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Clinton Campaign: Obama "Can't Win a General Election"
March 13, 2008 4:37 PM
On a conference call today, Mark Penn -- the senior adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, declared that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, can't win the general election.
USA Today posted the audio HERE.
Penn says that Obama can't win Pennsylvania, a primary which is key to the general.
"We believe fundamentally it provides a very test of who can really win the general election," Penn says. "We believe this will again show Hillary is ready to win and Senator Obama really can't win a general election."
After a reporter presses for clarification, the Clinton campaign denied Penn made the statement and Penn clarifies, saying: "I think if you can't win Pennsylvania, it raises serious questions about whether he can win a general election."
- jpt
UPDATE: Obama campaign spox Tommy Vietor says: “It can’t inspire too much confidence in the Clinton campaign when their pollster ignores both polls and math by making comments as divorced from reality as this one. Senator Obama is leading in delegates, states won, the popular vote, and fares better than Senator Clinton against John McCain in poll after poll, including critical swing states like Iowa, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Wisconsin.”
March 13, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (133)
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Wow. Darrell I don't believe for one moment that you are black. You are not fooling anyone. You are just pretending to be someone you are not in order to persuade voters to think differently about Barack. And I suggest that all of the haters of Rev. Wright take time to listen to his his remarks within their original context before before finalizing your opinions. The 15 or 30 second sound bites of Pastor Wright's remarks were deliberately chosen in order to promote negative public opinions of both Sen. Obama and Dr. Wright.
Posted by: Jezreel | Apr 1, 2008 5:08:33 AM
I'm an Black American Male who believes that Obama should stop his campaign and go home, America does not need a President who is associated with a known racist and bigot for over 20yrs and than having him work in his campaign, Obama is a undercover racist and bigot as well, there is no way he can convince me that he truly did not know what his Pastor's teachings stood for, Come on please don't insult my intelligence.
I believe now that the truth has finally came out will still come out about Obama's past, America is going to be even more shocked, so people put your seat belts on and fasten them tight, because a steep roller coaster of Obama life is going to be revealed before you even faster, now that the news media his finally got some guts to start sharing with America all of Obama's deep dark secrets that he thought would never come up and out, before he was mistakenly nominated for Presidency.
I recommend that the mature voters lead teach and guide the younger voters in a different direction from Obama, because they have tremendously been brained washed by Obama's occult like speeches, it's going to be hard to get them to accept that Obama is not good for America, but if the older voters stick together and really mentor our young people, they will begin to fall away from Obama's campaign and grip hold on their young minds one by one, some of these young people really don't know the election process, and many have voted for the first time in their lives, Obama's campaign rallies to them where like going to a late night rock concert, they begin to follow Obama like he was a popular rock or Rap star, so many of our young people's minds has to be purged and reconditioned away from Obama's compelling grip, it's like being on a ill-legal drug and have to go through drug detoxicifican in order to come down off it, this is how far some of our young people his been deceived and brain washed by the Obama campaign.
I suggest that all Americans begin writing letters by the millions to the media and the DNC Chairman Howard Dean to pressure Obama to step down, and if he refuses, do not vote for him anymore throughout the rest these primaries, this will send a strong message that we do not want a liar, a person that was associated with a known racist or bigot Pastor for over 20yrs, and now Obama tries to denounce the Pastor to dupe the American people into saving his political career, it's over for Obama now, no turning back for him, If this happens, the Super delegates and voters will start switching to or back to Hillary's side because it would be the most popular, politically correct, and safest thing to do now, I believe if we don't denounce and get rid of Obama now, America would have made a grave mistake in the long-term, Democratic Party and America as a whole will suffer for not stopping this man in his tracks before he divide this country up even more.
As a Black voter for Hillary, Geraldine Ferraro was right on the money, if it was not for the black vote, Obama would not have gotten this far in the first place, her statement is not racist to me, she was only stating fact by looking at the high percentage of blacks voting for Obama in the primaries, this is very obvious, this is not rocket science you know. So, the voter's and super delegates who voted for Obama reject needs to reject those votes and vote for Hillary before it's too late, Obama is definitely a liability and political death for the Democratic Party and America as well
Posted by: Darrell | Mar 15, 2008 12:33:42 PM
I'm an Black American Male who believes that Obama should stop his campaign and go home, America does not need a President who is associated with a known racist and bigot for over 20yrs and than having him work in his campaign, Obama is a undercover racist and bigot as well, there is no way he can convince me that he truly did not know what his Pastor's teachings stood for, Come on please don't insult my intelligence.
I believe now that the truth has finally came out will still come out about Obama's past, America is going to be even more shocked, so people put your seat belts on and fasten them tight, because a steep roller coaster of Obama life is going to be revealed before you even faster, now that the news media his finally got some guts to start sharing with America all of Obama's deep dark secrets that he thought would never come up and out, before he was mistakenly nominated for Presidency.
