Advisors: Hillary must force Obama into poor debate performance, go negative, encourage media attack

[jefferson_dem]

On Deadline: Chickens Come Home To Roost
By AP/RON FOURNIER

(WASHINGTON) — For years, Bill and Hillary Clinton treated the Democratic National Committee and party activists as extensions of their White House ambitions, pawns in a game of success and survival. She may pay a high price for their selfishness soon.

Top Democrats, including some inside Hillary Clinton's campaign, say many party leaders — the so-called superdelegates — won't hesitate to ditch the former New York senator for Barack Obama if her political problems persist. Their loyalty to the first couple is built on shaky ground.

<SNIP>

If (Barack) Obama continues to win .... the whole raison d'etre for her campaign falls apart and we'll see people running from her campaign like rats on a ship," said Democratic strategist Jim Duffy, who is not aligned with either campaign.

The rats started looking for clear waters when Obama won Iowa, narrowly lost New Hampshire and trounced Clinton in South Carolina before holding his own in last week's Super Tuesday contests. He won primaries in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia on Tuesday to extend his consecutive win streak to eight.

<SNIP>

Two senior Clinton advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the race candidly, said the campaign feels the New York senator needs to quickly change the dynamic by forcing Obama into a poor debate performance, going negative or encouraging the media to attack Obama. They're grasping at straws, but the advisers said they can't see any other way that her campaign will be sustainable after losing 10 in a row.

Clinton strategists are famous for poor-mouthing their own campaign in order to lower expectations, but these advisers have never played such games. They're legitimate, and legitimately worried.

<SNIP>

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1712834,00.html

[jasmine621]

1. Hillary must NEVER go negative. It's ok for others but not for her.

She is already, undeservedly slimed for being negative. She should stick to the issues, offer solutions, and let Obama do the nasty thing.

[saltpoint]

2. I'm reading Obama's book, THE AUDACITY OF HOPE. It's very, very good.

The Clnton campaign strategists have their work cut out for them.

[xultar]

3. Oh yeah, speaking on the contition of anonymity...

:rofl:

[jefferson_dem]

4. Oh yeah, denial...

:rofl:

[MethuenProgressive]

5. If Obama's a-scared of some old lady, how will he ever survive a debate with McCain?

There's a reason that Present button was Yellow.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. this race is proving what I've long suspected

The Democratic Party, and its insiders, have been waiting for a reason, ANY reason, not to support them. Now they have it.

[CoffeeCat]

13. That's exactly right...

The Clintons have manufactured an illusion of support--based on
back-door deals, intimidation and bullying.

They've used the "Hillary will be President someday, and you don't
want to be on our bad side, now do you?" ploy for a long time.

We've all read about how ruthless and sociopathic the Clintons
are when it comes to using people, casting people aside and retaliating
against people when those people don't do exactly what the Clintons
want.

We can only imagine the numbers of people who are joyful that these
thugs won't be in the White House.

[Avalux]

7. If Hillary goes negative, she's done.

She will not be able to force him into a poor debate performance; any attempt she makes to bait him by going negative is only going to make her look like a sore loser.

[tekisui]

8. Yep. It would sink her.

That may be all she has left.

[HeraldSquare212]

16. And the superdelegates will punish her for it - they don't want to see

the person who might lead the ticket they'll be running on trashed.

[Kahuna]

17. That's why she's attempting to ambush Obama by having a karl rove

produced debate on faux news. I hope he is smart enough to avoid the trap.

[Renew Deal]

9. That's pretty much what I expected.

If Hillary goes negative, Obama can justifiably call it desperation.

[Windy]

10. He does VERY well in a one on one debate with her. He has more time to make his points.

she didn't do that well against him last time!

[Dogmudgeon]

11. I think it's officially a dogpile now

Night of the Long Knives -- at lunchtime?

Ah, but Obama will learn, too. I've seen what Cockburn has bene writing this week; more will be coming, and soon.

American leftists turn on their own. Then disown them. Then kill them.

--p!

[KittyWampus]

18. OMG, who the heck cares what Cockburn says? He hates Democrats in general and success entirely.

[CoffeeCat]

Support for the Clintons is a house of cards...

It's obvious that the Clintons have treated people like pawns. They
do things for people--so that others will owe them. I think they are
really hated in Democratic circles, and this article points out that
support for them is soft, and can change.

