Clinton Defections Should Raise Eyebrows

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/byron-williams/clinton-defections-should_b_100056.html

Byron Williams

Clinton Defections Should Raise Eyebrows

Posted May 4, 2008 | 04:51 PM (EST)

snip//

According to NBC News, among the reasons for Guerra-Mondragon's defection included his uneasiness with the tone of the Clinton campaign and was beginning to worry about what this would mean for the general election.

Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich, recently endorsed Obama. In addition to serving in the Clinton Administration, Reich's personal relationship with Bill and Hillary Clinton spans five decades.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's recent endorsement of Obama has been viewed by some as duplicity of the highest order. Former Clinton campaign strategist James Carville, referred to Richardson, the former Clinton Energy Secretary and former presidential candidate as "Judas."
In addition, Greg Craig, who served as special counsel to Bill Clinton during his impeachment; Anthony Lake, former National Security Adviser, have thrown their support to Obama. Even Obama's chief political strategist David Axelrod worked for Hillary Clinton during her Senate campaign.
Then there are the members of the Senate who have known and worked with Bill and Hillary Clinton for the past two decades who have decided to support Obama, including John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and former presidential candidate Christopher Dodd.

There have been several reported cases of heated telephone conversations, most notable, between the former president and Kennedy as well as Richardson after they decided to endorse Obama.
Is this string of defections merely politics as usual? Are they the residue of angry former employees? Or is there something else at play?

snip//

If Wright's association with Obama has done damage to the senator's image, is not fair to ask what does myriad defections from a number of highly respected aides and supporters say about Clinton? Moreover, a number of these defections have occurred since "bittergate," the Pennsylvania primary, and Jeremiah Wright.

Many of these defectors are not immune to power. Some, in all likelihood, have made their own Faustian bargains at times for a seat at the table. For whatever reason the possibility of sitting at that table with the Clintons is no longer as appealing as it once was.

[davidinalameda]

1. since these people have known and worked with the Clintons for decades

supporting Obama would be a no-brainer

they know how low the Clintons will stoop to get what they want

[N4457S]

2. Even So...

...what's really shaping up is for Obama to win the nomination this summer and enter the race this Fall as a very wounded candidate.

It is highly likely that McCain will be in the White House come January, thanks to Reverend Wright.

I've never heard anyone call Hillary stupid. That being said, she has to see what's happening. I think she's behind a lot of it.

[bemildred]

4. Allow me: Hillary is stupid.

Obama will kick McCain's ass right between the uprights. This Willy Horton shit is not going to work this time around.

[N4457S]

8. How Old Are You?

Were you even around for Dukakis? That's exactly what Susan Estrich said. Lee Atwater made a fool of her...just like Karl Rove made a fool of Bob Shrum this last time around.

How does Obama win Ohio and Pennsylvania in the general when he couldn't carry them in his own party's primary?

He can't. And they know it.

Don't you get it? Bill Clinton won both times because he was able to carry so many southern states...and that happened because of his comparatively moderate views and his history as a southern governor. Obama has none of that going for him.

I've been watching campaigns for years and I'm telling you, this is over. It's been over for several months.

A more pertinent question now is will the party survive if it spends another four years in the wilderness.

Oh, and by the way...Hillary is rumored to already be hiring for 2012.

If she knows what's coming, why don't you? What's your excuse?

[bemildred]

12. I was born at the end of WWII.

Humphrey was a corrupt party hack who was pro-war when the country was against it. That fits McCain to a tee.

Are insults and name-calling really the best argument you can comeup with?

[N4457S]

14. No...

...but even if you don't like what I said, that's of little consequence.

I'm not subject to peer pressure. Don't ever forget it.

[bemildred]

17. I left out threats, didn't I? nt

[Lerkfish]

23. "don't ever forget it"?

LOL I got your number already.

[tabatha]

19. If they know it,

why are the superdelegates not going to Clinton.

Are they deliberately, while "knowing" it, handing the country over to McCain?

What a lot of crock.

[N4457S]

21. Maybe...

...they've been told to.

[tabatha]

24. more nonsense.

[sudopod]

26. We have the internet now.

It isn't 1988. :D

[eridani]

28. And all those southerners who won't vote for Obama because of race--

--will just entirely forget about their misogyny and vote for Clinton? On what planet?

[primavera]

30. Logic here?

You're concerned that Obama's chances for taking Pennsylvania and Ohio in the general election are poor because he didn't win the Democratic primaries in those states? By that reasoning, shouldn't we be much more concerned about Hillary's chances of winning a general election on account of her having lost the Democratic primaries in most states?

