Obama says that Clinton thinks she's doing him a favor.

[DemsUnited]

From today's front page Washington Post article (bolding my own):

"I have tried to figure out how to show restraint and make sure that, during this primary contest, we're not damaging each other so badly that it's hard for us to run in November," Obama said at a luncheon sponsored by the Associated Press, speaking several hours after McCain.

The senator from Illinois also slipped in a dig: "Obviously, it's a little easier for me to say that, since, you know, I lead in delegates and states and popular vote. Senator Clinton may not feel that she can afford to be as constrained."

Obama continued: "I'm sure that Senator Clinton feels like she's doing me a great favor, because she's been deploying most of the arguments that the Republican Party will be using against me in November, and so, it's toughening me up. And I'm getting a run through the paces here."

After a lot of thought, I've decided that Senator Clinton really is doing Obama a favor. By exposing Obama's potential problem areas in the primary (Rezko, Wright, so-called "elitist" label) they lose power and element of surprise come GE time. MSM has heard it before and doesn't get all frothy and crazy because it's "old news".

It's a fine line to walk but, to her credit, Senator Clinton has previously pulled back her attacks before things got irreconcilably divisive. I hope she does that with "bittergate" as well.

What do y'all think?

[DemGa]

1. Obama is a slimeball

He and his campaign have run a systematic smear campaign against Clinton since this began -- while pretending Obama's hands are "clean." Disgusting -- and yet more of his snide arrogance.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Poor Hillary. She's just misunderstood...

...with her own words and actions. :cry:

[cali]

3. nope. he's run a fair, dignified campaign in contrast

to the same old same old slimy scummy shit that oozes out of her. She's done, the pathetic and ugly thing.

[StevieM]

7. His behavior has been reprehensbile. He didn't win by inspiring, he won by smearing (eom)

[ShortnFiery]

4. Obama is DEMONSTRATING great leadership in addition to "toughness"

Anyone who KNOWS the Clintons MO, also realizes that they do NO favors unless there's "a pay off" for them personally. "Fuck the party, Hillary deserves this!" :thumbsdown:

However, instead of giving in to the negativity, Obama takes the high road. After all, whomever is nominated, the Democratic Party needs to come together for the G.E.

Once again, Obama demonstrates excellent judgment, in that, he's planning several steps ahead of where we are now.

THAT'S LEADERSHIP that can unite The Democratic Party.

Go Obama! :patriot:

[Apollo11]

5. Why does Obama keep mentioning the math?

He is constantly saying: "I lead in delegates and states and popular vote."

What does the delegate count have to do with ANYTHING ????? :eyes:

You know he is just saying that to ENRAGE Hillary's supporters !! :mad:

[ginnyinWI]

6. She's doing him a favor, but that isn't her motive.

Her motive is to convince the SDs that he's unelectable. But yes, by throwing the kitchen sink at him, she's helping to show the SDs that he is a survivor. He's managed to deflect and bounce back from everything she's thrown.

The punditry is still making hay out of this last one, of course. That's what they do. But out in real America it doesn't seem to be having an effect. People aren't that dumb. They know that Hillary is out to make a fuss about anything she can find on Obama.

What's saving him is that he's been out there campaigning with a positive message and not digging up dirt on her. That's the media's job anyway--and they've been doing it to both candidates. When HRC goes on the attack with extremely trivial stuff like this, she just makes herself look petty and divisive. Especially when she's pulled some huge gaffes herself--how hypocritical of her! Most people don't want to support that kind of stuff (some DU members excepted, of course).

Obama defends himself, and does poke a little fun at her antics sometimes--just too good to pass up--but not in the mean-spirited, hateful way that she does it to him. He knows--being a natural--that it will reflect badly on him to be seen as that hateful.

Look at our last Teflon president, Ronald Reagan. He was wildly popular because he was positive. He would say stuff like, "There you go again", and make it good-humored and the people loved it. HRC needs to learn this. She's sour and angry, and it doesn't make her strong, it makes her weak.

[DemsUnited]

8. agree that she's not doing him any favors intentionally

but I do think that the net result is a stronger obama in the GE.