Support for them is based on fear and retaliation, because everyone
assumed that Hillary would be President. Don't want to piss off the Queen.

They all went along, for so long. You can bet that there are thousands of
Democratic insiders hoping that Obama wins, in order to deflate these bullies.

Look what the Clintons tried to do with Obama and half of the party who supported him.
They were willing to rip him into unrecognizable shreds and dispirit half of the
party. What the hell did they care? Anything to win.

The Clintons tried to sell voters on her "inevitability". That's soft support
and it's not based on anything real. The Clintons tried to leverage Dem insiders
by using their ability to destroy or reward people--as an intimidation tactic.

She's losing. So neither of these flimsy strategies work.

It's a house of cards, falling apart before our eyes.

Serves them right.

[samrock]

12. I disagree

As a Hillary supporter.. I want her to just try and shine in the debates use her knowledge and experience to SHOW the country she would do a better job as President.. Any negative attacks at this late in the game stage would just bounce back on her.. She has to hope Obama is not at the top of his game and makes some gaffs ( I would be surprised if he does, but shrug.. thats why ya play the game).... Beating the Republicans and erasing the last 8 years of HELL is what this is ALL about.. Hillary needs to convince the voters in the primary states yet to come that she is a better choice to do that..

[stillcool]

14. Why go negative now?

Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama Ad to Nazi March
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080201/cm_thenation/45278988_1
Fri Feb 1, 2:23 PM ET

The Nation -- On a media conference call organized by the Hillary Clinton campaign today, Clinton surrogate Len Nichols compared an Obama health care ad to Nazis. The ad features a couple at a kitchen table, which some Clinton supporters said was reminiscent of "the famous insurance-industry-financed 'Harry and Louise' ads against the original Clinton plan," as The Politico reports, and Mr. Nichols said it "personally outraged" him.


Accusing political opponents of Nazism is an outrageous smear. Raising the specter of a Nazi march in response to a health care mailer that evokes the insurance industry is so absurd, it would be hard to take the attack seriously, were it not launched from a high profile national campaign conference call in this crucial stretch of the presidential race. And political observers know, of course, that the Clinton Campaign regularly arranges opportunities for surrogates to launch these kind of smears, which are later followed up with apologies. (See: Bob Johnson, Bill Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, and Francine Torge, to name the most recent offenders.) For his part, Nichols did not immediately return a call requesting further comment.
-------------------------
Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program, stated, "For nearly 17 years I have worked tirelessly to reform our nation's struggling health system. Today my passion overwhelmed me. I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused. I made unfortunate comments that do not accurately reflect my bipartisan conviction, political philosophy, or most importantly, my opinions about Senator Obama and his historic campaign for the United States presidency."

Clinton adviser steps down after drug use comments
Earlier Thursday, Clinton personally apologized to rival Obama for Shaheen's remarks.
Obama accepted her apology, according to David Axelrod, the top political strategist for the Obama campaign.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/clinton.obama/index.html

January 6, 2008, 5:18 pm
Edwards: No Conscience in Clinton Campaign
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/edwards-no-conscience-in-clinton-campaign/
By Julie Bosman
KEENE, N.H. – John Edwards angrily took on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at two news conferences in a row on Sunday, saying that her campaign “doesn’t seem to have a conscience.”

COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama, for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.

Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-johnson-apology_N.htm?csp=34

December 10, 2007
Third Clinton Volunteer Knew Of Smear E-Mail

A third volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign was aware of a propaganda e-mail alleging that Barack Obama is a Muslim who plans on "destroying the U.S. from the inside out."

"Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential Candidacy," the email reads. "Please forward to everyone you know. The Muslims have said they Plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at The highest level."

Two Clinton volunteers, Linda Olson and Judy Rose, have already been asked to resign from the campaign for their roles in forwarding the e-mail. The AP reported yesterday that Olson, a volunteer coordinator in Iowa County, sent a version of the e-mail to 11 people, including Ben Young, a regional field director for Chris Dodd's campaign. Young passed it on to the AP.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/hillary_adviser_harold_ickes_t.php

Hillary: Sorry for Any Offense Campaign (Bill) Has Caused
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB65wJ6Rcfs

Bill Clinton Asks for a Second Chance
By Liz Halloran
Posted February 11, 2008

The morning after his wife, Hillary, was routed in three state contests by Sen. Barack Obama in their dead-heat battle for the Democratic nomination, former President Bill Clinton made his case for her before a packed Sunday service at one of the largest black churches in Washington, D.C.
But first he offered an apology of sorts for racially tinged comments he made about Obama and his candidacy that have triggered a backlash in the black community and among many other Democrats.

