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PAUL BEGALA AND JAMES CARVILLE ARE ACTIVELY UNDERCUTTING OBAMA AT THE DNC CONVENTION
CNN's Anderson Cooper and John King just let it out that Begala and Carville are the main people running around pushing the story that Obama disrespected Bill and Hillary by 1st not putting her on the ticket and 2nd by not consulting the Clintons on his VP pick.
Bagala was on cam after they went to a break and Cooper started the segment by saying, with a nervous laugh, that Bagala and King had just had a fight off air. Begala tried to explain himself with some long winded around about explanation of how by point out differences you can bring about Unity
Give me a break. He got outed period. And I hope he and Carville are made Persona Non Grata for the duration..
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Comments (48)
What the hell are those two operatives doing on CNN in the first place? Why not have Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain as "objective analysts?"
Wow! Could things BE more weighted against Obama?
August 24, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and they are labeling Carville as a "Democratic strategist"
He's also one of the ones saying that, "They didn't even ask for her advice!!!"
How the F does he know that?
August 25, 2008 9:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well of course it is Begala and Caraville they are Bill's hench men always have been. Who can forget how upset Begala became when Brazile reminded him how loyal of a base of voters blacks were in the Democratic party after Begala proclaimed 'this is MY party' as if he did not want it to be dominated by black voters determining the nominee. He shed his wolves clothing jsut like Bill did when he proclaimed 'this whole thing is a fairy tale'.
Caravile is nothing but a snake, always has been. he is such a snake that he sleeps with Matalin who works for the GOP and was the one behind publishing Corsi's Obama Nation book and buying up enough copies to make it #1 on the NY Times list for 2 weeks!
Caraville and Begala are mad, mad, mad, they are OUT of power the Obama team is ignoring them and they are going down with the Clintons as powerbrokers within the party...these ARK southerners are on their way out ..finally. They have reigned over the part for 16 years and now they GOT to GO!!
Caraville can't tell all the inside scoop on Obama like he betrayed Kerry with to Bush whispering in Matalins ear.
Nuh-UH...the power struggle is so great that Teddy is getting up off his sick bed, is now in Denver and WILL speak from the podium...this Americans is OUR moment.
It is time to take back the Democratic party from the DLC and take back the country!!
President Barack Obama !!
August 25, 2008 6:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just saw that interchange with Begala and King, too. It's now time all of us to rally around our candidate. Perhaps the Hillary Holdouts who say they'll vote for McCain because Obama didn't show her proper respect need to recall a telling moment at a McCain townhall a few months back. A woman asked McCain (and please pardon me if this isn't the exact quote) "How do we beat the
bitch?" McCain didn't tell her that was inappropriate public discourse or that it was crude and sexist. He merely smiled and let that woman's comment hang in the air, then moved on. This was a revealing insight about John McCain. When has Obama or anyone in his campaign ever engaged in this sort of public discourse which is symbolic of so much more. It's time to get very clear on what is at stake. McCain will not be good for women. He will not be good for the country. Reflect on what has happened in the past 8 years. It has been ugly.
August 24, 2008 9:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can't reason with that ilk judia, they are LITERALLY oing against their own interests for some hidden agenda that is beyond deplorable.
August 24, 2008 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
What do you think that agenda is? Is it the power struggle that Acamus mentions. Are these people so angry that they'd rather keep the war going, reestablish a draft, throw away the supreme court to the religious right and all the other nightmares that would come with a McCain presidency?
August 24, 2008 10:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's just a shtick to keep them on the air, and to keep the mouth breathing anchorati nodding their well coiffed heads at whatever b.s. comes out of their mouths.
Begala and Carville, and their ilk, don't give a squirt of piss for the future of the Democratic Party, or the Republic. They just need to keep feeding their own narcissism, at all costs.
August 25, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you nailed it. I'll bet this isn't about the Clintons, it's about Begala and Carville and the feeding of their own little sphere of influence.
The biggest beneficiaries of this stupid feud story are the talking emptyheads and McCain. I don't see how Sen. Clinton especially wants or needs these chattering idiots out there feeding this feud story.
