No More Mr. Nice Guy: Obama Mocks Hillary In Stand Up Routine

LAS VEGAS — The White House campaign has brought a new act to Vegas.

Democrat Barack Obama tried to use humor to cut down rival Hillary Rodham Clinton before Saturday's presidential caucus. His "Iowa nice" approach gone, Obama debuted a biting political standup routine Thursday night that mocked his rival, and employed it again on Friday.

Obama began by recalling a moment in Tuesday night's debate when he and his rivals were asked to name their biggest weakness. Obama answered first, saying he has a messy desk and needs help managing paperwork _ something his opponents have since used to suggest he's not up to managing the country. John Edwards said his biggest weakness is that he has a powerful response to seeing pain in others, and Clinton said she gets impatient to bring change to America.

"Because I'm an ordinary person, I thought that they meant, 'What's your biggest weakness?'" Obama said to laughter from a packed house at Rancho High School. "If I had gone last I would have known what the game was. And then I could have said, `Well, ya know, I like to help old ladies across the street. Sometimes they don't want to be helped. It's terrible.'"

"Folks, they don't tell you what they mean!" he said. Obama chuckled at his own joke before riffing on another Clinton answer in the debate, when she said that she is happy that the bankruptcy bill she voted for in 2001 never became law.

"She says, 'I voted for it but I was glad to see that it didn't pass.' What does that mean?" he asked, again drawing laughter from the crowd and himself. "No seriously, what does that mean? If you didn't want to see it passed, then you can vote against it! People don't say what they mean.

"You know what I'm saying is true," he said, then addressed his routine directly at audience members who don't know who they will vote for yet. "Undecideds, remember now, remember what I'm saying."

He continued by responding to a new Clinton radio ad that accused him of having financial ties to supporters of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site that most Nevadans are loath to come to their state.

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"I have said over and over again I'm against Yucca," Obama said. "I'm against Yucca Mountain. I think the science is not there. I've never, I've never been for Yucca. Never been for it. Never said I was for it.

"Suddenly you've got the Clinton camp out there saying, `He's for Yucca.' What part of I'm not for Yucca do you not understand?" he said, then laughed along with his audience.

As the laughter subsided, Obama drove home the broader point he's been trying to make against Clinton the entire campaign.

"Those kinds of tricks, that kind of approach to politics is what has to stop because what happens is then nobody believes anything," Obama said. "The voters don't believe what politicians say. They get cynical. Folks in Congress, they'll tell you they're looking out for you _ they're looking out for somebody else. We have to change that politics and that's why I'm running for president."

Clinton spokesman Phil Singer retorted with a dig at Obama's experience.

"Judging from his act, it doesn't sound like Senator Obama has much experience doing stand-up either," Singer said in a statement. "Nothing says change more than using jokes to distort his opponents' records."

Obama repeated the routine Friday in Reno. "This is political speak. This is what you learn in Washington for all those years of experience," he said. "It's funny except it's sad because it means the American people are constantly having to sort out what people mean."

Humor is a tradition on the Las Vegas Strip and in presidential campaigns because it's a way to score a point without sounding too negative. President Bush used it to skewer John Kerry in 2004 as fancy and soft on terrorism, while Ronald Reagan was one of the best at wielding one-liners.

In a 1980 debate Reagan sidelined Jimmy Carter's criticism with a dismissive "there you go again." He answered questions about his advanced age in a 1984 debate by saying he wouldn't make an issue of Walter Mondale's youth and inexperience.

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On the Net:

http://www.barackobama.com

Comments

[Beelzebul]

I'm not one to defend Daniellebury very often, because she disses the Packers all the time. However, this one time I will. She claimed the Obama camp, had made a reference to Hillary as a bitch. Well, in a way, that's true.

Here's what took place. After Obama won in Iowa, they had a victory party, and as Obama and his wife walked in, Jay-Z's "99 Problems" was blaring. In it, Jay raps, "I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one."

So that's where the bitch comes in.

[Nic]

"Suddenly you've got the Clinton camp out there saying, `He's for Yucca.' What part of I'm not for Yucca do you not understand?" he said, then laughed along with his audience.

The part I don't understand is the part where YOU ACCEPT their Millions of dollars in donations. Thet's what lost you my vote.

[nuglet304]

i don't see how this helps obama -- making jokes to distract from the reality? they weren't even funny. but really, regardless of what hillary and john called their own weaknesses, did barack really think it was a GOOD idea to tell everyone how unorganized he is? no one twisted his arm to get that answer, and with all the talk about his inexperience already, he should have known better.

maybe some people will like this side of obama, but i think those who're on the fence will see it more as avoidance, and a mediocre attempt at distraction. another example of style over substance.

[raptor]

Is this what Bill Clinton and Charlie Rose were referring to as "rolling the dice"? Craps. A crapshoot. In Nevada. How appropriate. Is that all there is?

