Hillary's tearing Obama supporters apart

[Onlooker]

The most interesting thing about Clinton's strategy is that she's holding her own or maybe even making some small gains, but she's putting the Obama supporters into a frenzy. She's calculating correctly that most Obama supporters will vote for her if she ends up being the nominee. I know I will vote for her over McCain, but I'd probably even vote for Bush over McCain, who I think is mentally unbalanced. I think 99% of the Obama and Clinton supporters will back the Democratic nominee once McCain is properly framed.

Clinton is obviously using a desperation strategy, and she has every right to do that. If Obama is the last one standing, it will be a testament to his strength, his campaign, and his ability to lead the nation. If he loses, then it will be a testament to the toughness of Clinton and her campaign, and that's not a bad thing either. She may be less principled than Obama, but let's not forget our last truly principled president was Jimmy Carter, who was largely ineffective.

The fact that Clinton is making many Obama supporters freak out is a bit of an embarrassment. I am a strong supporter of his, but fail to see what good letting Clinton tear us apart does us any good. The anger in DU is alienating, and there are many Obama supporters like me who object to the tone of other Obama supporters. (Also, see for instance, http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/04/14/obama_supporters/)

Also, none of us know how this will play out. Clinton's attacks are surely complicating the Republican's plans by making it more difficult for them to spring surprises on the American people (e.g., about Rezko or Wright), and Obama's ability to fend off attacks is nothing short of remarkable. Plus, thanks to Hillary by the time the GE is underway, Obama and his campaign will be very seasoned and ready for primetime.

My only worry is that if the race goes to the Convention, there will be an iconic photo of a young male Obama supporter shouting down an elderly female Clinton supporter. The media would love that. Obama supporters should stop acting like idiots, and start acting like victors by showing some sensitivity and consideration to those who support Clinton.

[Bonobo]

1. Another post confusing reality with DU. Yawn.

[Orsino]

53. Pretending that people on only one side are being "torn apart," too, I note. n/t

[AlinPA]

2. She has a right to act slimy, and she is acting that way.

[Mezzo]

42. Oh yeah, 'cause Harry and Louise was just oh so squeaky clean.

wink, wink Canada.

[barb162]

83. He has a right to act slimy and he is acting that way.

[JVS]

3. She's not freaking us out, she's pissing us off.

She's making her chances in the fall even worse if she happens to win the primary

[lynnertic]

17. excuse me, about the graphic in your sig line,

why incorporate obama's campaign logo into the Kool-aid character?

Are you drinking Obama's Kool-aid or are you suggesting that others do?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

40. She's not freaking us out, she's pissing us off.

Thanks for typing it so I didn't have to (oddly, my thanks took more typing than had you not typed what I was going to type...not to mention this explanation. So thanks, sort of).

[MADem]

4. That's a very interesting article. Thank you for posting it. NT

[Apollo11]

5. If we still don't have a nominee at the start of the Democratic Convention

then I guess that would be a wet dream scenario for Senator McCain.

He would be able to point to the Democrats and say: "Look - these idiots can't even run their own party!"

But your point is a valid one. Obama supporters should take a lead from their candidate and remain cool! B-)

[lynnertic]

21. if no candidate is chosen by the time of the dem. convention

that's okay because that's what the convention is for.

It's not idiotic, or broken, it's a tie.

[DemGa]

6. "She may be less principled than Obama" ---

Statements such as this mimic perfectly the message of the Obama campaign -- while ignoring the systematic character assassination they've used against Sen. Clinton.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. she is not 'freaking us out". she is making us angry. At her.

Yesterday, I chatted with a bunch of people, all attys, and of course, the topic turned to politics. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, including some former Hill supporters cannot stand her campaign and will no longer vote for her. a couple of dozen people, and not one person in her favor. Not one. THAT is how she has succeeded. Not driving us apart, but unifying us against her now and forever.

[rodeodance]

11. look at yourselfs and your posts last few day-you are "freaking" out!!!

[ShortnFiery]

14. That's because we're as mad as HELL and we won't let HRC and the GOP define our candidate.

Yes, we're fighting your feigned self-righteous indignation with a little taste of our RIGHTEOUS ANGER.

