Donna Brazile, Paul Begala Angrily Spar Over Dem Stereotypes

Apparently, way before this election began, Paul Begala got together with Lou Dobbs in heathen New York City, where they ate the Food Of The Working Class and pinned Barack Obama's electoral hopes on whether he could prove that he was able to accommodate dwarves with their insatiable need for marmalade. Or something. Begala may be drunk, or filling the performance-art vacuum left by his absence of pal James Carville. We don't know. But Begala did find a way to denigrate "Volvo drivin', NPR tote bag totin'" liberals, and claim Obama needed to "put the jam on the lower shelf where the little folk can reach it."

[WATCH.]

BEGALA: The challenge now for Barack, both the key to the primary and the general election for Barack will now be white, working class voters. At the very, very beginning, of this entire election season, Lou, you and I and a bunch of us all got together in New York and talked about what the election will be about and I said then and I say it again tonight. My advice to Barack Obama is put the jam on the lower shelf where the little folk can reach it. In other words, talk more about those blue collar, economic populist issues that John Edwards first raised and now Hillary Clinton is raising so effectively. If he can do that, he'll hold this wonderful base built but he needs to reach out now to the white working-class voters and means a different message than he generally talks about. He's got to stop with all the arguments for the Volvo drivin', NPR totebag totin' liberals, he needs to talk to middle class working people.

Of course, if Edwards' supporters are anything like Edwards' donors, the populist break for Obama has already begun. Begala and I may differ on whether Clinton's been "raising" these issues "so effectively," but that's only because I don't think duping blue-collar voters with a phony "gas tax holiday" amounts to "effective" populism.

Donna Brazile, however, wasn't having any of it, and minutes later took the opportunity to dress Begala down (and in front of her boo, Lou Dobbs, to boot!). Begala protested, "We can't win with eggheads and African-Americans." Brazile, on the other hand, seemed to think that unifying the entire Democratic base would be preferable to alienating and insulting large demographic cross-sections of it in order to make blue-collar voters feel sufficiently pandered to. "You've got a hearing problem," Brazile jeered, "I've drank more beers with Joe Sixpack and Jane Sixpack than most white Democrats." She also took issue with Begala's continually referring to the Democratic Party as "my party." "It's our party, Paul."

[WATCH.]

Comments

[kittyma]

Donna Brazille, I thank you for finally reminding people that there are black blue collar workers.

[Scarllatti]

Yeah, the narrative has always been, WHITE BLUE COLLAR VOTERS and "BLACKS" as if there are no working-class African-Americans. No one even mentions LATINOS. To the MSM, they do not even exist. What about American who are not WHITES, BLACKS or LATINOS? To those who feel they can tell you what to think and how to think, YOU ARE NON EXIXTENT!!!

[definitelyNOTmisterRIGHT]

Donna Brazille is H-O-T !!!

[mikebythesun]

Paul has a great career as an actor in toothpaste commercials when this is all over.

[countrycat]

I am so sick of these old Clinton Dems trying to slice and dice the American electorate and insulting large chunks of us in the process - my husband and I are blue-collar, late 50's, drink good old Milwaukee's Best Light and live in middle America, but we LOVE Obama and what he means for the future of this country and the Democratic party. Begala and Carville can't stand the thought that their old, stale ways are not the way of the future. This is a very different world than 1992. The Clinton Dems are has-beens and just need to STFU and the Clintons need to exit gracefully. It's a new day!

[Abie56]

I saw the exchange and she was great..

[alm123]

It is obvious this is election has nothing to do with a candidates character, experience, or knowledge. With the statistics from primaries, it’s become all about race and getting their boy in as the nominee. Over 90% of the Afro-American are voting for Obama regardless his of lack of experience needed to win the general election. His association with Rev, Wright and Ayer’s reflects his poor judgment and character. I will not vote for anyone who has the least bit of anti-American sentiments.
I feel 4 years of McCain will be far better than 4 years of Obama. This election resembles real life experience in today’s job market. It’s not what you know, but who you know, and Barrack Obama has his race to thank if he becomes the nominee. Unfortunately, Obama will not win in the general election. Clinton supporters will not vote for someone who is not capable of performing the most important job in the world.

