MotherJones Blog: One Week from Judgment Day, Clinton Steps Up the Attacks

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One Week from Judgment Day, Clinton Steps Up the Attacks

The conciliatory moment at the end of the Democrats' debate last week in Texas wasn't a sign of things to come. In fact, it was more of a head fake by Hillary Clinton, who has launched several attacks on Barack Obama in recent days, some of which are downright nasty. The remaining week before the primaries in Texas and Ohio may be a slimy one for the Democrats.

It started last week when the Clinton campaign attempted to connect Obama to two Hyde Park radicals that were part of the domestic terror group known as the Weather Underground. The pair, who are unrepentant about setting bombs in government buildings in the 1960s (possibly because they took care to avoid harming any bystanders), hosted an event at their house in the mid-1990s that Obama attended. One of them donated $200 to his state senatorial campaign. The connection is a weak one; there is no evidence Obama has a relationship with these people. What's more, Bill Clinton pardoned a different member of the Weather Underground, also unrepentant, who had served 16 years in prison on federal charges. The attack didn't get much traction in the press, but will undoubtedly be raised again by the McCain campaign should Obama win the Democratic nomination.

The Clinton assault on Obama then moved to Ohio.

On Saturday, Clinton went nuclear on Obama for distributing two mailers in the Buckeye State that she feels unfairly represent her positions on health care and NAFTA. Video of the tirade (and I don't use that word in a pejorative sense; objectively speaking, Clinton went on a tirade) can be seen at right. The sniping back and forth on these two issues has gotten so vicious that neither campaign has clean hands, though in my judgment Obama is mostly right about Clinton's record on NAFTA (she pushed it, along with other Clinton administration officials, when her husband was president) while Clinton is mostly right about health care (Obama's claim that folks who are unable to afford health care will have their arms twisted by an H. Clinton Administration until they pony up is fear-mongering about a core progressive objective). Factcheck.org has already done the heavy lifting on this subject, so I'll point you to it: go here for an analysis of the campaigns' disagreement over trade, and here for the same on health care.

After the diatribe in Ohio, Clinton moved to Rhode Island on Sunday, where she mocked Obama's message of unity and hope. With the video at left, you can judge for yourself if she crossed the line. It's safe to say that Clinton oversimplifies Obama's approach to government and theory of change. It also belittles inspiration and unity's power to push an agenda. The best that can be said of it is that it contains no factual errors and is probably par for the course in a presidential campaign.

And then, finally, we've got the Drudge photo (below). Just before 7:00 am this morning, Drudge posted a photo of Obama in Somali garb with the headline "CLINTON STAFFERS CIRCULATE 'DRESSED' OBAMA." Circulating the photo is dirty politics at its worst: It provides fodder for the wing-nuts who are making the case, in emails and fliers, that Obama is a secret Muslim who doesn't say the pledge of allegiance and was educated in madrassas. If you don't think that photo will be passed around every day until the general election, you're crazy.

We don't know for a fact that Clinton campaign is in fact distributing the photo. Drudge doesn't substantiate his claim that "stressed Clinton staffers circulated [the] photo over the weekend." Obama's top folks are attacking the Clinton campaign for passing it around, but in a conference call this morning Obama surrogates couldn't definitively state that the Clinton campaign is behind it. The Clinton campaign released a statement about the photo, saying:

If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed. Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.

This is nothing more than an obvious and transparent attempt to distract from the serious issues confronting our country today and to attempt to create the very divisions they claim to decry.

This, of course, is nonsense. The Clinton campaign knows that Obama dressed in stereotypically African or Muslim gear plays different than Clinton dressed in the same. Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson shuffled when he was asked about the statement's lack of a clear denial in a conference call with reporters this afternoon. "No," said Wolfson when asked if someone in the campaign had sent the photo to Drudge. "Not to my knowledge." Later, he was asked if he would press the staff to reveal if they had sent it. He responded by citing the size of the campaign. "I'm not in the position to ask 700 people to come in and answer questions about [the picture]," he said. "I was not aware of it, the campaign didn’t sanction it, and did not know anything about it." In other words, it's not that they didn't send the photo; it's that they don't know if they did. But they would be angry if they found out that they had.

It's possible the Clinton campaign isn't behind this. But the campaign has a history of trying to use racism against Obama. It's not a stretch to think in these desperate days it would use xenophobia as well. Moreover, the timing of the photo's release fits into a pattern of attacks that the Clinton campaign has orchestrated over the past half-week. With Clinton's chances of winning the nomination diminishing, the campaign may have decided it is going to go nasty before it goes away.

Comments

EVERY DEMOCRAT SHOULD DEMAND THAT HILLARY CLINTON APOLOGIZE AND THEN DROP OUT OF THE PRIMARY RACE!!!

