Cease Fire: Obama Cautious About Declaring Lead

Washington Post :

Sen. Barack Obama will return to Iowa tonight to celebrate another milestone in his long and sometimes bitter battle against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who shows no signs of dropping her effort to convince party leaders that she would be a stronger Democratic nominee for president.

But the reality is that both sides have declared an effective cease-fire as they prepare to bring the party together for a general-election campaign against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[marc1antony]

you would never know it from the vile statements of Ferraro, Marsh and that Cynthia woman looking for her 15 minutes on FOX, she should be removed from the democratic party, publicly campaigning for a Republican.

[elcojonu]

Unbiased whites will vote for Barack; biased whites will not. Wether in the South, North, East or West.
That is the unpleasant fact of life; it must be recognized and overcomed.
This country of over 300 million people is at a crossroads.
It is high time to start isolating and leaving behind those folks that in the final analysis do not contribute anything positive to civic life in this country. They must be relegated to the dust bin of history.
This coming election will be a TEST of wether the country moves forward in a new direction with a new generation at the helm, ready to shake off the biases of over 200 years; or remains stuck in the same 18 & 19 century biases it has been dragging along to this point.
History will be made, or not; I've got a feeling it will.

[hugs4u]

Hillary showed in her victory speech, she is no way trying to have a cease fire. she is just a plain old fashion liar.

[marc1antony]

nothing sexist in calling her a liar right? Hillary lied again... seems that ten million she claimed to have gotten in one day after PA was a fabrication - now that the FEC reports have been released, we see that she cannot be trusted to even be honest about her fundraising practices - remember Paul v Clinton in California.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/21/04953/3738/252/519453

this is why all the sexism dust up over the past few days - another distraction tactic.

[speakingtruth2power]

HRC and the DLC have used the nuclear option, pitting white against minorities,

using bigotry to gain votes in the Appalachian backwoods. They are more neocon

than Democrat, more conservative than liberal and more corporatist than human.

[Amminadab]

Are your smears the Obama way?

I really can't support that.

Obama 08 - Empower the Hate.

[liseworks]

Obama 08 - Disempower lack of Honesty, lack of Integrity, lack of Character.
Obama 08 - Peace & Honor, at last.

[luvthelaw]

Hillary is starting her victory speech. It'll be interesting to see what tone she takes.

[liseworks]

Chris Matthews just noted that her crowd was mostly white - Good job Hillary - you ended up creating the GRRRReat Racial divide - we as True Democrats have even more work to do now -

[Amminadab]

Why must you blame Hillary for EVERYTHING?

[liseworks]

WV voted overwhelmingly for Hillary & now so did Kentucky -
I think Kentucky's population is made up of 10-20 of the same old white families - they all know each other VERY well - come to think of it, they all look alike - mmmmm.......

[partyofone]

CAREFUL, Barak. She's just reloading.

[IAM4CLINTON]

Please- I urge all of the Obama fans here to not push the 49.02% of the Democratic primary electorate away from Barack Obama. The single thing that you can do immediately is not to dismiss off, denegrate, or disrespect the ONLY 2 term successful Democratic President in more than a generation- Bill Clinton. Maybe, many of you may have been in Kindergarten when Bill assumed office- but please remember that it was Bill that made the Democratic party relevant in presidential elections and the Democrats credible with both fiscal, economic and foreign policies.

[partyofone]

My absolute disgust with Bill and Hillary Clinton has nothing to do with Barak Obama.

Bill Clinton has become a reviled figure for many Americans who once admired him.
He has forfeited the opportunity to become a senior statesman by selling his influence to the highest bidders for personal financial gain at the nation's expense.

As president, Bill Clinton rode an economic bubble through the 1990s. He sold Americans out to corporate greed, and we are living with the consequences. Clinton laid the groundwork for shameless, unchecked corporate profiteeting. As he tourse the nation and the world now, accepting huge "speaking " and "consulting" fees and "donations", is he actually collecting deferred bribes and kickbacks from the corporations who put him in office?

As former president, Bill Clinton has abidcated his role as national and Democratic leader to conduct a mean-spiritied, self-interested, dishonest, damaging campaign against a Democratic candidate whose only offense has been aspiring to lead and challenging Mrs. Bill Clinton for the presidency.

Bill Clinton rode an economic bubble through the 1990s. He sold Americans out to corporate greed, and we are living with the consequences. Clinton laid the groundwork for shameless, unchecked corporate profiteeting.

