"Senator Obama has, in fact, never had a serious Republican challenger."

[MethuenProgressive]

"Senator Obama has, in fact, never had a serious Republican challenger."
Hillary Clinton on Monday, February 11th, 2008

Obama's real competition has been Democrats
Trying to cast Sen. Barack Obama as untested in general elections, Sen. Hillary Clinton pollster Mark Penn asserted during a Feb. 11 conference call with reporters that the first-term Illinois senator has "never had a serious Republican challenger."

Critics have frequently tried to hang the "short on experience" rap on Obama, but in this instance, Penn is correct.

Obama's toughest battles at the state and national level have been in Democratic primaries. As a community organizer and civil rights lawyer on Chicago's South Side, Obama won his first political race in 1996 by successfully challenging the nominating petitions of four primary rivals in the overwhelmingly Democratic 13th Senate district. He faced no Republican opposition.
In 2000, Obama made his first run for Congress by challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush in a primary but got trounced, finishing with just 31 percent of the vote, compared to Rush's 61 percent.

Four years later, Obama found himself on an unexpectedly easy path to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Peter G. Fitzgerald. First, Republican multimillionaire front-runner Jack Ryan dropped out of the race amid allegations he pressured his wife to go to sex clubs. The GOP, desparate for a quick replacement, turned to social conservative Alan L. Keyes, who moved from Maryland to Illinois for the race.
Obama wound up capturing 70 percent of the vote, buoyed by the national exposure he received from delivering the keynote speech for presidential nominee John Kerry at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Because Obama has faced only token Republican opposition, when he's faced any at all, we deem this claim to be True.

[muck17]

1. true, he probably would've lost to Ryan had that scandle not hit

I could've beaten Alan Keyes

[Alexander]

Not true. Obama was 20% ahead before Ryan's scandal.

[elixir]

57. Link, please.

[LoZoccolo]

68. Actually he's right, Obama was never below 60%.

Peter Fitzgerald didn't run for re-election because he thought it was too hard to get elected as a Republican.

[jackson_dem]

56. He would have lost the primary if a scandal didn't take down the front runner

The "inspiring", "charismatic", second coming of Lincoln/JFK/MLK/RFK/Reagan/Wellstone got crushed bu Rush 61-31 then needed two scandals to win his senate seat. Two years later he would become the greatest politician ever...Who is writing this play folks? Who benefits?

[skooooo]

2. So there won't be anything different in November!

What's the problem?

:shrug:

[ingac70]

6. I know thats right! n/t.

[DJ13]

3. And what "serious challenge" did Hillary face in winning?

:rofl:

[Happyhippychick]

You mean Alan Keys isn't a serious Republican challenger??

:rofl:

[ingac70]

4. Neither has Hillary. n/t.

[dorktv]

21. Senator Clinton did have opposition from Mayor Guiliani however

he dropped out due to medical issues. And even with her lackluster final opponent, she still worked hard to campaign upstate when no one had.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14248928
'That's certainly true when it comes to Nancy Saucier, a waitress at a restaurant in Plattsburgh. Saucier is a Republican. She voted twice for President Bush and did not support Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign — she found the former first lady "too showy." Nevertheless, Saucier said that as a senator, Clinton has brought money to Clinton County and made people feel as if she cares.

"This is a little town," Saucier said. "It's not what you call a city, like Albany. And she came here .... I think you got to know her more personally. That's how the city has felt, also. And she speaks very well, she smiles, she's friendly and she has good looks for a woman."'


Just as those who bash Senator Obama for his lack of experience and ignore his very real ability to inspire people, those who bash Senator Clinton for her faults should acknowledge that she is NOT the media's portrait of her.

[bigbrother05]

55. Rudy never got off the ground

He was not a factor at all. At least Obama had to face competition if only in the primaries. Hillary has pretty much gotten a free pass so far.

[dorktv]

61. Well that is not how my Republican friends describe it. *shrugs*

[Alexander]

5. And Hillary has? Rick Lazio was a joke.

[nonconformist]

14. Hillary has been fighting the right-wing for a very, very long time.

They've been trying to destroy her, personally, since before Bill even took office.

That she had enough support to even run for Senator speaks VOLUMES.

[ingac70]

19. In New York? you are kidding, right?

She went there because she knew it was a sure thing. No way she'd be a Senator from Arkansas.

[shrdlu]

31. I'd say that after sampling the large life...

...Hill and Bill were not about to move back to Little Rock or Fayetteville.

[Fredda Weinberg]

34. An office in Harlem and a modest plot upstate is not high life. I see nothing

in the Hamptons or the city life. Please, learn your geography.

[XemaSab]

7. Until Hillary came along.

:hide:

[ingac70]

9. ....