No democrat wants a bigot for a nominee! This is an all-time low, even for Hillary Clinton. She is using race, religion, and smear emails to swiftboat a FELLOW DEMOCRAT! Apparently, the only demographic she has left is white women over 80 and the KKK. Wow, Hillary, you must be so proud!

Are you kidding me? Now I don't just want her back in NY... I want her out of the US Senate. This woman is devious and hateful!

I am more determined than ever to stand for change! The only good news is that Hillary's cheap shots and low blows are driving more and more voters to Obama.

Posted by: shoemia on 02/25/08 at 10:19 AM Respond

Shameful, hypcritical, and desperate. The way she has been running her campaign is what lost her my vote.

Posted by: next question on 02/25/08 at 10:39 AM Respond

Amen, Shoemia! If HRC gets the nod, I'm voting for Nader. The Clintons are mean, hateful people.

Posted by: Richard on 02/25/08 at 10:40 AM Respond

By the time Hillary Clinton is hauled off in a straight jacket the Clintons will have thrown everything possible at Obama. what left will there be for the Republicans? Once he gets the nominationhe'll have manuevered the slime tactics.

She's not just finished in this campaign, I think she's finished politicall. Barack Obama is really one of those once in a generation figures a political party can build its self around. My guess is that March5 will be the day the party leadership turns on her. If she doesn't drop out, my guess is also that the Democratic party will field a well funded candidate to knock her out of the senate when she's up for re-election.

Posted by: SaintZak on 02/25/08 at 10:55 AM Respond

Why, why, why?! I thought the Clinton "machine" was a more formidable force...the best they can do is these underhanded, sleazy attacks on Obama's character? Why not talk about YOUR approach to the issues, rather than basing your campaign on ad hominem attacks. Doesn't she realize that this is exactly why her campaign is struggling? Democrats perceive that she has nothing to say for herself, and nothing to offer besides repeating the Willie Horton tactic again & again.

Furthermore, that photograph is simply funny, maybe even a little cute...but nothing that should discourage voters.

The Clintons should have a higher opinion of voters in both Texas and Ohio. Not everyone is that gullible, Hillary...

Posted by: nic on 02/25/08 at 11:03 AM Respond

If you vote for rhetoric instead of record, you'll put the USA in the same place that France is in now. Please check out the political scene in France to get a coming attraction of how smooth talk translates into governing.

Posted by: Kathy Giannini on 02/25/08 at 11:31 AM Respond

Kathy what is your point. Are you comparing Obama to Sargosy?
The rhetoric versus rhetoric arguement is a straw man. Are you saying you support Hillary? You may recall that Bill, who did well did not have a big record but boy did he have the rhetoric down. A record doesn't really mean much if you cannot articulate well. One does not trump the other. It seems like a desperate attempt by hillaryites to turn attention away from ideas. I like ideas and good rhetoric and i think a leader should have both and i think both are better than a record. Get real and quit whining.

Posted by: ROB on 02/25/08 at 12:53 PM Respond

Are you kidding me? The Obama campaign plays the race card every chance they get.

And, it it was the Obama campaign that pushed the race issues in South Carolina, not Clinton.

Check out Tim Russert catching Obama in Obamas lie about racism in the campaign. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQY_9ZcsjpQ&feature=related%3cbr

Posted by: Johnny at Work on 02/25/08 at 1:05 PM Respond

How can a story that has been circulating in the public and on the web for months be "Leaked" just now by the Clinton campaign? This story has been out since Obama announced his candidacy.

And Obama is a Christian because he attends a Christian church? Oh yeah sure.

Take a closer look at the so called church he attends, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. tucc.org

A report in Investor's Business Daily, pointing to the Black Value System of Obama's Church, Trinity United Church of Christ, concluded that there is "little room for white Christians at Obama's church."

Black conservative pundit Erik Rush said the church has embraced "things African above things American," and he claimed that this should be as alarming as a Republican presidential candidate "belonging to the Aryan Brethren Church of Christ."

The TUCC supports the Nation of Islam and it’s Minister Louis Farrakhan. And, just today Farrakhan said that presidential candidate Barack Obama is the “hope of the entire world”.

Tucker Carlson of MSNBC described Trinity as having a "racially exclusive theology" that "contradicts the basic tenets of Christianity." Sean Hannity of Fox News confronted Wright on TV and asked how a black value system is any more acceptable than a white value system. Hannity also suggested that Trinity's emphasis on black values contradicts Martin Luther King's famous hope that people would be judged "not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

The “Christian Church" that Obama belongs to is an all Black church with an "African Centrist" doctrine. Trinity United Church of Christ, tucc.org, does not allow white members and places Black Africanism values above American values.

How can we have a Commander in Chief that is uncomfortable wearing an American Flag lapel pin, but is right at home in Muslim garb?

