Clyburn-Clinton's tactics“Scurrilous”,“disingenuous",know they can't win so want Obama to lose GE

[Pirate Smile]

Top House Democrat denounces Clinton campaign tactics

WASHINGTON - “Scurrilous” and “disingenuous” were among the words a top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives used on Thursday to describe Hillary Clinton’s campaign tactics in her bid to defeat Barack Obama for their party’s presidential nomination.

House Democratic Whip James Clyburn, of South Carolina and the highest ranking black in Congress, also said he has heard speculation that Clinton is staying in the race only to try to derail Obama and pave the way for her to make another White House run in 2012.

“I heard something, the first time yesterday (in South Carolina), and I heard it on the (House) floor today, which is telling me there are African Americans who have reached the decision that the Clintons know that she can’t win this. But they’re hell-bound to make it impossible for Obama to win” in November, Clyburn told Reuters in an interview.
Obama holds a sizable lead in delegates won in state-nominating contests which could be hard for her to overcome.

The purported theory is that an Obama defeat in November against Republican presidential candidate John McCain would let Clinton make another presidential bid in four years, Clyburn said.

-snip-
On Thursday, Clyburn took Clinton and surrogates to task, complaining that they want the popular votes in Michigan and Florida counted, even though both states violated party rules for the early scheduling of their nominating contests.
“I think it’s so disingenuous … (adviser James) Carville and Sen. Clinton were all on TV. I’ve seen them two or three times this week, talking about counting Florida and Michigan.”

-snip-
Still, Clyburn said “I don’t think she ought to drop out.”
But he added, “There’s a difference between dropping out and raising all this extraneous scurrilous stuff about the guy (Obama). Just run your campaign … you don’t have to drop out to be respectful of other people.”

http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/04/24/top-house-democrat-denounces-clinton-campaign-tactics/

[papau]

1. extraneous scurrilous stuff" is the low hanging fruit for the GOP - the general will be worse for O

[Pirate Smile]

3. So they can act like Republicans. They are disgracing themselves and I can't believe her

supporters are just cheering it on. You guys don't even sound like Democrats any more.

[SunsetDreams]

6. me either, it's beyond rediculous.

[WillyToad]

29. Pure hypocrisy

Obama's campaign is fueled by hate and by a massive smear campaign being undertaken by his supporters against the Clinton family and Hillary's supporters. This thread is a perfect example of it.

A http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smear_campaign">smear campaign is an intentional, premeditated effort to undermine an individual's or group's reputation, credibility, and character. "Mud slinging", like negative campaigning, most often targets government officials, politicians, political candidates, and other public figures. However, private persons or groups may also become targets of smear campaigns perpetrated in schools, companies, institutions, families, and other social groups.

Smear tactics differ from normal discourse or debate in that they do not bear upon the issues or arguments in question. A smear is a simple attempt to malign a group or an individual and to attempt to undermine their credibility.

Smears often consist of ad hominem attacks in the form of unverifiable rumors and are often distortions, half-truths, or even outright lies; smear campaigns are often propagated by gossip spreading. Even when the facts behind a smear are shown to lack proper foundation, the tactic is often effective because the target's reputation is tarnished before the truth is known.

Smears are also effective in diverting attention away from the matter in question and onto the individual or group. The target of the smear is typically forced to defend his reputation rather than focus on the previous issue.

Smear tactics are considered by many to be a low, disingenuous form of discourse; they are nevertheless very common.

[thunder rising]

7. But he can attack a Republican. Obama's trying to hold the party together by taking the high road

[chimpymustgo]

27. The HIGH road? You guys are FUNNY!

[WillyToad]

32. If Obama was taking the 'high road' he would denounce the massive smear campaign waged in his name..

He refuses to do so because he approves of it.

This is exactly http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2004/08/28/moore_rove_swift_boat/">ROVES formula:

"Rove developed a template for smearing opponents. The goal was to have his candidates hover above the fray while urging their opponents to concentrate on issues, thereby constantly putting them in a position of having to play defense and deny unfounded accusations. Eventually, the Rove client, according to the script, would step out to demand an end to the ugliness. Of course, Rove wrote the narrative of these plans in such a way that calling for a truce would not occur until the damage had already been done to his opposition."

[wileedog]

9. So why don't we wait until then

instead of dropping it on our own, eh?

So fucking hypocritical. "The Republicans will do this, so I can."

Why are we different then?

[Kittycat]

10. Are you that clueless?

It's one thing for the Pukes to run a campaign like that. It's another for a Dem to do it against a fellow dem, because it undermines the legitimacy of the candidate within our own party. Because if a Democrat says it about another democrat, and they have someone to support them on it - and go on tv to push it... Then it must be true - whether it is or not - whether it's parsing of words, or spinning - or not. It legitimizes the republican campaign against the eventual nominee.

ETA: There is a line that she shouldn't cross, yet she and her supporters continue do so.

[Cosmocat]

19. Did you see the Rs doing this crape to THEMSELVES !!!

They have it down, no doubt ...

