AP Nails Clinton For Laundry List of Excuses For Losing

[DrFunkenstein]

Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has found a lot of ways to explain her string of losses to Sen. Barack Obama.

Caucus states, the former first lady says, are undemocratic and cater only to party activists. Southern states, like Louisiana, have "a very strong and very proud African-American electorate" naturally predisposed to favor a black candidate. And so-called "red" states like North Dakota, Idaho and Kansas — all of which Obama won on Super Tuesday — will never choose a Democrat in the general election anyway.

By this logic, only certain states really matter, such as New Hampshire and New Jersey, states that Clinton has won. Or Texas and Ohio, states she must capture to stay in the race.

The list of excuses is long, but the justifications are wearing thin as Obama was expected to win primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia on Tuesday after a four-state sweep last weekend plus the Virgin Islands. All the contests Clinton has suggested don't count are proving in size and scope that they do.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080212/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_dems_analysis;_ylt=AoVyjZthLUjvjCJAsoaOuQ1Wr7sF

I like people who take responsibility for what happens, rather than presenting a laundry list of reasons why it was out of their hands. After years of passing the buck, I want someone who will admit when they do something "boneheaded" and learn from their mistakes. I don't expect people to be perfect, but they should at least admit it. If you think I am subtly referring to Clinton's refusal to take responsibility for authorizing the invasion of Iraq - which killed hundreds of thousands of people and essentially defunded much needed domestic programs - you would be correct.

I would like Clinton alot more if she would admit when she inhales or has relations with the wrong people.

[tabatha]

1. Did she not accuse of Obama of not taking

responsibility for anything at the debate that was very heated.

Hmmm.

[sniffa]

2. I don't remember if she didn't use no double negatives

:shrug:

[burythehatchet]

3. Yes, we have no bananas. n/t

[Dr.Phool]

13. I have banana's!

And you can't have none!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. "Squawk! I'm A Parrot!" "Squawk! IWR IWR" "Squawk! She Voted She Voted IWR IWR" "Squawk"

And she's kinda right with her excuses also, though in the end the sum of all those things might actually overtake her regardless.

[DrFunkenstein]

8. You're a Parrot? How Do Parrots Feel About The Invasion?

I was a big Kerry supporter and he also voted for the invasion. The difference is that Clinton never admitted her massive mistake and continued to sabre-rattle ever since. These are character distinctions, but distinctions that potentially affect the lives of millions.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

15. "Squawk! I'm A Parrot!" "Squawk! IWR IWR" "Squawk! She Voted She Voted IWR IWR" "Squawk"

And see the quotes? That signifies my quoting of your words. If ya ever require more assistance with context, be sure to let me know polly, k? :hi:

[JAbuchan08]

22. when you do that you make yourself look much more ridiculous than the person you're "quoting"

I believe "infantile" is the word.

[book_worm]

5. I wonder what her excuse will be if Obama wins Wisconsin in one week?

We are a state with a little of everything. Madison with college students and starbuck liberals, Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, ect with it's manufacturing. We do have a African-American population but nothing like in some other states. We have a fast growing latino population but still a distinct minority. We have farms and small towns. We have a little of everything here.

[Cha]

10. Good! Latinos actually

do like Obama..that info that they don't was misinformation from the clinton campaign.
Texas Newspapers Endorse Barack Obama for President
By Christopher Hass - Feb 10th, 2008 at 5:40 pm EST

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content
With the Texas primary less than a month away, the editorial boards of several major Texas newspapers have formally endorsed Barack Obama.

The San Antonio Express-News wrote:

America needs a president that tries to create unity out of diversity, marshalling all the forces — red, blue or purple — that make this country great.

Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate that offers the best chance to reach that lofty objective.
As the Dallas Morning News explained:

Mr. Obama is our choice because of his consistently solid judgment, poise under pressure and ability to campaign effectively without resorting to the divisive politics of the past.
The Austin American-Statesman says "Yes, Obama Can":

Obama is the best pick Democrats could make.