[MsLiz]

How can anyone argue with this? Alm123 calls Obama a boy with a straight face, and thinks wearing a flag pin makes one a great American. Some folks are impervious to reality. Alm123 has been thoroughly Hannitized (a form of cable induced lobotomy).

I live within 15 miles of where Angela Davis grew up, I guess that makes me suspect too.

[ebanks84]

Are you saying that Obama has less experience than Hillary? If so, you are wrong. He has more experience in world appeal, country appeal, verbage, judgment, and kindness which one would expect from a president.

[Cyndee1113]

alm123,

Hey, you can drop Rev. Wright because you are the only one that has not heard about Rev. Wright. North Carolina spoke for us all.

Ayers, there is not relation, the man was 8 years old when Ayers was accused of the bombing. Guess what, the charges was dropped.

Shut you trap and try to find something else against Obama.

[kaplan88]

Great comment...­4 years of John McCain and his I was against torture before I was for it, I was against comprehensive immigration before I was for it, I was against evangelical leaders before I was running for President.­..etc etc..

Obama may not be perfect but his policies are a hell of a lot better than McCain and while there is little policy difference between Clinton and Obama ( the war and gas tax notwithstanding) there is a hell of a difference in their attitude towards governance­...

Clinton said in New Hampshire that "everyone knows Michigan doesn't count" yet once the "inevitability" argument fell apart she was all about voter disenfranc­hisement..­.well as a voter...no­thing disenfranchises me more than when people use my vote for their political ends...

Clinton has demonstrated to anyone paying attention that while she differs sharply from the policies of Bush...in terms of attitude they are one in the same....an­d I am not an Obama cultist...­I would have been happy to vote for any Democrat in the fall but of the 3 remaining candidates McCain, Clinton, and Obama I vote Obama because he is the only Democrat left...

[niterider1640]

Over 90 percent huh? who are you Rasmussen?

It sounds to me like you're perturbed not at the fact that he is African American, but rather because he's African American and WINNING these primaries, subsequently which will earn him the nomination, as if that isn't supposed to be.

McGrandpa would certainly not serve a more effective 4 years than Obama. As far as the job market goes, I feel you are alluding to affirmative action, of which you are apparently not a supporter of. You probably wouldn't understand what discrimination is and how it affects US. Affirmative action evens the score buddy. I'm glad we have it. It's miscreants like you who make affirmative action so sweet. Yeah, we deserve it, sorry. (or maybe i'll just say that my ancestors earned it)

He has his race to thank? What an obdurate, hateful thing to insinuate. Even when African Americans make up 12.7 percent of this country? really? If every Black person in the US voted for him, it's only 12.7 percent, Einstein. So no, his race isn't the reason he WILL get the nomination, it's because he has run a successful campaign. John McCain is a walking anachronism. He's in his seventies, dude. Just look at his numerous gaffes in the early stages of his campaign.

What is unfortunate is that people refuse to acknowledge the hard work, fortitude and determination set forth By Barack Obama because they are obscured by the color of the man's skin.

[sklfcats]

Donna, drop the donut

[alm123]

I will never forget the people who turned this Great Election of 2008 into a racially smeared campaign. Al Sharpton, Jim Clyburn, Donna Brazile, blacks in South Carolina, North Carolina, as well as other states and bigots, dealt the race card, sat back, and watched the controversy grow. Obama rode the wave of racism and made little or no attempt to correct misinterpretations. Obama and his cronies totally soiled this Election. Now it’s time others get in this card game. Barrack Obama looked all attractive and safe from scrutiny while his surrogates dealt from the bottom of the deck. It will be interesting in November when we deal Obama “JOKER”, and vote for ANYONE BUT OBAMA.

