It's Over

The meaningless negative attacks on Barack Obama that Howard Wolfson and Mark Penn unleashed in Wisconsin in full Rovian fashion backfired. After dredging up stupid accusations about "plagiarism" the Clinton campaign seems brain dead. The old Saul Alinsky notion that "organized people" will always defeat "organized money" is playing out in the form of Obama's grassroots ground campaign. In Wisconsin, the Hillary camp bet on the idea that "organized attacks" can defeat "organized people" and ended up losing by 17 points.

Obama has closed the gap in Texas according to the recent polls and he has two more weeks to mobilize his forces. And in Texas the proportionate delegate count strongly favors African-American voters. In Ohio, Obama is also closing the gap and these two states were supposedly Hillary's "firewall." If Obama wins one of these states or is razor close in Ohio then there's no political reason for the Clinton campaign to continue for another month awaiting the Pennsylvania primary. During that period the commentariat will be asking the question: When is Hillary going to get out? And why throw money away in Pennsylvania when Obama has the nomination all but wrapped up?

John McCain echoed the Clinton attacks on Obama tonight in his humbug "victory" statement that sounded like a hackneyed Fourth of July speech to a Kiwanis club picnic in Orange County. McCain's words would have had more substance if he had simply exhaled into the microphone. He promised more fear, more war, and more same old failed policies. McCain is running for George W. Bush's third term.

Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic Party's nominee for president of the United States in 2008. His strategy must now fully engage John McCain and the record of Republican misrule he represents. He must not allow Hillary to distract him with her desperate negative attacks. Obama is defending himself on two fronts. Hillary should bow out gracefully after March 4th for the health of the party. It's time for Democrats to focus on the general election.

(Thanks to my colleague Dr. Stan Oden for his collaboration on this one.)

Comments

[PacificGatePost]

It's too late for Hillary to make an attempt for the V.P. position. She doesn't understand why someone like Obama has leaped to the forefront so quickly. There is an overwhelming reason which is now set deep in the social fiber of America. . . .

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/02/obama-social-phenomenon.html

[Orikinla]

As John Kerry lost to George W. Bush in 2004.
Barack Obama will lose to John McCain in 2008.

Without the supporters of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party cannot win the presidential election.

The political ignorance of most of the supporters of Barack Obama on the HuffPost is shocking!

[esl]

What scares me is that the posters here always back a loser-Kerry, Lamont. What will they say when the mud hits the fan and there is plenty of mud in Chicago to throw at Obama. Me, I'll vote for McCain if Hillary is not the nominee. Some people will be unpleasantly surprised to find that after you disrespected our candidate we won't vote for yours.

[BrooklynLager]

If you can't get a pro-war Democrat, you'll vote for a pro-war Republican.

Why is that supposed to surprise anyone?

[nohat]

No; what is shocking is your claim that the Democrats can't win the presidency. Have you just landed here from Mars or something? After eight years of Bush, the Democrats will indeed win. Either take a nice long walk or read a few nice long newspapers. (That's what we earthlings sometimes do when our thinking gets, well, muddled.)

[Wulfstan]

Clinton would be better off not attacking Obama, because by doing it she comes across as a mean angry bitch. If she had some proper progressive policies like ending the Iraq occupation sooner rather than later, Medicare for all and a roll back of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. How non earth do you you justify a 15% capital gains tax when earned income is at 35%

Neither candidate says anything about the bloated Pentagon budget.

[Wulfstan]

Clinton would be better off not attacking Obama, because by doing it she comes across as a mean angry bitch. If she had some proper progressive policies like ending the Iraq occupation sooner rather than later, Medicare for all and a roll back of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. How non earth do you you justify a 15% capital gains tax when earned income is at 35%

Neither candidate says anything about the bloated Pentagon budget.

[vigonue]

hrc should have run for pres right after bill ended his 2 terms. her moment passed. give it up for obama now.

[happytrails]

Give it up for the Democratic Party, for the sake of the country, and in order to protect SCOTUS.

