Obama To Dispatch Female Surrogates To Undercut Palin

New York Times:

Senator Barack Obama will increasingly lean on prominent Democratic women to undercut Gov. Sarah Palin and Senator John McCain, dispatching Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to Florida on Monday and bolstering his plan to deploy female surrogates to battleground states, Obama advisers said Thursday.

Mrs. Clinton's campaign event in Florida, her first for Mr. Obama since the Democratic convention, will serve as a counterpoint to the searing attacks and fresh burst of energy that Ms. Palin injected into the race with her convention speech on Wednesday, Obama aides said.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[Beka13]

Hooray Hillary!! How dare she try to ride YOUR coat tails! Take this witch out! I would love if Joe Biden got Laringitis on debate day and Hillary stepped in to dismember The Queen of an Independant Alaska.

PS you all know that she will be getting a high profile job when Barack is Elected...­Probably better than being VP...A Supreme Court Justice who will fight those right wing wack jobs where it counts for a LONG time!!!!!

[shubes61]

i would love it if hillary became a supreme court justice.

[sharonh]

Clinton for Attorney General. They hate her, the feeling is mutual. She is smart as hell and tenacious. Clinton for AG.

[chitown8]

I agree since Edwards is out.

[RiseHillary]

It is amazing how much status and love the 0's have found for HIll now that she is not the candidate for POTUS!

[chitown8]

I think he always like her. It was just a brutal primary. Trust me they get along. They have the same mission. Watch HRC and Biden will roll out as a double VP team.

[NYC80]

Yeah its like the sneaking boyfriend that only wants to use the girl for one thing. I think hillary is history as a POTUS candidate. The left hates her and the right hates her more which means that if MCCain wins palin will be the GOP POTUS candidate in 2012 and she will be 15 years younger than hillary. Palin will have the advantage of having her base and GOP establishment compared to hillary which will have only half of the Demcrat base.


The sad thing is that we will see a woman right wing president before a democrat one.

I know you people are giving hillary rewards in 2016 if she is a good soldier and obama becomes a two term president, but the sad thing if that happen is that GOP candidate most likely will win.

[OhioJan]

She's ready, Ladies & Dems!!! Go get 'er!!!

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/04/1351761.aspx

Let that "pitbull with lipstick" meet OUR pride of LIONESSES!!!! THERE's your "red meat", pundits!!!

[bella]

I’ve been a Hillary support for years and I supported her in the primaries. I was very sad when she lost. I have to say though, that some of these posts about Obama using HRC to win this election are nonsense.

Strong women have surrounded Obama his entire life. He has an incredibly strong wife. He had a strong mother and grandmother. And he has two daughters whose future his is looking out for. To suggest he does not value women or is using them to win this election is absurd.

If you look at the platform of the Republican Party, it is they that do not support women and it is they that use women to enhance their agenda. Both McCain and Governor Palin have voted against or vetoed a number of programs designed to help working mothers and both are against a women’s right to choose, even in the most extreme cases. Governor Palin does not even support the use of birth control, for god sake.

Looking back at the 2004 race, I did not support Kerry in the primaries. However, when he won I ended up supporting him. Kerry wasn’t my first choice but he was clearly a better choice than Bush – particularly because I am a women. If the gender of the person is your first and only deciding factor when selecting a candidate doesn’t that make you sexist? I think so.

[roshni]

Excellent post!
The democrats are all family.
We may fight, but this time, we are united.
Out with the rethugs!

[pinellas]

Palin WAS supposed to be here in FL on Monday - but cancelled late on Wed. night, according to SPTimes.

& apparently Mel Martinez didn't even know on Thurs., coz he was on TV saying Palin would be here Monday

Clinton's announced appearance in Tampa & Orlando came later on Thurs.....­things that make you go 'Hmmmm'

Palin=Stalin!
(w/ thanks to blogger @ Rachel Maddow Show)

[Belleweathered]

One of the best aspects of the VP debate is the moderator: Gwen Ifill
Rebulicans cannot decry "sexism" before/during/after this debate since a woman will be moderating.

[FaceYourFears]

I just hope Gwen doesn't cave in.

[roshni]

Or give the questions to Shrilla Wasilla in advance.
If it is a fair debate, she will be toast!

[WFV]

I think this is a mistake.

Hillary said she would campaign for Obama, and as a democrat, she should. Fine.

