Comments on: Obama Calls Clinton’s “Kitchen Sink” Campaign “Republican Tactics”

By: domajot

domajot — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:03:27 +0000

I second the sentiments of Paul Silver's last comment.

People are not going to 'get it' in a round-about way, though. Obama has to spell it out, again and again.

By: PaulSilver

PaulSilver — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:21:52 +0000

It occurred to me that I have a problem with Obama referring to the tactics as Republican tactics. Just as we sometimes overgeneralize and refer to terrorist tactics as Muslim tactics. Republicans are not bad people but rather it is those members of all ideologies who believe that the ends justify the means. For the majority of us the means are the ends.

By: Doxy

Doxy — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:45:14 +0000

Paul,

I agree with you. It looks like Obama has condemned the tactics of the campaign rather than going after Hillary herself. I'm very tired of ad hominems, and Obama has avoided that.

By: PaulSilver

PaulSilver — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:51:04 +0000

I appreciate Obama talking about the tactics in a campaign as reflecting the values and standards of a candidate and an indicator of how they would build bridges and cooperation.
He can stay above the sordid crap by talking about why it is used and how we all want to rise above it.

By: Dave_Schuler

Dave_Schuler — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:55:18 +0000

I guess those who think that these “Republican tactics” are either new to the Clintons or exclusively used by Republicans are too young to remember the 1990's.

By: pennywit

pennywit — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:07:38 +0000

Thing about “Republican tactics” is that they work …

By: domajot

domajot — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:45:24 +0000

I agree with ryan. If Obama wants to be 'different', then he has to act 'different' and talk 'different'.
He's getting into some tortured commentary now and straying too far from his basic message and his policies.

Btw, some of those 'powerful forces' who don't want the race to end yet are the voters in states like Pennsylvania, who are eager for their share of attention. I've read quite a few comments from locals to that effect. It's a point the news people are studiously avoiding; it's scandal free, so not worthy of mention.

This is about the people, right? Maybe that's something Obama could stress, instead. It's a notion wholesome enough to be right up his alley. At least, I take that view to heart. One such spokesperson for Pa was an avowed Obama fan, to boot.

By: domajot

domajot — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:24:29 +0000

Hillary and Obama sure have one thing in common. When they want to insult each other, they call the other s Republican.

By: ryan

ryan — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:44:36 +0000

I may be in the minority, but I'd prefer to see Obama talk as little as possible about Clinton and instead focus his efforts on letting voters get to know him. He obviously has to respond when an attack is made, but some of the things mentioned in this quote are old news and should be allowed to fade into memory.

There is a seven week lull to fill before the next pivotal moment, and it would probably do everyone some good if campaign news was pushed to the back burner for a while. The candidates can spend some time in townhall meetings in Pennsylvania and elsewhere making sure the voters know who they are voting for, and then closer to the elections can ratchet up the campaigns again to make sure we're all still paying attention. The break would be welcome after an exhaustive two months of daily ups-and-downs.