The Clintons Are In Denial

The Nation: N.Y. Senator Should Recognize The Inevitable And Bring This Campaign To An End

(The Nation)  This column was written by Tom Hayden.

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Barack Obama got his game back. Hillary Clinton needs a reality check.

Barack had the voters at his back against all the forces trying to bring him down. He held his lead in North Carolina, and only the Rush Limbaugh Republican vote stands between Barack and victory in Indiana.

Hillary needed two wins. She failed utterly. But she will not stop, not on her own.

The superdelegates should intervene and send Hillary a message. Out now.

If they don't, the supporters of Obama should step up their persuasion on those still-undeclared superdelegates to recognize the inevitable and bring this campaign to an end.

Supporters of John Edwards should push their former candidate to release his pledged delegates now, a move that might make the difference as early as this week.

Progressives should intensify the counterattack against Clinton's smear campaign against Barack's character and bogus arguments for recognizing Michigan and Florida, sending the message that her campaign tactics risk a massive defection of the disillusioned in November.

It must be understood that at least not on their own. Left to their own repetitive patterns, they will step up the attempt to damage Barack Obama so that he is rendered unelectable in the minds of the superdelegates. At the very least, beginning this week, this may mean an assault on Bill Ayers, the Weather Underground, and a twisted depiction of Obama's history of statements on the Palestinians. (On this latter point, they can run commercials of Clinton kissing Yasser Arafat's wife, perhaps coupled with footage of her landing under "sniper fire" in Bosnia. Bloggers may have to carry these messages, since Obama won't.)

The Obama forces cannot (and will not) coast to victory. In terms of issues, they should intensify the focus on the Clinton proposal for "massive retaliation" and "obliteration" against Iran on behalf of Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. That was front-page news in Toronto yesterday while receiving zero attention in the New York Times and CNN. Barack should take up Robert Kennedy's 1968 anti-poverty mission in West Virginia. Finally, his campaign needs to build firewalls in Oregon, Montana and South Dakota to maintain his lead.

[mbcsmith]

This is the epitome of LIB loyalty. This uber-left rag has touted the Clintons as the greatest LIBS in history for the past ten years. NOW, they throw them under the train, just like Obama and his "pastor".

[CBSTV]

I think the Clintons expect (or are arranging for) Mr. Obama to run into a problem between now and the Democratic Convention that would erase him as a viable contender. This is about the only way for Senator Clinton to prevail.

[tejasdemo]

She wont do it because women are ruthless. They will rip a man''s guts out then eat his lips raw and keep ripping at his flesh until he says uncle. Then, after they have shredded every possible decent bone in his body and destroyed it, they will say oh, I guess you''re not such a bad guy after all.
Of course by this time you have no more dignity left and are really just hoping that a meteor comes and gets you with a direct hit.

She is plotting right now how to do the above to him. Guaranteed.

[jjoseph1945]

Not surprising, coming as it does from Tom Hayden and The Nation.
In reality, Obama netted 12 delegates, two more than Clinton won in Pennsylvania, and Clinton has won four major states since 4 March, while Obama has won one, and that due to the black vote (again!) and the latte crowd (again!).
The reality, Mr. Hayden, is that Obama''s base is narrow but designed to win the Democratic primary. Alas, the general election cannot be won by latte liberals, idealistic young people, and African-Americans. It actually takes a majority of voters to win a general election.
Clinton''s base is broader -- older people, folks who work for a living, Latinos, the less affluent and the less educated -- the people who actually make up the majority in the U.S.
If Michigan and Florida are counted -- as I am sure Mr. Hayden would agree they should be, since not counting them would be, well, undemocratic -- then Clinton is exactly 26 delegates behind and ahead in the popular vote (she has outpolled Obama since 4 March by 235,000 votes).
So why publish this nonsense? Unless it is to convince people it is Clinton, not Obama, who is the spoiler?

[javalation]

Another example of how Hillary listens to no one. 230 economist provided a letter of explanation why the silly gas tax holiday had no meaning, and she called them elitists and plowed on. She could have made a health care difference in Bills first term, but she alienated anyone who had any suggestions or recommendations. It was her way or the highway. What kind of pez would this style bring?

[vet_sk]

So I truly do not get your argument jjoseph1945. Are you saying that although Obama won he should give up to Hillary because you say she is more electable? Ever heard of democracy and following the rules?

[wooleywews]

I think the media just sucks up to whoever will keep them (Media) in the spotlight. They never really liked the Clintons. They used the Clintons for their (media) own self promotion.

