Barack Obama Crosses the Swiftboat Threshold

[ProSense]

RCP Average 03/05 to 03/18
Obama 45.5%
Clinton 43.8%
Obama +1.7%

Gallup Tracking 03/16 - 03/18
Obama 42%
Clinton 49%
Clinton +7.0%

Rasmussen Tracking 03/15 - 03/18
Obama 47%
Clinton 42%
Obama +5.0%

CBS News 03/15 - 03/18
Obama 39%
Clinton 37%
Obama +2.0%

CNN 03/14 - 03/16
Obama 52%
Clinton 45%
Obama +7.0%

link

Barack Obama Crosses the Swiftboat Threshold (Updated)

by Femlaw
Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:02:46 PM PDT

As we all know, yesterday Barack Obama delivered one for the history books. Many here and elsewhere have heralded his speech for its eloquence, depth and moral clarity on the racial divisions that Americans continue to struggle with. Commenters have remarked on its honesty, integrity and call for understanding on all sides.

Yesterday, Barack Obama formally crossed "the Swiftboat Threshold." The attacks he faced over his personal association with a religious figure are a textbook example of what we now call "swiftboating."

This is the test that we now demand Democratic nominees be able to withstand. Obama has passed it with flying colors. And, as usual, he refused to take the conventional approach. In the end, swiftboating succeeds by instilling fear in candidates and their supporters. All too often, even "successful" Democratic responses reflect that fear by avoidance, distance or escalation - strategies which only encourage more attacks.

Instead, Barack Obama showed very clearly he is not afraid. He will not run from who he is. It turns out the only thing we have to fear from swiftboating is fear itself.

<...>

Update: There have been many excellent comments below, and a number of people have rightly pointed out that we have a long way to go. I don't think Obama can claim he won't be attacked again. What he can claim is that he has the ability to withstand a furious assault, and even turn it into an opportunity for leadership. Whatever "vetted" means, or "tested" or "ready" - and I'm not sure I know what any of them are supposed to mean - he's met that standard. In quoting Chabon, I was trying to make the point that some people refuse to support Obama because they are afraid of what the Republicans will do to him. I wasn't afraid before, but there is even less reason to be afraid now that he has proven himself, once again. To the extent this has been some kind of obstacle for him - he is over it. He's crossed the threshold.

Go to the link and take the poll:

Poll

Barack Obama Has
Crossed the Swiftboat Threshold 18% 474 votes
Blown away the door, knob and the doorframe, too 47% 1188 votes
Survived to fight another day 18% 460 votes
Not done enough yet to beat back Republican attacks 6% 170 votes
Done something, I'm just not quite sure what it is 9% 232 votes

[BumRushDaShow]

1. Kickety kick and rec

:kick:

[Joe the Revelator]

2. Great Post PS.

[Cant trust em]

3. Are anyone but serious RW pundits and the most ardent Clinton apologists...

bashing this speech? Most of the reporting I've read has been very positive about it.

[FrenchieCat]

5. The pundits can kiss my ass.....as can the apologists!

They wouldn't know history if it was slapping them in the face.

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Those are the only ones I've seen criticizing the speech.

There's always going to be some average potential voters who will never vote for Obama and won't like anything that comes out of his mouth. The speech wasn't for them, so I don't care what they think.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

7. Same here. From what I hear, this was his "I have a dream" speech.

He was wonderful yesterday.

[Cant trust em]

10. I have a tough time imagining people not responding to this

If people are concerned about racism at all, then this should speak to them. I was simply stunned yesterday.

[bvar22]

15. There are two kinds of people:

1)People who are concerned about Racism

AND

2)Racists

[TML]

4. K&R

:kick:

[meow mix]

8. K&R

nice

[Voice for Peace]

9. Thank you!

The anti Obama posts are getting to me tonight.

[tabasco]

11. I hope the American people can recognize Obama's leadership.

At the same time, I hope they see H. Clinton's lack of leadership.

[ProSense]

14. They do! n/t

[zulchzulu]

12. More accurately, it should be called Swift Hortonization

This relentless infomational laziness and preposterous echo chamber mentality from the Fox News and the usual Ken and Barbie dolls in the MSM along with the Charlatans Of Hillbottery have proven that a non-issue (as muttered by McCain) eventually fades away like a dog's gaseous fart aroma.

It was/is a combination of the repetitive altered video drumming the Demon Du Jour ad nauseum combined with the deepest depths of racist reptilian depths of hate.

Two parts Swiftboat, one part Willie Horton...shake..stir... repeat...repeat...repeat...

[PerfectSage]

13. Kickity Kickity Kick & Rec

I just checked the Drudge Report. There's no Obama/Wright stories, so I think the ####storm is over.

Interestingly, I see Hillary, blue dress, Lewinsky and NAFTA links.

Here we go again. I think it's Hillary's turn for a swiftboating?

[peruviancharm]

16. the Wright affair hurts him in the GE, not the primary

Democrats care little about Jeremiah Wright's words, because Democrats are progressive and more likely than Republicans and independents to be tolerant towards Wright. Republicans and independents, on the other hand, are more intolerant. Only a small portion of primary voters are R and I. In the GE, however, they represent a majority combined.

In short, The fallout from the Wright videos was never said to hurt him in the primaries. The GE is the problem.

This is why in the Rasmussen tracking numbers, Obama now trails McCain by 6%.

[David__77]

28. Independents might be more tolerant than Democrats.

There are many socially progressive independents, while there are still millions of socially backward Democrats. I think Obama can pull together a new winning coalition. But we shall see.

[rug]

17. It's an aircraft carrier coming, not a swiftboat.

[Scurrilous]

18. K & R

:thumbsup:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. !!!

[backscatter712]

20. *plonk*`

Grow up.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

21. recommended

and added to Thursday's daily news

[ProSense]

22. Obama's Speech on Race Tops YouTube

Diversions

Obama's Speech on Race Tops YouTube

by Renee Montagne

Morning Edition, March 20, 2008 · The most popular video on YouTube has no lip-synching Chinese teenagers, no babies falling over, no drunk cats: It's Barack Obama's speech on race.

So far, the Obama speech has been clicked on 1.6 million times —though it's not possible to tell whether viewers watched all 37 minutes.

There are also more than 4,000 comments, ranging from "Awesome," to "No, we can't," to "Bar-rack to the Future!!"

more

RCP Average 03/13 to 03/19
Obama 47.2%
Clinton 44.2%
Obama +3.0%

Gallup Tracking 03/17 - 03/19
Obama 42%
Clinton 48%
Clinton +5.0%

Rasmussen Tracking 03/16 - 03/19
Obama 46%
Clinton 43%
Obama +3.0%

link

[ProSense]

23. Perceived Honesty Gap for Clinton Versus Obama, McCain

Perceived Honesty Gap for Clinton Versus Obama, McCain

[npincus]

24. bless you, friend.

[ProSense]

25. Poll: Obama Receives High Marks for Race Speech

Poll: Obama Receives High Marks for Race Speech

[sueragingroz]

26. it's only swift boating if it's not true...

[David__77]

27. If he comes past this in good shape, he will be much much stronger.

I think that he will indeed pull that off, and already has in good measure.

[uponit7771]

29. This is important