Bill Clinton will go down in history as the president who had an affair with an intern, lied under oath, got Impeached, sold influence to become a mega millionaire, and tried his best to prevent Barack Obama from becoming president. Great job, Bill.

[Amminadab]

Wow, you are really committed to the smear.

Does it make you feel powerful?

[ishok]

The Democratic Party has been good to the Clintons...I don't see much evidence that the Clintons have been as good to or for the Democratic Party.
They lost Congress...suffered through countless investigations...got "three strikes"shoved down their throats ...caved on Lani Guinier...watched Rwanda descend into chaos...FAILED AT HEALTHCARE!

I'm sorry but we in the Obama camp are not "pushing anybody away, that's all creations of your little minds to justify not voting for the black guy. Be strong and do what you're going to do. I'm tired of you childish sore losers. Only you can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

An Obama win for the Democrats is a win for all of us.

[DXP]

IAM4CLINTON : Your words are lost here and folks like ishok are self righteously bent on losing the GE. Losing is one of the democrats most pronounced talents. It was Bush who was good for the democratic party and I guess the Obama extremists seem to think that 4 more years will be even better for the dems. Or maybe ishok thinks it was Carter who really lead the democrats? Wasn't that back in the ice age? It is lucky for the republicans that folks like partyofone are so rageful. Party of one....? The parties are changing, and affiliations are no longer what they used to be. Republicans are losing members and so are Democrats. I wonder if any really interesting new party will emerge.

[kcam44]

Oh you again with your threats. Don't insult our intelligence, if 49% of you want to stay at home (or vote for McCain) in Nov. DO IT!! It's your loss.
It's time to puts those threats to rest dear, It's really getting old.
You continue to talk about Bill Clinton, as you did several time last nite. This is not about Bill Clinton. I'm really starting to believe that you are Monica Lewinsky (i'm so serious). Will you shut up about Bill Clinton.
You're posting the same thing over and over. We respect Bill, but this race is not about him. This country needs change, and we are moving forward. If you want to stay in 90's with your strange obsession of Bill, go right ahead. This time it's Obama....your loss

[DXP]

No, it will be your loss! But you had the chance to tell another dem to "shut up" so, hey, you must be so very happy!

[barryfilms]

You call that a threat? You are really paranoid...and really immature. Your post was rude and ignorant. Its people like you that will give victory to McCain in Nov. Why don't you back off & let the adults have the conversation?

[Amminadab]

It might be fun to watch Obama and his movement lose miserably in the general election.

You think that you can win without us?

Well, good luck with that stategy.

[TexasT]

I voted for Bill. I was a big fan until I was so incredibly dissapointed with Bill over the way he handled the Monica Lewinsky thing. I spent many years defending both of the Clintons.

But I know one thing . . . Bill Clinton lost races for down ticket dems and nearly decimated the democratic party. Texas was a democratic state until WJC's shenanigans. And it has hurt our state considerably, because the republicans in this state are crazy and mean. Karl Rove anyone?

Let's be realistic for a minute, shall we? Bill became elected president, then lost the congress. He made a hard turn to the right and gave us NAFTA and Rush Limbaugh. WJC, as much as I love him (or did, before this campaign) did NOTHING for the democratic party. And that's a fact.

Now the HRC campaign has gone out of their way to sow divisions within the democratic party and I will probably never forgive her for that.

Other than the fact that this campaign is not about WJC, I have a huge problem claiming that WJC made the Democratic party relevant. I personally feel that Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and FDR could have a bigger claim to that quality.

This talking point of how WJC helped the democratic party needs to stop. He almost destroyed the democratic party and Hillary's come back to stick a fork in it.

[Chillinout]

It IS time to call a ceasefire and to start healing the Democratic Party. Here is my opinion: When someone slams your candidate, ignore them. Disparaging the supporters and/or their candidate is at the very least counterproductive. And something to keep in mind here. The Republicans would like nothing better than the implosion of the Democratic Party. It is quite possible that the person that is doing the disparaging could very well be a Republican just stirring things up.

Both Hillary and Obama have run exceptional campaigns and should be commended for that. I don't think that I could ever campaign like that and not totally lose it at some point. It is just too bad that one of them has to lose.

If you truly hate the other candidate and either will not vote or vote for McCain this November, that is your right and everyone needs to respect that and allow them to have their own opinions. That is what this great country is founded on, the free exchange of ideas, and just because someone doesn't agree with you, doesn't make them wrong, just as it doesn't make your position correct.

