Cheap Shots, But Valuable?

The Clinton approach to Obama could pay dividends this fall.

By Eleanor Clift | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jan 25, 2008 | Updated: 4:57  p.m. ET Jan 25, 2008

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  • Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 01/31/2008 11:52:01 PM

    It is plain dumb whenever Hillary makes the argument that Bill Clinton is just a supporting spouse just as Michelle Obama supports Barrack. I think we get it. The Hillary camp decided it would be ok for Bill Clinton to become the attack dog because the public will see this as Bill coming to the defense of his wife. However, the excuse is an insult to the publics intelligence. For crying out loud, how in the world can you compare Bill Clinton to Michelle Obama? Bill Clinton is a former United States President -- arguably, one of the most politically influential figure in US history.

    We get it. The Hillary campaign made a strategic decision to make Bill the attack dog. It was effective to some extent, and it was disastrous in other ways. We get it. SO STOP trying to rationalize the tactic as somehow Bill is being protective. And stop comparing Bill to Michelle. Its just plain dumb.

  • Posted By: Belker @ 01/30/2008 5:26:19 PM

    What planet are you from? Did you just arrive? This is planet Earth. Even the Wash Post's Ombudsperson has pointed the media is suffering from OBamania.. And the Wapo falls all over itself to praise Obama and plague Hillary.

    Are you drunk on Obama's snake oil, or afraid that if you write as critically of him as you do Hillary, Obama and his hordes will call you a racist?

    Obviously, you have become drunk on Obama's snake oil. Now you're sitting on the pity pot crying for him.

    By the way whose wife was it that went all over South Carolina telling Afro/American groups: "..it is our turn..." Mrs. Obama being black cannot do anything racists. Only whites can be racist! Yes. and I can jump over the Whitehouse in a single bound! Us poor honkies,hebes, dagos, and micks...

    May I suggest a refresher course in Journalism 101 for you and a great number of others in the media.

  • Posted By: ElizKaye @ 01/30/2008 11:16:27 AM

    No, Antonioni, Hillary Clinton has no shame, something she proves anew with mind-numbing regularlty. Now we have the idiotic dust-up over the "snub" at the State of the Union address, -- in which a curiously cheery looking Hillary was photographed extending her hand to Senator Kennedy, as Senator Obama turns away while answering a question. Now, Clinton has the nerve to go on TV to claim that she (poor Hillary) was offering her hand in peace and friendship to (oh-so-mean) Obama and he refused it -- one more ugly, manipulative lie in a campaign suffused with them.

  • Posted By: Antonioni @ 01/30/2008 12:10:59 AM

    Hillary Clinton Promised not to campaign in Michigan, but she was the ONLY candidate who kept her name on the ballot. She PROMISED not to Campaign in Florida, but she held, not one, but THREE fundraisers there. Isn't fundraising a part of campaigning? Then she had the nerve to go to Florida and give a so-called "victory" speech. What is wrong with that woman? Has she no shame?

  • Posted By: eagle-r @ 01/29/2008 10:26:47 PM

    ABOUT THIS OSAMA(obama guy) the MEDIA is always catching like dogs what the CLINTON'S are doing and saying in the wrong way ,they make all kind of comments about them ,making them the bad guys all the time, even if they know that they are just defending their selfs of this osama's comments,at least they are trying to be friendly to their opponent unlike this SORRY OSAMA don't even want it to see her or shake her hand after the state of the union ,when he turn around to evoid her ,later to say that ,some one was asking him a question behind him.IDIOT GUY.trying to put the load on some body else, but the media did nothing,like ,if the Clinton's would've done that , they would 've eaten them alive, AND THAT'S THE GUY YA'LL WANT FOR PRESIDENT? wht he is doing is brain washing all this people,by leting them hear what they want ,as long as he can get their vote WAKE UP AMERICA,!!!!every politician does it, but I go for the most experience,and have the most sense , not the most words or promises. VOTE HILLARY 08

