Learned in Pennsylvania: Core Truths about Obama and Clinton
We'll look back fondly at this last month's run-up to the Pennsylvania primary as fun political times, filled with folly and fake outrage over Barack's pathetic bowling scores, and on April Fool's Day, Hillary challenging him to a "bowl-off" in which she offered to "spot him two frames."
Of memories of Barack shying away from sampling confections at a local chocolate shop and refusing a free cup of joe at a diner. And Hillary belting whiskey with the good-old-boys, chased by a frosty mug of suds and a greasy slice of pizza.
Of Obama, who led the most hardscrabble youth of the three remaining candidates and who holds a tiny fraction of their wealth, being described as "elitist." And of Hillary being tagged as "Annie Oakley" for lavishly recounting gun lessons learned as a young girl from her father and regaling crowds with duck hunting memories.
Good times!
The Value of Pennsylvania's Protracted Primary Season
We'll also look back in gratitude for the protracted run-up to the Keystone state's hard-fought Democratic contest, because we got to know much, much more about the two frontrunners than we knew just four weeks ago.
Phooey with premature calls (including mine) for Hillary Clinton to drop-out! We're just getting to the meat of things. We're just now realizing core truths about elusive candidate Barack Obama, and about Bill and Hillary Clinton's desperate drive to regain the White House.
Make no mistake about it: Hillary Clinton will win Pennsylvania. That was never in question. She was always destined to win her father's home state. But that first-class gaffe about "bitterness" by Obama could gift Clinton with a huge primary victory... perhaps by a 15% margin or even more.
But also make no mistake about the nomination: Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee for president. Barring a catastrophic revelation... and Obama's mean San Francisco remarks came mighty close... it's probably too late to undo the inevitable without permanently damaging the Democratic party.
That said, here's what we've learned in Pennsylvania of importance, or been forced to finally accept, about Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton:
Barack Obama: Core Truths
Barack Obama is an intellectual and creative visionary with a warm smile, an appealingly self-deprecating manner, and the tepid heart of an academic.
Don't get me wrong: Sen. Obama obviously adores family and friends, and he revels in the concept of people doing good for people. It's actual contact with people that bothers him and cramps his treasured ability to think. He's an author, an analyst and an astute observer. He's the visionary. He's the delegater, not the doer.
In temperament and chilly style, Obama greatly reminds me of Condoleezza Rice, and not because they're both African-Americans. Stylish and slim with a coolly moderate speaking tone, both exude the air of a professor above the fray: brilliant yet dispassionate and tinged with intellectual conceit.
Barack Obama has the potential to be a great President of the United States. He may be the right leader at precisely the right moment in history.
But I pray that as president, Obama won't retreat to such egregious detachment as Rumsfeldian reports on Iraq made from a plane high over the human misery. I pray that for alternative viewpoints, Obama routinely ventures beyond his valued circle of ivory-tower academics. And I most pray that he consciously leads as much from his heart as his head.
Hillary Clinton: Core Truths
Hillary Clinton will say, do, eat, drink, wear, emote, pretend, improvise, erase, enact, embellish, proclaim, ignore, change, utter, scorn, exaggerate, and reject or accept anything in order to win. Absolutely anything.
And she'll do it with the unabashed, guilt-free gusto of a heavyweight fighter landing a lights-out punch on his reviled opponent.
It's hard not to thrill at a devil-may-care, diet-be-damned woman who swigs down a shot of whiskey and sloppily savors a slice. And it's hard not to admire a passionate politico who walks working class neighborhoods in Pennsylvania (as she did in Nevada and California, both won by Clinton), mingling with distressed voters, listening to their stories, commiserating with their woes.
But what are her core values? What is her truth? Does she have an internal compass set to anything other than the mere pursuit of power? Set to anything but trample her rival at all costs?
Sen. Clinton says she opposes the Colombia free trade agreement. But Bill Clinton accepted $800,000 to promote the Colombia free trade agreement. And Mark Penn, formerly her top strategist for eight years, was working with Colombian officials to pass the controversial free trade legislation.
