"I'm a black guy named 'Barack Obama', running for president. You can't tell me I'm not tough..."

[sfam]

"I wouldn't be here right now if I wasn't tough"

Great great line that Barack just made in his Austin rally.

http://media.myfoxaustin.com/live/index.html

This really is a silly charge. The chances of a guy like this making it this far in the Presidential race not being tough is non-believable. Obama has been terrific on tactics and responses. He clearly can take a punch - wonderfully in fact.

[Political Heretic]

1. That's really funny! Good answer

[fightthegoodfightnow]

2. Exactly

........ and I agree.

Barack has surpassed even the most cynical skeptic.

I'm sure he will be swift boated, but my guess is America will simply say .............................. F*CK YOU.

The politics of destruction and fear and our long national nightmare has finally ended.

Rejoice America.

Yes we can.

[fadedrose]

19. It will be hard to swiftboat him

He black skin is thick, and insults roll off. He's not a whiny kid who runs to Mama when the other kids are picking on him.

He stays cool and as a result can address almost any problem or answer any questions; it looks like he can't fight, but he really doesn' have to. He seems to win just by his affable, confident and easy-going manner.

I think the kid'll do fine.

We already know he's smart.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

25. Agree with You

........ and I hope you are right.















.

[thoughtcrime1984]

3. One would have to be very tough to be a candidate for the Presidency

All of them. It takes a huge commitment by not only the candidates, but by their spouses and children as well, to take on such grueling schedules and scrutiny. He's damn tough.

[jasmine621]

33. Hmmm. He isn't the first black man to run for President...others in

even tougher times. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to run for President. But I think this is just more of the subtle race card playing that Obama does and gets away with it. No question about it, if Hillary had said she is a woman running for President she would have been accused of playing the "gender card" and mostly accused by Obama supporters. Soon these kind of statements are going to weary some of those masses.

[EffieBlack]

37. He's not the first black man to run - he's the 5th. Compared to the 100s of white men

who have run - and the 43 who have won - he certainly still qualifies as a pioneer.

And every mention of race is NOT playing the race card. He's simply stating a fact. He's a black man in America with an African name who has managed to get pretty far in life, which is certainly evidence of a degree of toughness that is admirable. This isn't the race card. He's just stating the truth.

And, by the way, Hillary has FREQUENTLY said she is a woman running for president. That, too, is a fact.

[sfam]

44. He is certainly the first who has a legit shot of winning.

Jesse Jackson was a fine candidate, but I don't think you'll find anyone including Jesse who thought he had a chance of winning.

[lligrd]

4. Yep, I've Been Impressed With His Answers To Attacks

I think we may just have a winner in Barack.

[Cha]

17. This really impressed me from the debate in Texas last night..

did you see it?

"OBAMA: Now, I think that Senator Clinton has a fine record and I don't want to denigrate that record. I do think there is a fundamental difference between us in terms of how change comes about. Senator Clinton of late has said: Let's get real. The implication is that the people who've been voting for me or involved in my campaign are somehow delusional.

(LAUGHTER)

And that, you know, the 20 million people who've been paying attention to 19 debates and the editorial boards all across the country at newspapers who have given me endorsements, including every major newspaper here in the state of Texas.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: You know, the thinking is that somehow, they're being duped, and eventually they're going to see the reality of things.

Well, I think they perceive reality of what's going on in Washington very clearly. What they see is that if we don't bring the country together, stop the endless bickering, actually focus on solutions and reduce the special interests that have dominated Washington, then we will not get anything done. And the reason that this campaign has done so well...

(APPLAUSE)

The reason that this campaign has done so well is because people understand that it is not just a matter of putting forward policy positions.

OBAMA: Senator Clinton and I share a lot of policy positions. But if we can't inspire the American people to get involved in their government and if we can't inspire them to go beyond the racial divisions and the religious divisions and the regional divisions that have plagued our politics for so long, then we will continue to see the kind of gridlock and nonperformance in Washington that is resulting in families suffering in very real ways.

I'm running for president to start doing something about that suffering, and so are the people who are behind my campaign."