Not. This. Time. :grr:

[rodeodance]

38. Its called being Bitter--remember that.

[niceypoo]

56. By spewing hate, vindictive and vitriol, you are defining your candidate

Hatred will be a huge issue in the general. Obama supporters have a very hard time controlling their emotions and it is coming out in the form of hatred

This is largely Obama's fault because he has not defined himself based on issues, only on reacting to Hillary. His supporters really have nothing solid to defend him with, issue wise, so they default to the lowest common denominator, hate.

We have three republicans running: Obama, Hillary and McCain

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. If you say so. But if you are willing to let some reality into your life

recognize that she is destroying herself. If you are too obtuse to notice the telltale signs, there is no hope for you.

[rodeodance]

39. nah--I am making popcorn watching you all do the Freak Out

[ChairmanAgnostic]

41. try putting it to music and make a video. we'd love to see how you

view the growing majority of the democratic party.

[rodeodance]

72. UMM. NOT a bad idea at all. Thanks

[JVS]

26. Hillbots have been freaking out for the last 2 months and now all they do is spew shit.

Now their candidate has become as much of a pathetic joke as they are.

[rug]

37. Did you write that because you're freaking out, are pissed, or are bitter?

Because it's hard to infer a rational purpose to that post, unless you want to insult for insult's sake. And that is not a prudent path.

[JVS]

57. I write it because it's true. Whether it furthers any purpose is not important.

[rug]

58. Do not confuse your feelings with truth.

[JVS]

60. It's not a feeling that tells me that hillbots have been spewing shit for 2 months.

It's an observation.

[rug]

61. Shit spewing has been a two way street here for months.While it's pathetic, it's not much of a joke.

[JVS]

62. Ahhh the traditional Hillbot anthem: "You guys do it too"

Everybody Sing!

[rug]

64. Not an anthem, it's an observation.

And your answer is not a denial, it's a confirmation.

[JVS]

65. You people always make the claim that X is just as bad.

It's only true sometimes and you need to break yourself of the habit of needing to claim that always.

Do we throw shit? Of course. It's all our opponents deserve.

[rug]

67. See #65.

[rodeodance]

74. ha ha Love the choices

[ampad]

71. Yup

Which is why every other week there is some faux outrage from them. If anyone is freaking out it is the sky is falling crowd who uses talking points and welcome freepers into their fold. They know this is the end for Hillary so they hold on to whatever she feeds them and the latest outrage is bitter gate. I got so many of them on ignore but I promise you they will make a big stink over the Annie O thing calling Obama a sexist. At this point they are caricatures of themselves.

[rodeodance]

77. The BHO fan bookbag freak out was on the best--as someone has pointed out.

[susankh4]

46. Yes they are...

and it's hurting their own candidate.

C'est la vie.....

[Romulox]

44. Chicago attorneys support Obama? Whoddathunkit???

In case you missed it, the story for the past several days is Obama's trouble in securing the support of downscale/working class people in the rust belt.

[niceypoo]

52. Obama supporters have always been thin skinned

and now it has degenerated into pure hate, worse even that we have ever seen from the republians

[MethuenProgressive]

8. BO's DU followers freak out every hour on the hour.

Usually about bookbags or BO getting caught with a $600 hand made Italian loafer in his mouth.

[rodeodance]

75. ha ha --yes the Bookbag FREAK OUT was one of the best FREAKIE OUTIES!!

[BOSSHOG]

9. Obama supporters have been in a frenzy for months

That's the way cult members react when their high god of unity is not properly respected by every human on the planet. Then they get pissed and in another display of unity they put people on ignore. They lash out with hateful invective and tell lifelong democrats their time on DU is short. Makes me just wanna slap an Obama sign in my frontyard.

[ShortnFiery]

10. Less Principled? No, HRC lies and her *feigned* self-righteous indignation is her Ace in the whole

I'm sickened by her corrupt political "cheap tricks" taken right out of Lee Atwater's (Karl Rove's mentor) "Southern Strategy" playbook.

As far as I'm concerned, HRC has reverted back to "The Goldwater Girl" of her past and it's DISGUSTING. :puke:

[Moderate-Democrate]

12. Well

Hillary should have challenged Obama on issues long before now. This race would have been much tighter.

[Tesha]

13. She's wrong, or at least she's overestimating

> She's calculating correctly that most Obama supporters will
> vote for her if she ends up being the nominee.

Most? Maybe. Enough to win the General Election for her?

Nope. Not nearly enough.

Hillary, you'll win the nomination only at your (and our!)
great peril!

