Political Punch

I have just lived through the recent French presidential election and watched Sarkozy ignore his track record as a member of the incumbent president's cabinet. No, his record wasn't important and how they regret it now! But it's too late.
So, we've got to focuc on the records of the candidates and not on their rhetoric.

While watching the debate I realize that CNN deliberately planted the question that definitely started the bickering between Clinton and Obama.
The very first question from Suzanne Malveaux was:
“I'd like to follow-up with Senator Obama. It was just a few days ago that Senator Clinton asserted that she was the strongest candidate when it comes to fiscal responsibility. She says that the new programs that she proposes she essentially can pay for. She says that you have failed in that regard in the tune of some $50 billion worth of new programs that you cannot account for. How do you respond to that charge?”

Pay attention at the way they framed the question.
I can’t really blame Obama or Hillary for falling for it, they were ready for each other but not for CNN.
Shame on CNN for playing this dirty trick. They just love to make a good show for all America and the world to watch.
In another comment, To what experience Hillary is referring to? She has never been a governor of a state, or have been elected for anything but the few years she has as senator for NY, and has she done anything for NY? What are her qualifications? What is she going to do with the Real State crisis? Maybe the same thing she did with Whitewater.

Heaven forbid that Obama's campaign be accused of dirty tricks for telling Independents and Repubicans that they have every legal right to vote in the Caucus, if that's the one that matters most to them.

Woe betide if they say that Hillary Clinton is polarizing, that she calls big business donors "real people" who have the right to buy politicians, and that she voted for and made false claims supporting a war which, incidentally, killed one of my friends and left another in chronic pain for the rest of his life.

All this arguably negative flyer says is the truth. It doesn't even touch upon the sea of pain that Hillary Clinton has left in her wake.

If Obama's campaign was playing by the same set of dirty tricks that Hillary's is, we'd be seeing those old smears the Republicans used to do about the Clintons being communist agents who went to Russia in their youth.

We've already seen Clinton and her surrogates go after Obama because he was a five-year-old who wanted to be president some day. We've seen them use surrogates to falsely accuse him of being a drug dealer, and lie about him being taught in a fundamentalist madrassa as a young boy. What are they going to drag out next?!

Even Former President Clinton, who at his best once brought people hope, is engaging in cynical, selfserving lies and historical revisionism unworthy of a former president. Do we really want former presidents insulting the future leaders of their party?

Shame on you, Bill Clinton. We should've nominated Al Gore in 1992 instead of your lying, cheating, unethical ***.

Obama has not done anything underhanded. Im glad this kid realized his flyer was'nt what the Obama campaign would want and stopped it. The article states quite clearly that the kid is not related to the Obama campaign or Obama campaign tactics in any way. Obama is a gentleman and has gone out of his way not to make personal attacks, and even not to respond to the multitude of personal attacks the Clinton campaign is making against him. He was the first to stand up and call for an end to the race baited attacks, even though Clinton started it. She just followed, as usual.

Hey Obama
We remember your message running for Seante "I STand behind President Bush on Iraq"
Did you just say that to get elected? and if so why should we believe anything you say now? Oh thats right your saying nothing!

First what unity will he bring? It is the Dems that are trying to split the country now!! So no Dem is going to bring Unity!

But you got to love it the attacks without being blamed for it, Telling the press this is what I was handing out, but decided against it! they are using the press as their attack dogs and stapping away from the backlash, and the press lets them get away with it?

Come on Obama admit you are using Dirty Politics and probably worse the Hilary!

You libs are something else, an independat party attacks the Dems, oh the Republicans candidate did it, but a member of a Democrats staff puts something out and oh the Candidate knew nothing of it.

Are you Dems/libs so gulible? If so why would we want you in Government!

These are the best and more honest opinions I found in this site. They are people of courage that express their opinion without fear and without being bias.

Folks we need someone who can get along with both sides in Congress.This is not a vote for a feminine "glass ceiling",the "right time" for a African America,a WASP,a Mormon,a Born Again Christian.This has nothing to do with sex,age,ethnicity,sexual orientation.It is critical we elect someone who can get something done.Voter want action more than change.the experience Hillary touts is the fact she can't get along.Conspiracy mongering got the Republicans the Congress.We don't need them back because dispite all the shake ups nothing has been done since 1996.Yes everyone on all sides need to be involved because the Parties or the media shouldn't chose the candidate the voters should.So yes I vote "Anybody but Hillary."It's time for her to join the Carters,the GHW Bushs,Al Gore,Bill Clinton and do something truly altruistic to help the world.

