Why does Obama suck up to Hillary in debates and doesn't call her the Senator from Punjab?

[Herman Munster]

Why does he resort to anoymous hit pieces and not call out Hillary in debates? Is it because he's afraid of turning off the people he's fooled into thinking he's a different politican practicing a new kind of politics?

[napi21]

1. I think he's hoping for a VP spot. n/t

[Herman Munster]

3. well news to Obama

you keep this amatuer hour shit up and Hillary will pick Richardson over VP. He's an adult.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

5. There will never be a Clinton-Obama or Obama-Clinton ticket

I know many DLC'ers dream of that ticket, and others think it is possible, but let's be realistic. There is no way the Dems are going to go for two "firsts" at once.

[sandrakae]

2. He is running for VP.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

4. Exactly. He is artfully playing the "old politics" well

Having your lemmings do your dirty work while you maintain your carefully crafted "above the fray" image via public disavowals of your aides' dirty work is a classic "old politics" tactic. People need to wake up. Obama is a skillful practitioner of "old politics." The guy has some strong points. He was against the war in 2002. He is a great orator. He is very charismatic. But let's put aside the hero worship and mythology. He is a regular politician. His "unity" theme is a fraud. Remember the old saying: Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice, shame on me! He is taking a page straight out of the Rove playbook. Remember? "I am a uniter, not a divider." "I will change the tone in Washington." How can anyone be blind enough to not see where Obama lifted his core theme from? Obama is practically plagiarizing the phrases straight from Rove (he changes it to something like "focus on what unites us, not what divides us" and "The ways of Washington must change."). :eyes: He is not dumb. Obama knows what Rove knew. "Unity" sells. People lap it up until the realities of governing set in. Even Obama himself does zilch on controversial issues in the senate to practice what he preaches.

[ShortnFiery]

6. No, through and through, Obama is a class act. HRC has no more experience ..

Being the spouse of The President is NOT something to add to a resume any more than 18 years as an Marine Wife makes me qualified to lead a Battalion.

HRC can't have it both ways, i.e., claim to be a feminist yet tout "my husband" with every other breath. :thumbsdown:

I like Obama because he definitely has control over his reactions and is a person who does not place himself on a pedestal.

I really like his wife "keeping him humble." It reminded me of a time when my husband's contingent was able to snag first class tickets and I quipped, "Don't get carried away your highness, it's only a week until you return to the cottage." :rofl:

[ElizabethDC]

7. I think, given her involvement in policy, etc, she was more than just the spouse of the president nt

[ShortnFiery]

8. "involvement in policy" = milking all her husband's influences on the QT.

How classically Clinton-esque. :eyes:

[ElizabethDC]

9. No, if you do some reading about the Clinton presidency,

I think you'll find she was pretty influential in his decision-making process, especially with regard to domestic policy. She was very heavily involved at first (heath care is an obvious one) but eventually moved more into the background but continued to advise him.

[ShortnFiery]

10. Well that's just F**king Scary. I didn't elect HER!

On a similar note, in the past, I've often assisted my Marine Officer husband with regard to counseling his detachment troops and spouses (one on one) on matters regarding financial planning, yet DAMN, he would not let me Command the Detachment. :eyes:

Again, HRC can't have it BOTH ways. You'd be hard pressed for many Americans who would truly root for a Co-Presidency, much less the continuation of the Bush-Clinton Dynastic Rotation. :(

[ElizabethDC]

12. Well, she wasn't calling the shots or anything

And I never claimed that she was. I think her role would be best described as adviser. One doesn't elect the president's advisers. There are some good books out there that might help you better understand her role - she was influential, but he was still the President.

[ShortnFiery]

14. OK, was she drawing a paycheck? Above the level of his secretary and below that of Chief of Staff?

No, a spouse is a *cherished partner* in any successful marriage, in that, they bring out the best in THE LEADER (his/her spouse). However, this is an aside like "earning a black belt" that is normally added toward the bottom of one's resume. It's important but not DIRECTLY involved with actual leadership of the post at hand, i.e., you are married to the boss. :(

[ElizabethDC]

15. It was a unique situation

The first lady cannot draw a paycheck. Apparently, she had been considered for the role of Chief of Staff, but it was decided that she shouldn't because it wouldn't look right.

