Brilliant analysis of the cycle of Obama's so-called gaffes!

Oy. I just wandered over to Taylor Marsh to check out the comment section. They use Sean Hannity as proof that this is the end. That's a terrifying notion.

great synopsis.

Unfortunately, the narrative of "elite democrats" and "limousine liberals" is great ammunition for Republicans.

The spin that the Clintons are putting on this whole thing will only hurt the democrat who runs against McCain.

Including Hillary.

If McCain and the Republicans can call anyone elitist, it's the Clintons. It would leave her as defenseless as she was when she couldn't answer the question about Bill's involvement with Colombia free trade.

Unfortunately, the narrative of "elite democrats" and "limousine liberals" is great ammunition for Republicans.

You seem to be operating under the misapprehension that the Republican narratives are driven by what Democrats say. That's why we keep losing. Democrats walk around on eggshells afraid of saying anything other than meaningless, contentless, symantically null blather for fear the Republicans will pull something they say out of context and use it in a commercial.

What they (and Hillary's team are among the leading "they's" here) don't get is that the Republicans frame the narrative first. Once they frame it, they can always find something to cram the candidate said that they can crowbar into the frame.

Trying to keep from "giving them ammunition" just leaves the candidate in a verbal straight-jacket, unable to convey any kind of message to the voters that actually connects with them. And, even so, they'll still "find" the ammunition they need.

The only way to free oneself from that strait-jacket is to attack the process of framing itself as pernicious, as part of the problem (which, of course, it is).

Sound familiar?

Sigh. Another post about the "bitter" affair. At least this one is true quality, not that I would expect anything less from tcfkancs.

Great post! I love "nontroversy". Well said, and I hope that word enters the lexicon!

FormerSteve, while I agree that people are liable to exaggerate these things, and I'm sure you've predicted the upcoming (in fact, nearly complete) cycle of events accurately, it still begs the question: did Obama misspeak? Or, to put it differently, would it be wise for him to speak similarly in the future?

In my opinion, this represents an actual gaffe on his part, one of the few. It's not buying into Republican talking points to assert that one doesn't become president by insulting a lot of people. Straight talk is one thing - Obama's done that, and we all know what it sounds like - but sounding elitist and condescending is something else. And if, as seems apparent, many TPMers can't hear what that sounds like, I'm sure McCain will be sure to make it perfectly clear this fall.

So I hope Obama won't repeat this line of thinking. Or at least, if he feels the need in the future to explain to people why they hunt and go to church, I hope he'll find a more felicitous way to express it.

Outstanding post, The Commentator Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken. I've been taking little breaks from TPM with the help of an anti-surfing Firefox extension, and so far today have just skipped over the bitter posts. I know, it's chickens**t, but it preserves what good mood I have.

Meanwhile, Barack continues to delight and amaze, this time with his response. I haven't flapped my arms and run around in circles for at least a week now.

That is pretty much spot on....that's how it goes, again and again.

Reality Check:

Only those who were never going to vote for Senator Obama under any circumstances are making a lot of noise about this. If you read the all the blogs on TPM you will see that it is all The Usual Suspects who are salivating. This has changed nothing. I have never bought into the stupid hysteria, especially Hillary's feigned indignation to match her feigned giggle fits, when she tries to duck a question.

This reveals how desperate Hillary has become. She is spending the entire weekend trying to win over voters by trying to convince them that the should become bitter toward Senator Obama. Now that is a substantial reason for making Hillary the next president, isn't it!.

That is all she has. Isn't that the truly sad fact in this artificial contretemps.

She

A very good post...and comment on the game theory element.

Another ironic element about Clinton's indignation about Obama's comment...wasn't she the one who suggested that only people from "big states" are the only ones that should really "count" in this primary? That small states, causcus states, states that did not vote for her don't get it? Hasn't she denegrated implicitly if not explicitly a far more significant element of the Democratic (and/or more general) voting population? Something to consider...

Brilliant analysis, as always.

My question is, isn't it becoming obvious that the MSM is onesidedly bashing Obama for non-controversies, meanwhile McCain is getting a huge pass?

It was just reveal a few months ago that he cheated on his second wife too!!!!

Imagine if Obama had cheated in 1999 -- Ben Smith would be wetting his pants!! Jake Tapper's head would explode!! Hillary would have seizure.

McCain cheats on both his wives, throws around words like "gook" and "cunt", flipflops on every major issue, and gets a big ole hug from the media.

The disparity is glaring. Does anyone have the guts to call the MSM on this? You know, if there are any acerbic, hardhitting journalists still out there in lala land. Naaah, who am I kidding.

It would be politically incorrect to say that I despise Hillary, and politically counterproductive because it would produce endless whining about how wrong it is for Obama supporters to say anything about Hillary.

I do not think she can win the nomination, but I do think she is really hurting him for the general.

I will vote for her in November if I have to, because I am a hard bitten realist (who is very much enjoying being able to be a hard bitten realist with an inspirational candidate).

But I have lost all respect for Clinton, and will never regain it. She is a self-centered, selfish person who can't see beyond the end of her own nose.

Sorry, just had to vent. I am so disgusted by her behavior. Now I will go and be politically correct and grit my teeth and give Barack some more money. And pray for the end of this very destructive campaign.

Excellent post.

