Krugman: Clinton's PA ad is badminton compared with the hardball Republicans will play this fall.

[merciful]

Paul Krugman explains how silly is the claim by some pundits and Obama supporters that Hillary's 11th hour ad in PA was pulled straight from the Karl Rove playbook:

According to many Obama supporters, it’s all Hillary’s fault. If she hadn’t launched all those vile, negative attacks on their hero — if she had just gone away — his aura would be intact, and his mission of unifying America still on track.

But how negative has the Clinton campaign been, really? Yes, it ran an ad that included Osama bin Laden in a montage of crisis images that also included the Great Depression and Hurricane Katrina. To listen to some pundits, you’d think that ad was practically the same as the famous G.O.P. ad accusing Max Cleland of being weak on national security.

It wasn’t. The attacks from the Clinton campaign have been badminton compared with the hardball Republicans will play this fall. If the relatively mild rough and tumble of the Democratic fight has been enough to knock Mr. Obama off his pedestal, what hope did he ever have of staying on it through the general election?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/opinion/25krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[Bonobo]

1. The argument that "We are only doing it because it will come up in the GE" jumped the shark already.

It's worn, it's tired. It wants to go seepy-by.

[Cosmocat]

44. R's don't engage in this crape with THEMSELVES ...

They know better than to torch their own candidates in the primary ...

[chimpymustgo]

51. Illegitimate black babies...Willie Horton...you needed that job, but they had to give it to a

minority...

Just to name a few...

You haven't been around long, no?

[Texas Hill Country]

55. dont forget about mittens calling mccain essentially a liberal.

[PoliticalAmazon]

68. Krugman is the same whore, with a different john...

For the first 4 years of the Bush admn., Krugman had Bush's dick in his mouth. Krugman printed as fact any septic tank effluent the Bush hacks spoon-fed him.

So now he's a Hillary boot-licker. No surprise.

Krugman's the same whore, with a different john.

[BeyondGeography]

2. His pom-poms are out again

Stick to economics, Paul.

[Kool Kitty]

3. He may have a small point there, but

if he thinks they aren't going to go after Hillary, he better think again. They hate her and it will make for a very ugly autumn, believe me. They have been itching for this.

[Olney Blue]

7. The Republicans would shoot Bambi between the eyes to win.

[Kool Kitty]

11. Without question.

Every real or imagined scandal, dirty deal, or questionable association will be the first story on the news all night every night.

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. Naw, too quick.

If thy thought it would help they'd gut-shoot Bambi and let him bleed out.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

56. "I shot a deer in Texas, just to watch it die..."

Bow dow bow dee dee bow bow...

[ShortnFiery]

15. IMO, the highly intelligent Krugman:sold us out for his personal ambitions.

I wonder what "sweet whispers" that were sent his way from HRC's operatives? I hope it's worth your soul, you IMO, corporate sell out! :(

[KittyWampus]

57. Kruman doesn't want a position. TRUST ME. He had one before. This is about being emotionally

invested. Krugman is a One Issue Op Ed writer. It's all about Health Insurance plans for him. And protecting his Ego.

Krugman put a lot of energy and time into arguing for Edwards' Health Insurance plan.

He wrote very strong, well researched Op Ed pieces and rebutted those who disagreed with his position.

All of which I respect. And I understood the points he did make about Edwards plan.

Since Edwards is out and Hillary's plan is closest, he went with Hillary on the basis of ONE issue. Her Health Insurance plan.

He has invested too much into it and is no longer rational about the Primary.

[Egnever]

4. lol and the point is what?

that two wrongs make a right?

[merciful]

13. Hillary's ad was not a wrong

Krugman does not say Hillary's ad was a "wrong". To him, and I agree, it was a regular ad featuring crisis we may face again: Katrina, 9-11, gas prices.

Did you read the article? Or are you one of those who simply read thread headlines?

[Egnever]

21. You may agree with him but I sure as hell dont

Fearmongering disgusts me.

[JI7]

5. so lets discuss Lewinsky, the pardons, did nothing about Bin Laden

and all the other things the wingnuts will throw out at the Clintons.

[FrenchieCat]

6. We thank Krugman everyday for his "concern".......

Glad to see that he's concerned that we're concerned. What would we do without him? Simply be less concerned about what the GOP "will do". He will one day understand that the Democratic party is not supposed to eat its own; that's a GOP "thing".

I thank the Lord that I am not like them; not even close. Scruples and integrity goes a long way if one is running to become the leader of the "supposed" Free World.

This really is the first primary that I have ever witnessed where all that we are "concerned" about is what will the Republicans do? What the Republicans will do with Obama as our nominee is that they will lose. Perhaps if Krugman was entertaining that possibility, he would more helpful, as opposed to simply being concerned.

[Donna Zen]

26. Krugman misses the point

This was ad by a Dem. going after another Dem. This was also a fear ad, a republican tactic, that does not serve the country well.

During the General Election Obama would be running against a republican. I'm sure his campaign will have plenty of sinks to throw at John McSame.