One doesn't have to draw a paycheck to serve the role as adviser - I'd say her role was similar to that of other advisers who *did* draw paychecks.

[ShortnFiery]

16. OMG, I didn't know about the Chief of Staff! No way, I didn't like JFK hiring Bobby and

I believe MOST Americans are sick and tired of what's been termed *nepotism on steroids* that has permeated through both The Legislative and Executive Branch.

No. Thank Goodness Michelle Obama won't be angling for Chief of Staff. That is another data point suggesting that HRC's ambitions know NO bounds. :(

What's next, are they going to yank Chelsea out of Hedge Funds to run the Treasury? :crazy:

[ElizabethDC]

19. The bottom line is that they didn't do it because they know it would be nepotism

IIRC, Hillary wanted the job, but Bill wasn't particularly for it. But I could be remembering that incorrectly. I'm not sure if it was seriously considered, anyway. There really are some good books out there about the Clinton presidency. You should look into some of them.

Additionally, Hillary has said she wouldn't appoint Bill Sec. of State b/c of nepotism issues - so I think they'll stay away from that kind of thing.

[ShortnFiery]

24. "Hillary wanted the job" ... that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

That much ambition from "the spouse" of a powerful leader is NOT altogether a good thing. :scared: :(

[ElizabethDC]

26. An ambitious spouse is a bad thing?

Well, knock me over with a feather. You're this bent out of shape because she wanted to be Cheif of Staff (and I'm not even sure she really wanted it - I'll have to check one of my books to see who it was.)

[ShortnFiery]

28. An ambitious spouse who COMPETES within the same office is horrific for morale. n/t

[draft_mario_cuomo]

11. Being deceptive in your attacks is classy?

Obama needs to realize this is the big leagues. He can't play a cute game of having his aides savagely attack the Clintons below the belt (let's hope the Big Dog responds to Obama...) and then continue to pimp his above the fray, "new kind of politics", classy, etc. image.

If he wants to criticize HRC he should be honest enough to do so publicly. As the thread notes, why is he deferential to her before the cameras while doing the complete opposite when the cameras are not rolling?

==HRC can't have it both ways, i.e., claim to be a feminist yet tout "my husband" with every other breath. :thumbsdown:==

Fair enough. Let's apply that logic to Obama, though. He cannot rhetorically vilify political tactics that he himself uses.

[ShortnFiery]

13. Interesting that you choose the word "pimp"? Freudian slip associated with men of color?

Gosh you folks crack me up. :rofl:

First of all, I don't accept your accusations about Obama's covert behavior. Do you have PI shots or some other scoop? NO?

I can not buy into your basic premise that Obama is being "all kinds of nasty" behind the scenes. He does not come across in any way, shape or form as mean spirited. Nope, not buying into it. :hi:

[Herman Munster]

17. like any good snakeoils salesman

obama has you fooled and deluded into his fraudulent campaign.

[ShortnFiery]

22. All the smoke and mirrors are from the well orchestrated DLC machine kicking into high gear.

The M$M is banking on the sheer arrogance that they can blow smoke up us Average American's a**es enough to make HRC the Democratic Nominee.

The DLC insists that HRC's already been anointed with lists of supporters who have been "promised positions or funds" should HRC get elected.

I hope and pray that both the DLC and M$M are profoundly disappointed.

Time will tell. ;)

[draft_mario_cuomo]

31. The DLC is running Obama's campaign (and forcing it to race-bait and make vicious attacks)?

Well, perhaps they are given the few positions Obama has actually taken... ;)

[NYCGirl]

33. I think that was referring to this lady standing between Tom Carper and Al From:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

40. HRC is an Obama campaign aide who writes attack memos for him against her?

;) Obama has only his audacity to blame for this. He actually thought he could preach one thing and practice another while hiding behind campaign staffers...