Good Heavens, Hillary! GIVE IT UP!

[nancytheragingliberal]

When Hillary appeared on T.V., after she lost the last 3 states, not once did she congratulate Obama, and that is classless. I was pleased when she appeared after she lost Wisconsin and HI and did not congratualte Obama, that his staff pulled the plug on her and Obama began his speech. She was a poor loser and deserved to be cut off on all T.V. stations. She deserved what she got.

[Kane]

Considering the margin of victory in the Obama winning streak, the 17 point margin in Wisconsin is peanuts.

Wisconsin +17
Hawaii +52
Virginia +28
Maryland +25
District of Columbia +52
Maine +19
Louisiana +21
Nebraska +36
Washington +37
Virgin Islands +84

C'mon, Hillary. Get out now for the sake of the party and the country.

[willshirea]

What concerns me most are those ready and willing to end this competition before "we the people" have ALL had a chance to use our voice. Regardless of what many project the inevitable outcome to be, is it truly democratic to shut down the polls before everyone votes?

Isn't relevancy one of the reasons many states opted to move their primaries up on the calendar. In "our" democracy every vote should count (ie. popular vote vs. electoral college).

With a popular vote spread of less than 5%, does it make sense to end this race prematurely? What kind of example does this provide to the next generation, those aspiring U.S. citizens and growing democracies around the world? How does this make our democracy legitimate?


Real Clear Politics
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_vote_count.html

2/22/08
Popular vote
-
Obama - 10,300,410
Clinton - 9,375,213
---------------------------------
Total - 19,675,623

--
Difference of - 925,197 or 4.7%

[LeoMarvin]

It ain't over till it's over.

[Kane]

It aint over until the fat lady cries.

[dow2200]

McCain is Bush + 15 IQ points. Not enough to defeat a 21st Century JFK. Hilary is finished, and so is McCain. The straig talk express derailed 2 years ago. What's left is the bullshit express. More wars, and no taxes to pay for them. Another 2 or 3 trillion our children will have to repay China, assuming the Chinese will continue to buy our bonds. Will a Democratic President rescind Bush's tax cuts? Yes, because as Bill Maher put it, "The Republicans have spent the last seven years cutting the taxes of billionares & corporations, and not killing Osama bin-Laden."

[gardenbookie]

Mrs. Clinton won't bow out like a lady. She'll go the distance until the Dems tell her it's over. Does she have the class to concede, wish the best for Senator Obama, and declare her support as a senator to President Obama's term? Unlikely.

[WandaBooneshaft]

It's got nuttin' to do with being a "lady." It's got everything to do with being a Clinton. Class? That's subjective and is the first casualty of politics.

[57andfemale]

The Clintons still have a future in this country. To make this so bloody and protracted diminishes them forever in our eyes. And frankly, I'd like to return to at least some of the good feelings I'd had about them. The behavior of the Clintons is something I never would have expected. Now who's naive.

But they don't get it. Can you imagine how Bill Clinton would feel about an Obama campaign if his wife wasn't the opponent? I'd read an article by a political scientist about a year ago who said, if a young voter is engaged and interested in his first two elections, then you have an engaged voter for life. The opportunity for the democratic party and progressive causes is monumental. We're talking changing the trajectory of America here. But they don't care. The Clintons appear hell-bent on destroying Obama, even bloodying him for the general campaign. It's a soulessness I never thought they possessed. I'm astounded.

I'm expecting all hell to break loose in Thursday night's debate. Fasten your seat belts......

[yrerbendr]

I agree with this statement, but what a mistake she will be making. She should concede, unify the party and gain the high ground for another run, another day. Unfortunately for her ambitions, she has a streak of Bill Clinton's self-destructiveness.

[RossKM]

This is what I heard from the McCain victory speech last night. WAR, CONFRONT, ENEMY, KILL, KILL, KILL. Is he a bloodthirsty maniac? Serial killer, or a Republician? Or is there a difference. Ever notice that no other elected world leaders talk like that.

