Obama campaign has used the Republican Strategy to Beat Clinton

[Altec]

I've never seen or heard so many Democrats use the term Billary, or complain about a co-presidency. I've never heard so many Democrats complain that Hillary is corrupt or will do anything to get the presidency. Isn't it Republicans who are supposed to be beating the Clintons down by saying they are power hungry, ruthless people who calculate every little detail? Every little thing the Clintons do, the media reports them as playing some card, or using dirty tricts. Many Democrats have been convinced that the Clintons are racist! One poor soul posted a list of people the Clintons supposedly had murdured.

Unfortunately, a lot of this has been driven by the Obama campaign which promises to bring people together. Plus, a lot of what I see on the internet comes from young people who were too young remember the 90s, and have latched on to Hillary-Hate driven by a campaign.

I don't care who you support in this election, but as Democrats I think we should show the Clintons a bit more respect. They've dedicated their lives to using their extraordinary talents to help others. As Bill Clinton said in his book, he knows he's not as good as his best supporters, and he knows he's not as bad as his worst critics.

I don't believe Hillary will win the nomination, but at least us Democrats can leave the Clinton bashing to the Republicans. She will be an important part of the Democratic party after Obama wins the election, and could be instrumental in putting him in the White House (as she helped put him in teh Senate). Besides, if you support Obama, bashing should run contrary to your beliefs.

[babylonsister]

1. Baloney. Obama campaign has used their secret weapon, OBAMA. nt

[wellstone dem]

8. and don't forget Michelle

[QC]

13. Yeah, it's really weird how he pimps out his wife. n/t

[robbedvoter]

25. FREE DAVID SCHUSTER! WITHOUT MSGOP - NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH!

[xultar]

2. If I were Hillary and Bill Clinton I'd never do anything for the party again. The Democrats HATE

them and they should take the hint and let it go.

IT's obvious that they've done nothing for the Democratic party. Democrats or the country so why bother to try and be a part of something that hates you?

That to me makes no fucking sense.

[blm]

3. Clintons dedicated themselves to PROTECTING BUSHES. You've been snowed.

http://consortiumnews.com/2006/111106.html

[skipos]

4. Hillary is using the Republican strategy to lose

Her whole "everything is great" tone, finding some excuse for every loss, refusing to ackowledge that she is getting spanked in state after state... it really reminds me of Bush. Further, focusing on the big states, spending more money on consultants instead of boots on the ground, reminds me of everything that is bad and out of touch about the DLC Democratic strategy. Obama is using something similar to Dean's 50 state strategy, and both of them have had tremendous success with it.

[ginnyinWI]

14. and the last straw: not acknowledging Obama's wins yesterday.

She should have at least said something. How rude. How like a Rovian candidate. Whoever advised her to just ignore Obama's victories should go.

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. um, Hillary is the one who uses the co-campaign canard

until it backfired on her, then she tried to spin herself as her own woman.

[Kahuna]

32. Riight. Then when she said last week that Bill would have NO ROLE..

Those voting for her because the WANTED a secret Bill presidency finally caught a clue and realized that Hillary could possibly be the PRESIDENT!!! :scared:

[formernaderite]

6. so why does her campaign seem like

Bill jr redux? Same surrogates running out to speak for her...Bill campaigning as if he's the nominee. Sorry, been there...done that. And the "that" has nothing to do with anyone elses campaign.

[NashVegas]

7. That's the Great Tragedy of 2008's Primary Season

There are many people with a few legitimate reasons to steer away from Hillary, for fear she'd mimic Bill's 1996 Telecoms, DMCA, & Workfare. Of those who campaigned against her in DU, those comprised approx .05% of the criticisms levied.

Even greater, to me, is that Barack Obama's campaign didn't just trash the Clintons, it trashed the rank and file of the Democratic Party's traditional voters - its very base - working people.

If Obama wins the nomination, if any of his campaigners expect me to stand up and defend him and his candidacy of RW attacks, they can all go suck eggs.

[demokatgurrl]

22. Best post I've seen in a long time. nt

[thetaoofterri]

26. I 'll agree with that.

[Maribelle]

28. I totally agree ObamaCamp 'trashed the rank and file of the Democratic Party's traditional voters'

And all the while his campaign trashes the rank and file of the democratic party, they go all bubbly over republicans and independents as being the vital force in choosing the democratic nominee.

[SIMPLYB1980]

9. K&R

[Adelante]

10. When has the Obama campaign used the term "Billary"?

I agree with your point on the name-calling, but blame DU supporters, the ones actually do it, not the Obama campaign who doesn't. While you're at it, tell Clinton supporters that use name-calling and right wing talking points against Obama to cut it out.

In any case, Hillary uses the Clinton administration record as her own when she wants to take credit for some part of it. Fine. But she has to take the criticism with the praise. Clinton and Obama are opponents in a tough primary race. They each have to distinguish themselves from each other. If Hillary had wanted to run on her own Senate record, it might have been a different discussion. But she promotes her husband's record as her own and this makes her accountable for it, good and bad.