[lligrd]

24. Yes, He Has A Great Way Of Actually Answering Attacks

and adding a bit of humor. And he appears so relaxed doing it.

[Kaylee]

5. I was listening to the stream and had to run and

tell my husband that line. :)

[sfam]

7. I've heard a lot of his speeches, but never heard that line. Was wonderful!

The other new thing he did was the whole talk about "they're saying stuff about you all too. They say you're delusional..." That worked pretty well too.

[Lint Head]

6. I hope the white supremacists keep their power dry.

I am so afraid that some racist new order prick is going to try to do something drastic. Obama is brave. :dem:

[BeyondGeography]

8. There he goes, swiftboating Hillary on race again

:sarcasm:

[Unbowed]

9. He can give one too.

If Obama gets the nomination, McCain won't know what hit him.

It's wrong to think that Obama's not a fighter because he's had a light touch with Hillary Clinton. Despite their differences, he does have a lot of respect for Hillary Clinton, both personally and ideologically. McCain, not so much.

Obama hasn't let loose on HRC. And he won't. McCain, on the other hand, he will take apart.

Personally, I can't wait.

[sfam]

10. He's been pretty brutal on Hillary actually...its just that most don't recognize it...

Obama has done a masterful job on tactics so far. He's really ground Hillary's attacks into mush, but worse, has totally turned them on her. I did a thread about this a while ago (not sure how to find old threads yet...).

Bottom line, McCain is in for a serious ass-beating I think...

EDIT:: Hillary supporters certainly recognize this, BTW...

[sfam]

12. Found my Obama tactics thread link on Google

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4559745

[stillcool]

13. Funny that you see Obama tactics...

in this:

Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama Ad to Nazi March
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080201/cm_thenation/45278988_1
Fri Feb 1, 2:23 PM ET

The Nation -- On a media conference call organized by the Hillary Clinton campaign today, Clinton surrogate Len Nichols compared an Obama health care ad to Nazis.
----------
Accusing political opponents of Nazism is an outrageous smear. Raising the specter of a Nazi march in response to a health care mailer that evokes the insurance industry is so absurd, it would be hard to take the attack seriously, were it not launched from a high profile national campaign conference call in this crucial stretch of the presidential race. And political observers know, of course, that the Clinton Campaign regularly arranges opportunities for surrogates to launch these kind of smears, which are later followed up with apologies. (See: Bob Johnson, Bill Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, and Francine Torge, to name the most recent offenders.) For his part, Nichols did not immediately return a call requesting further comment.
-------------------------
Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program, stated, "For nearly 17 years I have worked tirelessly to reform our nation's struggling health system. Today my passion overwhelmed me. I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused. I made unfortunate comments that do not accurately reflect my bipartisan conviction, political philosophy, or most importantly, my opinions about Senator Obama and his historic 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

January 6, 2008, 5:18 pm
Edwards: No Conscience in Clinton Campaign
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/edwards-no-conscience-in-clinton-campaign/
By Julie Bosman
KEENE, N.H. – John Edwards angrily took on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at two news conferences in a row on Sunday, saying that her campaign “doesn’t seem to have a conscience.”

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.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-johnson-apology_N.htm?csp=34

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

Hillary: Sorry for Any Offense Campaign (Bill) Has Caused
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB65wJ6Rcfs

Bill Clinton Asks for a Second Chance
By Liz Halloran
Posted February 11, 2008

The morning after his wife, Hillary, was routed in three state contests by Sen. Barack Obama in their dead-heat battle for the Democratic nomination, former President Bill Clinton made his case for her before a packed Sunday service at one of the largest black churches in Washington, D.C.
But first he offered an apology of sorts for racially tinged comments he made about Obama and his candidacy that have triggered a backlash in the black community and among many other Democrats.