:rofl:

[southern_dem]

47. game, set, match

:rofl:

[Andy823]

49. Oh, that was a good one!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. As opposed to Hillary's opponents -- Rick Lazio and John Spencer.

True titans of the political world. :rofl:

[nonconformist]

18. You know as well as I do that the right wing has been attacking her for YEARS

Viciously, for years. Or did you sleep through the 90's? Her opposition transcends just her opponent on the ticket. To say otherwise is completely disingenuous.

Isn't this the same argument Obama supporters make to say that she can't win the GE? Now, she's not faced any serious battles from the right-wing? Talk about a 180.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

23. The OP was about Republican challengers...

As in "elections."

The Republicans attacking her in the '90s weren't running against her.

You can hitch the '90s attacks onto her political success if you want, but don't expect people to not knock you for it.

[nonconformist]

25. But it's a pattern.

She's proven that she can stand up to their attacks and still win. Hillary Clinton is one of the most vilified people by the right. Yet, she still has amazing support. That speaks volumes of her ability to triumph over them. She knows full well what the right is capable of, and she knows how to beat them.

Obama just doesn't have that kind of history. The only thing you can use to compare is his opposition in elections.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

27. Both Hillary and Obama have never faced serious Republicans.

Rick Lazio and John Spencer rate on the electability scale about as much as Alan Keyes.

I don't think her "standing up to their attacks" (what was she going to do in the '90s, quit as First Lady?) affected her political chances.

She won because she's a Democrat with high name recognition in a blue state.

[Fredda Weinberg]

35. HRC took the traditional GOP seat. That's a fact. n/t

[tammywammy]

44. She took Moynihan's seat, not a republican

[Fredda Weinberg]

52. Schumer beat D'Amato, who'd taken Javits seat ... maybe you gotta live here n/t

[bvar22]

43. Stood up and WON?

When did she Stand Up and WIN against the Republicans?

In fact, when has she STOOD UP against the Republicans?

Sometimes, she votes with the Democrats. There were some REAL dogfights in the Senate the last 7 years, and Hillary was absent or voting with the Republicans when the Party could have used her support. (Alito, Roberts, IWR, Patriot Act....)

Hillary has proved she can take a punch, but I've never seen her FIGHT back against the Republicans....much less actually Stand Up for something against the Republicans and WIN.

Most of the time, Hillary goes along to get along. (SEE: IWR)




Maybe I've forgotten some fameous Hillary fights in the Senate.
Refresh my memory where she STOOD UP and led the Charge.

[stillcool]

63. I'm not understanding how...

her battles as first lady, translate to how she would handle opposition as a candidate for the Presidency. How is that comparable? And who won those battles? And, if she handles adversity so well, why the tone and content of this campaign

"I'm sorry"
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

[stellanoir]

10. and Lazio was serious. . .how?

sheesh

[grantcart]

11. And here is why

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/

If you completely change the political landscape in a city by adding hundreds of thousands of voters to the rolls then the opposition has the good sense to stay home. Hopefully with Obama at the head of the ticket we will use those same skills add 10 million to the rolls, make many red states blue and every state competitive and change the national political landscape forever.

[stray cat]

12. He seems to be doing pretty well about a kinda serious democratic challenger

[earthlover]

41. Yup...if Hillary is such a better campaigner, why is Obama beating Hillary?

Desperation from the Hillary Herd....

[jackson_dem]

58. Why did Obama suck politically without the msm?

Now he is the greatest politician ever? Please...he is to the corporations and the media what Chester Arthur was to the New York machine and Roscoe Conkling...

[earthlover]

69. where would hillary have been without the msm? they annointed her the front runner

for 08 before 04 was even over!

But in spite of this, Obama has been able to fight against all odds and now he is the front runner.

So, again, if Hillary is such a good campaigner....with all the media attention and annointment as the front runner....why is she behind Obama now? He's not the best ever, but has done a whale of a lot better at campaigning than Hillary.

[Radical Activist]

13. Oops. They skipped the very serious Democratic primary for US Senate.

Obama was the underdog and defeated two very strong challengers. Chicago is the big league of politics. He's tested.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. He faced Republicans in the Democratic Primary?

:popcorn:

[TomClash]

36. Hillary faced Rick Lazio

:freak:

[MethuenProgressive]

71. OK

:kick:

[jackson_dem]

59. He won only because a scandal took down the front runner

I guess the greatest politician ever wasn't "inspiring" enough four years ago. What a difference the msm can make...

[bowens43]

15. blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

[thevoiceofreason]

17. Yawn -- "Now where is that hide thread button?"

[QC]

26. Have you tried putting your fingers in your ears and chanting LALALALALALA?

[BenDavid]

20. First, the national media failed to evaluate Obama's phony track

record in Illinois politics. Apart from his first campaign for the state senate, when he used truly nasty tactics, Obama had never been one to fight for victory. He was always the candidate offering himself for coronation.

