Obama's new comments are benign, not extortion or divisionism

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Out of context, they sound laden with malign intimations, but in context they are not a threat, not racial, and in no way extraordinary. He is clearly referring to rural voters who "traditionally don't vote Democratic," not to his Democratic supporters.

Verdict: Bum Rap
______________

BRODY: Will Hillary be a drag for down-ticket races as a presidential candidate?

OBAMA: I think there is no doubt that she has higher negatives than any of the remaining democratic candidates. That's just a fact and there are some who will not vote for her. If you look at the results in Nevada, for example, she eked out the popular vote victory over me, but I ended up winning more delegates because she got almost all of her votes from Clark County, Las Vegas and some of the traditional democratic areas. We got votes there, but we also got votes in northern Nevada and rural conservative regions of the state that traditionally don't vote Democratic, but were excited about my campaign.

I have no doubt that once the nomination contest is over, I will get the people who voted for her. Now the question is can she get the people who voted for me? And I think that describes sort of one of the choices that people have, just a practical choice, as they move forward."

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/01/22/what-happens-to-obama-s-supporters-if-he-loses.aspx

[chimpymustgo]

1. At best, it's very ARROGANT - and it does sound threatening.

Obama has once again made a statement VERY open to interpretation - negative interpretation.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. His appeal is based on being all things to all people, so he's vague

It has its up-side and down-side

[JackORoses]

12. Obama draws Independents. Hillary doesn't. He can't force them to vote against their consciences.

[chimpymustgo]

14. Doesn't sound like he' s going to TRY. Sorry, the comment makes me a little sick.

It just does not sit right.

[JackORoses]

17. he could hold a gun on them, and many independents would still not vote for Hillary

[loveangelc]

2. its true. I can't stand Hillary Clinton.

[sniffa]

3. ditto

:hi:

[bellasgrams]

15. That's ok, since the real BO has come out I can't stand him.

There was a time I thought he would be good, then he started talking. And didn't say anything, except pick on Hillary. Can't speak definitively about his ideas just fluff.

[loveangelc]

19. Hillary Clinton will do and say anything if she thinks it will bring them back in power.

honestly, I just found out about Bill Clinton putting a cigar up Monica's vagina and putting it back in his mouth through research. I didn't know about that at the time as I was in elementary school and wasn't paying super close attention. But I think it's ridiculous that he did that, and has had hundreds of affairs since he's been married and he can still be married. I find it equally ridiculous that Hillary had no problem staying with her husband after that just so she imo could become president. She seems so arrogant and untrustworthy imo. I can't vote for someone like that. sorry.

[emilyg]

20. Nasty, useless post.

Were you there?

[TwilightZone]

4. It does seem rather presumptuous.

I've had a theory all along that he's running a general election campaign, and he's assuming that the Democratic base is safe.

Safe bet? Who knows.

[Evergreen Emerald]

5. just think if Clinton had said that

[KennedyGuy]

7. Oh..you'd need the fainting couches

the faux outrage would reach the level of hysteria that the "young" comment caused.

[JackORoses]

13. Hillary's supporters are Democrats. They will vote for the Democratic candidate.

Independents will not vote for Hillary. They will go over to McCain in large numbers if she is the nominee.

This is not Obama's fault, but it is the truth.

[TwilightZone]

16. New Hampshire would seem to prove you wrong regarding the (I) vote.

Obama only won the (I) vote in NH 41-34. There is little reason to believe that some of his 41% wouldn't vote for her were she the nominee and that the 34% that already voted for her wouldn't continue to do so. They already picked her over McCain once.

NH is representative of NH only, of course, but it has a higher (I) concentration than most other states.

Edit: added source - http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/08/nh.issues/

[avaistheone1]

6. It's a no win for Dems if Obama can only win by getting conservative voters.

Conservative voters to not want the kind of change progressive voters want.

Do they want to tax the rich? I don't think so.

Do conservative voters care about economic justice? Since when.

Do they want to support unions? I doubt it.

Do they want to stop the war in Iraq? They sure haven't shown it.

[Lucinda]

8. At best it's ill advised. Iowa is the only place he's had unusual support so far

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Ultimately I agree ,from reading the full context

However Obama should have known that he was brushing up against a legitimate third rail by commenting on that theme. He should have hastened to add something like "I know that a vote for Hillary over any of the Republicans running would be in the best interests of all those new and independent and open minded Republicans who are flocking to my campaign now. If I am not the nominee I will be urging them to support her, but it is less certain how many of those votes can be held for the Democratic Party with Clinton as our nominee."

And yes, I really think Obama should have known that an added comment roughly along the lines of what I just wrote was needed here. The topic is too politically loaded for very obvious reasons. It was too easy for Obama to come off exactly the way many are taking him now on this. The "good Democrat perspective" message should be hard wired into his sub conscious by now, otherwise it appears like he is intentionally playing a fear card or likely even worse against Hillary Clinton with comments like that last paragrgh. It is a matter of political skill for me that Obama get this right. He got close, but he left himself wide open to legitimate questioning.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

11. He is sloppy. Candor is refreshing, but ultimately deadly in politics

[JackORoses]

18. so being honest is bad now? you truly have drank the Hill - Ade

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

21. Kicking for Kontext

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

22. .