[demokatgurrl]

24. Go check out the blog on Obama's web site

you'll see it all over the place, and "Sillary" and other derogative, childish bullshit.
And the campaign surely reads it, and allows it.
It's shameful. I'd be embarassed to be associated with that campaign. I may vote for him in the general election if he wins the nomination but I can't promise it- I haven't seen a good reason to so far. Charisma? Who the fuck cares.

[jakem]

11. Dislike of another Clinton presidency has brought together people from across the aisle!

SHE IS A UNITER!!!

[mckeown1128]

12. Last time I checked it was Hillary pushpolling and sending

out dirty robocalls.


And she is the only one to use the ultimate Republican campaign tactic. Trying to scare up votes. She is the one who said she should get elected because the terrorists might attack on the first day of the presidency.


You are trying to blame Obama for overzelous supporters. But Hillary's tactics are being done by HER.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

15. Oh, I remember the 90's just fine.

And that's why I don't want Hillary to be president.

I'm trying to decide whether your OP is more "painting with a broad brush" or "pot calling the kettle black".

[mopinko]

16. welcome to democracy. this part is called the primaries.

it's a contest, see? to see who is the strongest, the toughest. this is what we do instead of actual war. i think it is a good plan. sorry "your girl" is losing.
people need to get over it. the best candidate is winning. and doing it by not only bringing in new voters, but by bringing those "raygun democrats", who always were really democrats, back into the fold.
it is not the campaign that is bashing her, tho, it is rank and file dems who are ready for a change. all the replies i am seeing this morning from hill supporters who are vowing to stay home are what is bad for the party.

[IronLionZion]

17. Nobody gives it to you (in the Dem party anyway). You have to earn it.

You don't just get the nomination because it's your turn. You have to get people to vote for you. And more people and more states are voting for Obama than Hillary. That's not "republican"; that's democracy. Deal with it.

Anyway, since I am a Democrat, I refuse to be swayed by negativity. Saying positive things about your candidate will get more support than saying negative things about the other candidate. You can attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

[Recursion]

18. You mean Hillary is vulnerable to republican-style attacks and loses when they get made?

Interesting.

[IndieLeft]

19. No, you see, what is driving this is people like you.

And using the 50 state strategy... that is Howard Dean strategy. Actually, it's democracy.

That's what you do when you want to be president to the ENTIRE country.

[demokatgurrl]

20. Yes, it's sad how Democrats get sucked in

I mean, seeing William Kristol and David Brooks quoted in this forum made me physically ill. The repugs are smart and relentless and we Dems are sheep.

The lesson is the same: repeat something often enough, loudly enough, and it becomes the truth.
Clinton is fighting not only Obama supporters, but Republicans long before the nomination is decided, as well as the MSM and gullible Democrats who listen to them.

It's very very sad. It almost (ALMOST!!!!) makes me want to join the smarter, more unified, cohesive party, except that it's evil.

[snooper2]

21. They have dedicated their lives to be career politicians

And, sorry, a politicians number one job is not to take care of the poor and helpless...

It's to get elected

And no, I don't have to respect someone who whore's themselves out to line their own pockets....

[beachmom]

23. That's odd. I don't recall Obama smearing Hillary, or poking fun of her,

saying she looks French or is elitist. I don't remember him making up lies about her past. He doesn't trot out the skeletons in the Clintons' closet. None of that.

This is crap. And I think there is some denial among Hillary supporters about the number of Democrats who are done with the Clintons -- they are angry with them for things that went down in the '90s. That is real, and it is not a right wing talking point. It is usually over issues where the Clintons sided with the Republicans.

[Pale Blue Dot]

27. But I thought we should support Hilary because she has the experience to stand up to the

right wing smear machine!

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[Armstead]

29. It is so tiresome to have to point that not all Clinton criticism is right-wing

There has been a sizable segment of the country on the left -- from moderate liberals to hard-core progressives -- who have been critical of the Clintons for the opposite reason that the GOP opposes them.

We have been frustrated for too many years by the Clinton's tacit and actuve support for the Corporate Conservative agenda, and their ongoing effort to marginalize and eliminate liberalism and progresive populism from the Democratic Party.

I have no problem with Democrats who knowingly agree with the Clintons and the DLC, if they are open and honest about it. I disagree but at least it is an honest basis for disagreement.

However these endless claims that critics of the Clintons are all echoing Rove or spouting GOP talking points, etc. are FLAT OUT WRONG AND DISHONEST.

[crazylikafox]

30. Thank you

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. When exactly did the Obama campaign use the term 'Billary?'

:shrug:

[Altec]

33. It's Obamba supporters themselves who turn me off from him...

They support Obama's message of a change in politics but they use Republican terms like Billary against what should be respected members of the party.