For someone who insists they aren't playing the race card the Obama campaign certainly does make everything about race.

Can Clyburn now endorse Obama? Can't he see how Clintons are hurting him/our nation/work of African Americans?

I cannot believe that I voted for the Clinton (male). I will not support his wife. Period.

Moishele wrote on January 13, 2008 5:34 PM:

What the heck are you talking about? Nothing in the Obama response is about race. We know the strategy on the Clinton side is to minimize Obama's potential SC win by putting out the meme that it comes from playing "the race card" but your comment is beyond ridiculous. Leevy Johnson didn't mention race at all. He just denounces the sleazy innuendo from the Clinton camp.

Hillary's strategy to racially stratify the S.C. vote so the punditocracy will discount its importance.

1. Blow dogwhistle at all the racist white people you think (in your Yankee naivete) are in the South Carolina Democratic Party.

2. Claim you meant something else entirely and deny that there was any message pitched to the ears of white racists when you're called on it.

3. Act indignant that anyone could have thought you were dog whistling to racists when you've got such a fine reputation as a non-racist and accuse Obama campaign of trying to stir up racial divisiveness (cause that's what they always do, after all, inn't it?).

4. Cackle gleefully as press and bloggers gives you benefit of the doubt for the eighth or ninth time.

5. Repeat.

"Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood –­ and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book"

Then claims he was talking about Obama being a community organizer? Why did he refer to Obama's book?

He's obviously lying, and he should get called on it.

clinton has simply caluated that she will lose SC.

However the HRC campaign wants the nation to have the impression that Obama won SC BECAUSE of race. That could give them a reverse backlash in other states.

I truly beleive this is their calcuation at this point. I'm done with Hillary and this continuing nonsense. I'll vote against her at this point even if she is the nominee.

they don't care about SC anymore. They have already "Roved it" to FEB 5th.

And for the umpteenth time, she's trying to blame Obama for her and her surrogates statements.

Look for her to blame Obama for misinterpreting Johnson's comments.

This is the way that politics is played in SC, two cycles ago when McCain and Bush ran the issue was over the confederate flag, and this plays on a subconcious level to the voter down there.

In short, this allows the candidates to draw racial distinctions via proxy issues.

What is really astonishing in SC is the ad saturation, radio and TV are completely taken over by ad dollars, I bet that if you looked at spending you would be astonished at the politcal ad's bought, in comparison to say the state of Maryland.

What the Clinton camp knows, and what the SC GOP debate moderator was only two proud to point out is: That nobody has won the POTUS and not carried SC since they have had their early primary slot.

How is this playing out with the voters? That is yet to be seen. But in the last similar campaign Engler promised to be a firewall to McCain after that GOP loss, and Michigan went to McCain. My bet is this, if SC favors one, Michigan will favor the other.

So if we take Uncle Bob at his word, when he threw in that cryptic comment he was basically saying that while Obama was involved in community organizing the Clintons were deeply involved in black issues. If that's the case, why's he insulted?

And did anyone tell Uncle Bob that Obama had nothing to do with the Clintons statements?

pretending that bill and hillary clinton are racist and trying to diminish the role of MLK in fighting for civil rights is ridiculous. this line of attack is going to boomerang on obama and his supporters.

frankly, i don't understand how so many democrats can be launching these vile attacks on the clintons. it seems to me like they have fallen for the republican smear tactics of the 90's.

wake up people! you should be saving your disgust for the republicans, since they are the ones destroying this country. hillary clinton as president (or barack obama, or john edwards) will be a godsend to the United States compared to any candidate that the republicans decide to nominate.

toni c:

I think you've nailed it. Obama has so far achieved the almost impossible balance between assuring white voters that he is not a narrowly-focused racial candidate, while somehow reassuring black voters that he does not discount the need to address the still-present reality of racism in their lives.

HRC's camp is probably trying to destroy that.

God, I'm starting to hate them.

Keeping it classy, per usual.

There are two possibilities: there is either a coordinated attempt to denigrate Obama's character using whatever tools are at hand including race, or these attacks are just an organic representation of how those close to HRC's campaign conduct themselves.

Either possibility damns either her executive ability, the strength of character she lends to her campaign, or both. I think its both: she is showing ineffective executive ability, and she values winning above all else to the detriment of her ideals.

Obama '08.

The Clinton Plan:

Step (1): Make a series of racist and quasi-racist comments regarding Obama that are largely unnoticed by the mainstream media.

Step (2): When the press and some black activists respond that you're being racist, charge Obama with playing the race card (despite the fact that neither Obama nor any surrogate has at any point done so).

Step (3): By the time Obama wins SC, have convinced the press that it was all about race, to create a backlash among white voters in the Feb. 5 states.

This is disgusting, and I really hope that white Democratic voters are smart enough to see that it is Hillary, and not Obama, who is race-baiting.

Obama is UNQUALIFIED. I am black. NOW the BET Founder IS Qualified. I would listen to him, before this multiracial medial hyped pretty boy.

And Bill didnt inhale.

I can't believe I've reached this point, but I will not vote Democratic if the candidate is Clinton. I will not endorse her brand of sleazy innuendo politics.

I just hope Obama moves beyond a defensive game. At some point, he has to stop reacting and start setting the media agenda.

I guess obnoxious assholes come in all colors.

I wonder how long the media is going to continue to give Hillary a free pass on this. Since losing Iowa she and her husband have consistently employed dirty tactics to attack Sen. Obama while his camp has taken the high road and generally refused to respond in kind. He has repeatedly stated that all the candidates are patriots while Hillary has invoked the failed terrorist attack in France to imply that the nation may be more vulnerable to terrorist attack if Obama is elected. These are Rovian tactics.

We saw it again today on Meet The Press. Rather than simply respond directly to or apologize for the alarming pattern of subtle racially motivated attacks hurled at Sen. Obama (speculating an implied drug dealing past may be exploited by the Republicans, Andrew Cuomo's Shuckin'& Jivin' remark, Pres. Clinton referring to Sen. Obama as a 'kid', Clinton folks stating that voting for Obama would be akin to supporting a 'hip Black friend', condescendingly referring to Sen. Obama as a good speaker), she instead decided to insist that the Obama campaign is responsible for all of this.

Hillary's implication that the outrage the African American community has voiced regarding the racially charged remarks of her campaign is some sort of manifestation of an Obama campaign strategy is almost just as insulting as her recent comments. It is as if the Clinton campaign believes African Americans are not able to think for themselves and can only take cues and do what they're told rather than think independently.

Whatever happened to personal accountability? Just apologize for the gaffs and move forward. No matter who you prefer in this race I think we can all agree that Americans are tired of leaders who refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. Hillary's recent posturing and stubbornness to admit wrongdoing is eerily similar to that of George W. Bush. No wonder Karl Rove seems to be endorsing her candidacy.

I think it's time that Obama's most credible and visible endorsers speak out on his behalf against this sleazy bullshit being thrown out by the Clintons.

Is it a wonder that both Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich have endorsed Hillary in the last 2 days. There's obviously no difference between the Clintons and the GOP anymore. Maybe it started with her Iraq vote.

