Christopher Borick, pollster, Muhlenberg College: … if [Sen. Clinton] is going to have the chance to move beyond Pennsylvania in a meaningful way — not just a desperation play — she has to move voters. ——————– Background: The Ferrell-Fouts Award is named after an SNL skit where Will Ferrell played former QB Dan Fouts as a sportscaster who makes painfully obvious statements about football. In this case, the award is for pundits who make painfully...

See Joe’s earlier post for the background on this ridiculousness. Then see below for the video of Obama’s response, delivered at a rally in Indiana. (The video is much more compelling than the transcripted response.) Clearly, as Andrew Sullivan notes, Obama is not backing down. And while Andrew (and I, and others) are distinctly biased, pro-Obama voices, I’ll say what’s on mind anyway: “Good for you, Senator. Don’t back down. Don’t give in. Don’t...

Kevin Sullivan defends Sen. Obama’s criticism of former President Carter — by slicing up Steve Clemons’ rebuke of Obama on the same subject.

Holly Robinson alerted several of us to a story in yesterday’s Philadelphia Daily News, which was highlighted at Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire. The gist of it is that campaign attack ads have all but disappeared leading up to the Pennsylvania primary, but negative campaigning continues via campaign staff on media conference calls and other such indirect forums. Money ‘graphs from the PDN story: The result is a campaign in which candidates take the high road in TV ads and most...

From today’s WaPo: … many Republicans joined their Democratic colleagues in decrying the days of open-ended war and an open U.S. checkbook, and in demanding to know what the administration is doing to pressure the Iraqi government and military to take responsibility for its own fate. “We’re a generous people,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), “but our patience is not unlimited.” Perhaps the “standard” Republican response to compromise plans for...

While I can’t answer the question from the title of this post with conclusive data, I can offer two, recent, contrasting anecdotes that seem increasingly representative of the partisan divide on this matter. The first I found on page 2 of this article from the April 2 edition of Politoco. Though I’m still reading the “Responsible Plan,” so far, it measures up to the description in the article: The Responsible Plan draws heavily from the Baker-Hamilton Commission’s report...

Professor Martin Marty’s full comment on Trinity United’s former pastor can be found here. And just who the heck is Martin Marty? Andrew Sullivan writes that he knows “of few more distinguished, principled or decent public figures.”

It’s the concern articulated in this opined portrayal of the Senator, by Michael David Cobb Bowen (whom I happen to consider one of the smartest, most original voices on the Web; black, white, or otherwise). Now, I appreciate that my confession of reservations like those expressed by Mr. Bowen may cause some of you to hyperventilate — just as some of you hyperventilated over my recent, repeated, almost-hysterical defense of Obama in the face of the Rev. Wright-rooted accusations. So be...

Phil Bredesen, that is, two-term Democratic governor of Tennessee, described as “an even-keeled political pragmatist.” He’s not committed yet to either Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama, so he has some credibility when he suggests the Dem superdelegates have their own primary — in June, rather than waiting until the Convention in late August. Will two-plus months make a difference in the party’s chances for the White House? Who knows, but if nothing else, the Dems should...

Courtesy of Andrew Sullivan, via Democrats.org. “The Reverend Jeremiah Wright is an outstanding church leader whom I have heard speak a number of times. He has served for decades as a profound voice for justice and inclusion in our society. He has been a vocal critic of the racism, sexism and homophobia which still tarnish the American dream. To evaluate his dynamic ministry on the basis of two or three sound bites does a grave injustice to Dr. Wright, the members of his congregation, and the...

Hillary Clinton had almost won my respect in the last week for not jumping directly into the Jeremiah Wright debate. So much for that, according to RCP. UPDATE: Steve Benen offers some thoughts on this development, concluding: … we now have a situation in which John McCain defended Obama against Wright-related charges, and Mike Huckabee defended Obama, but Hillary Clinton sat down with editors of a conservative newspaper to reignite a fire that had already largely gone out. Less than a week...

Tony Campbell of Republicans for Obama — you may recall my interview with him a couple weeks ago — today offers, “in the spirit of cooperation,” three possible strategies the Clinton campaign might “use to try to sway the nomination in their favor.” My favorite is the third, “The Unfairness of Leap Year Strategy”: Clinton can claim that Leap Year was not supposed to happen this year after all. The extra day in February gave Obama an unfair competitive...

Andrew Sullivan reminds us that some individuals on the Right are quick to defend the late Jerry Falwell, arguing that the balance of his record outweighs a handful of inflammatory, hateful comments he made. These same individuals are equally quick to condemn Jeremiah Wright on a handful of inflammatory, hateful comments he made, regardless of the balance of his record. Unfortunately, there are more than a few on the Left who are willing to do the same in reverse. If nothing else, the Obama-Wright...

