Carville Knocks Politico Reporter: "I Don't Know If I'd Know Ben Smith If He Fell On Me"

James Carville appeared on CNN Friday night to talk with Anderson Cooper about just how behind Obama the Clintons really are. During the discussion Cooper read a quote from an article by Ben Smith (or, as Cooper accidentally referred to him, Ben Stein!) of Politico about how Bill and Hillary's legacy rests on the perception that they are supporting the first African-American candidate. And how did Carville respond? Never one to resist putting someone down, Carville seemingly dismissed Smith's argument by saying he had no idea who the accomplished and influential political reporter was, albeit in more colorful terms.

Watch the clip.

CNN

Comments

[Daisy1111]

The quote is ridiculous. Their entire legacy rests on the fact that they support the first AA nominee?

All their years in politics hinge on this alone?

It's a silly quote.

[Krikkit]

Reading this article and the comments has reminded me of just exactly how important subtext is to understanding even the simplest things. Backstory: without it, we have only the most slender grasp of understanding.

Carville's backstory can be found by skimming one of his books, "Had Enough? A Handbook for Fighting Back" in which he advocates using essentially GOP tactics to defeat them in elections. After skimming it, you should be able to draw a connection between the tactics he describes and the tactics H used against O in the primaries.

Do that, and then ask yourself what this article is about and what Carville's non-response to the Ben Smith's statement about the C's legacy means. Then take another look at the comments in this thread.

As usual, it's the quality of the information you have that colors your views. I wish everyone was hooked in!

[Krikkit]

Now here's an interesting fellow. He and Begala began a campaign of their own after the 2000 election in which they argued that the way to return Democrats to power was to adopt Republican tactics and use them against them. I blame him and Begala for the disastrous tack that H took during the campaign against O.

You gotta be asking yourself one fairly fundamental question, and that is, how do you think he feels, having been on the verge of becoming the next presidential rainmaker, suddenly having your precious ideas roundly rejected by the voting public in a bruising fight in which your candidate did everything you wanted, and lost.

The man must be eating his own liver, is what I'm saying.

[ToeJamSam]

Has anyone heard of "Ben Smith"?

[Krikkit]

Yup. His posts at Politico are often linked from HuffPo. He's usually got an interesting take on things.

[Johnnn]

After months of Obama supporters complaining that the Clintons won't go away, now we hear "where are the Clintons?" Hillary should go back to the Senate and represent and work for us New Yorkers, and don't worry about campaigning for Obama. Obama can take care of himself. And if I decide not to vote for Obama there's nothing Hillary can say to change my mind. The Clintons should stay out of it.

[Tags]

I looked up "Ben Smith" on Wikipedia and there were 17 entries. None of them were for an accomplished and influential political reporter.

There was an editor who died in 1913 named Benjamin Eli Smith, but he's never been known to comment on the Clintons..

[Krikkit]

Just go to Politico!!! Why would you do a general search when you already KNOW where his home turf is?

[readerK]

To all who are unloading invective after invective on the Clintons and Carville: Exactly what did Carville say to Anderson Cooper that would cause you to launch such ad hominem attacks on the Clintons and on Carville?

Ben Smith expresses an opinion -- his opinion -- and Carville implies that the Clintons would support Obama even if he were not black. And for that Carville response, folks who are obviously Obama supporters are viciously attacking Carville and the Clintons, although the attackers do not know what the Clintons personally think of the statement by Ben Smith.

Are the attackers not displaying the kind of "old style" politics that Obama claims he wants to change? Why so much bitterness and gratuitous, unprovoked insults?

Again, based on this blog about Ben Smith's personal opinion, what did Carville say -- and what did the Clintons say or do -- that should merit such vicious attacks as have been let loose by seeming Obama supporters without any apparent provocation? readerK.

[Krikkit]

Well, the answer to your question is that there's a subtext here that you're missing. Carville is responsible for the general theory of getting elected that H adopted in her attacks against O. People resent that.

[jw]

I cannot speak for the others, but I never pass a chance to unload on them because they are the ultimate example of politicians who think their career is about advancing themselves as opposed to serving their constituents.

[Daisy1111]

And how has Senator O served his constituents?

[campgranata]

Ben Smith has spoken the truth; the one thing the Clintons or their sycophants really can't stand.

