No, Hillary, You're Creed, Not Rocky. That's Your Problem.

As soon as I heard Senator Clinton likening herself to Rocky, I was incredulous. Is this campaign and/or candidate so feckless that they can't see the inevitable Maureen Dowd gore-fest that will follow, by comparing herself to the Italian Stallion?

But my slack-jawed wonderment had more to do with the real problem (besides the glaringly obvious one -- that Rocky actually loses the fight. There's that, of course.) Hillary Clinton is so obviously Apollo Creed, not Rocky Balboa. It was Creed who had it all, let himself grow deluded with entitlement, surrounded himself with an entourage of yes-men who never thought for even a second that their fighter might actually have to fight. Except for Creed's trainer, of course. He watches Rocky beat the bejesus out of a slab of meat on the local news, and tries to get Creed's attention by saying 'Hey, champ, you oughta come and look at this boy you're gonna fight on TV. It looks like he means business." His entreaties fail. The Champ figures it out too late, in the ring.

Now of course Senator Clinton is fighting like a mad dog, and today, I thought to myself, as I have on many days over the past few weeks, "she does know that she and Obama are in the same party, right? Could someone tell her they are BOTH DEMOCRATS?" But even as Senator Clinton struggles now against the real Rocky in this campaign, it is hard to shake that early, toxic period of inevitability that makes it nearly impossible, for this voter at least, to ever consider her the underdog. Senator Clinton, you went to Wellesley, one of your first stops on a gilded path to power. I live in Wellesley. There are no Rocky's in Wellesley.

Do I see any likeness between her and my beloved movie hero? I will allow the possibility that the Senator can perhaps break thumbs. And it does seem clear this fight will end up like the one in Rocky does: with both contenders covered in blood.

Comments

[AreYouFibbing]

As I recall, there was a series of Rocky movies and he came out on top.

[halyscomet]

If so, he could have only been fighting Duane Bobick.

I haven't seen THAT version!

[UNCLEJOE]

The Rocky comparison is racist. How come everyone misses this allusion?

[ReportThis]

ha! good one.

[PhDiva]

I didn't miss it. I agree I with you. She never misses an opportunity to racialize Obama in a negative way. Yikes.

[AreYouFibbing]

Hey Gibson girl....you should ask Obama if he knows he and Sen. Clinton are in the same party.
How easy it is for you to bash Hillary......AGAIN. If you recall, Creed's trainer went to work for Rocky.

[halyscomet]

Oustanding post, Linda!

[Burnsey]

Has anybody here EVER seen the Rocky Movie? Hillary can compare herself all she wants, because if you did ever see the flick, ROCKY LOST!!!

[tstamp]

perfect post.

[LBKN]

so... does Bill play the part of Mick... or Pauley?

[jhamm1]

Creed? Nah, more like Clubber Lang than anything else.

[alwaysinterested]

This is exactly why I am leaving the democratic party. All you Obama supporters act as if he's some kind of angel who has done no wrong. In the beginning I was really excited about the diversity of the democratic candidates. As soon as I started reading these so called left leaning blogs I was totally turned off by the comments made about Hillary. They have been vicious from the beginning which made me a Clinton supporter and totally turned off to Obama. He's had all these jerks attacking the First Lady from the beginning so he just sits back and smiles like an idiot. So don't act like this is a one sided fight.

I have voted for democrats in every election since I was first able to vote for Reagan's second term. I am changing my party affiliation to independent and voting for Ralph this time.

[grendl]

If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

And take the kitchen sink Hillary used first with you.

[AreYouFibbing]

I have mentioned that the whiny boy, Obama, would do well to get out of this race, since all he knows is how to complain when he feels he has been wronged. I haven't seen this much drama since Nell in Dudley Do-Right cartoons. I want a fighter in the WH, not a wimp.....that would be Sen. Clinton.

[JoePalooka]

Grendl, Obama bowls like a girl. Do we want a president who bowls like a girl, or do we want a fighter like Hillarocky?

[Zyzzygowski]

Pray tell what are you reading?

The post is about an analogy made by Sen Clinton, herself, about herself. She compared herself to Rocky. Beyond the surface of Rocky trying and being an underdog because he got a shot at the title by default (that is also in the movie) Sen Clinton opened the door to this more thorough examination if the analogy ... she raised.