Her campaign focus must be on the issues and contrasts - not gender. Sure, it would be appropriate and even effective for her to reference gender/her experience as a candidate, but more in passing. Definitely not as the main part of any of her appearances.

The more we continue to feed into this crap, the more it will grow.

[OneLiberalLady]

Good point! Why should we stoop to putting out fires. We should be on the attack against 8 years of corruption, war-mongering, and mismanagement of our resources. And so much else. 80% of Americans do not like the way this country has been run: let's keep the focus on McSame and his embrace of Bush for the last 8 years (until yesterday, apparently, when he through Bush under the bus). I would like to see the photo of McCain hugging Bush played over and over.

[shubes61]

I think Obama and Biden will take on the overarching issues... Hillary will take on the support position and make Palin look ridiculous.

[atila]

you are wrong,this is not about a cat fight,she is just going to put in perspective the issues and put herself in the women's mind again to remind them the contrast between a real,smart and expertise social fighter and a hockey mom...

[luvobama]

I think you are wrong. Hillary needs to respond to this ridiculous notion that SP is the answer to the Hillary supporters. SP started all of this by pandering to women on Hillary's back.

[KarlaElisa]

I respectfully disagree WFV. We must seize each opportunity to seperate what our strengths and differences are from the GOP platform. Hillary is part of what is different and most certainly is a strong, accomplished woman and a perfect representative that we should fully utilize.
There is nothing stopping us from running a high road campaign and calling a spade a spade.

[KarenJW]

And her focus WILL be on the issues ..........­........ the bigger issue here is that A WOMAN of character who is well known and respected by the American public will offer such a stark contrast to this lying 'nobody in lipstick' flown in on the late flight from Alaska!

[2bad]

I'm not sure why this woman needs to be undercut! Why are Democrats worried about her? Why are they getting off message to put their own spotlight on her? She's just another bible thumping creationist, possibly corrupt neo-con governor. Hillary's supporters may have butted heads with Obama's but we see eye to eye on 99% of the issues! Should we be worried they'll flock to McBush because of this woman? I don't think so.

[sharonh]

I agree that there is need to worry, but say she should be undercut to point out McCain's v*a*g*i*n*a p*a*n*d*e*r*i*n*g. What if he was "elected" and died in office? People need to know what kind of person she is. Also, why is her family off limits? Not fair, nobody else's family is.

[edwarvir]

We the bloggers have to do this. We have to get Mother Moose to answer
our questions. What are her plans and ideas for this country.
We have yet to hear from her. We saw her read a speech that Matthew S wrote
now it's time for Mother Moose to sit down and give an interview iwth some
details. The Proof is in the pudding. Methuselah realizes that it is time to turn her
loose on the talk shows He's Afraid to let the American people hear what SHE has
to say. CNN is waiting . and so are we.. Forget everything about her family WHAT are
her PLANS FOR THIS COUNTRY.?
Hillary can only do so much we have to help ,. by holding Mother Moose's feet
to the FIRE!

[hydenorhare]

If O'Reilly could wait for 5 months to talk to an Alinsky organizer, you can wait a few days to hear from the next VPOTUS

[luvobama]

How is it being one our country's low info people? You sound pathetic. Truly you do.

[IowaKid]

Count me in. The republicans are holding her back because they don't want the media to ask her the tuff questions that they would ask of anyone. I think that's what is called fair and balanced reporting. Although I really do feel like McCain has gotten a free ride.

[Jander]

The Dems are so hypocritical. Their sexism is on display for all to see.
The females were not good enough for them before Sarah Palin but now they want them all involved.

Hey maybe McCain should get a group of black surrogates out there.....­..
Then just wait for the Dem out cries of how it is racisim.

[Biracial1]

The most qualified woman for GOP-VP... why do you bi-g-ots always bring up race?


Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, usually known as Kay Bailey Hutchison (born July 22, 1943), is the senior United States Senator from Texas. She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of "The 30 most powerful women in America" by Ladies Home Journal. She is the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate.

[Beka13]

She is Pro-choice. End of Conversation.

In the Immortal words of STILL president.­...If the Hanoi Hilton couldnt break John McCain then the angry left never will....My question is THEN WHY DID HE LET THE WACKJOB RIGHT BREAK HIM?

[atila]

black surrogates???where he's going to get them???...­are you scare??..l­ol

[luvobama]

Oh brother. Keep telling yourself that there are rules to this contest. Your guy couldn't be more foul if he tried. Good luck mister.