This is the epitome of LIB loyalty. This uber-left rag has touted the Clintons as the greatest LIBS in history for the past ten years. NOW, they throw them under the train, just like Obama and his "pastor".

[wooleywews]

I understand your thoughts jjoseph1945. Obama%u2019s support is great if you are trying to win the Democratic Party%u2019s nomination which he may but only by a few hundred delegates. Obama%u2019s typical supporters are not reflective of the general voting population of the United States. Hillary%u2019s typical supporters are more representative of the U.S. voting population in general.

[tawpdawg11]

I understand your thoughts jjoseph1945. Obama%u2019s support is great if you are trying to win the Democratic Party%u2019s nomination which he may but only by a few hundred delegates. Obama%u2019s typical supporters are not reflective of the general voting population of the United States. Hillary%u2019s typical supporters are more representative of the U.S. voting population in general.

Posted by wernet2 at 05:43 PM : May 08, 2008


There has been nothing "typical" about the last 7 years of American history and there WILL BE NOTHING TYPICAL ABOUT THIS NEXT GENERAL ELECTION!!!!!!!! BIGTIME CHANGE A-COMIN, buddy.

[tawpdawg11]

Complete GOP meltdown. Yep...enough is FINALLY enough. Red states turning blue. I bet we could get constitutional amendments ratified!

[wooleywews]

You should check Obama%u2019s demographics from the Democratic Party%u2019s primaries. His supporters are not reflective of the general voting population. These demographics are from the Democratic Party, not mine. I am just stating the obvious. Hillary%u2019s supporters are more reflective of the general voting public.

[luvcomments]

Hillary is still living with delusions of grandeur. Has the bloody cheek to tell blue collar workers she''s one of them, while she''s lending her campaign over $11.5 million dollars. Sure, you betchum, she''s just like our blue collar workers alright - they do that all the time :) Tell it to the Marines, Hillary. I''m an old, female, white voter who knows a (vicious) fake when she sees one.

[justinlz]

Media is actually controlled by Wall Street. Naturally, they support Hillary - a Republican under a coat of Democrat.

Now every evidence shows Obama already win. If the media still continues to make lie, they will lose all audience. So the Wall Street commands the media to come back to the "center" line in order to enhance their credibility. Only if so, Wall Street can misguide the people again at the general selection through media to help Maccain win.

Anyway, the game of Hillary is over. Wall Street makes a big mistake to give up their another puppet- Guliani so early and bet all on Hillary. Maccain is a war hero and will take care of his name, even if he win, he would not listen to Wall Street on every thing. How pitiful, those so called Wall Street gold boy!!

[justinlz]

Media is actually controlled by Wall Street. Naturally, they support Hillary - a Republican under a coat of Democrat.

Now every evidence shows Obama already win. If the media still continues to make lie, they will lose all audience. So the Wall Street commands the media to come back to the "center" line in order to enhance their credibility. Only if so, Wall Street can misguide the people again at the general selection through media to help Maccain win.

Anyway, the game of Hillary is over. Wall Street makes a big mistake to give up their another puppet- Guliani so early and bet all on Hillary. Maccain is a war hero and will take care of his name, even if he win, he would not listen to Wall Street on every thing. How pitiful, those so called Wall Street gold boy!!

[nearl4511]

I did not hear it fromthe candidates today and I must hear it EVERYday from now until the convention:

"Although I feel I am a better choice than my Democratic rival, we both represent the ideals that the American people want. To vote for the Republican cadidate is a continuation of war withouth end and "W"''s agenda".

I heard Hillary say similar tothis for the first time yesterday. I have heard Barrack say this at every speech.

Need to hammer this home if my Party, the Democratic Party is to be victorious in November. I hope it is not too late. We have talented people here whose reputations have been wrongly sullied. No more racist or sexist jabs please. No more name calling please. Just talk the principles and issues.

[observantx]

Let''s get right down to it.

What is driving BillnHillary to keep up this guerrilla campaign against Mr. Obama?

Very simple.

The pure white hot lust for power. Hillary always wanted it and Bill wants it back.

This is not Hillary''s campaign, it''s Bill''s stealth campaign for another term. I thought it was slimy when the Repugnican''s threw their collective hands up in mock horror and indignation over Billy''s BJ. I find this attempt to install Bill as the power behind the chair in the Oval Office worse.

Bill, Hill, please spare us. Go home. This country, after 8 years of a tyrannic oligarchy, does not need another. It needs a reborn democracy. Please, if you have even a small shred of respect for the rest of us, drop it.

Enough is enough.

[eddynewhope]

Out now ***! You''re finished.

[truthyness]

HA!! TOM HAYDON IS IN STUPIDITY!!!!

