Hillary's Unappealing Path (Most emailed column, Washington Post)

[Divernan]

Here are sample paragraphs from this very hard-hitting column. The rest of it's worth a read also.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021403102.html
By Michael Gerson, Friday, February 15th, 2008, Page A21

Those clanking, sputtering and grinding sounds you hear are coming from the Clinton political machine. Our fundraising, it argues, has never been stronger -- though it is about half of Barack Obama's. Our strategy has assumed these minor setbacks all along -- though senior campaign leadership must be shown the door. Our successes will come in "Ohio and Texas because we know that those are states where they represent the broad electorate in this country" (Hillary Clinton's words) -- which is hardly a valentine to Missouri, Virginia, Minnesota, Colorado and other parts of the nation Clinton must view as flyover territory.
#####################################
But Clinton's largest problem is not a lack of money or public enthusiasm. It is the lack of a compelling narrative for her campaign. Obama's appeal is straightforward: getting beyond "the ideological battles that have consumed us for the last 20 years" -- in which Clinton and her husband have been two of the main combatants.
###############################
The challenge for Clinton is that her other options -- the other narratives for her campaign -- are equally flawed: First, there is Hillary the Fighter. In recent interviews, Clinton has come out swinging with negative attacks -- what she once referred to as "the fun part" of politics. Obama has "questions to answer about his dealings with . . . a big nuclear power company" as well as with "Mr. Rezko." But it is hard to imagine American voters thinking: "If only the Clintons were a little more ruthless, I'd finally support them." It is this very trait -- after a series of racially charged attacks -- that many Americans, including many liberals, found more repulsive than "fun."

#####################################
Though it is increasingly unlikely, Clinton may still have a path to the nomination -- and what a path it is. She merely has to puncture the balloon of Democratic idealism; sully the character of a good man; feed racial tensions within her party; then eke out a win with the support of unelected superdelegates, thwarting the hopes of millions of new voters who would see an inspiring young man defeated by backroom arm-twisting and arcane party rules. Unlikely -- but it would be a fitting contribution to the Clinton legacy of monumental selfishness.

[e-mail]

[NJmaverick]

1. THIS HAS TO BE THE LINE OF THE ELECTION

"If only the Clintons were a little more ruthless, I'd finally support them."

[Pirate Smile]

2. That last line is a killer too.

Clinton may still have a path to the nomination -- and what a path it is. She merely has to puncture the balloon of Democratic idealism; sully the character of a good man; feed racial tensions within her party; then eke out a win with the support of unelected superdelegates, thwarting the hopes of millions of new voters who would see an inspiring young man defeated by backroom arm-twisting and arcane party rules. Unlikely -- but it would be a fitting contribution to the Clinton legacy of monumental selfishness.

[NJmaverick]

6. That is killer and unfortunately all too true

In fact the prospect of it, scares me.

[ginnyinWI]

3. we can only hope the electorate sees this in them before they vote.

Yeah--we really admire someone who can slash and burn their way through the Democratic Party and win a nomination for themselves! :sarcasm:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

4. This sounds like Michael Gerson's fondest fantasy, while watching his beloved GOP implode.

Michael John Gerson (born May 15, 1964, New Jersey) is an Evangelical Christian op-ed columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.He served as President George W. Bush's chief speechwriter from 2001 until June 2006, and as a senior policy advisor from 2000 through June 2006. A member of the White House Iraq Group, Gerson was called "the conscience of the White House" by some admirers.

He understands nothing.

[NJmaverick]

5. So if you supported invading Iraq, you understand nothing?

Is that your point?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

7. Michael Gerson is a RW shill who has publicly lamented the downfall of the GOP. Anyone who thinks

that's a bad thing, understands nothing.

on edit, he's been an embittered columnist since leaving his bubble in 2006.

[Divernan]

9. He was talking about Hillary supporting invading Iraq, right?

Or am I belaboring the obvious?

[Doctor_J]

8. The conscience of the White House

- the most amoral White House in history. Wow, that is certainly a ringing endorsement. How sad that some Dems are willing to believe crap from Bush-lovers at this point in time.

[dkf]

10. Just because he is a Repub doesn't mean he doesn't have eyeballs and a brain

If what he is writing doesn't ring a bell, you haven't been paying attention.

This is what is wrong with our country today, just because a person is on the "other side", we are supposed to discount whatever they say instead of honestly evaluating their point of view.

Under an Obama administration, we are Americans first.

[Divernan]

11. Well said!

nt

[Prophet 451]

12. and that may well be the death of him

I like Obama, his optimism is refreshing but the perception I have of him is that of someone naive enough to negotiate in good faith with a bunch of thugs who are looking to eat him alive, a Chamberlain, if you will (not as much of an insult as it sounds, Chamberlain has been unfairly demonised). Effectively, you have a coutry which is run by big-money corporate elites who have already said that they will fight tooth and nail rather than give a single inch and Obama is going to be looking for unity with these guys. They're seeing themselves as a back-alley brawler, Obama's seeing himself as a referree, guess which one's going to get hit?

I'm not even mentioning HRC because, assuming her politics are similar to Bill's, she's corporate through and through but your nation desperately needs someone to face down and force back the money machine of rapacious corporations and thus far, Obama hasn't shown me that he has the steel for it.

[Doctor_J]

13. And when he makes up shit like this before the GE about Obama,

are you going to again give him credit for just using his eyes and brain?

Whenever I think that a significant portion of the electorate is "too smart" to be taken in by right-wing propaganda, I read crap like the responses in this thread and then check the want ads for jobs in Europe.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

14. Riiight, Gerson took every cent until he foresaw the crash and burn. Please.

I'll listen to Buchanan or Paul over this guy any day of the week. :eyes:

[rosetta627]

15. Dang good article

"The Clinton legacy of monumental selfishness."

That and NAFTA, and attacks on Welfare recipients.

[grrr050]

16. The Ignorance of some Obama Supporters

I wish they will all grow up soon....very soon!

[rosetta627]

18. The ignorance of some posters...

I'm a Kucinich supporter.

But since we're on the subject, grrr050, and since you're such a grown up, perhaps you can tell me what is so good about NAFTA.

[From The Left]

17. Hillary = Lady MacBeth

Just as power hungry and just as insane