David Axelrod, Chief Obama Strategist: Clintons

David Axelrod, Chief Obama Strategist: Clintons "Literally Trying To Do Anything To Win This Nomination"

Time   |  Mark Halperin   |   March 16, 2008 02:58 PM


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Obama strategist Axelrod on Clinton attempts to seat Florida, Michigan delegations and other vote-getting strategies:

"You get the feeling they are literally trying to do anything to win this nomination."

Calls again for Clinton to release earmark requests, tax returns, Clinton Library donors, and first lady records.


 
 

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- kennedy See Profile I'm a Fan of kennedy

The lying "rat" speaks!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:25 AM on 03/17/2008
- BeyondGoodAndEvil See Profile I'm a Fan of BeyondGoodAndEvil

Tell us something we don't know, Dave.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:10 AM on 03/17/2008
- bish66 See Profile I'm a Fan of bish66

Reading Axelrod's statements reminds me of the pot and the kettle and a certain color that might be misunderstood as racist...

We are talking about an election. There can only be one candidate and since none of the two wants to settle for VP, they have to fight it out. You may get good marks on gentlemanship, if you fight clean, but that will not win the nomination. I expect them to fight for that prize. The Republicans will not be gentle, so you better be a good fighter to win this election.

Axelrod claiming that "You get the feeling they are literally trying to do anything to win this nomination." this suggests that Obama would not do anything to win. Do you really believe that? Don't you think that Obama would fight for the Florida delegates, if he won that state? Don't you think that Obama would argue that the big states matter, if he had won them, but was behind in the delegate count?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:24 PM on 03/16/2008
- JohnnySorrow See Profile I'm a Fan of JohnnySorrow

No. Sorry to say that he wouldn't do that. It is evidence by the fact that he hasn't.

A primary re-do in Florida is widely perceived to be an advantage for Hillary. She is losing and it would likely get her closer in popular vote, elected delegates and therefore superdelgates as well.

Even though he is not favored to win in Florida, he has not suggested that there not be a vote in the state. He has (and rightly so) just asked that it be completed in a fair manner.

If Hillary was to win the overall popular vote, it would be a crucial part of her argument that she be the nominee. Yet, Obama is a class act and wants this process to be as fair and transparent as possible.

That's the difference between the two candidates. HIllary operates as though she is entitled to the nomination. Obama operates as though he wants to earn the nomination.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:34 AM on 03/17/2008
- miles120 See Profile I'm a Fan of miles120

This is exactly why we get the political candidates we do - because we accept their below-the-belt, cheat-to-win behavior as something admirable. We don't hear debates on issues because we don't ask for them. The campaign cycle takes a ridiculous two years because all we care about is the circus: this is entertainment, not a responsible vetting of candidates who will go on to order our children into war, deregulate banking oversight that will lead us into worldwide financial crisis, and generate large deficits that our society will have trouble digesting for the next two generations.

We get what we ask for. If you want cheaters that will do anything it takes to win, congratulations.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:17 AM on 03/17/2008
- word2thewyz See Profile I'm a Fan of word2thewyz

You do realize that you have just spoken out in strong opposition to "fighting clean?"

Thanks for playing; we have some lovely parting gifts for you.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:21 AM on 03/17/2008
- beyondnothing See Profile I'm a Fan of beyondnothing

As an Obama supporter, Boringat, your statement is not acceptable. It is sexist, and the Obama campaign is about trying to get past the divisions of the past. Gender is as much a part of that as is race or disability, sexuality.

It's important to think hard before you write something like that. If you want to point out similarities between Thatcher and Clinton be my guest but stick to the issues, not ad hominen attacks.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:18 PM on 03/16/2008
- Boulderperson See Profile I'm a Fan of Boulderperson

That's why they call her Slippery Hillary.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:50 PM on 03/16/2008
- AngerAndDetermination See Profile I'm a Fan of AngerAndDetermination

Hillary Clinton is appalling. I have never heard of a Democratic primary candidate who said that the Republican is more qualified that her Democratic opponent. It is absolutely revolting.

No one wants to vote for Monica Lewinsky's husband. No one wants to hear Hillary make her repetitious, dishonest denials of voting for the war in Iraq. People will NOT vote for her, because they do not like her.

Obama has Dems fired up as never before. Democratic primary turnout is _double_ that of Republicans, even in so-called "Red States" such as Texas and Virginia. Having a contested primary makes people perceive that their participation counts, and therefore they participate. This is how Democrats win.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:03 PM on 03/16/2008
- rojo7449 See Profile I'm a Fan of rojo7449

I hate to harp on this, but what in world happened to Obama's request that the race stop the dirty tactics? None of this stuff is about the issues, it's PERSONAL, and Obama took it there!!!!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:53 PM on 03/16/2008
- billrott See Profile I'm a Fan of billrott

Actually, this information requests are not personal in nature. They have to directly do with how Mrs. Clinton manages her office and is also necessary to show us there are no conflict of interests that she is concealing. As a voter, I want this information released and vetted prior to the fall election cycle.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:46 PM on 03/16/2008
- cittykat2 See Profile I'm a Fan of cittykat2

Havbrush, you are in deed correct. Clinton's campaign began scare tactics after they lost Iowa. What bothers me most is the media, constantly speaking about both campaigns, when in fact Obama is always defending and responding to the Clintons kitchen sink. Why does the Media lean toward Clinton? Why don't they pounce on her about releasing her tax returns which in one of the debates, she stated she would but she will not. The media hardly questions her statement about McCain and Hillary are the only 2 with the experience. Why don't they question her about putting down her fellow democrat and her opponent who is in the lead. Why don't they question her about her experience and ask her to put it in writing, so when they talk about her experience, they can quote.
The media should stop giving her a "free ride." The media should report the facts,exactly the way they did about Mr. Wright.