And why does a rumor that Hillary may be looking for campaign staff for 2012 suggest to you anything other than that she knows she's losing this year? Whether Obama wins the general or not, do you really think Hillary is the sort who would pass up any opportunity to gain the Oval Office for herself? Regardless of who wins in 2008, Hillary will of course be taking part in the 2012 election, whether she'll be running as the incumbent seeking a second term, or against Obama or against McCain, because Hillary will never acept "no" for an answer. She wants the presidency and will either get it or will die trying, no matter what the cost to herself, her party, or her country. So why should it suggest anything other than that she's an ambitious politician that she's hedging her bets and looking ahead to 2012?

[eridani]

27. Wrong. She's a sociopath. Major difference. n/t

[Fridays Child]

5. Thanks to Rev. Wright???

Try thanking the neoconesque Clinton campaign machine and the GOP-comnpliant media.

[N4457S]

9. Even If That's True...

...what do you plan to do about it?

[Fridays Child]

18. Like you...

...I think it's out of our hands.

[Fridays Child]

15. self -delete

[ima_sinnic]

6. oh, yeah, people are sooo ready to vote for McCain instead of Wright

oh, yeah, WRIGHT ISN"T RUNNING! and you haven't noticed the polls, that Obama is surging despite the Wright BULLSHIT?

once the ankle-biter, Hillary, finally drops by the wayside, Obama can finally campaign against McLame in earnest. Wright will be a "dead horse" before then. it's been done to death. In fact, McBush has his Hagee, and that is getting some play now. Nobody wants the repuke except for the 19 percenters, believe me. He is going to lose, big time.

[N4457S]

10. Yeah...

...he has to find a way to win Ohio and Pennsylvania first.

If he doesn't, it's over.

[tabatha]

20. You seem to forget that Democrats in those states

will vote for the Democratic nominee, regardless of who it is.

If all of Obama and Clinton voters vote for the Democrat, the state will be won.

And Clinton herself has said that she will support, with all her heart, Obama if he wins

So you're bloviating about nothing.

[N4457S]

22. No...

...because I'm from there and I know how they vote.

Cleveland and NE Ohio will go for any Democrat. That's why Kucinich is so electable there. It's as safe a seat as he'll ever find.

Columbus and Cincinnati are the two most conservative metros in the state, and while Franklin county went for Kerry last time (barely) I don't see it going for Obama this time.

Rural central Ohio, SE Ohio (especially) and SW Ohio are redneck heaven and will not vote for a black man...

...and that means he can't carry the state. If he can't win Ohio he's had it.

I suspect this is Hillary's point, but if they hand her the nomination they tear the party apart.

This is why I say it's over.

[eridani]

29. But inhabitants of redneck heaven, though racist, are not misogynists?

Being feminists despite not liking black people they will vote for Clinton?

[N4457S]

31. They're More Likely...

...to vote for Clinton than Obama, but at the end of the day I don't think either of them could beat McCain.

Now, if Gore had been the nominee and we had Gore vs. McCain, Gore wins.

[eridani]

32. Or Edwards

They sure the hell won't vote for Clinton after the Rethugs finish their messaging on her fake Annie Oakley and Tuzla poses.

[Fridays Child]

16. By god, I hope you're right...

...as in "correct." :)

[davidinalameda]

7. it's not thanks to Rev. Wright

IF that happens, it will be thanks to the demolition crew known as the Clinton campaign

[roguevalley]

25. I doubt he will be very wounded. his polls are rising in spite of her

spite. McCain is the worst pug candidate of the last 100 years. I believe she knows what she's doing and cares more for her own future than ours. that should scare everyone.

[Fridays Child]

3. They see what we see...

...the distinct and frightening rightward turn that the Clintons have made--in policy proposals and campaign tactics. The only Faustian bargain that matters, here, is the one Hillary has made with the neocons. And, if she doesn't pull out soon, the deal will blow up in her face and take down the whole party. Is she just supremely tin-eared or has this been her intention all along? It probably doesn't matter. The effect will be just the same, either way.

[N4457S]

13. I Think...

...that's already happened.

There were people I knew in Dallas ten years ago who've said they thought both of them were CIA deep plants. Hillary's father had a relationship with the intelligence community many years ago and we all know how deeply the Clintons were involved in the rackets in Arkansas.

If it's true, the race is out of our hands.

Frankly, I think it is.

[nichomachus]

11. These people are sending a loud and clear message

ignore it at your peril.

When people who are longtime political associates and former employees abandon you like this, they are sending a message as clear as a horse's head in your bed.

These are senior people in the party -- they are past their career-building stage, so they are free to do this free of recriminations (for which Hilly and Billy are famous).

These are the very people who should be at the top of Hillary's support chain. The fact that they are very publicly opposing her is telling -- as is the fact that people like Gore and Edwards have remained silent. They both should be supporting Hillary. The fact they have not done so at this point is tantamount to a slap in the face.

Career minded superdelegates can't openly oppose Hillary just in case she gets in. They know that she would cut them off at the knees in a heartbeat just to get even. Those who have supported her are taking a chance, although whether Obama is as vindictive as the Clintons remains to be seen. It's hard to imagine he is that vindictive. Few people are.