Analysis: Bill Clinton's Lost Legacy

CBSNews.com's Vaughn Ververs: Inflammatory Remarks Tarnish Ex-President's Reputation

(CBS)  This analysis was written by CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs.

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The man crowned as America's first black president for his unprecedented personal connection to the African-American community has abdicated the throne.

By injecting himself into the Democratic primary campaign with a series of inflammatory and negative statements, Bill Clinton may have helped his wife's presidential hopes in the long term but at the cost of his reputation with a group of voters that have long been one of his strongest bases of political support.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama won an overwhelming victory in South Carolina with the support of African American voters who made up 53 percent of the vote, according to CBS News exit polls. Eighty percent of those voters chose Obama.

The rout came after weeks of racial polarization, much of it involving the former president, who thrust himself into the fray in a manner more reminiscent of backwoods Arkansas politicking than conduct befitting a former commander in chief.

Bill Clinton was once seen as a big asset for his wife's campaign, especially among Democrats. After the thrashing Hillary Clinton took in South Carolina, the former president may find himself in the doghouse, if not the bullpen.

It was one phrase that began the racial ball rolling. When Bill Clinton referred to Obama's claims of consistent opposition to the war in Iraq as "the biggest fairy tale that I have ever seen," many blacks heard more than policy criticism. They heard a dismissive attack on the first black with a real chance of winning the White House. They heard echoes of racial battles of the past. And they heard it from someone who was supposed to be on their side.

Bill Clinton has not been the only campaign surrogate to stoke the racial fires. References by at least two Clinton supporters about Obama's past drug use, including a comment from one of the wealthiest African-American businessmen in the country.

E-mails have surfaced, some traced to Clinton campaign volunteers in Iowa, claiming that Obama is a Muslim. Former Senator Bob Kerrey, on the day he announced his support for Clinton, made sure to make a point about how wonderful he thought it was that Obama's middle name is Hussein. A radio ad in South Carolina sought to portray Obama as a fan of Republican policies in the 1990s.

The candidate herself contributed to the furor when she intimated that while Martin Luther King Jr. was a wonderful leader, it took President Johnson to make the Civil Rights Act a reality.

But it has been Bill Clinton who carried the campaign's attacks in the wake of his wife's Iowa loss. The "fairy tale" comment was followed by the claim that he had personally witnessed attempts at suppressing votes (a topic that touches blacks on a personal level) in Nevada by Obama supporters. It was Bill Clinton left to carry the ball in South Carolina for most of last week, while the candidate was in Super Tuesday battlegrounds like California.

When confronted with the rhetoric, Clinton lashed out at the media - and his wife's opponents. "I never heard a word of public complaint when Mr. Obama said Hillary is not truthful about character," he told reporters last week. "When he put out a hit job on me at the same time he called Hillary the senator from Punjab. I never said a word."

South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in Congress, publicly told Bill Clinton to "chill a little bit." Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, speaking with the former president just feet away, rebuked his language, insisting, "this is reality, not fantasy or fairy tales." The shots came from all corners. Writing on his own blog, Clinton's former Labor Secretary, Robert Reich accused Clinton of spearheading a "smear campaign against Obama."

South Carolina voters apparently agreed. The numbers are jarring: Fifty-eight percent said Bill Clinton's involvement was important to their decision and most of them voted for Obama. Seventy percent believed Hillary Clinton had unfairly attacked Obama. As a warning to Clinton, just 77 percent said they would be satisfied with her as the nominee.

"Not presidential" is how former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle described Bill Clinton's behavior on the campaign trail of late. All the same, it may be effective. Clinton's campaign is aimed at capturing voters who make up a huge part of the Democratic demographic: Middle class, white, female, older. Those are the voters who may shy away from backing a "black" candidate, as they have in earlier contests in this race. Despite his huge margin of victory, Obama captured just a quarter of white voters.

