You inoculate a candidate by, bringing out all the dirty laundry early

[alfredo]

in the campaign. The candidate takes the hit, spins it and moves on. The public sees it, makes their decision on the scandal, listens to the candidate's reply, then moves on. The general election opponent can bring it up, but the public's mind is made up. It is old news.

Could Hillary be playing on Obama's team by inoculating him, making him a better candidate for the General Election? Could her whole campaign be a ruse? I learned a long time ago not to take the Clinton's actions on face value. They've punked a lot of their opponents over the years. I think Hillary is not adverse to painting herself as the bad guy if it serves a bigger purpose. I don't think Bill minds being the bad cop either.

Don't invest a lot into disliking her, it may not be as it appears. It could be, but don't put any money on it. People have lost a lot by underestimating her and Bill. If it was a clever game, we won't know until after Nov 4.

[yurbud]

1. innoculation works with right wing candidates because media quickly drops and moves on...

with Democrats, they will bring it up and replay it over and over again forever.

[writes3000]

2. This is exactly what my father thinks...

That the Clintons are inoculating Obama for the GE.

I wish I could agree. I'd love to be wrong about their motives.

[alfredo]

23. She could be a stalking-horse for him.

[Andy823]

3. I don't think so!

I can't see her, or Bill, making themselves look this bad to help Obama! They may try and spin it that way, but I can't buy it!

[alfredo]

7. Still, keep it at the back of your mind that they may be pulling an

Andy Kaufmann on the Republicans.

I never pass judgement until it plays out. She could be as bad as some think, or she might be pulling off some brilliant street theater. Just keep your mind open for all possibilities.

[gateley]

4. The Clintons only do things to further themselves - not the Democratic party. nt

[alfredo]

9. There is something in it for her, a leadership position in the Senate.

I'd rather be Senate President than US President. You have a hell of a lot of power and a lower public profile. Your term in that office is not limited by the constitution. If you keep delivering the goods, you stay put.

[Nitrogenica]

5. I have often thought exactly that, however her supporters wouldn't be very happy about that.

[Cant trust em]

6. Conspiracy theory du jour - Did the Obama campaign "leak" the Rev. Wright videos?

Wouldn't it have made sense that Obama knew that Wright made the statements, so get it out of the way when he has 6 weeks before the next primary? Someone would have dug it up sooner or later, so why not beat the RW and the media to the punch and release it at a time that suits the campaign. Possibly a brilliant gambit.

[NC_Nurse]

8. If that turns out to be the case, and he becomes president...I will consider

forgiving her. :)

[alfredo]

10. That's it. hold off until the final curtain comes down.

this may not be what she wanted at first, but when the reality set in, they decided to go for legacy. If it is the case and Obama becomes president, then this campaign could go down in history as brilliant.

[Arugula Latte]

11. It will be interesting to see if we hear another peep about flag lapel pins

I was wondering about the inoculating effects of that fucking stupid ABC debate. Those supercilious twits Stephanopoulos and Gibson might have done us a favor by showing other media outlets what happens when you trot out crap like lapel pins one time too many.

[alfredo]

17. I'm sure it helped Steph appear fair and balanced. It gave him some

cover for his questioning of McCain. If the right complains about him being tough on McCain, point to Wednesday's debate.

[sandnsea]

12. Gosh - you mean they started before Iowa???

When they said students shouldn't vote and Obama was going to bus in people from Chicago? Or was it in December when her campaign started dropping the "drug dealer" bomb?

Open your eyes. They aren't who you thought they were.

[alfredo]

13. I'm just saying don't take everything at face value. We are not privy to

what may go on behind closed doors. We don't know if any deals have been made. You don't get to where they are without knowing a few tricks.

The Clinton's are very smart, they know the score, and so does Obama. Never bet against the Clintons. You can oppose them, but don't be surprised when they have pulled their asses out of the fire.

She won't win that nomination, but I'm sure she has mapped out where she wants to be in 2009. What she does from here on out will determine if she returns to the Senate as just another Senator, or the person who calls the shots in that chamber.

