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Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:00 AM

Quote of the day: Obama on Clinton

When Hillary attacks!

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Sunday, February 17, 2008 01:13 AM

Real Feminists

Don't support Hillary.

Just woman who use the term for leverage, rather than as a descriptive.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 01:43 AM

Go watch the video

Go and watch it on YouTube. There's a long pause between "feeling" and "down".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qNpeGPdhEw

There's nothing sexist going on here. He could absolutely have said that about McCain.

You try to "boost your appeal" when you feel that you're down in the public's estimation, not because you're feeling depressed. For goodness sake.

Clinton supporters should realize that when they make these ill-founded straw-grasping attacks, they are alienating whole swathes of mainstream voters.

You may get a bit of traction through the media hall of mirrors with this stuff in the Democratic primary season, but try this in the Presidential campaign and you will be laughed off the stage.

This is the quickest route to electoral suicide among swing-voters that I can think of.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 02:12 AM

Prof. Sacher-Masoch, I presume?

"I sm very tired of Clintons attacks on Obama."

I know there must be a subliminal message here, traysp. I'm just having trouble uncovering it. Can anybody help? In the meantime, if this is as ugly as the "attacks" are going to get this campaign cycle, I don't think we have much to complain about. Now, if somebody in the press would just get around to reporting on the issues....

Sunday, February 17, 2008 02:20 AM

The 50 foot woman...

No sexism here. Checking out the video was definitely helpful. Obama refers to what Clinton is doing later on in the clip as ‘gamesmanship’. Should he have said ‘gameswomanship’? You are really stretching this one. The more we go on with this race the more I think you demonstrate secretly, or not so secretly, that you are in the Hillary camp. Get some objectivity Salon.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 02:32 AM

The lifeblood of the Clinton campaign

This is another example of a pattern. The main thing that motivates Clinton supporters is springing to her defense. This means that if there is not some incident where Clinton is the victim every couple of weeks, one has to be manufactured.

Luckily, Clinton has very high "unfavorable" ratings, so there's no shortage of attacks. But if there's nothing around, take a remark that's ambiguous, and use that.

I mean, people are really complaining about the use of the word "periodically"? Seriously?

Emotion is the lifeblood of politics. Obama generates it through rhetoric. Clinton generates it by inspiring feelings of protectiveness.

The problem is that these over-the-top defenses drive mainstream voters away. Clinton's "favorability curve" of strong "very favorables" and strong "very unfavorables" is reinforced.

This may help in the primary campaign, but it'll be fatal in the Presidential race.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 02:39 AM

The double standard is frightening

So, Bill Clinton is accused of using racist coded language in South Carolina, but no one sees or acknowledges the sexist coded language being used by many people in this campaign? This is the reason older women feminists are getting angry about this. Once again, people just don't feel the need to be as careful when talking about a woman as an African American man.

I must say, I am not surprised, I said 20 years ago we would have an African American male President before a woman. I am surprised (pleasantly) that they are actually running against each other. But let's face it folks, sexism, blatant and subtle, is still pervasive and acceptable. If this campaign doesn't show that, I don't know what does.

BTW, I am an Obama voter, but not a Kool-aide drinker.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 02:50 AM

Language police

Oh, my. That "periodically" interpretation of Mizmoon was too much! Clutching at straws, and calling it a haystack. What next... "Hillary Clinton can't knit together a broad coalition by skirting the issues that engender the American Dream, period."

I think you're reading way too much into Obama's words.

Sunday, February 17, 2008 03:21 AM

"Hillary Clinton can't knit together a broad coalition by skirting the issues that engender the American Dream, period"

BWAH! Slackie, you're a doggone genius.

"Good evening. My opponent, Hillary Clinton, has introduced some new wrinkles into my plans to benefit American children, women, and men. Oh, pause for a moment of silence.

"We're tired of the Republicans' lip. Stick it to them, that'll be my goal in Washington. I'll keep a watch on the Republicans with one eye. Shadow the special interests with my other eye. Pencil in some funds for new schools. It'll be a new compact with America.

"I'd like to introduce my economic advisor, Max E. Paddington, who will give wings to our nation's economy. He will keep our exports high. He'll keep our imports low. And create American jobs manufacturing goods made in America, down to the last nail. Polish up your resume, because more jobs are coming."

"But jobs aren't enough. We must change the social intercourse of this nation, so that the whole thrust of the debate changes. Over and over, again and again, the nation cries out for change. Thank you for your vote, and see you next Tuesday at the polls."

Did you find wrinkles, menopause, lipstick, eye shadow, eye pencil, compact, maxipad, wings, high heel, nail polish, intercourse, thrust, "see you next Tuesday"?

Sunday, February 17, 2008 03:36 AM

The "wolf in sheep's clothing" sharpens his fangs

and all the real sheep, little and large, bleat 0-baa-ma, 0-baa-baa-ma. This is truly Orwellian, a dystopia where words can be twisted for any purpose. "Yes we can" is NOt a translation of "Si (accented "i") se puede. It means "It is possible" but who cares about accuracy or anything as arcane as that. Getting all-of-a-dither, fainting and frothing, means so much more. I'm lucky to live in a parallel universe where Obama's banal statement, tinged with spite, would not be deemed worthy of being chosen as "Quote of the day", As a witty British parliamentarian retaliated to criticism from another politician: "It's like being mauled by a dead sheep". I can see why Senator Obama is unwilling to debate; that would require real intellectual rigour and silly soundbites will do for you (or should that be "ewe"?).

Sunday, February 17, 2008 03:54 AM

Obamas Trivial comments?

– certainly not as trivial as Edwards hairstyle or Bill’s haircuts. Obama is the first man to run against a women for the highest office in the land. He has some pretty big responsibilities in that regard, as Hillary does running against a black man.

If Obama supporters are suggesting that the words “When Hillary is down in the polls” is the same thing as “When Hillary is feeling down.” they need to lighten up on the Kool-aide. He is clearly poking at the “emotional” nature of women. Furthermore putting her feelings in the context of “periodically”,- What? - is there some regular period when Hillary is down in the polls or some regular period when she is feeling down? While his references are somewhat appealing to the more conservative independent voters out there, it is a completely dumb-ass sexist thing to say.

“I am an Obama voter, but not a Kool-aide drinker.” - TinyBubbles

While I am thankful that I have not seen comments stating Hillarys “periodic feelings” negatively impact her leadership capabilities (I am sure there are right wing blogs who say this), and TinyBubbles shows you can support Obama without being blinded by the light, I am concerned about a candidate that does bring out the Kool-aide drinker in people.

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