[user168]

Hillary, you really need to study "The Art of War" in which it says: "The opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself." With such desperation, your dirty tricks and petty attacks will defeat not your opponent but yourself.

When self-respect is gone, what's there to be left?

Hillary, you've just repeated Bill's "no-self-respect".

[RossKM]

Look Clinton worshipers, Hillary lost the election because her campaign strategy was WRONG ON DAY ON. She had this thing in the bag from the time she announced her plans to run for President and SHE BLEW IT! She picked the wrong people to run her campaign, spent all the money in the first few months, and did not even have a plan for the post Feb 5 states. That is her fault. You can't run the country when you can't run a campaign. She was beating fair and square, so stop crying.

[dkmedl]

If you noticed the numbers voting in the Democratic primary in Wisconsin, you would know that Hillary lost because Republicans turned out in LARGE numbers to vote for Obama. They want him to be the Democratic candidate because they know he is "green" and will be easy to defeat. On the other hand, like her or not, Hillary Clinton is smart, experienced and more capable of beating McCain in November and the Republicans know it.

[57andfemale]

She's smart. I question her claim to experience, frankly. The independents almost always decide the election. Especially if they are motivated to vote. And motivation to vote is critical: Hillary motivates the right wing base. That won't beat McCain.

But you're cherry-picking the results: Obama made huge inroads with blue collar workers, women, lower income people, and women. You cannot ignore those results. You're making it sound as if half the people voting for Obama were Republicans and independents. Come on.

Being smart doesn't make you a leader. Being a fighter doesn't mean you have well-rounded leadership skills to change approaches and react nimbly. If she were to win against McCain (and I doubt that) she is incapable of putting together a working majority to get any of her 10-point plans passed. Yes she works across the aisle, but always by caving to Republicans. Obama has proven repeatedly that he can reach across the aisle and get more progressive policies. Maybe not perfect policies, but policies we can be proud of. Hillary just gives us more of the same.

[yrerbendr]

Not Republicans, but Independents turned out for Obama and it is independents that will win the election for Obama against McCain/failed Bushisms.

[ChimpmasterDJ]

I doubt a different strategy would've obscured her neo-con Senate record, in all matters that were crucial to preserve the Constitution, our rights, and to stop the war.

I guess it's "misogynistic" to point this out, but there it is.

[57andfemale]

Not to this 57 year old feminist, it isn't.

[AMERIKA]

A Letter to the Clinton Campaign workers reading this post.

As a Progressive person, I applaud and support Obama and his ability to motivate, inspire and lead us out of the darkness of the Bush years.

It is now up to Senator Clinton to withdraw her nomination, and endorse Obama without reservation. This will unify the party, and give HRC hero status among Democrats. HRC will be able to take on her pet project in an Obama Administration, and she will be get much more done as an Obama supporter in the coming years.

Please tell HRC that while we appreciate her, its just not her time.

[eddiestardust]

Amerika,

I have to guess that YOUR STATE ALREADY VOTED!
Why decide for me? I didn't decide for you!

[gabbyone]

You really think Hillary supporters will endorse him? In Florida, 40% of Democrats plan to vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination. Making her go away will never decrease the people who just don't like him.

[Sciguy]

"When is Hillary going to get out?" Howzabout after all of the primaries are over?

Many people seem to be upset that the superdelegates may decide the Democratic nomination. Personally, I'm upset because I'll have no say whatsoever in the Democratic nomination! My state is unimportant anyway, but our primary is LATER rather than sooner, and it looks like everyone has already decided that Obama will be the nominee. It wouldn't be different if everybody had already decided that Clinton would be the nominee. What happened to MY choice?

I know that money talks and bullpoop walks, but really, folks - perhaps money is talking too loudly in this horse race. My fave candidates dropped out of the race a while ago, leaving me with little choice. However, if Hillary Clinton "gets out," I'll have no choice at all. That, friends, sucks.