Passive-Aggressive Politics

There is little that's more insidious than passive-aggressive behavior. It's a way of trying to obscure nastiness, a deception used to avoid responsibility for mean words or actions.

When someone is offended by this camouflaged hostility the antagonist puffs up in righteous indignation, ridiculing his target for being overly sensitive or misconstruing his intention. The smokescreen can confuse just about anybody.

One of its more artful practitioners these days would be a certain former Democratic President of the United States. Hint: His wife is running for president.

We got another whiff of this smelly tactic last week. Barack Obama, who obviously threatens the plans for a Clinton presidential dynasty, was having a bad time of it, defending himself against a controversy over his pastor's anti-American tirades.

In the very same week, Bill Clinton just HAPPENED to make some out-of-nowhere comments about candidates' patriotism. What a COINCIDENCE!

True to form, when Obama supporters cried "foul," comparing the remarks to McCarthyism, the Clintons and their minions brushed them off for distorting Mr. Clinton's meaning.

It's the same thing that happened with him just a few weeks ago in South Carolina. In those cases, his words were widely construed as subtle racism. In those cases he also indignantly responded that he was hurt that the true intent of his language and construct were being distorted..

Again, we are talking about a former President of the United States. who spent eight years in the world's most powerful job, aware at all time how important each and every word was, how each might be understood. Now this master of parsing claims he is being misunderstood.

It's a attempt at having it both ways. It is sneaking in a sucker punch and then ridiculing the person who might gasp a complaint about such a low blow.

It's passive-aggressiveness...deception at its worst. It is the behavior of someone who wants to do or say something malicious and get away with it. It has no place in honorable politics. It needs to identified and condemned, as well as those who try and get away with it.

Comments

[lgillooly]

I would take the Clintons in the White House again any day. They have been maligned and attacked from every angle and they still want to help this Country.
Obama is stopping the Florida Michigan revotes and the MSM ignores this.If the Clintons were doing this the attacks would be endless.
Every word he says is under a microscope and turned into some racist,unpatriotic,selfish meaning.It is obvious that the MSM wants Obama and I like both candidates,but the prejudice against the Clintons is blatantly wrong.

[Squirtapotamus]

Obama is not "stopping the Florida Michigan revotes". Simply not true. This is your "maligned attack" against Obama. And guess what? Obama still wants to help the country.

[jstock]

Well said. The Clintons are two of the smartest people out there, politicians who practically invented the parsing of words ("the meaning of the word 'is,' for example). And yet when it comes to these instances, they're dumb as dirt. They know EXACTLY what they are doing. Passive agressive is a spot on characterization of what they practice, all too often. What some don't seem to get is that, while a Democrat should enjoy this kind of thing when it's directed towards a Republican, it should NOT be considered okay when it is directed towards a fellow Dem.

[foreverleft]

Clinton's comment was clearly directed at the national election. Obviously, given his position, he would not be including Obama in that formula. The intent was to remind us all of the successful branding of Kerry as the anti-patriot.

Wright's and Michelle Obama's remarks are just a few examples of how we may already be headed back to the future.

And those individuals our Obama advocates.

Those boats will be in the water shortly folks and the Obama campaign is laying it's own mines.

[Squirtapotamus]

And this pleases you to no end, I see.

[ljmck]

I happened to tune in and hear former President Clinton's remarks before I heard any of the analysis and was stunned by the slam he aimed at Senator Obama. It was ugly and unworthy of him, and more complimentary to the opposition than anything the Clintons have said so far, and I didn't need a commentator to point it out to me.

These kinds of remarks will lose both Clintons a significant amount of the influence they might be expected to have in the future in any role that either plays.

Their do-anything-to-win conduct seriously wounds a country that is almost deathly ill from the years of Mr. Bush's poisonous double-speak, and it underlines that the Clintons will continue to govern by cutting and slashing rather than by binding and healing--tactics that will fail and that will polarize us even further.

I simply cannot bear four more years of the Clintons in the White House when I think of the ruin their accustomed tactics will accomplish. Our most cherished initiatives will be met by intransigence because of the Clinton way of doing business.

If we are willing to go along with this kind of politics, we might as well prepare for a backlash of four years of Jeb Bush beginning in 2012.
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[OSUMercutio]

DUH... Why do you think they call him Slick Willie?

[jhNY]

It's one thing to drink the kool-aid; you at least have the good manners to provide a cup to everybody here. The view from Molehill Mountain is deceptively panoramic. Often, what looks like a giant redwood is actually Daddy's leg.

The relentlessness of MSM coverage is likewise deceptive-- if you don't think very hard about it, it would appear that all Bill Clinton does is say something vague and five seconds long every couple of days that the Clintonologists at the news desk then dissect, condemn, interpret and repeat for hour after hour on cable. But of course, that's not quite what's going on. He, like his wife and Obama and Obama's wife, deliver prepared remarks and speak extemporaneously about 16+ hours a day. Most of the time, they all say reasonable, and therefore boring (to the Gotcha Guys in the back of the plane) things to gatherings of fellow citizens large and small. But every once in a while, something not so wise gets blurted out.

