Ummm...why is there no discussion of yet another Super Delegate coming out today in support of Obama?

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal...seems to be pretty big news, but it's like it didn't happen. But lots of discussion here about ole Hillary.

Just sayin'

I know exactly how to respond to this:

"Obama thinks he's better than you ordinary Joes, and he thinks patriotism is for rubes."

That sort of attitude is ridiculous racism. I suggest anyone interested in this perception should go back and watch "To Kill a Mockingbird," specifically with regards to the prosecution's case.

"He thinks he is better than you." What is left unspoken is the man that thinks he is better than you also happens to be black. The "black man thinking he's better than you" is an old trick of the Jim Crow era.

Bring it on. And to hell with the racists in this country.

Let's not take advice from Karl Rove. It's not like an unbiased opinion or anything. The guy is frickin' Karl Rove, fer chrissakes!

Yeah, they will hit Obama with the patriot thing and Obama will hit back with the Iraq War, the economy, and George W. Bush. We win.

You've got to be kidding me. The best Karl Rove could come up with to slime Obama is the stupid flag pin thing? That's it?

The GOP was praying Hillary would win the nomination. Obama is to nice of a guy to go after that two faced liar Clinton, but Rove and people like him were salivating at the thought.

Greg,

"Should" Obama be the nominee....? He will be the nominee barring some very unlikely change of events.

Get Ready? We are ready. What would help us get ready is if Clinton supporters like yourself would stop carrying water for the right-wing in its jingoistic patriotism smear of the presumptive nominee.....

What is really the kicker is that you seem to forget that Clinton is the most hated figure on the left for most of the country. As shocking as that is to bloggers who leave New York City once or twice a year, we're more scared of the seething antipathy towards Hillary than we are of flag-lapel smears or secret Muslim whispering campaigns.

That's pretty thin gruel. Even John "I voted for it before voting against it" Kerry was hurt because of his perceived stance on the war. A flag pin? Sorry. Bring something better.

Senator Clinton, you should be proud. It is as though you have officially aligned yourself with the Republicans. When you get the head of Republican fear-mongering, Karl Rove, praising your tactics, you know you've done good, Republican style! Though it is not surprising that such praise from such a person comes your way, considering you have praised your Republican opponent above that of your Democratic rival. Keep up the dirty work, and you may just win the coveted title of "Head Closet Republican", beating out current rival Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

An oldy but a goody, worth another read. And just seems timely.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/04/13/pat_robertson/

I actually like the new version of 3 AM because she's actually attacking, um, John McCain, rather than a member of her own party.

The only reason Rove called the ad gutsy is because the red phone ad plays right into the GOP hands.

The red phone ad made GOP Americans say...we want McCain answering the phone.

It was a dumb ad and Hillary is paying big time for it as it is just another hyperembellished situation just like her ducking sniper fire.

She has no experience to be CinC...nada, zip, zilch...other than to go on bimbo patrol looking for Bill

Well, if Turd Blossom thinks this is a solid line of attack, it may come back to bite:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/McCain_unpinned.html

Obama knows it's coming. I attended the lunch fundraiser in NYC last week. Obama said he was anticipating three lines of attack from the Republicans in the general election: patriotism, immigration and war/terror/fear.

Since when do we have to listen or accept teachings or rantings from someone who put party first rather than country.

I, for one am sick and tired of those shoving their form of Patriotism or Idol worship, claiming that only they have the truth.

We followed this blind patriotic fervor, and now were in Iraq. Not being able to withdawl, because we would be humiliated and the enemy would gloat.

Blind patriotism, just like the Nazi movement or the Brown shirts of Mussolini.

Patriotism is a tool.

Just like Bush and Company, who have abused the volunteer Military for their POLITICAL GAMESMANSHIP, It shouldn't be to difficult to remind voters of the falsehoods and lies, covered by wrapping oneself in the Flag, covering the blood stained hands.

Maybe it's time to take back our country from the liars, who only claim, to defend, but prove that they abused their authority.

This is a much needed dialogue, in America.

Pretty clear who Rove fears more. For all the attacks on Kerry, Gore, and Dukakis for being effete elitists, those three lost for a lot more reasons (or in Gore's case, didn't lose). In each case, the GOP had much bigger positives on their side. GWH Bush rode in on Reagan's popularity and Dukakis' terrible campaign; W benefited immensely from Clinton's penis; and W, the second time, had 9/11 to run on and a war the American people hadn't completely turned against yet. Patriotism, swiftboating, the tank ride, exaggerations -- none of them killed the Dem. candidates. Sure, they stung, but the idea that Wright and FLAG PINS will sink Obama is just foolishness. He might not win, but it will be for real reasons, not just this garbage.

