Obama told donors at a Houston fundraiser Thursday night that the nation will remain at a standstill "if we continue to engage in small and divisive politics and tit-for-tat."
Smart politics, I think. I've seen pundits arguing about who "won" the candidates' angry exchange over David Geffen's attack on the Clintons. To me, it seems obvious that Obama came out on top. The Clinton camp made an unreasonable demand on Obama, Obama refused and upped the ante by placyng the race card, criticizing Hillary for accepting support from someone who said Obama couldn't win because he's black. Clinton is out of ammo, and Obama gets to posture himself as being above the fray.
Besides, Obama wins even if you score the exchange as even. He's the upstart, and standing up to Hillary raises his stature even if the fight is a draw. It will take more than this relatively minor episode to convince me that Obama is a serious candidate, but it's definitely a step in that direction.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. John, I agree that Barry Hussein won the first round in what I *hope* is a long and protracted war. I feel the same way about these two as Henry Kissinger did about the Iran-Iraq war: "It's a shame they can't both lose."
I don't buy the notion that Barry somehow lost his "I'm above it all" position by returning fire. For one thing, it was just that: returning fire. If he had fired the first shot, it would be a different story. The way I score it, Hillary got a dig in (not a very good one but I'll give her a full point) and Barry got a dig in (point for him) but Barry also gets a point because *everyone* got to hear the Geffen comments over and over. That was the beauty of it--every article included the Geffen comments over and over and over and while I think Geffen turned out to be a useful idiot in the whole thing, it doesn't help Shrillary if people are reminded of the shenanigans that went on during the Slick Willie years...
Final score: Barry 2, Shrillary 1
the commodore at 5:17PM on Feb 23rd 2007
2. 1.) Geffen is more upset about DOMA and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" than he is about Peltier--although he does share the Show-Biz Left's infantile infatuation with cold-blooded cop-killers.
2.) Most American Indians don't even believe Peltier or they would have bought a pardon from the Clintons like everybody else did.
3.) Just like those Puerto Rican bombers, Peltier would have gotten his pardon free--if only Hillary had needed Indian votes in her senate race.
Old Hickory at 2:39PM on Feb 24th 2007
3. John, no one won the Clinton-Obama spat. It made the two candidates look like typical politicians while the public who just got done with one set of elections is tired of already hearing about another set. The early start to the Presidential race will burn out the public and possibly a candidate or two.
Sean Hackbarth at 12:23AM on Feb 25th 2007
4. John, Obama did play a race card!!! I don't know why H. Clinton did'nt play the White female card!!!Maybe because she would have been polictly ruined and sued by ALL Black special interest groups!!!! He should be thrown out on his rear!!!I can't understand why the American voters don't see what he is trying to do in a covert way! HE PLAYS THE RACE CARD ANY TIME HE THINKS HE CAN SLIP IT IN!!
Joyce at 12:02PM on Feb 25th 2007