Clinton, Obama and affirmative actionDoes anyone really believe that Geraldine Ferraro was speaking only for herself, and not for the Clinton campaign, when she went after Barack Obama? Because I don’t.
I’ve been watching how the Clintons work for years. They do what it takes – sometimes, whatever it takes – to win. That doesn’t mean Hillary would be a terrible president, and if she wins the nomination, I will happily and proudly vote for her. I like her health-care plan better than Obama’s, and I think having someone in the White House who is tough and fierce and knows how to fight in the streets with the worst of the political hacks is not entirely a bad thing.
But let’s be honest here: This was carefully, and brilliantly, orchestrated.
Ferraro is a veteran politician, and she knows how presidential campaigns work. She knows that you don’t make comments about something as sensitive as race without checking with headquarters. She’d be a fool – and she isn’t a fool – to just blurt that out.
Think about what she did from a political perspective. The key battle now is Pennsylvania, a state with a mixed demographic. Obama will win Philadelphia, with its large African-American population and sizable numbers of students and liberal white people. But there are plenty of more conservative, suburban and working-class areas – and in some of those places, there are no doubt people who are unhappy about affirmative action.
And that’s who Ferrero’s comments were aimed at – the angry white people who want to blame their problems on black people.
Her message was pretty simple, when you get right down to it: Obama got an unfair advantage over a white person (Clinton) because he’s black. She may not have said it in so many words, but in the areas where the Clinton polling shows she can exploit that sort of fear and resentment, people will get the point right away.
Naturally, Clinton could never say anything like that (any more than Obama could say that his opponent was a “monster” who would do anything to win). But both candidates wanted that message out, and in both cases, sophisticated surrogates put it out, then fell on the sword and resigned for the team.
I know this sounds incredibly cynical, but this is how the game is played at this level.
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Comments (7)
You're absolutely right, Tim. It's despicable beyond belief. Hillary Clinton wants to destroy the village to save it, slinging mud even though it's mathematically impossible for her to win the nomination.
Posted by Paul Hogarth | March 13, 2008 03:44 PM
Is there a name for this move yet? Sepuking?
My favorite part was that Ferraro took it to the "Torrance Daily Breeze"! And that Samantha Power "monstered" in "The Scotsman" (?!?) Their poor little servers must have gone down with so much traffic afterwards ...
Dear Democratic candidates and advisory staff: if anyone else wishes to sepuke, may I offer my humble web site supermarke.com at a low low fee for your underhanded comment-planting pleasure? Just let me sell some ads on it first ....
Posted by Marke B. | March 13, 2008 04:15 PM
You seriously like her health care plan better? How exactly is forcing people to buy private insurance, and potentially garnishing their wages further if they can't afford to, a more progressive alternative to Obama's plan? I'm not satisfied with his plan, either, but unlike Clinton he has at least come out and said that he supports single payer in principle, and given Clinton's major base of support among the insurance companies, I would trust him a hell of a lot more than her to eventually get us there.
As for Pennsylvania, don't buy into the hype that this will be a hugely contested battle. The deck was already stacked against Obama there in many respects, and Ferraro didn't do much to change that. Al Giordano's blog The Field gives a pretty in-depth explanation as to why a victory for Obama is extremely unlikely based on the demographics, party machinery, and delegate math. He will almost certainly narrow the current 20-point gap, but I wouldn't expect to see anything dissimilar to Ohio.
For what it's worth, Hillary Clinton's Senate record initially made it almost impossible for me to justify voting for her in good conscience, and now her campaign's behavior in attacking Obama puts it snowball's-chance-in-hell territory. Living in a solidly Democratic state like California, I have the luxury to vote my conscience-- but now I'm not sure I'd be able to hold my nose and support her if I were in a swing state.
Posted by Greg | March 13, 2008 04:45 PM
For the record, Greg, the Guardian has endorsed Obama, I voted for Obama and I think -- based mostly on the fact that he has a stronger grassroots progressive constituency -- the he's likely to be more accountable to us as president.
I don't think he's perfect, but overall, he's the better candidate.
I think Clinton knows that she has to win PA convincingly; if it's a few points, she doesn't get the nomination. And I think she's willing to go to great lenghts -- beyond what I think is OK -- to do that. That's my point.
Posted by tim redmond | March 13, 2008 07:47 PM
DON'T BE DUPED!!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty, and comfort for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-self, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-self.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket now! Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history. But the time to act is soon.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
Posted by jacksmith | March 14, 2008 06:40 AM
Jacksmith,
wtf?
Bullshit. You're proof of the Clinton Lie Machine.
Posted by forealz | March 14, 2008 03:12 PM
How does Ferrero's comments = affirmative action? I'd like to think bigger than that.
Posted by dave | March 14, 2008 03:51 PM