Obama dismisses Clinton, Addresses McCain
Currently Barack Obama is engaging Hillary Clinton no more than is necessary, essentially brushing her to the side, and saving his attacks for John McCain. Critics of Barack Obama have said that he is using only big ideas and lofty rhetoric to sway the masses to his side. Hillary Clinton has recently latched onto this criticism and is attempting to use it to engage Obama on the issues, particularly health care. The results of this strategic move on the part of the Clinton camp have yet to surface in the polls. Clinton has used a range of emotions in her attacks on Obama, from furious to sarcastic, a sharp contrast to the Clinton that closed the debate just days ago. Clinton demonstrating this sporadic range of emotions allows Obama to reply calmly and dismiss Clinton’s accusations.
Some of Obama’s most recent comments stated that McCain is putting lobbyists in charge of his campaign, he added, “…many of them (lobbyists) have been running their business on the campaign bus while they’ve been helping him.”
This is an effective way for Obama to address the McCain lobbyist story without directly referencing the current allegations because his comments do not directly address the recent accusations against McCain, but rather states facts that are directly linked to the allegations McCain is currently denying. This puts McCain in a difficult position that is potentially detrimental to his campaign. His two choices are to remove the lobbyists from his campaign and admit guilt and lack of judgment, or he will have to defend the position of lobbyists on his staff and rectify their positions with his stance on earmarks and pork barrel spending. There is a third option of silence, but this would allow the Obama comments to stand and possibly continue. Silence would not work as a long term strategy simply because Obama and McCain might eventually go head to head in the general election debates.
Whether or not the New York Times sources come forward and verify their recent allegations, one thing remains certain: John McCain was forced to publicly deny the story. So any hint of a link to a lobbyist in his current campaign nourishes the seed that has already been planted in the public mind. I am not implying that this is fair, but it is the game of politics and it is the reality of a game played in the public arena.
The fact that Obama has McCain on the ropes before he has officially claimed the nomination has to be worrisome for the McCain camp. If the FEC eventually rules against McCain, Obama would be able to outspend McCain 10 to 1, this would keep McCain on defense and the defense he would have would be predominantly dictated by the Mainstream Media access granted to him.
It would be interesting to see how McCain would go about fighting that battle. He would have to be extremely creative to harness the press, and shape his message strictly through a medium that he does not control. It would be almost impossible. But the likelihood of seeing McCain go this route is slim. He is more likely to go over the spending limits and gamble his entire campaign on the FEC decision.
In a recent development Howard Dean has announced that the Democratic National Committee will be pushing for an investigation into McCain’s involvement in the federal funding program.
Comment by No obamanation on 25 February 2008:
THERE IS NO CHANGES WITH OBAMA AND HIS USUAL WASHINGTON POLITICAL TATICS EXCEPT THE MEDIAS HELP AT HIDING HIS RECORD OF SUPPORTING THE WAR AND BUSH. WHAT OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE AFRAID TO REALIZE. “Senator Obama has some questions to answer about his dealings with one of his largest contributors, Exelon, a big nuclear power company. Apparently he cut some deals behind closed doors to protect them from full disclosure in the nuclear industry.”Obamas record shows he supports the war, voted twice in 2006 against bringing America’s troops back home. He voted for war appropriations giving our money to Halliburton and Blackwater. His latest bit of posturing S 433 allows the Bush Administration to suspend any troop withdrawal!!!!if not suspended, still keeps the troops in Iraq for a long time to come? Obama when faced with tough choices always gave in to pressure from the Bush administration or corporate lobbyists. Such as Obama voted for Bush’s energy bill, sending more than $13 billion in subsidies and tax breaks to oil, coal, and nuclear companies. Obama voted with Republicans to allow credit card companies to raise interest rates over 30 percent, INCREASING STUDENT LOANS RATES AND FEES increasing hardship for families. Obama voted for one of Bush’s top priorities – expanding Nafta to South America – even as President Bush obstructed all the top Democratic priorities. Obama voted with Bush to make it harder for ordinary people to hold big corporations accountable when they do things like sell toxic toys, poisonous pet food, human food or just plain rip you off. Obama was the Senate’s biggest Democratic advocate of subsidies for liquid coal, even though liquid coal produces twice the global warming pollution of the crude oil it’s meant to replace and voted for increased subsidies, albeit with conditions.Obama, a Hamiltonian believer in free trade and supporters of globalization has lent his support to the “Hamilton Project formed by corporate-neoliberal Citigroup chair Robert Rubin and other ‘Wall Street Democrats’ to counter populist rebellion against corporate tendencies within the Democratic Party. Obama provided assistance to pro-war candidates (such as Joe Lieberman). Obama voted for “business-friendly ‘tort reform’ bill that rolls back working peoples’ ability to obtain reasonable redress and compensation…from corporations!!! Obama considers single payer universal health care too socialist and has stated that he prefers voluntary solutions. **He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive. Abortion opponents see Obama’s vote on medical care for aborted fetuses as a refusal to protect the helpless. Some have even accused him of supporting infanticide. He supported allowing retired police officers to carry concealed weapons, but opposed allowing people to use banned handguns to defend against intruders in their homes. And the list of sensitive topics goes on. With only a slim, two-year record in the U.S. Senate, Obama doesn’t have many controversial congressional votes which political opponents can frame into attack ads. But his eight years as an Illinois state senator are sprinkled with potentially explosive land mines, such as his abortion and gun control votes. recent land purchase from a political supporter who is facing charges in an unrelated kickback scheme involving investment firms seeking state business. Obama has no substance. He has provided no solutions.
