Comments on: Right and Ready on Day 1: The Case for Hillary Clinton

By: Matt Ingoglia

Matt Ingoglia — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:58:50 +0000

First off, Obama never claimed he was a “true blue liberal democrat”; in fact, he’s on the record over and over again imploring voters and politicians to embrace consensus-based decision making. That doesn’t excuse the public financing decision, but I believe his reversal was more than justified by the threat posed by the RNC and largely pro-McCain 527s. If you’re willing to forgive Hillary Clinton’s Iraq vote based on the dynamics of war, you should be able to do the same with Obama’s decision, which was based on changing circumstances just like hers.

Furthermore, the “change vs. experience” debate is a lot less black and white than people realize. As Biden exemplifies, just because you’ve been in Washington for 35 years doesn’t mean you are an “insider”. I don’t think anyone who commutes home by train every day is out of touch with average Americans. Basically, what I’m saying is examples abound of experienced politicians who’ve managed to stay true to their principles. Ted Kennedy, Dennis Kucinich, and Russ Feingold come to mind, in addition to Biden.

It’ll be interesting to see where the “McCain is a clueless rich man” argument goes. The Biden selection guarantees we’ll be hearing more about it, and thanks to Biden’s background he can’t be accused of hypocrisy by bringing it up. It’s not in Obama’s interest to criticize McCain’s wealth, but it is in his interest to use it as part of the greater narrative that McCain doesn’t understand the economic needs of working Americans. By making the line “if he can’t count his houses, how can you count on him?” Obama can play up doubts about McCain while not looking petty and critical of the wealthy people many working-class voters admire.

By: Keepthechange

Keepthechange — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:02:06 +0000

Picking Biden runs counter to everything Obama supporters told us about him. Remember when he was going to take public financing? Remember when he was going to fillabuster the Eavesdropping Bill? Remember when he couldn’t pick Cinton becuse she was too much a Washington insider? This guy isn’t anything he said he is. Obama is rapidly becoming your standard pol. Biden is, perhaps, the biggest Washington insider of the lot and picking him just reconfirms my belief that this ticket has room for only one historical figure and thats Obama. Sorry, ladies but you’ll just have to get back in line. Oh, and lets take a second and think about the whole line of attack on McCain’s wealth. Bad move! Now we’re going to have to listen to all the right wing attack dogs drag up the money the Kennedys and Kerrys have. Not to mention that Bill Gates is the single largest contributor to the Democratic party. And, what about George Soros? I’m a true blue liberal democrat and I know being rich ain’t a sin. Being a doddering old fool who can’t remember his address or addresses is. But, having money is what we all want. It would benefit Obama if he could create an economy where we all became Cindy McCains or better yet, Theresa Kerrys.

By: Sean Rourke

Sean Rourke — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:35:19 +0000

She doesn’t control any voters, she’s just very influential with 18 million of them. And regardless of what you think of her supporters, their vote is equal to your vote, so in the eyes of democracy, you’re both equal, and for Obama, their support means exactly as much as yours.

By: FDRsGHOST

FDRsGHOST — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:22:01 +0000

Hillary is the absolute wrong choice for Veep. She doesn’t control anyone’s votes except for a gaggle of robotic yentas that won’t vote for Obama no matter what (because he’s a man) while her presence will energize the Hillary-hating rightwingers (who are Legion). Her husband’s bizarre behavior is another piece of baggage Obama can do without. Stick with a Kaine or Bayh (Biden still carries the old plagerism knock which will be “new” to people who don’t remember it and echo-chambered by talk radio).

By: Sean Rourke

Sean Rourke — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:41:56 +0000

I agree with everything you wrote. He needs to pick her, especially now that the polls are even. All of this stuff about how she’ll be difficult to govern with doesn’t matter if he doesn’t even get in the White House.