Great, Lisa! Go vote for a Republican instead of Hillary Clinton... That really makes a lot of sense. John McCain wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years. Mike Huckabee wants to arm students with guns to avoid another Virginia Tech incident. Rudy Giuliani wants to out-Bush W (boo! be very afraid).

Count me among those who are done with Hillary for good. I'll write in somebody in November rather than vote for her style of politics. That goes for the endless triangulating (and subsequent lying about it), too.

Way to race bait against your own people, way to promote racial stereotypes about drug use in order to support the political dynasty of the Clintons.

And what exactly have they done for African Americans exactly?? Was it Bill's "welfare reform" that kicked tons of poor people off much needed government assistance? Was it NAFTA and corporate deregulation which only made harder for minority ownership in the media? How ironic that rich ass Bob Johnson would come trash on Obama for them. It makes sense, BET was founded long before Reagan, Bush and Clinton deregulated the media, so by the time Clinton came around with his pro-corporate economic policies it didn't hurt Johnson at all, in fact, if anything the deregulation helped him by making sure no other minority media outlets would be able to challenge BET. He doesn't talk for his people, he is about as black as Condi. What a corporate sellout, he fits in great with Bill "I love big business" Clinton and Mrs. Wal-Mart Hillary "I love lobbyist money" Clinton.

Thanks NCSteve. I feel the same way. I guess the question is, who would be the most credible person to blow the whistle on what's happening here. I would think someone in Clinton's camp, but I know that's not happening anytime soon.

And Lisa, I'm with you. I expect this type of crap from Republicans, I don't expect it from the Clintons.

The Clinton's do whatever it takes; that includes sending this country backwards with regards race. If you can't see this then you should have your right to vote revoked.

Hey guys,

Just before an Obama rally the other day I saw him doing something - I won't say what - with an attractive, blond 19 year old college student while the Clintons were protecting our civil liberties. Yeah, *wink* *wink*. You know what I'm talking about.

Oh, what? No, that's not what I meant. I meant I saw him shaking her hand. I'm SO OFFENDED you could possibly have thought I was referring to anything else! You ridiculous Obama supporters and your politics of personal destruction. When will it ever end!

Holyromanempire,

Post of the year. Thanks.

Can't wait for Sheila Johnson to become an Obama bundler just to irritate her ex-husband!

It's too bad that so many Obama supporters don't seem to understand that laws are enacted by elected officials. MLB was a powerful leader and advocate of civil rights but he held no official position. He could affect public opinion but it still required support from those who held the the actual hands of power. What Hillary said was an acknowledgment of of how things really work. To imply that she was somehow disparaging MLK is disappointing to hear from the supposed advocate of a new political order. That reeks of old politics of the worst way.

Here, look at this poll:

Pres '08
Jan 13 Rasmussen
McCain (R) 48%, Clinton (D) 39%

McCain is going to get their nomination, because they want to win. If he gets their nomination and Hillary gets ours, WE ARE GOING TO LOSE AND LOSE BIG!!! Obama brings in masses of independents and even some moderate Republicans, Hillary pushes away even large chunks of her OWN PARTY!!

I don't think people are understanding this...starting in 2006 we began riding a wave of backlash against the Republicans, in 2008 we are poised, if we have the right candidate, to do it again. We've seen the kind of turnout that Obama can create, not from crying or getting ridiculed by the media, but by inspiring people, energizing America like it hasn't been energized in decades, if ever. We can increase our majorities in both houses of Congress and take back the White House! If Hillary wins our nomination, we can kiss Congress goodbye. The Republicans will use conservative hate of Hillary (50% of Americans have already said they will NEVER vote for her) to rally their troops and turn out in record numbers. When they go to the polls in these record numbers, they will vote against every Democrat on the ticket, destroying our chances to increase our majorities, or even killing our majorities altogether. In the VA-01 special election the Republicans already ran attack ads against Congressional opponents using Hillary's picture right next to theirs. This WILL HAPPEN all over America. If we don't lose our majorities altogether in 2008, we will lose them in 2010 (if Hillary is president, which probably won't happen) just like Bill lost Congress during his administration. And if McCain is nominated, we don't even have to worry about that because he WILL win, there is NO WAY Hillary can beat him. Obama has a good chance, polls have shown Obama beating McCain. We can do it with Obama, but we will lose our best chance in decades if Hillary is our nominee! We will also prove to the world that we are incapable of real change...this is make or break time and we are on the verge of throwing it all away because of the political ambitions of the Clintons, and the blind following of many establishment democrats who unconditionally support the Clintons, no matter how dirty their campaign is, and no matter how much they will lie to get ahead.

So what I'm saying is WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Part of what the democratic nominee is being the face/leader of the Democratic Party. When you look forward to the general election campaign and the senators, representatives and governors who will be running as DEMS as well, begin to ask yourself this question.

Do they want to Obama to come to their rally with his message of hope, inspiration, change, and ending partisan politics or do they want to be standing beside the oft hated Hill (and what she represents to the vast middle).

Folks in red or almost red states are deciding Obama. Nebraska, Missouri, Wisconsin. In fact this phenomenon already occurred in the ’06 elections in many cases.

The DEMS have taken the Black vote for granted for so long that they fail to realize it’s the main reason they win all the blue States. HRC figures that will happen even if she hurts the relationship to secure the nomination. But there is a reason DEMS can’t win in the other states and thus the White House.

Can Clinton or Obama best win Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, Ohio? The traditional Blue States will really be behind Obama and even some incredible energy will also be released in the new-South, "the purple states" and the West.

With Clinton we’ll be facing a nail biter in PA, OH, MM, FL etc. just like before with fingers crossed and possibly hopes dashed. About 50% of the nation WILL NOT VOTE for her. Period.

Obama has the chance to actually expand the DEM hold and get things done with a majority that is less polarizing. Hillary stands to allow the REP to secure or even reverse the shift that started in ’06.

Wake up people.

Today Bob Johnson, founder of (BET)Black Exploitation Television, made comments about Senator Barack Obama while campaigning with Senator Hillary Clinton in South Carolina, in her quest to become President of the United States. Of all the people she could have stood side by side with today, why Bob Johnson? On the eve of the possibility of electing the first African American or woman as President of the United States, why on earth would Hillary Clinton associate herself with a man that has spent his life’s work trying to profit of the exploitation of African Americans, African American women and girls in particular?

Bob Johnson stands for everything Hillary Clinton OUGHT to be against. This man single-handedly set the cause of African Americans back hundreds of years. His exploitation of Black women and girls is particularly morally repugnant. Hillary Clinton is supposed to be a defender of the American worker, yet Bob Johnson made his billions at Black Entertainment Television by notoriously paying his on air talent slave wages.

To be sitting up in a the pulpit of a Black church grinning and laughing side by side with this multimedia crack cocaine dealer and pimp is the slap in the face of every Black woman and girl in this country.

Instead of repeating Bob Johnson’s comments on Senator Obama wholesale, reporters should be asking him about the circumstances under which his wife and BET cofounder left the company. They should ask him about his “relations” with the female executives at his company. They should ask him why his own sister allegedly sued him and whether Johnson properly paid his taxes. All of these issues are raised in Johnson’s biography, The Billion-Dollar Bet. Bob Johnson is not an African American leader, he is a bottom feeder.