And the nasty tactics had another purpose - to knock the candidate of "hope" off the mountaintop and down into the gutters of hardball politics. Forcing the man who has sought to connect himself to the legacy of inspirational leaders of the nation's past (he announced his candidacy in the shadow of Abraham Lincoln) to trade blows and accusations with Bill Clinton on the divisive issue of race only serves to muddy both. And there's some evidence that it worked. Fifty-eight percent of South Carolina voters said they felt Obama unfairly attacked Clinton during the campaign.

Should Clinton win the nomination by marginalizing Obama as a black candidate, she may well end up in the White House. The sign outside should read: Still wanted, the first black president.

[hawksprings]

Bill and Hillary just can''t understand why Obama doesn''t know his place.

The Clintons have sullied the reputation of the Democratic party.

[jaykay3141]

Bill, Hillary, Barack: Please grow up! While you are sniping at each other, the Repugnicans are salivating over all of the sound bites they''re collecting for the campaign. King George II is very nearly handing the election to the ANY Democratic nominee, with his pig-headed incompetence and go-it-alone policies, but you three are acting like little kids. We can''t afford another 4 or 8 years of self-righteous, CEO-protecting, war-making, morality-imposing, privacy-busting GOP rule. It''s time to start debating the issues again and make sure that the government is no longer in the hands of the Cheneys and Wolfowitzes.

[sgtrds]

Much ado over not much. A media driven story all of they way that''ll be all forgotten by the time the convention is over. The media of today has turned into little more (at least in this case) no better then 12 year old girls gossiping, giggling and spreading rumors as the bounce back and forth between the two camps doing their best to whip up a story where there is none. They''re embarrassing themselves more then anything else.

[cfin5]

Clinton spent his clout through Alinsky tactics. Same as Bush spent his political capital through Strauss tactics. I''m really wondering, and hoping at that, if the democratic and republican parties are starting to wake up. Not sure yet if it isn''t too late for them to do any good towards upholding our Constitution. I''ve decided not to wait around while they procrastinate and joined the "Constitution Party" (constitutionparty.com). We''re rooting for Dr. Paul in 2008! GO USA!!!

[cfin5]

SgtRDS,......How''ve you been doing? Been hearing the weather''s been bad for you out there lately.

[j62kd4b]

These commenters SHOULD REALIZE that the MEDIA IS, yes, IS MOTIVATED BY THE GOP - In seriousness do you really think that if Bill Clinton/Hilary Clinton had been REPUBS that they would have HAD THE SAME GENTLE PAT in PUNISHMENT like THAT WAS GIVEN TO LIBBY, ROVE, CRAIG, FOLEY, Gonzalez, DeLay, Wolfowitz (yes, he has just been named ARMS CONTROL for GW) - the GOP isn''t satisified unless IT DESTROYS THE OTHER PARTY - note the 110th Congress inability to accomplish anything because of the GOP BLOCK!
340 days & counting....

[briannorwood]

Hillary''s S.C. "concession" speech was about the most crass and classless spectacle I have ever seen.

I''ve had just about enough of her and her husband too.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by SgtRDS at 10:40 PM : Jan 26, 2008

Well said!

Bill''s support for HIllary does nothing to damage the legacy of his presidency! What a stupid article!

[madmaciii]

Barrack the Innocent, of course. And what was his remark about Bill''s brotherhood supposed to be, if not a clear indication of using racial associations to polarize the vote ?

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by briannorwood at 10:53 PM : Jan 26, 2008

What exactly did you except her to say? Woo hooo, congratulations Mr. Obama, your racial BS worked??? You did good?

