Does the Clinton campaign want this argument over race?
The questionable statements, the charges of racism, and the Clinton denials have been bouncing around all day. Hillary Clinton seemed to fan the story (somewhat at her choice) on Meet the Press.
This leaves me with the question, "Does the Clinton campaign want this argument over race?"
If so, what does it accomplish? 1) It puts the Obama campaign in the position of weakness as they cry foul. 2) It takes the Obama campaign off message and away from "change." 3) It drags Obama down from his aspirational mountaintop into the back and forth of politics. 4) It brings Obama's race back to the fore. (Thus far, he's been able to run without really race being an issue.)
Add to this that Clinton has already lost "the black vote."
(ABC) "But he's also soared in a key Democratic group -- African-Americans, who've switched from favoring Clinton by 52-39 percent a month ago to an even larger preference for Obama, 60-32 percent, today."
So, the question is, does the Clinton camp want this argument? So long as the charges are plausibly deniable, the shift in conversation does seem to favor the Clinton campaign....
This leaves me with the question, "Does the Clinton campaign want this argument over race?"
If so, what does it accomplish? 1) It puts the Obama campaign in the position of weakness as they cry foul. 2) It takes the Obama campaign off message and away from "change." 3) It drags Obama down from his aspirational mountaintop into the back and forth of politics. 4) It brings Obama's race back to the fore. (Thus far, he's been able to run without really race being an issue.)
Add to this that Clinton has already lost "the black vote."
(ABC) "But he's also soared in a key Democratic group -- African-Americans, who've switched from favoring Clinton by 52-39 percent a month ago to an even larger preference for Obama, 60-32 percent, today."
So, the question is, does the Clinton camp want this argument? So long as the charges are plausibly deniable, the shift in conversation does seem to favor the Clinton campaign....
posted by mikevotes at
8:48 PM
12 Comments:
"Does the Clinton campaign want this argument over race?"
I can't decide. I know politics is a dirty business. Bill Clinton did make some tough comments...but maybe Obama, or his supporters, are being too sensitive.
By
Anonymous, at 11:00 PM
That's why I tried to make this post over the argument rather than over the underlying charges of racism, because, like yourself, I can't decide on the actual charges of racism.
But, assuming the argument has already started, I would argue the Clinton campaign might want to keep it going.
By
mikevotes, at 7:23 AM
First of all, the Clinton campaign has alienated me beyond redemption. They are playing a too-cute-by-half game of personal innuendo and race-bating. Now, when the Obama campaign questions the statements from the Clinton Camp, he is being accused by the Clintons of playing the race card.
This is all a little too Rovian for me. Attacking the opponent on his strengths (youth, optimism, and historical nature of his candidacy). Then pulling a "who me?" when confronted. This is EXACTLY what we need change FROM. This is nothing short of an open whisper campaign. I'm sure Rove is having the time of his life, watching Hillary and Bill play cat to Barack's mouse.
As I said in an earlier comment, this isn't the Hillary Clinton campaign, this is the Bill and Hillary campaign. Oddly, as much as I supported Bill in the '90s, I just want the old dog to go lie down now. But Bill is still a powerful draw, I guess, with core Democratic voters.
We'll see if it works for her, this old school, cynical, brass knuckles politics. It ain't workin' for me.
By
-epm, at 9:02 AM
If it is, it is very political. I'm still on the fence as to the actual charges, that's why I wrote this post about the context of the argument.
The question I'm trying to address is not the "if" but the "is is working?"
And, the difference between the 90's and now, is that even when Clinton did stuff, you still found him likable, but with Hillary Clinton as the name on the ticket, his likability isn't the issue.
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mikevotes, at 11:31 AM
I don't think some of the specific charges against Team Hillary are wild pot-shots. But in the aggregate I think we're seeing Rovian tactics of assassination by innuendo, crafty word-play, and plausible deniability through surrogates.
Will it work? I think that remains to be seen. We'll know if it has traction before 5 Feb. This is a tricky tightrope the Clinton's are walking, but if anyone can walk it it's them. However, I think if the strategy goes bad, it's gonna go bad big time. Real ugly blowback if this is seen as crossing the line.
Re: Bill... Bill Clinton lives in the warm and fuzzy corners of nostalgia in the minds of many Americans. The more we're exposed to Bill Clinton 2008, the more this image is dulled. I think Bill Clinton runs the risk of over playing his hand in these times of "change." People want their old heros to smile and wave and say nice things.
For me, I just want Bill to shut the hell up.
By
-epm, at 11:49 AM
I'm not saying there has not been some distasteful stuff said, and I don't rule out the possibility that it's coordinated, but I haven't seen anything that makes that incontrovertible in my mind.
(I definitely allow the possibility of coordination.)
And, you're definitely right that if it backfires it's huge. It's tempering my feelings right now, but that's not always a good indicator of general mood.
Last, that was the genius of the Reagan legacy. There was no after office, just hazy memories.
By
mikevotes, at 1:38 PM
I guess I can see the Clintons being Machiavellian enough to play the race card. I can't see them thinking it would be a good idea. It alienates far more Democrats than it appeals to; it's an especially bad idea with South Carolina next up; and she's in good shape without it
By
Anonymous, at 3:18 PM
Again, not saying they did, but we're not looking at the polling they are, and they only have to play this game for a couple of weeks.
After Feb 5, Dems will support whoever is the nominee,
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mikevotes, at 3:34 PM
In a nut shell, the Clintons want to force Barack to run as The Black Candidate™ not simply a candidate how's black. This would pigeon-hole Barack in a way that he's been very careful not to do himself. As Barack reaches past identity politics, the Clintons need this to be about identity; about her being female and him being a black man.
Are they racist? I don't know. One thing the Clintons are not is stupid. They know a segment of America is, shall we say, race sensitive and they're not above playing to their... sensitivities.
I don't know if the Dem base will rally around the post 5 Feb candidate or not. I'm fairly sure that if it's the Clintons, they may well have lost many independents and young voters who will decide to stay home in November. Because, after all, it's just politics as usual.
By
-epm, at 5:01 PM
As you pointed out earlier, the question is whether they can have this conversation without too much backlash.
And, I'm betting that by November this will be forgotten everywhere outside the black community, and when whichever Dem runs, framing it as against the Bush administration, people will show up.
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mikevotes, at 5:22 PM
if hillary is the dem candidate - I will not vote for her...and likely not at all...cannot stomach another 8 yrs of the clinton family.
By
Anonymous, at 5:33 PM
You're not the only one out there, but broadly, I think the Obama supporters step behind Clinton, and the Clinton supporters step behind Obama come the general election.
By
mikevotes, at 9:02 PM
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