Tesha

[Texas Hill Country]

15. K&R - the "Obamamaniac" support of Obama and pure hatred to Clinton has made me reject Obama totally

I am not sure I will even vote for him at all now.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

22. ahhh, I LOVE the ignore button.

[Clintonista2]

29. Frankly. I would be honored to be on the ignore list of someone who spells it "faschits"

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[susankh4]

48. I keep telling myself....

they are not him. They are not him. They are not him.

But, for some odd reason I'm having a hard time convincing myself.:cry:

[Tarc]

16. Thankfully, Obama's online fanboys and girls are not repesentative of reality

Coming here and being barraged with a daily dose of "OBAMA GOOD CLINTON BAAAAAAD!" Animal Farm-esque sheep-bleating can be daunting at times, but just keep in mind that this is just a small slice of the fringe netroots here. As much as I dislike Obama's candidacy and downright loathe most of his supporters here, things are a lot saner and sensible out in the real world.

[ShortnFiery]

25. Who's the arrogant elitist now? Hillary supporters on various hate sites?

When you read in between the lines, your post is a perfect justification for our anger.

Oh, why do you put up with us "little people?" :eyes:

[Tarc]

30. Case in point; one of the worst of the lot shows up to whine

Predictable to the last, kiddo.

[rodeodance]

36. its just having a wittle freak out.

[ShortnFiery]

69. Typical HRC supporter defaults to attacking "the person" not "the argument" because you got NOTHING!

:evilgrin:

[rodeodance]

73. I got the *FREAK OUT"---It's the NEW SWOON

[Tarc]

85. When confronted with your insipid trolling

attacking "the person" is all that is called for, really.

[rodeodance]

33. Lame attempt at trying to throw back the elistist lable that is all yours.

[burythehatchet]

18. I wouldn't piss on her if her hair was on fire much less ever vote for her.

[susankh4]

49. Yep. That kinda talk is really

useful. For Mr. Obama in November, that is.

[PVnRT]

55. "Latte liberals," "fringe netroots," etc.

is not good either.

[susankh4]

59. I agree. Sigh.

I was once a latte liberal, until the Obama folks turned on me. Then I switched to plain old Maxwell House.

I don't know what "fringe netroots" means.

[emilyg]

76. Prostate acting up?

[Life Long Dem]

19. Hillary supporters are supporting the Republican McSame n/t

[barb162]

81. Then Obama supporters are supporting McSame also n/t

[mmonk]

23. Concluding that most Obama supporters will vote for her

is a high risk strategy especially as this garbage goes forth. Will all the new voters Obama has brought on board stay in the process or stay at home in November if she gets the superdelegates needed to win?. I'm willing to bet stay at home.

[irish.lambchop]

24. Sorry, couldn't read beyond this in your post:

"I know I will vote for her over McCain, but I'd probably even vote for Bush over McCain, . . . ". That about says it all.

[bunkerbuster1]

28. That McCrazy is a horrible, horrible candidate?

or are you implying something more sinister?

[bunkerbuster1]

27. Very good Salon article, thanks for the link.

I'm about halfway through and find myself nodding mostly in agreement.

[Skwmom]

31. Clinton knows she can't win in Nov, ,she just wants to damage Obama for

the general election. Bill Clinton is smart enough to know that there is NO WAY IN heck that Hillary could win in Nov b/c there would be too many outraged Obama supporters.

Stop trying to spin the actions of the Clintons as something good for the Democrats and this country.

[wrando]

34. I posted it yesterday

I must be on some Obama black list

if so you are a very paranoid bunch

bill from ct

[mmonk]

45. No black list.

We can't always respond to all of these smears and manufactured issues due to the volume of them.

[wrando]

63. funny

you don't really believe that do you?

but I'm glad there is no black listing, I know about the ignore thing, but that seems more personal

bill from ct

[rodeodance]

35. Obama supporters= the Freakies!!

[MethuenProgressive]

84. Obama Freaks.

Could be used many ways...

[susankh4]

43. Good analysis, if I do say so myself.

And that's from a Clinton supporter.

I have been saying, for a quite a while now... Obama's supporters are his worst enemies.

Thanks for the article link!

[smiley_glad_hands]

47. More like she is tearing the party apart.

Her republican tactics only serve to alienate the progressives in the party, very DLC/republican of her.

[Orsino]

50. "Every right"?