But, even THEY know better than to throw this crape at THEMSELVES, to both extend the period where it gets thrown out AND groove the attacks for the dems ahead of time ...

[liberaldem4ever]

34. Wonder why Romney didn't stick it out and undermine McCain?

Hmmmm...wonder why? He could have, because a lot of Repubs don't like McCain at all and he has a personal fortune to spend. McCain would be doing a lot worse than Obama if Romney had done everything in his power to destroy McCain.

[bluestateguy]

2. I wish he would just make it official and endorse Obama

Part of the reason why this is dragging on is because superdelegates like him are not lining up behind the obvious nominee.

[SunsetDreams]

4. Clinton is alienating so many people!

[Cha]

5. My first thought right now is

the bilarys are getting paid enormous amounts to make sure Obama doesn't win. And who will benefit from mccain winning?

I stand with Rep James Cyburn.

[unkachuck]

16. absolutely yes....

....and, I encourage Obama to run as an independent if the trans-party corporatists chump him....

[Dogmudgeon]

8. I guess Jim Clyburn just got dial-up.

And a brand spankin' new account on DKos, or maybe right here at DU GD-P ...

The "Obama lost to McCain because of Mean Old Hillary" excuse is already being field-tested, and it's not even May.

--p!
It's all Hillary's fault!

[mystieus]

12. Seems so, lol

[journalist3072]

14. LOL!!!!! Isn't it sad what some of these Obama cultists have become? eom

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

21. Jim Clyburn is an Obama cultist?

That's news.

[ellacott]

28. It's even sadder that many Hillary zeaots have lost perspective

[RaleighNCDUer]

15. Well, that IS what Hillary is shooting for

but she has consistantly underestimated Obama, and Obama will kick McCain's ass despite Hillary. And it will put the final nail in the DLC's coffin at the same time.

[roguevalley]

17. Mr. Clyburn is a very fine man.

[Dogmudgeon]

18. Fine, certainly. Right? No.

Like most Obama supporters, he sees the need to trash Hillary and those of us who support her candidacy -- all the while blaming us for every political sin that can be named.

--p!
And she crucified our Saviour, too.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

22. Clyburn has not publicly endorsed either candidate.

And furthermore has said that he will not endorse.

[roguevalley]

37. In your opinion. Unless you can prove you are God, you only have

an opinion.

[Dogmudgeon]

41. See post #17, My Son (and/or Daughter).

O8)

--p!

[Triana]

11. At this point, that is the ONLY explanation...

...as to why Hillary has teamed up with the GOP to obliterate Obama even though she has already LOST.

Think about it. WHY ELSE would she/they DO that?

McSame/Clinton '08? WHAT is it? It's BEYOND her winning at this point....SOMETHING stinks there.

[journalist3072]

13. "Heard speculation?" He sounds like the town gossip spewing crap they have no way to back up

with any real facts.

And just what is his proof that Sen. Clinton's tactics have been "scurilous?"

He offers no evidence.

But that doesn't surprise me.

[futureliveshere]

20. The word is spreading. Clyburn, Reid, Pelosi, Dean etc. SDs take notice!!!

[H2O Man]

23. Nominated for Truth.

Powerful.

[Scurrilous]

24. K & R

:thumbsup:

[UALRBSofL]

25. This guy is such a hypocrite and a shill for Obama

He needs to sweep behind his own back door before slamming Bill Clinton. He needs to acknowledge the Obama Campaign got caught with there pants down to there ankles when a memo was found and reported by the media that they used the SC issues as a race issue. Also, Obama threw his grandmother under the bus with "just a white person". Also, calling blue collar white people clinging to guns and religion and antipathy/racists, the Wright statements, should be addressed by Clyburn himself. Such a hypocrite.

[Major Hogwash]

26. Did he say this on the House floor?

Man, that would be awesome, to get it into the Congressional record about Hillary's campaign.

[Vinca]

30. He needs to get the SDs to move NOW. nt

[meow mix]

31. yup clinton is a sick *&@% K&R

[invictus]

33. We can officially put Hillary in the same category as Lieberman: a crypto-Republican. n/t

[Beacool]

35. Oh, so he "heard something"..........

Thank you Rep. Clyburn for making comments based on rumors and innuendos.

We already know who you support. Uncommitted??? Please........

:eyes:

[Orsino]

36. Baloney.

Clinton's job as senator would be much more difficult under a President McCain. She doesn't want a nominated Obama to lose--she's just working hard to look better, or make Obama look worse, or something.

[MadHound]

38. Yep, despite the denials from Hillary, her camp and her supporters,

This certainly looks like what her overarching strategy is. If she can't get the nomination on the first try, she will insure that she gets another crack at the pinata. And if that means sacrificing the party, and this country, so be it.

[DogPoundPup]

39. HillBill raising all this extraneous scurrilous stuff

is so 'right' like!

[Lord Helmet]

40. the Clintons are pond scum

[invictus]

42. K & R