Power Failure Sheds Light on Dem Race

They may have paid their electric bill on time, but the Obama campaign has been hit by back to back Power failures -- as in Barack Obama's former senior policy adviser Samantha Power messing up big time in the media. Nonetheless, the gaffes that led to the resignation of a high-profile campaign figure say more about the state of the race than they do about the Obama camp itself. This latest phase of the Democratic primary race has become incredibly tense that the slightest mistake can send shock waves through the campaign -- a dynamic that tripped up the Obama campaign this week, but is bound to send the Clinton camp faltering as well in the weeks ahead.
 

Having already resigned as Obama's Senior Policy adviser for calling Hillary Clinton a "monster" in a recent interview with The Scottsman, Time magazine now reports a second gaffe by Samantha Power.

According to Time, during a recent BBC interview, Power hedged on Obama's oft-spoken commitment to begin an immediate, albeit careful withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. According to Power:

You can't make a commitment in March 2008 about what circumstances will be like in January of 2009...So to think -- it would be the height of ideology to sort of say, 'Well, I said it, therefore I'm going to impose it on whatever reality greets me. (link)

The statement by Power is, in fact, little more than a clumsy reiteration of an oft-used refrain in the Obama message on Iraq: that Obama is opposed to ideologically driven foreign policy.  Nonetheless, Power's comment gave the impression -- however inadvertent -- that Obama's commitment to immediate withdrawal from Iraq was rhetorical, not real.

News of a second Power misstep in as many days comes at a time when Obama's campaign is working hard to cut off an attack from the Clinton camp, wherein Clinton contends that Obama is not ready to be Commander-in-Chief.

More than revealing anything new about the Obama campaign and its position on foreign policy or any significant shift in the delegate spread that divides Obama and Clinton, the back-to-back media gaffes by Power suggest that the 'Obama-camp-in-crisis' narrative has taken root, at least for the moment, in the media. 

While retaining its solid lead in the delegate standings, the Obama camp seems to have suffered a temporary setback, nonetheless, as media attention shifts away from his large rallies and string of primary victories to the endgame for the nomination.

As much as anything else in the never-ending Democratic primary contest, the Power gaffes reveal how close the contest remains, as well as the unprecedented level of media attention it commands. 

Such focused media pressure, combined with such high electoral stakes, suggests that the next few weeks will give rise to even more high-profile media mistakes from both the Clinton and Obama campaigns.

Cross-posted from Frameshop

Comments

[Plowboy]

There are some impoprtant things being said in thisd campaign and some dasmned silly onnes. Our great media focus on the latter. So having a candidate called a monster "off the record" is more important than an attempt to change the mind set in Washington. (I wonder what the heck The Scotsman thinks "off the record" means anyway?) Clinton's dirty tricks and mud slinging is the mark of a fighter and Obama lacks balls because he refuses to play that game.
Why is he still winniknng? Could it be that the quiet wosdom he speaks of is bering recognized by people in the way he campaugns?
He speaks of using diplomacy to resolve problems. Well, the population of theUnited States is 4.6% of the world's humanity. Do you believe that we can accomplish a heck of a lot without cooperation from that other 95.4%? And will we gain that coopoeration by respectfully addressing our mutuial needs and wishes or by telling them "my way or the highway"? We are seen all too often as rude bullies -- because all too oftedn we are. That was Bush's way -- and seems to be that of some others here. Will we build real solutions to problems at home, like health care, by bullying each other -- or by listening and rerasoning -- and considering what othere nationsd have already done successfully? And will the solution we develop in an open manner be the same or worse or better than one developed in backroom deaaling with special interests as Hillary's first health fiasco was, and as Cheney's energy policy was?
Barack Obama is offering us a different way to do things. It is simple wisdom, but as the fellow said, "that common sense don't seem to be all that common around here."
So some silly name calling trumps thinking. And Obama is Ken Starr. How wonderful!! How important!! How typical! !

