Dear Mr. Carville...

About a year ago, I was in a Starbucks in Beverly Hills (or as I like to call it, "America's Heartland"). You were directly behind me in line. While you fumbled around for one of those pre-packaged fruit and cheese plates, I handed the cashier my debit card and told her that I was buying whatever you were getting. You protested: "Aw, naw, man...c'mon." But I insisted. After all, it was an opportunity to do a stupid little something for a man who'd helped shape our country's future. You shook my hand (firmly yet delicately) and thanked me.

As we doctored our coffee side by side at the "Isle O'Fixins," you politely chatted me up about the Clinton fundraiser you'd just attended. You assured me (an ardent Hillary supporter at the time) that she'd have the "war chest" and the party support to win. After our brief encounter, I texted every like-minded Clinton-lover I could think of: "I just bought James Carville breakfast!" OK, a bit of a stretch -- but hyperbole is a natural byproduct of excitement.

For instance, when someone is all riled up and pissed off, he might -- oh, I don't know -- compare the governor of New Mexico to Judas Iscariot.

I didn't think anything of your comments over the weekend. Truth is, there's been so much bomb-throwing between the two Democrats that it's all started to sound like that tinny, temporary deafness Tom Hanks gets in Saving Private Ryan.

But on Monday's Situation Room, after you'd had the whole weekend to cool down, you sat in front of Wolf Blitzer's Wall from the Future and refused to back off the analogy. That's fine. Those are your principles. So let's have a discussion based on those principles:

You're sore at Mr. Richardson because he didn't sew his chevrons back on and "fall in line" (your words) like other Clinton apostles have. Is that really your position? That loyalty should trump judgment? Hmmm...loyalty trumping judgment. I know I've heard that somewh -- oh, that's right! Every day for the last seven years!

Is that really what the Clinton campaign has come to? "You owe us?" Is Hillary going to unveil her new "Shut Up and Pull the Lever" spots in Pennsylvania?

You also likened this primary season to a "forty-minute game" that was unfairly cut down to thirty-six minutes, since the delegates from Michigan and Florida aren't being counted. But there's one itsy bitsy flaw in that logic...

Your candidate agreed to a thirty-six minute game.

All of the democratic candidates did. They agreed that Michigan and Florida's delegates wouldn't be seated, since those states had violated party rules. No campaigning was supposed take place there. Senator Obama didn't even put his name on the ballot in Michigan. He followed the rules. If we're to run with your "forty-minute game" example, Hillary's now trying to get the commissioner to change the rules because she doesn't like the score in the forth quarter.

Sticking to your word is also a principle.

You're a brilliant man, Mr. Carville -- and in my own experience, a kind one. I admire the fact that you've chosen to sew those chevrons back on and defend the Clinton bunker to the last. But don't expect the rest of us to fall in lock step just because they used to be people we worked for or admired. Things change. Judgment trumps loyalty.

Next time, breakfast is on you.

Comments

[larry278]

This campaign has gone on for too damned long. No one in either party will come out of this campaign without gross, ugly scars to remind them of this overly long ordeal. Time wounds all heels.

[aceholiday]

applause

[mm29464]

Excellent, Seth!

[raskolnikov72]

James, pot-meets-kettle, Carville. James you sound like the disgruntled fan in Bob Dylan's first "electric concert" screaming "Judas" as Dylan played his set; you're an anachronism - much like that fan - and the real Judas, who I suspect, will eventually betray Obama as well if he is the nominee - as you did John Kerry (and the American people) in 2004.

"Carville told her he had some inside news. The Kerry campaign was going to challenge the provisional ballots in Ohio--perhaps up to 250,000 of them. "I don't agree with it," Carville said. "I'm just telling you that's what they're talking about.""

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/taylor-marsh/did-carville-and-mccurry-_b_31333.html

[wilhelmR]

Carville must have some kind of personal reasons to go against Richardson. However, personal reasons should have not entered in such a bad way into the media. I made Carville looked very bad.

[CookieWrites]

You pirhannas are in a feeding frenzy. You love the blood and gore.