Posted by: skvira

What about Hillary's flier distorting Obama's stance on abortion? Where's the abcnews.com blog item on that? What about the Clinton campaign's underhanded tactics of trying to identify Obama as a Muslim because of his middle name? The multiple Clinton aides who have attacked Obama on the basis of ancient drug-use (which he was forthcoming about in his book, unlike Bill Clinton)? The list goes on and on ... The Clinton camp will not tire until their white-knuckled grip on power is taken away from them by the voters of this country.

Posted by: Erica

Hillary had self pity crying today. Obama experimented in his youth. Seems clear I would would want the candidate who unites people and has better polices, Obama. Or you can continue to worry about trivial stuff as your health care costs go up and loved ones are killed in Iraq.
Posted by: dalittle
I don't think Clinton will be able to handle the presidency. The way she cried concerns me. What happens if the terrorists attack? Is she going to cry all over the place or have a nervous breakdown? Will Bill have to fix it for her because she's in over her head? I was a supporter of Clinton until I saw that...now I think she shouldn't be running.
Posted by: Maria
Is Clinton the choice fo experiance and chang.
In a news conference Deanna Favre announced she will be the starting QB for the Packers this coming Sunday. Deanna asserts that she is qualified to be starting QB because she has spent the past 16 years married to Brett while he played QB for the Packers. During this period of time she became familiar with the definition of a corner blitz, and is now completely comfortable with other terminology of the Packers offense. A survey of Packers fans shows that 50% of those polled supported the move.
Does this sounds idiotic and unbelievable to you? Well, Hillary Clinton makes the same claims as to why she is qualified to be President and 50% of democrats polled agreed. She has never run a City, County, or State.
When told Hillary Clinton has experience because she has 8 years in the white house, Dick Morris stated "so has the pastry chef".
Posted by: Norm
Obama voted consistently against the war all through the years.
He voted for funding, to get the troops out of harms way, since Bush appeared sincere to help the troops.
He stopped voting to fund the war when he knew Bush was not sincere.
So Obama's voting to get the troops out of harms way is consistent with earlier stance: voting aginst it.
Posted by: I love America
Ralph:
You say she voted based on information?
The woman didn't even take the time to read the whole NIE. (Bill Nelson, who had planned to vote for the war, did read it...and ended up NOT voting.)
Too bad she was busy raising money from lobbyists rather than doing work that would have saved the lives of thousands of our bravest men and women.
Posted by: David
I believe it is important that at least guarantee that a Democrat candidate wins in this elections, in order to break the status quo and bring change to the Whit House.
The truth of the matter is that while it may sound very exciting to bring a woman to the White House, the problem is not just that, it is bringing the right woman, or per say, “ the right candidate” that can take this country out of the mess in which it is submitted. Hillary Clinton even if well qualified for the job is not “electable” in the National Elections because she is very polarizing, you either love her or hate her, and there is no middle term.
She should know this, but her egocentric personality doesn’t allow her to accept that fact. Maybe it is not the right time yet for a woman in the White House. Those raucous and rancorous feminists out there need to come down, and do something positive for the country, and stop using divisionism in their tactics. This is not a game.
Having done my homework, I know for fact the 65% of the population is Republican, and in the National Elections, she would loose to even the most unpopular Republican candidate. So why waste time voting for her and not dedicate our full support for Obama, a candidate that bring unity and is appealing to voter from both sides and even independents ?

Great headline: 1.medicare is not free2.social security is taxed if you have a pension and are above the poverty level3.Widow don't get benefits until 60 and at reduced rates4.some states don't allow widowed teachers to SSI at all because they have pensions5.Massachusetts can't find the money for universal health and you want everyone to have it, we are 37th in the world in health care and leaving it up to the insurance companies to improve it means less care more profit.6.The ice caps are melting and sea coasts will disappear.
Folks we need someone who can get along with both sides in Congress.This is not a vote for a feminine "glass ceiling",the "right time" for a African America,a WASP,a Mormon,a Born Again Christian.This has nothing to do with sex,age,ethnicity,sexual orientation.It is critical we elect someone who can get something done.Voter want action more than change.the experience Hillary touts is the fact she can't get along.Conspiracy mongering got the Republicans the Congress.We don't need them back because dispite all the shake ups nothing has been done since 1996.Yes everyone on all sides need to be involved because the Parties or the media shouldn't chose the candidate the voters should.So yes I vote "Anybody but Hillary."It's time for her to join the Carters,the GHW Bushs,Al Gore,Bill Clinton and do something truly altruistic to help the world.