Let us not forget that for SIX YEARS Bob Johnson skirting broadcasting rules to broadcast some of the most vile disgusting depictions of African American women in cable television history. BET’s “ Uncut “ featured such cultural gems as:

“What That Thing Smell Like”, by Black Jesus
Shake It Like a Pitbull, by Cold Cannons
F@#king, by David Banner feat. Jazze Pha -
“P#$$y Licker“, DJ Slim -
“I Got That Drank“, Frayser Boy feat. Mike Jones and Paul Wall -
“Let Me See You’re @$$ Drop“, Joker the Bailbondsman -
“P#$$y Poppin'“, by Ludacris feat. Shawnna and Lil Fate

This is not okay. Would Hillary Clinton sit in a church pulpit with Larry Flint or Hugh Hefner? Then why is she sitting in a pulpit with Bob Johnson? Or is she only concerned about the degradation and exploitation of White women? Does her brand of feminism extend to Black women and girls too?

When Hillary Clinton sits side by side in an African American church with a noted misogynist and smut peddler she sends a clear message: she’s not overly concerned about the damage this man has caused African American girls and women. Does Senator Clinton care about our daughters? I don’t know. The Senator should seriously reconsider the company she is keeping. Bob Johnson is no friend of Black America or Black women and children..

Clinton & Obama building the Party one bullshit petty spat at a time.

How much more of this bullshit are we going to have to put up with from the Clinton campaign?

I've never been much of a Hillary fan, but I was beginning to warm to her a few months ago. But after the disgusting and offensive campaign she's started to run against Obama, I can't see myself pulling the lever for her if she's the Democratic nominee in November. I'm sure she'd be a better president than anyone the Republicans put on the ballot, but I can't put my seal of approval on this form of Rovesque campaigning.

To common sense:
You need someone to provide a HRC e-mail address? Really? Hint: every campaign has a web site. Start there.
Grandpam:
Bob Johnson calling Obama Uncle Tom? Are you serious or delerious? How did you get that?
brm: Attacking Unions? Obama was the one who referred to unions as "special interest groups" linking them with the energy SIG, the tobacco SIG, etc. He is now pandering to them in the same way that HRC is pandering to young people.

Folks:

No need in engaging the Clinton sock puppets that have appeared because their only goal is to push this notion that Obama is the one at fault here. And if you think otherwise, you are at fault too.

If you think Senator Clinton gives a damn what you think, just consider the damage she is doing to the Democratic Party in her effort to win the nomination. The sooner you recognize that, the sooner you'll recognize that what you and I think doesn't matter now and won't matter latter.

I'm officially an ABC voter.

John-

I wish I could be as mature as you. If Clinton were by some chance to get the nomination (and I don't think she will), there is no chance in HELL that I would vote for her. Thankfully, if she did get it, Bloomberg would likely run and provide a decent alternative to folks like me who would otherwise choose McCain over Hillary.

Regardless, I remain hopeful that Claire McCaskill, Ben Nelson, Bill Bradley, John Kerry, Janet Napolitano and others would not be putting their credibility on the line if they didn't agree that Barack will be our next President.

Also please note sock puppets, the press release complained about personal, divisive attack. Nothing about race. Just the politics of personal destruction as practiced by the Clintons. So he's playing the "personal divisive attack" card, not the race card.

Going into this election, I didn't think I'd even imagine choosing a republican candidate over any of the leading democrats. The Clinton's campaign tactics have changed my mind. If McCain gets on the ballot, I probably WILL be choosing him over Hillary, even though I disagree with him on most issues. I feel you just gotta have at least an ounce of integrity - its clear the Clinton campaign isn't concerned about integrity - only whether they get elected.

If you think Senator Clinton gives a damn what you think, just consider the damage she is doing to the Democratic Party in her effort to win the nomination.

I'd be interested to learn exactly what is this putative damage to the Democratic Party. I see this claim bandied about, without any substantive description of what is being damaged.

Primaries are, in their nature, divisive. Each candidate wants to separate the opponents from their blocks of voters. So what?

The assumption is that, in the end, we will rally behind the winner. True, Obama groupies can't seem to produce any actual facts that demonstrate his awe-inspiring superiority to everyone else in America. But, beyond that, I haven't seen any behavior by any candidate that establishes this claim of destroying "the party."

Enlighten me.

Thanks.

mp

A vote for Hillary is a vote for Mark Penn.

Ah Ha!

Now I know why she appeared on the stage with this mysogyny peddler (you go girl!)and let him make his inflammatory comments. They wanted to light off yet another round in this fight because Obama rolled out a big policy speech today.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22637891/

Same thing they did with their "we finally beat him in fundraising this quarter) back in October on the day he was giving another big policy speech.

Can't have people paying attention to the policy speeches. It makes him harder to accuse of not giving details, lacking substance and being hazy on the issues.

I'm a left-leaning Independent voter in NYC who is for Obama, but would normally vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is. But after going through the last month of absurdities from the Clinton campaign (from Billy Shaheen's drug dealer comments to Cuomo's "shuck and jive" and through Robert Johnson's comments today), I will be writing John McCain the maximum $2,300 check if Hillary gets the nomination. There is NO WAY a group of people with this level of integrity and decency should be in the WH.

Integrity means something...as we've all seen over the last 7 years.

It's so funny to see the low-level Hillary staffers continuing to post on here that Obama is the one pulling "stunts." Their internal numbers must be a lot lower than we are seeing. My sense is that you will see several other prominent "establishment" politicians coming out in support of Obama in the next few days as they will want to distance themselves from the sleaze-bag Clinton campaign win or lose. Bottom line: it will be a fight between the special interests who are pulling for Hillary and the populus. History tells us that the witch will still win but this year might just be different.

This explains alot, but I am sure that she is lying, or she is a sexist, or she is uninformed, or she is a hillary-hater.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/obama-backer-se.html

note to the Clintons: shut the fuck up, go away, and leave us all alone.

Wow, er, "I will not say what he was doing" refers to community organizing.

Really smooth recovery there, buddy.

Ok, so this may already have been commented on, but what I see is the Clinton camp pushing the race thing as far as they can, (as filthy as it is,) then banking on the country saying "anything is better than another term of rebublican rule" it's filthy... reprehensible... but understandable. if anyone thinks this is an unreasonable assesment, I'd love to hear a cogent rebuttal.

Nizzy, you're right. Read Taylor Marsh. She loves Hillary and has dedicated to refuting the lies about her.

I am truly amazed by how stupid the Clinton campaign really is. They are in desperate need of James Carville and Paul Begala. WTF? How stupid can they be?

Did Taylor March blow Bill Clinton also?

The Obama campaigns response is right on the money. Johnson claiming that he was not talking about Obama's drug use shows that HE must think we are stupid.
And what is this BS about Obama making everything about race? Moisele, have you been smoking crack?
NCSteve has it pegged right. It's posturing by the clinton campaign and it's pathetic.

Gina,

You go, girl!

If you're frustrated by this stuff and want to do something positive you can (a) surf over to the Obama site and make a little contribution (it's easy and fun!) (b) call up your local Obama organization and get involved.

YEAH! What c said!

The best way to register your displeasure with all of this bullshit being leveled by the Clintons is to donate to Obama. Your time or money will be equally appreciated and together we can close the door on this unfortunate chapter in the history of the Democratic party.

sfam - isn't interesting though that both Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich have come out in support of Hillary in recent days?

