Obama vs. Clinton: What Tips the Scales

Watching some Democrats kick around Mrs. Clinton has grown into a sad spectacle.

Hillary Clinton would make a fine president and I think all reasonable people know that. She would make a better president, offering more constructive policies protecting more Americans, than McCain could ever hope to. Her problem is that Americans, in any given election cycle, can become inflamed with a true passion for change that can only exist in a country like ours. She does not represent that change as well as Mr. Obama does. In spite of her superior capabilities in many areas, Obama would still move into the White House with more foreign policy experience than George Bush had when Bush and his brother stole the election in 2000.

Americans can put up with a lot. After these past eight years, they have proven that they can put up with more than anyone ever imagined. However, that cannot hold forever.

What Mrs. Clinton has that Mr. Obama does not have, Mr. Obama can get. What Mr. Obama has that Mrs. Clinton does not have, she can never get.

Which one is the best hope at defeating McCain, who sounds more like a Bush brother with every passing day?

Comments

[janvoght]

obama has definitely captured our imaginations with his vision, his content of character, and his ability to reawaken the HOPE and dream of a country who is hungry for just that!!!

OBAMA '08

peace out-

[7NoTrumpXX]

So Obama has more foreign experience than George? 1000 times ZERO = ZERO.

Hillary Clinton would make a GREAT president. She has 35 years of real experience. She knows how Washington works.

She's smarter than Bill, and he left office with the HIGHEST approval rating (65%)of any president in 50 YEARS, ahead of Reagan, the Teflon President.

Obama has no track record. I don't know him. I know Hillary.

He's the Teflon candidate, anointed by the talking-head media. Hillary has suffered 5 Billion dollars worth of EGATIVE "advertisi­ng." McCain started last lambasting Obama....j­ust wait...

Obama's story would make a great movie...bu­t it should stop as he starts to run for president. The end won't be pretty.

Obama got 93% of the black vote in Wisconsin. Many Republican and independents crossover votes. Republicans know they can't beat Hillary but they can beat Obama.

Texas Republicans are being urged to vote for Obama.

Obama wants to "change" the Super Delegate rules. He doesn't want to count the Florida votes...ag­ain. Had he won Florida, he would "change" his tune in a microsecond.

Count the Florida votes and Hillary is ahead. Obama ran ads. Hillary didn't. She won. She didn't campaign.

Obama is 8 years too soon. He should have run for vice-president. After getting necessary experience, he would be a shoo-in in 2016.

The media may have unwittingly written his presidential obituary. Once you run for President and lose, that's the end of that.

Obama should "hope" that Hillary gets the nomination. She will undoubtedly choose him as her VP. Eight years as VP and 8 years as president, isn't bad.

If you want Obama to ever be President, you should vote for Hillary.

Ted Sorensen,79, JFK's legendary speechwriter, ghostwriter of "Profiles in Courage," which propelled JFK to the Presidency, is now helping Obama with his speeches.

Beware of judging anyone on their speeches. They are usually written by someone else.

Chris Matthews asked an Obama supporter, a Texas Congressman, to name one legislative accomplish­ment...3 times...an­d the supporter couldn't name one. Wake up America.

[UrbanInterloper]

It's your obligation and duty as a voter to inform yourself about all the candidates, and the info is more easily obtained than it's been in all of human history. So if you "don't know Obama," that's your own fault. Stop being lazy and go look it up online.

We do know Clinton, I agree, and that's her biggest problem. We know that she voted to let Bush attack, invade and occupy Iraq for the past five years and spend $2 billion per week doing it. We know she's done the same on Iran. We know that when real courage and leadership was required, she caved in under pressure or fear. We know that when given the chance to inspire and elevate political discourse in the U.S., she has chosen to make it smaller and more petty and more cynical.

Ugh.

[luziannagirl]

OK, UrbanInterloper. Were you following the news in the months after 9-11? How many Congressfolk, either party, stood up and spoke out against the war, and run up to the war? Not many. How many who did courageously do so, are still in office? Even fewer.

At some point, one has to weight political courage against public opinion. It's a fact that if a leader is too far out ahead of the public, regardless of facts, regardless of later being proven right, the public will not follow.

If you just look at facts, and logical reasoning, BY FAR the greatest threat to America and Americans is not the economy, Iraq or even the Republicans, but environmental degradation and impending ecosystem collapse, with rapid climate change top of the list.