What about Hillary's flier distorting Obama's stance on abortion? Where's the abcnews.com blog item on that? What about the Clinton campaign's underhanded tactics of trying to identify Obama as a Muslim because of his middle name? The multiple Clinton aides who have attacked Obama on the basis of ancient drug-use (which he was forthcoming about in his book, unlike Bill Clinton)? The list goes on and on ... The Clinton camp will not tire until their white-knuckled grip on power is taken away from them by the voters of this country.

Hillary had self pity crying today. Obama experimented in his youth. Seems clear I would would want the candidate who unites people and has better polices, Obama. Or you can continue to worry about trivial stuff as your health care costs go up and loved ones are killed in Iraq.

What is worse crying (Reagan cried) or using pot, booze , and blow?

I don't think Clinton will be able to handle the presidency. The way she cried concerns me. What happens if the terrorists attack? Is she going to cry all over the place or have a nervous breakdown? Will Bill have to fix it for her because she's in over her head? I was a supporter of Clinton until I saw that...now I think she shouldn't be running.

if hillary's campaign had sent out this flyer, she would have been accused of being ambitious, devious and even, racist.
why does the media not publicize these events as much as the publicize hillary's so-called gaffes?

why does elizabeth edwards not take the heat for being edwards rottweiler as much as bill has taken for being hllary's attack dog? does mrs edwards have immunity from the press because of her health condition?

in the past, barrack obama has said different things at different times about how he would have voted for the war, had he had access to the same information that the senate had when they voted for the iraq war. no wonder kerry came out in support of a fellow flip-flopper.

Get the word out. Let everyone know who Obama really is and isn't. Everyone knows who Hillary is and isn't. Let them decide. Not the media, not Oprah, not Republicans and Independents.

someone on another site commented that the flyer is just like obama:

DEMOCRAT FOR A DAY...

he's a kid in the grand scheme of things, and not ready for 'PRIME TIME'.

This Buchanan fellow is a retiree, who said he was frustrated that the Nevada Obama campaign wasn't doing enough to attract Republicans and Independents to the Democratic caucus. The flier bears a slight resemblance to a letter the Obama group sent out in Florida last April, which used the term, 'democrat for a day', while Buchanan's flier said 'democrat for one day'. The Obama letter had none of the misspellings and form errors that Buchanan's flier had. Buchanan himself said the Obama people in Nevada wouldn't look at the flier to approve it, so he went out on his own. He also says he may resign, now, so as not to hurt the Obama campaign. From what I've been able to find out, it doesn't sound like an Obama campaign move, but his campaign will suffer from it....especially if Obama tries to ignore it.

It's funny how the left's boogey man, George Bush isn't even involved in any of this and the things he has been dishonestly blamed for continue to happen..."rigged" elections, racial games, sexism.

Is Clinton the choice fo experiance and chang.
In a news conference Deanna Favre announced she will be the starting QB for the Packers this coming Sunday. Deanna asserts that she is qualified to be starting QB because she has spent the past 16 years married to Brett while he played QB for the Packers. During this period of time she became familiar with the definition of a corner blitz, and is now completely comfortable with other terminology of the Packers offense. A survey of Packers fans shows that 50% of those polled supported the move.

Does this sounds idiotic and unbelievable to you? Well, Hillary Clinton makes the same claims as to why she is qualified to be President and 50% of democrats polled agreed. She has never run a City, County, or State.
When told Hillary Clinton has experience because she has 8 years in the white house, Dick Morris stated "so has the pastry chef".

This is chicago style basement based dirty politics by Obamba. He will have a surrogate do his dirt and then deny knowledge. He needs to put this rase stuff back in the bottle. It may serve him in the short run, he will probably will SC but in the long run, it will bite him in the butt.

Why have a caucus if you are going to rig it with voters who want your party to lose in the general election. Who is Obama working for?

I just checked the Nevada Secretary of State's website to confirm the details of the flier.

The website has the following for the Democratic Caucus: "Open to all registered Democrats. If you are not already registered but eligible to vote, you may complete a registration form and participate on the day of the caucus. If you will be 18 by November 4, 2008 and are otherwise eligible to vote, you may participate in the caucus."

The website has the following for the Republican Caucus: "Open to all Republicans who are registered as a Republican at least 30 days prior to the caucus. If you will be 18 by November 4, 2008 and are otherwise registered and eligible to vote, you may participate in the caucus."

So according to this information registered Republicans and registered Independents cannot re-register in order to vote in the Democratic Caucus.

I urge all Michigan Democrats/independents that are truly against the war in Iraq, vote for Ron Paul. He has been againast the invasion with out a debate and especially since we invaded because of UN resolustions and not a declaration of War....