  • Posted By: eagle-r @ 01/29/2008 9:55:40 PM

    For the past few weeks I been trying to understand why this IDIOTS of Kennedy and Kerry and all those in the line are giving this OSAMA(bin laden related) their endorsment,in stead of Mrs.Clinton. I guess for the same reason all those BLIND PEOPLE outthere are doing it too.Because their blind becouse they don't want a woman running the White House,they don't want to be under a woman's comand.Those sorry so called good politicians ,they reather to have a no exprience , new guy that ,nobody even knew he existed, in the white house, People like them are the ones making this country going in the wrong direction.eaven if they don't like it ,they have to do it as long as they don't have a woman for president ,I'm a supporter ot HILLARY CLINTON and I will vote fot Her, GIVE WOMEN A CHANCE TO RUN THE PRESIDENCY, I KNOW THEY CAN DO A BETTER JOB THAN MEN CAN, I'M A MAN AND I CAN SAY THAT. V O T E H I L L A R Y FOR PRESIDENT 08'

  • Posted By: charlesw3 @ 01/29/2008 10:54:27 AM

    I have never voted for any Republican and never will. I will vote for Hillary if nominated, but I will NOT WORK for her. I will not do the phone banking; I will not contribute. I have really seen enough of her to know that she will AT BEST be the lesser of two evils. I would like to say Americans deserve better, but time will tell if that is true or not

  • Posted By: eastutican @ 01/29/2008 8:26:58 AM

    One dividend for Hillary: as a life long Democrat and as one of her constituents in upstate New York, I wouldnt vote for her for dog catcher. No, it is NOT what we do to one another. I guess Hillary found "her" voice in New Hampshire ... Bill Clinton. Some feminist, some Democrat. If the Democrat Party cant reject this type of 'politics of personal destruction', they will lose me in November.

  • Posted By: Karenn1 @ 01/29/2008 8:14:19 AM

    The R machine full of latent reactionary. Anybody but the R- puppet dolls.

  • Posted By: porterc7 @ 01/26/2008 9:52:51 PM

    Okay, I have read all these comments online. Most of them are directed at a racial thing. You idiots out there, look at how really racial it is. We have the first woman in the US running for President and we have the first black man running for President in the US. The other canidates do not have a chance. This is between Clinton and Obama. My question to everyone out there is who really has more experience? Clinton has been in law for years. And, she has been in the White House as the first lady doing many, many good things. If her husband made a mistake, oh well. Don't all husband's at one time or another? Clinton is an experienced woman in the world. What has Obama done to contribute to society? Personally, I cannot say I ever even heard of the man before he decided to run for President. We need a person, male or female, black or white, in the White House that is going to make changes. We need the national debt brought down. We need to stop this stupid war overseas that has been going on way too long. I have a son-in-law that has been away from his wife and family for years due to this stupid Bush decision to keep this going on. I have a nephew and his wife that are both in the service. They are stationed in different countries. 'To do what I ask myself? Let's quit stabbing our presidential canidates in the back and look at them for who they are. Not just a white woman or a black man, but who is really qualified for the job. No one is perfect, but one will win, We need the Republicans out of office. Besides the war, look at what gas prices are and how expensive it is to feed your families. As I said, Bill make a stupid mistake. Who cares? That is not the point in question of this election. Get a grip and take hold of it. Vote for who YOU think HAS THE MOST EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT. No one, not anyone in this comments, said GOD BLESS AMERICA. it is a really said thing to say, but we need someone in office that is going to make decisions, change this country - not other countries - they need to learn to take care of themselves. Stop the whole racial crap. I thought things like that in the world went out with slavery and women's rights. Think about this.

    • Posted By: Indie17 @ 01/27/2008 1:49:38 AM

      Vote for who has the most experience? No. Vote for who has the best character, as being president is entirely about character. And besides, it's silly to think that Hillary has so much 'experience', even if that is your barometer. She has no executive experience, and living in the White House does not constitute 'experience'. She does have that old 'political' experience, as is evidenced in the following:

      Roll of the dice, fairy tale, LBJ over MLK, Reagan should not be given respect, slumlord, hit job.

      Great show of 'experience'.

      • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:32:05 AM

        And just what do you think the R machine is going to do to Barack? This stuff is tame. It is also true.

  • Posted By: jude4917 @ 01/26/2008 5:43:28 PM

    I remember Eleanor Clift saying, "the democrates eat their young". This column proves her right.

    • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:30:53 AM

      Yeah, but the Republicans want erm.... your young. Especially the boys. GOP=Gay Oligarchic Paedophiles

  • Posted By: nizhoniboy @ 01/26/2008 4:00:55 PM

    Well Eleanor, you've got it wrong. The blowback on the Clintons will be felt on Feb. 5th. There is too much going good for Barack right now and no one is going to stop the train. You have got to give it to Barack, who by the way is the "Blessed", he has stood up to Billary and swinging back hard. The fever for Obama is high but the tsunami fever hasn't even started yet for Obama. The old guard of the Democratic party will feel the sting after Feb. 5th. A new wave of Democrats, aligned with Independents and Republicans, will be arriving into the political scene again as they did in 1980,

    • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:28:15 AM

      Oh so you think He's the Black Reagan too?

  • Posted By: Hottline @ 01/26/2008 2:52:52 PM

    Eleanor is half correct. She ignores that Obama changed his persona in his Nevada concession speech by sounding like a Southern Baptist preacher. He went from an inclusive persona to one that was African-American, thus visually making him look like a past Jesse Jackson one-issue or one-agenda campaign. His fake outrage over Hillary's MLK/LBJ comment fueled the race card first...in his zeal to hammer HIllary he showed a touchiness that was uncharacteristic of anyone on this planet who knew the Clinton background and commitment to African-Americans. Do not disregard how much Obama's catering to "brothers" like he said in response to Bill Clinton being the first black president, and his naming Oprah as his VP on Letterman has been noticed by voters in other parts of the country.

    Say what you will about the Clintons, but they know the rough and tumble national political arena and are showing Obama how run in the big leagues...his rookie status is showing, and he would. Unfortunately, I think Obama has already made his the African-Americans' candidate instead of the candidate who just happens to be African-American.

    • Posted By: Indie17 @ 01/26/2008 3:22:24 PM

      "roll of the dice", "fairy tale", "it took LBJ..", "supporting Republican ideas..", "slumlord", etc. There have been many verbal bombs dropped by the Clintons, and these fueled the responses from Obama, which you call 'touchiness'.

      • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:26:53 AM

        Those bombs are facts. Bummer eh? Full contact sport that run for the white house. Now go have a bowl of communal hummus.

  • Posted By: BILL5321 @ 01/26/2008 2:39:48 PM

    Why can't Hillary talk for herself. Isn't that the point of having a Woman President. A Women President should do her own talking and not have some man that is not running for office do it for her.

    Her Husband Bill is a cool guy. But any future president has to stand on their own two feet.

    • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:25:25 AM

      She does, you just aren't listening, and Bill is playing bad cop to soften her negatives. I know strategy has been seriously lacking for the last 8 years, but you'll come to recognize it again.

  • Posted By: eeave @ 01/26/2008 1:25:32 PM

    I don't see any hope for democrats in November. If they field a Clinton-Obama ticket, it will look like the `minority' team (even though women outnumber men as likely voters). It is looking increasingly like a McCain-Romney ticket, and Obama is flakey in comparison to those two men. (He loses pieces of paper handed to him; he voted the wrong vote at least five times in his state legislature, not to mention his lack of track record for anything.) My hope for a Democratic presidency is now gone. I'm extremely depressed.

    If Clinton punches back punches thrown at her, then she's deemed as being mean, slick, and slimey. Others are able to throw punches, with almost no consequences. Her work for on that Wal-mart board yielded some forward steps for women and minorities and more environmentally-conscious behaviors. For Obama, this would be called "incrementalism." For Hillary Clinton, this is called "limited accomplishment." And Obama didn't just have a drive-by relationship with Rezko. He had a 17-year relationship with the man, who also contributed over $100,000 to Obama's various campaigns, as well, as helping Obama buy real estate. Yet, that seems to get lost in the vapor field out there, that's the heads of Democrats. Vaporish.

    • Posted By: danielgouldman @ 01/26/2008 2:16:30 PM

      This sounds like something I've heard directly out of Hillary Clinton's mouth...if we're talking about trust - I don't think the general American public sees Hillary or Bill Clinton as the most trustworthy of those running. I do not trust them....they are not authentic and this is blowing up in their face because America will not take it.

      • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:23:20 AM

        If lies were intolerable to us, Bootch and his crews 935 lies leading to the wrong war might have resulted in action.

