Friday, March 07, 2008
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Instrument of Hope, Or Political Hack?
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
1:39 PM
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If you haven't seen it yet, this is the new cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.
The cover story is called, "Machinery of Hope" -- which is exactly how Obama wants to portray himself.
By the way, I agree with David Brooks' column today where he argues Barack Obama cannot be "a new kind of candidate" -- and simultaneously attack Hillary.
He's also correct that the gut instinct of his consultants and advisors will always be to go on the attack. As they say, if all you have is a hammer, you tend to think every problem is a nail...
Speaking of nails, Brooks hits the nail on the head when he says: "... a candidate should never betray the core theory of his campaign, or head down a road that leads to that betrayal."
Of course, Hillary wants Obama to wrestle in the mud, and the famous maxim that the pig actually enjoys it, is essentially true.
But while Brooks is primary argument is correct, he fails to address the point that Obama has lost the momentum, and that he can't regain it by doing the same things he's already been doing. You can't overcome an opponent who has momentum by "out-nicing" them.
In fact, the larger point is that Obama has essentially painted himself in a corner.
He now faces a catch-22: If he goes negative, he betrays his campaign. But if he stays positive, Hillary will define him and "steal' the election ...
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Hugh,
I believe you pundits are overlooking or dismissing two serious factors in the issue of whether Republicans should prefer Hillary or Obama as the Dem nominee:
1. With Hillary as the nominee, a large part of Obama's base will be angry enough to stay home on election day.
2. The Rezko affair, while admittedly entertaining for those of us who care about these things, will not in anyway deter that same base from enthusiastically supporting him, not matter how obvious his guilt.
Does the name O.J. Simpson mean anything to you? |
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New packaging, same old tired liberal/socialist policy ideas ...
He's a great con man to have convinced so many people that he is a moderate ... but that is it ...
And, no he is not a nice guy ... with friends like Renko you are no longer a nice guy ... |
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Obama also has the problem of explaining his relation to Rezko, and how close was him to the money trail going back to the Oil for Food scandal.
He also has to get over the Nafta-Canada double talk scandal. |
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