The nasty attacks are coming from the media against Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton''s comments were political rhetoric typical of any presidential race and to claim that he was race baiting is an unfair depiction of the facts. Besides, Obama is not clean himself on the race issue. And Clinton''s claim that his campaign tried to suppress votes in Nevada has some merits. The fact that the black community overwhelmingly voted for Obama is to be expected. It is understandable and predictable and not to be pinned on Bill Clinton.
The media has decided to paint Obama as a candidate in a race with a racist bigot whose husband is full of dirty tricks.
In my book, the bias evidenced by the media against Bill clinton is shocking, disappointing, and above all, not at all proven or to be believed. The press is mischief-making in this campaign and they are going to get us another Republican in the White House just like they got us into Iraq.
It would seem that I am for Hillary. Actually, I am an Edwards backer because his progressive agenda is to my liking. I wouldn''t have the slightest idea what Obama is for except "change" which means nothing and I think Hillary is too conservative.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[libra127]

"Hillary''''s S.C. "concession" speech was about the most crass and classless spectacle I have ever seen."
Posted by briannorwood at 10:53 PM : Jan 26, 2008

What on earth are you talking about ? I just read her little speech on her website and there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING crass or classless about it. She congratulates Obama and then says where she''s heading next and what the theme of her campaign is. As classy as can be. More lies from the Clinton-haters.

[voiceoreasn]

I think the former president has miscalculated and trashed his reputation in the process. I am white and I don%u2019t believe Obama%u2019s vision for our nation is for blacks only. This smear campaign waged by the Clintons is Rovesque and beneath the dignity of democrats. We are better than that and we need to make this clear to the Clintons and the country by not supporting Hillary Clinton.

When this campaign began I planned to support whomever the democrats chose because any of the democrats were better than any of the republicans. Now I%u2019m not so sure. Nice job Mr. President.

[libra127]

How about hitting the submit button just once, "VoiceOReasn" ?

Voiceoreason is trying to drown out and run off other contributors.

[mbburch06]

People are starting to see that the Clintons care about NOTHING BUT THEIR OWN POWER. The fact that some people have not figured this out yet is a testament to the stupidity and gullibility of the average American.

Obama''s policies would be horrible for our country, but at least he is an honest man and would not resort to the same sorts of tactics that the Clintons have used time & time again to smear their opponents.

[jw218389]

WE LOVE YOU BILL!

He may have a bad day but he was the messiah himself compared to that chimp idiot that we have right now. Unlike Dumya, Bill at least has a legacy to destroy.

[hsinco-2009]

Bill started to lose me when he cosied up to Daddy Bu$h. This has helped move me further from him.

Way too close to Bu$h for my comfort!

[verycold]

The democratic party is now about race, which I confess I am surprised about and I agree it does sully the party as a whole. I do believe that "fairytale" refers to more than the Iraq situation. I think he meant the idea of a very green senator expecting to be the democratic nominee compared to his wife that he considers to have a much thicker resume the fairytale. From his perspective I can understand those feelings. However, not for one minute do I think that Bill Clinton made that remark because Barack is black. I say that as a registered republican and not at all fond of Bill Clinton. I think for the very first time blacks are backing a black candidate because they believe he stands a good chance of getting all the way to the WH. I think previous black candidates were not electable and hence the lack of support. If the economy continues to tank, voters will be forced to look much more carefully at each candidates credentials. It is one thing to endorse change, but what exactly does that entail? Does it mean higher taxes? Does "change" address the rise in oil, inflation, falling dollar, loss of jobs in certain industries like auto, etc.? So many questions and as of yet so few answers from any of these candidates. Hope, change will NOT pay the bills.

[b-easy63]

Should Clinton win the nomination by marginalizing Obama as a black candidate, she may well end up in the White House. The sign outside should read: Still wanted, the first black president.


Or the Democratic party will get another nasty shock, when Everyone beside the die hard party faithful, defect over to the Republican side--and vote for MCCain. I can just see McCain now while he stumps--saying he knows just how Obama must of felt coming up against the establishment that plays the race card--because what Bush did to him in SC is the sort of thing Hilary always tried. Old Washington never likes new blood--or mavericks that are not willing to keep the status quo. That would have been Obama for the Dems--or McCain for the GOP. When all that is left is Hilary and McCain--don''t count to much on people''s anger with the Repubs to elect Hilary. Many Dems are just as angry with the Dem Congress as they are with Bush and the GOP.

