Look who's holding their own "kitchen sink" now...

[CoffeeCat]

Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton began this primary season with obvious strengths and weaknesses.

Supporters of Obama and Clinton knew what those weaknesses were, and determined that their candidate's positives outweighed
those negatives.

Boiling it down, Obama's vulnerabilities centered around his lack of experience and a perceived lack of toughness.

Clinton's weaknesses involved people mistrusting her and the perception that she is a calculating, overly
managed politician.

It's been nearly one hundred days since Democrats kicked off their Democratic primary with the Iowa caucuses.
So much has happened, and so many miles have been logged on campaign busses and private jets. Undoubtedly, Obama
supporters can attest that their candidate has felt the full brunt of Hillary's "kitchen sink" during this time.

That "kitchen sink" has included: Accusing Obama of failing to "meet the Presidential threshold"; suggesting
that Obama "brings only a speech" whereas McCain and Clinton "bring a lifetime of experience"; mocking Obama supporters;
positioning Obama as a "plagiarist"; disparaging Obama's wins in caucus states and small states; suggesting that his
campaign is "a fairy tale"; calling Obama "an elitist" and saying that he "looks down on" Pennsylvanians; and perpetuating
vicious rumors through surrogates and staffers. Two of Clinton's staffers were forced out after publicly disseminating
rumors that "Obama is a Muslim" and "Obama may have been a drug dealer."

Despite this impressive onslaught, current polls show Obama 11 points ahead of Clinton in the Gallup national
poll. Obama has shrunk a 20+ Pennsylvania deficit down to single digits. Meanwhile--according to an
ABC/Washington Post poll, Hillary's negative numbers have soared to the highest levels since polling began on this
metric in 1992. Fifty-four percent of Americans have an "unfavorable" view of Hillary Clinton. Her negatives sat
at 40 percent after the New Hampshire primary.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24152989/

As Clinton has hurled the "kitchen sink" at Obama--while she spins tales of Bosnian sniper fire--something
extraordinary has happened. A twist-of-fate in Obama's favor. Hillary's strategy has provided a national stage
upon which Obama has demonstrated that he is tough enough, experienced enough and that he can
"stand the heat" with the class, grace and intelligence of any seasoned politician.

What Hillary Clinton didn't realize--is that her "kitchen sink" also came with a garbage disposal--that pulverized
Obama's perceived negatives and weaknesses to meaningless, out-of-sight mush.

Conversely, Clinton's endless reservoir of negativity has reinforced the perception that she is a calculating,
self-serving politician who will do anything, say anything (and yes, throw anything) at a fellow Democrat--to enrich herself.

Americans watch Clinton throwing barbs. They see her distorting reality and crouching in the bushes--hungry for a gaffe.
Americans also understand the revulsion they would feel if someone in their own lives--a neighbor, a coworker or a
friend--behaved this way. That person would be rejected and not trusted.

Clearly, Americans are rejecting and not trusting a potential leader of the free world who behaves this way.

As Obama moves forward in this primary, he does so as a better-tested, tougher and more-experienced
candidate. Clinton, on the other hand, is less trusted--and left holding her own "kitchen sink"--which ultimately
defines her as a calculating and ineffectual attacker who wasn't strong enough, experienced enough or smart enough
to defeat Barack Obama.

[MethuenProgressive]

1. Obama's Swiftboating of the Clintons has been very successful.

If nominated, will he Swiftboat McCain too?

[BlooInBloo]

2. Don't be bitter.

[Saturday]

4. Doesn't Obama want us all bitter? nt

[BlooInBloo]

10. Um, no. Though it might be lost on you, that's the point of *change*.

[Cha]

57. You don't sound very

intelligent..are you a hilary supporter?

[YOY]

8. I think the irony is lost on that one.

The majority of their post have some acerbic taint to them these days...

[stevenleser]

52. I wouldn't know, all I see is 'ignored'

[Lucky 13]

5. I fucking hope so.

There's plenty of McCain material to work with.

[calimary]

6. Somebody better.

If we don't fight Mr. Hundred Years that hard, we'll deserve the loss we'll get stuck with - AGAIN.

Particularly when you remember that the bad guys are gonna swiftboat Obama through every body of water imaginable.

[CoffeeCat]

11. Clinton has simply swiftboatted herself....

...and run her own campaign into the coral reef.

