Democrats Find Hillary Not Ready for Oval Office on Day One
Democrats across the nation are voting that it's Barack Obama who's most prepared for the Oval Office on "day one." And that it's Hillary Clinton who's not ready to be president.
And more and more in recent weeks, I'm beginning to understand their sentiment.
Both Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton have keen intellects, and everyone concedes that their platforms and proposals are similar. Sen. Clinton lays claim to more experience, although many find that claim debatable, and most voters rate "experience" as a low priority for the party nominee.
True, Hillary's 2002 Senate vote to fuel the Iraq War is a glaring difference, as was her 2007 vote to support the Bush/Cheney aggression agenda towards Iran. But Iraq and Iran are barely mentioned lately in Democratic speeches. And exit polls report that Democrats are more concerned about the economy and the need to change D.C. politics than about the Iraq War.
Importance of the Intangibles
The stark contrasts between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that fueled her ten consecutive primary losses in two weeks are found in the intangibles: character, personality, and the insistent use of negative campaign techniques.
To put it bluntly: Democratic voters believe Hillary Clinton is less capable than Barack Obama of leading the White House and dealing with Congress and the international community in a peaceable, mature, diplomatic and smoothly professional manner.
Judging by Sen. Clinton's messy and oft melodramatic presidential campaign, why wouldn't the majority of Democratic voters find Barack and Michelle Obama more temperamentally and morally suited to lead our country and occupy the White House?
From Hillary's well-timed tears in New Hampshire and her stubborn refusals to utter protocol concession remarks, to Bill's racially-tinged cynicism in South Carolina and his innumerable red-faced rages on the campaign stump ... to staff firings, campaign fund shortages and especially, to the campaign's constant barrage of off-issue, often silly negativity about her rival.... the Clinton campaign has been a train wreck.
At minimum, most Democratic voters are finding Clinton campaign tactics and behavior both loathsome and tiresome.
Every time Barack Obama orates about the need to change the "same old politics," and pushes to break the hyper-angry partisan stalemate of D.C. politics, frustrated voters need look no further than the vaunted Clinton political machine to vividly illustrate the drastic need for CHANGE.
And so the majority of Democratic voters of all ethnicities, ages, income and educational levels and faiths are more attracted to Barack Obama's character and leadership qualities as presidential timber. And they understandably find Hillary Clinton to be less ready for the Oval Office on "day one."
How does the Clinton campaign react to the obvious failure of its campaign strategies? A fresh start in a positive direction? With graciousness and a lack of arrogance? Or expecting different results with the same old self-destructive negativity?
Clintons Operatives Establish "527" to Attack Obama
Well, here's the sad answer: word comes today that Clinton operatives are setting up a "527" organization to clobber Obama in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania, must-win states for Hillary Clinton.
(To refresh your memory, "527"s are commonly set-up to jarringly tar-and-feather one's competitor in the other political party. The Swift Boaters, who cruelly smeared decorated war veteran John Kerry in 2004, were a "527" organization.)
"ABC News has learned that a group of Democratic politicos have set up a new independent 527 organization called the American Leadership Project (ALP) with the express purpose of helping Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, beat Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, in Ohio, and possibly Texas and Pennsylvania as well..."The group is targeting through TV ads, mail, and phone communications white women under 50 in the Ohio area... White men will also be a focus, and if there are any excess funds Latinos in Texas and middle class families in Pennsylvania will also be targeted."
So there you have it: the Clintons willing to tear apart the Democratic party in service of their desperate desire to return to White House power. And from the sounds of it, they may again be ready and willing to play the race card to yet have it their way.
Here are my questions:
- Do the Clintons really think that increasing their cynical negativity will finally defeat Barack Obama?
- And if their "527" allies work their trashy magic to take down Obama in Ohio, do they believe this will attract superdelegate support?
- Do they actually believe that meanly sacking a wildly popular fellow Democrat will unite the Democratic party to lift Hillary Clinton into the White House in November?
Yes, I'm starting to understand why the majority of Democrats are finding Hillary Clinton not ready for the Oval Office on "day one": bad judgment and questionable character.
The United States has just experienced eight devastating years of bad judgment and questionable character under George Bush and Dick Cheney. The American people are in no mood for another eight years of the same.
I ask again what I asked a year ago this week: Is Hillary Clinton Too Much Like George Bush?
Barack Obama for President!
(Photo #1 taken on Feb 20, 2008 at Hunter College in New York: Mario Tama/Getty Images; Photo #2 taken on Feb 19, 2008 in Texas: Dave Winsel/Getty Images)
Related Reading
Another Obama Smear by Pierre Tristam, About.com's Guide to Middle East Issues
Politico.com, Feb 19, 2008: Clinton Targets Pledged Delegates
ABC News, Feb 20, 2008: New Pro-Clinton 527 to Ding Obama in Ohio
ABC News, Feb 20, 2008: Clinton Campaign Sets Up Website to Push to Change the Rules
Comments
This is so elementary on Hillary’s behalf and it speaks volume of her character. I will say this in the event that one of her “associates” is reading this. I am my own person, I oversee my own directives. I don’t need a teacher or overseer. God gave us our own free will to exercise accordingly and I will do just that. So don’t knock on my door or ring my phone because all you will get from me is: “I don’t argue facts or opinions because you can’t change facts and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Have a good day. . . .
On the contrary, it’s the COUNTRY that isn’t ready for Hillary Clinton, not the other way around. She has the experience and the know-how to deal with Congress. The country says Hillary isn’t ready to run this country. Well, when WILL women be ready to run America? When? Answer that one for me, America.
The press gives Obama a total pass while Hillary is pilloried. Misogynism is alive and well in America.
Oh, right, because if a woman ever gets negative press, it MUST be due to sexism. If Hillary was a man, you would happy to throw stones side by side with the media.
Unbelievable.
I want everyone to know about this. Until today, I have been a huge Hillary Clinton supporter. Twice I sent her campaign financial donations because I wanted to do my fair part to help her all that I could. I wanted to feel good about helping to ensure that she would have the funds to run a good strong campaign. But after reading an article at another web site, I am so disappointed by her now.
In fact, I am so disappointed in Hillary that I am now going to vote for Senator Obama, and I will never send Hillary’s campaign another dime. Please don’t take my word for this. You can go to the below link to read for yourself about all the wasteful spending that she has allowed to go on with her campaign. I can now never support her going into office because I can not trust that she would do the same thing with our taxes. She says that she has a good economic plan, but if this is an example of the way that she is going to manage our economy, I absolutely cannot support her anymore.
Please go to this link and read it for yourself.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23286123/