Hillary on Obama: Fear and Hatred on the Campaign Trail

[BeyondGeography]

Now we're getting somewhere:

DavidCorn.com

==When talking to Clintonites in recent days, I've noticed that they've come to despise Obama. I suppose that may be natural in the final weeks of a competitive campaign when much is at stake. But these people don't need any prompting in private conversations to decry Obama as a dishonest poser. They're not spinning for strategic purposes. They truly believe it. And other Democrats in Washington report encountering the same when speaking with Clinton campaign people. "They really, really hate Obama," one Democratic operative unaffiliated with any campaign, tells me. "They can't stand him. They talk about him as if he's worse than Bush."

What do they hate about him? After all, there aren't a lot of deep policy differences between the two, and he hasn't gone for the jugular during the campaign. "It's his presumptuousness," this operative says. "That he thinks he can deny her the nomination. Who is he to try to do that?" You mean, he's, uh, uppity? "Yes." A senior House Democratic aide notes, "The Clinton people are going nuts in how much they hate him. But the problem is their narrative has gone beyond the plausible."

That is, the Clintonites--and the campaign--may be overreacting. Will Democratic voters really buy the Clinton argument that Obama is an inauthentic and a dissembling scoundrel? Until the caucus-goers of Iowa speak, there is no way to know if Clinton's DEFCON-1 assault on Obama will succeed or backfire. But the Clinton attacks do say something about Hillary Clinton. She's adopting a whatever-it-takes strategy, mixing legitimate criticisms with truth-stretching blasts. And her campaign aides have adopted a we-must-destroy-him mindset that they justify by viewing Obama as a political lowlife.

Whatever-it-takes often works in political campaigns. But we all know that hatred can be blinding. Clinton is, as has been noted, running the risk of alienating those kindhearted souls of Iowa by slamming the lovable, likable and inspiring Barack Obama. She could end up looking a bit desperate. Candidates are always responsible for their campaigns, and they can be judged accordingly. If the Clinton campaign throws anything it can against Obama--with little regard for accuracy or decency--that will reflect her own character and values. It could, to turn her words against her, be a disqualification for the job...==

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/davidcorn/2007/12/hillary-on-obama-fear-and-hatr.html

[sandnsea]

1. Just like that uppity Howard Dean

who dared to challenge the DLC status quo in 2003. Who they destroyed to benefit Wes Clark. In December.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Clarissa explains it all: "He's uppity."

"It's his presumptuousness," this operative says. "That he thinks he can deny her the nomination. Who is he to try to do that?" You mean, he's, uh, uppity? "Yes." A senior House Democratic aide notes, "The Clinton people are going nuts in how much they hate him. But the problem is their narrative has gone beyond the plausible."

[BeyondGeography]

6. Ugly time is here

But what's a charmless, charisma-free, fading frontrunner with no discernable advantage on the issues to do?

[AtomicKitten]

7. It's sad to see her folding the way she is.

But my sympathy ends when she starts flinging ugly.

[jgraz]

12. Let's just hope she folds quickly

Before we hand her the nomination.

[AtomicKitten]

13. it is most definitely doable

:thumbsup:

[jefferson_dem]

3. Obama spoiled their coronation plans...

It sounds trite but it's true. How dare he!

[silverweb]

4. Talk about presumptuousness....

"It's his presumptuousness," this operative says. "That he thinks he can deny her the nomination. Who is he to try to do that?"

Ummm... excuse me? WTF?

The question is actually, who is she to presume that she is entitled to the nomination?

[maddiejoan]

15. Uhm

You do realize this is all coming from an un-named Democratic operative unaffiliated with any campaign --right?

[bunnies]

5. "That he thinks he can deny her the nomination"

Yah. Didnt he get the memo that she is inevitable? :eyes:

Newsflash Clinton Camp, if you're denied the nomination, it will be the choice of the Voters. Remember us?

[bellasgrams]

8. Obama has a charm about him.But

with the world and especially the US in the shape it is in I'll take experience over charm. He will have his day when he has weathered a few storms. Remember 2000, It's the economy stupid? We're in a lot worse shape now. We need Experience. Bill Clinton's team of experts need to be brought back.

[ellacott]

9. Biden and Dodd have the most experience

No one can beat Biden on foreign policy.

[Adelante]

10. It's what we're seeing on DU, too

"sleazy, hypocritical, incompetent sham"

"... adopting a whatever-it-takes strategy, mixing legitimate criticisms with truth-stretching blasts. And her campaign aides have adopted a we-must-destroy-him mindset that they justify by viewing Obama as a political lowlife."

It's all very familiar, isn't it?

[ellacott]

14. Very true n/t

[killbotfactory]

11. How dare Obama compete against the mighty Clintons!

:wtf:

[maddiejoan]

16. Where are we getting?

Attributing an attitude to HRC that's being described by an un-named operative not affiliated with any campaign?

[ilovesunshine]

17. Just another Gobama circle jerk here. nt

[BeyondGeography]

18. Six or seven attacks in two days shows you it's about more than tactics

Don't fight the feeling, MJ.

[maddiejoan]

19. You call them attacks.

I call them observations.

What rankles is Obama never refutes --he just sez "Look another attack!"

[AtomicKitten]

20. kick