Clinton invoked his "worship of a God of second chances" in pronouncing himself glad to be at the Temple of Praise, which claims nearly 15,000 members. His invocation of second chances echoed comments he made early last week at black churches in California, where he campaigned for his wife before that state's Super Tuesday primary, which she won.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/02/11/bill-clinton-asks-for-a-second-chance.html

Bill Clinton To Apologize At LA Black Churches
Once again, Bill Clinton is ready to repent.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/02/bill-clinton-to-apologize_n_84573.html
On Sunday the former president is scheduled to visit black churches in South Central Los Angeles, where he's expected to offer a mea culpa to those who "dearly loved him" when he was their president, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) says.

Watson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), tells us she'll usher the former president to more than half a dozen churches in her district where she says he needs to "renew his relationship" with congregants who were turned off by his racially tinged comments in the days leading up to and following the South Carolina primary. (Such as when Clinton compared Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory to Jesse Jackson's wins in 1984 and 1988.)

[sfam]

14. Tell me, how well did that stuff work out for them, ey?

Horribly. That's my point. Believe it or not, most of that stuff "could" have buried him. Instead, just the opposite occurred (if you had read the post I cited, perhaps you could see where I was coming from).

And no, I never ever even began to intimate that Hillary didn't use tactics - only that Obama used them FAR more effectively.

And um, if you couldn't guess, I'm a rabid Obama supporter. I just don't believe the strange fairy dust that he doesn't use tactics (and consequently, that he can't take a punch or can't fight). HE even says he does - in fact he uses them masterfully.

[stillcool]

23. I guess we just don't agree...

about how all of this played out. I'm not sure how you deduced that...

1. Regarding the SC thing, Obama allowed his black surrogates to go horribly outraged, and got the "Bill & Hillary are acting like racists" meme spreading like wildfire.

as I was outraged too...

Now this one...

2. The Florida thing: I honestly believe Hillary had and has absolutely no interest in "subverting" the rules. In the context of a Super Tuesday knock-out, her strategy in Florida made some sense. Only in the aftermath - where she didn't win Florida, does it look insanely stupid
Why? Obama had already helped implant the "Hillary will do anything" meme - it was rather easy for his surrogates to push the MSM (who already love him) to take the story line that Hillary is EVEN willing to subvert the previously agreed upon rules in order to win. So instead of being the advocate for the disenfranchised, now she's perceived as trying to change the rules in midstream, JUST SO she can win, no matter the cost.

Again...I suppose you think that anyone who viewed the Florida State Democratic parties actions as breaking the rules is an Obama surrogate?
Now here....

3. Obama's attack - the final nail in the coffin. Hillary, in order to boost support for her status as the front runner really started touting her lead among the super delegates. This was intended to send the message that the party luminaries "knew" the best candidate was Hillary. Obama turned Hillary's best strength ????on its head. Obama came out with the message that it would be really bad if the super delegates "decided" the election. His people furthered this message - that the "voters" should decided, not the "party bosses." Obama's folks solidified this by "accidentally" leaking a spreadsheet that showed their "internal" assessment that they were gonna win the pledged delegates. Quickly the MSM picked up on this, and the talk of the possibility of a brokered convention quickly transformed into "Hillary is even trying to flat out STEAL the election from the will of the people!!!

sorry...I don't read the facts and the way things played out the same way as you...rabid supporter or not.

[sfam]

29. Nope we don't...I think we were watching different things...

Bottom line, I'd have to say that someone who thinks Obama has gotten to where he is right now without using tactics, is perhaps a bit naive. He even tells us he does. In looking at the campaign as its transpired, its fairly clear he does. Or I suppose we can believe that everything has just "magically" turned out wonderfully for him...

It's crystal clear that Obama supporters fanned the SC flames. Its crystal clear that they fanned the "Hillary will do anything to win" meme. And its TRULY crystal clear that Obama's campaign changed the dynamic of the MSM debate when he came out stating that super delegates should be voting for who their people supported.

And no, I certainly don't think that everyone who looked at the Florida state dems actions as breaking the rules is an Obama surrogate. I'm not sure how you got that. I DO think Obama's campaign was able to shift the narrative surrounding that - quite effectively in fact. Their tactics in using this situation really hammered home an extremely negative narrative for Hillary - one that has stuck like molassas.