As Sen Clinton herself said, "we both have enthusiastic supporters." Why would you hold Sen Obama's enthusiastic supporters against him? Would you hold Sen Clinton's enthusiastic supporters against her?

As for the vicious attacks on Sen Clinton, are you forgetting the Republicans and Conservatives? Certainly they do not support Sen Obama. You may not listen to Sean Hannity but he had a "Stop Hillary" effort going well before Sen Obama entered the race. If there are any attacks, and yes there are many of them, against Sen Clinton they include other people beyond Sen Obama's enthusiastic supporters.

[ckdogs]

That may be emotionally satisfying - but it won't help the country. Ralph, as you know, will not be president. I am an Obama supporter, who would have been perfectly happy to vote for Clinton, if she won fair and square. She had a lot of support, name recognition, money, et.al. Why do you think Obama has come out ahead in spite of this? Because she has run a nasty, Rovian type campaign, that has turned off a lot of Democrats - including former Hillary supporters. We don't think Obama walks on water - I'm so sick of that designation - but he is a great candidate, who just may be able to bring the country together. He's not perfect; he's made mistakes - but over all, he has not countenanced any low blows. He does represent a new direction, and frankly, the country needs it.

[halyscomet]

Couldn't have said it better, CK.

[timm0]

The Party will still be here when you grow up. Now, don't let the door hit ya where the good lawd split ya.

[SethBullock]

If you are really making a decision about whom to support or whom to vote for based on what people write in blogs, you are not to be taken seriously. I have rarely heard a more ridiculous statement.

Vote for whom you want--but don't pretend that you are doing because you are offended by something a bunch of strangers wrote on a blog!

[larry278]

To compare Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Hussein Obama to even a fictional boxer is absurd. Neither her Hillaryship nor his Barackship would be allowed to carry the spit bucket for any boxer, amateur or pro. Those who watch matches where the sweet science is displayed can spot an untrained, untalented, novice bum when such a wretched creature gets within 10 feet of a ring. Boxing fans boo the bum till the bum is removed from the arena. BHO & HRC would be booed out of the arena if some other bum let either of them carry a spit bucket. The fans would destroy the arena if some crumb bum let either of them do a more difficult & demanding job. While a monied bum can buy a seat at a boxing match only well schooled & skilled persons are allowed near or in the ring.
The writer of this blog is sadly misinformed about boxing, the sweet science, & boxings traditions.
While both of them are qualified to serve in the US Senate & run to become POTUS-neither of them has any business working in or near a ring. Perhapes John Sidney McCain once had some ring experience but he's been out of the game to be allowed near or in the ring in any capacity. There is a slight chance that any of them could be allowed to step into the ring before a match to be introduced to the crowd-if the got out of the ring quick.

[Zyzzygowski]

Huh?

Sen Clinton made the analogy. The poster is merely extending the analogy to other facts in the fictional movie.

[Titonwan]

I think this mug's frame got tilted one too many times! sheesh

[plutorage]

Hillary doesn't understand politics, except the politics of being an Empress.

The latest craze on college campuses: Compose the best question for Chelsea to answer on the subject of Monica Lewinsky. Nice going, Hillary. Why would Hillary want to be Rocky anyway? Hillary had everything going for her and just threw it away.

[SLone08]

"she does know that she and Obama are in the same party, right? Could someone tell her they are BOTH DEMOCRATS?"

After the last few weeks, I don't think she can really call herself a Democrat. Her tactics have been purely Republican. I think she was at one point, but I don't think she is anymore.

Why is she a Democrat? Because she says so?

Well then... I'm a giraffe.

[ItsAlessandro]

Caucus states produced mini-delegates which have been manipulated by Obamaians to try and force the super delegates to vote the same way. It's a ridiculous tactic yet it seems to be working.

mini-delegates were voted on by only 12% per mini-delegate selected as compared to a delegate from a primary state. 88% fewer voters coronated each mini-delegate, without the mini delegates, Obama is losing every which way and getting trounced in the electoral college vote.

Obama has no mandate and may not even end up with the popular vote, that is why there is all this pressure to end the race now. Hillary really is the underdog.