If the Clintons truly cared about the issues (and not just themselves and their power) they wouldn't have allowed this BS to unfold and stuck to contrasting the policy differences between the two candidates and laid out a true vision for leading the country forward.

This is Lee Atwater politics at its best. Just ask John McCain about his time in South Carolina in 2000. I always thought bigger of the folks in our party. Boy was I naive.

Hey Stellaa-

If you really believe that, then tell your compadres in the Clinton campaign to stfu.

Obama is running the most irresponsible campaign I have ever seen. I really hope Hillary kicks his trash ass to the curb. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

I used to think that short of Joe Lieberman he was the worst Dem candidate I've ever seen. I'm now thinking Lieberman is now more loyal to the Democrats than obama is.

Is there nothing Obama won't piss on? Does he not have any decency or concern whatsoever?

It seems totally plausible that the Clintons now know they will lose this cycle and are now trying to ruin Obama to save their political future.

Why are they using diebold machines in New Hampshire. Is is so difficult to count paper ballots in the open?

What neighborhood? Waikiki? Upper West Side? Cambridge, MA?

Obama is an elite. Like a lot of rich kids, he smoked pot. Who cares?

There can now be no dispute that this campaign is Bill and Hill against the rest of the Democratic Party.

Billary? Mrs. Bill? They're not ad hominems, those appellations are truth

Edwards Criticizes Clintons' Comments

Has anyone noticed that all supporters of any candidate this cycle are instantly labeled "bots" or "clones," etc.? We've got the Paulbots, the Obamamaniacs, the Hillbots, and on and on. It is pretty stupid. People disagree; get over it. I support Obama. I don't think people who support Hillary or even Ron Paul are "bots." I disagree with them, but I respect their right to be wrong. ;-)

Drudge right now:

NEW WASHPOSTABCNEWS POLL: LARGE SHIFT TO OBAMA ... DEVELOPING...

I thought Bill Clinton was a good president but I will never vote for Hillary Clinton. I will either stay home or vote for the republican nominee.

Isn't the fact that Obama was open about his youthful drug use and THEN turned it around...went to and graduated from Columbia, became a community organizer in Chicago, went to Harvard Law and graduated magna cum laude while becoming the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, then turned down a supreme court clerkship and joined a civil rights law firm back in Chicago, became a constitutional law professor at one of the most respected schools innthe country, got elected to the Illinois legislature for 4 terms (same as Abraham Lincoln), was right about Iraq from the get-go, then got elected to the US Senate, has passed more of his own bills in 3 years than Hillary has in 7, and has run a superb campaign QUITE INDICATIVE of what kind of individual Obama is? And Robert Johnson is complaining about his high school drug use?

This is the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I will not vote for Hillary Clinton if she's the nominee. If the Democrats pass on two viable, non-scumbags, I am fine voting for Nader or Bloomberg.

Hillary used the word "spadework" on the "Today" show and nobody is reporting it.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0108/Racial_sensitivity_selfparody_watch.html

You are slipping kleefeld.

Alan said, "Obama supporters need to get their facts straight. If you can't take the normal ebb and flow of a campaign, what are you going to do if you are selected to run against the Republicans?

I am tired of this crap that the Clintons do ANYTHING to get power, blah, blah, blah."

Alan, I don't have a problem with Hillary's "rhetoric versus reality" stuff (whether or not I agree with it). I don't even really mind her mischaracterizations about Obama's supporting the war (but these truly are mischaracterizations). Both of these qualify as the "ebb and flow" as you put it. This is not what bothers me. There have been a rash of truly trashy actions by the Clinton campaign that do bother me - as well as many others. Not one, not two actions, but bunches of actions. Race-baiting is just a trashy brand of politics. Continually "reminding" everyone of youthful drug use is trashy, especially when lying about when it occurred, and using it as a mischaracterization of Obama's community activism.

So yeah, the "empty suit" motif may be false, but qualifies as rough and tumble. But the shucking and jiving, cocaine addicted "blacks need white people to get things done" stuff and all the rest really is shameless, and will result in a loss of support for her in the general election. If you have a problem with people voting based on their perception of a candidate's integrity, that's "your" problem - not ours.

Jennifer,

Does Ben Nelson have any credibility among Democrats to lay on the line for Obama? I'll happily go along with you on the other endorsees, but this one goes straight into the kitty litter. All Ben Nelson does is remind us that there's no use in getting more Democrats in office if they vote Republican. Nelson's only use is getting to the magic majority figure -- after that, he's worse than dead weight. I nearly threw up when I read his endorsement of Obama: Obama, Nelson says, embodies everything Nelson tries to do in the Senate. With friends like these, the Clintons are almost unnecessary....

Isn't it interesting that two weeks ago, Hillary led in endorsements from fellow senators by 10-1? It was 10-2 (Conrad) until New Hampshire. But AFTER Obama lost to Clinton in New Hampshire, four senators and a key governor have endorsed Obama (Johnson, Kerry, McCaskill, Napolitano, Nelson). Politicians do not jump onto a sinking ship. This is unusual. I'd like to hear more analysis. Did the first 10 endorse because they felt the pressure of the Clinton machine? Are the most recent 5 trying desperately to give us a message about what another Clinton presidency would mean?

There is, of course, one candidate in the race currently campaigning hard on the issues in South Carolina. That would be John Edwards. In an ordinary election cycle, one without the two historic and celebrity candidates, it would be clear to many that he is the one who is fighting hard for proressive policies that favor ordinary working class and middle class Americans. Because of his southern, rural, working class roots and his great ability as a campaigner he would run away with the general campaign if we would only let him. Right now the Clinton/Obama feuding (driven more by Clinton than by Obama to be sure) threatens to move from farce to tragedy. I still plan to vote for him on February 5th. Maybe some other folks should too.

right, sarah?! if i knew my kid would go on to do all those amazing things after smoking pot in high school, i'd give him a bong right now!

Sorry, Bob. Gotta call BS on this one. Why would you NOT want to refer to his community organizer work from the stump? You knew what you were saying, knew it would be controversial, and said it in a way that you could weasel out of it just like you did. Cold, calculated dirty tricks. Textbook Clinton. Great when used against the R's but not against our own. This is the last straw for me. I WILL NOT vote for Billary as the Democrats' nominee.

"And to me, as an African-American," Johnson said, "I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues since Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood – and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book – when they have been involved."

So, how did this imply to the drugs? Does anyone know what kind of "community organizing" he was doing? Was it labor, community or economic development? The guy was just saying that Obama said in the book what he did, how did it jump to the drugs?

Glad to know we can get rid of Alan, when Obama is the nominee.

Feel free to leave now, Alan.

My take on why Obama is getting some traction with Senators (brought up a couple of comments ago):

1) If you are a Democratic Senator or Congressperson from a moderate or conservative state, you do not want to run for election against the headwind generated by HRC at the top of the ticket.

2) No one knows who will eventually get the nomination. But if you are endorsing Obama, your political calculus is that you are more frightened of HRC's negative coat tails in your own district than you are of her wrath if she wins.

3) Even if she wins the nomination, you have partially inoculated yourself against her negative effects by first endorsing Obama.