If you've ever watch bicycle racing you have the team leaders and the domestiques. The domestiques will sacrifice themselves for the team. They will attack the front of the pack forcing the other teams to chase him down. He will block in front of the field to slow down a chase, they will also act as an anchor, slowing down a breakaway. They deflect attention away from the team leader, and do what they can to help the leader. They lead the way, breaking the wind for the team leader, allowing him to save energy for the final push. Helping the team leader win helps the domestique. In the Tour de France, the winner gives his winning to the team.

Is she being a domestique for Obama, we don't know, but we cannot discount the possibility.

[sandnsea]

14. I don't count them out, I do wish them gone n/t

[alfredo]

19. It is a drag, but years of Clinton watching has made me cautious.

They can surprise you. I've seen them take what appears to be right wing positions, but it was to undercut the Republicans on that issue. This could be another form of triangulation.

Delay judgement.

[DemsUnited]

15. Obama is being innoculated to a certain extent but Clintons not

doing it for altruistic reasons. They are playing on the raw swiftboat fears that most Democrats still have after 2004. They are saying, look Obama's vulnerable like John Kerry was.

Then they try to claim that all their dirty laundry has already been rifled, which is true up until 2000. But the Clintons are so much more swiftboatable than Obama because:

1. There's a lot of post-2000 questionable dealings, shady friends & partners, and rumored affairs bubbling out there that the press has given the Clintons a pass on so far (because after the 1990s who in the world really wanted to hear about any more of their dirt) and

2. If anyone really thinks the right is just going to leave all that juicy old dirt alone, well, they are just dreaming.

[alfredo]

30. Obama can dismiss those issues as old news, long since debunked.

Like Hillary said "We're going to be OK." I'd love to call her Madame President, but I fear that will not happen this time around. I think she knows it too.

If McCain brings up the same issues that Clinton brought up it just won't have the same impact. Our minds are made up on those issues. Who's going to change their minds over Rev Wright? It's run its course.

McCain, on the other hand, has not had to face the same level of scrutiny as Obama or Hillary. The Dems have only started building the case against McCain. He's going to lose a lot of his luster when the Democratic machine gets revved up. It's going to be the nice good looking guy against the angry old man.

[Blue-Jay]

16. "Could Hillary be playing on Obama's team..."?

:rofl:

I don't think that's the strategy.

[alfredo]

20. How many holy shit moments have the Clintons given us over the years.

Again, I caution you not to take them at face value. It might be as it seems, and it may not. Let it play out before you pass final judgement.

[Rosemary2205]

18. Obama may benefit, but not by design.

[DerekJ]

21. I bet many had thought this way, even if for a moment. You know why?! Because most Obama supporters

while staunchly supporting Obama, want Hillary to go out as hero. As the democrat we always thought her to be.

[alfredo]

22. You ever heard the term "Stalking Horse"?

[grantcart]

24. when Clinton brings it out she validates and gives it cover for the fall campaign

[alfredo]

26. This is what makes me think this is all theater.

[grantcart]

28. Your not making any sense:

My point is that when she brings up an issue she gives it more credibility and when McCain returns to the subject it will have more weight.

Obama will not be able to dismiss it as simple partisan bashing because a Democrat already used it so it cannot be dismissed as a shallow partisan attack.

[alfredo]

29. It is not as newsworthy anymore. It will play in the right wing media, but

I don't think it will play much outside those circles. Look at the reaction to the flap pin question. Nobody gives a fuck.

People have made up their minds. Look at Bill Clinton. By the time the first "bimbo eruption" emerged, the public had already decided they liked him. Clinton was the anointed one, you could see it from day one. He was going to be president. Obama has some of the same attraction. Unless they catch him with a dead whore or a live boy, I don't think he can be beat. Hillary is the victim of bad timing. Any other year but this would have been her year.

We're going to win because we are fired up. We will be rich in volunteers to man the phones, and walk the precincts. You don't see the same level of enthusiasm for McCain.

[ecstatic]

25. Her (and Bill's) dirt from 1999 onward is still largely un-vetted nt

[alfredo]

27. It doesn't matter. It's all about Obama, if my suspicions are correct.