 years experience, or the kid who is 18 just out of high school? You would hire the experience. Why not vote for the experience.

Says I: Well, I would definitely NOT hire the experienced person who looks out only for herself and runs the company into the ground. Same principle here, I guess.

I know the Republicans want Obama to win, but Hillary is going to be the nomination. So, no White House for the Republicans!!!

Let me get this straight the Clintons go after Obama 2 on 1.

He beats them 2 to 1.

Great strategy!!

And ABC ask if a win ia really a win?

ABC not a news organization but a DNC/Clinton shill!

Charlotte, I agree with you, as far
as the race issue goes. I distinctly
remembering Chris Matthews as the first
person to raise the race issue on MSNBC
right after the N.H. primary. He also,
along with Tucker Carlson, brought up
the word cocaine, and pretended to be
so shocked when, at a later date, someone,someone mentioned the word. I believe the media has, and will SHAPE this whole election process. The media is great for introducing these subjects,and ideas, places them in the public's heads, then tries to blame someone else for them. SHAME!

Robert Downey, I feel your pain. I didn't back then, when I thought the Clintons' transgressions were piddling. And maybe they were, but now I've come to see that they signaled an insane narcissism. I am reformed. And if Hillary is the nominee, I promise to vote for John McCain.

Mr. Del-Please spare us,half of all the american presidents have had mistresses. I would not be suprised if you hav one,for those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. It's is people that make comments like that destroy the democratic process, forgive me- but no one can bring up Obama's alleged drug due to his racial orientaiton is that not hypocrasy in it's fullest.

And Hillary is running not BIll.

As for Janie your statement just makes dems look bad, vote on the issues and who would best serve our nation not on a picture the media had generated months ago.

Billary is so vain she jets off from SC without her hubby in tow, leaving him to give her succession speech! Is that what we want POTUS Billary hiding behind her husband when the going gets tough! Bad choice Billary! Using racially oppressive rhetoric in this campaign only brings the races closer together!

Any man who has a history of abusing women and any woman who stands by a man of that character are people who should not be elected to the U.S. Presidency.
Bubba was Monica's ex-boyfriend and Hillary stood by, enabling his abuse of interns, volunteers and female employees. Hillary made excuses for Monica's ex, pretended to be angry and then blamed the 'vast right wing conspiracy' for Bubba's sickness of sexual predation. He belongs in a hospital getting treatment for his sickness.

Do you honestly believed that Hillary could control this mens sickness while president? These two are two of a kind. HIS sick sexual predators and HER sexual slave mentality.

.............STORY'S OF THE SMOKE FILLED ROOM.........

The thick cigar smoke still hung over his clothes as he looked at Hillary,
Hon. we have lost. Bill didn't have to say anything else, as Hillary's eyes shift down towards her new shoes. Ever since Iowa she knew it would happen.. the tone of her own voice now surprise her!.. Bill what kind of deal can we make with him. Think if I cry OBAMA will quit.... Bill smile tears now coming to his eyes, As his memory race to the times he had used them as props when he was president.
She now looked up and even her breast looked small. She just didn't want To inhale smoke. Every time she saw Bill with cigar on his lips Monica Lowisky came to mind.......the hussy she just knew it was not her Bills fault...... to be continue

Hey Janie,

That picture you saw of Obama, Richardson, and Clinton standing before the flag, they were actually standing to the National Anthem. Richardson and Clinton weren't wrong, but they weren't totally right either....

You ONLY have to place your hand over your heart for the Pledge of Allegiance, not the National Anthem. For the Anthem, you just have to rise at attention and sing along. Most civilians have no clue and place their hands over their heart for anything, even "Anchors Away" or "The Marines Hymn".

Please educate yourself.

Sincerely,
A former Marine SGT

I don't feel that it was Hillary or Bill that pulled the "race card" It was Obama himself that did that. Isn't anyone paying attention. The sad state of affairs is that people only hear the "words" they want to hear. All of a sudden he said she said takes on a whole new life. She said something about MLK, he said something about this or that. COME ON! This is not about any of that. It is about who is best for this country. Personally, I think we already have a president that jumbles his way out of answering and stutters all over the place. Seriously, did no one watch the debate. The Clinton's know exactly what they are doing, they have done it before, as has John Edwards. Do you people really want a newbie in the white house? Obama does not have a clue what he is up against. I vote for experience ever time. Think about it. If you were going to hire a President Of Anything for your business, would you hire the college grad with 15 years experience, or the kid who is 18 just out of high school? You would hire the experience. Why not vote for the experience.

OBAMA WILL NEVER BE MY PRIESIDENT EVEN IF HE WOULD SOME HOW WIN HE CAN'T EVEN PUT HIS HAND OVER HIS HEART WHEN THEY PLAY THE NATION AMTHAM IF HE DOESN'T HAVE RESPECT FOR MY FLAG I'LL NEVER HAVE RESPECT FOR HIM PEROID.

The polarization started in New Hampshire. Hillary strategically cried crocodile tears to polarize the genders. What still baffles me is why her supporters consider her crying words, "I have so many opportunities from this country. I just don't want to see us fall backwards..." to be so moving. Where is the patriotic sacrifice which these choked-up words declare? Where is the political humility to which these moving words even allude? If we agree for a moment that there were no patriotic sacrifice and no political humility, then it is not hard to see why Hilary was truly crying. I think she could sense that the crown of the Clinton dynasty was slipping away--the crown she knows in her heart she alone deserves. I think the revolutionary philosopher, Karl Marx, got it wrong when he said religion is the opiate of the people. I think political dynasties are the true opiate of the people. This is ironic considering her surrogates' less-than-subtle references to Obama's teenage drug use. Perhaps one should pause to ponder an opiate that afflicts--not just one person--but our entire nation.

Ok people, one more time:

This is our nation:
"..life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

These are our dynasties:
Bush--Clinton--Clinton--Bush--Bush

This is our nation "on" dynasties:
"Read my lips: no new taxes." (Bush)
"I did not inhale." (Clinton)
"I did not have sex with that woman." (Clinton)
"Iraq has...weapons of mass destruction." (Bush)
"This economy is strong and solid." (Bush)

Any questions?

I reject the premise entirely, it was the media who made this about race and gender. They twist the candidates words around and misrepresent what they say and then dwell on it for weaks. Not only did the obama camp cry victim, the entire time, and as well sell him self as the black candidate in South Carolina only, which is completly different from the way he campaigned in Iowa and New Hampshire. If any thing he is the change candidate run from one state to another with a different premise each time. He is a deadly chamelon. I and others I know do not like that he has no true stances and the media should look at him harder and with more scruntiny. They have given him a free pass for thier own agendas and that is not fair to the american people who truly should be voting on the issues. The NY Times said it best when endorsing Clinton. For this is not a time for America to be taking such chances on a candidate of change. Change comes from chipping away from the bottom and then building your way to the top. Obama has jumped to fast and to far, and seems to blame everyone else when he is trouble. This is not the type of president america needs to take responsiblity for his actions and give us straigt facts instead of run around answers.

I did not ever imagine the race card would be used so forcefully among any democratic candidate particularly the Clintons, I guess I was naive. The whole thing has been a Karl Rove style attack starting from Sheehan in New Hampshire, to Bob Kerry's speach to Bubba's dispacable use of race in recent days.

Unfortunately, it is likely to work since in the key states, the hispanic vote is large and most will not vote for a "black" person. The Clintons have done the number crunching and they know very well the impact of marginalizing Obama along racial lines among key voting groups.