4) You are betting that even if HRC gets the nomination she will lose the general, thus the tab you would have to pay if she is President won't come due.

Does this make sense to anyone else?

Anonymous.....

Could it be, "he was doing something" do you know what the organizing was? I think you all jumped on the drug thing. Could Johnson have been saying, "look he was organising, I don't know what, but he says in his book" .
Was not the drug stuff when he was younger? Why do you all imply that if someone is doing something in" the neighborhood it's drugs"? Gee, who is being racist? So, white folks, get your tits out of the wringer and check out what you implied from what Johnson said, the minute you heard neighborhood, you think it's drugs, whereas I think Johnson, like most people does not know what organizing, literally, Obama did in the Neighborhood.

Bob Johnson, founder of B.E.T has now officially become Bob Uncle Tom Johnson. Uncle Tom Johnson must be getting a sweetheart deal for selling out his black community.

Uncle Tom is commonly used to describe black people whose political views or allegiances are considered by their critics as detrimental to blacks as a group.

Exactly what advantage are the Clintons supposed to be
gaining from these "racist" remarks? Someone doesn't
know Obama is Black? Those who hear them
being reminded that now they won't for an American
American?

The need to torture the Clinton words, or in
some instances make them up or rewrite them suggests
how ridiculous and juvenile this is. Obama
supporters are running the very campaign
Obama is not. I am Black, I am victim vote
for me.

The Obama supporters' charges not only are angering more and more
Clinton supporters, they are what seem to be racist and
above to be taken fro the Karl Rove playbook.

Let's suppose Robert Johnson was in fact referring to Obama's drug use. (I support Clinton, and I think that's what he meant.)

I could see this as being a hit below the belt--it shouldn't have anything to do with the campaign.

But it's not racist, is it? Would the founder of BET make a race-baiting remark in the same sentence in which he's trying to build up Clinton's bona fides on race issues, in front of an African American audience? To me it sounds like he was just making a personal attack.

I suspect that's what the Obama campaign thinks too, given their response.

So let's classify this incident separately from the others, and go back to our regularly scheduled argument about the others.

"'We're not inflicting pain on these fuckers,' Clinton said, softly at first. 'When people kill us, they should be killed in greater numbers.' Then, with his face reddening, his voice rising, and his fist pounding his thigh, he leaned into Tony [Lake], as if it was his fault. 'I believe in killing people who try to hurt you. And I can't believe we're being pushed around by these two-bit pricks'"

-George Stephanopholous quoting Bill Clinton in his book, All Too Human.

Be very afraid for Barack Obama.

The amazing leap: who is the racist?

Wow all you racists who think that Johnson's comment implied drug dealing or using, cause it was in "the neighborhood" that he was doing something!!!!

Doing something was about the community organizing, if you know the field is wide and varied, it can be from labor issues, housing, economic development, health care, environmental etc. It was not the drug leap you all are making. How many people can recite the specifics on the organizing? Probably 1%.

"And to me, as an African-American," Johnson said, "I am frankly insulted that the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues since Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood – and I won’t say what he was doing, but he said it in the book – when they have been involved."

So, how did this imply to the drugs? Does anyone know what kind of "community organizing" he was doing? Was it labor, community or economic development? The guy was just saying that Obama said in the book what he did, how did it jump to the drugs?

CHRISTY

STOP YELLING!
(in case you missed it, all caps in net-speak is yelling)

Maybe he will not say what it is cause he does not know what it is, ever think that? But no, if it's in the neighborhood you all think it's drugs. Go for it.
And anonymous with the 8:57 post, RIGHT ON.

Johnson lost all of his credibility when he said OJ didn't do it.

Um, Duane, perhaps you re-read, when you recognize that Obama is no "cleaner" than Clinton, then you've seen the light my child. Until then, enjoy walking around lost.

I posted after Greg Sargent's Friday column, and at the time, I mentioned that the HRC campaign was going to face a tidal wave of discontented, no, pissed off African Americans, of which I am one.

That Bob "I never met a Black community I didn't want to corrupt with every suburban white teenager's fantasy of what urban life is like" Johnson even opened his mouth on this controversy shows how desperate the Clinton campaign was to find a Stepin Fetchit to do their dirty work.

It warms my heart to see that AAs are no longer willing to be treated by the Democrats like evangelicals are treated by the Republicans. The sad thing is that the Rovian game the Clintons are playing is going to cost the party a great shot at the White House. Like many other posters wrote, I will not vote for Clinton in the general under any circumstances, even if George "Little Satan" W. Bush could bamboozle his way into running for a third time.

At this point, a Draft Gore movement needs to start immediately.

If you have a close friend who is a Hillary supporter, and especially if your friend is a big fund raiser for Hillary, the time has come to ask that person why. And, for how much longer?

Seriously I think the Clintons have run off the rails into a ditch. I don't ever remember seeing them both so consistently desperate, angry, equivocating--and most surprising of all--downright incoherent.

The Clintons have entered the Twilight Zone.

I guess, like many, I was such a huge supporter of Bill in both terms of his Presidency, it has taken alot of shotgun blasts to wake me up. But, when Bill started firing on the Charlie Rose show, and there was no let-up through the NH primary, well, one sort of had to take notice.

Seriously, what exactly has HRC done in the field of civil rights, women's rights, etc...?

I'm an old guy and I don't remember her name ever coming up on those issues.

It doesn't imply drug use to a reasonable person, but the Obamaheads most certainly don't qualify as that. For people who don't want politics as usual, perhaps you look behind the curtain at Mr. Obama, his politics are as dirty as hers and we've got months more of this, yippee!

Yep, it's Obama's fault that Bob Johnson made those unfortunate - and suggestive - remarks. If for no other reason than he won't step aside and let the Rockefeller Republicans crown Hillary.

Shame on Obama for continuing to force the Clinton campaign to do nasty things.

(FWIW, this is covered in Hillary Law: Someone else is always to blame for the shortcomings of the Clinton folks.)

Has anyone stopped to consider this: Racism can be both out front and subtle. I agree with the notion that my white parents didn't have to teach me to be racist. I believe that white folks do benefit from "white skin privilege" in the U.S. even to this day. There are disparities in life experience that most all of us white folks don't even notice, unless a Black friend points it out, but most African-Americans will recognize, based on their life experiences as members of an identified and sometimes scorned minority.
I don't think Bill and Hillary Clinton are overt bigots, and I am sure they have had many experiences with African-Americans, but that isn't the same as being on the receiving end of discrimination, both overt and subtle, all your life.
Given Sen. Clinton's poorly-formulated statements and her inability to squelch such statements from her political operative supporters, I am beginning to think that Hillary Clinton just doesn't get it deeply enough to earn my vote.
It's time for Sen. Clinton to be humble, and go sit down with some astute Black advisors and take her lumps, listen, and adopt a more humble tone on race if she has it in her.
Lyndon Johnson pressuring Congress to pass civil rights legislation so he could sign it was the moral thing to do and the least white folks could do, considering centuries of privilege. LBJ wouldn't have had the platform to get that legislation passed if grassroots activists hadn't sat in and marched and been spat on, waterhosed, arrested and even murdered (Emmet Till, Medgar Evers, MLK, etc.). The struggle for social justice needs all of us united, of all colors, playing all the roles up the chain until the work is done.
I prefer Sen. Obama's crew of foreign policy advisors over Sen. Clinton's, and prefer his call to broaden our vision and not just take the same old approaches in foreign policy. And I like that he worked to address the needs of displaced manufacturing workers in Chicago. Sen. Obama has my vote. And don't tell me I am blindly voting for him just because he is African-American. I wouldn't vote for Alan Keyes, Clarence Thomas or Armstrong Williams. Obama '08!

