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Hillary's "Supporting" Role Less Helpful than Her Role as Adversary
Getting the undivided attention of the Democratic Party seems to have caused wobbles for Obama in unlikely sectors of his network (the recent comments someone "accidentally" allowed a mike to pick up). As long as Hillary was OPPOSED to him, she was catching a lot of the criticism, acting almost like a lightning rod and drawing the worst of the storm away from him. Now he's getting the full brunt of it and his ship is slowly sinking.
I watch the news, see how the focus is switching more and more to foreign affairs and with each story, Obama loses another point in his faltering lead over McCain. "Change" is not a program. Pulling out troops from Iraq according to a pre-ordained calendar without mention of what must be developed in Iraq in order to stabilize the region sounds somewhat inadequate as a foreign policy. Having his children be interviewed by reporters, then flipflopping on what was his own initiative glaringly points up his unreadiness to be president. In addition, we as citizens were being submitted to what were personal rather than political issues during a week when Iran was running missile tests.
Hillary Clinton may endorse him, but he can't acquire what he doesn't have in terms of experience. And it's showing more and more.
Comments (9)
Yes, OK - you can go back to your other PUMA activities now.
July 10, 2008 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
More post facto arguments for keeping Hillary around.
July 10, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why will these PUMA trolls not stick to their own websites?
July 10, 2008 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kathy, I disagree with a few things you've asserted. As long as Hillary was running against Obama, Obama was the one catching more of the attacks against him. From the Clinton camp, all of them, Bill, Hillary and their surrogates multiple times a day, from the Republicans, from the President, the cable news channels, you name it.
Throughout all of this, and I include two years of the worst kind of racist commentary, and I regret to say, death threats, he's shown immense resilience and resolve.
And while he's had to respond to some attacks and did a little attacking himself, he's handled himself with more grace than any other politician in modern history.
He is not perfect. I have no illusions about him. I recognize that he's a politician but I don't fault him for it. He's pissed me off with some unequivocal flip-flops.
But he's still, even with current criticism, an extraordinary politician whose held up quite well.
And as far as foreign policy is concerned, Iraq is now requesting a timetable for withdrawal. Bob Gates and the State Department are engaged diplomatically with our enemies, including Iran.
The distraction of the Iraq war has given rise to unprecedented levels of violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where Al Queda has regained the strength it has pre-9/11.
These are all things Obama has been talking about for years.
I'll take insight and vision and leadership over experience any day.
July 10, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another troll who is behind a failed, or failing, campaign and so hasn't anything better to do but insult us and our candidate.
What's wrong troll? Nothing good about your candidate or his policies, if they can be called policies at all, that you can shout from conservative mountain tops?
Worry not, our candidate will soon be in office and turning this country to new and better ways, whether you like it or not.
July 10, 2008 6:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do it, Diego!
July 11, 2008 12:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Since you assert you moved to France in seventies, interested as to your investment in this election - it's interesting you are so concerned about GE.
You need to understand that every time an HRC supporter now writes negatives about Obama, it isn't helpful to HRC. I have contributed to help pay off her debt, but these types of posts do not encourage me to continue. And many feel the same way.
Do you believe that HRC would encourage these types of anti-Obama posts now? If not, then you are being disrespectful to all she's worked for and if so, please advise why you think she would favor this negative path.
Looking forward to your reply.
July 10, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Recessions aren't caused by ordinary people imagining them, and neither are electoral problems. There is absolutely nothing wrong with writing a critical post about Obama. And while I'm sure HRC wouldn't agree with everything in this post, she would undoubtedly understand that essentially telling people to shut up about their concerns isn't a good way to win their support.
And it's true that HRC acted as a lightening rod that attracted criticism during the primaries, and Obama is having some problems now that it's his turn. It's also reasonable to look at the campaign and see some mistakes that Obama is making. I disagree with a lot of this post, but there's nothing in it that's more unreasonable than blaming HRC for the actions of some random supporter of hers on the internet.
July 11, 2008 2:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
The best response I can give is the new poll out today -- July 11TH -- Obama's lead has shrunk to one point. The Bush Administration can continue to showcase foreign affairs and -- despite the dire economic conditions -- McCain will be able to play his card of military hero and ex-POW. Without the Clinton candidacy to deflect the barrage, Obama will continue to get hit broadside. Poetic justice, divine retribution, Karmic kickback, whatever you want to call it, there is a fine irony in the situation. Unfortunately, there's more than a simple politician at stake, there's a whole country.
July 11, 2008 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
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