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Democratic candidates implode like its 1970
The debate, their 21st of the primary campaign but first in seven weeks, came at a critical juncture in the contest for the support of Pennsylvania Democrats, whose vote in Tuesday's primary will set the race's course. Several weeks of heated exchange between Obama and Clinton came crashing to low point during the ABC debate held in Philadelphia.
Co-moderator George Stephanopoulos raised Obama's association with Bill Ayers, Weather Underground member. The 'radical' leftist group set off bombs at the Pentagon and other locations during the Vietnam War.
During preparations for a bombing in 1970, there was a highly publicized explosion in a Greenwich Village safe house which killed a number of Weather Underground members.
The Ayers question was reportedly raised by conservative talk show host Sean Hannity.
Obama said of Ayers, "This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood, who's a professor ... in Chicago who I know and who I have not received some official endorsement from. He's not somebody who I exchange ideas from on a regular basis. And the notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was 8 years old, somehow reflects on me and my values doesn't make much sense."
While Clinton further attacked Obama for his acquaintance with Ayers, Obama noted that her husband, former president Bill Clinton, had pardoned two members of The Weather Underground.
Clinton also seized the chance to attack Obama for his comments earlier this month that many economically struggling Pennsylvanians in small towns are "bitter'' and "cling to guns or religion." The debate, their 21st of the primary campaign but first in seven weeks, came at a critical juncture in the contest for the support of... more -
3am girl says vote for Obama!
The Clinton campaign bought the stock footage video from Getty of the cute little girl sleeping. Turns out the video was shot about 10 years ago, the 8 year old is now almost 18, and an active Obama supporter who has been campaigning for the Illinois Senator. Casey Knowles accuses the ad of fear-mongering, a tactic she doesn't agree with, and has tossed out the idea of shooting an ad for Obama. She says she's excited that they're considering it. The Clinton campaign bought the stock footage video from Getty of the cute little girl sleeping. Turns out the video was shot about 1... more
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Obama on Dream Ticket
The battle for the Democratic Presidential nomination between Senator Hilary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama continues to be close. Recently, the Clinton campaign has suggested that Obama would make a great vice-president. Obama countered this claim with this speech, which he delivered to a group of supporters in Mississippi.
Was Clinton right or was Barack? Who will gain from this exchange? The battle for the Democratic Presidential nomination between Senator Hilary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama continues to be close. R... more -
In pursuit of greatness at any cost
"Clinton's kamikaze mission is likely to be unusually damaging. Not only is the opportunity cost--to wrap up the nomination, and spend John McCain into the ground for four months--uniquely high, but the venue could not be less convenient. Pennsylvania is a swing state that Democrats will almost certainly need to win in November, and Clinton will spend seven weeks and millions of dollars there making the case that Obama is unfit to set foot in the White House. You couldn't create a more damaging scenario if you tried
Clinton's path to the nomination, then, involves the following steps: kneecap an eloquent, inspiring, reform-minded young leader who happens to be the first serious African American presidential candidate (meanwhile cementing her own reputation for Nixonian ruthlessness) and then win a contested convention by persuading party elites to override the results at the polls." "Clinton's kamikaze mission is likely to be unusually damaging. Not only is the opportunity cost--to wrap up the nomination,... more -
Obama camp lays ground for negative attacks
The Obama camp appears to be laying ground for pushing back against Hillary Clinton's latest campaign attacks, even if that means taking a negative approach themselves. The difficulty, as has been noted in the past, is maintaining the positive approach that has dominated his campaign while still drawing contrast with the Clintons.
Obama campaign manager David Axelrod claimed last night:
"If Sen. Clinton wants to take the debate to various places, we'll join that debate. We'll do it on our terms and in our own way but if she wants to make issues like ethics and disclosure and law firms and real estate deals and all that stuff issues, as I've said before I don't know why they'd want to go there, but I guess that's where they'll take the race.'' The Obama camp appears to be laying ground for pushing back against Hillary Clinton's latest campaign attacks, even if that means... more -
Florida and Michigan primaries: FAIL
The Democratic Party is considering whether to re-run the Florida and Michigan nominating contests to help settle the ongoing battle between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Both states were stripped of their delegates because they moved their primaries forward, breaking party rules.
Because none of the candidates campaigned during the original contests, many Democrats believe a re-run is the only fair option. The Democratic Party is considering whether to re-run the Florida and Michigan nominating contests to help settle the ongoing battle b... more -
Man stabs brother-in-law over Clinton-Obama argument
...Pennsylvania authorities said Ortiz, a registered Republican and Clinton supporter, allegedly stabbed Mr Shurelds, an Obama supporter, in the stomach after a feud over the Democratic candidates. ...Pennsylvania authorities said Ortiz, a registered Republican and Clinton supporter, allegedly stabbed Mr Shurelds, an Obama support... more
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The Democratic Messiah?
Who will reign victorious as the true leader of the Democratic tribe? Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton face-off in this episode of SuperNews. Who will reign victorious as the true leader of the Democratic tribe? Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton face-off in this episode of Sup... more
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Clinton v Obama: What's really at stake?
...only our civil liberties.
"Mrs. Clinton’s approach to the subject is that of a top-down progressive. Her speeches about privacy suggest that she has boundless faith in the power of experts, judges and ultimately herself to strike the correct balance between privacy and security.
In the Senate, Mr. Obama distinguished himself by making civil liberties one of his legislative priorities. He co-sponsored a bipartisan reform bill that would have cured the worst excesses of the Patriot Act by meaningfully tightening the standards for warrantless surveillance.
Once again, he helped encourage a coalition of civil-libertarian liberals and libertarian conservatives. The effort failed when Hillary Clinton joined 13 other Democrats in supporting a Republican motion to cut off debate on amendments to the Patriot Act." ...only our civil liberties. ... more -
The problem with politics today
...most political discourse is half-baked and cliche.
"Pretty soon, we should be able to get electoral politics down to a basic newspeak that contains perhaps 10 keywords: Dream, Fear, Hope, New, People, We, Change, America, Future, Together.
Fishing exclusively from this tiny and stagnant pool of stock expressions, it ought to be possible to drive all thinking people away from the arena and leave matters in the gnarled but capable hands of the professional wordsmiths and manipulators. In the new jargon, certain intelligible ideas would become inexpressible." ...most political discourse is half-baked and cliche. ... more -
Dem's Day Off
Such great iconic leaders truly belong in a museum
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A sad truth visible in March 4th voting
As much as I hate that this is the case, negativity, both in ads and in verbal attacks by candidates, appears to work. Hillary Clinton publicly used 3 main lines of attack against Barack Obama leading up to the voting yesterday: the 3 am ad (implying we'll all die if he's elected), rumors about a NAFTA conversation with Canada that left a different impression than what he states publicly (Canada has denied this), and his ties with a Chicago businessman who's in trial now (he's in court for things that have nothing to do with Obama, Obama has given all the money he donated to charity). And unofficially there was the email with Obama in traditional Somali garb, resparking, yet again, the rumors that Obama is Muslim, which he's not and which is a hateful rumor that implies all Muslims are bad and should be feared.
We all say we hate this type of campaigning. And yet, "among voters who made up their minds during the past three days, Clinton won 61 percent to 38 percent over Obama in Texas, according to exit polls".
Campaigns will never quit this strategy if voters continue to respond to it. How do we fix that?! As much as I hate that this is the case, negativity, both in ads and in verbal attacks by candidates, appears to work. Hillary Clinto... more -
Farewell to the Democratic Party
Official sources have reported Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has won the Democratic primary elections in Rhode Island, Ohio, and Texas.
Obama still leads the race in delegates and pledged-delegates.
The DNC is now in the worst position imaginable to secure a general election win. Their delegate members will most likely choose the nominee.
Senator John Sidney McCain (R-AZ) has now gained support from his former rival, Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) in addition to every major Republican leader. Analysts speculate he will choose Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) as his vice-presidential running mate.
McCain is scheduled to meet president Bush in order to arrange a smooth transition into the oval office. Official sources have reported Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has won the Democratic primary elections in Rhode Island, Ohio, a... more -
Superdelegates Deal, No Deal
Many DNC superdelegates will take full advantage of their roles by negotiating benefits for various local, special interests.
"A bloc of Ohio superdelegates is withholding endorsements from Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton until one or the other offers a concrete proposal to protect American jobs.
The decision to remain uncommitted even after their state had spoken mirrored patterns seen across the country Wednesday. Only two superdelegates changed their positions after Clinton won in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, and both of them endorsed Obama.
"Reflecting on that possibility and the fickleness of superdelegates,Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.) said, “If another country elected leaders the way we do, we’d ask them to bring in the U.N. monitors" Many DNC superdelegates will take full advantage of their roles by negotiating benefits for various local, special interests. ... more -
"The most secretive politician in America"
...Obama campaign manager David Plouffe steps up the rhetoric following Texas and Ohio primaries.
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Clinton-Obama Drama
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Clinton-Obama Drama
