Dems Worried About Clinton Attacks
The Washington Post reports that many Democrats at the top of the party hierarchy are getting worried about the viciousness of the Clinton Attacks on Obama. They are trying to get Bill Clinton especially to tone things down before real damage is done.
In Washington, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), who endorsed Obama last week, castigated the former president for what he called his "glib cheap shots" at Obama, saying both sides should settle down but placing the blame predominantly on Clinton.
"That's beneath the dignity of a former president," Leahy told reporters, adding: "He is not helping anyone, and certainly not helping the Democratic Party."
That concern was also voiced by some neutral Democrats, who said that the former president's aggressive role, along with the couple's harsh approach recently, threatens to divide the party in the general election.
A few prominent Democrats, including Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.) and Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), have spoken to the former president about the force of his Obama critiques. There is some fear within the party that if Obama becomes the nominee, he could emerge personally battered and politically compromised. And there is concern that a Clinton victory could come at a cost — particularly a loss of black voters, who could blame her for Obama's defeat and stay home in November.
It isn't very pretty when the Clinton's standard tactics of personal destruction are deployed in an internecine battle. Funny how it took the Democrats seeing one of their own targeted by the Clintons to decry it. But while Clinton is openly playing the gender card, while accusing Obama of playing the race card (thereby playing the race card) may well have set up a scenario where there is a real backlash by the rank and file.
By ted goldman, January 24, 2008 @ 10:41 am
The Clintons have always been a classless couple.
Now that their attacks have a negative impact on Democrats do we hear any complaints.
Many voters believe the Clintons are disgusting lowlifes.
We can thank them for a Republican victory in November 2008.
By Mockinbird, January 24, 2008 @ 10:44 am
Both Cellary and Baroque need to be sprayed down with a firehose for acting like that.
By martian, January 24, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Dick Morris reveals that this is an actual tactic that has been employed, successfully, in the past by the Cintons. Briefly, Bill makes himself the lightening rod and target, thereby taking the heat off of Hillary and leaving her unscathed. You will remember that Dick Morris was a Clinton political strategist back in the early 90s. He reveals that he actually discussed this tactic with Slick Willie. Check out this story:
http://www.newsmax.com/morris/bill_hillary/2008/01/24/67036.html