Obama Team Remains Unshaken

Politico: Despite Adversity, Campaign Showing No Signs Of Internal Upheaval

(The Politico)  This story was written by Carrie Budoff Brown.

---

After Sen. Barack Obama’s third major primary loss and endless media coverage dedicated to dissecting the apparent weaknesses of his candidacy, one of the most striking elements of his campaign this week was what’s missing: any hint of internal upheaval.

At Obama headquarters in Chicago, hundreds of miles removed from the Beltway bubble, advisers held steadfast in their adherence to The Plan, a blueprint devised 15 months ago by the same inner circle that runs the campaign today, supported by the candidate and carried out by a tight-knit staff.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s operation could not be more dissimilar. Her campaign, ensconced in a Washington suburb, has experienced two major staff shakeups fueled by high-level staff rivalries, shifting strategies and an unusual degree of finger-pointing.

The contrast raises the question: How has the Obama campaign managed to maintain an island of comparative calm?

A winning record undoubtedly aids the cohesion, Obama advisers and unaffiliated Democratic strategists said, but so do other key dynamics: a candidate intolerant of infighting, a clear line of authority and a healthy distance from the city they want to take over.

The Obama campaign reminds some observers of George W. Bush, circa 2000, who presided over a loyal, linear and leakless operation in Austin, Texas, while Al Gore stumbled through multiple makeovers first in Washington, D.C., and later in Nashville, Tenn.

“In a parallel universe kind of sense, there are real similarities” between Obama and Bush, said Jim Jordan, a Democratic consultant who left the top post in Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign amid a shakeup.

“Intense loyalty to and belief in the candidate,” Jordan said, citing the similarities. “Simple, clear lines of authority with real discipline among the staff and consultants. Deep, talented teams. Maybe most importantly, candidates who trust their campaign, who understand what they’re doing, who deliver as well as demand loyalty, who intuitively relate to and handle their campaigns with just the right touch.”

There are certainly disagreements and strains - Obama advisers acknowledge as much, without admitting the details - but rule No. 1 is no fratricidal behavior, which includes unauthorized disclosures to the media. Obama himself on Friday acknowledged the need for the campaign to continually “fine-tune itself.”

But on the whole, the rival Democratic campaigns are a study in contrasts.

Clinton tapped the ranks of Sen. Charles Schumer, a hard-driving New York Democrat, for a press shop that can be as aggressive and unforgiving as the one favored by their former boss. Obama drew from the slightly more sedate worlds of Kerry, former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) and former Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.).

Strategist Mark Penn, a veteran of the toughest White House battles of the 1990s, was deeply unpopular and a divisive presence within the Clinton campaign. Obama strategist David Axelrod is the anti-Penn. In the midst of Penn’s demotion earlier this month, one Obama aide in Chicago remarked to his colleagues about the low-key and well-liked Axelrod: “Do you know how lucky we are that he is our Mark Penn?”

Unlike Clinton’s team, the Obama campaign did not start with pre-existing rivalries. Axelrod and campaign manager David Plouffe were business partners, while Plouffe and Robert Gibbs, the communications director, share season tickets to the Washington Nationals. The staff, many of whom left family and lives behind to work in Chicago, have only each other to rely on in a place far from home.

“We would go to a basketball or baseball game together if we weren’t doing this right now,” Gibbs said. “We are all both friends and colleagues, and I think that is important. We feel we are a cohesive type of unit, not a group of individuals.”

[joe1022joe]

What we have here is a highly talented and well organized decorating firm busily engaged in rearranging the deck furniture on the Titanic.

[dewardbowles]

Senator Obama has run a campaign unmatched in modern American history. If how a campaign is run is any indication as to how Senator Obama will run the country once elected we are all in for better days.

The Clinton and McCain campaigns have periodically gone broke and had to borrow money to stay afloat.

My vote is for Senator Obama.

[popstom1]

Obama is history no way are blue coller works
will vote for him

[latinovoter1]

Much better manager than Hillary Clinton or John McCainwould ever be.

[kansas1946]

After Sen. Barack Obama%u2019s third major primary loss and endless media coverage dedicated to dissecting the apparent weaknesses of his candidacy, one of the most striking elements of his campaign this week was what%u2019s missing: any hint of internal upheaval.
*********************************

Exactly, because Barack has the ability to work with people, to pick the right people, and to movtivate them. Exactly the leadership skills that is needed in a president, and exactly the skills that Hillary does not have.

