What Will Obama Do When There's No Hillary Firewall?

The British newspaper the Daily Squib's tongue-in-cheek fake news report that Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon Ron Edwards endorsed Democrat Presidential contender Barack Obama drew chuckles, sneers, and cracks. There was, of course, no such endorsement. But the reason it drew some press attention and momentary belief made perfectly good sense. The dummied up endorsement had nothing to do with any sudden love for Obama but hatred for Hillary Clinton. The fake article trumpeted the hate Hillary crowd's favorite rallying cry -- anybody but Hillary.

The biggest beneficiary of the Hillary loathe has been Obama. But her campaign has been sufficiently subverted and sabotaged by the legions of Hillary haters to the point that it's listing. If her campaign goes down, so will Obama's Hillary firewall. The gloves will be off and it won't be pretty.

There was an early hint of the dirty stuff that will come his way. The instant that Obama announced his campaign last February National Rifle Association executive vice president Wayne LaPierre wasted no words when asked about Obama's strong support for a ban on semi-automatic assault weapons, and severe limits on handgun purchases during his tenure in the Illinois senate.

He called Obama's pro-gun control stance "bad politics." LaPierre's admonition was an ominous warning that the powerful gun-lobbying group would oppose Obama and so would millions of other passionate gun owners that take their cue from the NRA.

That's just the start. His votes and views during his days in the Illinois senate on taxes, abortion, civil liberties, civil rights, law enforcement and capital punishment have so far drawn little public attention, because of the media and a big chunk of the public's obsession with nailing Hillary. But in a head to head match up with the likely GOP presidential nominee John McCain, Republicans and conservative interest groups will surgically dissect his state senate votes and they will find much there to pound him on.

The National Taxpayers Union will pound him for voting to impose hundreds of new taxes and fees on businesses in his last year in the state senate. Though the tax hikes were deemed necessary to help close Illinois's crushing budget deficit, business and taxpayer interest groups screamed foul.

Obama's vote to raise taxes and his consistent pro-labor votes marked him as another tax and spend Democrat with them. This has been the dread label that Republicans have tagged Democratic contenders with in elections past. This always strikes an angry chord with millions of voters that equate higher taxes with government waste, inefficiency and pork barrel favoritism. And even more insidiously, equate high taxes with special interest giveaways to minorities and the poor.

Obama got a perfect rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council. In 2001, he backed legislation that restricted medical support in certain types of abortions where the fetus survives. Pro-life groups interpreted that as a vote to strengthen abortion rights.

His vote and views on choice will make him a prime target for pro-life groups. He got a zero rating from the National Right to Life Committee for voting for stem cell research, for funding abortions abroad, and against parental notification in the U.S. Senate.

Obama's pro-civil liberties votes on capital punishment and police power and the 100 percent rating he got from the ACLU won't help him dodge the soft on crime label on the issue of crime and punishment.

McCain and the GOP hit squads will go for the political jugular and lambaste him as an anti-police, anti-business, pro abortion, pro labor, pro-gun control, tax and spend liberal Democrat. Conservative interest groups will tar him as a liberal Democrat who will bend way over to pander to labor, minorities, and women. Obama's record on civil liberties, civil rights, abortion, and spending issues will endear him to millions of voters, but not in the South and the heartland states.

Then there's the personal dirty stuff. They'll hammer him for his dealings with an indicted Chicago financier, for possible conflict of interests in other financial dealings and legislative votes, and his fuzzy oftentimes contradictory statements and actions on the Iraq war and terrorism. Then there's the ultimate ploy, the race card. The GOP hit squads will dig, sift and comb through every inch of his personal life and poke through his voting record to find any hint of personal or political muck.

As long as Hillary was seen as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Obama's Teflon coat remained relatively unmarred. That will change, and change fast, if Hillary can't right the ship and quickly get back in the hunt for the nomination.

Obama knows what's in store for him without the Hillary firewall. A month ago he loudly declared that he will not be swift boated by the GOP. He will be. The fake Klan endorsement notwithstanding, he can still thank Hillary that he hasn't been already.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book is The Ethnic Presidency: How Race Decides the Race to the White House (Middle Passage Press, February 2008).

Comments

[Skepticat]

Given the dismal performance of neo-con republicans over the last 7+ years, they are hardly in a position to point the finger of scorn at anybody. Given a semi-sane electorate
(aye that's the rub isn't it) a turnip should be electable over a republican.
Obviously once a frontrunner is chosen they will get all the hostility and smears of their opponents - but so what. Fight back - force the Repubs to defend their record - such as it is.
Somehow I don't think Obama's team will suddenly cave if Hillary loses.