It's pathetic the way Obama has returned, time and time again, to his 2002 speech against the war in Iraq. It was Obama's security blanket. His sense of entitlement because of that speech was overwhelming.What has Obama done since then? Precious little. He never really moved beyond 2002. He thought being right on the war in 2002 was a ticket to the White House. What conceit. What incompetence. What self-absorption. I too was also 'right- on the war in Iraq, but I don't for a moment believe that as a result I am entitled to a seat in the U. S. Senate.

Obama is a fundamentally immature man who had been spoon fed by the white establishment that anointed him as their African-American champion. Obama had no credible professional record. He was slavish in prostrating himself to the sleaziest elements of Chicago and Illinois politics. His sole claim to fame was his glibness and his invented ethnic heritage.

What made Obama's rise to national prominence ludicrous is that Chicago is something of a Mecca for African-American advancement and accomplishment. There are outstanding lawyers, business persons and others who have accomplished muchon their own. People who have not sold out to politically-connected law firms and crooked politicians. Who have not been advanced by sleazy public officials. Or manqué billionaires. And yet out of this cornucopia of African-American achievement and merit, it was Obama that the establishment chose to promote to the national platform. But he is hollow. And weak.

Obama may have tens of million of dollars in the bank. But he is bankrupt as a serious candidate for president. Like Cubs fans in Chicago, Obama's sycophants will have to wait until 2012. Maybe never.

NEWS FROM:
ANDY MARTIN
Executive Editor
ContrarianCommentary

[jackson_dem]

60. He was right on the 2002 speech being a golden ticket

Without it he would still be "present" in Illinois.

[JimGinPA]

22. Hillary Was The Carpetbagger Spouse Of An Ex-President...

If Ghouliani hadn't dropped out of the race because of his prostrate she might have lost her FIRST election.


:rofl:

[Fredda Weinberg]

24. The laugh's on you ... we all knew Rudy used his disease as an

excuse. He's chicken.

[JimGinPA]

29. "Perhaps you had clairvoyance then, and that’s extraordinary.”

:spank:

[Fredda Weinberg]

33. You wish. In fact, you just had 2 be here. We have a Big Apple media

and the sharpest wags since the Algonquin Round Table. W00t!

[QC]

28. Maybe he can get McCain's petitions disqualified! n/t

[formernaderite]

30. obviously the obama team took Ryan out

who else would have had his divorce documents unsealed. Before anyone jumps on me...unfortunately when you go up against the repubs...THAT is what you have to do.

[ingac70]

32. The Chicago Tribune...

and a TV station in Chicago sued to unseal the divorce documents.

[Ediacara]

37. Obama is in the Senate because Star Trek Voyager needed to be sexy

[u2spirit]

38. And he still won't if he wins the nomination

McCain is not going to beat either of our party's candidates.

[jgraz]

39. Well, he's running against Hillary. Doesn't that count?

:hide:

[u2spirit]

40. Good one!

Perfect Snark

[rodeodance]

66. its evolving

[chyjo]

42. Does Hillary consider Rick Lazio to be really tough competition?

n/t

[Alexander]

45. If so, it explains why she's losing now to Obama.

[flyarm]

46. even Alan Keyes daughter said she would not vote for her father in

that so called race.

Keyes daughter is a Lesbian and Alan Keyes hates gays.

fly

[Alexander]

48. Hillary's inital 2000 opponent was Rudy, whose daughter supports Obama.

I didn't know a candidate's relationship with their offspring determines how serious they are. :shrug:

Alan Keyes is a joke, but not because of his daughter.

[flyarm]

51. in the race against Obama ..Keyes daughter became a main talking point for

the election..i know, i watched the race closely..if you had you would have known that.

fly

[Alexander]

65. Keyes wasn't going to win no matter what his daughter said.

I know. I watched the race closely. If you had, you would have known that.

:rofl:

[TreasonousBastard]

50. Damn! We're gonna lose if...

we keep listening to this kind of shit.

[Fredda Weinberg]

53. You think listening is our problem? Hardly n/t

[jackson_dem]

54. He lost by 30 points to Rush. Now he is the second coming, inspiring, charming? How did this happen?

Something is rotten in Denmark...

[Johnny__Motown]

62. No republican was willing to run against him, they had to import Keyes, what a joke

[Political Heretic]

64. Will you please link what you are quoting?

[NoodleyAppendage]

67. Yes, he has. He's running against a DINO/DLC faux democrat pseudo-Repuke right now. n/t

J

[Kahuna]

70. Neither has Hillary. nt