Did the Clintons learn anything in South Carolina?

[FarCenter]

Question of the day: What, if anything, did Hillary and Bill Clinton learn from the drubbing they received Saturday in the South Carolina Democratic primary?

Yes, we know, Bill is not on the ballot but this primary election has become as much a referendum on the former President and his campaign tactics as it is on his wife's race for the White House. His rough-and-tumble, take-no-prisoners style has rankled rank and file Democrats and led to calls that he either tone down the campaign rhetoric or just shut up and go away.

Clinton's enormous ego, however, will never allow him to do either and -- for now at least -- his wife appears content to let him play bad cop in their quest to return to the White House as a roles-reversed power couple.

But South Carolina voters sent the Clintons a message of repudiation Saturday, a stern warning that the politics of divisiveness doesn't play along with a clear message that they want a candidate that unites, not divides, a nation.

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/

[dkf]

1. Based on the Jesse Jackson comment I would say no.

[neutron]

14. Obama Operatives have been Smearing Bill

for Months.
Their pattern is to attack, then Whine. Go back over the
last few weeks:
"Walmart"
"Slumloard"
"Boo Hoo! The Clintons are picking on me! "

I"m trying to figure how long this is going to work for Obama.

[EFerrari]

20. They don't need to. He's doing a fine job all by himself. n/t

[Kahuna]

24. Bill Clinton , "Obama put a hit on me..." Who's the REAL whiner?

:eyes:

[gateley]

2. You know, in fairness to the Clintons, the media (as usual) extracted the

flammable bits and fanned the flames. That's all we heard about -- WILL THIS HURT HILLARY? I'm pretty sure he's attracted some voters and HAS been an asset to her a great deal of the time, but as usual, we're being shown what will get us talking and bring in ratings.

I'm not saying some of the things he said were unfortunate, but jeez -- in the big picture, they all do it.

[Kittycat]

5. When I heard the comment, in context - before I heard any other commentary on it...

I about fell out of my chair. I honestly could not believe he had the nerve to say that.

And now they got a slap from the Kennedy's - but unfortunately, I don't think they've learned a thing.

[caligirl]

6. Bill is the consummate expert on the media, he knew how to give them the story.

[ShortnFiery]

15. DLC Cliontonian mantra: The Clintons are GODS it's alway's someone else's fault!

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. :crazy:

[neutron]

7. Bill was right on target

That really bothers you, doesn't it?

[gateley]

13. I'm cursed by always seeing both sides of the picture, that's all.

I don't even remotely have a dog in this race. This was not a defense of the Clintons, but just an observation by a neutral observer.

[TwilightGardener]

3. I seriously believe Bill needs to go back to being a cheerleader, a positive

voice, for his wife, and leave the other candidates alone. Big, big blunder on many levels for him to become so enmeshed in her campaign. First, it makes her look like she can't win on her own, when she certainly proved that she can--when he wasn't as visible, she was far and away the frontrunner last summer and fall. Second, it makes him look like HE'S the one who really wants to get back into the WH--the third term of the Clinton Presidency. This will not sit well with anybody. Third, we're reminded of what we DIDN'T like about him, and about their politics and tactics, when they double-team Obama and when Bill goes into his egotistical finger-wagging red-faced scold mode. Bad memories conjured up. He totally needs to back off and let her shine.

[neutron]

10. This was an election about race

because it was to Obama's political advantage to make it that way.

[caligirl]

4. I use to think these people were fabulous, taking my oldest to see Bill and

working our way up to the first five rows of people to get a closer view. I wouldn't spend a plug nickle to see him now for the damage he has done.

[EFerrari]

8. Well. he's got the media and us talking about him and not about her.

We're blaming him for the loss, not her. :shrug:

[caligirl]

18. Not me. clearly that is her leadership failure.

[grantcart]

9. more cow bell

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. I don't agree with your premise. The question is did the voters learn anything

from the last time the media got a guy elected (hint: bush).

[yardwork]

12. South Carolina is a deep red state that will vote Republican in the GE.

I congratulate Obama on his primary win in SC, but it won't change the fact that the state will go Republican in the GE. In fact, a number of the folks who voted for Obama yesterday will vote for the Republican in the GE.

[ShortnFiery]

16. With the huge Democratic-Turn out in SC, I don't buy it!

Uncle KKKarl, is that you? :evilgrin:

[yardwork]

17. Wait and see.

[EFerrari]

19. Until they have decent verifiable election systems, how do we know?

:shrug:

[caligirl]

21. looking at the numbers, more dems turned out for this primary than all repugs combined.

There is a possiblity that he can bring out enough dems to overtake a red state.

[yardwork]

23. That would be wonderful.

[BenDavid]

22. Once you take away all the bias reporting anti clinton and pro

obama then south carolina might have actually meant something. But the question I have is, What did Obama win? Did the majority of blacks turn out to vote based on skin color only? Did the majority of blacks vote for Obama because he was the better qualified person? Did the media play a major part in his win? Did the media create with the help of the obama camp the black backlash against the clintons? Did the media pound and pound away at Bill Clinton to cover up the facts the obama campaign were the ones which played the race card? Did the media create the bogus "only 10% whites would vote for obama", so the media could in their exit polling show that obama got a bigger share of white voters so the main story was not obama receiving 70 plus percent of the black vote?

Lots of questions to be asked but will never be answered, but that was sooooooooooooo yesterday and again I ask what did Obama win?

[VotesForWomen]

25. frankly, i think they're going to have to go negative (and those of you who think

they've already gone negative, haven't seen anything yet), because the truth is, it doesn't matter what 'tone' their campaign takes, they will be bashed by the media and obama supporters anyway. therefor, they are going to have to deliver some serious blows to the obama camp, because it's clear that the media won't do it.