[jeanrenoir]

This Carville story is the perfect symbolic epitaph for the whole Clinton era. Like his maestro, Bill, Carville is the personification of brassy hubris. Like their whole deeply flawed and terminally narcissistic generation, these guys have gotten away with so much in their lives with their fast talk that they can't believe they are complete has-beens now. Their time is totally past. No more comebacks for these kids. Now that their friend Tim Russert is gone, Carville and Mary Matalin won't even be getting much face time as pundits anymore. Maybe, like Lanny Davis, they'll have to defect in narcissitic desperation to the Clintons' new best friends, Fox. Carville and the Clintons are psychologically imploding because they can't face the fact that they and their generation of wise-guy Boomers are now history. The moving finger writes, and having writ, moves on. Bye-bye, Boomers.

[chyko]

James Carville is a loss cannon whose obidience to the Clintons is like a dog to its master. I wish that people should now go to Obama loyalists for issues regarding the Democratic party because people like James who has a blind love for the Clintons and want to see them back at the White House will screw things up for Obama through negative comments.

[GQTaste]

Not unlike his wife right chyko? And her love for anything right wing of Richard Cheney.

[genia]

Aren't we kind of missing the point here?
Carvell didn't like the statement, oelse he would have been praising the guy.
Now ....what about that statement didn't Carvell like..and why?

[Krikkit]

Good question! "What about that statement didn't Carvell like...and why?" The statement, of course, was that the Clinton's legacy now rests on their support of O.

The answer, I think, is that he's bitter because he wanted to be H's rainmaker, and so he is now grappling with the fact that their future legacy has nothing to do with him, except the remaining bad taste the campaign tactics he promoted have left in all our mouths.

[campgranata]

it was true.

[Diplomacy]

Did Carville ever comment on the statement? Or, did he simply dismiss the comment based on the fact he didn't know Ben Smith?

Of course Hillary Rodham Clinton's political future & Bill Clinton's Legacy depend on their support for the Democratic Candidate for the Presidency. They had both be very careful with their DRAMA in this Campaign '08.

If there is any perception that they are doing Barack Obama any harm in this Campaign, there will be HELL to pay for years to come!

Enough of their 'hissy fits' & get on with the race between Barack Obama & John McCain.

The Clinton's are a couple, Past President & Past First Lady (who also ran). It's over, Barack Hussein Obama is the Candidate for President.

Past is past, & it's on with the FUTURE. A FUTURE of HOPE, VISION, LEADERSHIP & DIPLOMACY!

[Bozwellian]

What IS appalling is that there remains manipulitive perceptions that Obama NEEDS the Clintons (in truth, the CLintons NEED to be graced by Obama if one cares to dig a bit to the nitty gritty coming up...Obama as next POUTUS and CIC and LEADER who already has the WORLD enthused at the prospect of him taking the USA reins/ reigning.....) The NONSENSE spouted by SUPPOSED Hillary supporters...first number exageration which has been allowed to go from its more accurate count of voters, including Michigan that came to just about 17.4 million but gets ROUNDED UP (new fuzzified math) to 18 million and the insinuation that ALL ARE YET STALWART HRC supporters who will NOT move to Obama unless SHE nods the way...GET A REALITY CHECK , note the BS'ing involved in this for the actual POLICY issues between the two candidates, little actual difference and IF those HRC supporters were truly concerend with POLICY ISSUES/ etc, then NO PROBLEM MOVING TO OBAMA AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE COULD THEY EVER GO McCAin as but a flip-flopper who does NOT straight talk much and but promises to continue the Bush/Cheny/ NEOCON agenda's !!!
(will state again too, that IS Hillary still has CONTROL/INFLUENCE of 18million why are THEY not rallying to assist with a measly $3 bucks a piece to retire that ridiculous debt due mismanagement of one really lousy campaign that ended with the CLintons UNABLE to actualize a comeback or sale ? !!

[majorteddy]

Ben Smith is to news what Rona Barrett is to gossip.

[jade7243]

love that!

[kvet]

James Carville needs to retire........time for Someone else to take over in his place.....

[memphispaul]

James Carville reminds me that there is no loyalty that compares to the loyalty that is purchased with cold hard cash.

[caldarone]

oops i forgot she has no more money the campaing is severly bankrupt..

[caldarone]

you got that right.. Carville is being paid, so he will do and say whatever he can as long as the Clintons are pilling on the cash. I would do the same thing.. Hillary send me some money I will blogg for you all day.

[Roomer]

If you don't know who Ben Smith is,please do not inform me of your ignorance. POLITICO.COM! people!!!

[MiraMcB]

I saw it live and thought it was hilarious! I have no idea who this Ben guy is either. What was he supposed to say? He didn't know the guy. Big Deal.