Resolving the big issues confronting the nation requires a leader who can attract support from independents and Republicans. Of the two front runners, only Obama has shown the ability to bring divergent interests together. He did that as a state senator in Illinois and as a U.S. senator in Washington. And he has staked his presidential campaign on doing that in the White House.

… His optimism, unifying vision and ability to inspire are the kind of healing balm the country needs at this moment in history.
Finally, Sunday's edition of the El Paso Times wrote:



The El Paso Times recommends that El Pasoans voting in the March 4 Democratic presidential primary cast their votes for Barack Obama. A weary America, tired of the status quo, fed up with business as usual, is longing for a positive change -- and Barack Obama is that change.
If you live in Texas, visit TX.BarackObama.com for more information on events in your area and to learn how you can get involved.

See the full list of over 100 newspapers that have formally endorsed Barack Obama...

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/C9kN

Texas' Most Repected Latino Leader Endorses Obama

Written by taino on Feb-11-08 1:38pm
From: americantaino.blogspot.com
Speaking of the hugely important upcoming primary in Texas....Its most respected Latino--State Rep. Pete Gallegos--just endorsed Senator Barack Obama.
http://www.zimbio.com/2008+Presidential+Candidates/articles/5062/Texas+Most+Repected+Latino+Leader+Endorses

[HeraldSquare212]

14. Hillary: "My supporters wear mittens, they have a hard time casting a ballot.

People shouldn't have to get all bundled up just to vote - that's unfair. Only the Florida primary should count."

[AtomicKitten]

6. Her entire campaign is a dog and pony show.

[Cha]

7. Has hilary taken responsibility

for anything in her campaign or her votes in the Senate?

Has she ever actually called herself a big fat idiot for voting for the IWR?

[DrFunkenstein]

9. Well, She Did Give Back Norman Hsu's Money and Canned Bill Shaheen

But said nothing about Bob Kerrey, Bob Johnson, Bill Clinton, or any other surrogate was poisoned tongues.

As for shady donors, the list is long and would become a media frenzy in a general election, starting with:

Marc Rich, fugitive American businessman; Denise Rich, songwriter and socialite.

Denise Rich contributed $70,000 to Hillary's Senate campaign and $450,000 to the Clinton presidential library fund.

Over seventeen years after Marc Rich fled to Switzerland to avoid charges of racketeering, illegal trading, and tax evasion (he owed $48 million), Bill Clinton pardoned Rich during his last moments in the White House. His ex-wife Denise's generous donations and Friend of Bill status gave the pardon a particularly rotten stench.

Rich has been accused of a long list of white-collar crimes. The classiest: trading with Iran while the country was still holding U.S. hostages.

As Hillary began her career in the Senate, a media frenzy and investigations in both houses of Congress and the Justice Department were launched to see if Denise's contributions bought her ex-husband's pardon. Though the president was never indicted for wrongdoing, the Rich affair is often mentioned as Exhibit A of Clintonian sliminess.

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=076fd56f-4aca-4683-a9d1-3c55d748946e&k=60222

[stillcool]

16. Her campaign has apologized....

Clinton Adviser Likens Obama Health Care Mailer to ‘Nazis Marching’
by Associated Press
Friday, February 1, 2008

UPDATE: The health care expert who on a Hillary Clinton campaign conference call compared Barack Obama’s health care mailer with Nazis marching has apologized.
http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/01/clinton-advisers-blast-obama-mailer-on-health-care-plan/storic campaign for the United States presidency.”

Clinton adviser steps down after drug use comments
Earlier Thursday, Clinton personally apologized to rival Obama for Shaheen's remarks.

Obama accepted her apology, according to David Axelrod, the top political strategist for the Obama campaign.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/clinton.obama/index.html

Billy Shaheen Apologizes
12 Dec 2007 08:32 pm
The Clinton campaign has released this statement from NH co-chair Billy Shaheen:

“I deeply regret the comments I made today and they were not authorized by the campaign in any way."

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/12/billy_shaheen_apologizes.php

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-johnson-apology_N.htm?csp=34
COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama, for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.

Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.