[zenhead]

If this is true, then that's interesting. I'd let it roll off my back ... he needs to do what he needs to do ... and Hillary needs to keep on going. If I were her, I'd want to put more time in Nevada as a result of this. It will be telling if we see her come close to whipping his behind in the Nevada caucus. If not, on to South Carolina. She should just keep going.
Bring in the records. How many votes has she initiated or co-sponsored. I suspect, many. Lay 'em out. She should just ask him again if he's willing to work with her on joint legislation to demand that the President give flexibility to the Secretary of Defense, or call on the Secretary of Defense, to over ride General Petraeus if the latter now says, (big surprise), that the surge forces should remain in Iraq longer.
While Afghanistan and Pakistan may slip away through increased power gained by Taliban and al-Qaeda, Bush needs to look at how very serious it is to see entire areas of Pakistan lost to the Taliban could be really disastrous. And Hillary needs to directly ask Obama if he's willing to put it on the line with a joint bill. Put up or shut up.
I think Obama is running scared.

[LaFeminazi]

US Stocks up 10% in 7 years, dollar down 30%.

Net worth stagnant based on increased volume.

Stocks look at future worth, hell it looks great[sic].

[SmellTheHorse]

Democrats! Are we all taking crazy pills?! I never thought I'd see a Democratic candidate for the Presidency boasting about her close ties with gaming industry "executives" ...How far have we sunk? And will continue sinking if we allow HRC to check back into the West Wing.

Clinton plays gaming card against Obama

Los Angeles Times

January 18, 2008

LAS VEGAS — Barack Obama has warned about the dangers of gambling -- that it carries a "moral and social cost" that could "devastate" poor communities.

While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, also talks often about aiding low-income Americans, she has embraced the gambling industry and its executives.

"There's a fundamental question here," said the Rev. Tom Grey, director of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling. "Until this point, Obama's statements suggest that he did not buy into the industry arguments that this is a product like Starbucks that should just go on Main Street. And Hillary seems to have come down clearly on the side of the industry."

The issue has come into focus primarily due to the Clinton campaign, which has distributed a document to local reporters, "Obama Blasted Gambling as Socially Destructive and Economically Irresponsi­ble."

In 2001, the Clinton memo states, Obama described himself as "generally skeptical" of gambling as an economic development tool and likened the expansion of slot machines to the state lottery, in which, he said, "you'll have a whole bunch of people who can't afford gambling their money away, yet they're going to do it."

As part of its efforts, the Clinton campaign has secured the help of top industry players.

Former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, now a senior executive at Harrah's Entertainment, and Philip Satre, a former Harrah's executive and top industry spokesman, disputed the argument that gambling disproportionately affects lower-income people.
"People are not gambling away their mortgages," Jones said.
Former Nevada Gov. Bob Miller, an official in Clinton's campaign and a board member of I Wynn Resorts, said "Sen. Clinton has always been supportive and understanding of our industry."

[zephyrus]

Stephen Colbert got a tip about Obama....a­pparently he fathered a black child back in 1999 and ANOTHER one in 2001. The last name of the mother wasn't mentioned, but I did over hear "Michelle.­"

[Sacsile]

Go Obama! This is great! Love the comedy. He was definitely telling the truth! Clinton (both) is such a phony. The world is watching..­.lol. Everyone is seeing through that charlatan. Go Obama!

[LaFeminazi]

Bush

Now watch me stimulate the economy.

Result

As stocks were rising before the announcement, after which they fell.

Back to the drawing board.

Announce.

WTO abolished.

I will start to listen.

[richsmith]

Barack may not be particularly funny, but Phil Singer most definitely bombed.

[murrieta]

Just great. Democrats lining up once again in a circular firing squad. The GOP cannot win in 2008. But - the Democrats can lose. Hillary or Barack - yes there are things I wish they would stand for or change positions on. But as they are - they are 1000% better than the GOP. Just think what Bush has done to the courts these past 8 years. Do we want 4 more years of "conservative judicial appointments"? For that reason alone - it is imperative we get A Dem in the white house..

[OhPlease2007]

No more Mr. Nice Guy? Well we guess his not showing up in the Senate on a regular basis to represent the tax-payers in Illinois finally stewed-and-boiled the all hope out of him!

LOL

Edwards '08!

[jimsey]

I thought that was pretty funny. I'm sending it on to friends and family, some of whom support Hillary. I particularly liked the 'What are your weaknesses' response because the Clinton/Edwards responses were incredibly lame and transparently political. Essentially, 'my biggest weakness is I care too much', pathetic.

[tkk]

How classsy, mocking the other candidates. Just like Bush, playing to the lowest common denominator.

Not another crack-head in the WH!

Just say no to Barack Obama.