San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom Spills The Beans On Clinton Strategy
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is one of the prettiest but alas not one of the sharpest in the Democratic pencil box. Chatting with local pundit Phil Matier, in less than two minutes on the early morning news Mayor Newsom confirms the Clinton game plan for winning the Democratic presidential nomination. "It's a very subjective thing--intelligence analysis. You can go either way," Newsom informs Matier. Since when does a city mayor know anything about national intelligence analysis? For that matter, how much do mere senators know?
The only person currently engaged in Election 2008 who can speak authoritatively on this subject is Bill Clinton. Just returned from junketing with the former President around Texas, Gavin is parroting Bill, who clearly had a good time holding forth in the back of that black Texas SUV.
"She [Hillary] is the best to go one-on-one against John McCain on the only issue that could stop us in November," Newsom says, "and that's the issue of national security."
"Do you think that's what will win the cup?" Matier asks.
Apparently, personal scandals are not an issue in Newsom's mind. It's all about leadership. "Do you think for a second the Bush Administration will take all that objective data and hesitate to manipulate it in the context of this campaign?" Newsom rejoins. Trust me--this reasoning is way too Machiavellian for the Mayor. But the Clintons? They anticipate a trumped-up terrorist scare? Or a manufactured overseas crisis that calls to John McCain's specific expertise?
"It's a very subjective thing--intelligence analysis. You can go either way. And McCain will do everything to focus attention on every little thing that's happening in Israel, North Korea or Pakistan or wherever else in the world. . . . They will play on fear. We know that fear works."
Indeed. The Clintons know. And what a national election they are crafting! McCain the fearmaster versus Clinton the fearmonger. Wait a minute. Isn't this allowing McCain and the Republicans to set the agenda for the election? Or is national security the issue--not the economy, not health care, not education--that Hillary Clinton is most looking forward to delving?
Before she plants that commander-in-chief standard, however, Clinton, like Obama, needs to hone her skill set. It was clear in the last debate, for example, that neither senator knew anything about Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev--not even the basic facts at Tim Russert's command. Clinton couldn't quite get his name, much less pronounce it. While she's mastering all things Russian, she'd better add Kazakhstan. Linking Bill Clinton to the venal Nursultan Nazarbayev could help McCain enough, without any Machiavellianism. Fear may not be needed if Bill Clinton has been engaging abroad in the kind of questionable deal-making that once got him in so much trouble at home.
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Points to Ponder: *Yes, this is lowering the bar.
It's interesting (or something less benign) to note how many prominent men who have history of not being able to keep their zippers up are supporters of Hillary. Sptizer, the Mayor of LA, Newsome and of course her hubby. The list is of course much longer and 'interesting'. Especially if one subscribes to the theory that 'a person's ethical/moral compass is the same whether in their private or professional life'. Seldom, if ever, does one limit their lies and deceptions to one arena.
I figure it this way. If Mrs. Clinton was ready to be commander and chief--------------She'd out fund raised Obama-------------She'd be hireing good people,and not fireing them--------------She'd be winning most of the state's----------------------------She'd be getting most the white,black,young,old and independent and even some republican voters------------------she'd be ahead in the Popular votes-----------------she'd be ahead in the deligate votes! I don't see any good stradegy that would make me believe she could balance any buget, or use money wisely. I don't see how her vote for the Iraq War------------shows even common sense for her to be allowed to ans. the phone in the white house at 3 in the morning. I see no stability,common sense,knowledge of budgeting or spending the American people in any way benififual to Us.DO YOU? If so tell me where! Don't point to Bill------------She's to darn mad to let him take part in any thing in the white house, after what he's done to destroy her on this campagne trail!
Geez...do you all remember the 'good old days' when we had so many great candidates to chose from, we'd be lucky to have any of the Democratic nominees become our President? When was that - 6 or 8 WEEKS ago? Now we have Obama supporters saying they won't vote for Hillary, and Hillary supporters swearing they'd never vote for Obama... what happened? Quit making it easy for the fear mongers to take over. Fear is a very powerful motivator, and y'all are feeding the fearmongers. Get it together people, before it's too late.
I don't see where Newsom revealed anything. I thought we all knew this would be the Republican strategy.