Obama's probably smart enough to realize that. So, why is he not shouting it from the rooftops?

Because...­.enough Amurr-cuns just ain't there. Yet. We hope.

So, let's not judge history by today's standards, ok? Hillary voted pro-war because it was the only thing she could do at the time, if she wanted to continue with her career in politics. If elected, she'll make up for it.

[monique]

Exactly. That was the second time that happened on 'Hardball' this week. Twice, an elected official just sat there and stuttered. The first time, I think it was the Governor of Wisconsin (Dorsey?). Both times, they couldn't name ONE damn thing.

Amd people want that for President? Unbelievable. There are lots of smart and charismatic people in the world. That does not mean they are ready to take on the most important and vital job in the world.

I think even Chris Matthews is starting to finally wake up!

[HakimKutta]

America needs is different consciousness and Obama has it. The kids see it oozing from his every pore and the old mindset won't work anymore. "My turn" is arrogance, "35 years experience" hyperbole. Vision is needed and Obama is the only one that has it. The president makes decisions based on that vision needed to ameliorate those dark forces that are working against the principles of love and light. Napoleon said,"There are two ways to fight a war, with the sword or with the spirit, in the end the spirit always wins." We've got the swords, they have the spirit and the only way this war will be won is with Spirit, which little george,Hillary,and Mad Mac do not have. As a psychologist I see a borderline psychotic filled with anger and revenge ready to explode; as a combat veteran I see a man who has achieved something of a whorish elegance in our fantasy of "war hero" which he has done little to dispell. Bombing innocent women and children and being shot down and captured is karmic retribution, not heroism. As consciousness is identified with form , death and destruction will hold for us all the ancient terrors that has racked humanity since the beginning. Death is pain and sorrow, loss and disaster, and little george and Mad Mac are on such a lower order of humanity that they fail to comprehend how they are destroying our world with their fears, like little bully boys they want to take everyone else down with them if they don't get the ball or the candy. Out of this obscenely expensive smorgasbord of candidates I for one will put my money on the one who has the light, the one that I feel my soul and his soul are connected. The moment you identify yourself with soul, and not with form, then you understand the meaning of the Law, and you are spontaeneously governed by it; then there is no pain, sorrow, or death. I think Obama is the only one who understands this...

[yrerbendr]

HakimKutta has written a very fine and insightful post, not one more projection into the future we don't yet know. What we can know is the spirit of this man Obama. Read his biography, "Dreams From My Father". Read how his consciousness developed out of this cauldron of black/white east/west division and how he came to unify himself first of all. This mans's spiritual consciousness is rock solid. The most obvious parallel in presidential history is Lincoln.

[Promise]

Wonderful post from HakimHutta. Yes, what we need is a new consciousness and Obama has that. That's why he has captured the imagination of so many people, including young folks.

[lilibet]

I have been for two days on a blogging site in Hawaii. I was very naive.
I was was answering a certain"ALICE" who would say things like this: "Chelsea Clinton is as charming as a used broomstick" and even worse things. Finally someone told me to ignore any entries by "Alice" because they were actually groups of trolls just using that name. The same applies here, people posing as democrats who are anything but democrats.
That said, why do you think Senator Clinton lost by so many votes in Wisconsin when the polls had her only a few a points behind Obama? The Governor of Wisconsin even told Obamaa that it was not a sure thing. It's because the Republicans are coming out in droves to vote for Obama in open primaries because they want him to win the primary so that they can tear him to shreds in the General election.

[LollieDotCom]

So I guess you think that Republicans are funding Obama, not grass roots people like me, a 55 year old, white feminist with nothing terrible to say about Hillary?

How many delegates does the state of denial have these days? Even when I wanted Hilary to win I knew she'd get more republicans off their butts and out to vote in November than whoever the republicans would run against her. There is no one they want to vote down more than Hilary. Never has been and it'll take years of swiftboating before they can build anything like the same hatred of Obama.

If anything, smart republicans are voting so it'll be a Hilary-McCain match where he has a chance to win. No one can pump up republican voting like Hilary.