    • Posted By: Braes @ 01/28/2008 3:21:54 AM

      McCain wouldn't have Romney withing a 1000 miles of him. There is absolute genuine hatred. McCain would pick Lieberman or Hagel. Post Partisanship against total Partisan. Obama stuff will come out that will end it for him and all of the people on his bandwagon now are going to be outside looking in. You are right on the Rezko stuff sticking in a General Election because Hillary can't use a Limbaugh and Faux Nooz to fling it. Whomever the GOP brings out will have all of that filth machine, left in place by the GOP apparat. Mark Penn is a mediocre Rove. Romney isn't going to appeal at all in the South. I am glad that Huckabee finally showed his interpretation of the Constitution as a theocracy. Rudy wants to bomb the world and like Romney expand the police-state. If the GOP doesn't nominate McCain it's a no chance for them no matter who runs on the D side and that is what Bill is thinking, as usual, way ahead of everyone else. Vapors in my head? Nah man. Not at all. The R's have a sick view of America. It took a Bush to drag us to the gulag. With near 80% of America wanting that to end, and the other 20 going down with the USS Bootch, Billary are playing for the general already. 95% of the delegates are still up for grabs.

  • Posted By: lori54 @ 01/27/2008 12:14:55 PM

    For over two months now the other democratic candidates, including Obama have been piling on Hillary like players in a rugby match. Nobody called foul! Overwhelmingly, their comments were sexist and irrelevant. They also distorted her record and her statements. Where were all these referees then? We have a significant double standard here.
    Obama has defined himself as a pure innocent cross between JFK, King and Reagan. the Clintons's and everyone else has a right to challenge his self portrayal. Why is he sacrosanct. I want to know who Obama really is!! He has a very sparse voting record, partly because he is so new to public office but also because he dodges votes. He has avoided taking a position ofn too many votes to make me comfortable. If you are going to portary yourself as a pure and innocent political outsider, associates like Rezko are relevant. It challenges the image he is portraying of himself.

  • Posted By: jmttor@aol.com @ 01/27/2008 9:56:06 AM

    Why is it acceptable for Obama to make snide and mysogynistic remarks derogating Mrs. Clinton while anything either of the Clintons says is immediately seized upon -- out of context in many situations -- by the media and the Obama campaign as evidence of "Clinton smear tactics"? If you listen -- REALLY LISTEN -- to the remarks of both candidates IN CONTEXT rather than accept the media spin, the Clintons' statements are nothing more than legitimate attempts to cite differences between the candidates. Were Mrs. Clinton the possessor of a "Y" chromosome, this trashing would take on yet another shade: it would then be racist for any white candidate to challenge the anointed black savior. Reverse racism at its worst. The bottom line is that Obama has all of the things that made Ronald Reagan one of the worst presidents in American history: the feel-good "morning in America" sense without any substance to back it up. Would I vote for a black candidate? In a heartbeat, if there were a QUALIFIED candidate running (and I can think of several). It's a sad sign of how far women have to go to command respect that even an extremely well-qualified woman is typecast a shrew and "uppity" in comparison to Obama, who really seems to be the black Ronald Reagan: someone who makes us feel good while those around him gamble with our future.

  • Posted By: jmttor@aol.com @ 01/27/2008 9:55:33 AM

    Why is it acceptable for Obama to make snide and mysogynistic remarks derogating Mrs. Clinton while anything either of the Clintons says is immediately seized upon -- out of context in many situations -- by the media and the Obama campaign as evidence of "Clinton smear tactics"? If you listen -- REALLY LISTEN -- to the remarks of both candidates IN CONTEXT rather than accept the media spin, the Clintons' statements are nothing more than legitimate attempts to cite differences between the candidates. Were Mrs. Clinton the possessor of a "Y" chromosome, this trashing would take on yet another shade: it would then be racist for any white candidate to challenge the anointed black savior. Reverse racism at its worst. The bottom line is that Obama has all of the things that made Ronald Reagan one of the worst presidents in American history: the feel-good "morning in America" sense without any substance to back it up. Would I vote for a black candidate? In a heartbeat, if there were a QUALIFIED candidate running (and I can think of several). It's a sad sign of how far women have to go to command respect that even an extremely well-qualified woman is typecast a shrew and "uppity" in comparison to Obama, who really seems to be the black Ronald Reagan: someone who makes us feel good while those around him gamble with our future.

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