When Will Obama Swing Back?

While Clinton and Obama flacks debate the word "monster" all weekend, we might take a moment to look at a much more offensive comment ex-Obama advisor Samantha Powers made to The Scotsman. Said Ms. Powers of Senator Clinton, "You just look at her and think, 'Ergh'. But if you are poor and she is telling you some story about how Obama is going to take your job away, maybe it will be more effective. The amount of deceit she has put forward is really unattractive."

Yeah, nothing says smart politicking like Obama's Ivy League think-tank advisors berating the working poor for their man's inability, over and over again, to connect with lower income voters. How condescending a statement is that to the working poor of America? Or maybe it's simple frustration on the part of Obama's campaign when the "magic" and "hope" just don't play when the issues are paying the rent and health care, or having to choose one over the other.

And does the "deceit" in Ohio that Ms. Powers mentions include Obama's reported backchannel talks with Canadian pols that Obama won't change NAFTA, even while telling "poor" voters he will change it? Maybe the problem isn't so much Clinton's negativity, but Obama's inability to convince people he cares about their jobs. Until he answers all the questions he's being asked, it sure looks that way. He spiked himself in Ohio with his own arrogance. Hillary's phone call ad was minor in comparison, because the issue there was jobs.

Obama's elitist, above-the-fray stance makes him look like John Kerry II, as do condescending comments like Ms. Powers'. I keep hearing people say, "Oh, Obama won't get swift boated. He'll swing back." Yeah, when? He just took two big losses that could have closed the deal for him. Why? Because Hillary Clinton's tougher than he is. Does anyone think the GOP will hesitate to hit him twice as hard? Sorry if it's unseemly to pundits and professors alike, but the Presidency is worth a fight. To quote Tina Fey, bitch is the new black. Bitching about losing isn't.

Comments

[mice]

One example of Hillary's campaign's deceit:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OVuMYKs8iJs

[Marrob]

Ben Schwartz....AWESOME ARTICLE!!!! The republicans are laying in the weeds for this candi ass and he has no friggin idea what's about to hit him. Like Hillary or not, there is one thing you can take away from her campaign style, Obama can't beat the republicans in November. All the Obama-Worshipers are crying that Hillary is running a "Rove Style" campaign but the say NOTHING about Obama's inability to defend himself against it. Hillary is schooling Obama and he's not doing well.

[Seattlelite]

The Clinton camp would like nothing better than for Obama to get in the gutter with them. Have you noticed that when ever Obama calls her on her positions the first thing they scream "see look he's negative to"!!

When I hear and read these commentators say Obama needs to be tougher he's not tough enough blah, blah, WELL then why is he winning? Obama is kicking the Clinton's butt because they don't know how campaign against him. They are only used to fighting dirty. And the republicans are going to have just as hard of a time as the Clintons. Clinton's like most of those old timers didn't see the shift in attitude in the country, people are now engaged and informed the old dirty swift boating is not going to work this time around.

[Sand73]

I originally posted this comment yesterday in response to a Post by Trey Ellis it seems applicable here as well with some revisions to address a few concerns brought by others.

'I have an issue with the premise that Senator Clinton is a fighter while Senator Obama is not. It stems mostly from a recent observation of mine, and something that is oft reported but never really remarked on. Why is it that Senator Clinton "the fighter?" spends most of her time campaigning in states where she holds a large advantage such as in PA? She barely spent time in Wyoming and was not in Mississippi yesterday or today even though the Primary there is today. After Super Tuesday she spent almost all her time in Ohio and Texas where she was leading in the polls by double digits, and she still almost managed to loose them (seeing her double digit lead evaporate in Texas where it appears she will loose the delegate count and not taking Ohio by a substantial enough margin to make a difference). What kind of scrappy down in the dirt with you "fighter" only fights when and where he/she is winning already? How do you take a fight to some one when your style of fighting is to seek out places were you have huge demographic advantages? Are you not instead waiting for the fight to be brought to you? Then when Senator Obama does bring the fight to her turf, she tends to win but by such a narrow margin that it can't really be called a victory only a draw or tie. I mean can a prize fighter become a champion if the only "victories" are in fact a draw on the score card?'

[Researchguy66]

The GOP will not treat Obama hard. Remember, they're all going to vote for him. It's Clinton that's the real enemy, not the Republicans. /hack /hack /hack

[S1m0n]

You're fighting the last war.

[benschwartz]

Many thanks to all of you who sent in a comment, even you Obama fans who chose to take the Obama high road and question my chromosome count, career status, and IQ.

One comment that keeps coming up is that if Obama swings back, his ONLY choice is to be deceitful. Whatever you think of HRC's tactics leading up to OH and TX, she and her "war room" managed to change the conversation to one that questions Obama and favors her, and it worked. Come the general election, Obama will face the same problem, but much uglier, from the GOP attack dogs -- Karl Rove, the swift boat crew McCain has reportedly hired, and the Fox News pundits. Last week revealed an HRC who will use such tactics, albeit mildly, and an Obama vulnerable to them. The test for him is to effectively keep the debate where he's strong, and not let opponents define him. Otherwise, we're looking at another Dukakis/Gore/Kerry. No one is "above" defining their own message in politics and making sure an opponent doesn't do it for you.