Then the Gotcha Guys go to work, especially if it's Bill or Hillary, because the Gotcha Guys have a special theme reserved for the Clintons-- they are Machaivellian (yet also Mayberrian) and constantly calculating. Nothing they do or say could be taken at face value, unless it's transparently tricky. And nothing might be fairly construed as an honest mistake, as the Gotcha Guys know there is no honesty in the Clintons. For that they'd have to be riding the Straight Talk Express, their smiling mouths ringed red with barbecue sauce from the grill behind McSame's Rustic Cabin(tm).

And then there's the other problem. The Gotcha Guys just hate the Clintons, and the idea that they might be forced to suck up to these blowed-up bags of trailer trash should Hillary weasel her way into the presidency just irks them no end, and they're not going to have it. Especially now that they feel all that Obamamentum swirling around them and threatening to leave them behind if they're not already on board. And so most of them are. On board with Obama, waiting for that hoarse hillbilly to drawl out some teeny infamy for the Gotcha Guys to magnify, distort and mischaracterize. It's all part of the vast Write Wing Conspiracy.

[AnninCA]

Gee. Shame on those Clintons. They do not say one word publicly about Wright but have the audacity to draw attention to the obvious: His lack of experience and his world view.

Let's hide that from voters. After all, "Yes We Can" shouted MUST have been true. Right?

Or how about "We are the Ones You've Been Waiting For!"

Obviously, Clinton pointed out that Hillary is the stronger, more electable Democratic to run against McCain.

But if they were "nice," they'd tie both hands behind their backs and never really campaign because we all know that Obama needs and deserves because he had such a rough life to be awarded the nomination without ever being vetted, tested, or truthfully known by voters.

Let's just all vote for the cardboard icon of the great speaker with a tan.

[Squirtapotamus]

Ann, Clinton has NO EXPERIENCE either. Just because you're married to a president doesn't mean you have any experience being president. Do you want the wife of a heart surgeon performing surgery on you? And when given a task to accomplish, like health care, she screws it up, so her "experience" isn't that valuable.

[TinaFreeman]

Note: AnninCA is a paid Clinton blogger.

[jhNY]

Prove it. Or you could try writing things you are sure of, otherwise known as "facts", unless you are mistaken.

[ljmck]

Great speaker with a tan? To me, that sounds dangerously close to being a slur based on race. I hope that's not what you meant and that I'm reading something into this that you do not mean.

The passion of the race brings out hot words and sarcasm, fair enough in politics, but I hope we can be careful about the way we characterize one another and I hope I've misjudged your words. My apologies if I have.
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[Puzzle]

The Clinton's are masters at bullying and then blaming the victim. They do this because it works. They attack Obama's character continually and then blame him for being negative when he defends himself. Unfortunately, most people are gullible and buy into this manipulation. This is a good example of why more educated people support Obama and the less educated support Clinton. Sad but true. More educated people think for themselves and have less of the "sheep mentality." Maybe our nation would not be having so many crises if voters were required to pass an IQ test. How is that for passive-aggressive?

[foreverleft]

IQ test? What's next? Sterilization?

[Squirtapotamus]

Not a bad idea.

[vsign]

You know Bob - Bill Clinton speaks for me. It seems you have joined the group of people who want to silence Hillary and Bill.

I need the Clintons. Maybe you don't. Do any of us normal voters count anymore?

Obama's patriotism does matter. He won't even sit down with reporters and answer questions about how he feels about America. His "great" speech was signigicant to a few partisans. Aren't you a reporter? Do you ever talk to real people? These internet blogs seem to be deciding this election.

Real people have questions and feel Obama is anti American. He does not even encourage votes. Voting is sacred to Americans.

That is what needs to be talked about because it is what normal real people are talking about. Obama has a pastor problem and he is not letting people vote.

[Squirtapotamus]

"Obama has a pastor problem and he is not letting people vote."

[unsolved999]

Obama loves America, the American people, and the idea that is America. The Clinton's just love themselves, and the idea of themselves.

[ChimpmasterDJ]

No one wants to "silence the Clintons". What REAL Democrats want is to "silence" them so long as they are pretending to speak as members of OUR Party.

When they become honest, and speak as the Rethuglicans that they really are, then by all means, let 'em blather on at will.

Obama is NOT anti-American, by the way. That is a description I would reserve for Constitution-shredding neo-cons and war-mongering and lying Hillaristas. Obama loves this country well enough to want to fix it, and to denounce and condemn its misdeeds, rather than doing as Hillary does, which is to enable further misdeeds.

As far as "preventing people from voting", I do believe that Hillary stipulated to the rules and penalties against MI and FL quite early on. It's only from transparent self-interest that she is now taking a different position. That this would not bother you is fairly typical of the amorality of your crowd.