Now that the press has decided to look into his Church and it’s Nation of Islam ties, Obama is furious. Who can blame him, these facts hurt his claim that he is for "All Americans".

Posted by: Johnny at Work on 02/25/08 at 1:07 PM Respond

Are you really this racist Johnny? So what if the church espouses African values? What you obviously want to believe is that white churches don't reinforce white values. There is a distinct African diasporic tradition within Christianity for the purposes of liberation theology. Christianity within this tradition is a response to the power of racism, a racism that is just more insidious in the color-blind society. There is nothing on tucc.org that would suggest that they are racist; the fact that they recognize a specific cultural experience based on social relations of power is a way of confronting racism in solidarity with an understanding of shared interest. Why don't you think a bit harder about this before you spout this nonsense?

Posted by: Justin on 02/25/08 at 1:28 PM Respond

So, since the media is so cozy w/ Obama, maybe the Obama campaign can let us all know which public photos and public statements of his are off limits and which are OK. Otherwise how are we to know which of the things Obama has said and done must no longer be spoken about or shown anymore, because it is hard for the average person to know how looking at an photo or clip of Obama doing something is racist or not?

Posted by: faz445 on 02/25/08 at 1:37 PM Respond

This still had NEVER been proven, and is a fabrication spread by the Obama MSM. Stop stating your speculative beliefs as fact.

Posted by: Chris on 02/25/08 at 1:42 PM Respond

Hey, he pulled the race card if you want to call it that because Bill was belittling a states vote just because there was a large black vote you idiot. Hillary knows that ignorant people like yourself are will take this and run with the idea that Obama is a terrorist in hiding.

Posted by: gmelch on 02/25/08 at 1:46 PM Respond

Hillary Rodham Clinton often invokes her "35 years of experience making change" on the campaign trail, recounting her work in the 1970s on behalf of battered and neglected children and impoverished legal-aid clients.

But there is a little-known episode Clinton doesn't mention in her standard campaign speech in which those two principles collided. In 1975, a 27-year-old Hillary Rodham, acting as a court-appointed attorney, attacked the credibility of a 12-year-old girl in mounting an aggressive defense for an indigent client accused of rape in Arkansas -- using her child development background to help the defendant.

Posted by: nieddu on 02/25/08 at 1:47 PM Respond

I hope the general public is appalled by the tactics of the Clinton campaign. It is racist, divisive and generally destructive. I hope Americans have moved away from this kind of hateful political atmosphere. This IS NOT the way to get anything down. It just brings the American people, who are already suffering, down.

If Hillary gets the nod- which I doubt- and will donate, call, canvas etc. to prevent from happening I am either voting for Nader of McCain. I honestly think they would make better presidents than she would. Is this how she would run the white house?

Posted by: fourobama on 02/25/08 at 1:48 PM Respond

Posted by: nieddu on 02/25/08 at 1:48 PM Respond

Its time for poor Hillary to quit but she is the Mike Huckabee of the Democratic race. She will not quit until a nominee gets 2025 delegates. Keep trying Hill.. try even more cheap shots.

Posted by: Shyam Kasi on 02/25/08 at 1:58 PM Respond

I don't want to dance on Hillary's grave. I just want her and Bill to sink into political limbo and suffer there, crying into their pillows every night, for many, many years.

Posted by: redmanrt on 02/25/08 at 2:10 PM Respond

You are NOT going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear! Come on....this clip about the sky opening up was humorous...there are a lot of Obama's supporters who think he's God. Maybe he is, but count me out,...his good Christian values aren't impressive. In fact, maybe he should be Huckabee's VP.

Posted by: silverlucie on 02/25/08 at 2:15 PM Respond

for someone who wants to be President who will restore America's prestige around the world, Obama seems very thin skinned about his non-white, non0Christian heritage. Why can't he be proud of this picture? what will he say to the Somali President in 2009 when asked why he was so ashamed of being dressed as a Somali elder? Why is he so upset everytime someone mentions his muslim, polygamist father and grandfather? why was he upset at being compared to a black civil rights leader?
Makes one wonder at his determination to deny his black civil rights and non-Christian heritages. Is he man enough to be POTUS?

Posted by: shaun on 02/25/08 at 2:21 PM Respond

All of this just goes to show democrats what republicans have known for years.
The Clinton's are nothing more than destroyers of America interests.
They left Army Rangers to be dragged naked through the streets of Somalia.
Bombed the Chinese embassy in the Balkans.
Called Rwanda any thing but what it was, genocide.
Wasted American lives & treasure in Haiti and Kosovo. Cut the military in half directly leading to the inability of the military to respond to emergencies today directly limiting America to the nuclear option to stop Iran.
Policies that changed the Guard & reserve from a strategic to an operational Reserve causing the greatest threat to our ability to respond to terrorist attacks and natural disasters here at home.
Ready from day one?
Ya, ready to destroy America and hand us over to our enemies.
Hillary.
YOU have caused the deaths of over 3,00 Americans and the maiming of thousands more just so you could look tough on national security.
You are a disgrace to America and all it stands for.

