“In a race that involves an African American, a woman and…..John….” began Barack Obama before he realized he’d backed himself into a corner.
It was a welcome moment of unintended humor in a night that was more mudfight than debate.
STRANGEST QUESTION: (Asked to Obama) “Do you think Bill Clinton was our first black president?”
MOST INTERESTING USE OF PRONOUNS: Obama and Edwards say “I,” when describing their proposed policies. “I believe…” and so on. Hillary often says “we.”
MOST MEMORABLE SNARKY EXCHANGE: “I didn’t say that,” said Hillary about one of the charges the Clinton campaign has leveled against Obama that Barack was refuting.
“Well, your husband did,” snapped Obama. “I can’t tell who I’m running against sometimes.”
BEST EDWARDS SNARK AT WOLF BLITZER, “Just let me finish! Lord knows you let them go on forever!”
So what does the average voter think? Likely they are too worried about their day to day lives, their skyrocketing mortgages, and their horrifying heating bills.
I noticed that in the wrap-up all the attention was on Hil/Barack. That off-the-cuff remark by Obama hit the nail on the head.
I know that Barrack prefaced his remarks on Reagan with disapproval but unless he’s the most niave guy ever to run for President he had to know that the media would take those remarks as praise for the Gipper. I’m still waiting to hear about those “Excessess” of the 60’s and seven ties that Ronnie corrected. Did Ronnie get Dems to vote for him, against their interests? Sure.
They use to be called “Dixiecrats” and Barack was in the state of the Number one “Crat.” – Stromk Thurmond.
And the Northern “Reagan Democrats? Does Barack really think they weren’t swayed by “Law and Order” (discuss that at your ‘Justice and Journalism’ confernece) and “Welfare Queens” Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge!
But forget all that. He put the new “Queen of Mean” in her place. Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead! And Bill was a disgrace! So much better now in the Oval Office, right?
What a farce!
“I’m still waiting to hear about those “Excessess†of the 60’s and seventies ”
There’s a group called the Democratic Leadership Council that “Clintonism” sprang from who can tell you all about it. ‘Cuz, you know, we gotta get “Tough on Crime” and “End Welfare as We Know It” – even if we’ve elected a Democrat a dozen years after Ronnie “changed the convesation.”
I absolutely hate it when someone touches my arm or leg in a condescending way, like Obama appears to be doing to Edwards. I’m surprised that Edwards didn’t interpret that as a come-on and try to hold hands with Obama. Maybe soon, we’ll here the song, “Has anyone here seen my old friend John?”
And the DLC, Reg, were a bunch of Blue dogs who disowned Bill once he was in the Oval Office – see
Dave Boren, see Sam Nunn, see Joe Lieberman. Frankly I’d give more attention to the
Revolutionary Communist Party than that group of corporate stooges. So if they talked about “excesses” it just makes my point. Obama should not go there!
In 2005 Hillary Clinton became chair of the DLC’s “American Dream Initiative.” To try to weasel the Clintons out of the DLC is consistent with the dishonest narrative that’s fueling her attacks on Obama. I’ve quoted Bill mimicing Reagan and DLC talking points throughout his Presidency. This is not an even remotely credible argument – you’re just making shit up, a la Woody. Very disappointing.
Yeah, the DLC sure hates the Clintons…
http://usliberals.about.com/od/liberalleadership/a/DLCDreamPlan.htm
More…
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ka.cfm?kaid=137
It did seem odd, the way Edwards was left out of the debates, and as Obama’s humor reflected, he’s virtually an also-ran as (just another) wealthy white male candidate. I don’t like him because he’s the most fiscally unfocused of the Dems, promising grandiose things he has no way to pay for (what Hillary accused Obama of), but he came off as the most likeable. There’s no doubt that racism/ sexism has reared its head in the debate and the candidates are awkwardly dancing around it, pretending it’s not there.
By the way, as for Obama’s assertions of his being a proud Christian and 20-year member of United Trinity (whose proud, African-American self-designation has been brought up here), what does concern me about his Church is that last year, its pastor and Obama’s spiritual advisor, Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr., gave the church’s highest annual award (named after himself) to Louis Farrakhan, for his highest spiritual example, astute analysis of race relations in America (based largely on anti-Semitism, many feel) and so on. While allegations of Obama being a Muslim are silly and reflect badly on the accusers, what kind of “Christian” example is Farrakhan? His association with Nation of Islam, and with Obama’s church, muddies the waters. Obama would be wise to disavow him — or this may become an issue in Jewish enclaves of NY, Florida and California (where Hillary is strong, coincidentally).
As for who can better stand up to McCain: Conservative Republicans have an “anyone but McCain” sentiment out there, and since they think Hillary is the she-devil, Obama will benefit from the conservative, evangelical vote if it comes down to the three of them.
FROM FOX NEWS: The (TRINITY UCC) church’s leader, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, is retiring in a month, but his sermons and frequent denunciations of “white America†along with his support of black separatist Louis Farrakhan have forced Obama to answer for his pastor.
“It’s a tricky thing, anybody’s relationship with their pastor,†Obama told Beliefnet.com, a multi-faith site dedicated to spiritual awakening.
“People who are familiar with the black church tradition know that Reverend Wright’s considered one of the greatest preachers in the country. Our church, Trinity United Church of Christ, even though it is part of a 95-, 97-percent white denomination, very much draws on the historical black church tradition, and Reverend Wright’s sermons do as well. And that means that sometimes he’s provocative in ways that I’m not always comfortable with and in ways that I deeply disagree with occasionally,†Obama told the Web site.
….
In a statement last week to FOX News, Obama distanced himself from the decision of the church magazine’s editorial board, run by Wright’s daughter, to give Farakkhan the magazine’s 2007 lifetime achievement award for social justice, named for Rev. Wright.
“I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan,†Obama said. “I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree.â€Â
Nonetheless, Obama told Beliefnet that he is “proud of Reverend Wright and what he’s done in his life.â€Â