It is deeply disappointing that young Mayor Newsom’s best years are behind him and that he has chosen to be on the wrong side of history by supporting Senator Clinton. Perhaps, he has chosen to cow-tow now because in 2004 fierce opposition from Democratic party-elders met his brave step toward same sex marriages. Or, perhaps Mayor Newsom’s own personal foibles, that cost him his best political ally Alex Tourk, have weakened his vision. Thank you for pointing out just how much Mayor Newsom does not know about national security or even the history of his own party’s elders. Democrats held fewer congressional seats at the end of Bill Clinton’s presidency and the Democratic Party atrophied during his two terms because his outreach efforts were focused on corporate and moneyed interests. We also have President Clinton to thank for repeated bungled attempts to capture Osama bin Laden (http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/63/22170) and one must not forget that national health care was left in the hands of an unelected person who failed to deliver on that goal. As Mayor Newsom eyes his next political move, he may want to reconsider which “black Texas SUV” he spends time in and what side of fear he is really on.
I'm not sure Mayhill, whether you really disaprove of Newsome's "frank revelation." It seems perfectly OK to reveal strategy of this nature..we've already seen several acted out. Any opponent worth their salt will have thought through the several scenarios available to Senator Clinton.
"I'm a real person with feelings" worked in New Hampshire, "I'm a victim but I'll fight back like Ann Richards" in Texas, "Obama is lying about NAFTA" worked in Ohio. Along the trail they tried, "Jesse won a state also," "The big states are the only ones that matter," "The people's votes in Michgan should count," "You can't just hope," "This is what you'll be up against if you run against the Republicans" and "Obama gave one speech," another in a line of desperatel attempts.
The deal between the Clintons and the Bushes, a sort of shared leadership, won't fly. The assumption that people will again vote against their own self-interest is a mistaken one for 2008, the year of our Lord.
The DEMS would be in an unbeatable situation if many of them were fractionally as brilliant as Gavin Newsom. I know Gavin and have spent hours of face time with him. They don't come any smarter. I predict he will rise to the heights of whatever he endeavors to do.
A guy who sleeps with his best friend's wife shows both poor judgment and lack of character. If he'll betray the people closest to him, why not voters? No, no matter how brilliant he is, I doubt he'll ever be a national candidate. Too bad, too because I liked the guy's politics.
Gavin Newsom has already survived a huge learning curve...from socialite pretty boy to getting his butt kicked by every advocacy group in San Francisco, the town that knows how to take Mayor down a notch or two. His former marriage and having sex with his campaign manager's wife were a couple of glitches in his playbook. I can only imagine him with Bill Clinton, I am sure Bill was trying to prove he was smarter, handsomer and could get more girls. Stand Gavin next to Harold Ford and you have two men, who look like the only thing they do well is perhaps wear an expensive suit. The problem with Gavin is that San Francisco is such an insular town. The political power is held by his family friends and his opposition is by and large really radical and nuts for all intent and purposes. Thus Gavin is not intellectually challenged. He's just always putting fires out. He's way too cute for anybody outside of San Francisco to take him seriously and he has no one there to challenge him so he can grow into a decent politician. Maybe Bill will give him to Hillary for Christmas...
I can't say I'm shocked to hear Newsom is sucking up to the Clintons. But, the mention of the new Russian leader reminds me of the smackdown Putin 'put' on Hillary for one of her boneheaded rants showing how little she knows of Russian affairs. Should have received more traction in the news than it did, to show just how 'respected' she is (not) among certain world leaders. Of course, that was when the media was still licking her &*@...
Putin: "To be a head of state, at minimum, requires that one must possess a head."
(Sorry it might not be verbatim, but that was the gist of it.)
"San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is one of the prettiest but alas not one of the sharpest in the Democratic pencil box."
This needs a comma in there somewhere.
THE ARTICLE TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT ON MEDVEDEV.
The reality is that no one knows much about him and that's what's so alarming about the situation.
The fact that a G8 country could handpick a successor so obscure that even the political leaders and new agencies of the U.S. know nothing about him is peculiar.
Obama was very lucky that Clinton took the question first, and you'll not that he added nothing else to the conversation after she answered.
I wish the author of this column would prove how smart she is and write another column about Medvedev herself (and no Xeroxing from Wikipedia).
What gibberish! I'm very disappointed in the San Francisco mayor. I suppose when one can't think of a real reason for supporting Hillary, one resorts to drivel.
I can't believe Newsome is considering running for any political office after his term as sf mayor. Isn't this the guy that got caught having an affair with his campaign managers wife? What a scum bucket. Let him campaign for the Clintons. Obviously, they are all cut from the same cloth.
Have you heard of the term over-generalization? And what makes you so sure they are "cut from the same cloth?" EDUCATE YOURSELF before you spew terms like "scum bucket" or is this the vernacular you use on a daily basis?