Posted by: paul94611 on 02/25/08 at 2:24 PM Respond

Billary may still have a trick up their sleve.
Its called "surrogate fund raising". It would be where the Clinton machine (mainly lawyers) raise and donate money to super delegates all over the USA. In return, they vote for Billary. If she does not beat Obama smartly in Ohio and TX and yet she refuses to concede, there is a good chance such is afoot.

Posted by: Trollstein on 02/25/08 at 2:26 PM Respond

HRC is a sad joke. Which leader in the world will take her seriously again? Do you want Putin to laugh at us Americans having this pathetic woman as our president? Anybody and anything in America is better than her!

Posted by: carmen on 02/25/08 at 2:28 PM Respond

Everyone needs to stop and take a breath. Why on earth would Hillary's campaign ever put out such a photo? As Clinton's campaign acknowledged wearing traditional garb on a visit is not divisive. In fact she has done the same in similar situation. She can only look bad by "leaking" such a photo, because it will clearly come back to her if the email says its from a Clinton staffer. It makes absolutly no sense. We are talking about smart politicians with decades of experince I find it very hard to believe that they would do this the morning of a big foreign policy speech, where Hiliary greatly surpasses Obama in both substance and experince. Prehaps we all shouldnt automatically assume the validity of this report.All of us democrats need to take a second before we make rash judgements and assesments about this race. Being hateful and begrudging does not help the democratic party in Nov. Threatening to vote for a republican if you dont get your way is childish and self-serving. Our belief cant merely be in a canidate it must also be in the process and our fellow democrats. Either way after the convention we are all going to need to come together and prehaps its not the best tactic to be burning bridges. I have good reasons for supporting Clinton and I have friends who have good reasons for supporting Obama. Different choices dont mean wrong choices. We should remeber that we all want the same thing in Nov.

Posted by: bc on 02/25/08 at 2:33 PM Respond

I'm no longer surprised that this farce of a website continues to spew propaganda forwarding its own agenda. Apparently, agenda item #1 is to elevate Obama to saint status.

What happened to "Smart, Fearless Journalism?" b/c it's not here.

Also, to all of you who sit in front of your computers pontificating all day, naive optimism is for college kids and the out-of-touch elite. Everyone else, go ahead and pull your heads out of your asses, any day now....really, it's okay, it'll only hurt for a minute.

Posted by: KM on 02/25/08 at 2:38 PM Respond

KM:
Was it something I said???

Posted by: Trollstein on 02/25/08 at 2:40 PM Respond

Hillary is going out like a punk.

The only candidate she's helping is Sen. McCain. She is almost certainly ruining her career and is making a good stab at ruining Sen. Obama's. If her dirty tricks end up working, Obama's youth vote on election day is likely to either stay home in disgust or turn to Nader out of spite.

Posted by: Andrew Heine on 02/25/08 at 2:57 PM Respond

Margaret Thatcher always said "Its not enough to be nice".

You need to be a little ruthless in Politics to win. Better he get a warm-up with Hillary, before McCain releases his own dogs on him.

Posted by: Fido on 02/25/08 at 3:01 PM Respond

"Take Me To Your Leader" is my response to Barack Star & his Oprahpalooza Tour. Ask the people in Massachusetts what they think about the oh-so-inspirational Deval Patrick now that he's been elected and has to show up for work every day.

Posted by: GraceJeanJones on 02/25/08 at 3:15 PM Respond

Very well put!!!

I say shame on you MoJo readers, I have always thought you were a bit more progressive. It was the kids in the 60's & 70's who were not afraid to take to the streets for issues that mattered to them, for women's rights, for racial equality. Not like the kids today, sitting back, pontificating on their laptops, oooooooohhhh, is that daring or what???!!!!! Or grooving (if you could even call it that) to the Black Eyed Peas at an Obama rally, wow, I am way impressed! "Take Me To Your Leader." Alas, I do understand that kids are more medicated today than ever.

Like Tina Fey said, "Biotch is the New Bolack." You go girl.

Posted by: GraceJeanJones on 02/25/08 at 3:25 PM Respond

Troll- no, and this may be hard for you to hear, but it's not about you.

but since you asked, I find horrifically misogynistic of you to constantly refer to Billary. So a woman is no more than the man she marries? god forbid she have her own identity.

