The great race to the bottom of the gutter has begun in earnest. As Obama surges, Clinton fights for her political life and McCain moves to secure his flank and range on the democratic frontrunner, the smearfest, negative gutter politics is starting to come thick and fast.We got it kicked off with silly plagiarism charges against Obama. Next, Michelle Obama makes a rookie mistake with her language at a campaign event and ends up in the crosshairs of a Michelle hates America narrative. Then comes word that mega buck Clinton supporters are creating a 527 organization to support Clinton and attack Obama in TX, OH, and PA, essentially democrats swiftboating themselves. And before we can even catch our breath, the NYT issues a hit job on John McCain alleging marital infidelity and favors traded with an alleged lobbyist paramour with NO proof, hard facts, soft facts or indeed any facts at all.
These are the gutter politics Americans are sick and tired of.
Attacking Obama didn't work in South Carolina or Wisconsin, and it won't work in Texas. Sen. Clinton's strategy will be revealed for what it is-- more political gamesmanship from a manipulative and desperate candidate, as she loses more and more Latino, white male, Latino and delegates to a black guy that's run a smarter campaign and who is more likeable to the electorate.
ReplyDeleteIf she's honest with hereself and her staff, Sen. Clinton will do the following:
1. Recognize that Clinton name carries too much baggage from the past;
2. Recognize that she is too much of a divisive candidate to get the democratic nomination in 2008;
3. Understand that she has been outclassed in this campaign;
4. Recover a semblance of dignity by resigning and working earnestly to bring the democratic party together to defeat warmonger McCain. This would not only show the world that she's a good democrate but place her in good position to run for the presidency in 2012.
Will she do it? Who am I kidding?
I think the jury is out on whether or not negative campaigning directed against Obama will be effective. Clearly, Clinton has not figured out a winning formula. Smear jobs have left a bad taste in the mouth of many. Its a conundrum for her since on the issues, there is not a lot of daylight between them. So to go on the attack, she has to use non issue oriented stuff like the silly plagiarism charges or some of the kind of stuff you find on the Taylor Marsh blog. But that does not sit well with voters other than the most rabid anti Obama Clinton supporters.
ReplyDeleteShe has 527 organizations coming to her aid in Texas and Ohio. The issue will be how far they decide to go and if people find it objectionable, will they lay that at Clinton's feet. And even if she takes the blame for negative campaigning from 527s, the issue is whether the benefit in terms of decreasing Obama's positives is worth the increase in her negatives for doing it.