[truthyness]

HILLARY WILL SURVIVE AND WIN!!!

[perceptions5]

"The Nation: N.Y. Senator Should Recognize The Inevitable And Bring This Campaign To An End"

..........Yeah so that the most corrupt institution in America, our mostly liberal MSM wolfpack press can attack John McCain FULL time.

The "Axis of liberal mis-information"

elite liberal Hollywood
elite liberal MSM wolfpack press
elite liberal college professors (and their contaminated students)

[kaelinda]

I''m not at all sure the vote count in Lake County Indiana was done correctly. The polls closed at 7:00 and several mayors had turned in their precincts'' votes by 7:30. Yet CNN didn''t get the first returns from Lake County until almost midnight - and it was after midnight before the rest came in. It was like the folks in Lake County were deciding just how many votes Hillary needed to win and were gonna make *** sure she got at LEAST that many votes! The mayor of Gary Indiana said the delay was caused by hand counting the 11,000 early and absentee ballots, but refused to answer when asked why the machine votes hadn''t been published. Was something hinky going on in Lake County? That''s the county where the election was lost, after all. If Obama had held on to his 65-35 lead that he had in Lake County when 56% of the Lake County votes were in, he would have won Indiana. But Lake County withheld the votes... why? Why didn''t Lake Country report?

[advanceus]

Bill is not ready to give up yet! Get out you are old news and Monica doesn''t work there anymore.

[perceptions5]

"and only the Rush Limbaugh Republican vote stands between Barack and victory in Indiana.- The Left Wing Nation"

Dear Hayden, give it a break!

Why is it necessary for the flaming liberals in our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack press to "make excuses" for their boy, Obama, everytime he looses a US state?

Rush this and Rush that..............really sad.

Look in the mirror The Nation, YOU ARE ENGAGING IN THE SAME LIES, SMEARS, AND DISTORTIONS in "every" story you publish.

[bluestardad]

CLINTONS WILL BURN DOWN THE HOUSE AROUND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO WIN!

THEY WILL DO OR SAY ANYTHING!

AMERICA KNOWS THIS!

[tbweb]

People always say "this is the understatement of the year" or "that is the understatement of the year" but I''m here to tell you, this headline "The Clintons Are In Denial" is "Officially" the understatement of the year!! LOL

[joecoolswat]

HILLARY - STAY IN THE RACE !!! please keep tearing each other to shreds all the way up to the convention in August.....Please keep doing the Republican''''s dirty work....Then the republican''''s will have 7 months to campaign and the Democrats only 60 days.....How''''s it feel to not even have a nominee, so close to the election? LMAO

[joecoolswat]

Don''t forget the Clinton''s old "scorched earth" policy, she will take him and anyone down with her....Howard Dean and the DNC needed to discount the votes of Michigan and Florida, in order to get Obama nominated. Why won''t they have a re-vote ? Because they know they need to discount these states, if Obama has any chance of winning the Nomination.

[tejasdemo]

Today ? She is plotting what body part to rip from Obama right now. She will then take it and fly to West Texas. Then she will burn it at a good ''ol fashioned Texas BBQ all the while telling the cowboys she has new spurs for all who vote for her.

Dont take the bait Obama. Just ignore her. Women hate that.

[sebastian27-2009]

I have never been entralled with Hillary, and though I voted for Bill twice, I have lost confidence in him representing the "little man" BUT I can''t help but wonder if some of these voices calling for her to get out have ulterior motives. Are they afraid that we may get some more bad news about Barack that would make him unelectable? Or do they represent some devious folks that KNOW that she would stand a better chance of beating McCain and don''t want that. Ah politics!

[johngaltwho]

Poor poor Hillary. She doesn''t know how to stop and there''s no one around her that she can trust. Mark Penn? that idiot thought California was winner take all and she owes him millions of dollars. Howard Wolfson? he''s busy trying to sell a tell-all book about her disastrous campaign. Bill? yeah - he''s trustworthy... Maybe Chelsea can do it. Yes Chelsea should do it.

Chelsea - sit your mother down on mother''s day, tell her you love her and you''re proud of her and that its time for her to end it. Tell her its over. It would be the best mother''s day present you could give her.

[jimreyna242]

Forget waiting until all the votes are counted. Clinton has outted herself as lying scum and that should be all the encouragement required for the undeclared superdelegates to do the right thing now.