[jhNY]

Obama's transparent self interest seems to have disallowed him from agreeing to any practical plan to allow the disenfrachised Floridians and Minnesotans from having a voice or a meaningful vote at the convention. Had Obama won the votes already taken in FL or MN, he and his supporters would be clamoring to have them counted. And you know it.

[Squirtapotamus]

So what! It's still not his fault that FL and MN choose to break the rules.

[indie17]

"Obama ... is not letting people vote."

Pure drivel.

[nazgul]

HuffPost's Pick

They call him Bubba. After this campaign, he should be called "Bubbya," for all his bald-faced, destructive deceit and scorched earth politics.

[jhNY]

Great choice! Complete with a clever play on words! And not self-servingly obvious that the disciples are running HuffPo 24/7 and right into the ground or anything!

[ljsfolly]

Bill and Hillary have proven over and over and over that they will resort to anything to get the oval back. Lie? Sure. Cheat? Sure Steal? They will do all they can to do this part and right now the superdelegates holding out on endorsement are helping them do it. The supers should endorse the way the people voted and who is ahead at some point. By holding back from the endorsement of Barack it just proves they are willing to wait until Clintons find the answer on how to win. I will never accept Hillary as the nominee so I guess Mac might just win if there are enough of me out there.

[DiogenesII]

Bob,
As usual, we can count on you to be a voice of reason; to look behind the curtain of sublime sophistry, subliminal subterfuge and pious preveracation, the feigned indignation. Though I find you to be an
honorable voice, I am truly disheartened by the insidious and indolent sloth of the journalistic community. What passes today as journalism has devolved into no more than the "Chattering Crass".
They failed us five years ago in our march into what appears to be an intractable conflagration, driven by perverse proclamation and the prospect of being labled "unpatriotic" as we mark the 4,000 American deaths, the thousands maimed and injured as well as the incalculable deaths, injured and displaced people we professed to saving. As the MSM mark the anniversary of this ominous expedition, few, if any of the media outlets have acknowledge their complicity.

We're involved in a very seminal juncture of our Republic, and the "Chattering Crass" continues to focus on the destructive noise of the "Echo Chamber" and passing us pablum, under such banners as the "Most Trusted Name in News". Perhaps we should just abolish the 24 hour news show, and compress the "presentation" of national and world events to 4-6 hours. This would provide the "repeaters", I meant "reporters", time to develop, methods and sources that would bring us all closer to the "Truth". We desperately need that more than ever, rather than the aggressive passivity of such places as "The Situation Room", seated in the company of our good "Fox and Friends".

Please tell your colleagues to Do Better or relinquish their credentials; Posers and Imposters are Politicians, not the seekers of truths, which is an essential responsibility those who profess to be the guardians of the "Estate". There are consequences, and neglect is not benign.

[jhNY]

A "seminal juncture" conjures an image unfit for family viewing...

[jhNY]

Should the second Diogenes turn his lamp of truth selfward, he will discover a pretentious fellow is holding it and stating "the obvious".

[OtayPanky]

Thanks for calling the Clintons on this, Bob.

Both Bill and Hillary fail the FIRST and MOST IMPORTANT test for POTUS: namely, the CHARACTER test.

Despite Bill's remarks last weeks, their own will to power both subverts and transcends anything that would be recognizable as love of country.

We've seen that in their words - and their behavior - too many times in this campaign.

And no, I'm not an Obama-bot. I'd happily have voted for Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd or John Edwards.

[JasonEverettMiller]

I agree with everything except calling Reverend Wright's word's an "Anti-American tirade." It was nothing of the sort when taken in context: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lonnee-hamilton/placing-reverend-wrights_b_92738.html. We need to stop passing around spin like it is truth. There is zero truth in what's being said about Wright. He is a great American with a long history of serving both this country in the military and his community in his ministry.

[standforpeace]

Thanks for calling Bill out on this one. It's not even that the Clinton camp is attacking Obama's patriotism but rather that they are doing so while pretending tht they are not deliberately engaged in the politics of personal destruction. How about at least manning (or womaning) up when you make your ugly attacks and taking responsibility for them? The Clintons are making it increasingly clear that anything goes in the fight to win the nomination. I am still hopefull that the voters will send a signal that we disagree with tearing down the likely candidate of the Democratic party.

[DemandTruth]

Yeah? So what else is new? The Clintons can say and do whatever they want. And they get a pass. McCain can make whatever blunders and gaffes he wants and HE gets a complete pass. Hypocrisy, lies, blunders - nobody cares or pays attention because the MSM tells them they don't care. Nothing to see here. No reason to be concerned. Don't worry folks, here's another clip of Rev. Wright!

[RobtBrock]

Bob left out the part about today's ultra-lazy press that crops out a few words here and there and calls it "journalism."

[Davis Sweet - Huffpost Blogger]

See Davis Sweet's Profile

"Honorable politics?!"

Please drop a line if you spot any members of that imaginary species flying by.

American observers recognize only three types of political animal: the Passive-aggressive Pouty, the Self-destructively Aggressive Chest-thumper, and the Ineffective Do-gooder, which serves as the other types' primary food source.