Posted by: KM on 02/25/08 at 3:27 PM Respond

If Obama gets the nod, I'm voting for Nader. NAH, NAH, NAH, Nah, Nah, NAH!!!

Posted by: GraceJeanJones on 02/25/08 at 3:27 PM Respond

You do not need to believe me. See Obama say it for himself.

Check out Tim Russert catching Obama in Obamas lie about Obamas racist campaign - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQY_9ZcsjpQ&feature=related%3cbr

Please name me one Christian Church that allows Whites Only.

We've been blinded by our guilt over slavery and white racism that we don't recognize it when the racists are Black.

Posted by: Johnny at Work on 02/25/08 at 3:32 PM Respond

This only once again proves that the Clintons and some of their supporters are more racist then any republican. Hillary can not win another election ever, she will now not even win a re-election to the senate.

Posted by: mike on 02/25/08 at 3:43 PM Respond

Thanks you,
I am mortified at Hillary's paternalistic tone towards the first biracial candidate in the US - not to mention her husband's earlier mistaken insults that managed to raise the issue of race.
And now Obama in an ethinic outfit. This is the Helms campaign yet again.
From a Democrat.
When will the DNC take charge in some way so that no one is hurt and the party takes a high road that is sinking fast.

Posted by: mlfn on 02/25/08 at 3:45 PM Respond

I was supporting Hillary, but as of now I don't know if I can ever vote for her for anything. She has gone too far. This isn't the values of the Democratic party.

Posted by: Anna on 02/25/08 at 3:45 PM Respond

I am really disappointed in Hillary, and this is one Ohio vote she has lost. It is different if the republicans do this kind of thing it is wrong when we are doing it to ourselves. I have defended her and have said she isn't like this, but when it happens over and over it tells something about the individual.

Posted by: Barb on 02/25/08 at 3:48 PM Respond

The reason she is losing her mind is the polls. In the polls showing her with a lead, the data is sometimes up to a week old. The ones using the latest data and her own internal polls are showing she is losing Texas and leading but within the margin of error in Ohio. She is pulling out all the stops to try to hold on to what she thinks is hers, she thinks she is owed the nomination. Maybe if we are lucky she will crawl away in a few days. With her high negatives I don't think there is any chance she will ever win a national election. This was her chance to change the opinion most people had of her and go out classy, she has only reenforced peoples opinions.

Posted by: Brian on 02/25/08 at 3:53 PM Respond

fido....you're exactly right...the slight insults he gets from Hillary are the tip of the iceberg....Obama is in for a big surprise when the ruthless Republicans come calling.

Posted by: silverlucies on 02/25/08 at 3:57 PM Respond

About time she put the trash in his place. Ain't no way a muslum is gonna be President. If she damagas him enough he will lose to MCcain and Hillary will win in for years after the country is more screwed up by the republicans. It don't matter how umpopular she is now, in for years the country will elect anyone not a republican. So hurt him bad so he can't win Hill!
Hillary '12!

Posted by: Sandman on 02/25/08 at 3:59 PM Respond

Funny thing...

The 'Karl Rove playbook' Clinton erroneously refers to about Obama's flier came directly and was written primarily by the 'Bill Clinton playbook' of Clinton v. anyone who stood in his way.

Hypocrisy is ugly on any side, but seems to radiate greatly from the Clinton camp.

Posted by: Kasreal on 02/25/08 at 4:04 PM Respond

Funny thing...

The 'Karl Rove playbook' Clinton erroneously refers to about Obama's flier came directly and was written primarily by the 'Bill Clinton playbook' of Clinton v. anyone who stood in his way.

Hypocrisy is ugly on any side, but seems to radiate greatly from the Clinton camp.

Posted by: Kasreal on 02/25/08 at 4:04 PM Respond

Funny thing...

The 'Karl Rove playbook' Clinton erroneously refers to about Obama's flier came directly and was written primarily by the 'Bill Clinton playbook' of Clinton v. anyone who stood in his way.

Hypocrisy is ugly on any side, but seems to radiate greatly from the Clinton camp.

Posted by: Kasreal on 02/25/08 at 4:04 PM Respond

She is doing the country a favor. We don't want no black President, although at least he wouldn't be on welfair. They shouldn't even let blacks vote if they aren't gonna vote right. At least the mexicans ones know how to vote, they know their place and vote how they are told. Hillary don't need to run later she is gonna win this year.

Posted by: bubba on 02/25/08 at 4:05 PM Respond

I am glad the Clintons told this group to take a hike, what are they gonna do vote republican? I am tired of them always crying and wanting special treatment. Mexicons don't whine and are dependable, usually. I only hire mexs, blacks won't work like mexs. I can hire 3 mexs for what 1 black person wants to be paid. I love the Clintons and they will always get my vote.