[gabetron]

Nice article. The Obama campaign has impressed me very much. It has no doubt propelled him from a no-name to the virtual candidate.
But...
no matter how organized, you can''t convince the racists. Fear speaks louder than reason in their minds.

[verycold]

Maybe when folks post they should note if they voted for Barack or plan to, that way posters would know when they are seeing political spin instead of just a thoughtful reply. The big problem with all this Wright stuff is that the general public, including his supporters, will never really know how much of what Wright said is supported by Barack. We will never really know if he is furious with Wright at this point, wishing he had left the church as he said he would have on The View, or if he is quietly in support of everything Wright believes. Maybe a bit of both, but as a voter we will never know and that is the problem. His admission that he didn''t know about these hate speeches just seems incredible to me. 20+ years is just too long to use that excuse. So what are the options left to believe. Maybe he tolerated the views because he needed to belong to that church in order to get black support which seems flimsy to me since there is really no reason that many blacks would not support him as a viable candidate. Do most black churches preach this sort of hate and therefore that particular church was fairly typical? Maybe. Is Barack really o.k. with Wright talking now because he might be counting on a sympathy vote since afterall he can''t control what Wright says now anymore than he could in the past which most likely is a true statement. This really isn''t about race at all. It is about ferreting out as best as anybody can whether Barack is believable as a candidate.

[rowdytexan2]

"After Sen. Barack Obama%u2019s third major primary loss and endless media coverage dedicated to dissecting the apparent weaknesses of his candidacy, one of the most striking elements of his campaign this week was what%u2019s missing: any hint of internal upheaval."

Yep, they''re all enjoying that special interest FAMILY money Obama is swilling in! Why should they get upset? As long as they can swill his krap lies, and get paid for it, who cares!

Average American families and college students supporting his campaign! The biggest lie of the century!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by hopeful08 at 06:53 PM : Apr 28, 2008

When you post this krap, also post that for seven years of his 8 year terms, he didn''t manage to reach across the aisle and get ONE piece of legislation passed to help his constituents.

And the only reason he got ANY legislation passed was because his ''kingmaker'' Emil Jones handed him ALL the legislation to write that others had worked on for years once the democrats got control.

Also note that since he''s been a US senator that he has solely sponsored only two pieces of legislation, one to name a post office, and another to support efforts in the Congo!

When you tell a story, you need to tell the whole story!

[jockh]

Hillary may have more political experience than Obama, but old Hillary, with 35 years of experience and the advice of an ex President behind her, still voted to go to war in Iraq.

Like Obama, and like millions of ordinary people, she knew that the Iraq threat was a pack of lies but the problem was that she had her eye on the future Presidency; and I think she did not want to be painted as someone who is afraid of war just because she is a woman, this would have damaged her future presidential bid; so she chose the political expedient thing to do, lets go with the flow, lets not rock the boat.

So, to fulfill her personal ambitions, she now has the blood of 4000 US servicemen on her hands and she can never wash that away, no matter how she spins it.

Even to this day, she never uses her own judgment; she says whatever she thinks the audience wants to hear and changes her stance according to the state she is in. That%u2019s why polls show that voters consider her to be the most dishonest politician.

If Hillary is the nominee I would reluctantly vote for her; but I prefer to have a leader who has the integrity to stand by their beliefs rather than go with the flow, even if that means they have to stand alone in a crowded room.

[jockh]

Hillary Clinton has raised more then $189 million dollars for her campaign and yet is $10 million ($15 including her loan) in the hole. This goes to show why she is unfit to be President.
$15 million in debt and she claims to have passed the Steward of the Economy test.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by jockh at 07:56 PM : Apr 28, 2008

Again, you need to tell the whole story! The only reason Obama made his famous anti war speech was because his biggest campaign supporter ($214 million to date) Rezko had invested in building nuclear power plants in Iraq, and was desperate for the US NOT to go war!

Since we went to war, Rezko went belly up! With only $7,500 per month income. One of the reasons Rezko had to go back to jail was because he failed to report to the judge a $3.5 million loan from Auchi (a terrorist). The same week he got the loan, he helped Barak Obama buy his $1.5 million home and bought the lot next door for $625,000.

