The Clintons’ Patronizing Strategy

The latest attacks on Obama insult voters' intelligence.

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  • Posted By: AngMait @ 02/12/2008 12:34:46 AM

    Sorry - I made a small typo below. Obama's statement specifically referred to the Republican Party being the Party of ideas for the past 10-15 years - not as I initially state, the last '15-20 years'.

    Regarding eddiewhere's rationale (below) for not voting for Clinton 'too many scandals' - there's a famous story of Richard Nixon meeting in the Oval Office with Kissinger. Nixon's dog. King Timahoe, was chewing the carpet. To get him to stop Nixon gave the dog a biscuit. To which Kissinger said the following "Mr President if you give him a biscuit he'll just continue chewing the carpet." Eddie - you are just giving the Republicans a biscuit. It's actually the last thing you want to do.

    Are you Democrats suffering from Stockholm Syndrome?

  • Posted By: AngMait @ 02/12/2008 12:16:05 AM

    Jonathan:

    If you want to find an eye-gouger just review Obama's victory speech in South Carolina. Or, just look at his ad which you quote from "Hilary will say anything and change nothing". By the way, in your judgement is that 'demonstrably false" or does the statement just apply to you?

    While he was pandering to the Reno Gazette, Obama said that the "Republicans were the Party of ideas for the past 15 to 20 years". This is a time frame that specifically excludes Ronald Reagan. If you check you'll see that Hillary's question at the debate had nothing to do with Ronald Reagan. Neither did her radio ad. So, I don't know why you keep going on about him. In the last 10-15 years there have been only two Presidents - George Bush Jr and Bill Clinton. Please let us all know whether you agree with him that the Presidency of George Bush Jr has been more the Party of Ideas than the eight years of the last President from Obama's own party? Why would he say that - unless he was willing to say anything to get elected?

    Can you please let us all know exactly why you think these were 'completely ordinary comments' on his part - from a 'Democrat'? What do you think he meant because you kinda left that part out. Could he have been seeking a tiny little endorsement from a Republican newspaper? Which he got?

    You criticize Clinton for going at him on this quite incredible statement on his part. Her radio ad in South Carolina merely asked questions - which ideas was Obama referring to - it asked? This is typical in all politics (Obama included) as can be demonstrated by the Obama campaign's willfully misleading claims that Bill Clinton was referring to his entire campaign a 'fairy tale'. Now that is something that WAS truly 'demonstrably false'.




  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/30/2008 3:10:46 AM

    IT is OBVIOUS that the DEMCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT KNOWs THAT OBAMA is the CANDIDATE with the BEST CHANCE to win in NOVEMBER. EVERY statistic and poll supports this fact The DEMOCRATIC party cannot risk losing the WHITE HOUSE. The only obstacle standing in OBAMA's way is the LATINO VOTE.

    THE CLINTON"S ARE JUST TO polarizing. Too many scandals, to many investigations. I do not believe they are guilty in all those scandals I just believe AMERICA needs a change from the establishment. We do not need a years worth of divisive campaigning. IT would be amazing to see McCain vs OBAMA. A GOOD CLEAN HEAVY WEIGHT FIGHT. NO ONE GETS THEIR EAR BIT OFF. A ROMNEY CAMpaign would be just like BUSH'S very divisive and full of lies. IF AMERICA CHOOSES THESE TWO CANDIDATES to represent their respective parties then I think the AMERICAN political process can begin to heal and set an example to the rest of the world. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE ARE WE SENDING IRAQIS and AFGHANS. IF we promote racial divide why shoud they give us the benefit of the doubt concerning ABU GRADE and BLACK WATER. ARE WE REALLY RACIST CAN IT BE THAT THE CLINTON"S ARE A REFLECTION OF OUR SOCIETY. DIVIDE people so we the CLINTON'S can attain the power we are entitled too and so rightfully deserve after my conduct in the OVAL OFFICE. No one else is capable of being president. I will become nasty and play the race card because the "MEDIA" is trying to take away the presidency from me and my wife.

    OBAMA HAS TO GAIN GROUND WITH THE LATINO VOTE. HE NEEDS TO BLITZ THE LATINO"S WITH COMMERCIALS OF ECONOMIC prosperity.

