Obama camp: Clinton obsessed with GOP "attack machine"

[wyldwolf]

[Colobo]

1. Obama is aware of the GOP, but they are not the center of his campaign.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

2. Uniting with the GOP IS the central theme of his campaign nt

[wyldwolf]

4. really? How do you know these things? I think he's giving you some really false security

[Colobo]

8. Nah, I think he is ready for what the GOP will bring

which will be pretty tough. However, I think Obama is tougher than what people think.

[wyldwolf]

10. No, it appears he, and his supporters, will be caught completely off guard.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

13. They can't grasp how his candidacy necessitates kissing up to the right-wing

[Dawgs]

33. Uh, he won the last debates by defending attacks from every one else on the stage.

I think he'll do a fine job.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

36. You're comparing Biden calling BO inexperienced to the Swiftboaters?

I sure hope Obama does not think that way, although I would not be surprised if he does.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Politics in Chicago = Not for the Faint of Heart

[draft_mario_cuomo]

3. WW shoots...

...swish! :applause:

[avrdream]

5. Every Democratic candidate better be ready - ask John Kerry.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

6. Is someone who thinks there is no liberal America or a conservative America capable of that?

In Obamaland apparently there is no such thing as DU or FR.

[BeyondGeography]

7. For an intelligent discussion of this point, go here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3477139

[wyldwolf]

9. intelligent? Looks like more naivety from the Obama crowd.

[BeyondGeography]

12. It wasn't going your way so you started this thread

Kinda like when you mistook a photograph of a Pakistani soldier for Osama Bin Laden yesterday in that Brzezinski thread.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

14. WW presumably posted this to show the absurdity of Obama's "hope" for the right-wing

It is on it's way to the Greatest Page so obviously WW did a good job.

[wyldwolf]

15. So you think we took the swiftboating of John Kerry too seriously?

[BeyondGeography]

16. For an intelligent discussion of this point, go here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3477293

[wyldwolf]

17. So you think we took the swiftboating of John Kerry too seriously?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

20. Why would he get swiftboated? There is no conservative America. Right-wingers are great

If we just sit down and have tea with them they will play nice and work with us.

[avrdream]

23. Well, one thing I have noticed about Edwards in this regard:

his rapid response team in excellent. His camp (or he, himself) puts out a response to nearly every major news event these days. I'm a Clinton supporter but I think John Edwards gets this - and realizes that sitting down and having tea just ain't going to happen.

[wyldwolf]

24. Edwards gets it. Obama is not a realist.

[AtomicKitten]

26. Edwards gets what exactly?

That he's prepared to say whatever it takes to lead the parade?

His last enthusiastic endeavor put his OP-ED rallying support for the war smack on the State Department's website.

If that's "getting it" I'm pretty certain I'm against "it."

[avrdream]

41. Not just a random "it".

I think he understands the concept of a rapid response to smears by the opposition.

[madrchsod]

19. he has david on his side...

david is not a bad guy to have in a fight...after all hillary used him during her senate run. obama can hold his own against anything the republicans can throw at him. he`s learned his wings in the most corrupt political machine in the usa

[draft_mario_cuomo]

21. Obama needed two scandals and facing the joke Alan Keyes (R-VA) to win his IL Senate seat

When he ran for the House Mr. Charisma (D-Second Coming of JFK/Lincoln) lost 2-to-1. Obama has no proven electoral record. He had one tough race and he lost it--badly. He was also headed for defeat in the Democratic primary until a timely scandal took down the front-runner.

[AtomicKitten]

28. He won -- Sorry his victory wasn't "pure" enough for you.

but we all thank you for your concern

[AtomicKitten]

18. Well, if she is, she has a damn good reason and right to be.

And heads-up to the other candidates who have yet to run the gauntlet.

[ruggerson]

31. exactly n/t

[wyldwolf]

22. Somewhere in Georgia, Max Cleland is saying "Doh!"

[BeyondGeography]

25. Axelrod is wrong; Hillary is paralyzed by the GOP, not obsessed

Obama, on the other hand, not so much:

"One difference between Obama and Clinton does not seem to me to have been stressed enough. They are of different Democratic generations. Clinton is from the traumatized generation; Obama isn't. Clinton has internalized to her bones the 1990s sense that conservatism is ascendant, that what she really believes is unpopular, that the Republicans have structural, latent power of having a majority of Americans on their side. Hence the fact that she reeks of fear, of calculation, of focus groups, of triangulation. She might once have had ideals keenly felt; she might once have actually relished fighting for them and arguing in thier defense. But she has not been like that for a very long time. She has political post-traumatic stress disorder."

..."Obama is different. He wasn't mugged by the 1980s and 1990s as Clinton was. He doesn't carry within him the liberal self-hatred and self-doubt that Clinton does. The traumatized Democrats fear the majority of Americans are bigoted, know-nothing, racist rubes from whom they need to conceal their true feelings and views. The non-traumatized Democrats are able to say what they think, make their case to potential supporters and act, well, like Republicans acted in the 1980s and 1990s. The choice between Clinton and Obama is the choice between a defensive crouch and a confident engagement. It is the choice between someone who lost their beliefs in a welter of fear; and someone who has faith that his worldview can persuade a majority.

In my view, the call is not a close one."

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/20 ...

[wyldwolf]

27. which is why Obama trails in national and most early primary state polls. Not ready for prime time.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

32. Obama is naive, Clinton knows what we are up against

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3477399

[ruggerson]

29. Off to the greatest page you go n/t

[HughMoran]

30. Children

This is getting ridiculous...

[jaysunb]

38. Silly Season @ DU

happens every election cycle......02, 04, 06.

[HughMoran]

39. Yep

I knew it was coming, but the pettiness still amazes me.

[mzmolly]

34. We should all be obsessed with the GOP attack machine.

eom

[Dawgs]

35. I agree. She is obsessed; and the right is loving every minute of it.

They can't wait until she's the nominee.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

37. Why would the right want her? She wins FL, PA, ties in Ohio

She flips even red states like Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia. Logically wouldn't they want a candidate who loses Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and even New York, California, Massachusetts, and numerous states in between?

[Dawgs]

43. You're basing this on polls a year and half before the election.

You do realize how dumb that is, don't you?

[MethuenProgressive]

40. To her its history, to him its news...

We need someone prepared to face the Republican Attack Machine, not someone who has never heard of it.

[wyldwolf]

42. kick

[alfredo]

44. She's trying to walk a fine line between the primaries and general.

I think she should concentrate on winning the primaries because no votes have been cast and she should not act like she has a lock.



BTW, I will work for any Dem that gets the nod. All of our candidates are my candidates.

[creeksneakers2]

45. Obama must not understand how to fight the RW attack machine

The only way to defend against the RW attack machine is to attack back, convince the public that the RW is dishonest. To convince the public,attacks on the RW attack machine must be repeated. Repetition is not obsession.

The only other strategies for dealing with the RW attack machine are ignoring it and responding to the attacks. Attacks can't be ignored because attacks work. Responding puts the responder on defense and the attacks never end. The campaign never gets off defense.

Obama and the rest of the Democratic candidates should join Hillary and define the RW attack machine before the general election.

[wyldwolf]

46. Kumbaya Obama doesn't