Obama support soaring in the African American community. I guess they can see the Clinton campaign race baiting very clearly. Maybe they dont want to stay on Miss Hillary's plantation any more.

But he's also soared in a key Democratic group -- African-Americans, who've switched from favoring Clinton by 52-39 percent a month ago to an even larger preference for Obama, 60-32 percent, today.

I am really concerned about Hillary being 'thrown under the bus' by her own party. The Clintons are a truly remarkable couple who have always put their best efforts toward creating lasting change and compromising across party lines to get there. Sure, they can be annoying, but they work hard, and that beats anything I have seen in a long time.
Obama is a clean, articulate, man, who represents an African American visual and voice that transcends racial lines. He doesn't sound like Jesse or Al, so he his good for most people. He is not presidential material. In fact, I am not sure what he has really done. Not much.
If nominated - he will not win.
Tony

it's now official. as a commmitted registered democrat, who wants to end the war in iraq, i will vote for john mccain over hillary clinton in a general election, should it come to that.

this is indisputable, unacceptable, race-baiting, and it is now part of an unmistakably deliberate pattern. that it comes from the mouth of an african-american is irrelevant.

this is not about civil rights, to which the clintons are committed. this is not about racism per se -- the clintons are not racist. this is about the willingness to disgustingly exploit racial divisions as a political tool to win elections.

from this point forward, i will never cast a ballot for hillary clinton.

brm- yes, it appears they have fallen for his race baiting, it works, I anticipate more Hillary smear out of his campaign. I expect more retarded, for lack of a better word, antics out of her camp as well. Now, the challenge will be, can Obama really make black people believe the Clintons are racist? Not saying it's not possible, but if so, wow, this snake oil salesman is moving on to bigger things, I'd like to remain wise enough not to say I was not a part of it when you're all disillusioned.

Thank you del, i feel the same way too.
Although I supported Obama from the beginning.

GO Obama!!

Seriously, what exactly has HRC done in the field of civil rights, women's rights, etc...?

I'm an old guy and I don't remember her name ever coming up on those issues.

Mike, in regards to civil rights, she was a Goldwater girl. Barry Goldwater, you will recall, ran against the guy she gives all the credit to for the civil rights movement.

Right on Anna! More hypocrytical finger pointers for Obama! ARe your fingers sore from pointing? Of course call me a Hillary supporter, standard warfare. But really, if I wanted another corporate Democrat for President, couldn't I just support Obama too? Oh that's right, I have to fall into the trance that distorts all reality and makes me think he is opposite-person for that!

Good grief! As an Obama supporter, I have to admit that all of this stuff coming from Hillary's campaign is really starting to annoy me. I've worked in politics since I was 22, and I understand the game, but this stuff that seems to come out every day is beneath contempt. I've supported the Clintons in the past and was even a delegate to the '96 convention, but Bill and Hillary are starting to really irritate me with all their Roveian b.s. lately. It's ok to draw contrasts on positions, but this smear campaign against Obama carried out by surrogates is just pure Karl Rove, as well as the obvious attempts by the Clinton campaign to suppress votes in Iowa and now Nevada.

As someone else noted last week, it is just unseemly that a former two-term President of the United States is out attacking a candidate and Senator from his own party. It just seems so petty and small-minded, and I've really lost a lot of respect for Bill in the past couple of weeks due to this.

There is no way Hillary can unite this nation, and her campaign's words and actions are proving that on a daily basis. Obama is really the only chance we have to change our politics and unite our nation.

He is not presidential material. In fact, I am not sure what he has really done. Not much.
If nominated - he will not win.
Tony

Tony, I realize your opinion about who is electable versus who isn't is paramount to any evidence to the contrary but for those of us who aren't listening to the little voices in your head, where is the evidence?

On MTP today, Russert introduces polls that show Obama beating Republicans in a matchup much more handily than Hillary. Even Hillary had to acknowledge that if nominated by the Democrats she would have to work from a position of "being behind".

Do you have anything other than your own latemt prejudices to justify such an indictment of Obama? He does, after all, have more years in elective office than Hillary, has been elected more times than Hillary and has shown the ability so far to pull in huge new swaths of supporters.

This is unbelievable to me. We’re talking events of a week and Clinton has the audacity to feed THESE recent, uh, days-old, hours-old events to the Revise-History, Scorch-Earth, Didn’t-Inhale Clinton Machine? And who’s coming to the plate for this? Bob who?

So, last week, during the NH primary campaign when they were feeling pretty desperate with the polls and everything (you with me so far — this is true, right? Happened? We all on the same page so far?), Bill appears at a campaign event and says Obama’s story is a fairy tale. He can’t make his wife taller, make her male, make her, well, Obama, Bill whines bitterly. Bill’s very angry about this — can’t you see? You’re missing something here — read my lips, he whispers, “she’s Female, come on!”

Then, shortly after Bill’s remarks, Hillary herself says:

“Dr. King had been on the front lines. He had been leading a movement. But Dr. King understood, which is why he made it very clear, that there has to be a coming to terms of our country politically in order to make the changes that would last for generations beyond the iconic, extraordinary speeches that he gave. That’s why he campaigned for Lyndon Johnson in 1964. That’s why he was there when those great pieces of legislation were passed. Does he deserve the lion’s share of the credit for moving our country and moving our political process? Yes, he does.”

After Hillary basically says, “Hey Obama, don’t give too much credit to what Dr. Martin Luther King dreamt of — all this hope stuff is false. Yeah, let’s not have “false hopes.” I mean, MLB had to get Lyndon B. Johnson to do the real work, remember? Unlike what you think, that white man was really the one who got all the work done for your civil rights movement stuff.”

Senator Obama in the meanwhile, stays quiet. All in the meanwhile, with all these headlines going back and forth, regarding what I outlined above, Senator Obama says nada.

The news sort of talk about these remarks by the Clintons. Sort of. There are other headline news. Clinton comes first in NH, and some people think it’s because she almost cried, and she makes a speech and says, “Okay, I’ll try and cry more often folks, should’ve listened to you a bit more carefully — huh. THAT’s what you wanted?”

Senator Obama still stays quiet. All in the meanwhile, with all these headlines going back and forth, regarding what I outlined above, Senator Obama says nada.

Then, uh uh, problems for the Clintons. Clyburn, the top ranking black politician, gets angry at the Clintons’ remarks (and maybe he also got peeved at other vicious Clinton lies, e.g., Bill claiming he was against the war from the beginning when there’s undisputed evidence of speeches he gave supporting Bush on Iraq war?). “You guys being racist here?” Clyburn wonders incredulously.

Senator Obama still stays quiet. All in the meanwhile, with all these headlines going back and forth, regarding what I outlined above, Senator Obama says nada.

