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Obama Brings up Controversies to Prove Toughness & Electability
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ShareMay 05, 2008 5:03 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: The last question at Sen. Barack Obama's Durham town hall on Monday was one that has plagued him since the start of his campaign - a woman asked how he will win the election in November.
A simple question solicited nearly a seven minute answer from the candidate, in which he brought up his weathering of the most recent controversies as evidence of his toughness and ability to take on the Republicans -including that of William Ayers and his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
"You know when folks are reaching when the big attack on me is I’m not wearing a flag pin or that I served on a board with a guy who was a member of the weather man back in the 1960's, they're reaching, you know that was the best they could do."
While Obama regularly brings up his former pastor Rev Wright on the campaign trail -he has never brought up his relationship to Ayers unsolicited.
He then turned the tables on Clinton's past, walking a fine line with a comment that prompted some murmured giggled from the crowd, "I would just suggest that you know Sen Clinton, despite what she says about being vetted, she hasn’t gone though what I’ve been doing through over the last couple of months because she’s not the front runner. She says she has but she went though it 10 years ago. I promise you - folks are happy to recycle here."
Obama claimed that despite all the recent controversies, which have "exhausted his problems" he is still tied with McCain in polls, and blamed his front runner status prompting the criticisms that he’s received.
"Once you're a frontrunner, then it is, I think, the obligation of the candidates who are behind to try to whack you over the head and the press is happy to oblige, and so there was a kitchen sink strategy employed that was throwing a whole bunch of stuff at me."
Obama said the fact that he's still standing over the last controversies is proof of his toughness, "There's been this furor over remarks of my former pastor which there's no doubt we took a hit on. But, if you think about it, as tough a pressed month as we've had and as many attempts to knock us off stride as there have been, the fact that we're still standing here and still moving forward towards the nomination, I think, indicates the degree to which the core message of this campaign is the right one."
Obama also addressed the electability issue by a state argument, refuting the charges that he has a problem big states and key states for Democrats, "The question then on your mind is 'well that's all good but you know Barack didn’t win OH, and he didn’t win PA, and I’m worried about FL'," Obama said, continuing that if he runs against John McCain that will not matter, " and countered that with an argument saying that if he is the nominee the differences with McCain will be stark, "I think I’m the best messenger for that debate."
Obama concluded with a simple message, "Don't buy into this electability argument."
May 5, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (72)
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Hillary's campaign is full of spin and lies. How can anyone let her get away with the "misspoke" b.s. She didn't have to lie... or did she? Is Hillary so insecure that she has to lie about the petty stuff, in addition to, the big stuff (her years of support for NAFTA, hello!). Is Hillary so brazen as to think people are too dumb to notice? Hillary is not a good presidential candidate vs. McCain. There's so much crapola on her (that she is responsible for) it'll be like an early Christmas present for the GOP!!! So, get a clue. The whole electibility issue was fabricated by the Clintonistas.
Posted by: ekena | May 5, 2008 5:59:44 PM
Obama stated for the RECORD he HAD to win Indiana. He stated conclusively that it was the TIE BREAKER.
The media needs to hold him accountable for this. 25% of indiana voters get chicago news remember?
He has no exuse for losing Indiana.
Today survey usa has clinton up by TWELVE points.
How does obama make up 12 points in one day?
If he loses Indiana and wins North Carolina by less than 10 he needs to DROP OUT.
Posted by: tomdavie | May 5, 2008 5:59:53 PM
The "electability" thing is nothing but code for the doubt seeded by the Clinton campaign that a black man cannot win the election.
Posted by: Sara | May 5, 2008 6:00:10 PM
Good points.
Nobody in the history of us politics has ever lost every major primary (except his default home state) then gone onto win the general election.
In fact, nobody has ever given the nomination to the guy who LOST all the major primaries.
Its a historical fact.
Obama cant win blue collar whites, which is the heartland of america
Besides, the american public will NEVER elect a guy who has been practicing Black Liberation Theology for the last 20 years.
The guys resume is PAPER thin to boot. He has based his whole campaign on FAVORABLE media coverage.
Once the media turns on him, he has nothing behind hit. He is an empty suit.
A left wing liberal who is tried to CON US AND PANDER to anyone who feels desperate for change. He has no record of wholesale change, nor working together with republicans.
He has the most liberal voting record in the united state senate.
People have no idea how much Obama will TANK if the media turns against him.
Posted by: tomdavie | May 5, 2008 6:04:36 PM
Didn't the democrats also tote John Kerry as being "electable"? We should be very careful when using that criteria....
Posted by: chris | May 5, 2008 6:05:22 PM
The main reason why superdelegates are endorsing Obama over Clinton is that the blue states will stay blue no matter who the runner is, but Obama has a much better change to change the political map in many of the swing states. Everything else is just smoke screens.
