Turning Up the Heat
At the Myrtle Beach debate, Obama and Clinton simmered.
Family therapists might want to study the two Democratic get-togethers over the last week. Both were nominally about race in America, and both involved the same three candidates. One became known as the kumbaya conversation, in which the candidates embraced one another's records on civil rights and racial issues. The other was a bloodbath in which the same candidates slashed and sliced their way through one another's reputations, voting records and campaign quotes.
In Las Vegas last week Hillary Clinton insisted that Democrats needed to hug each other more and start swinging at the real enemy. "We are so different from the Republicans on all of these issues, in every way that affects the future of the people that we care so much about," she
said. "So I think that it's appropriate on Dr. King's birthday, his actual birthday, to recognize that all of us are here as the result of what he did, all of the sacrifice, including giving his life, along with so many of the other icons that we honor."
"We're all family in the Democratic Party," Hillary Clinton said in the cozy Las Vegas get-together. In Myrtle Beach, S.C., the family they most resembled was the Sopranos.
In Monday's debate Clinton still lambasted Republicans—but implied that some of her colleagues might admire them. "The facts are that [Obama] has said in the last week that he really liked the ideas of the Republicans over the last 10 to 15 years," she said, referring to Obama's previous comments about the Reagan era. "Now, I personally think they had ideas, but they were bad ideas."
After the two of them squabbled for several minutes—including over who had the right to talk—Obama tried to quash the notion that he was not a real member of the family. "What I said was that Ronald Reagan was a transformative political figure because he was able to get Democrats to vote against their economic interests to form a majority to push through their agenda, an agenda that I objected to," he said. "Because while I was working on those streets watching those folks see their jobs shift overseas, you were a corporate lawyer sitting on the board at Wal-Mart."
Family disputes are never pretty, but any good psychologist would recognize the three classic defense mechanisms on display: denial, repression and suppression.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next Page »
Loading Menu
Member Comments
Posted By: delakile @ 01/26/2008 5:08:39 AM
Comment: I have to say the as an Independent, I am totally disgusted by the Clintons. They have no shame or any decency. These two will do anything to get elected. And to further the notion of how low these two will go, someone please tell me, who exactly is running for the whitehouse? Is it Hillary or Bill? Listening to the two of them, you can't tell. That is just out right disgraceful.
You would think that the Clintons would have waited until after the primaries inorder to unleash their wrath but true to their characters, it doesn't matter who it is they are fighting. This is as "bloody" as one can get without actually committing the act! And to prove how bad it is, just listen to the pleas from the rest of the democratic party. They are saying, "pipe it down!" What else can one say?
Remember that evil cannot triumph. It can try and squirm its way around but it will eventually be defeated. The Clintons are in the "evil" realm of what humans are. Ultimately, their deceptive, corruptive and vicious nature will be squashed once and for all!!!
Posted By: isupport @ 01/25/2008 4:56:02 PM
Comment: Between Omama and Clinton - they are both weak. But of the two, Obama shows strength within himself. Whereas Hillary and her husband seem to be weakening her campaign.
Posted By: Johnny1967 @ 01/24/2008 4:00:34 AM
Comment: I am supporting Obama. After some thought, I welcome President Clinton and Hillary Clintons attacks. In fact, Obama should take the Clintons scrutiny and attacks with appreciation, respect, smile, and stride. That is, Obama should be saying, BRING IT ON!
The American people want to know whether the candidates have the character to be President. In reality, there is more than enough information at the candidates websites regarding policy and plans. Therefore, the race is really less about issues, but more about character. And rightfully so!
Obama has the character to be President of the United States. Consequently, he can handle anything the Clintons (or anybody) throw at him. It does not matter whether the accusations are fair or unfair. As President, you will be faced with fair and unfair criticism all of the time.
So far, Obama has not let me down. Granted, hereon out, he may fall or trip occasionally. However, I am behind him all the way to the Presidency.