So, we need to stop the insults and the disparaging remarks and focus on the ultimate prize, the Presidency. If we do that, we can do nothing less than change the world. Think about that for awhile and try it on for size. We are going to be changing the world!

[partyofone]

Sorry, you seem to be buying into establishment politics as usual. The Clintons can run one of the most divisive, dishonest campaigns in history AGAINST fellow DEMCRATS and then pretend nothing happened? If the Democratic party wants to embrace the Clintons again, please do. But if you want change, the Clintons and the Clinton-Bush brand of the politics of destruction and division must be actively and vocally rejected. Pretending all is great would be condoing what they have done and perpetuating it.

[SmokinJobaman]

Bitter battle? Has the 24 hour news cycle reduced our collective memory that much? This nomination process really is mild by historical standards (history meaning something more than a decade or two). I'm amazed at the elevated level of emotion I see here and elsewhere online and in the traditional news sources. We grab and pull frantically at these candidates and then wonder why they are so defensive and evasive. I wish that The Huffington Post had a tab with some posts that are a little more reflective than the instant response diatribes we see here on a daily basis. Call it the "Measured Thinking" tab, the "Lincoln-Douglas" tab, or something.

[barryfilms]

I'm responding to DIVAATTY here, since there is no respond button under her/his comment:

You apparently did not read my comment before you responded in what was certainly an emotional & over-the-top way. I have never stated that I would vote for McCain in any post or to any person. I am a lifelong Dem & voted for BO in the primary; my beautiful & amazing wife is a Hillary supporter, but we both intend to vote Dem in the Fall & neither care too much over who gets it, BO or HC. Most of my responses here at Huffpo have been to the fact that Clinton & her supporters have been treated way worse than BO & his supporters have been & I think this is a brainless way to carry on a campaign. Hillary's supporters are now so pissed that they are planning to campaign against Obama in the Fall. There was a piece on niteline about this last nite. I've said it before & I'll say it again...if Barack's supporters, including his pro blog sites like Huffpo, Kos & My DD, & the MSM, had been more gracious (instead of vicious) to Hil's supporters during his many victories, we wouldn't be in danger of losing this Fall, like we are now.

[Amminadab]

Obama's message of UNITY is a farce.

Even his most ardent supporters don't buy it.

They prefer smear and demonization.

Obama 08 - Empower the Hate.

[Tamalpais]

You obviously are a Rushbot trying to create strife in the Democratic party. If I am wrong then you have been made a tool by the GOP.

If you really want the Dems to win in November then you need to be the bigger person and drop it instead of creating more ill feelings.

[kcam44]

You're so bitter. I read your anti-Obama posts regularly, it's all so irrelevant and such a waste of time and energy, because Obama has won this thing. I hope you find peace within yourself honey, because it's over for Hillary. Good Luck

[divaatty]

Barryfilms, don't know why the response button is off on my earlier comment. The emotion in my comment was actually coming from reading all the posts up to that point - not just from yours. Sorry it seemed over the top. But, I believe I rightfully took issue with your characterization that Obama supporters have somehow been more :"vicious" to Hillary. I just haven't seen evidence thawt they are any more so than Hillary AND her supporters have been. And I do think to suggest that one might not vote for Barack on that basis and risk a Bush 3rd term is worst than anything that has been said by either Dem supporter or candidate., The impact on America would be tragic and, yes, a DUMB move on the part of Hillary supporters.,

[TexasT]

I'm sorry, but MyDD is NOT a pro-Obama website. You haven't been over there lately, I guess.

A lot of people on Kos are progressives and Hillary was never their choice, she always came in last in the straw poll that Markos held occasionally, Edwards was the choice of the kossacks, then Kucinich and Obama. DU probably has the same demographics.

I frequent dkos a lot and people are slammed there for making stupid or sexist or personal remarks. I don't see the same on the pro Hillary blogs like Taylor Marsh and Hillaryis44.

I find it very disturbing that they level the same crap at Michelle Obama that was leveled at Hillary. And Hillary does nothing to stop it.

And then Obama's supporters get accused of being the mean ones.

[kellygrrrl]

Evolution of Humanity
might also include the Extinction of certain breeds.
I truly believe that the Bigots we are seeing in little isolated regional pockets of the country have got maybe 2 or (max) 3 more generations before they are but a blip on the history screen.

[liseworks]

I totally agree ! I think the Republicans, bigots, the angry, people who enjoy hate & anyone whose sensibilities ride the same wave, will soon be extinct. I'm serious. They're going to be so outdated that they'll all just shrivel up, have no one to talk to ....& worst, no one willing to listen to that shit.