[MartinEdwinAndersen]

Just two years ago, Hillary--the purported "expert" on international relations--said there should be "lawful authority" for torture in some cases.

(See, for example, www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0907/Hillary_and_torture_audio_version.html)

Her stand on this transcendant moral issue was opposite to that taken by every other major Democratic presidential candidate in 2007-2008, and the heat she took for it caused her to make one of her famous "flip flops."

[Sloane7]

I didn't realize the book Power wrote was on Rwanda. No wonder Hillary wanted her head. Bill probably suggested it. Hillary, the opportunist, is only smirking and happy when she's hurting others.

[AnninCA]

I agree and think it's only reasonable to view it just in that light. The over-scrutinizing is way crazy. That wasn't the case with Samantha's "monster" comment, of course. That was simply unprofessional.

But I do agree that sanity is a bit hard to find right now with the competition so intense.

How many times did I see it characterized that Hillary endorsed McCain? *haha

I think it will calm down. It's a long time until Pennsyvania.

[MAliberal]

There is no "narrative" here. Power is out. Too bad, she had foreign policy experience of which Hillary could only dream. I'm sure she was targeted - she happened to write a Pulitzer prize winning book about the Rwandan genocide and Bill's impotent waffling that lead to thousands of deaths.
The "narrative" is, and should be, that Hillary's campaign has been an imploding hornet's nest since she lost Iowa. Their over the top reaction to any pedestrian request or off the record quip reminds me of my 15 year old son hopped up on too much adolescent testosterone.
The "narrative" is about the Clinton campaign's constant in-fighting and finger pointing. The disorganization. The secrecy. The fear mongering and divisiveness. All the while spinning lie after lie: the media bias lie, the NAFTA lie, the muslim lie, the experience lie, the "I'm winning" lie, the "John McCain would be a better president than my democratic opponent" lie and on and on...
These are people that she chose to run her campaign, can you imagine her cabinet? The narrative is "More of the same".

[moana]

Here is what's not being said......Shillary will do the same thing. I bet she'll change her position on troop withdrawal, and, she might not even withdraw the troops at all, if Her Monstrosity makes it that far in this race. At least Power and Obama are being truthful and are open to revising policies as time goes. Obama deals with reality. Her Monstrosity works well with fear mongering and pissing on hope.

[ginnypoo]

SO he is ALSO LYING ABOUT withdrawal and Rezko, and no hearings, and he can't hold up in the heat....poor little hot-house flower, Obama seems to be melting, melting, mmeeeellllttiiiinnngggggggggggg.

[cheforacle]

Are you represntative of Clinton supporters who have fun projecting their belief that he cannot handle it. He isn't the one complaining about getting the first questions in debates or whining about unfair coverage. If you read his plan for withdrawal, it states 1 to 2 brigades per month, the exact rate to be worked out month-by-month beginning in January. Its a flexible plan. And he hasn't lied about Rezko. Since you brought up Rezko, what do you think about the fact all of his codefendants in the trial contributed to the Clintons? Did you know that? What do you think of it? Do you believe anything smells fishy?

[jeffhas]

When you can show me where Rezko did a 'walk through' of Clinton's PERSONAL residence, and helped her close escrow by purchasing the lot next door the seller was requiring in order to close the sale (oh I'm sorry Rezko didn't buy the lot - he put it in his wife's name - because...???) and then gated up the entire lot - except to leave complete access to the main residence... let me know... I'll be the first to say it sounds like Hillary had just the same cozy 17 year relationship with a donor that Obama had.... oh yeah he said in his debate, that he didn't really know Rezko - he'd just done a few hours of work for him.

Of course that won't matter much, because Obama is supposed to be 'a different kind of politician'... right?

[GLaB]

You Obama fans,

Do you EVER read an article?