Let''s tell the whole story about Mr. Obama''s little anti-war speech!

[jockh]

Hillary lies again.

The Federal Election Commission has just reported that her campaign debt is $15 million and not $10 million as the Clinton camp reported because she failed to list her $5 million loan among the debts.

This means that even after her new surge of fundraising, she is still $5 million in debt; but Hillary is still smiling; why? Because she knows that her $110 million fortune is nice and safe. It%u2019s the ordinary person on the street who is tricked into losing money on a campaign that is doomed to fail.

Mitt Romney put $42 million of his own money into his campaign, why doesn%u2019t Hillary show she has complete confidence in her campaign and put in some of her own millions. Why? Because she knows it%u2019s a lost cause.

Those of you who are fooled into contributing to her campaign ask yourself why she LOANS her own money but wants you to GIVE your money?

[rjudy3]

So now the blacks and the crazy college students say if you DONT vote Obama your racist,okay call me racist and IM still voting Clinton and if not her ,McCain.
Finally!! WE are getting to see the real Obama, and it aint good. Obamo is droping in the polls faster than s--- through a goose. Keep on talk''n Rev, keep on talk''n. In your immortal words "the chickens are coming home to rooooost!!!

[taotxzen]

CNN POLL:

Have you heard enough from Rev. Jeremiah Wright?

Yes, move on. 75% 1,828 votes
No, tell me more. 25% 613 votes

CNN Headlines:

Hot Topics: Rev. Jeremiah Wright (first topic listed)

[taotxzen]

CNN Part II:

Click on (Hot Topic) Rev. Jeremiah Wright

22 stories on Rev. Wright

1 story on Pentagon Media Manipulation:

Americans Victims of Pentagon Media PSYOPS

In a bombshell article published yesterday in the NY Times, entitled %u201CBehind Military Analysts, the Pentagon%u2019s Hidden Hand,%u201D investigative journalist David Barstow reveals a continuing Pentagon psychological operations (PSYOP) maneuver to disinform the American public through the manipulation of retired senior military officers employed by the media as news analysts. Barstow says, %u201CHidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration%u2019s wartime performance%u2026%u201D

The 14-page article was based on smoking-gun official Pentagon documentation%u20138,000 pages of e-mail messages, transcripts and records describing years of private briefings, trips to Iraq and Guantanamo and an extensive Pentagon talking points operation%u2013obtained by the NY Times after suing the Defense Department to gain access.

[taotxzen]

Inquiring Minds...

[taotxzen]

Just for grins try a search on this site for (Pentagon Media Manipulation)

[taotxzen]

Then search (Jeremiah Wright) - 95 stories

[pensacola88]

So Little!!! It''s going to take a lot more than this to beat Obama. Barack has education and very thick skin. Now, he has money coming from the best organized fund raising effort in Campaign history!! He is so successful, even Republicans are jealous!!!

[cfin5]

You guys keep doing what your doing,......''cause we like it. How about that Hamas endorsement?.....we couldn''t have hoped for a better one! LOL!

[cfin5]

.......Oh, I forgot the NAACP, another good one (snicker).

[blkpresident]

Jane Fonda, Patty Hearst, Hilary Clinton...

Please vote smart Indiana and North Carolina.

[realtime09]

Obama MOB Remains Unshaken.

[davthewav1]

A joint Obama-Clinton or Clinton-Obama ticket will be the way to win in November no matter who the Democratic nominee is, after the the polarized split among Democrats, as long as the supporters of the second place candidate don''t vote for McCain out of spite. But BOTH of the candidates must stop the negative attacks on each other and start attacking McCain instead because they may be working together for the next four to eight years.

[sgtrds]

Why should they be "shaken" by anything? He''s got the nomination wrapped up. Time to concentrate on taking out McCain.

[sgtrds]

unfortunately, i think the general election is mccain''''s. ho hum.

Posted by ccfsdca at 10:40 PM : Apr 28, 2008

The media has been too busy trying to whip up more conflict in the Democratic primaries (makes for exciting news) to concentrate on McCain. Once they do and more Americans realize all he is offering in more war, more debt and more economic failures he''ll crumple like a wad of cheap tin foil.

[PulSamsara]

Barack Obama for President of the UNITED States of America.

