Obama should defend Clinton. It's the gracious thing to do.

[The Political Jerk]

There is no need to punch someone who is already down. He should give her a hand up instead.

It's the right thing to do. And I think Obama will do it.

Would Clinton do it, if the shoe was on the other foot? Probably not, but that is not the point.

It's time for Obama to demonstrate, once again, why he is better than her.

-The Political Jerk

Edited to fix some bad grammar.

[oldtime dfl_er]

1. You started off okay

But I am really tired of these "he's better than her" "she's better than him" comments, as if this is an Olympic sport.

[polichick]

2. Obama has been more than gracious already.

[RazBerryBeret]

3. What?

he is proving himself better than her by staying out of it.
period...

She dug the hole.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. Nope. The Obama campaign should just keeps its distance.

They don't have to defend her or attack her over this. She has done all the damage all on her own and will have to do the damage control on her own as well. The Obama campaign has reached out multiple times to try to bring this mess to a graceful unifying conclusion, and Clinton won't go there. There is nothing left to do.

[BlooInBloo]

14. From a practical standpoint, either way is fine. They've run a stellar campaign so far...

I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

[chitty]

5. You mean the way she

defended him during the "bitter" period?

[The Political Jerk]

8. This is my point. The time for "tit for tat" is over.

The race is over. A winner shakes hands.

-The Political Jerk

[LakeSamish706]

38. Until she drops out he can't claim victory, so I don't think he should involve...

himself in her troubles at this time.

[tbyg52]

41. As soon as *Hillary* acknowledges the race is over,

*then* I agree.

I don't see any need to shake hands when one party still thinks the fight is on. He's staying out of it, and that's gracious enough for me.

[Mz Pip]

6. He didn't pile on,

unlike what Hillary has done at every opportunity. Expecting more is pretty unrealistic.

He's taken the high road here by not commenting anymore. She should be grateful for that.

[The Political Jerk]

15. Why not take it further? Defend her. How will it harm him?

-The Political Jerk

[Blue_Roses]

22. lol

oh, I'm sure Hillary in her own tacky way would find a way to say something stupid.

Axelrod came out yesterday saying they knew it was no big deal, so to speak, and it's over. Obama doesn't have to bow to her.

[VolcanoJen]

23. Ummm, how would it *help* him?

His camp called the comments "unfortunate" and that was actually quite graceful. Nothing else needs to be said by him.

She, on the other hand, owes Obama an apology. I'm not holding my breath.

[cliffordu]

49. Why fucking bother?

[Waya]

7. He has catered to her.....

.....defended her, been gracious to a fault. So, by the way, has the Democratic Party as whole, for that matter. I have never seen so much pussyfooting, kid glove treatment and sugar blowing (you know where) towards any losing Candidate as I have seen this time..... What more could one want?

[Andy823]

24. Couldn't have said it better!

This time she is on her own!

[AllentownJake]

9. Best thing for Obama to do

is Pretend it never happened.

[Adelante]

10. He should let her swallow this stone

Enough with the good grace.

[L0oniX]

11. "Defend" Hillary? What planet are you living on?

:crazy:

[Thrill]

12. Why? She didn't waste any time jumping on his small town comment

she couldn't wait to score political points

[The Political Jerk]

20. Right. Hillary's bad. But Obama's Good. So Defend Her!

I won't think any less of him if he doesn't. But it seems like the right thing to do.

[digidigido]

35. Think of this

Hillary is in this thing purely for power. either she gets the power of the presidency, or negotiates her agenda to drop out.
Right now, Obama is wise to let her swing in the wind so he has more power in the negotiations. She got herself into this
mess, and it would be one thing if her goals were for the good of the republic, but let's not get confused. HRC's goals
are for the benefit of HRC and her interests. The Clintons have made $50 mil since Bill left the presidency. His business
dealings have been questionable as were his pardons of Mark Rich et al. Obama needs Hillary, but Hillary needs to repair
her legacy too. The more she damages it carrying on like this, the more she needs him and his graciousness. She's dug her
hole, if she wants a ladder out she can damn well ask for it nicely.

[TheZug]

13. A generous, but calculating, thought. Any other time I'd agree, but this is beyond the pale.

[DemGa]

16. From smear campaign to "gracious" one

At any rate, the Obamas will lap it up.

[DAGDA56]

17. I agree, no need to kick her when she's down...but he does't need to help her up, either.

I suspect some of the HRC supporters on DU would say "she doesn't need his help!"

[thewiseguy]

18. He should also defend her for the Zimbaw comments!

She does not need a hand. She needs to get the F out and find her voice.