[evictbush]

I used to respect Carville and the Clintons. The way the Clinton campaign has been run has disgusted me, however--negative, Rove-ian, arrogant. Hillary's sense of entitlement to the nomination is sickening, as is her win-at-all-costs-even-if-it-hands-the-election-to-the-Republicans campaign. And her "I won the big states so I'd be better in November" argument doesn't fly--NY and CA will go Democratic no matter who the nominee is, and Obama will win states that Hillary never would. I just want Hill, Bill, and all their henchmen (and -women--Geraldine Ferraro??) to go away. I don't even want her to run for re-election to the Senate (RFK Jr would be a welcome change!).

[Jeffersonian1]

Only the most nonsensical Carville verbal pop off since 2006 when, a few days after the elections in which Democrats regained majorities in the House, the Senate and several state legislatures for the first time since 1994, he demanded the resignation of DNC Chair Howard Dean.

You remember those good old days after the 1994 elections. The Clintons were in the White House. Newt Gingrich was just starting his reign as Speaker. Trent Lott was Majority Leader. Democratic Governors and state legislators were being considered for inclusion on the endangered species list. And, James Carville was a highly paid consultant to the Democratic National Committee.

Oh, if we could just put James back to work, the party would be just . . . . oh, nevermind.

[MelFamy]

I work in Louisiana, and can testify that most cajun men shake hands with a quick, limp grip. And they do indeed value loyalty over judgement. So don't go drinking with one, unless you plan on backing him up in a fight that he started.

[JMorgan]

Carville's comments about Richardson and who he should be loyal to are the very definition of gall.

Where was that loyalty back in 2004, on the night of the general election? Carville and his fellow Clinton loyalist Mike McCurry were feeding inside information (from the John Kerry campaign, where they were employed) to Mary Matalin (Carville's wife and senior aide to Dick Cheney) inside the White House?

"State of War," by Bob Woodward, pp. 344-347.

Democrats at all levels should have drummed both of these guys out of party politics.

[indeevoter]

Carville's lack of loyalty to John Kerry was no doubt part of what many now believe was the long term plan...that HIllary Clinton has been preparing to run for president since January 2000, when she and Bill moved out of the White House. This would explain more than anything why the Clintons - and their campaign - are so over the top in their anger with the Obama campaign, in the naked aggression that seems to define so many of their decisions and actions, and in their decision to take their fight to the floor of the convention.

It seems to be all about them now...and it saddens this two-time Clinton voter. How did it come to this?

[findingthetruth]

James Carville's sentiments are precisely in line with the Clintons. Carville (as he so eloquently states frequently ) loves the Clintons. He is greatly admired for that. For 20 years Carville stood for the Clintons graciously. So Carville's remarks, just like Bill's, has been their heart-felt reaction to the Democratic Party. Carville has stated that he wanted to BRAND Richardson. It doesn't matter what this has done to the Party. And they will continue until it goes down in history that Carville fought for th Clintons with everything he could give. Why? He has told the country that he owes the Clintons and he will pay them back------no matter what----usually with DISHONESTY.

[PioneerKing]

SETH:

The game's 40 minutes my friend, 40 minutes! Sen. Obama wants to knock off 3 minutes and you've just cut off one more minute. (36 + 3 = 39 not 40 my friend) That one minute makes a world of a difference and my canidate Sen. Clinton can turn this game around with a few more minutes. So, don't you dare short her one more minute.

Next time you're in Washington give me a call.

Sincerely,
The Raging Cajun

[ArchAngel]

Deliberately or not, your Judas statements had the effect of fighting fire with fire. That is the deliberate setting of a back fire to fight a forest fire or the setting off of ordinance on a well head fire - consuming all of the available fuel and oxygen available.

And in your case, the consumption of all available media bandwidth and thus effectively killing the Wright the story.

[richw23]

Wow, I've alway thought he was a thug. Now I know he's also willing to bring down the party and even the country.

[nancytheragingliberal]

Ever since he married ol Mary Matlin, Mary...Secretary to Cheney/Bush, Jim C. has been permanently made into a Eunuch. She always crows on T.V., how she keeps Jim on a short leash, and boy, does it show. He has lost his zeal, zest, and has turned into a Clinton talking -head. That comment about Bill R., was an outrage. The Clintons are outragious and it is true that they will say and do anything to win. We will have 4 more years of McCain/Bush.