[dragonfly142]

I am a reasonably intelligent human being having been onthis planet for 57 years and having lived with politics since the 2000 rigged election of GW Bush. I have one problem with this primary...­it wreaks of Karl Rove dirty tricks. The press generally controlled by republicans touts Obama...Ob­ama winnings in odd extremely white farm type areas like Iowa,Idaho,Wisc and others, pleez not likely probably surprised him. uppity places like ultra-caucasian connecticu­t..NO WAY!! I have an extremely hard time believing that all the folks there voted for Obama...th­e southern states like GA are made up of 40% african american and perhaps prejudiced white people so it is hard for me to believe he won in all those states. AS much as I would love it if the whole world were wonderfully color blind I'm sorry I do not believe it....and most african americans would be the first to agree if they could admit to it. perhaps the GOP wants to pick our nominee and disgrace the Clintons at the same time.Maybe they know they can beat Obama with his lack of experience. Maybe they rigged this primary so Obama would lose to McCain. I read stats on wikipedia and other southern articles onthe net to get % things. This is food for thought...­..THink about it...conve­niently in the near front row staged faintings, the mass hysteria, and making Obama come off as the Rapture or second coming....­.Karl Rove quit the admin early for some reason....­..Think of the odds....of Sen Clinton losing...t­hey are astronomical that it would have happened.

[DRPike]

Dude, it's over. Racism I mean. Oh, there will be vestiges but Obama's rise is to Racism in America what Restaurants banning cigarets was to smoking, it's death knell.

Look deep, your fishing to justify some personal deamon...H­illary...r­acism? whatever.

[richardsgirl]

Racism is not over, but America has been given an incredible opportunity to confront their own attitudes toward race, and I believe that we are triumphing in this challenge in a remarkable way, a way in which the whole world is watching and many are applauding. To assume that Senator Obama is now supported by as many white voters as black voters because of some rogue Republican operative is to be very cynical about America's capacity and willingness to change. Perhaps there will always be racism in our land, but what is happening now is something we should all celebrate, in spite of who we support in this election.

[ButterflyWeed]

Watch the raw vote totals roll in state by state. Obama is getting 2 - 3 times the number of votes that McCain receives. Why? This time around, the R's have a non-event. None of their own young and upcoming candidates want to take a profound Dubya Payback beating by the public.

McCain became the party sacrifice in '08. As a party loyal, he's proven tough enough to take it.

The excitement for change lies in the Dem's race. HRC chose to ignore her high negatives. Bill seems driven to quantify Clinton adoration post-impeachment proceedings. Can you really blame voters for registering their opinions here?

[juangault]

profound dubya payback. Sharp and on the mark. Just "hope" our liberal Democrat President doesn't overdo it the other way. The Republicans should rememeber how the neocons pirated the party. Maybethey'll be back with some sane and sensible types around 2020. How much will gold be worth then?

[7NoTrumpXX]

I agree with your post completely.

Turd Blossom (Karl Rove) is at it again. Instead of stealing the main election, they were smart enough to think that the dumb populist would not think they would steal the Primary Election..­.then they wouldn't have to steal the main election..­.again. These people really do believe the end justifies the means.

They set out to divide the Democrats. 5 billion dollars worth of Negative Advertising against Hillary and nary a negative word about Obama. The press even reported the Clinton's were playing the race card which was a total lie. She's the devil...He­'s the second coming, they would have you believe.

Even with 5 billion dollars worth of negative, hateful "advertising," Hillary is still neck-in-neck with Obama. That tells me a lot about the strength of each candidate and which candidate could beat McCain and the Bush Machine.

A million people with pitchforks should have stormed the Surpeme Court when they appointed George President with...527 votes.

Even my die-hard Republican friends admit that George got less votes than Gore in Florida.

The only solution now is to have a Hillary/Obama Ticket. That ticket could win and would in good measure reunite the Democratic Parth. Without Hillary at the top, the ticket will lose.

[pros54]

When you point the racism finger at some other person look at the man in the mirror or who the other four fingers are pointing at. They are pointing at he real racist my friend and it looks like the racist is you it seems you are the person who is not ready for a "black" president. The fellow in question actually is more white than black but he is still considered a "black" president only the traditionally so called racists appear to be cool with it but the liberal hubs of "anti racism" have a problem.

[richardsgirl]

pros54: I agree completely with the first part of your post, but ... how can Senator Obama be "more white than black." I'm not trying to put up a fight for either side of his heritage, but his mother was white and his father was black, so he, like many African Americans and even some white Americans, he is a combination of both. But, like all of us, he is racially defined more by his experience in American society and how America perceives and responds to him than by his genetic make-up; and his American experience has unequivocally defined him as a black man. I know this is no big deal and really has nothing to do with anything, in regard to his candidacy, but I was just curious about your rationale for saying this. I guess I'm also curious because I believe that some of his supporters actually need to see him as "more white than black" to justify their support for a black candidate and a potential president.