So, the Clintons, who desperately need the black vote, then go on radio to Al Sharpton saying, “Hey, Obama is a great guy, he can win, no, no, no, he’s no fairy tale.”

Obama, in the meanwhile, still keeps quiet.

Hillary now goes on Meet the Press and says, “It’s Obama’s fault. He’s been twisting my words, and oh my god, people, HE IS MAKING RACE AN ISSUE! AND I’M CRYING, SEE MY TEARS???”

So, Obama finally responds, “Uhm. You know, this is kinda fascinating to me. I mean, I didn’t say a word? Did anyone hear me say anything about this?”

Nope, Senator. It’s just the crazy Clintons again, and some crazy Americans believing the crap, as they do sometimes.

Sigh.

Michael Powe wrote on January 13, 2008 9:05 PM:
John McCutchen, et al have sententiously informed me that "Hillary can't win" and "only Obama can win" -- thereby perpetuating (1) the meme that Obama is the returning Jesus, come to save us all from ourselves; (2) the meme that Hillary can't win, which they adopted wholesale from their Republican friends, in service to their candidate; (3) that the above two statements prove that Hillary is destroying the Democratic Party.

Well, not a lot of philosophy students in this forum. Two statements in succession do not a syllogism make.

One person states that failing to nominate Obama will destroy the Party because all the people "energized" by his candidacy will stay home on election day. The consensus among Obama disciples is that all the other candidates should simply go home and acknowledge him as the Savior Godhead of our nation. Perhaps, we can simply dispense with the formality of an election and install him for life. That seems only fair, considering the awesomeness of his Power.

But, if he is as weak in the knees as his followers, he'll be trying to save our country with mailin rebates. None of you seems to have the stomach for a standup fight. Numerous individuals in this thread have repudiated the Democratic Party, preferring to see Mike Huckabee installed as President rather than Hillary Clinton. Words cannot express my contempt for this hypocritical, self-serving band of cowards, who in fact care nothing for the fate of our nation.

For the record, I will vote for the candidate nominated to lead the Democratic Party. I hope that candidate is John Edwards, who makes Hillary Clinton look venal and Barack Obama like an immature putz. Failing that, either Obama or Clinton will be worlds better than the Republican alternative.

Thanks.

mp

For 2-3 months now I have been saying that Hillary's campaign has been sputtering because they've been reacting to internal polls which show her headed for the crapper

That's why they've been, however ineptly, swift boating Obama

WaPo/ABC appears to confirm the hypothesis....Hillary's lead is now gone...down 25% from last month

It isn't rocket science.

She's about the worst candidate the Dems could field

Um Duane, again, read it real slow, and then walk away and ask yourself, does this guy support Hillary? I mean, take yourself out of anti-reality Obama defense mode, read it, would a Hillary supporter write that? No, please back to Earth.

Anonymous, if you want to have a discussion with me, you are going to have to make an effort to establish a premise, support it with facts and then query from there. My inability to read your mind and your inability to construct a coherent drive-by protestation are creating an obvious impediment to our continued discussion.

Anonymous wrote on January 13, 2008 9:25 PM:
there are only two possible explanations for all this vile hillary-bashing: 1) TPM has become a target of some republican hate group that is posting verbal graffiti on this board or 2) obama supporters think that the "politics of hope" can only win if they slap down hillary in a manner that only a swiftboater could love.

i prefer to believe that the michelle malkin crowd has infested this board. no way can obama supporters have written even half of the disguting comments on this board.

Me: Right on. Hillary sucks, but I come online tonight and read these comments, this is the politics of hope? Mr. Obama would be embarassed by his supporters. These seems like most everywhere, a pretty-pro Obama blog, not sure where that comes from either.

The thing to understand is that the latest comments coming out of the Clinton campaign are being viewed through the prism of what happened in December, when every other day it was discovered that another Clinton aide in Iowa was caught sending out the "Obama is a radical Muslim" smear, and when their NH campaign chair brought up Obama's teenage drug use and implied he was a drug dealer.

You sew what you reap; now the public doesn't trust what comes out of the mouth of that campaign, and rightfully so, especially when these sorts of comments are dropped every few days. Give me a break.

You don’t hear this crap coming out the Obama campaign.

Barbara

War wing of the Democratic party...McCain's never known a war he wouldn't fight, Mrs. Bill never seen one she wouldn't triangulate

At one level, I'd prefer McCain. At least he won't Lieberman me

The tone of the Hillary-haters is shrill. Why? During the holocaust there were capos, Jews who helped the Nazis herd and beat and round up other Jews on the way to the gas chambers. Likewise, the Hillary-haters don't want success, they know Obama can't win. They want to lose, and then they can feel self-righteous. They're not interested in making changes (hence the stir about MLK/LBJ comment), because LBJ actually helped people by passing laws. They're self-loathing, America-hating ultra leftists. That's why they're trying to swift boat Hillary, our most progressive and winning leader.

Chicken George! Give us all a break!

It is not about what the Clinton's have "done" for the African American community it is about what can be done for the future of America (no subcategory descriptor required)!

In order to not live in the past we need to look far into our future. A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for the Clinton past. A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for the American future.

African Americans do not owe any individual or group their [our] allegiance because our allegiance is to the Untied States of America and the ideals that all men and woman are created equal!

We do not have to bind ourselves intellectually nor emotionally to any candidate, particularly the Clinton's. We are all free people that should not vote just on the bases of a single point issue.

Hillary Clinton is the virtual incumbent in this race. The problems we face today are part of the Clinton's doing and the core of Hillary's 35 years of experience on why we should not vote for her. There’s no dismissing the fact that the Clinton administration got distracted in his second term a period when bin Laden and al Qaeda could have been stopped.

Each day I read about the pandering done by the Clintons makes me sick of a Presidential Primary selection process that I was previously extremely enthused about!

I believe this to be very Rove(ish) in the application of hot button talking points where they [the Clinton's] know that they [the Clinton's] have a solid backing of the core of the Democratic party and as such want to discourage younger and independent voters from taking part I the process thus increasing the voting base for real change, change we all can trust.

Bob Johnson of BET is looking out for his share of entrenched interest as he has a lot to gain/maintain by supporting the status quo and not supporting non-partisan issues and solutions. He wants polarisation because he makes money on polar issues and groups.

Obama makes a large number of Americans – young and old, black and white – believe this nation can accomplish anything it sets its mind to. He talks about "replacing the politics of cynicism with the politics of hope." And he doesn't see Republicans as the enemy. The Tampa Tribune Editorial Board Jan 11, 2008

We were foolish to believe that the Clintons could see what they believe is their destiny threatened from someone like Barack Obama! The Clinton’s position was clearly articulated by the statement of: "Give me a break," said Mr. Clinton. "This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen." Not sure about your vantage point nor how you might parse what Bill Clinton said and meant but I know what I heard and what I heard was Bill Clinton saying that the whole Barack Obama campaign is a fairy tale.

This idea had been levelled earlier in the campaign with Hillary expressing that Barack was giving the American People false hope(s)!

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union were foolish to believe that we could hope for a country of unity, one of collective strength(s), one without the constraints of the past placing artificial restrictions on our future!

This really isn't about right vs wrong; liberal vs conservative; Democrat vs Republican vs Independent -- this is about the past verses the future! This is about a select entrenched group that dominate our country trying to retain THEIR power!