Last night when I saw Obama's speech answering the "out of touch" comments I was so happy. He really answered and put Clinton and McCain on the defensive...but nothing from the MSM. No analysis, no sound bites, nothing. But clearly the MSM has decided for whatever reason to really try hard to keep this going and instead show Hillary's sound bites instead. I mean right now CNN is showing a graph of median home prices in Marin county CA compared to rust belt parts of PA. WTF does that have to do with anything?!

And so this is what worries me so much. This "elitist" narrative is so created, so false, and SO hypocritical coming from the Clinton camp that it many ways it will be harder to combat than the Wright controversy.

Great post.

I hope everyone worrying about this reads this.

Bill was going around 16 years ago with his "I feel your pain" speeches and now 16 years later much of that pain has turned into the bitterness Senator Obama has seen. Anyways, I looked up this YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta_SFvgbrlY) of Bill from the '92 campaign. Funny how so little has changed, no wonder people are bitter. Now, Hillary seems to be implying that it's not real by handing out "I'm not bitter" stickers. What's next flip-flops? I think it also plays back to the Rev. Wright thing where they were basically denying the legitimacy of black anger as well.

I agree with your EVERY WORD! If this is how the Clintons and McCain choose to fight, I welcome their attacks! :) They only make Obama look better and better as November nears.

Your post is sheer brilliance, Commenter. I'm not sure which part had me laughing harder--the trained seals simile or the capital H in Her!

You're quite right that Obama is the candidate, and he can handle these bits of turbulence just fine, and we can leave that part to him.

You know, in a way the hand-wringing of the Obama supporters reminds me of children from a broken home. We grow to believe that the minute a disagreement occurs, it's going to lead to some kind of horrible outcome--divorce, moving, the death of hope. We've been trained by old-style politics into this mindset. But really, we can train ourselves back.

Daddy Obama isn't going anywhere. Real adults can disagree in reasonable, even beneficial ways.

Thanks for the post reminding us that it's OKAY.

Ah. My laugh for the day!

Thanks so much. I'm sure glad someone has the energy to assemble these things. I think them, but getting the words together and on screen is too much trouble.

Yup. Our boy has wings for flying but he only flaps them when absolutely necessary to get yet higher. Too much flapping and you never get off the water.

Ah, formerly, what a wonderful post to wake up to, and so true... watching the faux outrage of the Clinton camp is truly something to see. She is, once again, appealing to everyone's lowest instinct--I feel she's patting them all on the head "There, there, the mean man said you're bitter. I know you're not bitter! Let's go shoot things!" The condescension is truly breathtaking. Especially from someone who is doing her best to manipulate these voters.

A nice, reassuring message.

I sometimes forget that Obama isn't the 'typical' politician with the usual responses; he cleverly and creatively finds ways to turn things the right side up.

'And all the wavering Obama supporters will find themselves, once again, saying “damn, yeah, that's the reason I'm for him, hey never doubted you for a moment” and calm back down'.

Indeed.

When we question Bush' misguided invasion, the right wing tells us we're not patriotic. When we question a candidate's campaign, their supporters imply much the same thing:

"And, most depressingly of all, some of Obama's supporters will do what Democrats are always prone to do when faced with the least adversity in a campaign: they'll run around in little circles, hands in the air, crying out their anguished frightened advice to his campaign"

I realize that some people enjoy being snarky, but I still fail to understand how Obama or Clinton (or even Bush) supporters think they'll gain more followers by insulting those who have questions.

NCSteve,
I always look for your comments - brilliant.
You had me at "Well."

Brilliant post, Steve, Thank you.

Hope you don't mind (why would you)... I dugg it for you. Maybe it'll get some play.

;-)

great post. thanks. we needed it.

Paging George Orwell:

How do you like this prime example of Clinton Double Speak, Mr. Orwell?

She later added, however, that she is not herself an expert with firearms: "As I told you, my dad taught me how to shoot behind our cottage. I have gone hunting. I am not a hunter. But I have gone hunting."

And, most depressingly of all, some of Obama's supporters will do what Democrats are always prone to do when faced with the least adversity in a campaign: they'll run around in little circles, hands in the air, crying out their anguished frightened advice to his campaign

Exactly! Obama supporters really need to grow some balls if they ever want to see him as President.

It is the readers' blogs like this that makes me coming again and again to TPM.

Thanks Steve.

I finally got around to reading your post. Well worth it! (As usual ;-)

Amen.

Seconding the "nontroversy" props. Great word -- and well-applied. Did you coin it yourself, or did get it from someone else?

What Obama has done is to reveal his attitudes about poorer people in small town America. More importantly he has judged their values. His view of their religious faith is something that many in all regions and economic circumstances will find offensive. The Democratic Party has been fighting for years to claim "middle America". Obama's attitudes are exactly the kind of thing that can cost Democrats the election. That is no small matter. Your attempt to dismiss it all is frivolous, and I suspect that you will see with growing frustration that America takes it more seriously than you do.

This is an outstanding post. All of us remember when Obama says he was willing to" negotiate with foreign dictators without precondition"? the next day, the media says this was a big gaffe and Obama lost the debate. Hillary runs to find an Iowa radio and called Obama "naive" but Obama hold his ground and smack it right back in their face. Today, Hillary and the MSM see how dumb they were. I bet you Hillary would like to flip flop and says she would be willing to negotiate without preconditions too.O nooooo, she can't

"It's one of Wilde's, one of Wilde's."

Seriously, I absolutely do not deserve credit for "nontroversy." I can't remember where I first saw it. Kos, maybe.

I also totally stole the "no actual _______s were harmed in the making of this metaphor" whenever I make a metaphor that uses an animal.