[sgtrds]

Rev Wright''s video is the media beating a dead horse. It''ll be completely forgotten come November. People will vote for Barack over McCain because they want change, not 4 more years of the same.

[truthyness]

"If you tell a lie over and over again, people will believe it".....But only if you think with the right side of your brain.

[truthyness]

There IS medication for people who think

they are under attack all the time.

it should be easy to see the difference in the two campaigns; hillary''s campaign is all for HER, obama''s campaign is for US. hillary only wants more fame and riches for herself; obama wants change for the good of all.

[kansas1946]

After Sen. Barack Obama%u2019s third major primary loss and endless media coverage dedicated to dissecting the apparent weaknesses of his candidacy, one of the most striking elements of his campaign this week was what%u2019s missing: any hint of internal upheaval.
***************************************

That is because he is running a clean campaign and all these folks will be able to sleep at night. Unfortunately, voters seem to respond to the slime, so he may lose. It was pretty apparant the last couple of elections that the slime-ball wins.

[sgtrds]

That is because he is running a clean campaign and all these folks will be able to sleep at night. Unfortunately, voters seem to respond to the slime, so he may lose. It was pretty apparant the last couple of elections that the slime-ball wins.

Posted by kansas1946 at 12:13 AM : Apr 29, 2008

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."

Henry Mencken

[onceagirl]

Senator Obama, if you examine his past, may have faults but his virtues outweigh his shortcomings. I truly believe that he wants to be a part of American history as the man who started us back to where we really revered our constitution. Call it elitism if you must, but I say good for him. What''s wrong with having ideals that encompass all of us, supporters and detractors alike? It is our current system that pits neighbor against neighbor. It is our current system that allows the rich to trample on our constitution, disobey the ten commandments with impunity....something is rotten in Denmark.

[pensacola88]

Reverend Wright is not anyone to fear. His associations are not people to fear. Reverend Wright is a colorful man and is very intelligent. He is not a racist, as his listeners may fear.

I don''t cringe, in fact, I am intrigued!! The political mileage for stating a fact is often lost in the layer of the listener''s fear. The stregnth of fear is often stronger than fact with many listeners.

If listeners just stopped and listened, they may find Reverend Wright a source of liberation from fear.

If Obama just hangs on and keeps his pastor at his side, he will prevail and win!! This is a golden opportunity to learn how leaders charm the most oppressed and victimized people in our population and empower them to rise above their personal struggles and hardships.

[libra127]

hillary only wants more fame and riches for herself;

Posted by dbaker97 at 12:09 AM : Apr 29, 2008

This is SO not true. She has worked her whole life trying to help people have a better life. She cares deeply about this country and its people. She will work incredibly hard to bring her plans and ideas to fruition. She is certainly not in this for fame or money, she''s had more than enough of both.

[gaiaschild-2009]

Obama''s campaign is beautifully managed and professionally adept as well as supported by many small contributors who believe in the candidate. This organization, like any similar organization, reflects the character of the executive and demonstrates not only executive skill but also the ability to inspire and engage.

The quality of outreach and responsiveness also reflects the candidate. Donors get thank-you post cards. The campaign knows when and how to follow up. Invitations to participate are mellow and inviting. There''s a blend of really hard work with a sense of relaxation and friendliness. There''s no hard sell, no pressure, no defensiveness, and it''s not really a quid pro quo atmosphere.

Would be really nice to have that spirit in the White House.

[metroduck75]

Back in 1972, McGovern won the slightly more "pledge delegates" in DEM primaries.... BUT lost in the Landslide in the G.E. (he only won 1 state), due to the poor coliation that he put together.

Of course, most "young voters" don''t know that.

So now, young voters are pushing for Obama to be nominated, thinking he is the 2nd coming.

If the Elites in the DEM Party are Stupid enough to annoint Obama, I would totally encourage Sen. Clinton to break from DEM Party and starts a NEW Labor Party.

After all, if anyone has the ability to start a New Labor Party, it''s the Clintons.

Her Coliations include down-to-earth Middle Class families, most Moderate Democrats, some republican women, and all Independences are sick of Republican party and Elites in DEM party.

I will totally vote for her, if 3 names appear on the Ballots.

Forget the Party line, Go Hillary''''08!!