[draft_mario_cuomo]

30. Um...I am a man of color (albeit the wrong color according to the race-baiting Obama campaign)

The convenient use of race by the Obama camp cracks me up. :rofl:

==He does not come across in any way, shape or form as mean spirited. Nope, not buying into it.==

Another faith-based initiative in Obamaland.

[ShortnFiery]

38. So you admit the connection may have been a freudian slip?

Sometimes we all learn more about ourselves through such dialog. :shrug:

[Herman Munster]

18. I'm still waiting for answers to my questions

All I'm getting is Clinton bashing and Obama hero worship.

Where are the answers to my questions about Obama's hypocrisy?

[jefferson_dem]

25. Here.

Hillary sucks worse? :shrug:

[Herman Munster]

32. oh this is so intelligent coming from an obama supporter

Obama can be a hypocrite because "Hillary sucks worse." Hell, you should call the Obama campaign, I just think with your stellar deductive reasoning you are qualified to be his campaign manager.

[jefferson_dem]

35. Lighten up, Herman. It was meant as a joke, ya big lug.

:bounce:

[illinoisprogressive]

20. hillary began getting nasty and obama is just showing her that he can get nasty too

maybe if hillary learned to restrain herself from tired old 90s style politics of nasty then obama would not have to go negative on her. She threw the dirt first and he is just warning her that he can throw a hard elbow back.

[ElizabethDC]

21. Which dirt did she throw?

Can you cite some specifics?

[Herman Munster]

23. I am getting sick of your baseless comments

I have asked you time and time again to back up your accusations and what do I hear from you illinoisprogressive?

SILENECE

[Fearless]

27. Jeez...

You'll find that those who most likely to get elected are those who are attacked the most. But we MUST remember that once the primary is over not to harbor resentful feelings to the candidate or to their running mate. To do this is to elect another Republican. So everyone cool your jets and vote for who you want and get it over with. Infighting will be the downfall of us all.

[Herman Munster]

29. I refuse to put up with people trashing her without proof.

Pulling something out of your ass is not proof. I suggest you don't post in this forum if the in-fighting bothers you.

[Fearless]

34. Zzzzzzz....

Fine then, if what you think is best is to try to topple all candidates because of your love-affair of Hillary then I'm not going to stop you. Furthermore, anything anyone says you'll say they're pulling from their ass, so arguing with you is inconsequential. I could say that she voted for the war and refuses to admit she was wrong and that in refusing to admit her wrongs she is in the same boat as the current administration. I could say that the only reason she's even running is because of the Clinton name. I could say that she wouldn't have won the NY Senate race if it weren't for her name. I could say that she wouldn't have had as much success up to this point if she had divorced Bill. I could say she is a political parasite doing only things to further her cause and forgetting completely about the reason we run for political office, the people. I "could" but it would be pointless because I'm just pulling things out of my ass. Maybe if you don't like keeping a civil tone YOU shouldn't post at all.

[Herman Munster]

36. ha ha ha

Have you seen the amount of vile shit spewed against Hillary on this forum the last few months? Give me a break. If the anti-Hillary people can't take a little tit-for-tat, then they shouldn't be posting their vile invective.

[Fearless]

37. Yes,

like I said, the people who are most likely to win will take the most heat, it's just the way politics works.

[zulchzulu]

39. Obama will not be the candidate you want him to be...

...an asshole.

There are others running that do that very well.

As for your lame thread title, it was obviously what they would call masturbatory conjecture. Nicely played, nicely played.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

41. "There are others running that do that very well."

Yeah, apparently his aides... Of course Obama himself didn't know about it! :sarcasm:

[zulchzulu]

42. Can you debunk what was in the memo?

Didn't think you could...

:yawn:

[Colobo]

43. Someone has been added to my ignore list

I can't stand trolls.