Posted by: Bubba on 02/25/08 at 4:09 PM Respond

I find some of these Hillary supporters disgusting! I guess we have found out something about our own party and it isn't pretty. If this kind of thing continues I can see the Democratic party losing people. Maybe a third party needs to be started, I don't recognize the Democratic party.

Posted by: anna on 02/25/08 at 4:13 PM Respond

Wow, Kathy, does that mean we could have a functional, fair healthcare system and a government that was wise enough not to go to Iraq?

Posted by: Victor on 02/25/08 at 4:14 PM Respond

"Biotch is the new Bolack!" My little take on Tina Fey's comment makes me feel almost as hip and cool as the people groovin' (I guess you could call it groovin') at an Obama rally to the Black Eyed Peas. Don't you all think we need another Black Eyed Peas song? Way cool, dude. Don't call me, Dude!!!

Posted by: GraceJeanJones on 02/25/08 at 4:32 PM Respond

Thank you Hillary! We will win the White House again. You Democrats are idiots, you have more registered voters and can't win a national election. This should have been an easy year. and even if we screw things up more, by the end of McCains first term is ending the economy will be improving AND you all will probably nominate Hillary and over half the population hates her so we win again.

Posted by: republican on 02/25/08 at 4:44 PM Respond

NO - The Clintons did not insert race or racism as an issue in this campaign. The media did, and that is exactly what this article does again. If there is no evidence to substantiate the Drudge Report assertion, why even bring it up here. Shame on the media. And shame on all of those of you who have wagging tongues looking for another reason to demonize the best candidates the democrats have. If this bothers you, just wait until the general election when it will get 100 times worse. Obama can't storm a republican assault. Wake up Democrats. Vote for Hillary.

Posted by: Eric on 02/25/08 at 4:46 PM Respond

Wow. Obama is a real uniter isn't he?

Posted by: suskin on 02/25/08 at 4:50 PM Respond

If Hillary had nothing to do with this then why didn't they deny it? The clintons have proven time and again they are racists. She will do anything to anyone to get what she wants, even if it hurts the party or country.

Posted by: mike on 02/25/08 at 4:53 PM Respond

Hillary has ruined the Clinton legacy and any chance of her winning a national election. Her "dislike" numbers are reaching 60%! Like someone said before, I could see her even losing her Senate seat after this. Hopefully they will crawl back to Arkansas and no one will ever hear from them again.

Posted by: Bam on 02/25/08 at 4:56 PM Respond

She is looking looney! just a few days ago she was acting all nice and now she blows a gasket. Nothing has changed, those mailers have been being used for a month and she complained about them in Wisconsin a little so why the sudden change in personality? She is looking very unstable. I don't think someone looking that unstable mentally can be elected.

Posted by: candy on 02/25/08 at 4:59 PM Respond

ERIC- Finally! Finally a freaking voice of reason in this sorry excuse for an article. Why these people (mojo bloggers, author included) accept some media BS as reality, really baffles me.

All of you who believe this crap are stupider than I thought. (and I already despise most of you. seriously, only about 1 in 50 comments is intelligent and/or worth reading)

Posted by: KM on 02/25/08 at 5:02 PM Respond

Hillary is showing her true lack of humanity. No scruples. Amoral. Smile while I stab-you-in-the-back tactics. Dishonest. Winning is everything. She is either desperate, power-obsessed, or nuts, or all of the above if she thinks people are following the attacks this closely, or care, or that it will actually benefit her.

Posted by: Karl on 02/25/08 at 5:05 PM Respond

Race should be an issue in American politics, Johnny. I'm unconcerned with Obama pulling the race card or not, but the fact that you attack his church is very disgusting, and that you made up that it doesn't allow white congregants is outlandish. All of you Hillary supporters are a bit silly; did you forget that she was a Goldwater Girl in '64? She's not a liberal in the slightest sense. Her husband effectively signed the death knell for any chance of a welfare state, stop canonizing him. You white voters are too concerned with minding the course, that you forget that issues like race and gender are very much important, and Hillary has never specific a specific women's issue during this campaign, nor has she attached herself onto one concerning race. These special interests exist because white voters don't want to acknowledge that America is still a racial state that preferences white voters. Will I vote for Obama? Sure. Do I want to? No. Obama is closer than Hillary, no matter how minutely, to a liberal platform, so take your centralist visions of America to the dustbin of history and stop compromising with warhawks, billionaires, and the Christian right.

Posted by: Justin on 02/25/08 at 5:50 PM Respond

Now that Hillary has adopted the traditional garb of elderly, lower middle class white women, the pantsuit, she's a couture critic. Admittedly she uses less peroxide and makeup than Cindy McCain, who looks like Tammy Faye Bakker's anorectic twin, but she and her staffers need to stick to real issues.

