Dear Barack: Congrats on Wyoming and Mississippi!

Dear Barack,

Congrats on Wyoming and Mississippi! I knew those Cheney connections would pay off.

I also knew that a gazillion people were going to advise you to "go negative." As your designated unpaid advisor, I implore you to "go judo." By which I mean: use only Clinton's own tactics and words against her. People want to see that you can get tough -- because God knows the right-wing hate machine is going to bring the house. But do so in a way that taps into the misgivings people already have about the Clintons -- their towering sense of entitlement and their no-holds-barred lust for power.

You've started to do this with your response to their condescending VP offer. But you haven't gone far enough...

"So you guys have probably heard by now that Senator Clinton has generously offered to make me her running mate. I guess she doesn't mind a call for change, as long as it's at the bottom of the ticket. I'm still trying to figure out how someone who has the support of fewer delegates and voters figures she's entitled to the party nomination. Where I come from, that's George W. Bush math.

But that's the whole problem we've got in Washington today. There's this entrenched set of politicians who feel they're entitled to power. It's hard for them to imagine that someone who hasn't spent decades palling around with the power brokers and lobbyists might have the temerity to run for president.

And it's even harder for them to imagine that the American people might embrace such a candidate, that the voters are, in fact, sick and tired of a government mired in partisan bickering, of politicians who place electability above solving the problems of those who elected them.

So we can just imagine what happens when a guy like me crashes the party. But we don't have to imagine, do we? We've seen it all over the past two weeks. A healthy dose of fear mongering. A dash of racial innuendo. And plenty of false civility. Whatever it takes to win.

Well, I've got some bad news for Senators Clinton and McCain. After eight years of George W. Bush, the American people have had their fill of cronyism and attack ads. They are asking -- pleading really -- for the chance to see the spirit of our nation renewed. You can throw mud on that dream, but you can't make it go away."

Yours in the Fierce Urgency of Ow,

Steve

Comments

[johnnygoodwud]

steve, you are the man, put this guy on the payroll. obama just has to be careful he doesn't come off like he's mocking clinton. he did that in the debate before new hampshire and we know how that worked out. he's a very smart guy, and his sense of humor can come off as sarcastic. but, i think you are on to something. great post steve

[Gogetter]

What you're suggesting is perfect, and "going judo" is the perfect name for it. For example, a poster at another site suggested that Sen. Clinton and her campaign should be asked the following question:

"Sen. Clinton, you've made the statement that you and Sen. McCain have passed through the "commander-in-chief threshold", and that all Sen. Obama has to offer is a speech he made in 20002. If Sen. Obama wins the nomination, will you support him and the democratic party in the general election?"

Considering her comments, I think this is a question that she needs to answer. The Obama campaign needs to start floating it around.

[PacificGatePost]

It's an amazing movement that he's riding...

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

Seems it's taking him all the way in.

[JasonEverettMiller]

Your blog was OK until he very end. Once again, you float this idea that he has no record and is running as the head of a movement. It is clear to me that despite your professed interest in being a writer that you are not doing your homework about Barack's MANY accomplishments over the last 20+ years which lend substance and weight to his message of hope and change.

So, here are a just a couple of sources to get you started on your education into why Barack is winning in addition to the mood of the country.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:

Two addressed foreign policy:
Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).

Three addressed public health:
Improve mine safety (2803)
Increased breast cancer funding (597)
Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).

Two addressed openness and accountability in government:
Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488)
Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)

Two addressed national security
Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
Amend the Patriot Act (2167)

One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces
Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).

He is hardly en "empty suit" as your blog suggests.

His long years of experience in both DC and Illinois informed his answers in this 52-minute, uncut interview with the editorial board of the SF Chronicle that was very illuminating, even for an Obama supporter: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/c/a/2008/01/18/MNSNUH8DR.DTL. That should satisfy even the most ardent Hillary supporter as to the depth of his knowledge and command of all the most important issues facing our country.

This is the reason the VAST majority of Barack's supporters are voting for him and sending him money - because, wait for it, he is the best candidate. I know, startling concept for a jaded and cynical country.

Welcome to 21st Century America.

[Preya]

"George W. Bush Math"---I like that line! But can he use it now, or will that be "plagiarism"?

[KDH]

Yes Obama, congratulations for winning a state that will definitely go red in November, where only 10% of the 66,000 registered Democrats, voted for you. It's a real big win. And those Cheney connections....that wouldn't happen to be Karl Rove would it?

[timm0]

HRC did a victory speech for Florida which had absolutely no impact on delegate seating in any way. Did you ridicule her holiness for that?

[efranklin]

Bingo! The latest Clinton hysterics smack of a couple rich brats deprived of their perceived birthright. Their imperial march to power has been interrupted, and their methods ought to be exposed for all to see.

[johnl22]

"A couple of rich brats deprived of their perceived birthright." Are you kidding me? Bill and Hillary Clinton have worked tirelessly and deserve every bit of what they have achieved in life. Neither was born privileged, as you ignorantly imply, and not until they left the White House in 2001 did they achieve true financial security (they were actually millions in debt). Bill Clinton was born to a single parent, working class household and had to deal with an abusive, alcoholic stepfather. Hillary Clinton was also born of modest means. Bill and Hillary's lives are testament to the opportunity of America, and they embody the character and spirit of what we believe to be the American dream.

Agree or disagree with their politics, suggesting they are a couple of rich brats whose successes were somehow preordained at birth is shameful. Both have devoted themselves to public service, and hate them or love them for what they stand for or represent, for that they at least have to be admired.

[ljsfolly]

johnl22 Me thinks you have forgotten the way they have made their money. Plenty of sleeze going on since Bill left office. If you can't remember or are too young Bill Pardoned some not very nice people and she/he have called in the favors. If there wasn't something amiss Hillary would be willn to turn over the tax returns instead of waitin until the nomination when it will be too late to change the nominee. Bill has Burkle who in many ways is worse than Rezko but they also have him too. Many of his cronies have given to Hillary, Barack got rid of any money that might be attached to anyone connected to Rezko but not Hillary. How about that HSU? He's in prison I hear lots of bucks for the library. Oh and on that little article about the reports on all Bill pardoned that the trusties said no to? Bill was the one that said no to them. Strange how it just circles around like a toilet bowel flushing. My advice is you need to read about the history of the clinton years in Ark as well as the white house.

[cyndeewi]

YEA, they were so poor that both of them was able to get into Yale. They were not in debt when they left the White House. They just did not have the 10 million it took to buy their home. Isn't it nice to have rich friends? Now they are very very rich, 500 million dollars given to their library. I will say it again, I am sick of the Clinton and Bush's. All my life it has been one if them. These families control the USA. Can't you see what is going to happen. After Clinton, it will be Jeb and after Jeb it will be Chelsa. She is already stumbing. I am not asking you to vote for Obama, you can vote for McCain if you want, but please get keep those people out of the White House.

[jeffmorgan]

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/7492?in=00:15:10&out=00:15:53

Good advice since at least last December hehe.