Obama is a fraud. He was for the war and he knows it and is playing Mr Opportunist to lure in the gullible voters.

"Barack Obama TOOK A STAND against the IRAQ INVASION when it MATTERED."

Barack Hussein Obama took a stand against the Iraq invasion when his vote doesn't count and abruptly changed his tune when it already counted.

"Hillary Clinton PLAYED politics when it MATTERED."

Hillary voted according to the information she was given and voted on principle. Obama voted for political gain and lies right now for political gain.

Obama voted consistently against the war all through the years.

He voted for funding, to get the troops out of harms way, since Bush appeared sincere to help the troops.

He stopped voting to fund the war when he knew Bush was not sincere.

So Obama's voting to get the troops out of harms way is consistent with earlier stance: voting aginst it.

Bush is behind this. It's his fault.

This is another example of Axelrod's dirty tricks. Next, they will deny to know anything about it and Obama will keep quite and silent. Same trick they used in Iowa.
Obama promises of hope and change are bogus ans a lies.

Obama go away and take Axelrod with you back to Chicago!

Hilary Voted for the war clearly for political gain. As a woman running for president she wanted to 'look tough'.
* By the way Who would not vote to support troops in the middle of a war ?????????????
* Even I was smart enought to see there was no case made for invading Iraq.
* Is it just me or is anyone else forgetting that 19 out of the 20 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia? Wre couldn't say anything to them because of oil and Sadam was used as a scape goat to show our aggression because no one can defend him

Ralph:

You say she voted based on information?

The woman didn't even take the time to read the whole NIE. (Bill Nelson, who had planned to vote for the war, did read it...and ended up NOT voting.)

Too bad she was busy raising money from lobbyists rather than doing work that would have saved the lives of thousands of our bravest men and women.

Obama's now-famous 2002 speech was made at a local anti-war rally. He was a state senator in a district that was very anti-war. His sponsor was anti-war. It would have been risky for him NOT to go along with his consituents and the local bosses.

No sooner had Obama's U.S. Senate campaign been declared "viable" by the corporate media, than the speech disappeared from Obama's web site.

Once in the Senate, he backed off and began voting for the war. Later he told the New Yorker and other media that if he had BEEN in the US Senate in 2002, he might have voted for the 2002 bill himself.

This is the perfect way to broadcast this to the entire media while at the same time disavowing any involvement. Obama is a dirty and sneaky politician. This is the "politics of hope" that he promised. Add this to the race-baiting that the MSM is completely lapping up despite the its lack of merit and you have the perfect recipe for filth - OBAMA-style.

He is utterly despicable!!!

Here it is again: The totally positive, hope spreading unyfing campain of Obama. We are so proud of it. Will we vote for it? Well, only if we have a very low IQ I guess. Obama was against the war when it was convenient to get elected to the state and was for the war and funded it when it was convenient in the senate. He is dividing the democratic party for his own egoism by spreading race BS about the clintons. This is the truth and I cant see any change compared to other politicians. He can only offer rethoric, no achievements, no substance. Where is the beef????

Obama's Illinois constituency was largely anti-war. The local paper had been running anti-war headlines. Obama did not take a politically courageous stand on the national stage - he took a politically advantageous stand for the local race he was running at the time.

His opposition conveniently vanished again until his presidential run, and his US Senate voting record on Iraq is almost exactly Clinton's. She at least has introduced legislation to prevent permanent bases in Iraq, and has pressured Bush for a withdrawal plan, while he has been silent.

Obama is a political opportunist, nothing more, nothing less.

Hillary voted according to the information she was given and voted on principle. Obama voted for political gain and lies right now for political gain.

Alice Palmer and Obama. Google them to see the truth about his "vision" of change.

This is just one more example of how scurrilous and anti-Democratic the Obama campaign is. The guy is inviting other parties to influence our nominee in this race - and no, no one believes that the campaign didn't know about this and isn't encouraging this message. This is no different than the mailers that went out in Illinois (under the pretext of encouraging all those late teen/twenty-somethings who would rather live in Iowa than Chicago and we know how many of them those are) advertising just how easy it is to participate in an Iowa caucus - you just have to tell 'em you live there and that you're 18,

You just have to wonder at what point his attacks on the Democratic party and the progressive movement as a whole will finally register with his, er, upright supporters.

when it mattered? yeah, right. he wasn't even in the senate then. when it mattered? where was he after he entered the senate on iraq, where it really mattered? um, i don't remember, do you? show it to me.