Clinton invoked his "worship of a God of second chances" in pronouncing himself glad to be at the Temple of Praise, which claims nearly 15,000 members. His invocation of second chances echoed comments he made early last week at black churches in California, where he campaigned for his wife before that state's Super Tuesday primary, which she won.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/02/11/bill-clinton-asks-for-a-second-chance.html

Bill Clinton To Apologize At LA Black Churches
Once again, Bill Clinton is ready to repent.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/02/bill-clinton-to-apologize_n_84573.html
On Sunday the former president is scheduled to visit black churches in South Central Los Angeles, where he's expected to offer a mea culpa to those who "dearly loved him" when he was their president, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) says.

Watson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), tells us she'll usher the former president to more than half a dozen churches in her district where she says he needs to "renew his relationship" with congregants who were turned off by his racially tinged comments in the days leading up to and following the South Carolina primary. (Such as when Clinton compared Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory to Jesse Jackson's wins in 1984 and 1988.)

Source: Hillary Adviser Harold Ickes Tells Surrogates To Refer To Super-Delegates As "Automatic Delegates"
By Greg Sargent - February 12, 2008, 11:43AM

In a sign that the spin war over the significance of super-delegates is underway in earnest, Harold Ickes told assorted Hillary supporters on a private conference call yesterday that the campaign wants them to start referring to super-delegates as "automatic delegates," according to someone on the call.

The person I spoke to paraphrases Ickes, who is spearheading Hillary's super-delegate hunt, this way: "We're no longer using the phrase super delegates. It creates a wrong impression. They're called automatic delegates. Because that's what they are."

The worry appears to be that the phrase "super-delegates" implies that "they have super-powers or super influence when they don't," the source says, describing Ickes' thinking. In other words, the phrase suggests that they have greater than average clout and that they have the power to overrule the democratic process, giving it the taint of back-room power politics
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/hillary_adviser_harold_ickes_t.php

[snooper2]

15. Very interesting article, thanks for posting...

The last part:

"I would make the assumption that the ... superdelegates she has now are the Clintons' loyal base. A superdelegate who is uncommitted today is clearly going to wait and see how this plays out. She's at her zenith now," Duffy said. "Whatever political capital or IOUs that exist, she's already collected."

Few Democrats want to cross the Clintons when they're on top. But how many are willing to stand by them when they're down? "



It's going to take a lot more than Clap Clap Point Point .....

[calmblueocean]

19. I'm glad Hil's going negative. Obama needs to go through fire before he gets the nom.

Seriously. I think Obama's got great potential, but McCain and the GOP aren't going to run a campaign based on hugs. Let Hillary make the points about Obama's lack of executive and foreign policy experience that the Repubs are going to make. I believe Obama will be able to handle it, and if he can't, he shouldn't be our nominee.

[mtnester]

20. He has no IDEA what is coming down the road

this primary stuff is tame....tame I tell you compared the the steaming piles the 527 Repuke minions are readying for WHOMEVER the nom is.

And for the record, I am UNDECIDED as of yet..my drop dead date to decide is March 4..specifically at about 4:00 PM that day.

[calmblueocean]

23. I know.

Obama has been saying that beating the "Clinton machine" should prove he's ready for whatever the Republicans throw at him. Sometimes, I think he must be just playing with the media, other times I think he actually believes it. Hillary has been pointing out lately that Obama has never had a negative ad run against him. Obama simply hasn't been fully vetted yet, and there's a real chance that he has feet of clay. The primaries are supposed to expose weaknesses before they come out in the general, so I want Hillary to hit Obama hard, to avoid any nasty surprises down the road.

[Yael]

22. As an Obama supporter -- I agree with you

She goes negative and she becomes the sacrificial lamb. Her run is over.

On the flip side, knowing the Clintons won't go down without a fight -- they will drag anything and everything they can get their hands on into this thing. That way it is out and in the open and vetted before the fall.

I approve.

[Yael]

21. The challenge is that the Clintons don't know how to lose

If they go down, they are going to take everything and the kitchen sink with them.