[chaz]

It seems to me that Republican­s,Independ­ents and the national media have tipped the scales. For example, why do independents and republicans get to vote in a Democratic Primary it's bad enough she has to take on the national media and their constant crap?

[dezzertguy]

Mr. Bush had to deal with Mexico on a consistent basis as governor or Texas. Even in AZ, our governor deals with Mexico. Mr. Bush had much more executive experience, business experience and political experience than Mr. Obama. Just as the politican proved on television, Mr. Obama has little experience and no notable accomplishments. What Mr. Obama has that Ms. Clinton does not is a personality. Mr. Obama is very likeable and warm. Mr. Clinton is a calculating politican. Experience wise, there is little difference with them. But, Mr. Bush had/has greater experience than both when he was elected president.

[DRPike]

your point?

[dezzertguy]

Bush had more experience than Obama prior to running for president.

[Ironfox]

"Mr.Bush had much more executive experience,business experience and political experience than Mr.Obama"

George was a miserable failure at every buisness venture his daddy bought him. And by the way, Georgie can barely read a book let alone write one. Cognitive disonance and denial can cause strange aberations,but you will recover after Rove withdrawl.

[dezzertguy]

Any credit for trying. Obama has done nothing but politics. And no international experience. When you recover from your fainting spell you will do better as well. Perhaps your brain will over ride your heart.

[richardsgirl]

dessertguy: The politician on television (Chris Matthews' interview with an Obama supporter in Texas) did not PROVE anything except his own ignorance and unpreparedness to speak on behalf of Senator Obama. It was an embarrassment to the Obama campaign and an embarrassment to me, as an Obama supporter. The proof of Senator Obama's experience lies in his record of experience (for those who bother to read it) and in what he has personally addressed in respect to his experience throughout the campaign (for those who bother to listen). If you choose to base your conclusions about Senator Obama's experience on a television interview with someone who obviously knows very little about the candidate he is supporting, then perhaps it would only be fair to wait to hear an interview with someone who does know about the Senator. It is not simply personality that Senator Clinton is lacking. It's her inability to convince America that she is someone other than who we know her to be.

[dezzertguy]

Can you name any accomplishments of Senator Obama? From his speeches and analysis, he is void of plans but big on hopes. In is 60 Minutes interview, he avoided the question of accomplishments or specific plans if he is elected. It seems to the non-fanatic supporter, that he lacks gravitas. You surely have strong feelings for him and that is good, but it does not necessary sway others.

[brantl]

Mangling a few words of Mexican isn't experience.

[motamanx]

It's either Obama or McCain. If Hillary gets the nomination, McCain will win. No one, anywhere, unites the disunited Republicans as much as Mrs Clinton.

[wyomingrev]

So true. Which is why it has scared the wheaties out of me to think she might be nominated. I don't dislike her particularly, though I do very much dislike her vote to invade Iraq. But if she is the Democratic nominee, we will lose the general election.

There are a lot of Democrats out there who don't understand how viciously Mrs. Clinton is hated, not just by Republicans but also by a significant number of independents and, yes, even Democrats. I don't think she quite deserves this level of vitriol, but there you have it.

[TrustMeImASalesman]

Motamanx you're almost right! However, Obama is the best bet for the Democratic Party to loose again to the Republicans. He's weak, little experienced, noble ideals without a plan. He espouses great ideas, like a Travel consultant espouses a great vacation; however, how are you gonna get their?? Plane, train, ship or bus! He hasn't chosen his mode of transportation system yet.
Obama has named his "Ship of State" the USS CHANGE. BUT, he hasn't named a port destination yet nor how long it will take to get there.

Hillary, is overburdened by Bill. No one trusts Bill to stay away! Hillary's, tries at Health coverages failed miserably. She is the focal point of hate for so many conservatives. Both have better start putting out very detailed information or both will get an ass whoopin by McCain.

And don't kid yourself, if Obama wins, there will be a white backlash! You won't have the support of the Southern Conservative Democrats. If Hillary wins, the African American support will be fractured,helpless and defeated. The youth vote? Forgetaboutit! They're to busy watching the latest on Britany! There's no substance there!.