Clinton lied about sniper fire in Bosnia. She fabricated elements of a health care story she tells on the stump. And her tenuous relationship with truth is nothing new. It's been ongoing for years. (See Hillary's Tall Tales: Can the U.S. Survive Another President Who Lies?
The truth is that the U.S. can't and won't elect another president who isn't honest. Voters don't have the stomach for it after the abject dishonesty of the Bush administration.
Wondering in Pennsylvania
Because of the lengthy run-up to the Pennsylvania primary, Obama supporters learned that their candidate is not perfect. Barack Obama fell off his pedestal in the Keystone state with a crashing thud heard from San Francisco to Philadelphia.
And everything negative we suspected about Hillary Clinton was unavoidably confirmed during this last month.
One of them will soon become the Democratic party's 2008 presidential nominee. The nominee will likely be Barack Obama, but I will vote in November for whoever is nominated in Denver.
But lately, a futile, foolish thought strays across my mind... is it too late to resurrect the candidacies of Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Bill Richardson and John Edwards?
Comments
I said to my girlfriend yesterday that I wish we could have a do-over, with Hillary and Barack both disqualified. I now fear that neither one of them can win the general election. The proverbial Yellow Dog might make a more electable candidate.
It’s hard to believe that any journalist could refer to Barack Obama as “elusive”; his two books tell more about him than we would ever have known without them. I actually believe, after a year of daily exposure to journalists (political junkie that I am) that a large and disturbing minority of them have not done their homework and don’t understand what ordinary Americans are looking for in news commentary. Yellow journalism is thriving.
I don’t think Obama is “dispassionate”; rather, I think he lives in the middle self, is balanced between emotion and thought, and truly cares that people are happy and better off. I’ve watched him relate to to the people he meets at political events, and I think they see the genuine article. I do not believe he condescends; he is more interested in what is true than in crowing about the fact that he knows it.
Hillary has proved that he has neither the reality-centered intellect nor the deeply felt concern that is needed in the next president. She is somewhere out there, although I would not have believed it to be so if I hadn’t repeatedly seen it this past year.
Hillary is a monster.
Obama is a pretentious, condescending, elitist “actor” who has fooled everyone who is seeking the elusive hope.
He has so substance, message or original thoughts.
He parrots what others say (all the time) and makes their words his own-even if plagarized.
He is an imposter, and a discredit to the Democratic Party.
Opportunistic and greedy, check out that Rezko home in Chicago and you can tell alot about the man we call Obama.
He is so out of touvh with the mainstream Democratic party that if he is the nominee I will vote Republican for the first time.
FYI-I am African American.
Thanks for the article. Shocking that the Columbian trade deal does not get more attention…its not just the $800,000…its telling of her decision making process. Very simple decisions, like Bill and Hillary discussing the prospect of him supporting what she does not. She does what is best for her at the time, flat out. We are being led around by a master campaigner like sheep, bickering about ‘bitterness’ while the real business gets done right under our noses. What more insight do we need into her character? The Bosnian thing and hospital story are a little dumb….but there is a commom theme…Simple decisions gone wrong:
’should I really take money, $400,000 for a presidential pardon favor for a crook?’
’should I lie about Bosnia?’
’should I double check my details before I prey on a womans death to push my health care program?’
’should I slip some files in with my personal stuff to hinder an investigation…hmmm…it would make it mighty tough to convict me, thats for sure’
Simple decisions all gone very wrong. Her character is there for us to see but very few make her answer to ANYTHING. She does not deserve the blind support she gets and does not deserve to be taken so seriously by the country. We deserve better.
MY FELLOW BITTER, STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT, TOO
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of BITTER!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton.
Best regards
jacksmith… Working Class
p.s.
If you don’t know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering…
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year.