Comment by No obamanation on 25 February 2008:
OBAMA LOOSES JOBS FOR MINORITIES
Ms. Obama, VP Chicago Hosp, that charges minorities 6 times as much, isn’t cold hearted enough; she also caused hundreds to loose their 11.hr jobs, to be more efficient she said! In 05, elected to the BOD Westchester-based TreeHouse Foods, she received $12,000 and $33,000 from a subsidiaries, in Nov announced closing its La Junta, plant, that claimed the jobs of 153 workers, most of them Hispanic! Huge blow to a rural town jobs paid a starting wage of $11hr, Company pays top execs like MICHELLE OBAMA tens of millions a year while destroying middle-class America. Raises the question not only about corporate values but about Barrack Obama’s own values. Specifically, while he bashes Wal-Mart, why does his wife, make $45,000 and up a year serving on the board of Chicago comp that pays her a very hefty amount of money while laying off mostly minority workers in economically deprived areas? No. 1 customer is Wal-Mart???
Obamas attack on middle class and minorities- The Crowns and employees of their family-run holding company have given at least $195,000 to Obama’s presidential campaign. Maytag shut the Galesburg plant after Labor Day 2004 Union member say senator did little to save jobs in the blue-collar town of 37,000. Obama connection to Maytag: Lester Crown, company’s director’s records show, has raised tens of thousands of dollars for Obama’s campaigns. Maytag shut the Galesburg plant after Labor Day 2004.
Black voters are choosing black candidate based on skin color not merit and not what he can do to help our failing country. What a serious shame…we are giving away another election. Thank the media! Obamas speeches address just black voters. The same person who claims he is not running on race? It sure isn’t experience or who is best to run this country. Don’t believe it will work in the general election He truly had divided voters since SC win. No one is so naive as not to think that black resentment towards whites could render Senator Obama unelectable. NOW IT’S TIME FOR THE MEDIA TO SCRUTINIZE OBAMA LIKE THEY HAVE DONE TO EVERYOTHER NON-BLACK CANDIDATE. MEDIA HAS FAILED AMERICAN VOTERS
Funny how all the Obama supporters are calling Latino’s & Asians racist because they did not vote for Obama. Even though we have voted for many African-Americans who now sit in various city’s as Councilman, State Representatives, School District officials, etc.Let’s talk about the intimidation that is going on in the Latino community with some African-Americans harassing people on the phone and beating up people for not voting for Obama. Latinos vote for Hillary because we believe in her and know she will do whatever it takes to help our country get back on its feet. Create jobs, health-care plan that makes sense, economy, etc… It’s odd nobody is noting the fact that the majority of African-Americans “are” voting for Obama because he is a black candidate and not for what he can do or not do for the country. Only on his Hopes & Dreams speeches with nothing substantial being brought to the table. The sad thing is that the people who will suffer the most under Obama’s health care plan are the poorest African-Americans. As for those who are saying Hillary supporters are ignorant and don’t have a clue, let me remind you Obama will need these votes to win the nomination. Obama supporters are such mean spirited people and they have the nerve to advocate for a person who will supposedly bring unity among all parties.
Comment by CLINTON 2008 on 25 February 2008:
“I think very highly of Hillary. I admire her. I think she’s one of the most disciplined strong dedicated people I know. She’s one of the toughest. She’s got an extraordinary intelligence, and outstanding public service record, she’s somebody who’s in this stuff for the right reasons and no doubt would make an excellent “President of the United Sates”. She’s passionate about moving the country forward especially on issues like economy, health care and children.– “Barack Obama “
Comment by Suzanne Martin on 26 February 2008:
I think that John McCain has alot of political baggage going into the general election. Some people like to point out that Barack Obama doesn’t have as much experience as Hillary. Hillary has only one more senate term than Obama. Previously, she was a famous politician’s wife. I don’t think that counts as political experience. Furthermore, I think that Obama would be in a better position to win the general election because his political baggage is considerably “lighter” that Hillary’s and almost nonexistant next to McCain’s.