  • Posted By: jack.wehner @ 01/28/2008 7:01:52 PM

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  • Posted By: jack.wehner @ 01/28/2008 7:01:50 PM

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  • Posted By: jack.wehner @ 01/28/2008 7:01:49 PM

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  • Posted By: toddb @ 01/24/2008 3:39:15 PM

    Right now he's being tickled by the Clinton's compared with what the Republican attack machine will do. Wait till the Republicans bring up Obama's drug use. He's doesn't know a presidential campaign until he gets swifted. Imagine the commercials of someone snorting coke in a back alley and then of Obama. It's not going to be pretty for him or the Democrats. -- I've seen it before. It's going to happen.

    • Posted By: samcole @ 01/24/2008 3:47:30 PM

      SSHHHH we are not allowed to mention Obama's drug use, he said it once, now it is off limits, don't you know his rules?

      • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 11:03:33 AM

        Right. Nobody took any drugs during High School or College in the 70s or 80s. Bill Clinton admitted he did, but of course he didn't inhale. Right....

      • Posted By: ericrsiny @ 01/24/2008 3:54:20 PM

        I forgot...it's cool to use drugs now.

  • Posted By: gcullum @ 01/24/2008 3:54:18 PM

    I'll support whoever the Democratic nominee is, Clinton, Edwards or Obama. I am a staunch Democrat. However what the Clinton's said in regard to Obama's comment in regard to Republicans is not a lie. He did say that the Repunlicans were the party of ideas. It was a positve statement weather or not he used the word "good." When I first heard those comments I knew he was going to be trouble for that, A Democratic candidate should never invoke them name of Reagan in a positive way.

    • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 10:59:32 AM

      There weren't many similarities between myself and President Reagan ideologically, but he did a couple of good things. He signed the Montreal Protocol and exempted millions of low-paid workers from income tax.

      You cannot deny that Reagan shook up party politics. Remember how many Democrats defected because of him?

    • Posted By: ericrsiny @ 01/24/2008 3:57:47 PM

      I think he OBVIOUSLY was saying that they were good ideas even if he did not say "good" or else why bothering bringing it up at all?

      • Posted By: GA.dem @ 01/24/2008 4:12:14 PM

        "Good" in the sense that the American people bought them. And it would be "GOOD" if another president were able to bring some REALLY "GOOD" (i.e. Progressive) ideas that could be bought now.

  • Posted By: Judytruth @ 01/24/2008 6:04:27 PM

    This guy has published at least two articles to support Obama and criticize Clinton--in an unfair way. Seems like whatever Obama did, it's right, whatever Hilary did, it's wrong. So who is this guy? A staff of Obama campaign?

    • Posted By: grammagram @ 01/24/2008 8:35:18 PM

      Poor Hillary. She shed's a tear, it works and the 'softer' side comes out...Not to notice that she has sicked he pit-bull into the arena to do the dirty work! I for one have had enough of their campaign and living falsehoods.. The United States needs a uniter, not a pit bull charging in to get his way! By the way, Who will be the President and who the 'acting' President?

      • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 10:12:39 AM

        Cried for a whole seven seconds until the TV cameras left the room, according to those who were there. Then was suddenly and miraculously dry-eyed and brash as ever.

    • Posted By: mempto @ 01/24/2008 6:32:17 PM

      I used to think Jonathan Altar was respectable, but as you can see, he's very much like many of the other clowns in the media and press these days...they've all jumped on the Obama bandwagon and see no wrong with their holy man. It's just more fun for them to insult Hillary and her supporters, so they do it with glee. As Hillary said in Nevada, "How Pathetic!"

  • Posted By: Lemar0701 @ 01/25/2008 1:02:05 AM

    Barack Obama is an excellent choice for president and Clinton fails in electability. Against any possible republican nominee she'll be tossed to the wind and the Democratic Party will suffer further. While it's a wonderful thought to have a woman as a President, Mrs Clinton isn't that woman - and there are dozens of other women who could take that dream and progressivly build upon it. *08 Obama* The Clintons are less then democratic, when members of your own party tell you your out of line and need to shut up, something serious is happening - those who fail to see that are also less than intelligent.

    • Posted By: CD Politics @ 01/25/2008 3:13:15 AM

      I don't understand how Obama supporters continue to make the electability argument when they have lost to Hillary in two or three (if you count Michigan) of the most recent primary/caucuses. If she is not electable, then how can he, who has lost to her, be any more electable?

      • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 10:07:44 AM

        Independents and Republicans make up nearly 2/3rds of the electorate and they all hate her with an unprecedented passion Asked and answered.

      • Posted By: Massiel08 @ 01/25/2008 9:58:10 AM

        Well they have all been REALLY close races. I am amazed that with that strong hold the Clintons have in the democratic party that they are not blowing Obama out. In the general election I think most americans are moderate (not conservatives or liberals) will not want them back in the White House. Even democrats agree that there morals are less than stellar. We do not want the same people fighting the same battles in a divisive way. The Clintons and the Bushes are from yesterday. Healthcare problems, dependency on foreign oil, globalization, terrorism etc. Come on let's move on. Hillary is not electable in the general election. I will never vote for her I'd rather see either Mitt or McCain anytime.

  • Posted By: Change is a verb not a platform @ 01/25/2008 9:46:17 AM

    The Chicago Tribune: "Beyond the heated sound bites is a story of a more complex relationship that long boosted Obama's political fortunes but now could prove a campaign liability. For years after Rezko befriended Obama in the early 1990s, he helped bankroll the politician's campaigns. Then, after Obama's election to the U.S. Senate, Rezko engaged him in private financial deals to improve their adjoining South Side properties. Those arrangements became a source of lingering controversy after the Tribune first reported them in November 2006.???

    ???Now Rezko's federal corruption trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 25. As Obama stumps for votes, coverage of the high-profile proceedings could bring fresh, unwelcome reminders for Obama of Rezko's influence in the same Illinois political world that propelled the senator to a serious run at the presidency."

    • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 10:01:58 AM

      The Chicago Tribune has an agenda. They have been trashing Obama ever since he announced his candidacy. The Trib is a staunchly Republican newspaper. It hasn't endorsed a Democrat presidential candidate since 1872, when it reluctantly endorsed a Democrat who used to be a Republican. This newspaper supported George W. Bush vociferously, not just his candicacy for President but also his policies. The Trib wants Republicans to retain the White House, and they are doing their darndest to ensure that Hillary Clinton gets the Democrat nomination, because they know the Republicans stand a better chance of being elected in November running against her.

  • Posted By: ericrsiny @ 01/25/2008 3:10:00 PM

    Rezko was a lot more than what Obama is trying to say and to paint Rezko onto the Clintons is ridiculous. Tony Rezko SERVED on OBAMA's finance committee for US Senate. He had a hand in raising a lot more money than what Obama is returning/donating to charity.

    • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 9:47:57 AM

      The problem for you is - Rezko didn't serve on Obama's campaign finance committee. He raised some money for him on his own account. Just like Tony Rezko's lawyer raised $130,000 for Hillary Clinton. The difference is, Obama gave the money donated by Rezko associates to charity, and Clinton kept the money raised by Rezko's lawyer.

      If you want to play those games, let's talk about how Clinton has kept over $150,000 from IPA's disbarred, ex-con boss amid a bevvy of class action suits from small businesses which claim they were defrauded, to over 100 female employees who claim they were sexually harassed. Other politicians who received donations returned them, but not Hillary Clinton. Why?

  • Posted By: vclayson@msn.com @ 01/25/2008 9:08:48 PM

    We are witnessing a campaign like no other before. With the Clintons every word, thought and deed is considered, they bully, cajole and manipulate every political process to gain an advantage, pitting individuals, groups, races and religion against one another. No lie is too ridiculou, no fact so solid that they can't twist it to meet their ends. It hasn't come to legal challenges yet but as surely as the sun rises in the east they have contingencies for that and those contingencies as so planned that they will offset them as petty grievances by their opponents or if complex, they will say it was forced on them by their opponents. If they perceive they will slack off briefly knowing full well that an issue will pop up that they can use to their advantage. They surely have studied Sun Tzu's The Art of War, especially the part about knowing your enemies and knowing yourself. If nothing else they have set new standards for political campaigns, that would be there is no limit to the use of devious and overbearing tactics, and that no morals, principles or scruples apply and sheer gall does. We are learning how people can be manipulated by force of personality and implied and real intimidation. Somewhere in the nether world, Hitler, Stalin and Mao, amidst the fires, are celebrating, knowing their tactics have not gone out of fashion and, in fact, are being practiced today by our silver haired present day Caligula and his shrill harridan of a wife.