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2008/01/09/donna-brazile-hints-bill-clintons-obama-attacks-racially-offensive

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video_log/2008/01/al_sharpton_responds_to_clinto.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/clintons-fall-into-racially-charged-hot-water/2008/01/13/1200159278223.html

[ritenow]

Sit down and SHUT UP!!!!

[ebanks84]

And what did Hillary's supporters do? Obama has stayed above the fray and I congratulate him for being a gentleman, which is more than I can say for some posters.

[Cyndee1113]

alm123,

Someone needs to B-slap you upside your head.

[MsLiz]

Robert Johnson, Bill Clinton, Alm123 . . . .

Strange that a man with a white mother, African father, who is socialized in a white family, lives in a foreign land as a child, seeks advice on relating to African-Americans when he moves to Chicago, is so admired by his fellow students on the Harvard Law Review that they elect him president, speaks flawless English, can be caricatured the way Alm123 does. Then, he is also accused of being elitist.

This is some crazy BS.

[una4dable]

Ding Dong the witch is dead!

[TheSecularist]

Now that they have lost, the old guard wants to change Obama into one of them. Will they never learn? It's all that pandering to the lower income, so-called blue collar whites that has alienated so many democratic voters. Why not give the blue collar voter some credit and NOT pander to them. Let's unite and promote a message of inclusiveness. Old guard democrats erroneously promote the idea that what's best for the blue collar voter conflicts with what's good for the "NPR progressiv­e/liberal"­. A strong economy is good for our country and good for us all. An inclusive, unbiased middle east policy is good for Israel, good for the Palestinians, good for our country and good for us all. The old guard want to emulate republicans and win by dividing. As Obama says, we're not white Americans or African Americans or Hispanic Americans or blue collar Americans; we're Americans. There is ONE United States of America.

[tora]

Btw, Donna rules!!!

[tora]

The Hellary Trolls are relentless and annoying without merit or logic: Harold Icke on MSNBC 2 days ago was ultra certifiable as the anchorwoman kept questioning him on the logic behind Hillary's gas tax pandering. Then there's awful Paul, and Hellary's female senior adviser, and the best is LENNY LENNY LENNY - everyone at CNN couldn't wait to get him off the air last night! Hellary's campaign group have drank the potion and now certifiably crazy.

[aceholiday]

no more paul. no more hillary. no more clintons. thanks donna.

[Marrigan]

Donna Brazile is classy and, when the need arises, sassy. She whacked the Forehead good and all he could do was freeze that mile-wide mouth in a tight-lipped grin. She has also been consistent about the role of superdelegates and the disingenuous arguments of the Clinton campaign to change the rules about FL and MI.

[adavis08]

I watched this and felt Donna had valid points. Barack should not start pandering (aka lying ) to a certain voting block. Once he secures the nomination he can have small town meetings to get to know this white working class.(PWT­)

[Witchitalineman]

I think Donna Brazile takes herself just a little too seriously.

[deb233]

Brazile is the one who played the "race card" and she still does that - she did a great job for John Kerry ! lol - I am confused in the fall will Obama be black or white - he has played the race card to win the black vote and he did - but he will not win in the fall - I have never voted Rep. but I will vote for McCain! You will call me a racist - not really - but I do not want to fight the race wars again - Obama has divided this country to win and it will stay divided - Obama has never tried to appeal to the center of the Democratic party - and elections are won from the middle not the liberal end!!

[considerthis]

Yeah, we don't want to get all involved in a discussion about race. After all, that was decided years ago. Just who do these people think they are anyhow? If a black man has the audacity to run for President, I would rather vote for the old white guy even though he wants perpetual war against all our enemies, more money for the deserving rich, and.......­.... well, what ever else the neocon agenda provides.

[cthomp7280]

Donna Brazile should take herself seriously.­..she is more accomplished than the majority of the "experts" that are flapping their gums on TV these days.

[ElliotNC]

Yes she is even more accomplished than the candidate she shills for. Too bad she's a woman, so she can't get elected prez.