Affirmative Action Campaigning

Check out this latest outrage on the Democratic trail - Bill Clinton is now "Joe McCarthy" because he praised his wife and John McCain but forgot to praise Obama as well.  Oh, dear -such selective praise might negatively impact Obama's self-esteem, and none of us want that, now do we?

Wild Bill's offensive, reprehensible comment is here:

"I think it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country," said Clinton, who was speaking to a group of veterans Friday in Charlotte, N.C. "And people could actually ask themselves who is right on these issues, instead of all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics."

How dare he praise two candidates and not the third!  And this during a Presidential campaign!  [But why did Clinton single out "this" election year?  Is he really attacking John Kerry's patriotism?]  The Obama Camp's reaction was swift, measured, and thoughtful:

[Retired Air Force Gen. Merrill "Tony"] McPeak, a former chief of staff of the Air Force and currently a co- chair of Obama's presidential campaign, said that sounded like McCarthy.

"I grew up, I was going to college when Joe McCarthy was accusing good Americans of being traitors, so I've had enough of it," McPeak said.

Clearly it is time to extend the Obama Rules - any praise of Hillary for any quality she might posses that is not immediately coupled with similar praise of Barack equals criticism of Barack for a deficiency in that quality.  Perhaps the FCC can fold that into a revived Equal Time rule - whenever one of her surrogates praises Hillary they must devote equal time to praising Barack.

As an example of Compliant Campaigning, let's all look forward to Bill Clinton speaking on Mother's Day:

Hillary has been a wonderful wife and devoted mother for years.  And let me add that Barack has been a wonderful husband and devoted father, as far as I know.  No, strike that qualifier!  He has been Mr. Wonderful, and who could doubt it?

Do not scoff at me.  If Bill were to praise Hillary's marital and parenting skills while overlooking Barack's that would be the worst sort of racial pandering, playing on unspoken prejudices of black abandonment.  C'mon - when I'm right, I'm right.

Left unanswered - how will this work in the general election?  If Republicans praise John McCain as a hero and patriot without similarly praising Barack, will they also be accused of McCarthyism?  I think we know the answer.

MORE:  The Captain thinks this will dust-up will hurt the Obama people with their military surrogates.  I don't know - I think it hurts the Obama people with the three folks who were still watching this campaign with a straight face.

PILING ON:  Can we count on Oliver Willis?  Yes We Can!

(File this under "How Soon They, i.e,. We, i.e., I Forget" - was Oliver's site motto "Like Kryptonite to Logic"? Or perhaps "Like Magnetite to Stupid"?   Troubling...)

KEEP ST. PATRICK ALIVE!  Was it only five days ago we were all wearing the green?  And now this "McCarthy" attack introduces deplorable and divisive anti-Irish rhetoric into the campaign.

But McCarthy is part of the American story.   We can no more disown him than we can disown the Gimp...

Comments

[Barry Dauphin]

James Carville just compared Bill Richardson to Judas for endorsing Obama (on Good Friday). Where will the metaphors end? Carville did not mention Obama, so that makes Obama...well they're still working on that.

[memomachine]

Hmmm.

Does this mean that if Bill praised Hillary's performance in the sack the Obama campaign would demand equal treatment?

We've passed ridiculous and are now entering idiotic.

[Jane]

We are getting woefully close to a society that thinks it's just fine to ban the Mohammed cartoons.

We need a war on political correctness.

[Tom Maguire]

Does this mean that if Bill praised Hillary's performance in the sack...

But what are the odds?

[Sue]

I'm afraid. Afraid that Hillary will end this before the convention. I still have boxes upon boxes of unpopped corn....

[clarice]

TM"I think it hurts the Obama people with the three folks who were still watching this campaign with a straight face." Now, that's the ticket!

I'm sure lots of Hispanics will identify with very rich Richardson , whose mom was quite wealthy IIRC and who attended very tony prep schools. In any event, I wonder how long many minutes it will take before the BR dirt of which there is a ton hits the media.

