A missed opportunity to pull the political "center" back to the left.

[CitizenRob]

The Democrats have seized the imagination of the media. The battle between Hillary and Obama has left McCain out in the cold, mostly forgotten, by the mainstream.

While this could be a long awaited opportunity to frame ALL Americans as battling between the two wings of the Democratic party, instead Hillary has choosen to embrace McCain as an equal opponent rather than an extremist unworthy even of mention. If both candidates were to ignore the existence of the Republican party entirely, keeping the media focused on the battle for our country between the two best candidates (Hillary, and Obama) the Republican right could be relegated to near third party status irrelevancy. The Republicans need constant media focus on their ideology in order to maintain it's hold on the average American. It is a shame that the DNC did not see the opportunity to turn this primary into a chance to turn all but the most radical right Americans into Democrats.

[depakid]

1. So Obama's position is that McCain is a extremist?

I don't think so....

Seems to me, he's been framed as one of those we should seek "unity" with.

[CitizenRob]

4. Obama has never put McCain on an equal level with either himself or HRC.

He has stuck to relegating McCain as a terrible choice.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. The DNC doesn't control the candidates campaigns.

[CitizenRob]

3. True, but they do control party strategy.

[John Q. Citizen]

8. Party stratedgy has been to try to get Clinton out of the race since she endorsed McCain.

Which is why the super d's keep moving to Obama.

[grasswire]

5. you're ignoring the power of talk radio, other right voices

Many millions of Americans only know what they hear on hate radio. They never read a newspaper; they never watch network news or cable news. You can be assured that most of America is not hearing the Democrats' message no matter what it might be.

[New Dawn]

6. The DLC doesn't care about winning general elections, they just want to control the Democratic Party

That is why they really do not care if McCain wins. Their mission is just to keep progressive candidates off the ballot. That is why the super-rich give them so much money.

[TooBigaTent]

7. If only... This lost opportunity goes all the way back to the beginning of the

primary season, if not further. With the failures of the cabal and the increase in frustration that Americans are starting to express, the entire political landscape could have been re-defined.

Even at this late stage, HC and BO could have taken control of the agenda and concentrated on an issue debate. For example, they could have said, "We have 12 weeks before the first/last/whatever primary and each week we will articulate what we want for America. This week we are going to debate the differences between our plans for improving health care for all Americans." Refuse to answer any questions except on the topic of the week. Even if there is no significant difference, they could have dominated the press instead of the constant attacks and endless stories on the "horserace." And by seeing a debate between the two of them, that middle could have been pulled leftward, maybe even significantly.

The corporate/repuke media would resist mightily, but if the two candidates stuck to their plan, the media would have had to cover them or else be frozen out. Sure, Faux would have run constant bits of how they are not answering any questions. But, I thnk, it would have been a much better tactic than the sniping going on now.

If only...