Why do you think the GOP core despise Mike Huckabee OR provide luke warm support for John McCain??? They are worried that We the People will see the truth and as such vote for change real change, change that we can trust.

If Barack Obama gets no further then the Presidential Primary process he [Barack] will still have done more for Americans or all colours and ethnic backgrounds then the Clinton's could have ever hoped to accomplished!

Don't let them steal our future in an effort to save their past!

Go Barack '08.

"I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see!"

if hillary weren't a threat to take the WH, then there would be no need to bash the hell out of her. sorry, but the republicans don't want to run against her.

Anonymous Hillary Supporter:They're self-loathing, America-hating ultra leftists.

In one breath, you Hillary supporters condemn us all as a bunch of closet Republicans, in the next breath you sound just like Republicans.

When you folks decide which it is, let us know. Right now, I'm feeling better about Obama's chances with the Clinton campaign floundering so badly and the Clinton supporters online losing all focus in their blind fury at being challenged in a Democratic primary.

Duane wrote on January 13, 2008 9:41 PM:
Anonymous Hillary Supporter:They're self-loathing, America-hating ultra leftists.

In one breath, you Hillary supporters condemn us all as a bunch of closet Republicans, in the next breath you sound just like Republicans.

When you folks decide which it is, let us know. Right now, I'm feeling better about Obama's chances with the Clinton campaign floundering so badly and the Clinton supporters online losing all focus in their blind fury at being challenged in a Democratic primary.

if hillary weren't a threat to take the WH, then there would be no need to bash the hell out of her. sorry, but the republicans don't want to run against her.

If telling the truth about Hillary is "bashing" her, then you don't have a prayer with her against the Republicans anyway.

I think they fixed New Hampshire and are going to try to fix South Carolina as well.

Has anyone noticed that almost every argument advanced by team Clinton in support of her candidacy is an attempt to bring Obama down to her level instead of trying to bring HRC up to Obama's level?

I mean every argument. On this board. From the candidate. From Bill Clinton. From her surrogates. Every arguement is geared towards the lowest common denominator.

And if you think there is a better option than HRC you are naive/a dreamer/a closet Republican.

That's the best we can do?

Well, if Obama wasn't at least a little worried, he wouldn't be stirring all this up. I just don't see why, I think he can win this handily.

How did Obama cause Bob Johnson to make those unfortunate remarks? Mind-control techniques? Maybe Bob Johnson is a double-agent, public support for Hillary, secret support for Obama?

how is it that bill clinton can have a 65 pct approval rating (much higher among democrats) and not have any supporters posting on this board? something doesn't add up... that's why i suggested that it must be the michelle malkin-loving, hate-mongering, swiftboat crowd... not the believers in obama's "politics of hope"...

yeah Greg, there's CLEARLY no real pattern here. just a string of coincidences.

You are absolutely right. I cannot imagine any of my friends, with whom I have deep respect, who may have supported Barack Obama in the past, to continue to support him in good conscience.

The Obamas have proven that retaining power is far more important to them than bringing the country together at a time of great need and doing what is best for the Democratic party.

At least the Clinton and Edwards campaigns have remained above board. I have lost deep respect for Barack Obama throughout all of this, someone with whom I have defended with deep conviction for the last 15 years. It is a disgrace and he should be ashamed.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We finally have it - a Godwin's Law violation from camp Clinton.

OK - who had 1/13/08 in the pool?

"You're right, its possible that "I won't say what it is" carries multiple meanings. For example, he could not want to mention Obama's days as a community organizer, and thus the omission."

Bingo, stops short of saying something positive, doesn't make it right, but jumping to drugs? Seems silly.

How did Obama cause Bob Johnson to make those unfortunate remarks? Mind-control techniques? Maybe Bob Johnson is a double-agent, public support for Hillary, secret support for Obama?

Duane, clearly -- Barack Obama and his supporters are not just nazi sympathizers, but Jedis as well.

Truly a frightening combination.

Where do I pick up my Messerschmidt light saber?

Is Barack Obama a lesbian?

What has Bob Johnson done for the Black Community, apart from exploiting it by airing videos of scantily clad Black Women in Hip Hop videos and making millions of dollars for himself?

Any parents of any race who want to bring up responsible children should ban BET from their households. It's degrading to humanity.

The Clinton campaign fears loosing so much they have adopted the Rove/Atwater approach to campaigning. With each passing day they become smaller and more disgraceful. Not only will Hillary self-destruct, but Bill's legacy will be destroyed as well. It is digusting to watch. In 2000 and 2004, I was an anybody but Bush voter. I am now an anybody but Hillary voter.

The Obama campaign fears losing so much they have adopted the Rove/Atwater approach to campaigning. With each passing day they become smaller and more disgraceful. Not only will Barack self-destruct, but his legacy will be destroyed as well. It is digusting to watch. In 2000 and 2004, I was an anybody but Bush voter. I am now an anybody but Obama voter.

If anyone ever had any respect for Johnson, take another look. His "something in the neighborhood" dis was bad enough, but then claiming he was referring to Obama's work as a community organizer was cowardly, idiotic and slimy beyond belief. He doesn't even have the courage to own up to his own insults.

Who'd have thought that the founder of BET would stoop to racist stereotypes, then deny the obvious? Are we sure he's not trying to give Rush Limbaugh another show?

Scumbag.

I'm really disgus with the clintons using a black man to diss and disrespect sen, Obama why?

Again,What has Bob Johnson done for the Black Community, apart from exploiting it by airing videos of scantily clad Black Women in Hip Hop videos and making millions of dollars for himself?

SALE OUT
BOb you make me sick

Copied from another blog, but worth it...

I was in the trenches working with the poor during the nineties. I remember when he compromised on the welfare to work programs and how some liberal dems were outraged. But you know what he did. He attached domestic violence treatment funding to the welfare to work program. So, our program quadrupled. Our welfare to work programs did more to help people than you can imagine. We had child care credits, we had long term over a year long counseling for the REAL issues that hold folks back (like domestic violence, substance abuse, poverty). We actually had programs that trained these women in computer fields so they would be guaranteed 40 thou or better when they got out.
I was in the the trenches. Still am. Our domestic violence programs have been cut. Welfare to work is not “dress for success” our programs for good jobs in higher paying jobs is gone, we lost two shelters in our city.
The Clintons did an amazing job of placating the republicans, balancing the budget without selling out the poorest, and middle class of this nation. There have been dems who developed good programs but NONE that did and balanced the budget. Republicans always used their examples as “pork” but not the Clintons. The Clintons completely damaged the republican reagan meme “trickle down economics” that if you focus on the rich, and corporations we all are “lifted.” The Clintons proved this was bunk. They are hated and feared for this reason.
I don’t like every thing about them, but I was working amongst the poorest, most neglected segment of our society when the Clintons were in office, and for them life got a hell of a lot better.
I get tired of the Clintons are corporate evil argument. If that were true, the nineties would have been way different. She outright admitted that NAFTA was a mistake and that it didn’t turn out the way Bill had envisioned. He was in trouble with the Monica Lewinsky stuff and threw them a bone, not realizing how bad it would turn out. WE do have to deal with the global market but it didn’t go the way they thought it would. IN part due to what BUSH did when he got into office.