And again, the narrative hasn't changed. Because of that, Hillary has no chance, just as I stated in the post.

[stillcool]

32. Tactics....or response?

That race-baiting shit that is still being smeared all over the net...you think that is done by Obama supporters? You think those email smears put out by Clinton campaign workers were Obama supporters? I don't know What you've been watching. Fox? Naive I am not, nor am I that gullible. Sorry.

[sfam]

45. Responses most definitely qualify as tactics...

Again, you seem to be thinking that all tactics have to be bad and slimey. I disagree. Tactics are about moving the MSM and public opinion in a direction you want - controlling the narrative if you will. Whether you initiate or respond to a confrontation doesn't determine whether it's a tactic or not.

[stillcool]

47. You are right,...

I view tactics as deceptive, furtive, means to gain control. I believe Obama's campaign has had a brilliant strategy at dealing with the moray of tactics the Clinton campaign has used at attempting to move public opinion.

[Cha]

34. Thanks, I got to read that bit of

intial campaign history from the NYT.

[Unbowed]

35. Excellent post.

Obama is a tactical genius. His campaign and his organizational abilities have been remarkable too.

And it's all in the timing. He has a great sense of timing and he knows how to land on his feet. He's going to need those skills because the Republicans are already gunning for him.

Funny thing is, I think many Republicans are resigned that we will have an Obama administration and they are Hell bent on making things as difficult as possible for him. IMHO, they are already preparing for 2012. But Obama's going to surprise a lot of people.

Besides seeing McCain taken down, the one thing I look forward to more than anything else is seeing the people he puts in place once elected. The Obama Dream Team. That's what's going to be remarkable.

I wonder who will be asked to be VP (assuming things continue like they have been and he seals the nomination)?

[Unbowed]

18. Oh I agree, but Obama has been amazingly restrained, considering what she's hit him with.

If you watch his expression, you can tell he's holding back. You're right, he's been very good at turning Clinton's attacks back on her. I simply feel he'll be a lot tougher on McCain.

Obama has a rare combination of intelligence, education and street smarts. We agree: McCain is going to get his ass kicked big time.

[CarbonDate]

40. Agreed.

Hillary's campaign brings out sledgehammers. Obama's uses stilettos to the back. Nobody sees the attack, but the Clinton campaign certainly feels it.

Bottom line: his campaign is much smarter than Hillary's. Mark Penn and his ilk aren't half as clever as they think they are, and it's starting to show.

[MoJoWorkin]

11. Exactly. He also can't come across as being too mean to a woman.

Don't get mad, people, I AM a woman saying this. It is a fine line he has had to walk, and he has done a marvelous job in my estimation.

I have no doubt he will turn McCain every way but loose.

[Unbowed]

21. Not just a woman, but a person he honestly respects and likes.

And a Democrat.

The difference with McCain is that McCain is bent on taking this country on a path of destruction. He has to be taken down and Obama knows that.

[jackson_dem]

15. "I'm a Vietnam war hero running for president. You can't tell me I'm not tough..."

For all the talk of Obama running a great campaign (which is mostly true, obviously) if it weren't for Edwards knocking Hillary off of her "inevitable" pedestal Hillary would have had the nomination right now. Obama wasn't tough enough to go after Hillary.

[scheming daemons]

20. "yeah... but we can tell you you're insane...."

...


as for "Obama wasn't tough enough to go after Hillary"...

You're missing the whole point.

Obama didn't NEED to "go after" her... he went over her, to the people. She needed to "go after" him... and she has failed miserably at it.


Obama doesn't have to be tough enough to go after McCain... he has to be tough enough to ignore McCain and go right to the American people.

...and he will.

[jackson_dem]

30. Get real. She was at 50% in the polls until Edwards made it a race

[sfam]

31. Nope, Obama had nothing to do with his success...it was all Edwards...

OK...if you say so.

Hillary was up 20 in both Texas and Ohio just a week or two ago. Was Edwards responsible for her current even race in Texas now, and her slim margin in Ohio?