Posted by: AlexLawyer on 02/25/08 at 6:01 PM Respond

And now Ladies and Gentlemen, without further adieu, the much awaited and highly- sought-after mother of all political revelations:
Clinton’s deal with Bush:
In 2,000, neither Clinton campaigned for Gore, even though Gore broke his buttocks campaigning for Clinton in ’92 and ’96. Here was the (alleged) arrangement:
In return, there would be no incumbent Republican V.P. to Hillary to contend with in 2008.
(No proof on this one, just circumstantial. Bill Clinton went from total hibernation to 110% video-signal for this election.) If you listen to his impassioned speeches, he sounds like JFK: “Ask NOT what your country can do for you . . . ask what you can do for your country!! errrahhh . . .
Problem is that Billery is promising us the same things he (and she) failed to deliver between ’92 and Y2K.
Bill Clinton could have been the best president in the history of the United States. Instead, he became his own biggest fan and now has turned into a dollar-store book on how to beat (and fool) the system.
When he says Hillary will be ready from day one, he should know. He intends to be in the situation room calling shots.
Just my opinion, I could be, well . . . a troll.

Posted by: Trollstein on 02/25/08 at 6:09 PM Respond

This episode, and an anecdote from an Obama appearance in Ohio today tell you everything you need to know about these two candidates and their fitness to lead. After days of mocking, finger wagging and vitriol from Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama was asked today by an undecided voter how she should decide who to vote for.

While it is clear that Hillary would have used this opportunity to bludgeon Obama, Barack actually complimented Senator Clinton and went on to say not that she was a bad candidate, bad person or would be a bad president; instead, he tried to make the case that he'd be a better president based on his willingness to work with others.

The class and dignity that this man shows every day is the starkest contrast I've ever seen between two Democratic "finalists" for the nomination. This was a classic opportunity for him to slam Hillary Clinton and tell this undecided voter that Hillary represented all that was disgusting about politics. Instead, he chose class and graciousness.

Hillary, you could learn a thing from this young man if you ever got off your high horse. He has out-thought, out-worked and out-classed you at every turn, and this longtime Democrat is enjoying your slow implosion and hopes you suffer through several more defeats befor you finally recognize what the rest of us already know: this race is OVER.

Posted by: Mark, Santa Monica, CA on 02/25/08 at 6:11 PM Respond

Grow up people! Politics has always been blood sport. Hero worship is such an annoying trait in adults. Both of these candidates are shallow and void. The only one with any "there" there is (shudder) McCain.

Posted by: JGalt on 02/25/08 at 6:12 PM Respond

Whoa Nelly!

Since when is Mother Jones "mainstream media"?? Did some wonderful progressive takeover happen while I was asleep? Wahoo!!

Posted by: Eric on 02/25/08 at 6:19 PM Respond

Hillary has turned herself into a clown today with her 'magic wand' act.
It's a slow motion train wreck. It's hard to watch.

Her bazaar back and forth makes her look unstable and a little nuts.

Posted by: Adrienne Scott on 02/25/08 at 6:25 PM Respond

I am amazed at how the Clintonites have turned the fact that Obama is a good speaker who moves people into a negative and that it somehow connotes that he is without substance.

Obama is a civil, extremely intelligent, very talented politician who has just as many "positions papers" etc... as Hillary does.

Hillary, on the other hand, is the annoying class grind. Yet her followers have interpreted her memorization of statistics to mean that she has substance. That is a mistake.

Her "lifetime of public service" consisted primarily of being someone's wife while earning a ton of dough doing corporate work at the Rose Law Firm. that is not pubic service, any more than Laura Bush could claim after getting elected to the senate twice.

Posted by: bing crosby on 02/25/08 at 7:18 PM Respond

I think you and people like you would do and say anything to undermine Obama's efforts to help this nation. Some people are so desperate they will do the unmentionables with ease, just take a look at Hillary; by the way, I am afraid Hillary is losing it, as in losing her marbles!