OK, so can we all agree now that when we slam Hillary for her Rovian tactics, that's the simple truth and not a "smear"? What more confirmation would you need than the deal of approval from the "master" himself?

As for the fall, Obama can defend himself- and connect with people retail-style- a whole lot better than Kerry did. And as for 3 am, he already has a lot of respected foreign policy heavyweights on his side, Hamilton being the latest (and one who's very much an official MSM "serious person"). Let the games begin.

The GOP will run such a strategy, but after the past eight years I really think that a majority will reject it for what it is-namely total bullshit. Sure, a segment of the population will buy into it, but this sort of nonsense barely worked in 2004 and failed miserably in 2006. Besides Obama is ten times the candidate that Kerry was in terms of his ability to reach out to people. I also think that it will be a lot more difficult to cast Barack Obama—a self-made African-American who was raised by a single parent—as an elitist that it was to pin the lable on John Kerry, a French-speaking brahmin from Massachusetts.

Wow, Clinton gets the unity and the trolls attack the same message Obama spews.

OMG, that is too funny.

These trolls are disgusting with their hatred of the President and First Lady. Did your parents teach you about respect and decency?

The me generation are spoiled brats who think it is all about them.

It is not about you trolls, get over yourself.

Yes, she is a uniter and a fighter.

What else do you want you spoiled brats?

Can we safely assume that Rove is on retainer?

Why should we be surprised at Hillary being a neo-con in sheep's clothing? HER MAIN ADVISOR IS MARK PENN, WHO CUT HIS TEETH ELECTING MENACHEM BEGIN PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL.

She's totally in the palm of the neocons.

So far, Obama's campaign has done the best job I've seen yet in countering smears, attacks and lies.

Clinton's campaign, on the other hand, isn't. All she has left is smearing Obama.

And they can't seem to stop the bleeding from all that Tuzla sniper fire. So I totally fail to see how it is that Clinton is such a sure thing.

She ain't - she doesn't have the campaign staff for it.

I wish I had a nickle for every hand-wringing post about the terrible GOP assault that's coming. Run for the hills,, hide your women.

Of course it will come, and it'll probably be worse than what we've seen so far and worse than 2000 and 2004.

After all, race is involved this time. The daily dog whistles from Bill and Hill will seem tame when Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity and Rove get going.

But... when writing these kinds of posts, wouldn't it be balanced to note that the assault on Clintons would be as vicious but of a different kind (the greatest hits parade of sniper fire, Kazakhstan, girls on the Burkle jets, Monica, and so on sure to come)?

The point being -- the Republican attack machine will have its fun regardless of whom we nominate, and it's not clear it will be any less vicious with one candidate or the other. In fact, one could argue that Clinton has had an easier time this campaign than Obama, because he hasn't really pushed the Fox-Limbaugh-Rove line, and they've tactically decided to go easy on her. For now.

And, is it just me, or does Obama seem to be more deft, real, and thoughtful in parrying these attacks than, say, Kerry and Gore?

And, do we think people are buying this junk, this time?

Finally, isn't it mildly ridiculous to make -- or even repeat -- the "elitism" claim with Obama?

Mixed race, son of a poor single mother, worked as a poorly paid community organizer, then a poorly paid civil rights lawyer and state legislator. Yeah, sounds like a regular Westchester County brie eater to me.

Why, oh, why do journalists act as if every word coming from the mouth of this foul little man deserves our undivided attention. We are Democrats - we don't take campaign advice from the man who dug the ditch deeper than it had ever been dug before. One of the reasons Obama resonates with people is because he doesn't focus on crap like flag pins. And before everyone lectures me that this is just what the Republicans will do, let them . It will just seem pathetic. People are tired - and I mean bone tired of this administration and everything to do with it.

Ever notice how much we hear from Rove these days? This is a man who loves the sound of his own voice - and the press just laps it up.

The way to drive Rove crazy is to make him insignificant.

Look Away!!

The point being -- the Republican attack machine will have its fun regardless of whom we nominate, and it's not clear it will be any less vicious with one candidate or the other. In fact, one could argue that Clinton has had an easier time this campaign than Obama, because he hasn't really pushed the Fox-Limbaugh-Rove line, and they've tactically decided to go easy on her. For now.