[abbe91]

"That negro freshman senators campaign is just a fairy tail.
Posted by tracy0morgan at 05:27 PM : Apr 28, 2008"

Remove your KKK suit, maybe you will be able to spell a bit better. Or was it a fantasy on his anatomy when you mentioned a "fairy tail" ?

[metroduck75]

if anyone can start a NEW Labor Party, it''s the Clintons.

Hillary is well known by her 1st name. I truly think that the Elites in the DEM Party need her more than she needs them.

If Lincon could start a new Republican party back then, Hillary can certainly pull off a Victory in new Labor Party, due to her powerful coliation.

If 3 names are all on the Ballots, I will definitely vote for her.

Forget the Party line, Hillary''''08!!!

[jack3213]

A PERSON SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHOICES THEY MAKE ABOUT THEIR LIFE ( & INSURANCE)FOR EXAMPLE- AND IF IT IS MORE COSTLY ISN''T IT STILL BETTER THAN A GOVERNMENT TELLING YOU WHAT YOU NEED? ( CLINTON & OBAMA WANTS SOCIALISM- GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED HEALTH CARE & NOT ASSIST IN LOWER GAS PRICES FOR A BUSY SEASON- but Clinton said she would make up the difference in revenue by imposing a "windfall profits tax" on oil companies. SUCH BS-!!)
SELF PRESERVATION AND INDEPENDANCE IS WHAT THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON- MORE AND MORE PEOPLE THESE DAYS WANT TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE GOVERNMENT- GROW UP!

[dante805]

Shaken not stirred; Obama is cooked. He should have thrown Wright under the bus months ago like he did his grandma. Some of his best work:

Small Town Americans are bitter and cling to Guns or Religion. They are anti-immigrant, anti-free trade. Given at San Francisco fund raiser

%u201CTypical White People%u201D quote

More Blacks are in Prison today than in college

Abortions are better than being %u201CPunished" with a baby

Mis-statements on the number of casualties in IRAQ

Never attended a White Church (even though he and Michelle preach diversity)

His flat declaration that lobbyists %u201Cwon''t work in my White House%u201D changed after it turned out his own written plan says they could, with some restrictions.

Told a story of how his Kenyan father and his Kansan mother fell in love because of the tumult of Selma, but he was born in 1961, four years before the confrontation at Selma took place. When asked later, Mr. Obama clarified himself, saying: ''I meant the whole civil rights movement.''

Obama exaggerated the death toll of the tornado in Greensburg, Kansas, saying 10,000 people died %u2013 he was only off by 9,988. He was trying to tie the deaths to the lack of National Guard heavy equipment because of Iraq %u2013 also incorrect.

[fabrat1]

Obama Team Remains Unshaken....... that''s not true at all. He is worried about what his Rev friend is saying and with good reason. I for one would never vote for Obama anyway so the more the Rev talks the better.

[jack3213]

TWO "DUMMI-CRATS" WITH TOO MUCH BAGGAGE -NO AMOUNT OF DENIAL WILL ERASE -COME ELECTION TIME. TOO LITTLE -TOO LATE. MCCAIN 2008

[obama8years]

The only thing that will save Obama is if he comes out and tells the truth admit he was dupped and to repudiate all connections to radicalism, ISM, Wright, Farakahn, Ayers. His wife needs to come out and do the same. Obama better be wrapping himself in the american flag if he wants to be president.

[obama8years]

blackspirit3 - Problem with your arguement is did Hillarys Pastor preech about abusing a 7 year old. You have to come up with something better than that.
OBAMA is Toast.

[libh8er]

The band that played as the Titanic sank was also ''unshakable''.....just not unsinkable. The nam is done. Better get used to saying President McCain. :)

[libra127]

If that''s trully what you believe, then you are not a very attentive person,

Posted by tru_america1 at 08:05 AM : Apr 29, 2008

No, I just don''t believe everything I read like you do. I look for hard evidence before I believe something.

[libra127]

blackspirit3 - Problem with your arguement is did Hillarys Pastor preech about abusing a 7 year old.

Posted by obama8years at 01:24 PM : Apr 29, 2008

The man in question has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Hillary or Bill Clinton. He is a pastor from Clinton, NY - hence he has occasionally been referred to as "Clinton''s former pastor".

It helps to look for evidence before you believe something.