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

[norrri]

Clinton is giving the Democrats a second chance. If OBama is our nominee I believe there is a good chance. We will lose this election. While Clinton will lose some Votes there are Many more in my opinion that will not vote for Obama. I hope im wrong. But Seriously i Can not stand the idea of really mean spirit people running this country down into the ashes of history for any longer.

[democrattotheend]

It's hard to say. According to recent polls, Obama seems to do better among independents, but he seems to suffer more Democratic defections to McCain.

Clinton will either win or lose narrowly. Obama has the potential to win or lose in a landslide. Since losing is losing no matter what, I'd rather take the risk on Obama, because the potential rewards are greater. If we lose narrowly or lose in a landslide, we still lose. But if we win in a landslide we could have a real governing majority and a mandate for change.

[Notapathetic]

If a spelling bee is required in order to vote the Obama supporters don't have much to worry about.

[jstock]

Neither can I stand the idea, norrri, which is why I would never vote for Hillary Clinton. I only vote Democratic, and she is congenitally Republican. After her campaign's eventual implosion, maybe she can join the Lieberman for Connecticut Party. I hear there's a lot of room in there for advancement.

[cblcar]

HuffPost's Pick

Finally, someone on HuffPo able to connect the dots. Obama has no idea how to deal with hits because he's never been in a street fight in his life. He so obviously can't take the heat from Clinton. It totally rattles him. The Repubicans are going to crush him so easily it won't even be fun for them.
Obama would like to believe things will all work out "if we could all just get along." He just doesn't get, nor do his adoring fans, that politics is a blood sport. But Hillary does get it. That is why she is going to win the Presidency. It's just that mind-numbingly simple.

[april4president]

The only thing that is mind numbingly simple is the fact that Republicans HATE Hillary. She will catalyze their base so fast and with such urgency ... it makes my head spin. So much for your "fight."

[AntonioMaceo]

meh, obama's been fully "vetted" during his time in chicago politics which is just as ruthless. I thought he swung back pretty hard today during his stump speech. also, the "be vp plx"/"you're not ready for cic" clinton inconsistency has been hit pretty hard by him and his surrogates since the mtp proxy debate on sun and has gotten lots of play. most importantly clinton's momentum is collapsing under the weight of a sustained negative campaign, actually both clinton and obama are down against mccain because of it and don't think super del.s don't notice that.

[Stoyver]

The problem is Hillary, like Bill before her, has already sold out. Do you get it? They are part of the establishment!

You claim to know for a fact that Barrack has never been in a fight before. That is a mighty serious claim to make with zero evidence to back it up. Obama has successfully repelled all of Hillary's attacks with a calm dignity that makes her look desperate. I believe Hillary's success in Texas and Ohio are in part due to Republicans voting in the Democratic primary for Hillary, goaded by the likes of Rush Limbaugh. Exactly why Republicans want Hillary to win is not clear. Either they think they can beat her or they see her as the lesser of two evils or both.

We are arguing over who should be our next leader. In truth, economically speaking, Bill Clinton rode high on the dotcom bubble and bailed out just in time, giving the appearance of prosperity. Bush rode the ass end of the dotcom bubble into the ground and then ascended on the housing and credit bubbles. Unfortunately for Bush, both have now collapsed.

To make matters worse, a petroleum bubble is rapidly developing. Too much money chasing too few sound investments. We can all feel it. Who will we elect to ride this new bubble and where will it lead us?

[HG]

Who is not part of the establishment? They're not running in this election, that's for sure.

[DietrichMoody]

A Street fight? You have been watching too many movies Its an IMAGE OF A STREET FIGHTER your confusing her with. For example she picked a fight, in 1993, over her Health Care initiative only to come up empty. So much for her fighting skills. But it made great press and looked dramatic. You are following an IMAGE that is not there. Part of the appeal, is that people are ADDICTIVE to their Manner of 'Wanting Power, like a movie, say Primary Colors exciting. But those things are scripted, lighted, phoney, style, etc.


You are confusing name recognition, celebrity and good will earned by Bill Clinton, for the experience of Hillary Clinton. And in analazying Obama and what you see as his weakness, actually they are all Hilallary - but so many of you Project, and its getting worse.

[dutchess2]

Well, this is a surprise..­... the above comment is a Huffpost pick?

One that claims that Obama has no idea how to deal with hits?

I think Barack Obama has done well to keep his nose clean and his career in an upward trajectory.

But please do look at the people around him....Old tried and true statesmen, John Kerry, Dick Durban, Ted Kennedy, the whole of the Illinois political machine, and, from the looks of it, every voter under 24.

Republicans are not going to crush him, they are scared to death he'll be the candidate because history will record every move they make as racist. And it will be, republicans have not run clean
decent campaigns on the issues and the preparedness of their candidates since the 40's.

They know no other way. The republican game plan has created a whole generation of haters, people who hate democrats so much you cannot believe they are all Americans.

Just you watch, those 24 year olds are going to begin sending people to congress that think of this country first, and party second or third... They are going to find a better way to make decisions than voting for plans submitted by lobbiests. They are going to expect better government from those they choose to work for them.

Politics is not blood sport. Politics is how thought, unified and intelligent people choose their leader.