I recommend that the mature voters lead teach and guide the younger voters in a different direction from Obama, because they have tremendously been brained washed by Obama's occult like speeches, it's going to be hard to get them to accept that Obama is not good for America, but if the older voters stick together and really mentor our young people, they will begin to fall away from Obama's campaign and grip hold on their young minds one by one, some of these young people really don't know the election process, and many have voted for the first time in their lives, Obama's campaign rallies to them where like going to a late night rock concert, they begin to follow Obama like he was a popular rock or Rap star, so many of our young people's minds has to be purged and reconditioned away from Obama's compelling grip, it's like being on a ill-legal drug and have to go through drug detoxicifican in order to come down off it, this is how far some of our young people his been deceived and brain washed by the Obama campaign.
I suggest that all Americans begin writing letters by the millions to the media and the DNC Chairman Howard Dean to pressure Obama to step down, and if he refuses, do not vote for him anymore throughout the rest these primaries, this will send a strong message that we do not want a liar, a person that was associated with a known racist or bigot Pastor for over 20yrs, and now Obama tries to denounce the Pastor to dupe the American people into saving his political career, it's over for Obama now, no turning back for him, If this happens, the Super delegates and voters will start switching to or back to Hillary's side because it would be the most popular, politically correct, and safest thing to do now, I believe if we don't denounce and get rid of Obama now, America would have made a grave mistake in the long-term, Democratic Party and America as a whole will suffer for not stopping this man in his tracks before he divide this country up even more.
As a Black voter for Hillary, Geraldine Ferraro was right on the money, if it was not for the black vote, Obama would not have gotten this far in the first place, her statement is not racist to me, she was only stating fact by looking at the high percentage of blacks voting for Obama in the primaries, this is very obvious, this is not rocket science you know. So, the voter's and super delegates who voted for Obama reject needs to reject those votes and vote for Hillary before it's too late, Obama is definitely a liability and political death for the Democratic Party and America as well
Posted by: Darrell | Mar 15, 2008 12:32:56 PM
I am amazed at how no matter what comes up about Barack Obama, everyone makes excuses, come on, if You had a uncle that said all of the hate and bigotry that Jeremiah Wright spewed, you sure wouldn't take him out and put him on stage, much less keep watching him for 20 years. This guys isn't an uncle this guy is his spiritual leader, this guy is pure hate, and his hate is leveled at white people, and the United States government. I have been to a couple of churches in my time, and when they didn't go along with my core beliefs I left, therefore I cannot give Obama the benefit of the doubt, are we supposed to believe that when Obama was in the house Jeremiah Wright didn't say these awful comments. I wouldn't believe that if I were saying it. Why do people keep giving him a pass as they belittle Clinton every step of the way, if anyone with any common sense thinks that after all of this, Obama can possibly be elected in the general election come November you must have left your values at the door. I don't want anyone representing me that could sit and listen to Wright for 20 years and act like that is normal, much less praise him in books and speech. I am thoroughly disgusted with this man and the people who keep giving him a free ride. Are you guys the same ones that ridiculed Ferraro??? She said what, that a white man in his position couldn't be elected??? How does that compare with what Obama has been listening to and living with for 20 years. Obama's wife certainly seems to go along with Wright, considering her comment about her pride in her government for the first time in her life, sounds like a comment Jeremiah Wright might make. If this were a white person, man or woman that had been attending this church for 20 years the media and pundits would have crucified them by now, what's up with you people?
Posted by: Linda Timbs | Mar 15, 2008 11:09:20 AM
Obama is now appearing on the various news outlet’s trying to defend himself on having such a long relationship with a racist and bigoted Pastor J Wright, People please don’t fall for this, Obama is good at lying and duping the American Public, he has no credibility or trust now, he should have put this in the bag a long time ago, he’s only doing it now, in order to save his Political career, well, the American public are not illiterate or stupid like he may think. Obama’s goose may be finally cooked on this one, America please remember this at the voting poles, let’s stop Obama before he becomes our President, there is no way Obama can claim he did not know what his Pastor was preaching on Sunday mornings, if he was not their in person, Obama could buy video and audio tapes of his teachings like other people do over the internet and mail order service, so he knew or should have know that his Pastor was teaching anti- American, and racist sermons over the last 20yrs. Obama should not try an insult the American’s people’s intelligence. I don’t want a Presidential candidate who is already trying took make a fool out of me. Obama is no good fro America, vote for Hillary it least you know what you are getting, as opposed to Obama, who have a lot more skeleton’s in the closet that’s yet to be brought out into the light.