[ndolomar]

it's ok, earl. my mother, like you currently are, once was one of the old-school african americans who felt a subtle sense of "we can't trust a black leader because we've grown accustomed to the slave mentality." now, before anyone accuses me of race baiting, please understand i'm actually making a point the mainstream media won't divulge. why do you think there was such a cry about "is he black enough" before iowa? hillary's support at the time among blacks was sky high. simple, there's an inherent sense of distrust not only in black leaders, but there's a thinking among many older (pre-boom) blacks that white is right. i'm not saying blacks shouldn't support hillary clinton -- those who like her stances should support her without question. but, i tend to hear more from hillary's black supporters about obama's lacking in appeal, and it's usually centered on something racial. can you imagine if women were waiting to vote for hillary until she was "validated" by male votes? perhaps this type of thinking should be reclassified as "relic." we'd all be better off.

[vsign]

Obama was given the privelege of running within the Democratic Party. He needs to honor our party members. So far he has failed. It is his job - his job - to bring his voters with him if Hillary wins. For him to suggest otherwise makes him a fake Democrat. But then I think he is a fake and his followers are worshipers in need of a mega-church. I am really uncomfortable about his preaching hate against older people beginning with Hillary. Maybe we will lose some young people. But if Obama wins the nomination you will lose alot of older people and working class people like me. If the party goes along with "burning the bridge to the past" , it will lose its soul, me and the general election to McCain.

[Nommo]

We won't miss you. Rest assured. So who is it, exactly, that extended the privilege. He should have stuck with the Negro party, is this what you are suggesting.

You'll likely find Canada more welcoming than Mexico.

[janeb]

Let me say upfront that I support Hilary. I know she has flaws. I know the Republicans hate her, the news media hates her. That alone would make me vote for her even if I didn't think she has the experience to do the job. (remember how they loved Dubya and hated Gore, enough said)
I just don't get it. Why do people that support Obama have to hate Hilary. SHe is a democrat and not the Joe Lieberman type either. Support Obama, sing his praises (no pun intended) shout it from the rooftops. Vote for him, but understand that the Republicans will go after him. (remember Harold Ford, it won't be pretty) I support Hilary, but I have nothing bad to say about Obama. (there are things I could say, I choose not to, because he is a democrat and if he gets the nomination I will vote for him, almost any democrat is better than most republicans, I said almost, there is always Lieberman) My point is why are we doing the republicans work for them.
I am not talking about this blog, this man is only trying to get us ready for what is to come. I am talking rank and file democrats, those of us who will vote our conscience this November. We need to do our research and vote wisely. We have to win back the White House.
Both Hilary and Barrack would make a wonderful President when compared to the one that is there now. But then I would make a good one too compared to the nut that is there now. But that isn't saying much and I know it.

[mrdontplay]

Join the new majority

YES WE CAN!! !! !!

[MPeter]

What will Obama do without Hillary? He will focus on winning and uniting the American people. HRC is an albatrose around his neck, holding him back. Obama does not need Hillary, only Ofari thinks he does. All Obama needs are the American people. That is why you hear him talk about WE not I. It is team effort, not the old, discredited top-down model of strongman or woman--a know-all emperor like GW.

[Chachi]

1. She's a political coward. She goes with the wind and never takes a stand. What has she EVER spoken out against in her 6 years in the senate prior to running for president? She was the most famous Senator in the country who could command media attention any time she wanted, and she never once used that position to lead her party on a significant issue?

2. She found her voice in New Hampshire. Why did it take her a full year into her campaign and 35 years (as she likes to claim) into her political career to find her voice?

3. She acts like a foreign policy hawk to prove she's tough. That's why she was the last Democrat running for president to come out against the Iraq War, & why she voted for w/ Kyl-Lieberman on Iran. If she is the nominee she will tack to the right in a major way once the Repubs start talking about what a threat Iran is. And, you will be left wondering why the nominee of your party is sort of going along with the Republican war drum.

4. "I'm your girl." She's played the gender card so many times in this campaign. Obama, by contrast, has never played the race card. She talked in one debate about grandmothers travelling hundreds of miles to see a woman who would be president, that they never thought they would live to see it, i.e. vote for me to fulfill the dreams of these old woman.

5. She cried in New Hampshire in order to win votes.

6. Her campaign tactics constantly change. First, she's running on her own, then Bill's let loose to be her attack dog, then that backfires and she puts Bill back under wraps, now he's out again. She won't go negative, then she goes negative, then she acts like she's the positive one, and then she's down and goes negative again. She will do or say anything to get elected.

7. She ran for an entire year on inevitability.

I could go on and on...

[Brettster]

This article is just desperate FUD spreading. What is EOH's point? That Obama shouldn't have voted on democratic, progressive principles? He's bringing in GOOD votes as somehow an argument against him, merely for the fear that republicans will bring it up. Sounds exactly like Hillary's cowardly political formula to me, selling out all principle just out of fear of republicans--so just act like a republican! That really seems to be what this guy is suggesting, it's bizarre. There's absolutely no insight to this article, the whole thing is ridiculous and makes me realize just how easily sophistry is mistaken as analytical thinking in this country.

[4Hope]

Exactly. Senator Obama is not teflon, he true & righteous & that can't be touched. They can try, they will all try, but he is uncorrupted & he will prevail & it only makes them all look silly, stupid, small & mean. They will hoist themselves on their own pitards - ask Billary about that ....