It is blood sport only for the uninformed and those lacking ideas.

Huffpost pick, indeed!

[april4president]

I disagree. Comparing Obama to Kerry is laughable. And you are vastly underestimating the unmitigated disgust that most Dems feel for Clinton's tactics as of late. She doesn't come off as "tougher" at all--just hateful. Finally, it's not likely that Obama will suffer the same fate as Kerry did-- the mere fact that the term "swiftboating" has been added to our political lexicon as a synonym for being hoodwinked is evidence.

[Merin]

Because what we all want from a Presidential contest are more tired, cliched fight metaphors.

I cannot tell you how sick I am of the fight metaphors. "Swing back." "Take a punch."

They are using words, not fists. Go back to journalism school and learn how to report. Or, better yet, go back to some high school writing classes and learn how to explain your ideas with original writing and come up with your own metaphors.

---

For the record, the attack ads sicken me. Most of my disgust for Senator Clinton has sprung up from how she's campaigned. I would lose much respect for Senator Obama if he started sliming her.

They can point out the differences in each other's record, that's fair and expected. They can dispute votes and policy statements. I think it is even fair and right that they look at each other's political and professional lives.

Anything beyond that which one candidate says about an opponent, especially anything that compares their opponent to some negative well known figure (Ken Starr, Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, you know the drill), is not only unnecessary but childish.

"But the Republicans will do it so we have to." Right, just like our enemies torture and ignore the rule of law and abuse their citizens and destroy civil liberties so we have to as well. You know - when you adopt the tactics of your enemies, you become that which you sought to defeat and therefore your enemies have won.

But keep calling for more sliming, personal attacks, and mudslinging there Ben - it sure makes you look mature.

[grendl]

I'm posting what I believe Barack's response to attacks and taunts like this post should be.

If its considered spamming so be it. But don't confuse acting with dignity, and integrity with weakness.
Atticus Finch wasn't weak. Gandhi wasnt weak. It takes great strength to stand up to constant attacks on ones race, and newcomer status, and strength not to retaliate in like kind. If Hillary is a glimpse of the future of the Democratic Party, I'll rescind my membership.

But I wanted this posted, on your blog sir, for perpetuity.

" This campaign has gotten ugly in a hurry. And while I expected the onslaught of fear based stunts, and stereotyping from my opponent across the aisle, I didn't really realize it would come from within my own party.

But that's okay. Hillary, you are still my friend. Or let me amend that. I'm still your friend. If you want to come talk to me and explain just why you endorsed John McCain, a man who wants us in Iraq for another 50 years, my door is open. I imagine it has something to do with making your decision to go to war in the first place look not so ill advised, but if you want to talk about it, I'm here.

And Hillary, I have children too. They sleep soundly in their beds. I protect them with my life. I don't exactly know why you're showing Brinks home security ads to America, at 3:00 a.m. , under the auspices of talking about international crisis, while showing a home break in scenario, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. You're not a racist. You would never tap into America's fear of a black man to win the White House. You're better than that.

Now I may not have been in the White House before on a daily basis. But the Constitution and a certain amendment provides me that opportunity now. We gave your husband a chance to shine sixteen years ago, and he proved us right. I think I deserve the same opportunity. Perhaps you disagree. Perhaps you didn't mean it when you said you were proud to share the same stage as me. Or maybe you did. I don't know, you seem to change your mind at times.

But that's okay. You want to win the presidency. You've been battling the GOP assassination bureau in Washington longer than I have, and their cynicism has rubbed off a little on you. It's made you a tougher foe than many in our party, something I think you pride yourself on. Well, Hillary I'm tough too. Because I refuse to give up believing you're a good person, deep down under all this chicanery, and Machiavellian machinations. I refuse to believe you want different things for this country than I do, and I refuse to believe you actually think you're the only one who can save this country.

Because I have news for you, Hillary, this job only lasts eight years at best. There's no tiara, no throne, and someday all that you've been fighting for, should you win it, will be gone. And if we're not careful during this election process not just your place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but the very core of what this party was supposed to be about..."

[DRHoen]

Excuse me, but who has more real connection with the poor, Clinton or Obama? I guess what really counts for you is what your campaign says, not how you act or what your real experiences are.

And which 2 big losses are you talking about? Texas was not a big win -- Clinton barely won in the primary and lost by so much of a larger margin in the caucus that she will probably LOSE in delegate count. At best, I'd call it a tie.

[mmerose]

Thanks DR, Obama actually has a history with empowering regular folks, Sen Clinton has gone from nepotistic corporate flak(wife of governor) to carpetbagger senator (wife of ex-pres).

And there was that Republican sabotage component to the Texas totals.

Don't feed the myth it's a tie!

[Clinton]

Well, here you are spreading misinformation, like HRC. The Canadian thing actually came out of the HRC camp. See, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOLEK2lr3CM

You are inventing your own reality, just like HRC does.

[Countess]

This is an attempt to distract us from the undenial fact that 20 percent of Clinton voters in Ohio said they would never vote for a black man and as she becomes more desperate this might just be the group of voters she is trying to bring out which is hardly a positive development.

[maggieb]

Remember also 89% of blacks are not voting for Hillary.

[Jacky1]

I am an Obama supporter so naturally I I totally disagree with you.