Posted by: Agi | May 5, 2008 6:08:18 PM
In Hillary's defense over her "Obliterate Iran" remark-don't you people know she was just lying?
Posted by: jr | May 5, 2008 6:09:18 PM
People have no idea how much Obama will TANK if the media turns against him.
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Are you kidding?
Posted by: Thinking | May 5, 2008 6:14:17 PM
Obama 08!
Don't fall for the gas tax gimmick! It will not pass Congress!
Posted by: catherine lao | May 5, 2008 6:17:46 PM
After a year of listening to both candidates I am more convinced than ever that Obama is the one to lead this country. He is a person of integrity and character and he will do what's best for America. Clinton tells only what she wants people to hear. And I do not believe the woman is capable of speaking the truth. She didn't misspeak about Bosnia for instance, she outright lied to make herself look better. Do we really want another president we can't take at his or her word?? We've had that for the past 7 years.
Posted by: linda | May 5, 2008 6:17:53 PM
If I ever needed someone to baby sit or play with a kitten, i'd give Obama first choice.
But For leadership and getting things accomplished?
No freaking way.
Posted by: trettin | May 5, 2008 6:24:41 PM
Yes, she will try ANYTHING to get the nod on this ticket she tells the people what they want to hear and she CAN"T deliver 95% and again with out Congress what the hey does she think she can do.Wise up America before it is to late.
Her followers are not to swift if they were they could figure this out for themselves,Durrrrrr,I hope that IND and NC send her packing......
Posted by: older wh lady | May 5, 2008 6:27:25 PM
Yea Clinton got it done. Got us into a war we should havve never been in and now she tries and tell me she is the best one to get us out.
How does that figure? She didn't have the spine then she doesn't now. She has twisted with the wind so much, she sways when she walks.
Posted by: Thinking | May 5, 2008 6:28:03 PM
I have a dream: that people who think Obama can't win in November, put down their fears and stop voting for the lesser of two evils (Clinton) and embrace Obama for the chance of a lifetime. Think about how you will be able to tell your grandkids "I was there when Obama won the presidency". I've been waiting for someone as inspiring as Obama my entire life and now that the possibility of change is within reach, it would be a pity to see it destroyed by fear, cynicism, and pessimism.
Posted by: Agi | May 5, 2008 6:32:51 PM
Blue states who voted for Hillary will still vote for Obama....Okay.
But what about the purple states? Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas and others still to come?
Do you really think that Colorado, Alaska, Utah, Montana, et al, are going to come through for Obama as he likes to infer?
Fuzzy math indeed.
Posted by: sherr | May 5, 2008 6:38:43 PM
How many times did he vote Present? When the going gets tough, you can count on Obama to be present.
Posted by: Mack | May 5, 2008 6:44:05 PM
Wow, it is interesting to see that Obama is attacking Hillary for not being Vetted and giving hints that others may want to recycle her baggage of the past 10 years.
This sounds like OLD POLITICS to me. Obama you are nothing new. You just lack experience. You don't inspire me at all and you are just all rectoric.
Posted by: Jacob | May 5, 2008 6:44:07 PM
Obama won in february. He is clearly not the same candidate now. His speeches no longer have the same effect.
Nobody is freaking out over him. Independents are no longer in his favor. He simply isnt the same candidate.
When we hear him speak now, we dont see a shiny new uniter with great hope of a new country.
We see a left wing liberal with some pretty drastic associations , who is PANDERING to anyone who is desperate for wholesale change.
Posted by: tomdavie | May 5, 2008 6:44:21 PM
"It's a false choice, as my opponents and others are trying to say: 'Oh, we can't do anything in the short run to help people; we can only worry about what we do in the long run,'" Clinton said. "People live in the short run. People get up every day and have to fill up their tanks. They have to go to the grocery store."
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Exactly why Clinton is not Prtesidnetial material. She refuses to see the future
Posted by: Thinking | May 5, 2008 6:45:18 PM
There are now 100 arguments against Obama.
He isnt the same candidate now. You can tell by independants and intellectuals. They are NOT breaking for him the way they were when he had his media shield.
Anyone here who thinks the american public is going to elect a man who practiced Black Liberation Theology for 20 years is literally DREAMING.
He is unelectable. He is only still in the race because he got a delegate lead in february.
Obama hasnt won a real contest in almost 2 months. He won they Wyoming 'caucus' (WHOPPIE!!!) and the african american rigged Mississippi.
I would be VERY interested to see the black vote tomorrow.
Lets see if it goes below 80%.
Posted by: tomdavie | May 5, 2008 6:48:07 PM
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