The Clintons have been hurt a great deal by Hill's run--both of their reputations have been trashed, there are now as many people inside the Dem party who despise them as there are in the Rep party. This was a very ill-considered move, but I predict she will not let up and her coming victory in Penn will just spur her to continue on.

[Jane]

I predict she will not let up and her coming victory in Penn will just spur her to continue on.

I'm counting on it.

[Ranger]

And the next little bomblette for Obama. This quote has surfaced from a Chicago pro-palestinian activist. He claims that Obama told him during his US Senate primarry race:

“Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.”

Is it more of Obama telling people what they want to hear to keep their support? Or have his views actually changed in the last few years?

via http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/

[centralcal]

Sue: fear not, she is not going to "end it" and why should she? At long last Barry-boy is out of heavens and back down to earth, where they are duking it out on a level playing field!

Carville v. Daschle on CNN.
Brian Kilmeade storming off the set at F&F.
Wallace lecturing Steve, Gretchen and Brian.

The media have joined the candidate's and surrogate's melee! The drama and the comedy just gets better and almost non-stop.

Politics at its entertaining best, if you ask me.

[clarice]

I was going to add that McPeak makes me think that a lot of retired military officers seem to have left their brains at the door of the retirement ceremony, but then Hot Air quotes him saying this--and sounding like he's essentially in the McCain camp on military matters:

Is Iraq the last country we confront in the Middle East?
Who wants to volunteer to get cross-ways with us? We’ll be there a century, hopefully. If it works right.

[anduril]

Dumbing Joe McCarthy down. Will this be the point at which voters finally tire of "McCarthyism?"

[Sue]

Brian Kilmeade storming off the set at F&F.

He did? I missed that.

[Doug Santo]

I don't hate Bill or Hillary. I disagree with their politics and policies, usually.

I admire Hillary for sticking with her campaign in the face of growing media endorsement of O'Bama and media criticism of herself. Liberal politicians seem much more susceptible to media criticism and opinion than conservatives.

I like what Bill said about a contest between Hillary and McCain. I like the fact he left O'Bama out and implied O'Bama Does not love his country. I like the subsequent media and democratic firestorm over the non-issue.

Liberal cable networks are doing everything possible to close the wound over Rev. Wright. I don't think it can be closed. I see many political commercials in the general election featuring the good reverend, assuming O'Bama is the nominee.

While the democrats fight among themselves, McCain is doing the right thing - acting like a president who is above this nonsense.

It's early yet, but if O'Bama becomes the nominee, I believe we could see a huge landslide victory for republicans in the general election. The republican victory could even spill over to the house and mitigate to some extent what appears to be a bleak situation.

Doug Santo
Pasadena, CA

[M. Simon]

The Clintons have been hurt a great deal by Hill's run--both of their reputations have been trashed, there are now as many people inside the Dem party who despise them as there are in the Rep party.

It could just as well read:

The Obamas have been hurt a great deal by Barry's run--both of their reputations have been trashed, there are now as many people inside the Dem party who despise them as there are in the Rep party.

Six months ago who would have guessed it. Fortunes of war and politics.

[kim]

Sue, you can find the video through Breitbart. It was typical. And topical. Topsey-turvey, too.
================================

[clarice]

I think so, too, Doug, but I am an optimist.

TM, I don't know what Oliver's motto was, but surfing the net I found something the Dems might use for this election:

Ne nostra in fundamenta subeamus: “Let us not climb up our own bottoms.”

[Jane]

I just saw general McPeak (whatever) introduce BO. He was dissin' Bill. BO's head was bowed in tragic sadness. These people have become a joke.

[SteveMG]

Brian Kilmeade storming off the set at F&F.

He did? I missed that.

It was an act/joke by him. He pretended to be upset when Doocy called him a "typical sports guy".

He returned during the next segment where they continued the discussion. Reportedly (I've only seen the show while waiting for my car to be worked on), he's done the stunt before.

