Obama Takes on the Queen of Hearts

At one heated point in Monday night's Democratic debate, a perturbed Barack Obama finally blurted out to Hillary Clinton what millions of others have been thinking these past weeks. After Clinton said that what her husband says might be different than what she says or what her campaign says, Obama disgustedly said "I can't tell who I'm running against sometimes."

Sorry it's come to this, but this Democratic primary nominating process has, indeed, become all about Bill Clinton. Thanks to Hillary Clinton.

The ex-president has been rolled out as campaign attack dog to bark, bite, snap and tear away at Obama in a way that Hillary -- as candidate -- cannot and will not.

Hillary can't have it both ways. You can't deploy the clout of your husband the ex-president in the middle of your campaign and then not take responsibility for every word he utters, every action he undertakes. Right down to his shameful direct intervention in a crucial polling place in last Saturday's Nevada caucuses.

But there's deeper point. Who exactly is Hillary Clinton anyway if not someone who has parasitically attached herself to the legacy and record of Bill Clinton? Without having been his First Lady, if not exactly his only lady, Ms. Clinton would be but a corporate lawyer turned junior senator from New York and with a less than sterling voting record -- including her authorization of the war in Iraq, approval of a war-mongering resolution on Iran and an inglorious bill to criminalize the national epidemic of flag-burning.

"Elections are about the future," Clinton said tonight, parroting the most moth-eaten of campaign clichés. But Hillary has made it strictly about the past as her only affirmative argument for the future is to resurrect the politics of the previous decade.

In Monday night's debate, all three candidates went at each other. But Obama finally opened up some cuts on the Clintons, calling out Hillary for lecturing him about supposedly being soft on Reagan. "While I was working in the streets watching those folks watch their jobs shift overseas," he said staring at Clinton and referring to those who suffered under Reagan's policies, "you were a corporate lawyer sitting on the board of Wal-Mart."

It might be too little too late on Obama's part. But it was absolutely the right thing to do. Hillary has made Bill, his record, his approach to politics, his policies, his style and her embodiment of all the above the central issue in the campaign. The only honorable position for any opponent of Clinton's is to take her -- and him -- on.

Comments

[viewfromiowa]

A class act vs. low class! The choice is clear.
Obama '08

[Lindy222]

Quote: "It is shameful the way Hillary uses Bill as her attack dog. I will not vote for Hillary and I am SO tired of the Clintons."

I am fast reaching this point, and Bill Clinton is someone I respected enormously. But his dishonest attacks on Obama have completely disgusted me.

[sonofloud]

As usual the media can't see it's own hypocritical face in the mirror. They are the ones who are attacking Bill and making him an issue, not Hillary.
If they and Obama want to make Bill an issue, go right ahead. The majority of Americans would reelect Bill in a second.

[YcCoSQ]

The media is treating Bill Clinton's Presidency like it was the golden years. It was not. Democrats lost congress while Clinton was President. George Bush was elected in part because of Bill Clinton.

[FourthOfJulyBaby]

Obama has proved he is a cry baby and the Republicans will eat him alive. The Republicans will no let the "attacking Obama's policies is racist" BS fly.

I am really tired if the code words. Congressman James Clyburn insinuated on CNN yesterday that the "Base" of the Democrats was going to stay home if the Clintons keep picking on Obama. The "Base" would feel disillusioned if Obama did not get to be the nominee. The "Base" is code word for African Americans. He also threw if a Sexist statement as well... Wolfe stated that the Black Caucus was spit on support for Obama and CLinton. Congressman Clyburn agreed but it was because we do have female members in the Black Caucus.

So now I understand... I am racist if I vote Clinton and Sexist if I vote Obama. Makes you want to vote Republican.

[bumpersticker]

Although Hill and Bill are not technically the same enity, they are the same marital unit, and the wisdom and spirit of term limits is a valid issue to consider here.

They share the same friends, enemies, relationships, and special interests. There is a reason why someone should not hold power very long in our democracy. There can be many undesirable side effects if a marital couple holds power for up to 16 years.

Fair minded people can oppose Hillary for this reason alone, and set aside the issues of her competency, programs, and agendas. If you believe the Clintons were/are just the best, you can still believe they should not return to the Whitehouse.

[Chachi]

On substance Obama clearly won the debate – and he did it with one answer at the end. They all went back and forth at each other and on most points the average voter can’t tell the difference on their voting records or the budget of each candidate’s health insurance plan.

