Cheap Shots, But Valuable?

FROM 'HILLARY FOR PRESIDENT WEBSITE' - PRESS RELEASE 12/12/07

"...She must break recent tradition, cast cronyism aside and fill her cabinet with the best people, not only the best Democrats, but the best Republicans as well.. We???re confident she will do that. Her list of favorite presidents - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Truman, George H.W. Bush and Reagan - demonstrates how she thinks..."

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=4674

GO OBAMA!

YES WE CAN

Anne

Business associates in Europe observe that the Clintons are behaving "like typical Americans -- arrogant, self-absorbed, greedy, loud and crude."

I'd like to think that the majority of the American people aren't like that. Most folks I know are hardworking, respectful, honest, want the best for their kids, and are generous and genuine in their care about others.

We can elect the Clintons, who represent the worst aspects of our national character, or we can vote for someone who represents the essential goodness and core values of the American people.

I prefer the latter. I support Obama.

Speaking of "mess" Ricker57401:

The Clintons gave us NAFTA. Need I say more?

For those of you who want a Clinton/Obama ticket, I hope not for Obama's sake. Look what they put Gore through. I do not want the future of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama, who represents a new generation of Democratic voters, to be tainted by the Clintons. I wonder if Bloomberg were to jump in, if it would be good for Obama as VP. But hopefully Obama will be smart enough to stay away from any post associated with the Clintons because in the not much longer term - they're in their 60s - they will need him MUCH MORE than he needs them.

During this campaign, the Clintons have exhibited the characteristics the world hates about Americans - self-absorbed, greedy, arrogant and crude.

I'd like to think that the majority of us aren't like that. Most folks I know are hardworking, respectful, honest, fair-minded, want the best for their kids, and are generous and genuine in their care about others.

The voters can elect the Clintons, who represent the worst aspects of our national character, or we can elect someone who represents the essential goodness and core values of the American people.

I prefer the latter. I support Obama.

And this is how the Democratic Party will be divided. Because I see comments like Ricker57401 and think they are beyond stupid. As if I really want the Clinton's daughter shoved down my throat and as if this country will really want this slimy pair until they're seventy years old with Hillary shrilling "vast right wing conspiracy" every five minutes.

Come on Clinton haters, grow up, alls fair in love,war and politics in this Country. Give them 8 years and they'll clean this dreadful mess our country is in, like before, and leave us with a surplus to boot, then the Republicans can do the "mess" again and well.... there's Chelsey!

Well said Sloane.

Whatever.... all's fair in love and politics... grow up Clinton haters, Clintons will clean the mess and leave us with a surplus again in 8 yrs, then the Republicans can make another mess and well... theres Chelsey!

If the Clintons win the primary, I will enjoy what the Republican do to them during and after the election. I have waited a long time for a president I like. I voted for Bill twice although now I dislike him so much for what he is doing that I regret it. So the Clintons will once again rule only this time it will be personal. They will go after every vendetta they have accumulated over the decades, with Hillary seeking retribution and fast and furious as she can because she will know she only has four years to do it before they are FINALLY kicked to the curb. Bill has destroyed his legacy and the Clintons will divide the Democratic Party to the benefit of the GOP. But this time, I will not be defending them. If their actions are what is considered acceptable in the Democratic Party, I must not be a Democrat anymore, I must be an Independent.

It's okay to have a black, woman Sec of State making decisions about what wars we start, what dictatorships we support, what countries are our friends and which our enemies but I don't hear Bill bringing race into that. The Clintons are a disgusting portrait of what America has become.

When Bill left office as I recall his approval ratings were sky-high, and quite likely if he had been able to run again probably would have won -- especially agianst GWB. Who is the only 2 term Democratic president since FDR? Bill Clinton. A lot of people hate the Clintons (Republicans mostly) because they win. I vote for Bill twice -- can't say I agreed with him sometimes, a little pro-business for me, but he gave us 8 years of putting reasonable judges in, and reasonable social policies. And I have to admit we as Americans had a pretty good time of it while he is in.

And to the people that are saying that Hilary is like a big brother beating the heck out of her younger brother -- think of what the military does to recruits. Not pleasant, but it teaches them how to win, and if they can't measure up they should not be out there anyhow.

The way Obama has been outmaneuvered and knocked off message but a few ill-advised comments (Reagan etc.) and how the press rasing the Bradley effect has allowed the Clintons campaign to successfully marginalize him as a black-only candidate is something to behold. Not pleasant to watch if Obama is your guy, but it is American politics as a fine art, like it or not. I will like it even more if they do that to the republicans come the big show, And if Obama is able to come back and win, well I think he actually has a shot at winning. I don't think he can -- the numbers post SC work against him in a big way, but you never know. If he does, he will have earned my vote, big time!