You can't blame Obama for defending himself.

Has Obama ever brought up Monica? The blue dress? No.

He could have ripped her to shreds, and he didn't.

Hillary, on the other hand--has run her attack machine at full speech. She's
like an out-of-control machine who doesn't know when to hit the off button.

She's also lied about being under sniper fire. She's done herself in.

She did herself in when she elected to go horrendously negative.

It's all fallen back on her, as it should in a just world.

[cliffordu]

12. I understand Hillary is going to be filming a new commercial

starring people who say they're from Pennsylvania. You don't really HAVE to be from there, just say it on camera.


Swiftboat.....Ooooooohhhhh NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOEEESSS!!!111!!1!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[PVnRT]

14. Uh-huh

I'd ask you to expand on that, but you won't. Is everything Hillary says the pure, unvarnished truth?

[Ian_rd]

17. You don't know what "swiftboat" means. If you do, then explain how Obama is "swiftboating" Clinton

We're waiting.

[guruoo]

19. They see "kitchen sink" in her, but refuse to acknowlege their use of it from earily on

[ginnyinWI]

24. swiftboating--the real definition:

Swiftboating is not merely lying about someone's record. It is a lie coming from a supposedly credible source--coming from someone who should be in a better position to know the truth than the average person. The SBVT had that suppposed "credibiliity" about John Kerry's Vietnam record, so people listened to them.

[guruoo]

25. And then they have the nerve to accuse HRC of 'rightwing tactics' -n/t

[electropop]

27. If Obama is nominated, the only swiftboater remaining will be McSame.

And McCain doesn't know the difference between Shiite and Shinola, so he's an easy target.

[cottonseed]

29. If the Clintons can't handle this, the Republicans will eat them alive.

You have no idea what the Republicans have in store for the Clintons.

[smiley_glad_hands]

31. Yeah in bizarro world. eom

[intaglio]

42. Please do not use the term "Swiftboating"

You only show your ignorance when you use it.

[dchill]

43. "Obama's Swiftboating of the Clintons"

Examples, links?

[DemGa]

44. Examples, links?

Of particular interest is the fact that the Obama campaign has been smearing Hillary as dishonest since this began. Are people simply fooled, in denial? I cannot say.

Biased, but well sourced. Of course there are many more examples -- This is a good starting off point. Many of these attacks should look familiar -- they're used here constantly.

http://www.attacktimeline.com/


Obama smear campaign memo:

http://thepage.time.com/obama-camp-memo-on-clinton-misleading-voters/

[dchill]

46. "smearing Hillary as dishonest"

Jesus. Get your head out of the sand.

[DemGa]

47. It's nothing but a campaign tactic

All the more shameful because it's an extension of the right-wing attacks of the nineties -- it's called character assassination. Wake up.

[dchill]

48. Observing an obvious truth is not a "right-wing attack"...

nor is it "character assassination." Character assassination is some think Hillary does, not something she is a victim of. But I'm talking to an ostrich's ass, am I not?

[DemGa]

50. You provide only a circular argument -- enjoy your illusion -- NT

[dchill]

53. I'm soaking in it.

:eyes:

[D23MIURG23]

59. And when Hill made shit up about Bosnia, that was what? n/t

[D23MIURG23]

56. You can't provide a single example of swiftboating.

or you would have by now.

Your rhetoric is overblown and you know it.

[liberaldem4ever]

Great post-K&R

[Saturday]

3. The media has done a good job of swiftboating Hillary too. nt

[cliffordu]

13. Aw wassa matta??

Here, I'll-a play you a nice-a tune on my viola-a


:nopity:

[PVnRT]

15. How?

What swiftboat tactics have they used? What spurrious scandals are getting endless replay on the news about her?

[RaleighNCDUer]

37. Oh! Oh1 I know! I know!

They say she lied about landing in Bosnia under sniper fire!

Oh. Wait...

[Kurovski]

16. The media doesn't support Dems the way they do Repubs.

Even Right of center or corporate Dems are eventually tossed away for the "real deals".

Though why the media is in the business of campaigning for politicians is beyond me. Oh. Wait, no it isn't, I imagine signing off on fairness in the media, and media conglomeration had something to do with it.

We can thank President Clinton for signing a Republican plan for redesigning our airwaves.