[SteveMG]

It's pretty clear to me that Clinton was referring to the general election where we want to have two candidates who discuss serious issues and not get side-tracked by extraneous side concerns.

This wasn't, it seems to me, a shot at Obama's qualifications or patriotism.

Man, I've been defending Obama and now Bill Clinton.

This has to stop.

[Dr. Weevil]

I haven't been there in years, but the last time I looked Oliver Willis' motto was "like kryptonite to stupid". It's also been years since someone (not I) suggested changing it to "like velcro to stupid".

[PeterUK]

"Does this mean that if Bill praised Hillary's performance in the sack"

Does Bill have that good a memory?

[Foo Bar]

As an example of Compliant Campaigning, let's all look forward to Bill Clinton speaking on Mother's Day:

Hillary has been a wonderful wife and devoted mother for years. And let me add that Barack has been a wonderful husband and devoted father, as far as I know. No, strike that qualifier! He has been Mr. Wonderful, and who could doubt it?

Do not scoff at me. If Bill were to praise Hillary's marital and parenting skills while overlooking Barack's that would be the worst sort of racial pandering, playing on unspoken prejudices of black abandonment. C'mon - when I'm right, I'm right.

When you're right, you're right, but you're wrong in this case. Your analogy doesn't work. The analogous Mother's Day statement would be if Bill had said "I think it would be a great thing if the Democratic Party nominee was also a wonderful spouse and devoted parent". The implication would be that there is some doubt, depending on who is selected, as to whether the nominee will end up having these characteristics.

Under the assumption that Obama, McCain, and Hillary all love this country and are devoted to the interest of this country, Bill's statement that "it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country" wouldn't make any sense. It would already be guaranteed (regardless of who gets the nomination) that we would have such an election year, so why would he say "it would be a great thing"? It would be like saying "it would be a great thing if the general election were held this November".

I'll take the word of the Clinton campaign that Bill didn't intend to imply a lack of patriotism on the part of Obama, but the text of his comments did contain such an implication.

[SteveMG]

I'll take the word of the Clinton campaign that Bill didn't intend to imply a lack of patriotism on the part of Obama, but the text of his comments did contain such an implication.

To me, sometimes (dare I say?) a cigar is a cigar.

Naivete on my part perhaps.

[MayBee]

Ranger-
I know there has to be Obama pro-Palestinian stuff out there, I just don't know who can find it.
When Ralph Nader announced he was running for president this year, one of the reasons he gave (on NBC's MTP) was that Obama was no longer pro-Palestinian, though he used to be.

[Cecil Turner]

I can't remember where I read it, but there was an anecdote about General [Patton?] that he never voted for president, because a vote for was bought, and a vote against was disloyal. Probably taking the concept a bit far, but the principle is instructive. There is something unseemly about military officers--especially flag officers--using their rank as a bona fide for political endorsements. Those that do it forfeit a large measure of the respect that normally attends the rank (IMHO). McPeak and his fellow travelers are less than impressive on that score. McPeak was not well regarded as CSAF and SecAF (and widely considered a bit of a joke, whose major accomplishments were a uniform redesign and a favoritism toward fighter pilots that managed to annoy the vast majority of his subordinates). Watching the Obama crowd fawn over him (when they'd likely boo someone like Gen Petraeus) was borderline nauseating.

His calling Clinton's remark "McCarthyism" is risible nonsense. Nobody called Barack a communist or questioned his patriotism (I might later, though). Clinton was obviously discussing the concept of a competition of ideas instead of ad hominem gotcha politics. So naturally McPeak responds with an ad hom argument. The self-parody is palpable. If this little bit of theater is an example of Obama's "judgment" . . . well, it doesn't impress.

[clarice]

It is unseemly,Cecil, but Kerry, Clinton and Obama seem to have vacuumed up every nitwit who ever wore all those fancy ribbons and stars and medals..

[PeterUK]

Obama Gospel

[clarice]

Thnx,PUK--Ramirez is a genius--that is the entire Obama campaign in a ouple of drawings..