I always liked Obama, but was an ardent Clinton supported till she played the race card. I know many do not understand it because it is actually done in code. Bill Clinton, as a product of the south, understands specifically how certain code words are taken due to past experiences. Ultimately, I think what many blacks have learned over the last few weeks is that we were just a pawn in getting Clinton elected with him falsely feeling the pain. The fact that Clinton would be even associated with Johnson, the Billionaire creator of BET (Black Entertainment TV) who shares responsibility degrading both black women and men, and for all purposes made said billions by prostituting a race, speaks a lot to their character.
South Carolina has made me proud to be an American. While Obama got overwhelming black support, he received proportionate white support from a state where one would not think he would get it. This is great. This will give many whites and others the comfort to continue their overt support. Most Americans are decent and will ultimately vote what they know is right.

[andersenme]

Bill Clinton is looking more and more like King Kong--in the 1933 movie version--in which he holds aloft a terrified Fay Wray--here the Democratic Party--while raging: "Love me! Love me!"

Martin Edwin Andersen

[wright5579]

The idea that Bill Clinton started this whole race issue is a joke. It, like the whole Obama phenomenon, is a coordinated media fabrication.

The "fairy tale" comment has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE. NICE TRY CBS.

"Bill Clinton has not been the only campaign surrogate to stoke the racial fires. References by at least two Clinton supporters about Obama''s past drug use, including a comment from one of the wealthiest African-American businessmen in the country."

Will someone please explain to me how commenting on past drug use has anything to do with race? Seriously, f*cking explain that to me!

[paris1969]

How quickly people forget their friends when "race" becomes an issue. Was OJ in SC today?

[straightener--2008]

This article is a testament to how fickle the media is in it''s idolatry of charismatic political figures. Instead of demonizing Bill Clinton why not turn the microscope on yourselves, media, and gain some wisdom from some of his recent comments chastising you for your obsession with creating news out of nothing. "Shame on you."

[laura551]

"Clinton''s campaign is aimed at capturing voters who make up a huge part of the Democratic demographic: Middle class, white, female, older."

That would include me. Billary''s smear tactics have cost them my vote. I voted twice for Bill in the 90''s. Adios.

[nolalou]

laura551, so if Hillary becomes the nominee of the Democratic Party, you''re going to do what? Vote for the Republicans , probably McCain or Romney, who both vow to give us more of the same and to continue the war in Iraq! According to McCain we could be there another 100 years if that''s what it takes! You can stamp your feet and throw a tantrum all you want, but I''d still take Hillary over and of the Republicans any day of the week!

[laura551]

nolalou, no I won''t vote for a Republican. I''ll probably sit this one out if Hillary gets the nomination. Unless it''s Giuliani vs. Clinton. Then I''ll hold my nose and vote for Hillary. Giuliani makes Darth Cheney look harmless.

[sjbj2322]

Yes, Bill Clinton is a former President but he is also a man - a man who was repeatedly found to be an unfaithful spouse. Now he has been put in a position of having to defend not only his wife''s candidacy but the fact that she was willing to stick with him when no one in this country would have blamed her for having slapped him on national television and walked out of the White House. I in no way stand in judgment of her for having stayed with him - that was her personal choice to make without benefit or need of anyone else''s opinion on the matter but I don''t think that it goes without saying that Bill is not just defending her because they agree politically. I just can''t help but feel that he owes her dearly and is perhaps being a bit to passionate in expressing it.

[cmp271]

Time for the black voters to wake up!!

NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU AND YOUR VOTING STRENGTH.

VOTE FOR THE RIGHT CANDIDATE.

THE DEMOCRATS CONSIDER BLACKS AS COMPLACENT, NO BRAINERS.

WAKE UP BLACK AMERICA.

VOTE AGAINST HILLARY!!

VOTE FOR EDWARDS!

BETTER YET-VOTE FOR YOUR REAL PARTY OF CHOICE AND ARE AFRAID TO COME OUT FOR-REPUBLICAN!!!!