August 25, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Carville, Begala, and also Howard Wolfson are Clintonites feeling scorned. Ultimately they are on a mission for themselves, not the Clintons.
And they perfectly exemplify the backstabbing, divisive Dem consultant class that needs to be purged from the party.
Vote Obama - no more drama.
August 25, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I don't have much hope that voting for Obama will end the drama! :-) The "elite" consultants/commentariat will exist as long as enough of us are willing to listen to them; and alas, they'll continue to stab backs to further their personal agendas. (Anyone found Dana Milbank's soul? Check the D.C. dumpsters.)
But it's nice to imagine, isn't it?
August 25, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
(Anyone found Dana Milbank's soul? Check the D.C. dumpsters.)
Spot on!
August 25, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great POST!
You are only a brilliant strategist when your candidate is winning. When you campaign blows a 20 point lead and all its money before February, You can't charge as much. That's why all the Clintonistas are pushing the angst.
As for the networks, they are addicted to the Clinton drama like crack heads. its exciting, its got conflict, sex, race and it gets people to watch. the nets have a vested interest in it, and they are pushing it for the ratings. Shame SHame. They hype Hillary like a missing white girl.
August 25, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
The latest GE/NBC talking head, Luke Russert "reported" on a recent poll where Obama's base, his 18 to 24 yr olds, had voted McCain the most trusted as the Military Leader (or some such baloney).
He was grinning and gleeful delivering for his masters...yup, money talks, Luke has a future...already bought and paid for.
He was so over the top you had to hand him a 4-12. "A 4-12, whats a 4-12? Over-acting!"
August 25, 2008 7:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN on the whole is pushing the Obama/Clinton friction storyline like they have a vested interest in it. Begala so damn transparent. Sen. Clinton was his way back into the White House and he's been doing everything he can to try and make that happen. He has been desperately trying to push the fractured party angle in hopes it would convince Obama that he had no other choice other than to choose Sen. Clinton, and now that that didn't happen, he seems to be in "Get Obama to lose mode", figuring he's rich enough so he'd be fine under four years of McCain if it meant he could back into the West Wing under a Clinton Presidency.
John King, Wolf Blitzer, Campbell Brown all push the same story. It's as if CNN is the Clinton News Network. I assume a lot of the players over there were White House correspondents/pool reporters during the Clinton years or something so they all have certain affinity towards them and a rooting interest to get them back.
August 24, 2008 10:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN has been a disappointment. Blitzer and Brown have shown bias throughout the primary as if they were working for Clinton. All the old Clinton surrogates are disappointed because they had visions of returning to their glory days. It ain't happening and now they are having a hard time dealing with it. CNN is fast becoming FOX. So turn CNN off the same way you turn off FOX and move to MSNBC.
August 25, 2008 1:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah!!! I stopped watching CNN around the time of the NC/Indiana primaries and haven't looked back. I noticed that they spend more time on the negatives than the positives of Barack Obama. Even on their website they show more positive stories for McCain and it's sickening to think that people who voted for Hillary are going to vote against the greater good of this country to prove a fucking point!!! I just don't get it. I am a woman, a vet and gay and there is no fucking way in hell I would ever vote for a Republican! It's just plain ole' stupid to vote against your interest. How can people say that they are democrats and vote for the same ole' bullshit that has plagued this country for almost 8 years?? So fucking glad I got out of the army when I did because it's going to be a sad day if McCain is the new CIC! You people that are voting against your party because Hillary didn't win better wake the hell up!!!! Get over yourselves!!!
August 25, 2008 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then there is the power struggle over the DNC in which Dean (50 State Strategy) won and Carville and Begala, water carriers for the DLC, lost. There is a theory out there at least that if Obama wins and truly takes over the DNC, Carville and Begala will no longer be the "insiders" and CNN will have new "Democratic Strategists" to have on their show because they will now on the inside.
August 24, 2008 10:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, that makes sense -- I couldn't figure out why they would be pushing this "he disrespected her!!" story so hard if Clinton hadn't told them to .... but that doesn't really seem in her best interest even. But for their own futures -- yeah, that makes sense. They don't care so much if Clinton wins as they do that no one else takes over.