[PeterUK]

Clarice,
It is rumoured that when Obama said that on the hustings a little old lady stepped out of the crowed and threw a rock at him.Obama is reputed to have said,"Sometimes, Grandmother,you really piss me off".

[boris]

but the text of his comments did contain such an implication

Apparently FuBird, you don't know the difference between infer and imply. You may draw that inference but there is no implication in the text. If the context of BJ's remarks were specific to Hillary and McCain then there is no implication there either.

[SteveMG]

According to Kathleen Parker at NRO who was at the event where Clinton made the remarks, Clinton specifically mentioned McCain before the controversial comment:

Before he made the so-called controversial remarks, he praised McCain as an “honorable man,” who has “paid the highest price short of giving your life.” He mentioned that though Hillary and McCain disagree on many issues, they’ve worked together successfully on others. In that context, he said it would be great “if you had two people who really love this country and ask who’s right on these issues” instead of all the non-essential clutter that now distracts in politics.

Sometimes when people complain that comments were taken out of context, it's not just an excuse.

Last defense of the Clintons from me. I'm part Cajun but there's no way am I going to turn into Carville.

[SteveMG]

Cajun joke:

Crazy Boudreau was out fishing one day and suffered a heart attack and died.

His wife wrote an obituary and sent it to the paper. It said: "Boudreau died while fishing."

The newspaper called back and said, "M'am, you can have more in the obituary than just that one line." She said, "Ok".

The next day the obituary read: "Boudreau died while fishing. Boat for sale."

[Sara]

Does this mean that if Bill praised Hillary's performance in the sack...

But what are the odds?

Posted by: Tom Maguire | March 22, 2008 at 11:07 AM

Wasn't it a commenter here who said the next huge scandal coming down the pike is the headline:

Hillary Has Sex with Bill?

[Daryl Herbert]

The way Bill phrased it, he was clearly saying that his wife and John McCain both "loved this country" and that Barack Obama did not. Any doubt on that matter was disposed of when Bill talked about the distractions Obama was facing ("all this other stuff that always seems to intrude itself on our politics")

The Obama campaign is not being silly or paranoid for assuming that Bill was taking a shot at Barack. It's obvious that's what he was doing.

[sbw]

Jane: We are getting woefully close to a society that thinks it's just fine to ban the Mohammed cartoons. We need a war on political correctness.

Jane, I fight that war every day, from an appreciation that to forbid criticism is anti-social. Society has few abiding considerations. Truth is one — and to help each other see it. Respect is another — to help each other and oneself.

So the necessary war is not on political correctness, but to understand that everyone needs to understand the minimum requirements of society, and to oppose any attempt to undermine them.

[Cecil Turner]

It is unseemly,Cecil, but Kerry, Clinton and Obama seem to have vacuumed up every nitwit . . .

Yeah, my point is the ones you hear from are the ones you probably ought to ignore. McPeak seems particularly drawn to the political light, having been active in the campaigns of Dole, Bush, Dean and Kerry.

And I found that linked letter particularly unseemly, as it did little but denigrate the commander-in-chief in wartime. It could easily have been written as a recommendation for a new strategy, but instead was a hit piece with [Joe] Wilsonesque "lied into war" stupidity (complete with self-contradictory blather). Gen Zinni did something similar with the "war for Israel" nonsense . . . but at least he's had the grace to be somewhat subdued since.

The Obama campaign is not being silly or paranoid for assuming that Bill was taking a shot at Barack.

I'll take your word for it. Now explain the "McCarthy" bit. Because "silly" and "paranoid" seem to me a perfectly valid interpretation of that nonsense.

[clarice]

I know McCain loves his country--He virtually died serving her. About the other two, I've no proof of it at all, and before you start gasping and screaming that military service is not proof of leadership or a necessity for the office, go back and read what your party was saying last time around.

[clarice]

My last remark was addressed to Daryl, not Cecil.