So this race is not about race? How many black voters
voted for Hillary ? How can Billy tarnish his legacy
by calling it like it is? Personally I do not think
Hillary stands a chance. She will get few black votes
(which of course means they are being racist) and of
course she will not get the chauvinists vote.

[b-easy63]

Can''t take credit for this post--but I had to laugh when I saw it.

THIS IS FOR EVERYONE THAT THINKS HILARY BEING IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH BILL MERITS "EXPERIENCE" POINTS:

"If time in the Oval Office was all it took to be a viable candidate Monica would be running...."

TOO FUNNY.

[b-easy63]

Will someone please explain to me how commenting on past drug use has anything to do with race? Seriously, f*cking explain that to me!

Posted by wright5579 at 12:36 AM : Jan 27, 2008


I believe the person said he was pushing another kind of business in the ''hood. Pushing is another word for selling drugs and invokes the image of a black male selling drugs in the ghetto. The other remark by a Hilary operative was making fun of Obama for ''trying to act like a real black person'' the operative said Obama was "shucking and jiving" which is the black vernacular for a buffoonish con artist--try to scam someone in the ghetto.

They were racially tinged and they backfired. Hilary needs not only to curb Bill but also her ardent black supporters, who are not above getting nasty when they feel their Hilary (and therefore their coattails to more power) could be in jeopardy. Both the pusher comment and the shucking comment were made by black supporters. (One was Andrew YOung, the former mayor of Atlanta and I believe the other was the President of BET) both millionaires-who have their own type of removal/segregation from the avg. Black community.

[sara48909]

I would hardly call 25% of the white vote "proportional support". When are people going to wake up and pay attention to the people running for office. Obama says he''s a "change" candidate. So what is he going to change and how? When are you going to force him to get down to specifics???? Sound bites are great for the media. They don''t do #### for the nation. Clinton and Edwards have both rolled out specific plans about what they would do if they were elected. So far Obama hasn''t given anyone anything except sound bites. And the idiots are letting the media get away with it again. Just like they did with Bush!

[user168-2009]

Evil can never fight truth, and that''s what the Clintons should have known in the first place. He (Clinton) who LIES knows no truth, and he who knows no truth knows no wisdom! He (Clinton) who LIES knows no concern, and he who knows no concern knows no compassion! He who LIES knows no courage, and he who knows no courage knows no future!

Yet the Clintons are ingenious in their own ways. They have come up with this absolutely incredible idea that no scientist could have ever thought of - a 100% effective mass destruction without nuclear weapon - JUST LET THE NEXT GENERATION LIE, HATE, ATTACK, and DO ANYTHING AT ALL COST TO SECURE SELF-GAIN!

[b-easy63]

So this race is not about race? How many black voters
voted for Hillary ? How can Billy tarnish his legacy
by calling it like it is? Personally I do not think
Hillary stands a chance. She will get few black votes
(which of course means they are being racist) and of
course she will not get the chauvinists vote.

Posted by borwell at 01:19 AM : Jan 27, 2008


then again, she will also lose the "decent Americans who don''t like people who will do or say anything to get elected vote" and no doubt the "people who can smell a rat and spurious agenda" probably won''t vote for her either.

That leaves the party elite , the establishment, and the few Democrats that have been in the party long enough to have been completely indoctrinated and either have rewards to seek, or are like the Bush faithful and see Hilary and Bill as royalty or goddettes. Either way, Hilary could get more mileage if she ran NOT on trying to denigrate Osama--(his inexperience will show in his answers and in the debates) she should run on the validity and merit of her own ideas and programs--we know that is not how it is done these days--but I have a feeling dirty politics and old established stumping is just what most of America is sick to death of and distrustful of , these days.

[b-easy63]

So what is he going to change and how? When are you going to force him to get down to specifics???? Sound bites are great for the media. They don''''t do #### for the nation. Clinton and Edwards have both rolled out specific plans about what they would do if they were elected. So far Obama hasn''''t given anyone anything except sound bites. And the idiots are letting the media get away with it again. Just like they did with Bush!