[jackson_dem]

39. "Success is when preparation meets opportunity"--Oprah

Obama had the preparation, Edwards knocking Hillary off of her pedestal provided the opportunity. It is revisionist history to forget who it was that stopped Hillary from being inevitable. Have you forgotten the October debate? Without that Obama was heading to second place. Hillary would have won the first three states otherwise and would have then won Super Tuesday convincingly with the momentum she got from winning the first three. Obama would have never made it to Wisconsin and Texas on his own.

[scheming daemons]

46. Wow... using the "Get Real" slogan... do you Hillbots get your talking points via email or fax?

...

:eyes:

[Warren DeMontague]

27. I think the person who did the most damage to Hillary's campaign was Hillary, or her strategists.

Particularly, the people who thought that running around trying to convince the nation that she was the "inevitable" nominee was any way to win a race.

[Cha]

16. They'll throw anything they can

think of at him and hope it sticks..not 2000 or 2004 anymore..too bad hilary. I know you didn't see that one coming.

[EffieBlack]

22. Damn tootin' - Obama is a black man in America who has gotten this close to becoming the most

powerful man on earth. I don't care what anyone said - He's a baaaad man.

[FrenchieCat]

28. That's what My Black husband said......

He said, they are underestimating a Black man at their own peril!

[Warren DeMontague]

26. No Shit.

Good one. :applause::applause::applause:

[Skip Intro]

36. Well I'm glad the Obama campaign doesn't ever play the race card.

sheesh

[EffieBlack]

38. How is that playing the race card?

He's stating a fact. He's a black man with an African name. You may not have noticed, but those aren't qualities that have produced a tremendous amount of political advantage in the past. A person who gets where he is despite that and other obstacles MUST be tough. He's just stating a fact.

I find it rather bizarre that this country has persistently and consistently "played the race card" for hundreds of years by, among so many other things, completely blocking minorities and women from the most powerful positions in the land. And now that finally a minority and a woman stand poised to break down that barrier, we suddenly are supposed to go all color and gender blind and act as if race and gender have never played a role in our politics.

This country has a horrid,vicious history of racism. Barack Obama has brilliantly overcome some of it to get where he is today. Demanding that everyone suddenly ignore his race and why it makes his accomplisments all the more impressive makes no sense - it's particularly ridiculous considering he has spent the last year operating against a backdrop of people (mostly white) insisting that he just can't win because "America isn't ready" for him - something that white male politicians are NEVER told, regardless how pathetic, mediocre, unqualified or inexperienced they are. It's almost amusing that white folks feel perfectly free to discuss his race, analyze his race, poll on his race, question voters about his race, treating it as a perfectly understandable demerit against him, yet the minute HE mentions his race, he's immediately accused of "playing the race card."

If anyone is playing the race card it is those people who seem to believe that race only matters when THEY want to talk about it and that the black guy who is the subject of all of the racial speculation has no right to discuss it himself.

[Skip Intro]

41. Are you kidding me?

Bill Clinton says Obama's Iraq war "legend" of always being opposed to the war is a fairy tale. Suddenly, he's a racist. Obama uses the fact that he is black to gain political advantage, which is exactly what he's doing, and that's not playing the race card?

Come the hell on.

[writes3000]

42. I though Bill's Jesse Jackson comment was racist in implication...

There wasn't any other candidate he could point to who won that state big but didn't win the nomination?

PS - The race card is more about people using race as a weapon against others. Barack stating the fact that he's black isn't using the race card.

[zonkers]

43. Dead on. Thank you.

[RichardRay]

48. Just a little more Mr. Nice Guy...

...then the gloves come off.

I'm amazed he's been so 'nice' up to now. Barack Obama is not a goody two shoes. There is fire in his belly that hasn't been on display in the primary process. I think he's being careful to behave relatively properly within the Democratic primary framework; that's not going to be the case in the GE. He will not have to throttle down to a sort of collegial decorum against swiftboat attacks. Anyone who thinks Obama will fall to the sort of attack that was effective against John Kerry will get their asses handed to them when Obama decides it's time to go for the throat.