The Biggest Victim

On TPM, Greg Sargent says that Obama is "Winning Spin War Over Who's Victim."

I think this is right. Lately Obama is almost a poster child for the wronged. What is the biggest sin of the terrible Clinton attack machine? The suggestion that Obama said he likes Reagan? That Obama's anti-war record is exaggerated? Voting "present" in the Illinois State Senate? Ouch. Wow, this is "so unfair!." The Wal-Mart Rezko exchange, that began with Wal-Mart?

I'm sure I''m missing something here. But none of this strikes me as remotely rough stuff, compared to, for example, the relentless attacks on both Hillary as a candidate, and the savage portrayal of the last Democratic administration, not to mention that relatively mild but absurd suggestion that Hillary doesn't respect the achievements of Martin Luther King. Tonight on MSNBC Chris Mathews is claiming that "the Clintons" are terrible for reminding South Carolina voters that Obama is black. Huh?

But why would one want so desperately to be portrayed as a victim? Is that what the voters are looking for? I guess that's one theory of what the Democratic primary voters like. Maybe it's what campaigns think impresses the reporting classes.

In some sense, this makes sense. The press covered the Hillary-as-victim story for awhile, and she seemed to benefit. And as she began to respond to the incoming attacks, the Obama-as-victim story was the next wave. But at some point, if the Obama candidacy fails, it won't be the first time a politician was not elected president. Ditto for Clinton candidacy.

I have as much liberal white male guilt as the next guy, but at some point, I'd like to see a little less whining.

Follow James Love on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jamie_love

Comments

[TheKiddy]

But the non-victim and grown up in all of this is John Edwards, who has been systematically marginalized by the press and other traditional media (and not given much time here either for that matter), has barely complained and has just kept on keeping on. In fact, look at the post as an example of once again for the 287th time there is an article that is fascinated with Clinton and Obama's competition at the expense of the third person in the race who, unlike Kucinich or Richardson, has consistently had substantial national support and has delegates! And super delegates! And beat out Hillary in Iowa! But, like in the last debate, Clinton made it all about her and Obama and the media followed along like little lambs except for CNN and MSNBC, specifically for the latter, Keith Olbermann. When things got bad for Edwards in Nevada, he picked himself up, said "I got my butt kicked" and went back to work. How about a president who just does his job no matter what instead of lying or accusing or whining and pounding (the podium)?

[independentrepublicrat]

It is so rich that a whining blogger is posting a useless whine asserting that others whine too much. You didn't think this hit job through well enough. Hillary Clinton has been the one and only perpetual victim in this election race; her entire campaign meme has been victimhood yet you ascribe it to her opponent. Everyday Bill Clinton is crying about the unfairness of it all and how they are unfairly treated by the vast conspirators du jour. My advice to you is to stop whining that you are the victim of "white male guilt" and stop whining that Billary are victims of their own creation.

Quote from the AP: [Obama's] campaign manager, David Plouffe, was far more pointed in a written statement that accused the Clinton campaign of "an entire week's worth of false, divisive attacks designed to mislead caucus-goers and discredit the caucus itself."Wh­atever the hard feelings, Clinton told supporters they would fade by the fall general election campaign. "We will all be united in November," she said, as the crowd chanted "HRC, HRC." [end quote] ----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----------­----- I have said this time and again. The Clintons and their surrogates believe that they can do anything and that no matter what lies, dirty politics, race-baiting, xenophobia inciting, lying, misreprensenting, amoral campaign they run, that Democrats in general---and Blacks specifically---will have no choice but to support them in November if they are successful in stealing this nomination. I beg to differ. I hope all intelligent Democrats of good conscience will vote for a change in the political party by NOT supporting her if she robs the public of a chance at an honest debate and a substantive choice for president. Don't vote for Billary in the fall under any circumstance; make a stand about your morals and your values as a party. Blacks more than others should always stand up for right because they, since inception, have been the true moral conscience of this nation; FACT!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/14/AR2007081401722.html

[AristophanesJones]

Self-Aggra­ndizement: the true American pastime

[tcbwriter]

Hear hear!

[greejambri]

Nobody can out-victim the QUEEN OF VICTIMS. Her blatant sexist appeals to women are pathetic: referring to her opponents as "the boys club," wink, wink. You want to stop being a victim, Hillary. Fight your own fights, and send your irrational, sex-addict husband to thailand or something.

[ChezMJ]

AMEN!!!

[BoJaker]

This is ridiculous! I looks like the Robo-Clintonites here are delighted that someone finally created a topic to smear Obama on. You're all hypocrites. Hillary was doing the same thing when Edwards and Obama were both going after her. Plus the whole crying stunt. If that wasn't a "victim" routine, I don't know what is.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/14/bill-i-have-list-of-80_n_81414.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marie-wilson/playing-the-gender-card-_b_72178.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/11/02/clinton-theyre-piling-_n_70933.html

[golferling]

Oh my GOD>...a pro Hilary commented blog where people have started to figure out Obama is all whine....I can't believe it, and on HUFFPOST !!! There is a God, and some Americans are smarter than I think !!!!!!
Hillary for President.­..she is so smart..the­re is no problem in America that she won't be the smartest and find the solutions. When Hillary is elected, politics be damned, she will do the best for the country. Thanks for restoring my faith in Huffpost. Go HILLARY.

[BobLargomarsino]

This post is absurd. Say someone were to say that James Love doesn't eat or sleep or mow the lawn, he just has sex with his uncle all night long. If Mr. Love pointed out he doesn't have an uncle would that make him a victim? Apparently so according to this post. Since when is pointing out that someone is lying make you a victim?

How in the world does Chris Mathews making a statement that the Clintons are reminding viewers that Obama is black show that Obama is desperately trying to portray himself as a victim? I don't get it.

[elusiveyo]

thank you, thank you, couldn't agree more

[AnninCA]

Amen! I go one step further. It's truly wrong to tap into this victimology.

Nevermind not being good for Democrats. It's not good for the country.

We do not need to become a nation of victims and rescuers.

He was trying to undermine the reputation of the Democrats and Clinton, in particular, when he waxed eloquent on the Reagan administration.

He found out that wasn't so smart.

And now he's whining because his opponent made good use of his mistake.

Whiners just aren't leaders.

[tpagy]

If the Senator wants to stop the insinuations than he needs to quit with the okie dokie crap and the jokes of the southern white males to john Edwards its not what you do when your suppose to be about change and that could be why John Edwards moved up in the polls in SC you start talking in code and it will bite you and playing a victim when you use the same tactics makes you look no different and if you need proof just look at the tape when he made the okie dokie coment and look at the crowd and the Faces of the white people and you could see they were uncomfortable and thoses were the Senators choice's no one else's! Edwards/08

[eshalom]

Good Lord, are people really catching on to the Obama strategy? He's perfect, holy, etc. and completely off limits to any criticism whatsoever; but he should be allowed to repeatedly assassinate the character of his chief rivals whenever he so chooses - for example, at the Philadelphia debate last October in his clumsy attempt to assert himself by attacking Hillary Clinton.

[ray3]

You don't get it, there are people who are disgusted with the lies and half truths that have brought us Iraq and decimated our constitution. When we see the Clintons lying as a campaign strategy it's a repeat of what we've seen for the last 8 years. In order to solve our huge problems the truth has to be told.

[ParacleteofKavorka]

Obama said Hillary was on the board of Wal-Mart which happens to be based in Arkansas. But, he didn't say what that meant if anything. So, she said he had dealings with a slumlord. Fair is fair. Of course, to Obama followers it isn't. You see, they are blinded by the light.