December 10, 2007
Third Clinton Volunteer Knew Of Smear E-Mail

A third volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign was aware of a propaganda e-mail alleging that Barack Obama is a Muslim who plans on "destroying the U.S. from the inside out."

"Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential Candidacy," the email reads. "Please forward to everyone you know. The Muslims have said they Plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at The highest level."

Two Clinton volunteers, Linda Olson and Judy Rose, have already been asked to resign from the campaign for their roles in forwarding the e-mail. The AP reported yesterday that Olson, a volunteer coordinator in Iowa County, sent a version of the e-mail to 11 people, including Ben Young, a regional field director for Chris Dodd's campaign. Young passed it on to the AP.
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/12/third_clinton_v.html

..............New Meme:...........

Source: Hillary Adviser Harold Ickes Tells Surrogates To Refer To Super-Delegates As "Automatic Delegates"
By Greg Sargent - February 12, 2008, 11:43AM

In a sign that the spin war over the significance of super-delegates is underway in earnest, Harold Ickes told assorted Hillary supporters on a private conference call yesterday that the campaign wants them to start referring to super-delegates as "automatic delegates," according to someone on the call.

The person I spoke to paraphrases Ickes, who is spearheading Hillary's super-delegate hunt, this way: "We're no longer using the phrase super delegates. It creates a wrong impression. They're called automatic delegates. Because that's what they are."

The worry appears to be that the phrase "super-delegates" implies that "they have super-powers or super influence when they don't," the source says, describing Ickes' thinking. In other words, the phrase suggests that they have greater than average clout and that they have the power to overrule the democratic process, giving it the taint of back-room power politics.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/hillary_adviser_harold_ickes_t.php

[Cha]

19. Yeah, I'm real impressed

by hilary's sleazeball surrogates' apoloogies.

[stillcool]

21. always an arms length away...

even Bill, unless we're talking about experience.

[sandnsea]

11. She can't even take responsibility for her screwed up campaign

There's no conflict with Solis-Doyle, they're just bringing on more staff, that's all. :crazy:

[Alcibiades]

12. This tarnishes the image of inevitability

The inevitability meme was the one thing the Clinton camp focused on early on when it was ahead in the money count, when they should have been focusing on the issues. That very inevitability persuaded many folks not to support alternative candidates, which, in turn, prompted them to drop out quickly. It works well until it doesn't.

Rather than offering up excuses/reasons, I would rather see her articulate a progressive vision for the democratic Party and America. It saddens me that both of the candidates we are left with are the very ones that ran campaigns that did not use progressive agendas to reach out to the liberal base of the Democratic Party.

[jbnow]

17. Clinton's reaction surprised me

Bill and Hillary are way too smart to have said the things they did about the caucus losses, so dismissive of the voters and the states.

I know big losses feel bad and you want to put a good spin on it but that was not good spin. I'm no political genius but it seems the natural thing to say would be something like

"I wish we'd had the funding to campaign in all the states and I'm sorry we weren't able to spend the time or money we'd have liked to in these states. It was exciting to see all the people who were able to turn out and caucus and I want to thank every one of you. This is promising for how we will suceed in November"

Something along that lines. It blames money for the loss. No problem since the loan to campaign was already known. But it's being gracious to the people and the states and the good of the party

I think of her as smarter and more gracious than the way she talked about this. I know she was probably thrown off her game some...but it's just as easy to say something better.

[K Gardner]

18. That article sounds like a DU post or 97 of them. Strange that all these posts mirror

the TPMs reflected in the AP article.

[yeswecan08]

20. Hillary has zero chance of winning now because there are not many states left

[Eurobabe]

23. Thank you for reminding me why I don't want the

Clintons in the White House. They are truly dysfunctional, sometimes I wonder if their whole lives aren't fenced in by this wall of denial. It's easy to make excuses, harder to apologize or admit failure. We already have a pResident who acts in a dysfunctional manner, why on earth would we want another one that behaves the same way? :shrug:

[TexasObserver]

24. Clintonistas will say Texas matters in one breath, then say Democrats can't win it in the next.

That's the classic example of how they don't even have consistent memes on the topic.