Okay, let's see "In this corner the assembled opposition to Obama, we have John McCain, Mary Matalin, James Carville, Paul Begala, Howard Wolfson......" Nice company they keep.
So, since I didn't see it or catch it on TiVo, can someone tell what John King's role was in all this?
August 24, 2008 10:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
That *does* make sense.
Hoo boy. I hope someone's got a fire extinguisher handy. We don't need bad blood right now.
For people who are dissing generally on CNN: sounds to me like there's more than one point of view represented, and sounds like a couple of anchorpeople just called bullshit.
August 25, 2008 1:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
From Frank Rich:
...
"What Obama also should have learned by now is that the press is not his friend. Of course, he gets more ink and airtime than McCain; he's sexier news. But as George Mason University’s Center for Media and Public Affairs documented in its study of six weeks of TV news reports this summer, Obama's coverage was 28 percent positive, 72 percent negative. (For McCain, the split was 43/57.)"
...
August 24, 2008 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am completely outraged at Paul Begala and James Carville. I just heard Begala and had to turn off the T.V.
What can they be thinking? As far as I'm concerned, Hillary Clinton's political career -- at least as a future nominee for President -- is now over.
And she can thank Begala, Carville, her worthless husband, and "the Pumas" (how cute!) for that.
August 25, 2008 12:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
Those two need for Obama to lose (as does Hillary herself) so to clear the way for Hillary in 2012. That's why they're stirring up trouble for Obama at the convention.
August 25, 2008 12:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, but I thought they'd be more subtle about it. I wonder if they haven't fully adjusted to the 24/7 cable news cycle. I mean, we can fucking SEE them. They might as well drop trou with "Hillary 2012" magic-markered across their asses.
August 25, 2008 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
(response to Lynn Dee) Well said!!
August 25, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Stuff like this makes me almost feel bad about those Clinton Supporters out there still adamantly pushing "her agenda". Almost.
August 25, 2008 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
That anyone is surprised at Carville and 'little' Paul is surprising!
I think we'll see Obama better than ever after this convention is over....
All the drama and Clinton debacle hanging over his head I think has been a detriment.
OBAMA '08! (And hopefully, we won't see Carville and 'lil' Paul anymore.
Jack Cafferty is the only one who seems to buck the CNN idiots.
August 25, 2008 1:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ditto, Aunt Sam.
The question mark you and I shared about HRC intentions vis a vis Denver seems to answered with the release of her delegates. Good for her.
The roll call and two major speeches on two of four nights may be a fair price to pay for that.(Although why there is a price to be paid continues to elude me. Never mind.)
August 25, 2008 7:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
These two clowns are the examples of what has hurt the democaratic party for years. Throw in David Gergen and Billary as well. They all want to regain power and be the "all knowing political advisors" ass kissing the power! Turn off CNN and let them know you have made that decision. Your mental health will improve and you are helping to lower their ratings! TURN OFF CNN...just another Faux News!
August 25, 2008 1:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Have to disagree re: David Gergen. He's one worth listening to, IMO. Not necessarily agreeing with, but definitely worth listening to. Sometimes he "gets it" in a way few others - on any network - do.
August 25, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. Gergen is good. Gives very solid insight and analysis.
August 25, 2008 6:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um... actively undercutting him? They're commentators. They don't work for Obama. Lighten up, maybe?
August 25, 2008 2:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's right. They're commentators who are acting like the Clinton surrogates that they are.
August 25, 2008 9:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Clinton is no longer in the race, Obama chose his VP. THERE IS NO REASON TO TALK ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON ANYMORE.
Why isn't there Romney surrogates or Huckabee surrogates actively undercutting McCain on CNN or anywhere?
August 25, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is the reason why I stopped watching CNN. It is the same as FoxNews now. I call them the worse political team...
They can not accept that Clinton lost, they support McWar, and they do everything they can to have him elected.
Anderson Cooper, Blitzer, King,Crowley, Gergen and all of them (except Jack Cafferty) have endorsed McWar
Gergen had pushed for Clinton on the VP for months...
They are all McWar puppets, and I put them in the same bag ad Halperin...