And, is it just me, or does Obama seem to be more deft, real, and thoughtful in parrying these attacks than, say, Kerry and Gore

I think you got it - you are dead right about everything. That's why "electability" is such bullshit - it doesn't matter who is nominated, the Repugs will throw everything at them. But it's pretty obvious that Obama and his staff are a whole lot better at dealing with smears than Clinton and her staff. How did she try to fade her lie about Tuzla? Another 6 lies.

the US flag lapel pin is a fashion trend started by the Bush administration and hopefully will end at the end of the Bush administration in Jan 2009.

Am I the only one here who got tired of seeing everyone mimick this Bush fashion, wear the pin, wear the pin, for the love of god wear the pin!

You got television broadcast journalist wearing it now. Ridiculous.

"As we've noted here before, should Obama be the nominee, we're going to see a GOP assault very similar to what hit Gore and Kerry -- Obama thinks he's better than you ordinary Joes, and he thinks patriotism is for rubes. Get ready."

Gosh, do you really think so? Are you actually saying that the GOP will attack Obama as being some kind of an... an elite?

Golly. Never thought of that before. See, this is why I read TPM... to gain these keen political insights.

I'd better support Hillary now. The GOP will never brand Hillary Clinton an elitist. Nope, if there's one person who can lock up the Joe Six-Pack vote for the Dems, it's Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"? Well, to a lot of ordinary people, putting that flag lapel pin on is true patriotism. It's a statement of their patriotic love of the country.

So does this mean that John McCain is unpatriotic?

So what's the point of this, Grog?

I know. It's the part you left out:

=====================================

GQ: I get the sense you respect Hillary more than you respect Obama.

Goering: Off the record?

CQ: Please don't go off the record.

Goering: Off the record… [Yeah, it's good. Sorry.]

GQ: Damn! Now say that on the record.

Goering: No. Nope. Nope. Nope.

GQ: Let's try again, then: on the record. I get the sense you respect her more than him.

Goering: Uh, I know her better than I know him. And I just, uh—she has been around public life a lot longer and has demonstrated, you know, more involvement than he has.

=====================================

Isn't that the truly interesting part, Grog? The fact that Barack Obama is uninvited to the party by the one of the great Fascist enablers of all time? Or how 'bout the fact that this war-criminal election-thief is walking around free, rather than swinging from the same noose that got Saddam? And being asked to make moral judgments of Demo candidates yet!

Sheeesh.

Wow Rove, stunning argument on the patriotism...the logic is just super duper...

I'll be expecting Hillary to hit that up any day now..

As we've noted here before, should Obama be the nominee, we're going to see a GOP assault very similar to what hit Gore and Kerry -- Obama thinks he's better than you ordinary Joes, and he thinks patriotism is for rubes. Get ready.

You mean the exact same attack they've trotted out against every other Democrat?

That all you've got, Karl?

Most of the lapel flag pins were manufactured in China.

The founders of the nation never wore flag pins.

Bumper sticker patriotism is the last refuge of the Neo-Con Chicken Hawk, War Mongering class.

So while you guys are whining about Clinton and Rove, she is in McCain's face with a new 3 AM ad, pivoting to the economy.

I think the patroitism angle is exactly how the republicans will attack Obama. Obama should use his wonderful oratorical skills to link his nationalism with a populist message. Eg. "Patriotism is more than putting on a lapel pin. It means protecting American jobs. It means holding war profitteers to account. It means fixing our roads and bridges instead of selling off America to the highest bidder. It means repairing our deficits instead of going deeper into debt with foreigners."

Rove, like the Clintons, is completely out of touch with America. Does he really think people who can't afford the gas to get to work (those who still have jobs) are worrying about a pin? Way way out of touch!

Lars, I couldn't have said it better! That's it in a nutshell

Shhh.

Bush's brain just endorsed Hillary. Gotalife is frolicking in her new GOP relevance.

Clinton gets Rove Endorsement!

Next up - George pins a Purple Heart on Hillary for breaking the heel off her shoe when she was running from sniper fire in Tuzla.

Then Dick Cheney will endorse her, and the next thing we know, all machines vote Hillary!

Maybe I missed something, but it does not seem to me that Greg Sargent was agreeing with Rove that Obama thinks himself better then the rest of us. The use of the italics indicated to me that Greg was emphasizing that Rove is trying to push that idea.

Perhaps I am mistaken. Greg, perhaps you could clarify your intent?

Sincerely,

Miles Webster