Drawing conclusions about the General from the primary doesn't work.

[merciful]

27. Will the media help the Dems. throw those sinks at McCain?

History says no.

[Donna Zen]

35. When then give up

cause the media will not help any Dem including Senator Clinton.

However, I believe that there are some ways to get the message out. Not every one of the money bags wants 4 more years of bush-o-nomics.

[woolldog]

8. Krugman is an idiot on this

you don't expect Democrats to use Republican tactics in a democratic primary. First of all it legitimizes those tactics. Secondly Obama can't hit back the way he'd like to because he has the good of the party in mind first and foremost, which is why Clinton shouldn't be using these types of ads to begin with. It hurts the party. And the party is more important than a primary. Clinton doesn't seem to get that because her ambitions are more important than the party.

[DJ13]

9. "We are just prepping Obama to run against Republicans by using Republican tactics"

I love the twisted logic the Clintons are spewing.

[Kool Kitty]

14. That's so large of them, isn't it?

Just looking out for Obama's best interests. Sheesh.

[DJ13]

16. Thats exactly what I was thinking listening to McCauliffe on CNN today

They are just trying to help....

:eyes:

:rofl:

[Kool Kitty]

20. I heard him, too.

He was making me gag.

[anonymous171]

10. Lol. Hillary has absolutely no baggage with which the republicans will attack her.

[DUyellow]

12. All I have to say.. Iraq, no child left behind, patriot act, bankruptcy bill, prescription drug bill

What is really sad, Hillary Clinton voted for all of the above.

[gcomeau]

18. "Our low politics isn't as low as the Republicans"

...isn't the ringing endorsement some people seem to expect us to believe it is. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE between having Republicans go negative on the leading Democratic candidate for the nomination, and having another damn Democratic candidate do it trying to kneecap him. So please, let's have Krugman reassure us all some more that Hilary isn't playing Karl Rove, only Karl Rove lite... because that makes everything ok!

What an idiot.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

19. Oh okay, it includes other stuff besides Bin Laden so it's fine.

Thanks for clearing it up for me, Paul. :eyes:

[Citizen Kang]

22. I used to respect Krugman

Now he's just a shill angling for a spot an another Clinton administration.....

[Diane R]

23. I did, too. It's sad to see what he's been willing to do to shill for the Clintons.

[merciful]

28. Me too. Krugman should say nice things about the candidate that I support

I hate him.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

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

[rodeodance]

66. stop the name-calling. It is very unbecoming!

....Great job at playing the idiot.......

[cliffordu]

24. That's right -

We should just roll over on our backs and pee a little.

[Duke Newcombe]

25. We expect it from Republicans. Democrats shouldn't play that crap against other Dems. n/t

Duke

[merciful]

30. Hillary does not suggest Obama caused Katrina or 9-11. Be honest to yourself

Hillary is telling us that she can be better handling these issues than Bush, obviously, since it was during his watch that these happened.

[Duke Newcombe]

34. "The other Dem sucks at this" doesn't do it for me...

...instead of Rovian Dem-on-Dem violence, isn't HRC smart enough to do it by, oh...telling me HOW she's the better candidate instead of trashing her opponent?

Just sayin'

Duke

[rudy23]

29. Obama can't play as rough with Hillary as he can with McCain either

He needs his Democratic base to come together for him in November.

[merciful]

31. What you ignore: The media hates Hillary; the media does not hate McCain

Whatever criticisms he may have of McCain will not be echoed by the MSM as they've done with Clinton.

[candice]

38. Of course not, the media hates a Gore or Kerry or other candidate who

might disrupt their flow of ad revenue for prescription drugs (sick to advertise them to the lay person and outlawed in civilized countries), and who won't make GE give up its consolidated empire in the name of a free and open press--the kind of Fourth Estate needed to maintain a real democracy. The press loves the Manchurian candidates who are sold like ad campaigns of hope and change (hmmm...Axelrod is an ad man and he ran the same ad with Deval Patrick in Mass.). The voters of Mass. didn't fall for it again and went for Hill in spite of Teddy and Kerry.

Which candidate would make the least little dent in consolidated media and stop the drug ad flow?

Only one. And she is hated. Kerry introduced a law to stop the consolidate, and Swift boat ads just added to the TV coffers.

Turn off the ads and form your own opinion. I think the American public is catching on. The fact that Hillary could do as well as she has with the media in the tank with Bama is astounding. Imagine if she were given a fair chance. It's not just the fear of a very smart, capable woman, it is that she is the one who could bring about REAL CHANGE.

[rodeodance]

65. and the media has overall-played soft with Obama--they are scared of being called racist.

charge gets tossed out too frequently

[MadBadger]

32. Welcome Back millionaire

[SoCalDem]

33. Paul Paul Paul

Even I, a lowly white woman in California, can see that Obama's walking a tightrope with the "stalker-lady".. he has to handle her with kid gloves..
1. she's a president's wife
2. she's a 60 yr old WHITE lady
3. she's meaner than a junkyard dog, but she cries on cue
4. his campaign is all about reason & sensibility..not attacking women

He has to use an oblique attack method on her.. he cannot appear to be being mean to her, and still expect to have ANY support from the elderly white ladies who love her to pieces..

