Clinton/Obama Feud Continues
August 25th, 2008 at 01:30am Mark Noonan
No surprise given that Democrats always put party before country that they would then turn and put personal desires ahead of party:
As Democrats arrived here Sunday for a convention intended to promote party unity, mistrust and resentments continued to boil among top associates of presumptive nominee Barack Obama and his defeated rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.
One flashpoint is the assigned speech topic for former president Bill Clinton, who is scheduled to speak Wednesday night, when the convention theme is “Securing America’s Future.” The night’s speakers will argue that Obama would be a more effective commander in chief than his Republican rival, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).
The former president is disappointed, associates said, because he is eager to speak about the economy and more broadly about Democratic ideas — emphasizing the contrast between the Bush years and his own record in the 1990s.
This is an especially sore point for Bill Clinton, people close to him say, because among many grievances he has about the campaign Obama waged against his wife is a belief that the candidate poor-mouthed the political and policy successes of his two terms.
Some senior Democrats close to Obama, meanwhile, made clear in not-for-attribution comments that they were equally irked at the Clinton operation. Nearly three months after Hillary Clinton conceded defeat in the nomination contest, these Obama partisans complained, her team continues to act like she and Bill Clinton hold leverage.
After a period earlier this month when the two sides were working collegially over strategy, scheduling, and other convention logistics, things turned scratchy again in recent days.
As a practical matter, Obama has to lose for Hillary to have a shot at being President - she can’t run any more in 2008, but if Obama loses she’ll immediately be the overwhelming favorite for 2012. Given the known level of dishonesty, backstabbing and political gamesmanship the Clintons bring to the table, one cannot but feel they are up to something - and McCain isn’t their actual problem at the moment, Obama is. Only if Hillary has resigned herself to being a long-term Senator and then resigning into obscurity can Obama feel other than nervous with Hillary at his back - and I see no signs that Hillary has renounced her Presidential ambitions.
On the other hand, Obama still seems to view himself as some sort of Man of Destiny and it irks him to have to share the stage with anyone (in my viewing of the Obama/Biden get together, Obama didn’t seem to be thrilled to be sitting quiet while Biden spoke). An overweening pride in one’s self is not conducive to those tactical surrenders which a real winner is happy to endure in order to sooth a prickly rival unreconciled to coming in second. Obama has yet to kneel before the shrine of Clinton, Inc. and its causing friction not just with Bill and Hillary, but with their ardent supporters, a large number of whom still believe not only that Hillary is the better candidate, but also won the primaries.
All in all its a poisonous mix and leaves open the prospect of, well, anything - for the world, things might go smooth as silk and Obama gets to make his acceptance speech to a massive crowd of cheering supporters, but behind the lines and outside of camera view, stresses might be building up swiftly to make it so that the Clintonites sit on their hands until November…or even try to embarras Obama during the convention.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
13 Comments
1. Jeremiah | August 25th, 2008 at 1:58 am
Sadly, the Democratic party will never be united, for where there is no truth, and hypocrisy abounds, division will rule.
Even worse, if Obama’s wishes come to fruition, this divide will strike deep into the heart of America, as we’ve never seen since before Lincoln.
Obama has too many racial sentiments behind those words of “hope” and “change”, as my fear is that those hopes and dreams will take us back to those dreadful days …… before Lincoln. To try and square this with the current population would not spell “good news” at the expense of our current state of trying to barely hang on.
It is extremely worrisome to know that we have this kind of man poised to render the American Dream virtually unto detonation!
God help America!!
Please Wake Up, America!!
2. Katie | August 25th, 2008 at 4:10 am
It is going to be fun watching the Donkeycrats melt down.
3. Autorotate | August 25th, 2008 at 8:14 am
It ought to get downright interesting during the debacle in Denver. I’m running an article right now on who would swoon Hilary voters and be an excellent pick for McCain’s VP.
http://autorotatesflyingcircus.blogspot.com/2008/08/napalm-in-morning-who-should-mccain.html
4. CanadianObserver | August 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Can anyone explain the logic behind those Clinton supporters who are willing to give their vote to someone with a platform diametrical to hers rather than support Obama?
Will they abandon their values out of spite?
5. Rasmus | August 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Some big conflict at the democratic convention would definitely make all you right-wing-nuts clap your little sweaty hands. Why don’t you try and focus on your own policies as opposed to how you can stir up conflicts amongst your opponents.
Jeremiah,
“Obama has too many racial sentiments behind those words of “hope” and “change”, as my fear is that those hopes and dreams will take us back to those dreadful days …… before Lincoln”
Which “many” racial sentiments are you refereeing to Jeremiah? 90% of the times race has been mentioned it’s the republicans that are doing it. I’m just gonna say it, I think a lot of you right wingers have a serious problem with the fact that Obama is black. Yes, I’m calling some of you small minded, cynical, stupid, uneducated and racist. How do you like them apples?
