Obama, speaking to reporters at a press conference this morning, had a novel response to Hillary's r

[Renew Deal]

Obama, speaking to reporters at a press conference this morning, had a novel response to Hillary's recent insinuation that the GOP would have an easier time swift-boating him in a general election:

"The Clinton research operation is about as good as anybody's out there," Obama said. "I assure you that, having engaged in a contest against them for the last year, that they've pulled out all the stops."

"I think that what we've shown is that, you know, we can take a punch — we're still standing," Obama continued.
<snip>

Separately, at the presser, Obama also made some interesting comments about his route to the nomination, saying that he'll amass a higher total of pledged delegates as a way of putting pressure on committed super-delegates to honor the Democratic process, forgo back-room politics, and back the candidate with the most public support.

"If this contest comes down to super-delegates, I think we're going to be able to say that we have more pledged delegates — meaning that the Democratic voters have spoken," Obama said. "And I think that those SD's who are elected officials, party insiders, would have to think long and hard about how they approach the nomination when the people they claim to represent have said, `Obama's our guy.'"

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/obama_of_course_i_can_handle_t.php

[TheDebbieDee]

1. I think Hillary's "Swift-boating" comment was a warning

to the repukes, not a threat to Sen. Obama.

But, maybe I'm wrong. I'll have another listen if I can find it on youtube.

[DURHAM D]

3. I thought it was aimed at the media. n/t

[robbedvoter]

13. and their owners, the GOP

[TexasObserver]

2. It's refreshing to have someone who answers questions truthfully

as opposed to NOT

[REDFISHBLUEFISH]

6. Truth is Repubs do not get black vote, no reason for them to coddle Obama.

They will dissect this guy, any Democrat who acts surprised by this including Obama...Is either naive or lying.

[awaysidetraveler]

9. Go back to your Rush show, Hillbot. It doesn't sell.

[cali]

15. fiddle faddle. repukes know quite well that they run a huge risk

of blowback if they try and make it about race. And furthermore, this has been openly discussed by conservative pundits and analysts. They'll attack him on lots of things- his race won't be part of it, except with covert dog whistle stuff. And if Hillary is the nominee they'll be equally careful about gender. The pukes are obviously smarter than you. How sad for you, fishy.

[REDFISHBLUEFISH]

4. Clinton cannot afford to alienate traditional democratic voters

This makes Obama claim to having "all the stops pulled out aganst him" LAUGHABLE.

The guy is either lying or has absolutely no clue what he is talking about.

Take your pik! Trust me Republicans will slander him, point out facyts and pretty much turn Obama negative ratings into a very large number. It is what they do best. Obamas best not be this stupid, if he is we need to get him out of the Senate. GET REAL OBAMA!

[awaysidetraveler]

8. We're alienated. There's no way in hell I would ever vote for HRC.

And I'm not alone.

[golddigger]

14. Hmmm...you just called a poster a Hillbot and said you would never vote for

HRC. So are you going to vote for McCain?:shrug:

[displacedtexan]

5. I saw Obama say that on TV.

But it sounded more like this...

"The Clinton research operation is uh uh uh (long pause) about as good as uh uh anybody's out there," Obama said. "I assure you that, uh uh uh having engaged in a uh uh contest against them for the last year, that they've uh pulled out all the stops."

"I think that uh (pause) what we've shown is that, (pause) you know, we can take a punch — (pause) we're still standing," Obama continued.

Not as sharp and snarky as it could've been.

And you left out Sargent's refutation and Obama's "let's change all the current party rules" part:

With apologies to Hillary research kingpin Judd Legum, the Clinton research operation, while very aggressive, is hardly comparable to the GOP attack machine, is it?

Separately, at the presser, Obama also made some interesting comments about his route to the nomination, saying that he'll amass a higher total of pledged delegates as a way of putting pressure on committed super-delegates to honor the Democratic process, forgo back-room politics, and back the candidate with the most public support.

"If this contest comes down to super-delegates, I think we're going to be able to say that we have more pledged delegates — meaning that the Democratic voters have spoken," Obama said. "And I think that those SD's who are elected officials, party insiders, would have to think long and hard about how they approach the nomination when the people they claim to represent have said, `Obama's our guy.'"

Kinda sad.

[TornadoTN]

12. It's a good thing that he wants the people to decide this thing

Rather than politicians who are in line trying to get their back scratched by the Clinton's and angle for that special position within the administration.

[alcibiades_mystery]

16. the Clinton research operation...is hardly comparable to the GOP attack machine"

And you're calling other people naive?

:rofl:

[displacedtexan]

19. I didn't call anyone naive.

I just added the rest of the blog post the OP left out.

[psychopomp]

7. Excellent! Sen. Obama has his sleeves figuratively rolled up!

I look forward to more of this kind of talk from the underdog candidate.

[featherman]

10. This is all pretty simple... if Obama win more delegates in the primary

process, the party establishment in the form of SDs, should not thwart the voters' will by ovrturning that result. If Clinton wins the most, the same goes for her. So let's play it out and see what happens.

[AGirl]

11. wow hes really cocky.

[tridim]

20. Frontrunners usually are.

Or maybe the Obamenis is starting to develop?

[Straight Shooter]

22. Now he's the frontrunner? Many of his followers are claiming he's the underdog.

The David to Hillary's Goliath.

I suppose you all see it differently, depending on your personal analysis. It's nice to be perceived as the winner, especially when in the minds of most Americans it's become the horse race that the media is so fervently nourishing.

[tridim]

23. I really do think he is based on several quantifiable factors.

Money, polls and trends all favor Sen Obama as of this morning. Of course that could change tomorrow, so who knows. I'm not a fanboy, so whatever happens is fine with me as long as we win in Nov.

[shaniqua6392]

17. I don't think Clinton pulled out all the stops.

That is not usually done in a primary anyway. But she may come at him if it looks like he will overtake her. Right now she has more delegates than he does. I think he sounds a little cocky to me, especially by saying the SD's will have to go to his side. They will do whatever the hell they want.

[Schema Thing]

26. It's his life, he knows exactly where the "stops" are.

he knows exactly what Hillary's opposition research has found. If he's confident (and who of us really knows if he REALLY is), he is confident for a reason.

[russian33]

18. he thinks that was "pull all the stops"??

is he serious? he thinks what he gets from the Clinton campaign is 'attacks',and 'pull all the stops'?? oh good lord, he's more naive than i thought...this is flowers compared to what the GOP will throw at him if he gets nominated

[Straight Shooter]

21. That was my reaction.

Every day, in every way, he proves how inexperienced he is, a political neophyte when he speaks for himself instead of Axelrod doing the talking. Time for another celebrity endorsement to provide cover.

[KittyWampus]

24. well, Obama probably didn't consider YOUR strategy of saying "yes, we're weak but we'll win anyway"

[oviedodem]

25. One thing about the GOP attack machine this year: It may not

be that revved up if it is McCain. Thats a fact.

[IronLionZion]

27. I have a feeling the Huckster will be his VP

and it will be like the maverick and the preacher, or more likely the angry old man with the fitness-minded hick. If nothing else, I hope Huck encourages more Americans to exercise and eat right.

[cottonseed]

28. Agreed, they hate their candidates.

The same people that run the attack machinery, detest their candidates this year. They may not even rev the thing up.