The "politics of hope" does NOT mean "let your opponent win"

[jenmito]

So Hillary challenges Obama to run a positive campaign, asking whatever happened to "the politics of hope"? Obama has every right to hit Hillary on legitimate issues such as transparency re: her "experience" as first lady and her "sudden" wealth/ability to loan themselves $5 million, their tax returns, etc. A "negative" campaign would be doing things like Hillary's doing-lying about the NAFTA thing, implying he MIGHT be a Muslim ("as far as she knows" he's not, when she knows very well he's a Christian), saying the REPUB. has "met the CIC threshhold" while Obama has a speech (and no experience), etc. But Obama has EVERY right to retain his "politics of hope" aura while trying to win the nomination by beating his opponent with fair criticism.

[flpoljunkie]

1. "Hope" is about changing way things work in Washington--not electing Clintons for more of the same!

[jenmito]

2. Exactly. And he has to fight to GET there. He never promised to let Hillary walk all over him. n/t

[elixir]

3. Since when is HRC lending $5M to her campaign an issue. The Clintons are loaded (so is Obama) and

she did what she needed to do to jump start the money and keep in the race.

Your candidate is all glitz and glory w/out the political backbone to get in the fight. Good luck with that one.


Rookie.

[jenmito]

5. The Clintons were in debt with all the legal fees and other things. Now they're worth 10s of

millions of dollars. And the Obamas are not loaded. They're only worth just over $1 million. Obama has 20 years of experience. And he's not secretive like his opponent.

[elixir]

11. Apparently he has a problem disclosing the full story on Rezko's donations...

[jenmito]

13. Apparently you have a problem with the FACTS. You said false things and just ignored the

facts.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Why is Hillary so afraid to release her 05 and 06 tax returns? Obama released his.

And no, Obama isn't loaded.

Hill and Bill are multi millionares, based on the scant information she has so far released.

[elixir]

10. And that has what to do with her $5M loan to her campaign?

[wndycty]

4. Exactly, and here is a tape of Clinton's crybabies call

http://i.timeinc.net/time/2008/thepage/ClintonCall_030708.mp3

[jenmito]

6. I know. What faux outrage.

And Obama's called "Ken Starr." :eyes:

[ellacott]

8. I agree

Defending yourself and hitting back does not negate the politics of hope.

It's amazing to see people use this twisted logic.

[jenmito]

9. Thank you...

Exactly! :hi:

[kentuck]

12. You make excellent points, but...

It is important that Obama draw a distinction between himself and politics as usual. As much as he would like to go negative in response, it is to his advantage to stay positive and inspiring and try to unite the country.

[jenmito]

15. Thanks, but...

he can't let Hillary walk all over him without responding and bringing up LEGITIMATE questions about his opponent. He can remain above the fray while doing this.

[kentuck]

17. There is more than one way to skin a cat...

He should use humor. I suggested on another post that he get a new theme song to replace Stevie Wonder, maybe something about a telephone call? He can be very disarming with his humor. Going negative will not help him at all.

[jenmito]

18. I agree. And he DOES use humor. But it's not going negative to ask for her tax

returns or other records. He HAS to question her on things like that or she gets away with sooo much that the REPUBS. would get her on.

[kentuck]

20. But he can even do that in a humorous way...

Perhaps say something like, "I hear that Hillary is going to owe taxes this year? Maybe she can get one of those paycheck advances that are so popular today?"

[jenmito]

21. Yeah, but that's not really putting any pressure on her to release them.

He's great at using humor to hit her, but he needs to demand a few things from her or he'll be seen as wimpy and unable to fight the Repubs.

[anonymous171]

14. This is the trap Clinton was trying to set for Obama

First bait him into going negative, then say "What about the politics of hope?"
He didn't fall for it. He's not smearing her, he's scrutinizing aspects of her platform that no one bothered to question.

[jenmito]

16. I agree...

And it's absolutely legit for him to go after the things he's going after, like disclosing her financial records, old WH records as first lady, etc. As a matter of fact, I think a lot of people are thinking it's about time!

[anonymous171]

19. As long as he doesn't go hypernuclear, I'm sure he'll come out OK.