[Bluedanube]

After yesterday's display of Republican hubris in Congress I truly hope that Obama realizes dealing with Republicans is like dealing with the scorpion on the back of a turtle as they cross the river. When the scorpion stings the turtle mid stream the turtle says in bewilderment "why did you sting me", the scorpion answers "it's just my nature."

[NABNYC]

I would phrase the question differently.

What is John McCain going to do when he can no longer hide behind Hillary Clinton?

What is John McCain going to do when he can no longer hide behind his little friend Lieberman?

What is John McCain going to do when the extremely reluctant OK from Romney does not shield him from the Republican "base": the third-century anti-education anti-everything-and-everyone children of the Klan start showing up at his "events" with whatever bizarre signs they make talking about McCain and Satan being cousins. "Kissing" cousins, because they think everyone is gay.

What is John McCain going to do when he finally realizes that being white and male are no longer the criteria that guarantees winning the white house?

What is John McCain going to do when he trots out his "ethics" claims and someone throws back at him the money he took from Abramoff, nevermind his extremely unclean hands from the S&L scandals.

What is John McCain going to do? Lose the election.

[barackoblogger]

Meh.

"liberal" "conservative"

That's so 1990s. Haven't you read "The Audacithy of Hope" ;)

[Subliminability]

Big difference between Obama and the various Democratic victims of right-wing swiftboating -- his supporters are more committed, and will fight back very aggressively.

[john456]

Very few of the members of the Groups you have cited will vote for any Democratic Candidate. Also, the NRA has taken too extreme a position to remain credible, even with its own members. (I know many and the NRA's automatic weapons issue is considered an ignorant position.) The real issue will be marginalizing the Israeli (really the Lukid) Lobby. Obama needs to put out a viable Middle Eastern Policy that offers a realistic solution to ending the Israeli-Palestinian Issue. (I for one don't understand why cash compensation for Palestinian Refugees is off the table. It would be far less expensive than war. My guess is that we and the Israelis have already spent more than it would ever have cost.)

[hiNY]

Earl is writing the obvious to scare us, is that what it is or it's only my eyes? I mean, Has Obama ever claimed to be "NOT" a democrat and progressive? It is like accusing Bush of being stupid. Duhhhh!!!! Of course it is an honor that he has such an amazing progressive voting record and everybody(Or at least any real democrat) should be proud of it.

Obama 08!!!

[lisakaz]

Don't you think that the public is ready for the positions that Obama supports, given all the ridiculous failings of these enemies. With all the school shootings (such as YESTERDAY!), ppl might be ready to revisit and reissue the assault weapons ban, regardless of the NRA?

I'm not afraid of losing the so-called firewall. If ppl really want more of the same via McCane, they're more insane than he apparently is.

[Myrna-Ann]

There has to be a reason that prominent Republicans like David Brooks, Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal, and Bill Kristol have been kind to Obama while knocking Hillary. And it's not because they want Obama to win. If and when Obama is the candidate against McCain, the Republicans will stop making nice in a big hurry. One area of attack for which Obama must be prepared is a campaign to deny him the Jewish vote. Most of this will be under the radar- push polls, robocalls, and letters falsely portraying him as a Muslim sympathizer and an enemy of Israel.

[barackoblogger]

well, the facts don't support this.

People can say whatever they want, but the facts don't support this, and we won't allow ourselves to be swiftboated.

[TimSearl]

The major benefit of Obama is that he cannot be hated like Hillary is and will be. Hillary hasn't seen sh*t. She and her husband have "earned" millions and no one knows how. What is that about. She has been taken to the mat by a no-name candidate. And she is supposed to be "battle tested". How is that?
The right will crucify Hillary, and the Left and African Americans will hate the Clintons for ever, the youth vote will say forget her, and independents will vote for McCain.
I swear HRC supporters have a cult like blindness to their beloved leader. What is that about? Wake up and smell the coffee. She should pack up and go back to NY before she damages her and her husbands dubious legacy (who lets face it was responsible due in LARGE part for Bush getting elected in the first place) any more.
Talk about feet of clay. She's toast - either now or in the general.

[duggie]

Hillary and Bill are doing exactly what experienced politicians do: try to win. We have a political system built up over 200+ years that is not going to vanish overnight. It's a dirty system: playing the victim (on anyone's part) may bring a candidate to the door, but American voters, as much as they PRETEND to be about "high-minded principles" will want to see a good fight (and participate, of course.)

Can there be a fair fight? Sure, if a dirty one is waged behind closed doors. That was JFK's appeal: He could be the shining knight while we KNEW that his team was turning every sleazy power trick possible, which we secretly admired.

Are you willing to put up your fists McCain and Obama fans? Of course you are! Let's drop the facade and go ROMAN.

[Democrab]

I think that the recent McCain branding of "being just a Bush third term candidate" will be enough of a public campaign attack by the dem nominee to garner a landslide.

But I predicted Romney would be their man, so what do I know about predicting the future.

It just seems natural that the John Q that voted for a dem congress in 06, has learned that that's pretty well an impotent scenario without a dem POTUS.