[boris]

The context of the BJ remark was to elevate Hillary to the same level of dedication to the country as McCain. Dubious, but as context it does not in fact provide any implication that Obama is a commie.

BK is perfectly capable of begging the listener to draw that inference but technically he neither says that or implies it with words or context. Sorry FuBird and Daryl, BJ slicked ya.

[Sue]

Has the world gone mad? You have members of the VRWC defending the Clintons and former Clintonites attacking the Clintons. Ayeeeee!

[hit and run]

I, for one completely believe that Bill meant to denigrate Obama with this remark.

I also think that he was denigrating Obama's race.

If I'm not mistaken, Bill called him a nappy headed ho, too.

It's a war, Team Obama. Go Get The Clintons!

Spare no expense.

Leave no weapon unused.

[maryrose]

Clinton's remark was a clear shot at Obama. It was a sin of omission. Carville's remark is typical clintonese as is sour grapes Penn's disclaimer that the Rivchardson endorsement doesn'tmatter. Per the conversation with Hil things got heated on the phone...she sooo wanted it. He only held off to give her a chance in Texas,so now Richardson is "dead to them". That happens a lot with former Climton pals.. Eventually their true colors shine through..

[Rick Ballard]

"You have members of the VRWC defending the Clintons and former Clintonites attacking the Clintons."

Sue,

Maybe we ought pick one or t'other (individually) and throw ourselves into the fray as supporters until the nomination is decided? That, or we could draw straws and take 10 day turns as pro-BHO or pro-RW. "Pro" in this instance would mean keeping a tight focus on the opponents glaring shortcomings while resolutely ignoring "our" candidate's deficiencies.

[clarice]

Hit is spending wayyy to much time with that agitator Rick.

[clarice]

Also PUK, Hit.

These are not suitable companions for a young Christian family man like yourself,

[boris]

Drawing the hostile inference like this is too akin to mind reading for my liking. One can easily come to the conclusion that the Obama inference is what BJ wants, but if mind reading is allowed as a basis for criticism, advantage in debate falls to all the mind reading pretenders who discredit any and all arguments they don't like as coming from malicious intentions.

Consider the undercover detective cliche where during the deal for contraband (drugs, guns, sex) the villian asks the officer in disguise:

"Hey are you a cop ?" and the detective answers:

"Do I look like a cop ?"

The inference is that the answer to a rhetorical question is also answer to the question asked. It is unlikely that the detective is actually seeking an honest evaluation of his disguise. So should a judge consider that entrapment or not?

Not IMO.

Rick, operation chaos.

[Tom Maguire]

Under the assumption that Obama, McCain, and Hillary all love this country and are devoted to the interest of this country, Bill's statement that "it would be a great thing if we had an election year where you had two people who loved this country and were devoted to the interest of this country" wouldn't make any sense.

Actually, I thought Clinton was questioning John Kerry's patriotism.

Under the assumption that Obama is diligent and committed to America's success, a statement like "If Hillary is the nominee it will be great to have a candidate who will work hard for a better America" is not only insulting to Obama but divisive racial pandering playing on sterotypes of the lazy black man.

C'mon - the Equal Time rule applies (applied) to broadcasters, not competing candidates and their surrogates.

[PeterUK]

Why can the Democrats not use traditional methods to select a candidate? Throw them both in the river and see which one floats.

[clarice]

PUK is always full of such constructive ideas.

[GMax]

I predict she will not let up and her coming victory in Penn will just spur her to continue on.

Thats what I was counting on when I donned the scarlet letter and helped save her in Texas.

As far as I am concerned, if she had been eliminated, we would never have got Rev. Wright in the sunshine, and now the Marxist theology is seeing the light too.

For this many have heaped scorn as if she does not have a mortal wound already and that we have kept the silver bullet from finding its mark.

If Speaker Pelosi becomes Minority Leader Pelosi, it will be largely because hobbled Obama staggers out of the Dem primary and gets mauled in the general and it all started with Texas Republicans just showing their manners and holdin the door open for a lady.