According to Time, during a recent BBC interview, Power hedged on Obama's oft-spoken commitment to begin an immediate, albeit careful withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. According to Power:

You can't make a commitment in March 2008 about what circumstances will be like in January of 2009...So to think -- it would be the height of ideology to sort of say, 'Well, I said it, therefore I'm going to impose it on whatever reality greets me


Obama is NOT going to withdraw from Iraq after all the talk. What do you think of that?

[jeffhas]

crickets chirping....

[berensma]

I think what I have thought for some time....that of all the candidates, Barack Obama is applying the most consistently thoughtful approach to the situation, that he is the least influenced by the special interests who would want to remain in Iraq, and that he has surrounded himself with the best possible people to help guide him in this process.

[VosVos]

Next thing you know you will tell us Hillary won Texas! Go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87961802
See how Obama won TX.

[JakeEasy]

I though you guys were the ones who didn't believe in thwarting the will of the people. You know votes cast, one man one vote, like the general election. I though Barack wanted the voice of the people to be heard.

But now who is using the twisted mechanics of odd ball election rules to get more delegates than votes and claim to be winner.

So, let me see if I have this. When he wins the popular vote and loses the delegate majority, it is the will of the people that counts. When he wins the delegate count but loses the popular vote, it is machine politics that counts. I guess if he loses both, there must be a monster in his closet. Whimper.

You guys and your hypocrisy just kill me. It wouldn't be so bad if you didn't stand up and pretend to be different and above it all. in reality, just like all politicians at this level, it's whatever it takes to win. Such a disappointment.

[cheforacle]

Who made the rules? Not Obama. Not Clinton. The Texas Democratic Party did. Should Clinton ignore the rules? Should Obama? So what is your point?

[research]

You must at least open the possibility that you will KEEP the Iraq war crime going, or the MSM war profiteering corporations will shut you out of the race, as they did to Kucinich.

This race has entered the sickening phase. If the candidates don't fight dirty, the argument will be made they cannot beat McCain. If the play dirty, and lie, and deceive to win, they break the hearts of the good American people. Since the rethugs don't care about honor and morality, dirty politics is fine by them.

Please good democratic voters, keep this in mind as we go forward into the muck. I may have to stop watching it, and just hold my nose, cross my finger, pray to god and vote for the winner of the democratic nomination.

[southsideirish]

My GOD!!! She shouldn't have just resigned. She should've chosen to take a vow of silence till 2016.

[longislandlol]

Everyone---- Please get on Larry David's blog---- it will convince even the unconvincible in Pennsylvania what they need to do on Primary Day, there...

[batguano]

A few "policy gaffes" by the extremely talented and gifted Samantha Power who commands great integrity, is not even in the same galaxy compared to the trail of Hillary's ambition, littered with corruption, personal ambition at any cost, Republican/Con methods, corporate contributions and their IOU's, refusal to release tax records or the refusal of the Clinton Library to release records of the Clinton pardons.....pardons like Bill's last second pardon of the indicted fugitive financier Marc Rich http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=21595 , who was, along with his wife, a major contributor to the Clinton's campaigns and library. Wait until more Clinton filth is revealed.....the list is long.
It is a travesty that Powers was forced to resign after speaking nothing more than the truth.....something Clinton should try once in a while. It is a measure of the divisive Rovian politics Clinton has adopted in her quest for personal glory that she and her surrogates would bring a worthy person down in pursuit of selfish victory. Superdelegates take notice!
After Clinton's numerous displays of con-like arrogance and ugly ego, I am sick to my stomach of her, and will NOT "hold my nose" and vote for that deceitful hypocrite creature...EVER.........it is either a breath of fresh air or nothing.

[hhkeller]

Obama supports funneling our limited public school money to private and religious schools. Since there is barely enough public school money as it is, I think this is bad policy whether done by Bush or by Obama. Keep public school money where it belongs.

[SEQUOIABISON]

NICE HIT AND RUN SAMANTHA YOU ARE SO RIGHT IN YOUR ASSESSMENT OF HILLARY, GLAD YOU TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM AND GOT THE TRUTH OUT THERE.