[Rjmartinelli]

So wait a second, because Hillary wasn't chosen as VP, Obama was being sexist? There's no way he could've just thought Joe Biden was a better fit for him? No matter what his actual thought process he immediately gets labeled as sexist?

So you're supporting that anything Biden or Obama say against Palin would automatically be sexist because she's a woman?

You know Hillary is getting dispatched to block those claims; as you can't accuse sexism of someone of the same sex.

[levibatgirl]

Ok pretzel boy.

[DeeDeeDaGumby]

rofl, good one, mind if I borrow it? See at least I ASKED first.

[DRaymond]

Not only is Obama going to dispatch Clinton, but Clinton is going to go with absolute enthusiasm. The absolutely last thing that Clinton wants is to have Palin, with her anethical views to Clinton's, to become the nation's premiere woman politician, and by implication, the go-to person on women's issues and roles.

But here is a hint...bri­ng Chelsea. The repubs aren't using Palin to go after women in general, they are using Palin to go after moms in particular. Bring the mom factor Hillary, (and if you play it right there might be another Senator Clinton from New York)

[FaceYourFears]

Alright Hillary let's get busy!

[abby4ever]

I've thought about this story of O sending women out to take Palin on, and I've decided that if it's true, I don't like it. Just because he and JB have, apparently, been warned that if they take her on, they could be open to charges of sexism (if they are too rough) or misogyny (if the same), is no excuse. It looks cowardly. I hate saying that, but I have; and I've said it in an email to his website, too.

[atila]

that's your opinion but this is a wise move and repubs are not so happy because they were expecting what you were expecting too...they are really scare about Hillary...­sorry...

[abby4ever]

Well, is he going to send someone else out every time there might be a problem? When he is president? He should stand up to her, all he has to say is what he'd say to any politician, coddling her is itself a kind of sexism. Is he going to send out a black guy to a black guy, on some mission, on the off chance that if he himself goes, he might be charged with reverse racism, i.e. blacks hating whites? It is silly. I did at first think it made sense but I don't anymore. Surely he of all people is tactful and diplomatic enough to know how to attack her without being called a sexist or misogynist! If he sends women out it will just look like he caved in to intimidation tactics (which is exactly what they are).

[hydenorhare]

"The latest numbers from the Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator show Obama leading in states with 193 Electoral College votes and McCain ahead in states with 183 Electoral College votes. Previously, Obama had enjoyed a 210–165 advantage.­"

[atila]

well,after the show and the fireworks,repubs were expecting something better but it looks that the bounce is going to be very small...th­e bad news for them(repubs) is that in one week we're going to see those numbers back to normal again....

[hydenorhare]

The bounce, when there is one, usually will be in effect by Sunday/Monday. Not Friday.
This is just the beginning, again, assuming there will be a bounce.
But regardless, you know your guy should be way ahead if the mood of the country is as we're told.

[Rjmartinelli]

I'm amazed that it's taken this long, as I've been saying "where's Hillary" for days now.

Here's the question. How hard will Hillary attack Palin?

Will she call her out for co-opting her campaign's "18-million cracks" line?

Will she point out (as Colbert did) that the "highest glass ceiling" she was referring to in all of her speeches was not the VICE President's chair, and that implying such is an insult to women in of itself implying they're only good enough for the #2 spot?

Hillary has the potential to turn this whole thing around if she plays it right.

[luvobama]

This is all Obama. He knows how to play this game. I wondered where he was and worried a little. Then i remembered. He know exactly how to play his hand. I love him!!

[hydenorhare]

"The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows the beginning of John McCain’s convention bounce and the race is essentially back where it was before Barack Obama’s bounce. Obama now attracts 46% of the vote while McCain earns 45%. When "leaners" are included, it’s Obama 48%, McCain 46% "

[gapanther]

yes and we all know polls win elections!

[hydenorhare]

When you vote, where do YOU go.

[atila]

yep it's gonna happen and then next week everything is going to normal(Obama ahead three or four points)until we know sarah palin skeletons in the closet....

[Aabby]

wait for the debates.

[Biracial1]

ReTHUG strategy..­. divert, change the subject. It's the EC stupid!

[hydenorhare]

D'oh! See above

[Grunty1]

Good, if the GOP's own Rasmussen says 2%, that means at least 5%.