I have a healthy respect for Ms. Clifts comments. At the end of the day, whoever wins the primaries is better than any republican running -- and I will vote proudly for that candidate come November. If the backers of the other 2 sit and home and sulk then we get McCain or Huck or Romney. And we as democrats will deserve it.

Hillary appears to be taking on an identity which is very divisive! She's spending too much time attempting to defend her husband(which is an impossible job - there is no defense for him or his behavior). We don't want another confrontational president - we've had too many years of that!!! She obviously doesn't want to listen to anyone now, so what makes anyone believe she ever will??!! "She (like the Bushes) can tell us anything they think we want to hear - are we going to swallow it this time? She can not unite the American people - she will only continue to divide!! What is this nonsense about her "finding her voice" and now the media is saying "Chelsea has found her voice?" These people have always know how to talk. Too bad Hillary didn't "find her voice" when her husband was in office. She is, has always been, and will always be a defense lawyer who appears to think her way is THE WAY. Aren't we seeing that now in the White House?!! Let's get it together, folks!!

Why is Clinton???s comment about Rezko a cheap shot? It was made in response to Obama???s implication that Hillary sat on the Board of a giant corporation, WAL-Mart, and did nothing as the company was shipping American jobs abroad, while he was working hard in communities in Chicago. Surely, if not a cheap shot, then at least Obama had inflicted a low blow to which a response, perhaps even more devastating, had to be delivered. Anyone who has ever debated even in high school, knows this basic rule.

Fairly or unfairly, the media has focused only on Hillary???s response, and ignored the comments of the instigator which fueled the response. Even worse, media houses like CNN, MSNBC, and the networks, have generally been playing Hillary???s response while declining to show Obama???s comments in many instances.

It must be remembered, that debates are contests between two or more parties, each of whom has to lay out arguments and persuade the audience that one???s argument is better than the others, and often times this process gets emotional. When this happens assumptions and beliefs tend to trump facts, even more so in political debates.

The 1992 Democratic primary season was a slug fest that makes this year seem like a tea party by comparison. Tsongas and many other candidates went after Bill Clinton on marital infidelity, draft dodging, and business dealings with a man linked to the nation's savings and loan scandal, all of which at the time, were still rumors that were gaining traction with each passing today. Clinton withstood all that, and so too must Obama this so called cheap shot.

On the Republican side, Pat Buchanan, the insurgent candidate, was pugnacious waded into George H. Bush with intrepid ferocity that had not been seen against a sitting President for a long time, if ever before.

These were hard fought battles with far more mischaracterizations and cheap shots than anything we have seen this year. We the people want a vigorous debate about the issues however, we are also keen to see a demonstration of spunkiness by these candidates when their integrity and veracity are impugned. It shows strength of character and demonstrate a willingness to engage and fight for what you believe in.

The elite media needs to provide balanced and fair coverage of all candidates, stop taking sides, stop taking cheap shots at the Clintons, stop treating Obama as though he is some fragile un-nurtured creature, it is gratuitous and hurts his candidacy terribly. If Barack cannot withstand this ???friendly fire??? and prevail, then how can he be the leader of the free world? He must fight his own battles and prevail, to demonstrate that he has what it takes to win, and perhaps he will win.

Let the voters decide, perhaps we may all get a pleasant surprise at their choice. Whomever is chosen, Hillary or Barack, American has won, democracy has won, and the nation will be well severed by either, if successful in November.

Lenedone

Say anything, do anything, and Eleanor Clift endorses this kind of behavior. No one seems to be a lamenting the fact that for the first time in a long time the Democrats have a chance at both Congress and the White House. And in instead of talking about ideas they are embroiled in personal attacks leaving the rest of us to wonder if they even have any ideas.

Eleanor Clift makes her contribution by condoning this type of cynical,corrupt politics. The lesson that is communicated is that any means, no matter how deceptive, no matter how untruthful, is appropriate political behavior. Haven't we had enough of that over the past eight years? The road to totalitarianism is paved with the kind of thinking Eleanor Clift demonsrtaes in this article.

First, a lot of you need to learn to SPELL. It is racial. And Obama did not bring it up, the Clintons did, starting with Hillary and her MLK reference in New Hampshire. The Clintons have shown themselves to be the smarmiest pair since, oh yes, Bush/Cheney. It will be a replay and as excited as I was for this primary, as optimistic as I was for Obama, instead, I see an ugly rehash from sixteen years ago. Everyone thinks you can turn back time and once the Clintons are unpacking in the White House, or not, the Democratic Party will see how short-sighted they were. The Clintons have shown themselves to be divisive and poisonous. And those that vote for the Clintons deserve what they will get. I look forward to the country finally moving away from this but clearly it will be ANOTHER four years. What a way to ruin the Democratic Party.

To millers61:
Could you kindly tell me what "RASCIAL part" is??????