August 25, 2008 2:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Disgusting.
August 25, 2008 2:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Do y'all remember when Carville said that if Obama won the primaries that he would support him and work for him 100%?? Has anyone noticed Hillary or her top surrogates "working their hearts out for Obama"? If the top people in the old democratic party try to sabotage the democratic candidate for president this year, then we need to throw the bums out. They don't know how to make enough money to feed themselves if they aren't political hacks, but Geesh, it shouldn't be this hard to tell the democrats from the republican opponents. And WTF is the deal with the Clintons having to be consulted before Obama can choose his running mate? These people are really suffering with over the top senses of entitlement. p.s. I don't for a minute think that James Carville and Paul Begalla would be trying this degree of stuff without Bill or Hillary or both knowing about it and at least giving the wink.
August 25, 2008 3:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's it! You said the key word. ENTITLEMENT just like inevitability..it was all wrapped in entitlement. Then they got their asses handed to them and they were whipped so badly. They lost and they lost big..from coast to coast..12 straight primaries in a row!! They were clobbered!
August 25, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Carville and Begala are just locking down jobs in the McMedia for the next four years, I would be surprised if they weren't flogging this McDog.
August 25, 2008 9:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
They can't lock down jobs because they will be locked out when it comes to information. They have no contacts to source in the Obama camp. They are known Clinton operatives subversive to the goals of the Obama team. They will be out on their backstabbing asses.
August 25, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to give credit to John King on CNN, for pointing out, Carville and Begala constant rant that Hillary was dissed, could be ended tomorrow, if Hillary told them to cut it out and get behind the candidate.
August 25, 2008 10:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
John King has a role too. He could stop repeating that trash and that would help as well.
August 25, 2008 6:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remember during the 2000 election Campbell Brown was the republican reporter for Bush. I remember very well her joy when Bush won.
August 25, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
Which is why she married Neo-con and former spokes person for the Coalition Provisional Authority, Dan Senor (now a spokesperson for FOX).
August 25, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Begala & Carville are Clinton operatives. Are they being payed by the GOP, the Clintons, or CNN??? The MSM is actively undermining Obama's candidacy & there are only a couple logical explanations.
1. They need to keep the race close in order to generate more ad revenue.
2. They're so closely connected to big energy & the military industrial complex & their interests that Obama threatens their interests.
Probably both.
There's got to be a better way...
August 25, 2008 1:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Probably both but certainly #1, they may not even be fully conscious of it at first; but when they see ratings go up they keep doing whatever it is that they have been doing.
August 25, 2008 1:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
They would have to pay me a lot of money to watch CNN, and I would not even consider another network. I'm watching this on CSPAN - no babble, no crawl, no commercials.
The cable networks are making a huge amount of money off their disgusting biased coverage. I won't fall for it by even watching it. I detest them.
August 25, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
This crap is nonsense.
All these guys now have no jobs in a new administration and probably ever again so they are sniping.
All day you would think Hillary had won. The talk is all about her and her supporters.
August 25, 2008 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don’t doubt for a second that there are real differences between the Clintons and Obama and that they are “negotiating” to some extent through the media. But there is much more going on than that.
Almost everybody involved, Obama, Clinton, the media, McCain and Republicans benefit from controversy and possible uncertainty about what is going to happen in what is usually a very scripted and mostly boring event. The Revolt of The PUMAs will mean more eyeballs, ad revenue and press attention. Of course they all want to write the script to their own benefit.
Bill may be having hissy fits behind the scenes but he is also a professional performer with mucho speaking fees yet to be banked. He is not going to damage his own stock or his wife’s, or for that matter, his party’s . He will milk the tension for his own benefit and make sure that his legacy is written to his satisfaction. But he will also benefit from an Obama Administration especially if he is seen to be a factor in making it possible. Obama has already shown that he is big enough to reward him for that.
Of course the media will turn on Clinton if he does not follow their script and give Obama a snarky, smirky half-hearted endorsement. Same for Hilary. It is the McMedia after all.
I think Obama insisted on the bigger arena so that no matter what happens he will quite literally upstage them all.
August 25, 2008 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
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