[SLone08]

Hillary Clinton had the same opportunity to win the caucus states as Obama did. However, her campaign, once again, was arrogant and thought this contest would be over after Super Tuesday. Argue all you want, but her campaign has been grossly mismanaged in every possible aspect (heavily in debt, constant infighting, etc). Read the article in Rolling Stone ( I know they endorsed Obama, but it is still a great article detailing Obama's grassroots strategy) and you will see the difference in how the two campaigns have been run.

Obama IS leading in the popular vote, so until he isn't, you don't have a leg to stand on as far as that issue goes.

And, finally, the electoral college vote. First off, this is a primary- the only thing that counts is delegates, the electoral angle is pure Clinton spin. Even so, do you really think Obama isn't going to carry NY and CA in the general? He will, so there goes that talking point.

Come on, I know you support Clinton but be realistic! Dems are turning out in record numbers this year. Not only will he win those big states, but he will definitely turn at least a couple traditionally red states blue. Remember, Bill Clinton won in 92 without winning FL, so there isn't one set way to win in November.

[SLone08]

Hillary's campaign has continued to move the goal posts back, called a multitude of states unimportant, and has failed to stay consistant with any message. Her candidacy was "inevitable", remember? Even with 20 years of name recognition and all of Bill's resources at her disposal, she has been unable to close the deal.

She's losing to a stronger candidate who is running a better campaign- it's that simple.

[AreYouFibbing]

ItsAlessan­dro....one of my biggest fears is The Bradley Effect.

[joeholla]

I see Hillary's makeitupasyougo has spread to some her supporters. Fortunately a strong dose of REALITY and FACTS can clear that up.

1)no such thing as "mini-delegate" - you can make up terms for anything you like but it doesn't change what it is.

2) There is no electoral college in the primary - we've gone from delegates, to blue states, to big states, to super delegates , to popular vote(this one may or may not count depending on who wins it), and now the electoral college.

3) Hillary is now the underdog. - just because your losing NOW doesn't mean you weren't the favorite at the Beginning

[milurOH]

I just love how running a well organized campaign has become synonymous with "manipulating elections" Gotta love that Clinton double standard.

[AgathaX]

Or perhaps Hillary is the Rocky in Rocky Balboa. The one ready for retirement who brings out the best in his young opponent. Only in that movie, Rocky puts up a valient effort, a fight to be proud of even as he finally loses. I haven't seen a lot that Hillary needs to be proud of in this effort. Moreover, Hillary did not come in as the underdog, like the aging Balboa. She rendered herself the underdog after having blown every manner of overwhelming advantage: connections, money, name recognition, you name it. Apollo Creed is clearly the better analogy. Only this time, he isn't as popular with the judges.

[franknfooter]

Hillary will just about say anything when the words are not spoon fed to her by her speech and campaign managers(handlers). But it's interesting that so many Americans are forgiving to this family despite how many lies and distortions they come up with. Clinton said he did not have sexual relations then previously he said he never "inhaled", and then lets not forget Jennifer Flowers or that other bimbo with the nose job.

So now it's Hillary's turn to churn out the crap and the lies. America start counting with the Bosnia flap because she has alot of catching up to do with her husband before she's usurped this election. Hear my words. She will win by hook or by crook and in doing so wreck the confidence of all the young voters who thought Barack Obama had a chance to win it. She will of course get help from the same old nemisis, the Ole corrupt political machine that comes out of Tallahasse, Florida. They will once again be the spoiler in this whole mess.

[dsbsh]

But it's interesting that so many Americans are forgiving to this family despite how many lies and distortions they come up with. Clinton said he did not have sexual relations then previously he said he never "inhaled", and then lets not forget Jennifer Flowers or that other bimbo with the nose job.
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­___
Why shouldn't we forget Jennifer Flowers or that other...? Is it that important for you to hang onto your fond memories of Bill Clinton's sex life? Most Americans forgave him for that stuff because they really didn't care that much about stuff that was none of their business. The GOP and the MSM obsessed about this stuff for years-- not to mention all the stuff they invented, like Whitewater, Travelgate and Vince Foster-- but Clinton's marriage/sex life has always been the story rammed down the throats of a public that didn't really care, at least not beyond enjoying the titillating details for a few news cycles. Is that really a reason to oppose his wife's candidacy a decade later?

I agree with much of what you say about Hillary in this campaign, and I'm supporting Obama. But let it go. Bill Clinton has been a crappy husband. But for your own sake, man, let it go. Let it go...

[deejsmom]

great article and exactly to the point!