Howard Wolfson Nicely Reconciles Himself to Obama
Howard Wolfson has a good piece in today's Post.
He explains how he, a devoted Clinton supporter, now understands Obama's appeal and is almost excited about him.
The "almost" is what makes the piece so good. Wolfson does not pretend to have fallen in love with Obama. Clearly his heart was broken by Hillary's defeat and it's still too early for him to ignore the hurt and embrace Obama with intensity.
He says as much. He also says that during the heat of the campaign, he never really looked at Obama. But now he has and he sees that the guy is special. He is almost excited by him.
It really is worth reading because it reminds those of us who have been crazy about Obama from the beginning that those Democrats who were on the other side may need some time to become enthusiasts and that, for now, simply being an Obama-Biden supporter is enough.
If Hillary had been nominated, I'd be just where Howard is. Biting my lip, a little sad, but supporting the ticket and marveling at her great acceptance speech.
Anyway, take a look. A good Democrat has come home.
Home to Fox News, I guess.
September 1, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, this article sounds incredibly stupid. How can anyone work on a campaign and not know what the rivals strengths are? No wonder Hill lost. You never win a battle by focusing soley on your opponents weaknesses you have to know their strengths to out think them and know where they will.
September 1, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Having gone through this myself, I can really sympathize with Wolfson. And, of course, Wolfson's devotion to Hillary was always far more profound than mine.
We do need to be more tolerant of our fellow Democrats, especially given how hard fought this primary was.
September 1, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
Would you pass that message to Thick Olberman please?
September 1, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
What was Wolfson paid, when and by whom?
Wolfson is just a self-serving SOB who bet on the losing horse and now wants to jump on board the winning team.
The real question here is what was his price.
September 1, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Wolfson's of the Democratic Party are what caused me to go independent (read think for oneself). He's no better than Dick Morris or Jimmy Carville. I expect his column serves as a cover letter for his resume.
Please MJ, better not to write a column than hope this putz has seen the error of his ways, 'cause I'll bet he hasn’t.
September 1, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've written a post here just recently ("A Clinton Man's Rationale for Obama") that comes at this from perhaps a slightly different direction than Mr. Wolfson (haven't read his piece, so I don't know for sure). I suspect we end-up at more or less the same place.
(I'm not usually one to advertise, but there is so much traffic here that nothing stays up for very long, and it may have been missed by some inclined to read it. I wish anyone would take the time who has any reason to think I say anything of value).
September 1, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Explain it? Not really, unless you include: "we were not capable of producing them" (i.e. events like this, thank you very much corporate America).
The sheep are falling in line. Not one word from Wolfson in what policies would change under a President Obama, or how they would be better than Hillary's. Just emotion. Chalk up another Stepin Fetchit.
September 1, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emotions unite a country in times of crisis. A President can lead us in starkly different directions. The rallying appeal of a president is critically important. And that that same president is highly intelligent, deeply patriotic and can see the sober effects of his actions -- well, that's what makes an effective president.
It's been so long since we've seen it, we cannot even give it its value.
September 1, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Crazy"=operative.
September 1, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I never thought much of Wolfson. He seemed to sell a piece of his soul every time he opened his mouth.
But I must say that this essay does sound like the honest assessment of a partisan who's just coming out of the bubble of frenzied 18-hour-days that is a campaign.
He's starting to recapture his soul, and I'm glad to hear it. We need all the help we can get.
September 1, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
My favorite line was progress comes with sacrifice, the sacrifice of the first female president. It epitomizes the hurt, you may have been in it for her policies, but Hillary meant so much to so many people. Now they see in obama, not all but many, the carrying of that baton and someone that by the end of this election, they will fully support. Obama has more democrats backing him than either Gore or Kerry so at the moment he is ahead of the pack.
September 1, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even at the Democratic Convention last week, Hillary said in her speech, that John McCain was her friend. She never gave Obama a personal endorsement, just a political one. If Obama loses in November, they could be blamed so they may want to try a little harder---or, Hillary and Bill really do have something else in mind in 2012.
McCain will be delivering his Acceptance speech at a local high school gym this coming Thursday....not out of respect for New Orleans but that’s how many Republicans willing to show up.
Obama/Biden rally in Ohio over the weekend reportedly had about 30,000 in attendance.
McCain/Palin rally also in Ohio to intro Palin as would-be V.P. was reported at about 15,000.
Obama's acceptance speech reported at least 70 to 75,000; 38 million reportedly watched it on television.
Favorite speaker at the Dem Convention was that guy named Barney Smith, not Smith Barney...
September 1, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wolfson gave the Obama campaign a small gift, and it's silly of some of the commenters here to criticize him for it.
Wolfson voiced a argument for Obama that is particularly powerful with Republican and Independent swing voters: that Obama's management of his campaign over the 18-months is evidence that Obama will make a good executive.
The tone of his essay, respectful but not effusive, is what made it sincere and believable. And by laying out his thinking on where he was emotionally and mentally a year ago, and where he is now, he provides a pathway for other Clinton supporters to follow to make the same change in heart that he did.
September 1, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you like anecdotal stories, two of my mother's friends who voted for Hillary now say they will vote for McCain.
Filling a stadium is not how a President is elected. Filling a ballot box is what does it. Obama's rock-star presence may fill a stadium, but that is not enough to get him elected.
September 2, 2008 5:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, really? And here we Obama supporters all thought elections were settled in stadiums. Oh, darn. Time to give up, guys. There's no way we can win now. If only Obama drew smaller crowds, he might have had a chance.
September 2, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
"a good democrat has come home" to the republican propaganda arm also known as "fox news".
September 2, 2008 1:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama supporters and PUMAs are largely one at this point. Wolfson can remain at one with FOX
September 2, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink