Does Obama have a case of Battered Wife Syndrome?

[nebula]

...or sort of a battered wife syndrome in reverse?


He gets pummelled and mauled on a daily basis, tagged and tripled team by the unholy alliance of the corp media, Hillary, McCain. And yet Obama does little to hit back while his poll numbers in NC, Indiana, and national standing are steadily being eroded. He may be ahead right now, but we all know how things can quickly change in political races. What is he going to do to reverse this troubling situation? when is Obama going to wake up and realize that this passive nice guy approach might have worked well for him in the past, but now is no longer cutting it?

how well did the nice guy routine work out for Gore in 2000, Kerry in '04? does he have the ability to adapt, or is he going to remain stuck in the same gear for the forseeable future?

This relentless smear campaign is going to destroy Obama's chances in the GE, if not the primary. If he does not answer back with his own attacks. Which is their intended effect. can Obama not see what is happening now, or is he blind to it? Is he going to keep letting his opponents batter and kick the crap out of him in the days and weeks ahead, while he stands there and takes it? how longer can this all out smear campaign go on, day in and day out, without eventually taking its toll?

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. The passive nice guy thing is all that sets him apart. Otherwise

just forget it.

[nebula]

3. dupe

[NoodleBoy]

2. "poll numbers being eroded" [citation needed]

[nebula]

4. AP Poll: Clinton leads McCain, doing better than Obama

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=vi...


The tables are turning, fast.

Keeping your head in the sand won't do any good.

------------------------------------------
2008 April 28

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton now leads John McCain by 9 points in a head-to-head presidential matchup, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll that bolsters her argument that she is more electable than Democratic rival Barack Obama.

Obama and Republican McCain are running about even.

The survey released Monday gives the New York senator and former first lady a fresh talking point as she works to raise much-needed campaign cash and persuade pivotal undecided superdelegates to side with her in the drawn-out Democratic primary fight.

Helped by independents, young people and seniors, Clinton gained ground this month in a hypothetical match with Sen. McCain, the GOP nominee-in-waiting. She now leads McCain, 50 percent to 41 percent, while Obama remains virtually tied with McCain, 46 percent to 44 percent.

Both Democrats were roughly even with McCain in the previous poll about three weeks ago....

[NoodleBoy]

12. need a working link.

Also,

Clinton vs. McCain:


Obama vs. McCain:

And the trend in polling data from Indiana and North Carolina doesn't indicate Obama slipping.

Don't say I'm keeping my head in the sand when hope for you candidate rests on one poll out of several.

[nebula]

17. AP article on Yahoo

sorry, here's the link.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080428/ap_on_el_pr/presidential_race_ap_poll


Hillary is now 9 points ahead of BOTH (BO and JM) in national polling!
This is a huge boost to her electability argument.

[nebula]

22. Look at the date on your poll

compare it to the date on the AP poll.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. he is wet behind the ears...he will be well learned by 2012

he is young

[MercutioATC]

15. ...just in time to run against McCain's second term.

It's funny how some Clinton supporters say that Obama's unelectable because of things like Wright and Ayers and "bitter" while completely denying that Clinton's sniper statements alone will KILL her in an election against a war hero...and that's just ONE of her weak spots.

If Clinton is the nominee, we WILL have four more years of Bush.

[cliffordu]

6. Just because he won't play scumbag politics doesn't mean anything

of the sort.

He is still ahead and gathering new voters from Hillary's "base"

I think what he's been doing is working quite well.

Did you see the crowd photos in NC on another OP tonight???

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. oh he is well versed in state scumbag politics...he still needs schooling in the majors

[guyanakoolaid]

9. Somehow I doubt he gets to the point where he panders for racist votes,

if that's indeed what the majors are. And if Obama isn't major league, your team is getting killed on the field by minor-leaguers. That argument doesn't make you look really good.

[cali]

28. he's still beating your big girl

she's the opposite of a natural- despite being married to one. she'll never have what it takes.

[nebula]

8. No one is asking him to play scumbag politics

but he needs to start attacking his opponents with the TRUTH about them.

[Tactical Progressive]

25. Obama's been playing scumbag politics from Day One against Hillary

It's been working great for him. As long as he's mocking, insulting, sneering at and taunting Hillary, the media will play his dirty work for him and then some, so he gets to pretend he's on the high road.

As soon as Publicans fire a shot, from over the fence yet, Obama is in deep, deep water. He hasn't even seen the worst of this yet - Pubs are already looking at other aspects of this that kick Obama even harder. This issue alone will last through to November.

First shot and Pabo is flailing, boxed in with his own lies.

Maybe he can give another 'Yes we can' speech.

[TahitiNut]

10. Can you just imagine what would happen if he got .... angry??

:wow:

He's being baited.

Hillary can cry. Hillary can yell. Hillary can rant. Hillary can mock, sneer, insult, taunt, and behave however the 'spirit' moves her. (Poor Nell.)
Obama can't.

[nebula]

14. Doesn't make sense

I don't know what you mean by this 'baited' argument.

People respect a fighter, they don't respect a wimp. At least those outside of DU.

Point out Hillary's connections to outsourcing firm Tata, the fact that she refers to herself as Senator Punjab, draw attention to the fact that McCain's pastor called Catholic religion 'the great whore,' McCain's multiple votes against MLK holiday, so on and so forth. There is a wealth of material that can be used. If he can't bring himself to do this, at least get his surrogates to do it for him.

[dhill926]

16. I think you're right....

he's being baited. But damn.....needs to fight back...but in HIS way, whatever the hell that ends up being. Just be real, O. You're from Chicago for chrissake!

[beltanefauve]

34. Being baited!

Something I heard on Rachel Maddow's show one day:

In our society,and in the media, an angry White man is perceived as "assertive".
An angry White woman is perceived as "shrill".
An angry Black woman is perceived as "crazy".
And an angry Black man is perceived as "scary".

Hillary and McCain would just love to see Barack lose it right now. Furthermore, by reacting, it allows them to frame the debate, and not him. Hillary started this campaign with all the name-recognition and the '90's nostalgia in her favor. It was hers to lose. Obama has managed to tilt the numbers in his favor. Why? Because when people hear him and get to know him, the more they like him. I hope to see him continue to move in a positive direction. Negativity doesn't help him. But am I frustrated by his not hitting hard? Yes, I am. But I don't think he's exactly making the mistakes John Kerry made regarding the Swiftboaters, either.

[anigbrowl]

11. My personal guess is that he'll put up with a bit longer, and then...

land one devastating blow that really, really hurts.

[Binka]

18. He Will Land One That Will Shove Bill's Sock Out Of His Cole Hann Loafers

It's coming.

[nebula]

30. What is he waiting for?

Meanwhile, the media is tearing him apart, and now even KO has joined them.

"KO says Wright threw Obama under the bus"

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5724549



you see, this is the kind of shit that happens when you are ALWAYs on the the defensive.
it's never a good position to be in!!

[PurityOfEssence]

13. Wright seems to be a bit of a Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction" here

Alex Forrest: "You play fair with me, I'll play fair with you."

(Script by James Dearden and Nicholas Meyer)

Hell hath no fury like a mentor scorned...

[FrenchieCat]

19. No, It's battered husband syndrome....and if he raises his hand at her....

she'll call the police and have him hung from the nearest tree.

[nebula]

20. Obama is being LYNCHED RIGHT NOW

What do you think Hillary is doing to him right at this very MOMENT?

the least he should do is fight back.

[FrenchieCat]

21. Don't get so antsy........

It's not like Hillary claiming that she was inevitable made her lose these primary contest.

Hillary supporters and the media are practicing Psyche-Op, and you are falling all into the trap.

You need to keep your cool. We have enough "OBama has been damaged!" threads floating around.

One thing I'll give Hillary supporters; they never flinch....not even once.

You don't need to pile-on telling Obama what he needs to do. Either you believe in him, and if you have some advice, you can email it to him. Otherwise, you ain't hurting Obama any less than Rev. Wright.

[nebula]

23. Don't worry about me

think about the more impressionable masses of voters, exposed to the media and their non-stop sound bites, the average folks who don't have the time or inclination to study things more in-depth.

I would be more worried about them.


Edit: I'd be especially concerned about the large number of undecideds, and the effect the media is having on THEM right now and how it is reflected in the latest polls.

[FrenchieCat]

24. I can't "worry" in that sense........

Instead, I have been writing letters to the media, and writing letters to the Editors of various publications responding to their attempts in once again controlling this country. Tomorrow, I will be making phone calls to NC.

Apart from that, I'll simply trust that Obama will figure out what is best (that's why I voted for him, because I actually believe that he is a wonderful leader), and in the meantime, I'll "trust" that Americans can see through the bullshit that the Media is serving up. And however things work out, folks will eventually get what they deserve. If Obama is not the nominee, at this point, I have already decided that I am not voting.

I was protesting against George Bush in the streets of S.F. with a little over 300 people, BEFORE 9/11.......so you see, I'm not one to be hoodwinked.

The anxiety and frustration that you are displaying is understandable to a point, but know that it is exactly what The Hillary Campaign and her current media minions are counting on.

[nebula]

26. They are counting on Obama

to keep playing the role of the battered husband.

He is doing a great job of it so far!

[FrenchieCat]

27. I think I got the gist of your message from your headline......

and calling a man a wife is your way of doing your job, I suppose......
but I guess you knew that. :eyes:

[nebula]

29. Only thing we can do at this point is 'hope'

I sent a couple emails to his campaign about this, and I'm sure others have offered similar advice. If he doesn't begin to heed it soon, he never will.

And with that, have a good night all! thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Adelante]

32. THANK you nt

[olkaz]

31. For the Casual Observer: This is called "Concern Trolling".

The goal is to create fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the mind of the target, while appearing, at face value, to share your views.

Anyway, moving on.

[mattclearing]

33. Obama's going back to the nice guy routine because it worked for him.

What didn't work was getting into the mud with the brawler.

Relentless smear campaigns work against people who aren't aware of their weaknesses, like Gore or Kerry. They don't work against people who are aware of their weaknesses, like Bill Clinton and Obama. Those people defend themselves and the American people respond to it.