Jeremiah, I thought a religious nut such as yourself would appreciate that Obama is a man of faith. Ohhhh that’s right, you’re a crazy fundamentalist who takes the bible literally and doesn’t.
Did you watch Obama’s entire speech on religion and race in the US? How much did you hate it?
6. neocon | August 25th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Can anyone explain the logic behind those Clinton supporters who are willing to give their vote to someone with a platform diametrical to hers rather than support Obama? - CO
CO,
They would rather have Obama lose so Hillary can position herself to win in 2012. Evidently they are willing to sacrifice their values and the country to gain power in 2012.
Unless of course they really don’t believe the negative hyperbole they project.
7. Bull | August 25th, 2008 at 11:30 am
i like to envision hillary’s people and obama’s people squaring off at the convention in a “west side story” type moment.
that would be really funny!
8. Rich | August 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
“90% of the times race has been mentioned it’s the republicans that are doing it. I’m just gonna say it, I think a lot of you right wingers have a serious problem with the fact that Obama is black.”
You know Jesse Jackson won a few states as well. Did you know Obama used drugs, do you think he might have sold them? Theyre going to see Obama doesn’t look like all the men on the dollar bills.
Which party brought race to this election? Ya I thought so.
9. William of Orange | August 25th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
“..but behind the lines and outside of camera view, stresses might be building up swiftly to make it so that the Clintonites sit on their hands until November…or even try to embarras Obama during the convention.
..”
Many years ago, I used to be an ardent but ineffectual bicycle racer. In road racing, where one can literally be blown out of a race for a few seconds of inattention, there was/is a term called blocking. It involved those at the front of the peleton impeding the progress of others who wished to chase down a break.
Far from the Roller Derby image this tactic conveys, it was rather subtle. You took a “pull” at the front ostensibly working your ass off but, in reality, you and your team mates were only soft-peddling at about 80-90% as the break got further down the road.
I rather suspect that this subtlety will be employed by the Serial Philanderer and his spouse in order to allow John McCain’s break away stay off the front in this stage..
..and afford them a chance in the next stage.
10. David B. Schmidt | August 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Rasmus,
and of course your ignorant remark…
Are you really that ignorant or just stupid? Google (leftwing site) it sometime and then look at some pictures (no need to read big words) between your “First black President” Clinton and his “Dumb as a rock” two-time successor. Look at their cabinets and who they promote to positions of prominence.
That’s right — ask mommy to bring you more cookies and kool-aid down to the basement. Tighten your tin-foil hat and hold on–your beliefs and asperations are about to implode.
Hoping Obama gets nominated before he “accidentally” kills himself al la Vince Foster. Not that I want Joe “As**ipe” Biden either.
11. jayhay | August 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
“(in my viewing of the Obama/Biden get together, Obama didn’t seem to be thrilled to be sitting quiet while Biden spoke)” - Noonan, that’s just idiotic…
I know that stuff works here when you preach to the choir (well, it’s more of a barbershop quartet) but is this how you express your Christianity? By trying, daily, to tear down another American through distortion and innuendo? At least it gives you plenty to confess.
I loved how when McCain was asked about forgetting how many houses he had, the first thing he reminded Couric was that he was a POW. (But he hates talking about it) And then he went on about Cindy’s father achieving the “American Dream”. So now making a gazillion dollars is the American Dream? Really? So will someone PLEASE tell America McCain was a POW?
12. Lenins On Parade Again And Mickey Mouse Has Grown Up A Cow | August 25th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
OBAMA TO AGREED TO STAGE STATE ROLL CALL TO HELP HILLARY SAVE FACE.
Hillary and Obama have cooked up a deal to give her some votes in the roll call for the Democratic nomination, but quickly end the divided balloting in unanimous consent for Obama.
The idea is that at the start of the State by state bote for the presidential nomination Wednesday night, delegates would cast their votes for Clinton or Obama. Then the voting would be cut off after a couple of States vote, when Clinton herself would “heroically” and “spontaeously” call for a unanimous backing for Obama from the convention floor.
Wow, won’t that look so spontaeous? Of course, first you gotta get the right delegations who will be guaranteed to cooperate and then you move on from there. This ain’t change, it’s the same old rigamarole as prior conventions, the only difference is that this was all worked out in a smoke free back room. Pee Ewwww! Expect some fake tears along the way to top it all off.
CHANGE THAT AIN’T.
13. FmrMarine | August 26th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
ummmmm..rich;
>>>I think a lot of you right wingers have a serious problem with the fact that Obama is black.”>>>
HE ISNT……….he’s MULATTO!
one who CALLS him self black and hates his white ancestory.
Quite a racist,conflicted, fellow - this oBOMBa is.
We do not like him for his……
lack of experience
lack of judgement
lack of honesty
lack of perception
lack of gratitude
lack of patriotism
lack of who he is and where he came from
lack of love for his own family
lack of knowledge that he belonged to a racist cult
we have no problem with either half of his skin pigmentation!