    • Posted By: Hottline @ 01/26/2008 3:11:11 AM

      Oh PLEEEEZZZZZ! This is a political campaign, and the rookie, Obama, is no match with the Clintons...let alone Putan and the leaders of Korea and Iran (can't spell Auk-du-min-a-jad). You want another goofball like Bush to follow the king of goofballs GW Bush?? And when you get personal, it just goes to show that nobody can bring civility to the arena if your precious Obama looses. Your ancesters must have been French! How do you like being subjected to personal attacks?

      • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 9:37:57 AM

        You can't spell Putin, either.

  • Posted By: RogerMiller @ 01/25/2008 10:56:34 PM

    What about twisting the words of Hillary Clinton about MLK and LBJ to create a racial backlash by Obama camapaign ... you want Obama to be the nominee so the Republicans can really run a racially surcharged election and win easily ... I think ... Hillary will beat McCain .. saying we need to change the Iraq war direction ...

    • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 9:37:03 AM

      If you bothered to do your research, the first people to speak out about the MLK faux pas (and it was a terrible gaffe for someone who claims to have deeply admired MLK since she was a girl, and who campaigned against President Johnson) were Clinton's own supporters.

      She made a mistake. She tried to downplay hopes and aspirations because that message seemed to resonate more than her message of experience (and let's be realistic, if it comes down to experience, Hillary Clinton doesn't have a prayer when compared to at least three of the Republican candidates). So she, unwisely, used the analogy of Dr King and President Johnson. She spent the next two weeks trying to explain why she was right ad nauseum, instead of letting it go. African-Americans forgive her for that slight, but only to the extent she and her supporters don't try to turn it on its head and make like it's Obama's fault. She's the one who said it, not him. And he has said nothing whatsoever to minimize President Johnson's role in passing Civil Rights legislation in '64 and '68.

      I will say this. At one point, as a matter of political expedience, Johnson asked King to stop protesting, but to his credit, when King refused on the basis that the movement would lose impetus and it would send the wrong kind of message to the enemies of civil rights, Johnson then suggested King follow his conscience, and Johnson would, too. The two men had fundamental differences of opinion, especially on the Vietnam War. But for the cause of civil rights, they are both heroes to us all.

  • Posted By: mary miller @ 01/26/2008 1:52:00 AM

    Are you sleeping? Obama Hussein? He is an arab. What difference does that make? Obama is an inexperienced newbie and is not politically capable of handling the presidency of the United States. The evidence is his 'present votes', his 300k deal with 'the slum landlord' on his south side mansion with the adjoining lot. The evidence is in 4 separate interviews (ABC Invesigative news) he denied knowing Resko, when in fact, he wrote letters endorsing him and his now questionable fund raising tactics. Are you kidding? The Clintons have been investigated for 10 years to the tune of 70 million dollars and not one allegation of inappropriate dealings was ever charged. Are you kidding? His plan for health leaves 15-20 million people uninsured. His fiscal recovery plan announced 12 days after Mrs Clintons plan has been judged the worst plan by many independant financial advisors with no party affiliation. Are you kidding? Mrs Clinton is brighter, more experienced and actually has an energy plan to combat global warming. She has been an advocate for at least 15 years before Barack was even involved in politics. Are you kidding? Baracks largest contributor to his campaign is the company that wants to dump nuclear waste in Nevada. Mrs Clinton has fought that dump site for 20 years. Just what do you base Obamas qualifications on? His association with Oprah Winfrey? Are you kidding? Mrs Clinton has actually worked all over the world-not just in Africa- for children and womens rights. Their right to get an education that is goode and in all of the United States, not just a 40 million school where only the brightest girls are invited to go. Are you kidding? America needs help-not Iraq-not Africa-America needs healthcare for all-America needs a redo on infrastructure and modern factories to compete with other countries. How will Obama accomplish that when he dreams of these things and can not get past his race issues? If he can't work with all people-all colors and all religions-how can he accomplish anything? Are you kidding?

    • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 9:17:14 AM

      This is the kind of thing this article is talking about. You just told five blatant and deliberate lies in a single paragraph. Does this help Hillary? No way - it will help to destroy her. You should be ashamed of yourself.

    • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 9:09:16 AM

      This is the kind of thing this article is talking about. You just told five blatant and deliberate lies in a single paragraph. Does this help Hillary? No way - it will help to destroy her. You should be ashamed of yourself.

  • Posted By: drdaviddthornton @ 01/25/2008 11:34:26 PM

    For the uneducated, politics is like a high school popularity contest; for the educated public, a contest of merit; and for the politicians and lobbyist it most often appears to be a contest of graft. Therefore, a good strategist will attempt to run a campaign of balanced tactics in order to create a subset environment producing a majority of support. It should be of no surprise that the candidates will make no mistake in ignoring any of the groups.

    • Posted By: Hottline @ 01/26/2008 3:02:31 AM

      AMEN, Dr. David! Obama burned his cross appeal by becoming the "black" candidate by changing his style after Nevada and acting like a Southern Baptist preacher. Look how he lost half of his white votes in the SC polls...mostly to Edwards...but some of the African-American women are now trending to Hillary as well. Obama is too one-sided now. Might as well put Jesse Jackson back in the race!

      • Posted By: L.A. Woman @ 01/27/2008 9:13:44 AM

        That's what I call a Freudian slip.

        But just to set the record straight, they were predicting before the primary that Obama would garner 10% of the white Democrat vote, when in fact, he got 27% and the rest were divided among Clinton and Edwards. And how do you explain Iowa?

        Obama hasn't changed his speech or cadence at all. It's Hillary Clinton who adopts a different accent to suit her audience. Her speech in Selma last year made most of us wince.

      • Posted By: Hottline @ 01/26/2008 3:25:15 AM

        Correction: Obama burned his appeal that reached across the spectrum...not burned his cross (appeal)...slip of the keyboard!

  • Posted By: Jaster @ 01/27/2008 2:11:49 AM

    But what if the Clintons were lying back then too? Bill can look you in the eye, with utter conviction in his tone, and lie his head off.

  • Posted By: ayoss58 @ 01/26/2008 10:03:01 PM

    Fir, we must thank Sc for showing the capacity of political maturity and intellegence that characterised all Americans from our founders to present day America. You see our Lord Jesus and our creator, the GOD of Abraham loves America because despite all our faults, we Americans are still the light of to all humanity because despite our racial and religious diversity, we are one Nation who have the capacity to recognise that we are humble enough to raise above our weaknesses as a Nation.Take notice Americans are not as divide as you are made to think and we we bless our Lord Jesus and continue to pray Our GOD: GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

  • Posted By: sean2002 @ 01/26/2008 2:44:01 AM

    Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Clintons, Clintons.

    No thanks.

    • Posted By: Hottline @ 01/26/2008 3:20:34 AM

      You people who use the failures of both Bushes to imply that the Clintons would be failures is absurd. Other than 1964, every Republican ticket had either a Bush, Nixon or Dole on it. It's the GOP that can't pick anyone else. This is the first time for the Democrats and the 1990s were a good decade. Besides, Hillary is the best candidate in this race...but let your petty, simplistic slogan guide you. Reminds us of 2000 when the candidate who everyone wanted to have a beer with was a "uniter, not a diver" and gave out other slogans that made greedy people think of their taxes over whether the goofball would take them to war. You got what you voted for.

      • Posted By: mac2007 @ 01/26/2008 3:17:48 PM

        This is not slogan, but the truth.

        For the health of our democracy, we should not let any group of people in power for too long. People in power for too long tend to be arrogant, corrupt and exude a sense of entiltement. Bill is a vivid example. His baseless and dishonest attacks on Obama reflect a mentality thinking they are entitled to return to the White House. Plus, what's Hillary's 35 years of experience? Should we count on her failed healthcare reform? Should we consider being a politician's wife as a real experience since this experience was not accountable for anything?

        We need a new leader with intellectual capacity and without bagage to lead us into the 21st century. Who want Hillary's experience, if we consider they are experience, which is shaped by the 20 century? This country needs new creativity, new ways of thinking and new leadership.

  • Posted By: Change is a verb not a platform @ 01/26/2008 1:15:38 PM

    The only place I hear about lies and counter lies is from people who are not under oath , and they never have to prove what they say is the truth. It is a slippery slop these writers and pundits are playing on...and personally I hope they get burned and burned badly.

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