But, there is one glaring difference between Obama and Clinton and Obama touched on it at the end. Hillary will run against McCain as a Republican light, and Obama will run against him by standing true to his convictions and offering the public a major contrast between the Democrat’s view of foreign policy and McCain’s hawkish view. In truth, Obama could have hit this one out of the park and he didn’t. But, he did make the point that if any Democrat actually thinks about should leave them with no choice but to support Obama over Clinton.

If Hillary is the nominee she will move hard towards the right on foreign policy/national security issues in the general election. She will be calculating, inconsistent and leave Democrats scratching their heads as she carefully explains why we have to be tough with Iran, but that she disagrees on some of the methods McCain is saying, but agrees with some larger points of his, etc.. Obama will actually stand up and not be afraid to be labeled weak by the Republicans because he’s not buying into any of their hawkish rhetoric. Obama will show his strength by being strong enough to stand up for Democratic ideas on foreign policy. Hillary will try to show her strength by talking like a Republican, but just promising to be more competent. Major difference people. Think about it.

[ReasonableBill]

It's about time this was mentioned. There are a lot of people that seem to think that if Hillary would win, Bill would also have a desk in the Oval Office. It is very hard to convince them this is not the way it happens.
I like Bill, but he has retired. He is not Steve Jobs, so he stays retired.

[kinderworld]

It is shameful the way Hillary uses Bill as her attack dog. I will not vote for Hillary and I am SO tired of the Clintons. They had 8 years, they have had their turn and they blew it because Bill was chasing interns instead of working hard to make the changes that they claim they want to make now.

[oncesung]

Clintonian-Colonialism Campaign style

Billary come across as arrogant colonlialists
who pretend that they know what "the colored
race needs" and pretend that they will "take
care of the colored people", but they refuse
to recognize that the time has come when a black
person is ready to stand beside them and LEAD
THEM and the rest of this country.

[Puller58]

Jane Smiley's satire of Hillary may well be the best illustration of why those of us who oppose Hillary do so. Hillary's supporters see what they want to see, hear what they want to hear, and believe what they want to believe. Sadly, that is the real problem. Those who blindly support her condemn the rest of us to the farce that would occur after her election. Remember, there are none so blind as those who would not see.

[clr2]

Hillary wouldn't be in this race if it wasn't for Bill and his name. Why do you think she "stayed by her man"? For love? LOL! So he could help her win the White House. People admire her as a feminist. Feminist? What has she done on her own? ? ? ? Nothing! I will never vote for this "queen of hearts", no more like ice queen.

[nomobull]

IF HE'S QUIET HES WEAK. IF HE RESPONDS HE RACE BAITIING,WHININ OR A SORE LOSER. EVEN WHEN PROOF TO PROVE THEY TWISTED HIS WORDS IS SHOWN.

[gallo146]

Obama was correct with what he said about Reagan having ideas whether they were correct or not. I remember how for the first time in a long time Reagan won the vote of many democrats in the South. Remember the term "Reagan Democrats"?

I found Obama refreshing, honest and genuine. The Clintons i find shifty and untrustworthy. Bill Clinton is abusing his position as "Democratic party leader" by attacking a democratic candidate front and center. Other Democratic leaders with the exception of Mayor Shirley Franklin and Cong. Cyburn are afraid of opposing a strong personality like Clinton. Very shameful and yes, troublesome for the Democratic Party. Howard Dean where are you?

[jpshotwheels]

Bill needs to take a back seat, he needs to be quiet, and I agree with Obama, he doesn't know whom he is running against, Bill or Hillary. Did you see her eyes when Obama brought up the Wal-mart point? She was livid. This is why we got NAFTA folks, to help Wal-mart own huge companies in China, treating the Chinese people like slaves, and getting cheap crap from China.. Wal-mart gets TAX SUBSIDIES, the sales tax you pay at Wal-mart is a kick back, its not given to the Governments, its given to Wal-mart to pay for the expenses of the store. Hillary & Bill are from Arkansas, the HEADQUARTERS OF WAL-MART, that has helped to destroy the working class in this Country. Did you know that Wal-mart takes out Life Insurance policies on their employess, if they die, they collect the money. Why do you think older people greet you at the doors? Its not for image as they would say it. If Sam Walmart was alive today, he would be livid what has happened to his stores. Wake the fuck up America.

The Clintons will be no different than the Bushs, the names only changes. Obama is right and so is Edwards, if you vote Clinton you get the Status Quo, just from different parties.

Can we forget for just one minute that race shouldn't matter.