[VolcanoJen]

19. If Clinton needs to be "defended" by Obama for saying something stupidly outrageous...

... then she has no f'n business running for President.

The Obama camp has handled this gracefully, by staying out of the fray and choosing only to call her comments "unfortunate." Once again, the Obama campaign looks presidential, while the Hillary camp retreats into their now-predictable Victim Stance.

[crankychatter]

21. Clinton does THIS shit and you suggest it's ANOTHER HOOP for Obama to jump through?

give me a fucking break

[The Political Jerk]

25. I'm not saying he has to do anything.

But it is a chance to elevate himself. I would consider it a missed opportunity if he didn't.

-The Political Jerk

[crankychatter]

33. Axelrod stated unequivicolly it was an innocent gaffe

If asked Obama will repeat this precisely

nothing ELSE needs to be said

[ebdarcy]

26. I have to disagree.

I think he and his surrogates need to stay away from it. They're not piling on. And that's more than she should expect, and definitely more than she deserves. There is no need to help her. And I gotta say, there probably is no desire to help her. I can't imagine either Barack or Michelle are happy with her comments, especially after her non-apology. It's best to let this situation just sort itself out. There is really nothing he can say that will help her. The people who are pissed aren't going to stop being pissed just because he defends her.

[DevonRex]

27. The official campaign statement was far more gracious than she

deserves. They should remain silent on the issue after that.

[remember2000forever]

29. I Agree

The Best Way To Diss Someone Is To Ignore Them. Obama was onward and upward to P.R without skipping a beat. Very Presidential In My Book.

[Schema Thing]

28. All these post suggesting *the wrong thing* is really *the right thing*

Hillary's comment was horribly wrong. Obama need not, but more than that, should not reward her or excuse it.


Nor should he, simply for expedience, reward or excuse MI and FL for their very blatant, in-your-face wrongdoing wrt to the primaries.

[dansolo]

30. He doesn't need to defend her

Just ignore her

[Vinca]

31. Obama should defend Clinton? Then what would you say -

he's implying she's weak and being sexist? Give me a break.

[The Political Jerk]

34. I am by no means a Clinton supporter

But the race is over. It's time to be nice, even when you don't have to be.

-The Political Jerk

[ericgtr]

32. Absolutely not. She made the bed again and again

She needs to be out there on her own and let this thing get pounded into her with no defense from anyone. This is the last fucking straw for me and I hope she fucking burns for it. How dare she even bring that word up, she's like a goddamned vulture waiting for something bad to happen to Obama.

[AtomicKitten]

36. No, he is ENTITLED to sit back and watch her self-inflicted implosion.

[hokies4ever]

37. You must understand that he wants to defend her

I guarantee you that Obama's campaign already has a forgiveness memo drafted and Obama has a paragraph or two to add into his next stump speech. However, they're waiting for Hillary to apologize to Obama before Obama accepts her apology publicly. It's really that simple. His campaign is waiting for Hillary to apologize to Obama so that he can accept her apology and ask people to move on the important issues. Hillary's ego and pride keep her from cooperating and she just won't apologize to him.

[tbyg52]

43. Good point.

He can't accept an apology that hasn't been offered.

[hokies4ever]

45. Agreed

And the sad thing is that everybody knows that Obama isn't going to try to make political hay on this issue. He's clearly shown that he doesn't want to tear her down over these kinds of things. As soon as Hillary apologizes to Obama he will forgive her publicly and beg everybody to come back to the issues.

[scarletwoman]

48. Very good! I wouldn't have thought of that angle -- it IS a logical tack to take. (nt)

[Liberal Veteran]

39. A part of me is inclined to think that way, but another part says to do would give Hillary....

...some foolish hope to cling to.

[TexasObserver]

40. No. He should let her deal with it, and if asked say "unfortunate comments."

[Tippy]

42. I think he should just tell his supporters " Thank You , ..........

But enough is enough I've let her coments go I pray you do too.....

[Bucky]

44. Absolutely, yes. A good leader unites. A good man forgives.

But a smart man doesn't forget.

[The Political Jerk]

51. This is it! Exactly!

-The Political Jerk

[Orsino]

46. He, at least, is smart enough to know that no threat or incitement was intended...

...and it would be gracious--even presidential--of him to squelch this non-story. He's supposed to oppose distractions, after all.

[reflection]

47. Nah, just don't pile on.

But she surely deserves to twist in the wind.

[Doityourself]

50. Nope. He shouldn't...instead being seeing as gentlemanly, he'll be seen as soft and weak...

[AngryOldDem]

52. Accept the apology, maybe. But defend what she said?

No. Hell no. Oh hell, no.

On edit: And I think this is a much more acceptable alternative. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6110908