[John Q. Citizen]

22. Yes, and Hillary is too weak and untested to take them on. Shame, she might have been good, if she

knew how to fight back.

[cottonseed]

30. Obama is strong enough to withstand the Swiftboating.

If she can't handle getting a little rough in this campaign, there's no way she'll be able to stand up tot he Republicans.

[D23MIURG23]

60. And I thought she was "vetted", and tough enough to face Repubs!!

[DevonRex]

7. K&R nt

[Kurovski]

9. What a stunning campaign Clinton has created.

"...crouching in the bushes--hungry for a gaffe." That's the image of desperation defining campaign Clinton at this point. That's all that's left to them. They know it, we know it.

And as for attacking supporters, that started in earnest right out of the gate over a year ago. It almost seemed to be part of the plan.

A plan that has failed and has created a tarnished image for Senator Clinton, which underscores all the tedious tricks from the political playbooks of the past.

[Swamp Rat]

20. Bitter failure

[Kurovski]

28. Look! It's my favorite traveling fruit stand!

:hi:

[mamalone]

18. I've been here 6 years...

and I've never recommended a post... I recommending this one:)

I think it is very telling that you have not seen one Obama ad reminding us of the Bosnia sniper fire gaffe, not a single one of her doing shots, no "I was against the war before Obama", no "I was the lone voice-crying-in-the-wilderness-against-NAFTA"... nothing. He has conducted his campaign with a remarkable level of maturity and (dare I say it?) trust in the American voter. If Hillary had bowed out earlier or conducted a more grace-filled campaign herself, perhaps we never would have seen this side of Obama in action. So, for that I guess I could say that I am grateful to her.

[JimGinPA]

23. Excellent Post...

This is the reason I've stayed here on this forum, for the occasional post that is this well thought out and put into words so clearly that I find myself nodding, saying to myself, "Exactly!".

[mamalone]

33. I'm very flattered...

but I suspect you meant to reply to the OP;) And I completely agree with you!

[JimGinPA]

40. No, It Was Meant For Your Post nt

[mamalone]

41. Well, JimGinPa...

I most humbly thank you... your words mean a lot to this frumpy old gal;)

[JBoy]

32. Trust in the voter's desire for real change - the signature of Obama's campaign.

[mamalone]

34. and..

in our ability to see through the fog of political manipulation and make a reasoned, well-thought out choice. It's almost like he *respects* the voter... what a concept, eh? :D

[Catherina]

35. That's an interesting way of looking at it. I'm bookmarking your post

in my head.

In gratitude then, I post this for Hillary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFycTqrsymk

[mamalone]

38. oh.... my.....

That video is hilarious- odd, but hilarious:D

[Catherina]

39. I know

:rofl:

It cracks me up everytime

[ginnyinWI]

21. And let's not forget these:

Granted, some might not have been directly from the HRC camp, and some were-but it shows what Obama's survived already:

Rezko-gate
Wright-gate
Farakkhan-gate
Michelle being "proud of America for the first time"
HRC yelling, "shame on you" over seeing his healthcare mailer
HRC getting mad over him saying at a debate, "you're likeable enough"
Kindergarten papers-gate
McClurkin-gate
Accusations that Obama snubbed HRC at the State of the Union address.
HRC accusing the media of bias toward Obama: "should we get him a pillow" at a debate.

[Kurovski]

26. And I think there was also senator Clinton saying:

"I take Obama at his word that he is not a Muslim", and her mocking of his discussion of hope.

She also dismissed him as being all about "one speech" and compared Republican McCain more favorably over Democrat Obama.

It's been a filthy campaign.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

36. Mark Penn -- Republicon strategist n/t

[knixphan]

45. throwing sinks in glass houses...never good.

[stevenleser]

49. Textbook definition of 'Hoisted by her own petard' K&R

:-)

[Bensthename]

51. Obama has been vetted. Polls higher then ever in Obama's favor. Time for her to go

[stevenleser]

54. Kicked!

:kick:

[dchill]

55. Crown Royal!

:kick:

[Cha]

58. This is amazing writing, Two Sparkles..

"crouching in the bushes"? Priceless!

So decriptive..I was wishing it was on msnbc but you do us proud, thank you so much.

[CoffeeCat]

61. Yer too sweet Zidzi...

Thanks for your nice comments.

I always enjoy reading your stuff too, and I like having you around!

:)