Posted by sara48909 at 01:25 AM : Jan 27, 2008


I am not an Obama supporter, (though I would vote for him over a Republican) but I have heard some of his ideas and specifics. He has them--but if you are biased and do not want to hear them--then for you they do not exist. I have even heard Hillary appropriating some of the things Obama has said....Next time --try to LISTEN to the man instead of being busy repudiating or finding fault--you might be surprised at what he has to say--I certainly was and I don''t impress easily from candidates from either party.

[nearl4511]

I don''t know if there is a lesson in this for Bill Clinton. I would hope that there is a corellation, but cannot tell from the voting results just why the gap was so large.

I for one am not interested in ever seeing Bill red faced and wagging his finger to scold anyone. Too remniscent of his past failings.

Anyway congrats to Obama for tonight. We''ll see what the party powerful have in store for him next. It''s not likely to be pretty.

[eddynewhope]

Uhhh - Nominating Clinton would be like electing Bush. The Clintons will be the George W. of the Democratic party. Senator Obama has not only rolled out ideas on the campaign trail, but has sponsored anti-lobbying legislation, spoke out against the war when it was unpopular to do so, has put forth a comprehensive health care solution... check out his website. Meanwhile, the Clintons voted with Bush every step of the way. Then again, recently voted with Bush to give him more war powers against Iran. Now that we''re in campaign mode, the Clinton''s have the audacity to claim "I''ve been against the war since the beginning". Stunning. Look it up. That is a bold faced lie about a very important matter: war. I don''t care what gender, color, religion, party, school, town, state, or club association - I agree with Senator Obama''s stance on these issues, and I disagree with the choices made by the Clintons.

[spinster2]

The interesting thing about this campaign is that Obama doesn''t have to play dirty. The media is doing it for him. They have constantly made issues out of non-issues and it''s not just Fox news.
In any other campaign the fairy tale remark would be a legitimate point but not this one for some reason. It somehow morphed into the race car and just because some of the media is called liberal by many, that doesn''t mean they don''t have a conservative or corperate agenda. Money trumps politics everytime.
Conventional wisdom dictates that republican''s and conservatives have been constantly attacking Hillary for the past year and a half for a reason and I''m highly suspicious that they haven''t laid a glove on Obama. Most of them in fact speak admirably about Obama so don''t get stuck on stupid. Their not willing to lose the election just to spite the Clintons. They think they can defeat Obama and their scared of Clinton in the general. The only thing their more scared of is Clinton/Obama which might explain why the media is so intent in dividing the democratic party lately.
Their going to take the gloves off in the general and while they''ve attacked Hillary so often that nobody even pays attention anymore, that will not be the case for Obama. They will ridicule him for being left of Dennis Kucinich and press him for specifics until he gives them and looks like a mere mortal, not to mention a naive one.

[sara48909]

I just went to Obama''s website. Unless I am willing to give him my name, address, and email addy they refuse to let me access his website. THIS is the person you think should become president. Yeah right.

[sara48909]

Dream on psy_war!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eddynewhope]

The Clintons will be the George W. of the Democratic party. Senator Obama has not only rolled out ideas on the campaign trail, but has sponsored anti-lobbying legislation, spoke out against the war when it was unpopular to do so, has put forth a comprehensive health care solution, has proposed a more forward looking economic stimulus package, etc. etc. etc.... check out his website. Meanwhile, the Clintons voted with Bush every step of the way to Iraq. And recently voted with Bush again to give him more war powers against Iran. Now that we''''re in campaign mode, the Clinton''''s have the audacity to claim "I''''ve been against the war since the beginning". Stunning. Look it up. That is a bold faced lie about a very important matter: war. I don''''t care what gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, political party, school, town, state, or club association - I agree with Senator Obama''''s stance on these issues, and I disagree with the choices made by the Clintons.