Posted by: Darrell | Mar 14, 2008 8:48:24 PM
More distortions from the Obama camp. AS IF the Dems will win Colorado in the general! And news flash: Obama did not win New Mexico, Hillary did. And regarding polls: right now Hillary is ahead of McCain in national polls. Hillary has won many more pivotal states: CA, Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. Obama has won red states with miniscule caucus votes (eg: Wyoming's 10,000 votes). They are misleading the American people about the general election. If he is the nominee, the Dems will lose again.
Posted by: fran | Mar 14, 2008 7:36:19 PM
Perhaps the most widespread misconception about Barack Obama that has been forcefully expounded by both Hillary Clinton and John McCain is that because he is younger than both of them he therefore must be too inexperienced to be president.
Senator John McCain is 71 years old, Senator Hillary Clinton is age 60 and Senator Barak Obama is 46 years of age. But America has had both younger and older individuals who have served with great distinction as president such as Theodore Roosevelt who became president at age 42, John Kennedy who assumed the presidency at age 43, and Ronald Regan who was sworn in as the Commander in Chief on January 20, 1981 at age 69.
Bill Clinton became president at age 46 after having served 12 years as the governor of Arkansas, but without having had any experience whatsoever in Washington. Before Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office in 1860 to become our 16th president he had previously served 8 years as an Illinois state legislator and 4 years in the U.S. Congress, which incidentally just happens to have been precisely Barack Obama’s experience. If Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009 he will have served 12 years as an elected legislator which include 8 years as an Illinois State Senator and 4 years as a U.S. Senator and he will be 47 years old.
In the 1960 Democratic primary election Senator John Kennedy was also told he was too young and inexperienced to be president, then by such notable members of the "old guard" as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson, and Lyndon Johnson. Kennedy was told to wait his turn! But, of course JFK won the 1960 Democratic primary and went on to defeat Richard Nixon in the general election despite Nixon's protest that "Kennedy is too young and inexperienced to be President." It wasn't true then about John F. Kennedy and it isn't true now about Barack Obama.
Voters should evaluate Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama not simply on the basis of their respective ages of 60 and 46 but look closely at how each of them approaches politics and consider their individual life experience, compare their respective judgment, character, vision, intelligence, imagination and creativity, and assess each one’s ability to unify America and actually bring about significant changes in Washington.
Posted by: Robert | Mar 14, 2008 2:10:56 PM
They have there nerves. Her arrogance makes me sick. She says obama cant win the general election without realizing that she to is facing an uphill battle. as many people that refuse to vote for a black man, will also not vote for a white woman esp one with the last name Clinton.
Posted by: Chicago | Mar 14, 2008 2:03:00 PM
Hillary should hire Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahhaf (remember the" Bagdad Bob" on Iraqi TV during the invasion?). He should be able to pass her test about the "experience" required in communicating to the media. If Hillary added him to her staff, Mark Penn and Howard Wolfson could stay on as her trusted and loyal advisors but both should have to clear their public comments with their new mentor.
Posted by: Doug | Mar 14, 2008 1:45:18 PM
simple. hillary is playing the if i can not win then i will make sure obama does not win in the fall. therfore win he loses (which i do not think he will) she thinks dem will worship her and her husband like they did in the 90's she wants all of us to bow down before her and kiss the ring. it is not about dems or republicans or even our country it is about power for her and bill. they it had once they want it again.
Posted by: sandrat | Mar 14, 2008 1:36:09 PM
McCain was was endorsed by a pastor who and I quote "Hurricane Katrina was an act of God, punishing New Orleans for "a level of sin that was offensive to God". "of the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans." He went on to say hurricane struck and that this was proof "of the judgment of God".
Pat Roberston -Evangelical Leader said and I quote " "Maybe we need a very small nuke thrown off on Foggy Bottom to shake things up" –Pat Robertson, on nuking the State Department
"Well, I totally concur." –Pat Robertson to Jerry Falwell following the Sept. 11 attacks, after Falwell said, "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the finger in their face and say: "You helped this happen."
So should EVERY ONE THAT CONSIDERS THEMSELVES TO BE EVANGELICAL HAVE RENOUNCED THEIR FAITH? SHOULD McCain have renounced Hagee? Should HAGEE'S members have walked out? Should Catholics left the church when it was found out the sooooooo many priets were molesting children? NO, the fact is many relgious leaders say things we DO NOT AGREE WITH IN TOTALITY. WE ARE NOT GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION.
Posted by: THINK | Mar 14, 2008 12:30:57 PM
Druid, your "greatest man in politics" chose to sit and listen to hate filled bigotry toward people and our country. He chose to have this man as his spiritual leader. He chose to give this church money. The CHOICE was his and he chose to spend time worshiping with this man and listening to his hate filled sermons. He may not have given the sermons, but he was a willing participant.