[wooleywews]

I am sure those wishing to have Hillary end her campaign are Obama supporters who fear that Obama can not win in November. McCain said it was up to Huckabee to campaign till he decided to end his campaign. Those that want Hillary to end her campaign should turn their energy to the%u201D why%u2019%u2019 they are afraid Hillary is hurting Obama. Obama will most likely win the nomination but the reason Obama supporters fear Hillary is the obstacle Obama has to overcome in the general election.

[johngaltwho]

Hillary just needs to get out of the way so we can run the real experiment. Can a youthful intelligent black man be elected in a general election running against an older white washington insider? I doubt it. I think on the merits, Obama would win (ie people voting based on issues, character...) but when you put together a coalition of moderates and conservatives who prefer McCain based on ideology and add to that the racist and the ignorant, the scales tip in McCain''s favor but it''s still a race worth running. Obama for president...

[johngaltwho]

Hillary is right - she does have a better chance at beating McCain. Unfortunately, her campaign has alienated every African-American through its racist overtones while her incessant lies have made her a pariah to many voters who value integrity. Glad I''m an independent and not a democratic superdelegate.

[prowlin4fun]

Hillary is not in denial....She is well aware that this is a politically corrupt government. If Michigan and Florida voters were not denied out constitutional right to vote she would be ahead. But ya know who ever cushions the back pocket of some disison maker can cause some debacle that forces the voters to not be heard. My stomach turns everytime I hear someone say Florida doesn''t count!!!! And that includes the Early Show that will NEVER be allowed to play in my house. I believe that every person in this country should have an equal vote. If we had a fair system there would be no question Hillary would have won. But to hell with what the majority of American''s really want. If it is not what the government wants then they will just change the rules. Hillary please help this country we desperately need you!!!!!!!

[alanrobisch]

But to hell with what the majority of American''''s really want. If it is not what the government wants then they will just change the rules. Hillary please help this country we desperately need you!!!!!!!


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Posted by prowlin4fun at 07:04 PM : May 09, 2008
+ report abuse
How can you be so totally ignorant. She agreed to the decision to not count florida and michigan by national party. She now finds it necessary to pull them in to win. she''s playing both ends against the middle. when it was convenient to go along she did expecting to win without them. Now that they are her only hope she wants to change the rules. If you think she is breath of fresh air, you would think a outhouse smells good.

[glock4me]

Bill Clinton was in Denial once... at least he thinks that stripper''s name was Denial.

[ranger1948]

Clintons in denial ? LOOK AT BUSH AND HIS REGIME AND CONGRESS THAT IS REAL DENIAL.

[ranger1948]

If hillary does nothing else i hop[e she drags the democratic all the way down. IF they nominate obama that is what they deserve. We will be fighting terrorists in the streets here when he gets into office.

[magnetrack]

I can''t wait to hear the the drumbboat of the Swift Beaters from June to November as they pound out the cadence of 20 years with the anti-white Wright, the money Obama collected for the Palestinians with Ayers and Khalidi, the committee on Afghnaistan that Obama never acted on and the Larry Sinclair story in the limo. The Democrats are always so determined to go down in the flames of idealistic fantasy. I really don''t understand why we have to go through this over and over and over.

[ranger1948]

anyone see that snake obamawhamma ? I have been looking under every rock.

[messiahx4eve]

Every time I see Obama under that sign BELIEVE, the middle word in it stands out BE(LIE)VE. If that is NOT a sign of whats to come than god is truly dead.Perhaps CORPORATE AMERICA has the REAL answer as to why Obama and NOT Hillary? After all, they pick and choose while staging EVERY SINGLE ELECTION from WWII on.

[janebug1]

I''m a long life democrat. If the dems choose Obama I will never vote democrat again. He is inexperienced, tied to shady people and endorses Farrakhan.
I am not Black.
I think it is totally unfair that the blacks are voting simply to get a black man in the WH, no matter if he is qualified or not.
Any right thinking person knows he is not qualified.
God help us as never before!!!

[janebug1]

The Dems don''t care what we think, it is all about them. They claim they care about the good of the party. There is NO way I would vote for Obama.
There is NO way he can win.
They MUST know this, they can''t be that dumb! Or are they?
When one actually gets physically ill with a candidate as I do with Obama, then we are in real trouble. Because I have no doubt there are millions out there who feel as I do.
The Dems are actually endorsing a bad man.
God, oh God please help America and don''t let this evil come into out nation.
Help us Lord, we need you desperately to intervene and save America.
Fight for America God and save us from nominating or electing an anti-American man.

[janebug1]

Maybe the Dems Ted Kennedy and the others who are endorsing Obama are insanely jealous to see a woman be president.
My heart goes out to Hillary, a true American who is fighting for us.
Watch God help her in an unusual way.