Interesting...

I suspect that way too many people jumped on her bandwagon too soon back when they thought she was inevitable, and now they are uneasy and wondering how to jump off and when. This is why it is foolish to commit 100% to someone at the beginning of a campaign.

Unfortunately, this cut off the Horse's Mouth piece actually tells an extremely different story than the original.

Horse's Mouth is a bit more scathing of Herbert, while this TPM-EC cut piece of the HM piece brings up the rats from a sinking ship idea.

I'll side with the original. I think Kerrey's response was pretty justified, without further response or evidence.

Maybe my reading comp is sucky, but that's how I read it. Besides, NYC is Kerreyland now anyway, with the New School and all....

No story here.

Oh, I get it now.

This is supposed to be an example of a change in HRC campaign tactics in response to the "race-baiting" of the last few weeks.

Maybe, maybe not. I think Kerrey was probably seriously embarrassed about what happened in late December. That serious embarrassment required a tepid response to Bob Herbert's column, though it probably deserved much more.

Why the tepid response? Bob Herbert is African-American. I'm guessing Kerrey that a response was appropriate, but unilaterally toned it down for fear of being un-pc and continuing the Clinton "race-baiting" media narrative.

Taken on its face, Kerrey's response is justified, and to me, a solid rebuke of Herbert.

"Clintons Racists ???

Having met and worked for Bob Kerrey, I know for a fact that his statement is sincere.

The only racist in this campaign has been Jesse Jackson Jr. , who supports Obama. The Clintons are among the most racially progressive couple in politics. Your smears are pathetic and losing.

A Republican's Prayer

"The democrats are being given a choice. Remain the clunking collection of single interest groups that it has been for decades or become a national party once again. That's the choice that Obama is offering and as a Republican, I hope they don't take it"

Ahnold's not bothering with Tucker Carlson's prayer

Schwarzenegger Praises Obama SF Chron

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/29/MNOSUNR7E.DTL&hw=arnold+obama&sn=001&sc=1000

This is interesting.

Hm, chacun à son gout I suppose, but I do not find it that interesting. Sen Kerrey was slighted by Bob Herbert and he wrote a response. If Sen Kerrey had actually repeated the allusion to a madrassa education in this letter, I would find that interesting, but all I see here is a man defending his good name without really touching on the political fights of the moment at all. I see no real story here.

"Then she dragged out the tried and true hack, Maxine Waters"

Clintons are racist, except when they have Maxine Waters, who is a hack. As if Ted Kennedy is a fresh and modern voice. Give me a break.

Obama is going to lose. Deal with it.

Bob Kerrey apologized immediately once he became aware that his statements had been taken by some as insults/subtle attacks; Sen. Obama immediately said that he saw nothing wrong with the comments and returned praise to former Sen. Kerry.
I saw Kerrey make the statements initially and frankly (although I'm a strong Obama supporter and by this point can't bear to look at Clinton) I believe that he was making what he believed was a compliment (roughly, "I don't see these differences - name, background, etc. - as a bad thing at all but instead as a strength, an asset" - apparently too complex for national TV).
Anyway, Kerrey has been speaking up, in just this tone and these words, whenever the negative construction placed on his comments is brought back out for an airing, so the letter to WaPo is nothing new. --- Just because it came from the Hillary side of things doesn't mean it's *necessarily* negative and an intended attack. Anyway, what in Bob Kerrey's background makes anyone think he would be anyone's attack person?

"apparently accidental claim of a secular madrassa"

You're kidding, right?

the man was president of a university for crying out loud, and before that he was a well respected senator. Oh and he was on the 9/11 commission.

How could he, after all that, think there was such a thing as a "secular madrassa"?

Accident? you're deluding yourself in your hackery for Billary's candidacy.

The word "madrassa" literally does just mean "school" in arabic. I looked it up.

Another member of the 9/11 Commission. Don't trust him.

then why not just call it school cal d?

So, wait ... just so I understand: When this initially happened, Kerrey's mere mention of Obama being able to reach out to Muslims was part of the "slur," but now that he writes in -- and repeats that line -- it's a sign that people are bolting from Clinton's camp or hedging their bets? Seriously? These Obamabots are a squirrely lot. The media-concocted Obama "movement" is about to learn what happens when actual Democrats show up and vote in large numbers. Starting tonight in Florida, and continuing next week. Nuzzle the warm embrace of Tim Russert and Chris Matthews while you can; once large numbers of people start voting, it will be a different story.

Obviously, in restating his opinion of Obama in a very favorable way but still mentioning the word Muslim, it is clear that Bob Kerrey is not only racist but a religious bigot. And by not mentioning the woman candidate he supports, he is clearly a misogynist, too.

I think that covers it.

-

Honestly, looking at the letter from Kerrey, I can't say for sure what the fundamental purpose of it was.

My guess is that he mainly wanted to clear his name of the charge of racism, which Herbert, in a fit of true viciousness, was eager to hurl.