“Against logic there is no armor like ignorance.” - Laurence J. Peter —————————————————————————————————– Some of us gained our first knowledge of the south side of Chicago from the opening lyrics of Jim Croce‘s 1973 hit song, “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” And while the tale of Mr....

I know I’m a one-subject pony of late, and for that, I apologize. But this subject’s important to many of us; and should be important to all of us. Besides, I couldn’t pass up sharing this excerpt from Katherine at Obsidian Wings: A lot of people say there is nothing that Obama can do or say that can excuse his association with a black man who would say those things. Never mind whether Obama was there. Never mind when Obama found out about them. Never mind whether they’re...

“So here the problem is, Jeremiah Wright is conducive to a 10-second sound bite and the speech is not … This is the problem. The Wright thing is perfect for our short attention spans, and this requires a little bit of attention. It takes some sitting down and settling in and not a lot of folks are willing to do that.” – Michael Smerconish, morning drive-time host for Philadelphia’s 1210 AM WPHT, on Obama’s race speech and reactions to it. I’d like to hope Mr....

In yesterday’s discussion, I attempted to clarify one of the mischaracterizations of Obama’s speech Tuesday re: race in America. That mischaracterization was simply this, that Obama attempted to excuse Rev. Wright by suggesting that “all blacks and all black churches hate whites and [are] racist.” That is clearly not what Obama said — and after revisiting Obama’s actual words, plus some healthy debate, at least one commenter conceded the point. She then added...

Wow. That’s the single, befuddled reaction I’m able to muster after reading some of the negative critiques of Obama’s speech yesterday: Wow. Wow … what happened to careful, accurate analysis? Wow … when did the ability to hear and understand and appreciate nuance die? Wow … is “benefit of the doubt” a permanently lost luxury? Andrew Sullivan had his own “moment of revelation” after reading such critiques. He later concluded that Obama’s...

Earlier, I posted my take on the speech and Shaun Mullen posted his. Jill Miller Zimon offered the full text. Elsewhere, publius and Justin Gardner believe the finest moment of the speech was Obama’s decision to reiterate his condemnation of Rev. Wright’s remarks while refusing to disavow completely the man behind the words. They have a point. It was a clear moment of courage, and win or lose, it’s a decision that warrants respect.

I watched most of Obama’s speech live on CNN.com. Of all the words he spoke, those three — “not this time” — seemed the defining words of the moment; not just of the speech, but of his entire campaign. Better than most, those words capture, I think, why so many people from so many corners of the country — from different races, income levels, genders, and ideologies — have rallied to his candidacy: because they believe their vote for him is a vote against...

Slate’s Mickey Kaus boldly but carelessly suggests Geraldine Ferraro was right. In setting up his argument, Kaus accuses Obama-booster Andrew Sullivan of uttering the same sentiments as Ferraro in Sullivan’s essay, “Goodbye to All That.” Here are Sullivan’s words, via my excerpt of Kaus’ excerpt: What does [Obama] offer? First and foremost: his face. Think of it as the most effective potential re-branding of the United States since Reagan … Consider this...

I will eventually publish a second part to the series I started here. But that second installment requires some research, and time for said research is scarce right now. In the meantime — adding to Roger L. Simon‘s confession from the right — I discovered this morning a counterbalance confession from the left, by David Mamet. An excerpt: … I wondered, how could I have spent decades thinking that I thought everything was always wrong at the same time that I thought I thought...

It’s definitely not a good week for NY Democrats. In case you missed this non-Spitzer story, see here for the basics. And, for the Obama campaign response, see here. Will HRC respond in kind?

Tony Campbell is a unique character attached to a stranger-than-fiction cause. A Republican, he worked in the early 90’s for two Democratic members of Congress from Pennsylvania: Ron Klink (who’s no longer in office) and Mike Doyle. “Growing up in western Pennsylvania, I always heard there were no Republicans, only Democrats and conservative Democrats,” Tony explained. Tony has also run for office, first as a Republican candidate for Congress in Maryland’s 7th District, and then as...

Regular readers know I’m an Andrew Sullivan fan. But I have to respectfully disagree with him on this argument. Among other things, he writes: If the Clintons beat Obama this way, I have a simple prediction. It will mean a mass flight from the process. It will alter the political consciousness of an entire generation of young voters – against any positive interaction with the political process for the foreseeable future. My response, emailed to him a few minutes ago: Please. If the...