[PioneerKing]

Did someone call the cajun mafia?

[heywhat]

I am a fan of both Mr. Carville and Governor Richardson; unfortunately though, I believe Gov R is thinking more about a VP slot and getting his campaign bills paid off than making a decision of conscience. And, as over the top as th comment was, I admire Mr. Carville for taking responsibility for what he said.

http://strictlyanecdotal.com

[candlewax]

Richardson is thinking more about the country and endorsing who he feels is best for the presidency. The "special treatment" Carville reserved for Richardson is offensive to all Mexican Americans.

[peggio]

You know it's pretty damn offensive to this Jewish/Catholic, Russian/Italian American white 60 ish woman too!

[ron071]

James Carville is a very loyal democrat but his loyalty should be to the best interests of the party and not to a particular person or family. He must realize that other loyal democrats have their right to their own loyalties. He may be angry with Bill Richardson but must not attack him because his judgement is, in this instance, at variance with his own. This does no good for the party and does not reflect well upon Carville.

[Mojane]

He's married to Mary Matlin. That's it in a nutshell.

[SuppersReady]

Carville has really disappointed me. I always admired him. This primary election is taking a toll on me. I am at the point where I can't watch it anymore. Your article was right on. God help the Democratic Party!

[JimMichie]

James Carville could not have stood his ground on the ugly, over-the-top "Judas" comment over the past several days unless he had been given the blessing of the Clintons. Their silence on this issue, indeed, is deafening. I am all but convinced that the Clintons now realize that there is virtually no chance of Hillary winning the nomination because of the numbers. Consequently, the Clintons have decided on a scorched earth policy in pursuing any and all opportunities to bloody Barack Obama in the interest of positioning him for defeat in the November election. Why? Simply because they plan to run again in 2012--against President McCain.

Jim Michie

[johnnygoodwud]

carville, (does his head look like a garlic bulb or is it just me) like many in the clinton campaign including hillary value loyalty over experience and good judgement. hey just look at how her campaign has been run. if running your campaign is an example of how you will run the country, she looses. sorry did i just misspeak?

[PioneerKing]

cajun's love garlic bulbs! so, what's your point?

[SamBrown]

Very well said, Seth.
Good points, well made.

[Disparaged]

Fabulous analogy Seth. Actually it is quite reminescent of the Natzi's staying (dying) with Hitler in his bunker!

[mayrose]

Carville is a hack-I am sick and tired of him and his death's head appearance. He does nothing to help the party and I wish he would stay off the shows.
And does anyone believe he never tells his wife anything?

[ChristyH]

This sense of entitlement on the part of the Clinton campaign is RACISM - of course their racism isn't black or white or Hispanic racism ... but instead, it breaks down to YOU OWE US THEREFORE, IN THIS RACE, YOU MUST SUPPORT US! What egotist.... excuse me, I think Bill Richardson had a life before Bill and maybe, just maybe, Bill wanted to "USE" Richardson's ethnic credential to further Bill's standings with Hispanic... and regardless, Bill Richardson did an EXCELLENT job for Bill - PERIOD.... he doesn't "owe" the Clintons anything - and he sure isn't "OWN" by the Clintons.....

[thoughtsoutloud]

I have a hunch the sustained Carville attack reflects the fear of the campaign collapsing should others follow suit and endorse. It might be a house of cards situation.
Any Clintonistas considering defection are now dead certain of what that will bring them by whatever means necessary.

[AC500]

James, James, James ... What would Jesus think of your lack of charity towards Bill Richardson? Are you one of THOSE Christians ... you know ... the lip service kind? Besides, I don't know why the JUDAS moment has come NOW for you. I mean, Bill Richardson DID (dare?) to run against Hillary for the nomination. Shouldn't the real JUDAS moment have come then?

[Jellybelly]

I wonder who Bill Richardson would be endorsing if Hillary was close to locking up the nomination?