[prittfumes]

Let's hope so!

[LoloZ]

Cease Fire between the camps? It's that Clinton has stopped her nasty negative campaigning, Obama has been doing the same thing all along, nothing's changed on his end. Geraldine Ferraro today was DESPICABLE!!! Obama hasn't been sexist, he's just called Hillary on her behavior when she has been pandering (all that bullshit about shootin' a gun with daddy out back of the cabin). He was calling her on trying to appear blue collar herself when she is nothing of the sort. All these angry Clinton supporters who see her not winning as the rest of the world being sexist makes me sick. Let them rally behind McCian, Clinton is more like McCain than Obama anyway.

[Amminadab]

Wow, you're willing to throw away an awful lot of voters.

I wonder how that strategy will work out?

[barryfilms]

I've been saying the same thing here for months. The Obama camp never stops bragging about how they've generated a whole new youth vote. Its going to be pretty ironic if this "youth vote" with their (mostly) vicious treatment of the Hillary supporters ends up driving away half the Dem party. The winner will be McCain.

[TexasT]

I hope John McCain is paying you.

[jubo]

'Movement of hate'? How bitter.

[partyofone]

Geraldine Ferraro is very old and very bitter.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Enough talk about Hillary's "feelings."

How sexist. How patronizing. How NAIVE.

She's not pressing on to avoid her feelings being hurt. She's pressing on to amass -- and exert -- power, by retaining and asserting control of 49.9% of the party -- and the delegates.

Unifying the country starts with unifying the party. Hillary knows it. Obama knows it.

He's waiting for her to fold? She's waiting for a certain invitation!

Negotiation ain't appeasement. Right?

UNITY 08 or McSame 08. It's now up to Obama.

[Amminadab]

No, no, no..... this is HuffPo.

You must tell how evil and selfish she is..... how she is mad-crazy and destroying the entire party.

It's all about the math, remember? She is shrill and a war-monger..... and she LIES ABOUT SNIPER FIRE! Please stay with the demonization program.

This woman is a racist, and a republican..... and she belongs to a secret religious cult in the capitol. How is unity possible with this MONSTER or her MINIONS.

To hell with her. We need this NEW POLITICS of smear, smear, smear.

Obama 08 - Empower the Hate.

[luvthelaw]

MSNBC just said you can send wishes of support to Ted Kennedy at:

www.tedkennedy.com

I hope that is correct as I was just coming into the room when they were talking about it.

[luvthelaw]

I apologize for using this thread but you can't comment on the article about Ted Kennedy. Does anyone know if a phone line or e-mail address has been set up for sending messages of support? I hate to call his Senate office as they are probably in shock.

[NicoleAnonymous]

Maybe you could find it online - he is a senator so that information should public? I wouldn't call his office - it's probably difficult enough for them.

It's strange that they won't let us discuss it - I feel as though they're assuming people will be mean as if they're responsible for keeping us in line. It's offensive and it's not right - people want to be able to express condolence for Kennedy. Let them do it.

[dawlishgal]

I was thinking the same thing....they have taken down several comment segments (or else not put them up in the first place lately).....other comment lines are vetted for acceptability...why can't these be?

At any rate, I hope that the Senator is able to watch the great wash of admiring comments from his colleagues and from the press. He probably doesn't care what the dittoheaded trolls who come here to disrupt have to say anyhow.

Our affection and our prayers go to Senator Kennedy and his family.

[overlyelectrical]

www.tedkennedy.com
according to msnbc

[Chillinout]

the reason you can't comment to that thread is so that a bunch a**holes don't disparage Senator Kennedy there.

[NicoleAnonymous]

That is very condescending - they don't know that would happen for sure. This isn't a classroom and it's not up to them to treat people like children.

And I have news for you - even in real life there are jerks who insult people during a tragedy. Most people realize it's a desperate attempt for attention and ignore it. And I do think it's petty of me to use this as an opportunity to insult people at HP so I'll stop after this but it's really frustrating for people who want to be able to express sadness at the news with other people and nobody can do it because they're worried people won't act appropriately.

This doesn't mean he isn't going to live - sometimes treatment will shrink it enough so that it doesn't spread. I hope that is the case here.

[Amminadab]

So demonizing, smearing, and disparaging Hillary is fine.... but Ted is off limits?

Oh yeah, Ted supports Obama. The double-standard is hard to take.