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A Small But Compelling Reason That This Primary Fight Has Been Good For Barack
I was just reading James Rubin's excellent WaPo Op-Ed about McCain's 2006 statements on Hamas, and this line jumped out at me:
Only in a campaign fight this long and bruising, only in a primary that has so divided Democrats, could the statement "I am a supporter of Hillary Clinton and..." add credibility to a defense of Barack Obama. If, in 2000, someone wrote an Op-Ed saying, "Even though I supported Bill Bradley in the primaries, I have to admit Al Gore is right when it comes to Social Security," people would respond, "Yeh? So? The primaries are over, and you've fallen in line. What do I care who you supported in February?"
McCain, meanwhile, is guilty of hypocrisy. I am a supporter of Hillary Clinton
and believe that she was right to say, about McCain's statement on
Hamas, "I don't think that anybody should take that seriously."
Unfortunately, the Republicans know that some people will. That's why
they say such things.
But this time around, the animus between the two Democratic candidates and their supporters is so real and deeply felt, that when Clintonites come to the defense of Barack (or when Hillary herself does so, as she has been doing during these last few days), that carries with it a political and cultural valence it might not have had had this thing been wrapped up months ago.
The rank-and-file will fall in line in the end, of course. Clinton surrogates won't be foolish enough to sit on their hands during this crucial election. But the media has invested so much in the Hillary/Barack split that the emergence of Democratic solidarity will be covered as though it were an important story. Networks will feign surprise at this latest "twist" in the narrative:
"Amazing, Keith-- Carville and Richardson on the same stage! Both supporting Barack Obama."
"Amazing! White people--Hillary's main constituency--seem to have shown up in droves for Obama's big rally here in Sioux City! I guess the primaries really are over!"
I can't predict exactly what sort of impact this crazy primary fight will have on the general. There are clearly both positive and negative aspects to it. But keep your ears perked for the opening line, "Now, I am/was a die-hard Hillary supporter, but..." And keep track of how useful it is as a rhetorical tool (both as a weapon against McCain, and as a tool for promoting unity among the Democrats). I'm curious to see how it will play.
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Comments (10)
I'm so looking forward to our party coming together to beat McCain. Good insight! Hillary supporters will be key to our victory.
May 16, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
north aufzoo writes, " the rank & file will fall in line in the end".
The healing cannot begin too soon. November seems a long way away, but is it? There are many fences to mend. Whoofman said it well. There is no doubt it will take all of us to cross the finish line.
Please extend a hand to Hillary & all her many supporters, the only way we can all be winners in the end.
May 16, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Key word in title: "small."
Every cloud has a silver lining. But I'd rather have no cloud, you know?
The thing is, the rhetorical pivot you describe doesn't help us much with Independents and Republicans.
Imagine this:
"Now, I was once a Mike Huckabee supporter. But I've come to see that John McCain . . ."
Convince you? No, of course not. Because you think they're all equally bat-shit.
Well, the same thing will be true for lots of independents when you mention HRC.
May 16, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not exactly - because a lot of those HRC supporters are independents.
May 16, 2008 4:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the drawn-out campaign actually worked the way some Clinton surrogates said it would: it's sharpened Obama's game.
I thought they were being really disingenuous at the time, but seeing the way the opening moves of the general election are playing out, it's clear Obama learned a hell of a lot more form Clinton's attacks than the GOP did.
May 16, 2008 11:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rec'd! This post is another reason why I think our candidate is gonna get an above-average convention bounce this time around.
And, yeah, I agree, it's looking like the extended primary contest might actually end up being beneficial just like so many of our Clinton-supporting friends predicted.
May 17, 2008 3:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nice insights.
I keep thinking of that picture where McCain is blissfully hugging Bush's mid-section, like a dog adoring his master. The poor guy is so muddled up that he seems to think Bush can lead him to the promised land. It's just astounding how badly these two have been doing lately. I hope they keep it up.
May 17, 2008 4:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Darn it! I am a Hillary supporter who was going to vote for Obama. But then you had to come along and take us for granted with your cavalier presumption that we would all just fall in line in the end. Now I can't vote for him. Thanks a lot. Now I'm going to have to just leave the presidential choice unchecked on the ballot, because there's no way I'm voting for McCain. I don't care what you say, you can't make me!
May 17, 2008 5:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Petulant?
May 17, 2008 11:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great post. Worrying about a divided party in April makes as much sense as worrying about baseball standings. It is amazing to hear the same morons say the same things every season. Two games out with only five months to go. Is it too late for the Yankees? Then in September, they seem surprised that the cream has risen. Do they know better and just trot this crap out to keep the audience interested? Or are they as ignorant and memory-impaired as they sound?
In the Fall, Obama will have his pitching rotation in order, his defense sharp, and his offense hitting hard. All this is just a tuneup for crunch time. Its going to be a great season.
May 17, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
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