As to Samantha Power, a remarkable and talented journalist, her interviews in THE SCOTSMAN and on the BBC don't do her candidate, or Dems, any favors. Coming from a family of union folks as I do, she sounds condescending and cynical and typical of what many see as an elitist liberal class, something the GOP has used effectively against us for a long time.

[Seattlelite]

Obama unlike Clinton realizes that you can only go so far in attacking your "democratic" rival. He unlike Clinton is not willing to take down the party in order to win. And he unlike Clinton realizes it's not helpful to do the republicans dirty work for them.

[efranklin]

He didn't swing back because he didn't need to in Wisconsin. "Archie Bunker" was more receptive to Clinton's gutter politics - a trend which may repeat itself in Pennsylvania. But let's take a reality check, Clinton had to resort to the Karl Rove Handbook to keep Obama's surge before March 4 to 17 percentage points. Looked at from this perspective, Clinton's below-the-belt onslaught is much less impressive.

[harriscrl3]

Obama promises a different kind of politics thats one of the reason why many support him why would he risk it by getting in the mud with Hilary. He swings back the problem is with people is that he is NOT swinging back in the way that makes it intersting for them. Maybe peole dont think shame on you and comparing opponents to Karl Rove is good politics. Obama knows how to handle Hilary and Republicans. He does it at a level that goes over people's head so he manages to get his dig in while maintaining his image. For example in MI he called Hilary on her deception and he does it in such a way you just need to follow the logic: I'm not qualifed as VP yet I can be VP. And he said it so innocently I dont understand that logic. But the people of MI knows she is trying to CON you. She is a decietful liar thats the message but he doesnt come out and say so.

Carol

[dutchess2]

HILLARY DID NOT WIN TEXAS.

OBAMA DID NOT HAVE TWO LOSSES.

COMMENTATORS WHO CAN'T GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT NEED NOT COMMENT.

[dutchess2]

NO SELF RESPECTING DEMOCRAT WANTS OBAMA TO SWING AT HILLARY...

The republicans will not get more on Hillary from Obama than Hillary gives them herself.

Obama does not approach people and ideas and problems with atom bombs....

There is no evidence that thoughtful intelligent people can elect only the most bloodied and muddied candidate, or indeed, that he even should.

Where did this idea on going negative and one upmanship come from?

Republicans.

Obama is taking care of Hillary's problem with integrity. She only wins if true democrats allow it.

He does not need to get down into the mud with her.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Well said.

The Democrat who slings the least mud will get my vote.

[MrKnuckles]

Is it funny how one can so easily ignore that Obama has actually spent far more time working directly with the poor and disadvantaged than Hillary has in her vaunted 35 years (ha!) of political service, that is, if the willingness to be in actual contact with real people on the street is any measure of what Obama stands for. And why should he try and getting into more verbal punch outs with Hillary when her own mud slinging campaign seems to be doing her far more damage anything Barack could reasonably say about her? To please the Press' desire for crass drama perhaps? Grow up. Politics doesn't have to mimic professional wrestling to be real.

[HollyBrinee]

Thank you Ben!!! This is the first piece of sanity I've been able to find on this website for quite awhile!

[LeftVetPatriot]

Then you need to do some homework, too.
Ben's skewed facts to support his premise.

[greenpeace11]

To anyone who is not trying to spin the "hsitoric victories in TX and OH, it would seem that Obama has swung back. Remember Clinton had to win "big" in TX and OH to stay in race. That didn't happen. As of today he has more delegates in TX and since then has won WY and is headed for a MS victory. Please be attentive.

[Riemann]

Obama has to be careful because a deep attack on Clinton is fuel for the republicans and Obama doesn't want to cross that line. Here is some examples of knockout blows he could make to clinton that fuels repubs.

-CLINTON CLEMENCY OF PUERTO RICAN TERRORITS called FALN. This group is famous storming the U.S. house of representatives and WOUNDING 5 LEGISLATORS in the 1950’s and for multiple -bombings U.S. in CHICAGO and NEW YORK.

-YES that’s right BILL CLINTON PARDONED 16 TERRORISTS. Hillary initially supported Bill on this but when the controversy got to huge she backed away from Bill and he had to stand on his own with the pardons.

-with regard to the 3am ad, I wish people would remember how many terrorists acts occured UNDER THE CLINTON WATCH. The following are terror attacks against the U.S.

-OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING 1995
-1st WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING 1993
-BOMBING OF USS COLE 2000
-BOMBINGS of EMBASSY in KENYA 1998
-BOMBINGS of EMBASSY in TANZANIA 1998

-and don’t forget that the SEPTEMBER 11 attacks occured only 7 months into the BUSH presidency and are linked by Bin Laden to the 1st WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING in 1993. Therefore 9/11 was planned under the CLINTON WATCH.

And then for good measure CLINTON PARDONS 16 TERRORISTS (FALN)!

-The U.S. should be running away from the very thought of a another CLINTON Presidency.

[Seattlelite]

Can you imagine if the Clinton's had impeachment, Monica and lying under oath on Obama? We would be reminded of it daily. Believe me they would be using it. Obama has never mentioned any of their trash, not once because the man has integrity and not willing to sacrifice it to win. Integrity is either something you stand by or you don't.

It's really disturbing to me that people associate Hillary's lack of integrity and willing to play dirty politics makes her the better person to be President. Great leaders are people with a strong sense of integrity. Our government is a two party system -- You don't get things accomplished by beating the sh-- out of people and disrespecting them and the pass 8 years has certainly been proof of that.