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on…
DON’T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. With Hillary Clinton you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She’s a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama’s primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith… Working Class
jacksmith, nice post. I do not support Obama or McCain, I also do not support anyne who would take a $400,000 payment to secure a presidential pardon for a criminal. Simple decision. She was in on it with her brother…and eventually returned the money after huge political pressure to do so. That was back in 2000 or so, and now she and Bill drive on,continuing to make money exploiting their situation. Nothing has changed. I agree that she was a health care advocate years ago and has a put a tremendous amount of time into it. How do you account for her decisions? So what do you think here…Bill has a chance to support the Columbian trade deal and make $800,000. Hillary has not supported it. Do you think they might agree that he could pass on the money for now since its an election and they don’t need to distraction if the media finds out? They made 109M over 7 yrs or so, do they Need $800,000 right now given this tense moment in the election?? Yep, they need cash. Its about her decisions. You seem like a strong supporter, is this type of scam ok with you?
Jack
If yoy think Hillary’s ‘93 healthcare proposal was feasible, it’s obviuos you’ve never worked in the field. How can she pay for any healthcare improvements when she has consistently voted to enable Bush’s $3 tril war? Can you count?
This is a great read. One thing that perhaps most of you have not considered. Rush and Hannity both had a stop Hillary Express because they believed she would be running against the Great Mc Cain. They knew they could beat her but Obama stepped up. They then started sending their Republicans to cross over to vote for Hillary in ohio, Texas and California because they want her against Mc Cain. But they could not win big enough to knock Obama out so now they must destroy him in the General Election. However, I believe the Dems could run Snoopy after the Lies of the last 8 years. The aim is to devide and conquer. Bothe Hillary AND obama need to get back on message. Let this show go on and get over with. We Dems need to get smart and realize what our objectives are. End the American Occupation in Irag before we need a Draft. Negotiate Free Trade Aggreements to benefit us as much as others. Get affordable Health Care, and put our Economy back on a level playing field. I would agree to increased taxes if I felt that those of us in American who are needed would benefit. I do not see how we can continue in Irag without an
increase in Taxes. We have low taxes now but Food, Housing, Infrastructure, Oil and Gas are up so what is the difference. You and I still can not save and yes I am Bitter. I love the Lord. Republicans want us to go fishing, do anything but watch the news,
blog because we may start seeing what they are doing to us rather than for us. Obama mis spoke but he was trying to explain why he was not appealing to a certain block of voters. Well perhaps he could hav ended it with the facts and returned to Pennsylvanian and ask you all. God I WISH HE HAD. I beleve he would listen to all. Go to Obama.com and see what info you can get. You query a question and within seconds someone returns an answer. Can you imagine how our Washington would be with that kind of transparency.
Thank You and God Bless all of us.
Deborah — stranger things have happened … remember, there is a REASON for the super-delegate system and those peole not being tied to state votes. AND state delegates are released from their vote after, I believe, the first (maybe second) balloting.
Good morning,
Interesting to see the debate alive and well…although its not really a bebate, but I have learned a few things.
KnowsBetter: thanks for at least questioning Hillary and her ability to get things done.
Jacksmith: I’m still not sure where you stand on supporting a candidate that lies and twists situations to her advantage as early as this month!!
Charlee: I do not support Obama or McCain, and the purpose of my post was to question Hillary Clintons character. Does this matter to you? Are you ok with documented lies and deception? Look at the past…and look at this month!! The Columbian trade deal may be harmless along with the lies about Bosnia…but it seems indicative of her decision making process. She is playing your blind support like a master and is a superior campaigner. Hillary will NEVER stand for a direct question about her character…you’ll never get a straight answer….and it seems her supporters won’t go there either.
Think people. Its not about being a woman or a democrat, its about being a liar and manipulator.
You wrote, “Stylish and slim with a coolly moderate speaking tone, both exude the air of a professor above the fray: brilliant yet dispassionate and tinged with intellectual conceit.”
In other words, Obama is another Woodrow Wilson.
I’ll take that over Bush or McCain, sure.
Ditto, I have thought of the comparison in style and manner to Woodrow Wilson, also a Democrat. Time will tell if Wilson and Obama compare in governance approach and policy. It’s possible. I most certainly opt for Obama over McCain and either Bush.
America is seen in HILarys shoe as A society of CHEATs and LIERS plus MAN IPULATORS.AFTER Bush coupe Obomas COUPE will end AMERICAN DEMOCRAZY