Why do the Republicans REALLY, REALLY want to run against Clinton instead of Obama?

[pepperbear]

My thought is that they might have an "October Surprise" in a drawer somewhere. Or perhaps in their eyes, Barack is just going to be harder to beat.

Anyone else have thoughts on the subject?

[EndElectoral]

1. Her IWR Vote! THey also know the name Clinton unites their base.

[ingac70]

4. The IWR vote is what will really do her in...

She has no moral authority on the issue.

[leftofcool]

2. They don't want to run against Clinton

They want to get rid of Clinton, they they go for blood

[opihimoimoi]

26. Yup, the real target is Obama...but the man might fool them and actually win...

If it comes to be that Obama is the NOM

The Pubs would then play the RACE CARD


Thats all they got...nothing else...they have crap....same ole crap dressed up as new...but its old....Peeps hunbger for the new and better....fuck old shit...its not working anymore....

[papau]

28. I agree - Clinton's a sure but small margin win - Obama after Wright is an easy 527 - but if he

can get past it there may be a larger winning margin than what Hillary would have got.

I just do not see his personality selling that well post Wright in the general - but perhaps I'm wrong

[ingac70]

3. She will rally their base..

who ain't exactly happy with their nom.

[arthritisR_US]

13. yep, I think that's another reason among others. n/t

[KaryninMiami]

5. For one thing, they've been planning for it for 6 years

No doubt they have an arsenal stored up that they are waiting to use against her. Think of how many Clinton haters who have been waiting for this moment to get back at the Clintons for all of the things they were never able to pin on Bill- despite best efforts to bring him down. The GOP hate machine is all geared up and ready to fire-- they haven't had nearly as much time to develop their defense against Obama - plus- they are not prepared to combat the huge numbers of Republicans and Independents who are supporting him- or who will be supporting him against McCain.

[ClassWarrior]

6. They already have their frames about the Clintons in place...

...ready to activate them. "Monica!" "Chiu!" "Socialized medicine!"

Fabricating whole new ones for Obama is going to take a lot of work - and considering what a cool customer he is, there's no guarantee they're going to stick to him the way Clinton's do to her.

NGU.

[luckyleftyme2]

15. FACT

Polls show that Bill Clinton would slam dunk mccain.
Fact: Clinton took the second term by a landslide after the MONICA incident
Fact: Clinton took the second term after the white water play.
fact: the right has used the media for years
fact: newt left washington in disgrace after pissing Bill off!
fact: they know they can't beat Hillary thats why they had republicans voting as democrats in the primaries.
fact: the democrats out number the republican voters and will rally around the democratic
candidate because in oct. their will be such a mass of information on the corruption that has gone on in the last 8 years in this administration.!
so cheer up the re pukes loose the white house,the senate and the house!
the public is more aware today than ever-so stop your nay saying and join the victory team -paint the country blue!

[ClassWarrior]

17. Ummm... Bill's not running.

NGU.

[RazBerryBeret]

19. Fact: Clinton took the second term by a landslide after the MONICA incident

that's not a fact. the Monica story broke in 1998, that was in his second term. although the "relationship" started (one episode) in 1995. it wasn't public knowledge until 1998.

[havocmom]

20. Fact: Hill ain't Bill

and she can't work the room nearly as well.

[RazBerryBeret]

23. fact: they know they can't beat Hillary thats why they had republicans voting as democrats in the pr

but the republicans "they" had voting as democrats were encouraged to vote for HIllary.

[Strelnikov_]

27. Fact: Digust over Monicagate cost Gore the election

Well, got it close enough to steal, but same end result.

[ColbertWatcher]

7. The GOP invented the October Surprise...

...everyone knows this.

Question is, what could it be?

"Capturing" bin Laden?

Another attack? Threat of an "attack"?

Saddam Hussein comes back from the dead?

[againes654]

24. War with Iran n/t

[aquart]

8. What would be your NON-mythic basis for this belief?

Because we have noticed the MSM is sycophantically slavering over Obama every chance it gets?

[Radical Activist]

11. You mean when the media spent a year calling Hillary the inevitable fruntrunner

and then obsessing on Rev. Wright? Yeah...whatever.

[Radical Activist]

9. They think most of Americans share their hatred of her.

She's unelectable.

[Kingofalldems]

10. They couldn't beat Bill

They want a shot a Hillary.

[arthritisR_US]

12. both candidates have been thoroughly vetted by the opposition and

I think they have nothing on Obama but stacks on her so she would be the easy one to win against in dirty tricks and negative campaigning, jmo.

[CoffeeCat]

14. There are SO many reasons...

1.) Hillary Clinton is part of the elite establishment. It was decided long ago, by
the powers that be, that she and McCain should be our nominees. The neocons aren't
going to let go of power now--especially since they've got their foot in the Middle
East--the first phase of the original PNAC agenda.