Posted by: Ras M on 02/25/08 at 9:01 PM Respond

Jonathan Stein your slip is showing. OK you are an Obama supporter and worshipper. Why? I don't know. When did it start? I don't know. And how will you handle your adoration of Obama? That I know, you will do your masters bidding, inflaming the oh so sensitive souls of the true believers.
As a journalists, you ain't. As far as objectivity goes you ain't got none. Youse a pumper for the cause and the few people who get it here are to be saluted .
The truth is that Obama is a whining preppy who was insulting and belittling Hillary's tenure as a first lady and her career for the first two months before Iowa and the Lady said or did nothing to "hurt" Barack. She knew how sensitive he is. Then in South Carolina she made a factual statement about how it took government to effect MLKs desirable civil rights changes and the sensitive one jumped all over that.
Ow, she's undermining MLKs importance-Obama used it first, the race card, and every chance the little preppy gets he throws a low blow and whines when he gets it back. He is like the fighter in the cartoon who says, "no low blows" and then pops the other guy you know where and when the guy protests, he says,"I'm just showing you." Then he moves on to the rabbit punch and so on. That's Obama.
Anyway if Obama should, unfortunately, win the Democratic nomination he will face a blizzard of negative attacks from the right and he will lose the election and I will have another 4 years of the maniacs in the White House.
Another 4 years of Iraq and the total destruction of our currency. The dismantling of our Constitution, a new cold war and "unbridled capitalism"!
Egads people don't do it, he cannot win in November. He will be ground up and spit out of the new Rove's machine like hamburger and America will be trembling in its boots after all the terror alerts Bush will call and bye, bye Obama.
No he's not really a bad kid, just a little wet and little too sensitive and he does have some serious baggage that has not really been aired out the way the GOP know how to air things!
And lets talk about Nafta a little here under Clinton. When did Ohio lose all those jobs? The economy was booming under Clinton, Nafta or not because his administration did not foster the massive movement of jobs overseas. That was done by Bush and Cheney financed by 3 trillion of you and your children's tax dollars gifted away to the wealthiest Americans.
Well you're in a tizzy and you want change and you believe he can bring it. Maybe he can but if he can't win the election what do we get? The Democrats need to win and Hillary is the only one who can, she's been through the GOP fire (and unfortunately many of you still believe that garbage) and her record is spotless, no matter what you say it is as clean as can be!
And right now our country is really in dire straits economically, the dollar is in free fall and the Iraq war has a lot to do with that but unbridled capitalism is the real problem in our country and the world for that matter. Then there is the assault on our Constitution and international law that have destroyed our standing in the world and rekindled the cold war. Our infrastructure is dilapidated and falling down and our economy is turning into a service economy with poor paying jobs for too many Americans, many of whom have to work two jobs to make ends meet.
To fix this mess the rotten GOP has bequeathed America we need some one with experience and who has a real plan. People, it ain't him and hopefully you will wake up before we have four more years of Iraq and the whole right wing garbage song and dance show but if you do wake up then remember the Lady Hillary.

Posted by: AL on 02/25/08 at 11:31 PM Respond

I am confident neither Hillary Clinton nor anyone in her campaign circulated the picture of Obama wearing traditional Somali clothing, implying he is a secret Muslim. That would be a bigoted thing to do and neither she nor her staff would do such a thing. When she came upon the American political scene she was the spouse of the Democratic governor of Arkansas where today there is no racial or ethnic bigotry and surely there is none in New York. It is true that historically the Democratic Party was the bastion of slave holders and the Jim Crow oligarchy, but we can clearly see from the 2008 Democratic primary campaign the party has reformed itself and now supports diversity, equality, and the American way.

Posted by: Joseph L. (Joe) Bass on 02/26/08 at 6:13 AM Respond

I thought you Mother Jones Readers were progressive. A very sad state this country is in.

BIOTCH IS THE NEW BOLACK!!!

Posted by: GraceJean Jones on 02/26/08 at 12:17 PM Respond

I agree with jGalt above where it was written:

"Grow up people! Politics has always been blood sport. Hero worship is such an annoying trait in adults. Both of these candidates are shallow and void. The only one with any "there" there is (shudder) McCain."

I disagree a bit about the McCain comment, but it's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me watching you folks and your idol worship. Maybe, I missed too many Oprah shows.

Posted by: GraceJean Jones on 02/26/08 at 12:23 PM Respond

The "information" about Sen. Obama's church has been badly and deliberately distorted, and is from an email that has been circulating from months implying that he is part of a Muslim plot to take over the country. As a member of an all white UCC church in Michigan, I refer you to the UCC website, and to Obama's campaign website for rebuttals.

Posted by: Marcia on 02/26/08 at 1:37 PM Respond

As soon as the mud starts flying the issues are all but forgotten. I don't care what a candidate wears, or what color mud this one is slinging at that one. I care about the voting record in congress, the ideas for solving our country's problems, the vision for our future.

But getting that information recently is impossible. Many of the comments on this blog are clear as mud.

Posted by: Steven on 02/26/08 at 4:48 PM Respond

This site has confirmed every misgiving I've had about the Obama campaign. I must now--sadly--admit that a John McCain presidency is looking less and less threatening by comparison.

Posted by: Jessica on 02/26/08 at 7:43 PM Respond

We have conquered the uter space,but not our inner space

Posted by: World Of Warcraft Gold on 03/19/08 at 7:55 PM Respond

We have multiplied out possessions,but reduced out values

Posted by: wow power leveling on 03/19/08 at 7:58 PM Respond

We have more knowledge,but less judgment

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