Posted by: pp | Mar 14, 2008 10:29:23 AM
to druid then i guess you agree with rev wrights statements just like obama contiues to do by attending ,contributing and the absolutely most unforgivable thing exposing two very young and very innocent girls to this kind of hate and antiamerican garbage and you want this charlaten to be president,it also puts michelles comment about this being the first time in her life that she is proud to be an american,lol they are done this is not going away and should we be stupid enough to still nominate this antiamerican snake oil salesman then its over mcain will win in a landslide.
Posted by: don tufts | Mar 14, 2008 10:25:47 AM
Don't go by polls, if we would have gone by polls Hillary would have been long gone.
Polls are another way to manipulate the voters to vote for one canditate: 'shooot did you see the latest polls, this guy Bakarak or whatever his name is, is in the lead, I guess I'll vote for him too since I don't follow politics' = 75% of Americans.
Posted by: Doug | Mar 14, 2008 10:12:04 AM
In every pole I've seen, Clinton vs. McCain or Obama vs. Mcain, I havn't seen any candidate cross the 50% threshold. That means the independents are keeping thier powder dry. Neither McCain nor Obama were thier parties establishment candidate and that seems to register with the swing voters who are tired of the partisan battles on both sides of the isle, Clinton is a polalizing figure and has too high a negative to win the independent and cross the 50% threshold.
Posted by: Larry | Mar 14, 2008 10:01:10 AM
what i dont understand is how any of you obama supporters could still advocate for him after learning of rev wrights statements incl GD america and we caused 9/11 because we are the terrorists and obama continues to attend and contribute to rev wrights church.not only that he exposes his children to this hate filled and vile speech sunday after sunday,so dont tell me he can win in november this story will not die and it will be the beginning of the end for saint obama.
Posted by: don tufts | Mar 14, 2008 9:40:32 AM
Rep's are not only cheating on converting to Dem's to vote for the weak and dumb candidate, the media people are playing the biggest role (by the way those are the same media people covering WB's dumb ass because he should be declared the worst President EVER)!
Imagine, if we put Obama in the oval office, it'd be like an intern was just hired to run the biggest company in the world! lol It'd be like in 2000 when WB took office, and look how he ran America since then? Thank you.
I disagree with Obama being the VP, for what? He does not bring any value to the table. If Rep's would give me the same media coverage, I could get on the polls and retardately yell 'Change Change' and get some votes.
The VP has to be smart taking care all the issues in the background and advise the President on ALL issues with deep knowledge, what the hell is Obama gonna advise Hillary? 'Umm.. I think we got some people overseas mad at us, I dunno why but they just called you a biatch. Lemme go send some B2's for you and scare them off.'
Look, the choice is quite simple, and btw. I'm neither a Rep nor a Dem, if I could I would vote for Nader all the way which is sadly not realistic the way this retarded and outdated two party system works. But I follow politics and I do see a challenging time ahead of us because ultimately every Obama vote brings McBush2 closer to the White house and unintentionally closer to another war, more poverty hence increased crime rates while the count of billionaires continues to rise, decline in education, less people medically insured, maybe another 9/11 to have a reason to invade another oil rich country, etc..etc. = chaos! (same as we've been watching from the sideline since 2000)
But what do I know, I'm just an independent observer.
Posted by: Doug | Mar 14, 2008 9:37:43 AM
So are the Americans that are voting for Hillary will not vote for Barack in the general election if he is the democratic candidate? I know as a Barack supporter, I would definitely vote and try to convince others to vote for Hillary if she is the candidate. Would they vote for John McCain or not vote at all? There has been a lot of talk that Blacks were voting for Barack because is he is Black and now I realize that Whites are Not voting for Barack because he is Black. It definitely does not have anything to do with the candidate qualification or national security experience or who would work the hardest to try moving this country forward.
Posted by: Wendy | Mar 14, 2008 9:34:38 AM
It still seems that she is still the inevitable president... either Clinton in 2008 or she will make it imposible for a dem to win, going so far as to praising the republican candidate over the democratic front runner leaving it open for her in 2012.
Also,
Why is the media allowing the candidates, mainly the Clintons, get away with all of this political posturing over the Florida mail-in ballot. It is against the state constitution to have any mail-in vote in which a candidate appears on the ballot (questions and propositions are okay). So, not a problem, hold a private non-state supported primary paid for by rich Clinton supporters (New Jersey's Governor) but the constitution also prohibits the state from sharing the voter roles and information, so why let someone score points for backing a plan that they know isn't doable?
Posted by: Larry | Mar 14, 2008 9:29:42 AM
DON'T BE DUPED!!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty, and comfort for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-self, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-self.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket now! Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history. But the time to act is soon.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
Posted by: jacksmith | Mar 14, 2008 8:23:20 AM
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