[decibelJONES]

It seems that the Fascist (look it up, students) America into which I was born has been extremely effective at stealing from it's citizens a true understanding of what Democracy is (both as a form of government and as a political philosophy).

When I look at, not just what, but how Barack Obama has empowered people as an organizer throughout his career I am reminded what a powerful force democracy can be.

This was a strange and uncomfortable feeling. On one hand it is encouraging to think that the people might regain control of the politicians they employ and yet I am fearful that, as a nation, our democratic muscles have mostly atrophied and that most people might not want to take on the very real and very difficult responsibilities of a democratic citizen, and then where would we be?

Personally I am ready for this change, even anxious for it. It isn't easy, rarely fun, but SOOOOO worth it.

[sunlovey]

I'm 32. Female. Registered independent. And I see Hillary as the better candidate all around. Three years ago I voted Kerry, as he was the better candidate. And Seven years ago I voted Gore, as he was MOST DEFINITELY the better candidate. I've watched my last two votes cast go the other way in the end. And I've seen the results and they're ugly. No way Obama could ever trample Bush in missteps though, I HOPE.

[NickOhio]

I find the current times very unnerving. We have two superb candidates running against one another in the Democratic camp. (We used to have 3.) However, we are faced with such passionate support for each candidate that I fear there will be a rumble of apathy if Clinton wins the nomination. It should not be that way. People need to support their candidate, but when it comes to supporting the nominee, we all have to pull together and make sure the opposition does not win, by staying charged and in high moral spirits.

While I am not a staunch fan of Sen. Clinton, I can support her without issue if she is nominated and will believe in her and support her once she is in-office. I can also just as easily vote for Sen. Obama and support him in the same manner. And, I could have done so for John Edwards.

What I cannot do is vote for or support Sen. McCain. His ideas and visions are too close to what we've lived with for the past 8 long years to wish for more of the same. We need to move on and improve our human condition, our world and work for peace and brother/sisterhood amongst all people.

Let's task each and every one of us to vote for our best candidate to make a positive change in our war-torn world. I believe that candidate to be Sen. Obama but will work for Sen. Clinton if she is selected as our nominee. We are all in favor of a brighter future, with hope to lead us. Let's all work to make that happen, for without us to be there and support the efforts of the Democratic President after January, 2009, our efforts to secure a Democratic nominee win in November can be all for naught.

[kudabux]

Let's be honest here. The only reason Hillary is doing so badly is that MEN cannot stand to see a woman president. That is the sad truth. And the only thing Hillary doesn't have that Obama has is a penis!

[DRPike]

Look at the demographic numbers. This simply isn't true.

Racists and feminists wo believe in "ANY woman" to advance the cause have seen their day come and go. The rest of the world has moved on.

[wyomingrev]

I am a longtime, liberal feminist and I would not and will not vote for her. I would love to have a female president, but Mrs. Clinton is not the right person, in my view.

[brantl]

"That is the sad truth. And the only thing Hillary doesn't have that Obama has is a penis!
" And judgement, and honesty, and backbone, and a vision....­...

[kelliecwriter]

I hope that you are wrong about Mrs. Clinton. I think she has what she needs to win as president and has made enough connections over the years and if she is "missing" somthing she CAN get. If not her, then definitely through the former president, Mr. Clinton.

I think if Mr. Obama wins the primaries that will send the wrong signal to those seeking the presidency. He is too inexperienced to become president. He only became a senator of Illinois a few years ago. By running for president, that tells me that he had no intention of staying the course as a senator but had an adgenda to go into office with.

I think Mrs. Clinton has what it takes to make the presidency, but I agree with you that Mr. Obama makes a compelling argument for change.

[wrabbitt]

Did you ever get tired of the crap? The mud slinging? And want a clean election? Where the issues are on top, and no one calls anyone names? What ever happened to America? Where have all the heros gone? One honest person to run a campaign on their accomplishments, and not on what the other person did or smoked! We need to find our way back to the American way! (no not buying the election) If you see a lawyer on the road that got hit by a car, there is no skid marks. but, there is at a dead dog....

[townsurrl]

The fact is that anyone of the presidential candinates will be miles better than what we have today. However, nobody who agrees with any of our current president's policies, deserves to be in the White House if for nothing else but for causing thousands of death of innocent people in the name of profit.