Y'know, I agree that she had "every right" to run, and I'm still not demanding that she drop out of the race now. But does she really have "every right" to a desperation strategy, if it turns out to have done long-term damage to the nominated Obama? I dunno.

At some point, it's no longer just about her rights, or the rights of her supporters. At some point, the needs of the party have to become a primary concern. And with luck, the needs of the country.

I, too, would hope that the matter's resolved before the convention--but I can't say for sure that brokering it in Denver would necessarily be a bad thing.

[niceypoo]

51. Obama's supporters are putting themselves in a frenzy

..and they feed off of each other's hate, and yes, it has degenerated into hate like we used to only see from republicans. This is largely due to the fact that Obama has given them nothing whatsoever, policy or issue wise, to defend him with.

Once the general starts, the hate issue will blow up in Obama's face. It is all over the internet and will become an open issue now that his supporters are issuing open threats to those who publicly disagree with him.

Tavis Smiley Quits Tom Joyner Show, hurt by http://www.maynardije.org/columns/dickprince/080411_prince/">threats and intimidation by Obama supporters.

Black superdelegates are being http://leftword.blogdig.net/archives/articles/March2008/01/Black_Superdelegates_Report_Pressure__to_Vote_for_Obama.html">threatened by Obama supporters.

“African-American superdelegates are being targeted, harassed and threatened,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.), a superdelegate who has supported Clinton since August. Cleaver said black superdelegates are receiving “nasty letters, phone calls, threats they’ll get an opponent, being called an Uncle Tom.

It is sad that hate is an internal issue within the Democratic party in the 21st century

[PVnRT]

54. Maybe Clinton ought to start attacking policies and ideas

instead of using the same old sound bite non-issue bullshit that has defined American elections for twenty years.

Speaking of hate, why don't you check out post #16 by Tarc? Thanks.

[Beacool]

66. Hillary is not tearing you apart, you're doing it to yourselves.

She's just running a campaign for one of the toughest jobs in the world. It's not a coronation and plenty of us will not vote for Obama (32% according to Time magazine). We want her to stay until the end because we think that she's the better candidate and the one who would be a great president. Obviously, Obama's supporters are entitled to a different opinion.

[madrchsod]

68. oh please ....this statement is so wrong on many levels

"an iconic photo of a young male Obama supporter shouting down an elderly female Clinton supporter."

[Asgaya Dihi]

70. Real danger here for the Clinton supporters

I don't think it's a good idea to confuse what's happening on this board with the trends of the nation in general. A lot of people who would vote for Obama won't vote for Clinton and they aren't all dems, let alone posting here. He pulls a much better cross section among swing voters and among those who normally don't vote at all than she does.

According to the polls today in the heat of the campaign a lot of Clinton supporters won't vote for him but personally once all is said and done I don't think they'll be that stupid. And it is nothing less than stupid for at least two reasons.

First is if Obama loses all they get for the effort is at least four more years of repubs, four more years of their Supreme Court nominations and four more years of war with the associated debts and other costs.

But if Obama wins and without the Clinton supporters, for them it might be even worse. If he can pull in enough non-voters and crossover voters to win even without them they become politically irrelevant, replaceable. Once it's proved that the party doesn't need them the party is free to move along without much concern with what they think.

I don't see the upside to the threats, and I don't see the upside if they are carried out. If anyone is going to lose supporters in the general for taking the nomination I'd think it would be her rather than him.

[barb162]

78. Obama supporters put themselves into a frenzy, not Clinton

If Obama supporters can't control themselves, as the article states, it isn't Clinton's fault.
"but she's putting the Obama supporters into a frenzy"

[L0oniX]

79. My only worry is that I will forget to take you off ignore after the primary is over.

[barb162]

80. And is Obama tearing Clinton supporters apart?

What a SILLY article.

[burythehatchet]

87. I've heard that some of them are wandering around NYC banging pots and pans.

sad :(

[Eurobabe]

82. The only thing Hillary's supporters are tearing apart is my ignore list

:hi:

[burythehatchet]

86. I am in SUCH a frenzied state right now...

I'm very impatient to know who Hillary's primary challenger will be in New York.

[intaglio]

88. You ignore completely the fact she cannot win with

only Democratic party members supporting her. She needs normally uncommitted voters, people who are normally abstainers and voters who previously have supported republican candidates; and she will be as attractive to those groups as vinegar is to wasps.