SHE, on the other hand, KNOWS all this, and has taken the opportunity to goad, and tease, and bait him into taking her on, but he HAS to resist..

With McCain, he can and WILL take him on..and beat him..

[candice]

36. Obama's waffle was on sale on eBay...can't take the heat...

[anonymous171]

37. Lewinsky, Foster, 54% negatives.

She would crumble.

[Political Heretic]

39. It was a republican ad. And the GOP will run even worse ads against either candidate.

Both things can be true, and they are not in contradiction with each other.

[Lord Helmet]

40. so we're supposed to be OK with her poop flinging because she's a Democrat?

or at least as far as I know. She's a poop flinger that flings poops against her peeps. I guess that makes her a traitor to the democratic party.

[maximusveritas]

42. Krugman's done

It's sad to see it really. This is what happens when a stubborn and arrogant man makes a poor decision, has his readers and friends turn on him, and then just digs even harder to his decision.

[bowens43]

43. Did you have a point ?

[scheming daemons]

45. Because when it is done by a DEMOCRAT, it gives it legitimacy.....

...when it is done by a Republican, it is brushed off more easily.


What Hillary has done, is give Republicans the cover to say... "This is not *US* saying this, this is FELLOW DEMOCRATS".


Just like they blamed the Willie Horton ad on Al Gore.


Democrats should NEVER do this to each other. It gives credence to the attacks.

[Major Hogwash]

46. What's the difference now, Krugman?

Pull your head out of your ass, you moran!

[flpoljunkie]

47. Angry, petty Paul Krugman obviously fooled by the faux populist, NAFTA supporting HRC. We are not!

Perhaps he should read Molly's old column posted here today by fellow DUer Syrinx. Molly would not be fooled by Clinton's faux populist persona.

[Vinca]

48. It's a shame Krugman doesn't address the ads that would be directed

toward Hillary if she became the nominee. She says she can weather the storm, and she might, but the population as a whole will not. After their memories are jogged they'll remember the universal weariness of the scandals that attach to the Clintons.

[KaptBunnyPants]

49. I still can't believe how far into hackdom Krugman has fallen.

I can't wait for his next "I hate Obama and all his idiot supporters" screed. Won't Monday ever come?

[high density]

50. So Obama is now responsible for the Great Depression and 9/11?

The ad was stupid crap for a Dem primary, and Krugman is spending whatever reputation he had and then some in blindly defending Clinton to the finish. "Wait and see what the GOP throws at him or her in the fall" could be said of ANY CANDIDATE WE RUN FOR PRESIDENT, including the oh so wonderful HRC. The only confusion is wondering why Clinton is running such a slash and burn campaign against a fellow Democrat at such a late hour in the race.

I loved the line at the end:

"David Brooks is off today."

[ProSense]

52. Clinton smears have nothing to do with what Republicans will do

Clinton's Attacks on Obama Patriotism Have Nothing to Do With "What the Republicans Will Say in November" - Everything to Do with Her Own Strategy

[nichomachus]

53. Krugman needs to stick his core competency -- economics

And leave politics to people who understand these sorts of things.

I love Krugman when he talks about what he knows. When he wanders into other disciplines, he has no more credibility than my next door neighbor.

Like my neighbor, Krugman is free to have whatever silly opinion on politics he wants, but to use his national platform to promote those opinions does a disservice to his readers.

[eridani]

54. Democrats using Rethug framing is far more damaging than when Rethug do it

The Rethugs keep saying they are right and the Dems wrong, and Clinton keeps agreeing.

[Buzz Clik]

58. I heard that Krugman supports one of the Dem candidates. Which one is it?

:eyes:

[Moochy]

59. but but the republicans are doing it..

sounds like a child's excuse to me.

[wowimthere]

60. Nothing she does frightens me but then again nothing the GOP does frightens me

[Moochy]

61. The OP was a troll

and has "mercifully" left the building.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=219541

[DemGa]

62. Not to hear Obama whine about it

I'm glad for Krugman's voice of reason amidst all of this Hillary-hate silliness. It seems the far-left is constantly breathless over some new perceived evil from Hillary Clinton - And all the while they engage in character slander.

Such childish hypocrisy!

[eridani]

63. Crap. It's far, far worse for Dems to say "Dems are always wrong,

--and Repubs are always right" than it is for Repubs to say the same thing.

[JoFerret]

64. Agreed. All the huffing and pufing and outrage

- absurdly overblown.

Oama bin Laden actually IS out there and needs to be caught.
Al Qaeda IS real and needs to be dealt with.
Pakistan IS out there and needs to be .....erm...?

Interesting that the "issues" don't have greater traction in this race. Is that because the policies of the two candidates are almost identical?

[JTFrog]

67. LOL, you didn't last long did ya? n/t