Hitsong, Gavin is your friend, but he is also a public figure who had an affair with his campaign manager's wife. It was a scandal, and yes, some people would judge it scumbucket-y. Your outrage is screechily misplaced.
the Obama campaign not only caught the Clinton campaign off guard, it also caught the "right wing conspiracy" off guard. -- -- They were waiting to battle HRC, and have already created a film called "Hillary The Movie" (it's all over You Tube). This is the SWIFT-BOAT ATTACK against HRC (read: her husband's randy genitals). -- -- Mayor Newsom may believe a head-to-head national security comparison will be the battle this fall, but IT WILL NOT -- -- (it will be the snide innuendo of SEX -- -- SEX sells!!! -- -- with the subtext of feminist HRC putting the chill on the likes of Kathleen Willey, and using the federal government for personal vendettas -- --- It DOES NOT matter if the charges are false (they were false against Kerrey, too). As HRC knows, raising doubt works!!! -- -- The mayor may as well have said he looks forward to working with President McCain.
You are quite correct. The Republicans did not see Obama coming! I have seen "Hillary the Movie" and can say that it has very damaging evidence of Clinton corruption practices, then and now. We all know that the Clintons are power hungry and that means they will do anything to get elected! Democrats would be wise to stop supporting Clinton! Clean up Washington! Get rid of special interests and the neo-con elements that have brought on the Middle East war. Vote Obama!
Gavin is my mayor. He is all talk, and a mirror.
You obviously don't know the man. Doubt your integrity even approaches his. He is the real deal. Perhaps you are too blinded to see it. Or simply too uninformed.
I'm sure Gavin is a great guy, but he's been a lousy mayor. Violent crime, homelessness and lack of affordable housing have all increased under his watch. He has stood in the way of solutions to improve these issues in order to appease his cronies, selling our city out to corporate america. A lot of people think that San Francisco is this cute, progressive city, and in many ways it still is, but it is becoming less and less because of poor leadership and a squeezing out of the middle class.
Hillary Does The Republican's Work.
First, Clinton shows the Republicans that "fear" works against Obama.
But the Republicans want Obama, not Clinton, to run against.
So they raise the fear card by threatening Iran, hoping to knock out Obama now, and Clinton later.
Clinton has played right into the WORST kind of politics --win at any cost, or take everyone down trying.
It's so funny. These fans of Obama have no problem trashing Hillary and her supporters and then will expect people who supported her to vote for him in the general election. As I have said many times in here, In the past, I have only voted for Democrats in the general election but you Obama supporters are giving me cause to re-consider.
I understand your point completely. I have NEVER missed an election and have done much GOTV volunteer work over the years.
At this point in time, IF the new guy is the nominee, after all the insults I've read here, and after witnessing the arrogance of someone so new to politics get away with sexist remarks, yet constantly decries racism via his surrogates at every turn, in addition to the anti-Hillary slant the media displays, I am considering staying home come November.
And ironically, it's due to a campaign that touts 'unity.' The country’s unity will end up going to the Republican Party.
God help me, but I as well as a large majority of my friends (proud NYers) have come to the conclusion that we might actually vote for a Republican rather than see the hypocrite Obama control our country. Obama's supporters are mostly young, and naive. They have no idea what Unity means, and they have ruined their candidates chance at the presidency. But it is a lesson they will learn come Nov.
Sexist remarks? Link please? I can provide you with plenty of links to racist remarks made by Hillary surrogates. (for the latest, see Geraldine Ferraro)
Is it not arrogant for the second place contender to offer the VP spot to the leader? Was it not arrogance that caused Hillary to be ill prepared for what turned out to be the post 3/5 massacre? Don't be mad at Obama's supporters for calling it as they see it... if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.... it's probably a duck.
Hey jellybelly, same back to you, times 100. What's funny is how Hillary's people will turn Obama's legitimate gripes around and use them on Obama himself. For example, the runner-up offering the VP spot to the leader; claiming the opponent if promoting false ads... Clearly the Hillary people have no problem trashing Obama and then expect people who supported him to vote for her in the general election. The fact that that's their strategy (a la throwing the kitchen sink) and Hillary admitting that's the part she enjoys the most show what a scumbag politician Hillary really is.
Despite my virulent tone, I don't completely blame the Hillary backers. There are lots of naive people in this country and I think the media and the way the system is set up have a big part in this problem. If all the B.S. was cut out, we would never be in this mess, Bush would have never been elected president and Hillary wouldn't still be in this race.
I am ahead of you. I already reconsidered. I am not voting for the woman.
ABC: Anybody but Clinton
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Posted March 10, 2008 | 07:13 PM (EST)