The Media should explain why they go to McCain's picnic and just how friendly they are toward McCain. Their reporting will eventually become slanted and they should refrain from such behavior until the elections are over. Stay professional and neutral in their reporting. We need change from everyone.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:58 AM on 03/17/2008
- havbrush See Profile I'm a Fan of havbrush

You can't be serious. First the operative in the early part of the campaign implying that Obama was a drug dealer, they Bill Clinton in South Carolina saying that Obama was only the 'black' candidate, then Hillary hedging on not knowing if Obama was a Muslim, then Ferraro " need I say more. You can't name one time Senator Obama introduced race into the campaign. He has only responded to the Clinton camp's kitchen sink strategy.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 08:37 PM on 03/16/2008
- SCharb See Profile I'm a Fan of SCharb

Mark Penn is such a jackass and a liar. Yeah, Mark, you and the Clintons sure have run a positive campaign alright. Isn't it convenient that these old Wright clips were released just in time to distract everyone from Geraldine Ferraro's numerous recent racist tirades?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:45 PM on 03/16/2008
- ebbtide See Profile I'm a Fan of ebbtide


Axelrod is absolutely right. Since the devastating loss in Iowa, the knee jerk reaction on the part of the Clintons, was to "go negtative" Wow, aint; that just so commendable? Hillary said it was the fun part, and Bill was proud to announce to the world that ""she" was going to go negative". She won,NH through tears and through pity and by lies. She won, NH by a small amount and thought...., heh, going negative works! :Let's do m,ore smears and lies just like Bush! Let;s do more obfuscating and secrecy and double talk and stretching of the truth like Bush! Let's play dirty because there is no fun in playing honest or in decency, or in any loyalty to the party she has practically destroyed, in this Clinton team

She has stopped her cackling but not her lies or the fun part. Funny that she cackled when she thought she had the thing sewed up tight. lOL What an act, eh

The people have the right to see her tax return. The people she expects to vote for her have the obligation to know about her records when first lady, especially since she has touted her "experience" and stretched the truth about her participation in foreign affairs. Let's see that record Hillary and maybe we can decide whether or not you have all that experience, or whether or not you were there just watching, as Laura Bush does. The fun part on her and Bill's part is to tell those voters screw you and we are having fun doing it.

Why is she keeping all of this secret? If she has nothing to hide, why then is she hiding it?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:41 PM on 03/16/2008
- rojo7449 See Profile I'm a Fan of rojo7449

David Axelrod is interested in building a name for himself, isn't he? The tactic is, throw the accusation on the other team and hope it sticks. If they try to call you out on your tactics, it can then be categorized as "sour grapes". I know people are sitting there watching this and honestly not seeing the dirty politics that Obama's camp is using, but the most distressing of the facts is that our economy is imploding in front of our eyes, this war is scheduled now to continue for another 100 years, healthcare is a myth for a huge percentage of the people of this once powerful and financially wealthy country, and David Axelrod is pretending to run a clean, transparent campaign for Obama.

Could the Obama camp please talk to the real issues of this country, tell us what you are going to change, and how you're going to do it. We can ferret out the ethics of both camps without these screaming headlines, but only you can tell us why you are truly the right person to fix all that needs focused attention in this country.

Obama, what is in store for us? Are you beholding to anyone who is more interested in their personal agenda than the fate of this country? You talk to us about you; we can ask our questions of the Clinton camp without you taking yourself off message.


    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:26 PM on 03/16/2008
- theDrip See Profile I'm a Fan of theDrip

Why does Barack have to answer these questions? But Hillary gets a walk. Because why? The clintonista's just keep plowing fear, uncertainty, and doubt hoping to find something like they might have in a closet. Where's all her funding coming from? Who are these funders to tell my party what to do?

I am perturbed. Clinton equals old established Democratic Machine. They set up the rules down here in Texas. Now Hill wants to sue her party, her rules, and her friends for fraud. Wow! Sounds a bit like manipulation.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:19 PM on 03/16/2008
- BeckBerk See Profile I'm a Fan of BeckBerk

I'm so very disappointed that the media are slow and somewhat reluctant to react to the Clintons disdain for transparency. We all suspect a. that their tax returns will open Pandora's box b. we also know that the next release of their campaign accounts (April?) is likely to contain quite a few surprises too.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:09 PM on 03/16/2008
- intuition See Profile I'm a Fan of intuition

Hillary has proved she's just as nasty as Bush, who needs more of that!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:58 PM on 03/16/2008
- KDH See Profile I'm a Fan of KDH

Obama is against a redo in Michigan. He's willing to disenfranchise those voters. . Obama will do anything to get elected.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:58 PM on 03/16/2008
- illinoisan See Profile I'm a Fan of illinoisan

It should be asked whether there would be any calls for a Florida or Michigan "do-over" if the race weren't so close. I find the arguments for do-overs disingenuous in the extreme.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:53 PM on 03/16/2008
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