Hillary has played along very, very well since Bush took office. She's rarely spoken
out against Bush's atrocities, as he has raked our democracy over the coals and stripped
our civil and Constitutional rights. She certainly hasn't used her power as a NY Senator
on the Armed Services Committee to call him the carpet. Her votes have been in line with
the neocons (Iraq, Kyl/Lieberman, no show on recent wiretapping bill). She played their
game. Either she's been folded into the fray or she went along to keep them from thwarting
her Presidential campaign. Naomi Wolf says it's the latter.

2.) Americans have such short attention spans, but the Republicans know well that Hillary and
Bill are an overflowing buffet of scandal. Whitewater, Travelgate, Mena, Monica, Paula Jones,
Gennifer Flowers, Impeachment, lying under oath, the blue dress, Vince Foster. This stuff
fatigued and disgusted America and helped usher in a Bush Presidency. Clinton had tarnished
the Dem party. There's just so much to play with here. Testimonials from bimbos, court documents,
sexually explicit testimony, etc.

3.) Hillary Clinton does not garner as much support. Twenty percent of the Dems say they will
vote against Hillary. Indies don't like her (especially against McCain, he wins them hands down)
and Republicans loathe her. She doesn't have the numbers, the Indy support and the Republican
cross-over appeal that Obama has.

4.) There's not a lot of excitement this year in the Republican ranks for McCain. Many Republicans
are disillusioned with Bush and they're not as politically engaged this year. Dem turnout is double
the Republican turnout--in the primaries. The Republican "base" (arch-Conservatives and Evangelicals)
are not sold on McCain. The Republican hatred of Hillary will galvanize Reps--the same way a stellar
Republican candidate would. Republicans will turn out in droves to vote against Hillary. They like
this "Hillary effect" because McCain alone doesn't inspire big turnout.

5.) Obama's positives are threatening to the Republicans. Obama has inspired a new generation of young
voters and new voters. Dem primary turnout increased 100 percent from 2004--which was a record year.
Indies like Obama, and he does well with them and steals some from McCain. Obama also does well with many
disenfranchised Republicans. Obama will also do well in the South, which is threatening to the Republicans.
He'll galvanize African Americans, and do well in urban areas.

That's just for starters!

[Indiana_Dem]

21. That's exactly what I say! Excellent post.

I'm sorry--I like the Clintons but these are some of the reasons I am voting for Obama in the primaries...aside from the fact that I just feel Obama is a new generational politician who inspires unity with his words which is what the country needs at this time...and I feel it is from his heart whether or not he gets it done.

[RazBerryBeret]

16. this is just my opinion....

they can be a little lazy with Hillary, imagine they must have FOLDERS of stuff to throw at her -- they've been saving it up. and planning for this.


and they are concerned about the connection Obama has with the average Joe...democrats, independents and republicans. I don't think he will be so easy to swiftboat--at least we won't take it laying down this time....(hopefully)...

and with Hillary Iraq is off the table....forget debating it, how could she?
Campaign financing is off the table.

and her big platform--experience, is less than his.
why would they not want to run against her?

[havocmom]

18. NOTHING will get out the GOP vote more than a chance to vote against a Clinton

The fundy xian right are feeling neglected and taken for granted, so they can't be counted on to just show up. Gotta give them blood sport. Let them gnaw on Hillary and they will go vote.

[margotb822]

22. Osama?

Yea, I've definitely thought it...how else are they going to win??

[CANDO]

25. They know deep down they can convince Bubbas she has a penis

And that will scare the living hell out of them.

[paulk]

29. my thoughts are that you have it completely backwards

The press has favored Obama - didn't you see the study in Feb that showed MSM coverage of Obama to that point to be overwhelmingly positive? It was something like 83-17. Hillary's coverage was in the area of 53-47 negative coverage.

The facts don't support your thesis.

[librechik]

30. cuz they already spent millions on the oppo research

and have their trained weasels straining at their leashes to rip her flesh

[ruggerson]

31. I think they've always been afraid of runnning against Hillary

apparently their misdirection worked - you bought into it.

[VotesForWomen]

32. what exactly gave you that idea? they seem to be rooting for Obama. nt

[NoodleyAppendage]

33. Because 50% of America CAN'T STAND HER. She will get out their demoralized base.

After 8 years of BFEE, the only way the Repukes can win is to run against someone that their based DESPISES. Plus, their typical opposition campaigning doesn't work well against Obama because they look quite obvious in their race baiting...which turns off the minority of their party with half a brain in their heads.

J

[TheWraith]

34. Because the name "Clinton" gives the right wingers wood.

It unites their base, and gives them a reason to drag out AAAAL the mud from the 1990s. Winning isn't even the issue (though she does present their best chance)--they just want to try and burn the Dem candidate, and hold the party together. If Obama's the nominee, the religious right stays home because they hate McCain, the moderates defect to our side, and the Republicans spend the next ten years or so trying to pick up the pieces of their party.