Even after all the hype, this Tuesday’s vote in Pennsylvania will be a
watershed primary election. This isn’t because it could determine whether
Hillary Clinton’s campaign continues on its brutal, nihilistic path towards
the destruction of the most promising figure in the Democratic party since
Kennedy.
It isn’t because it’s been an age since the last primary vote and every nasty
toxin in American culture has been drawn to the surface by the Clinton
poultice. It isn’t even because Pennsylvania is an indisputably important
and large state that any Democrat needs to win in November.
It is because the Clintons have turned Pennsylvania into a microcosm of what
they think the general election will be in November. And the Clintons are
running as the Rove Republicans. If they fail to destroy Barack Obama as
effectively as Karl Rove – Bush’s master of the dark arts – destroyed Al
Gore and John Kerry in 2000 and 2004, with tactics just as brutal but even
more personal, then they will have driven American politics to a critical
point. They will have shown that the paradigm that has reigned in US
politics for at least two decades has been shattered.
That’s what is being tested this coming week. It may be the most important
vote in America until the final one in November.
For a month now, Obama has been pummelled by a Democrat in ways I have never
witnessed in a primary campaign. Senator Hillary Clinton has directly argued
that he is less qualified to be commander-in-chief than the Republican
nominee, John McCain. She has said that she doesn’t know for sure that he is
not a secret Muslim. She has said his choice of church is unacceptable to
her. She has said he deliberately wants many Americans to continue scraping
by without health insurance.
Her campaign has insinuated that he was once a drug dealer. Her husband has
equated him with the rabble-rousing preacher Jesse Jackson. The Clintons
have publicly associated Obama with domestic terrorist William Ayers, with
the militant Palestinian group Hamas, and with antisemitic demagogue Louis
Farrakhan. And what is remarkable about all this is that most of it was not
done by surrogates, but by a former president of the United States against a
senator in his own party, and directly by Clinton herself. Every time you
think: “Nah, they won’t go there, will they?” – they do.
Right now, in Pennsylvania, Clinton is running only negative advertisements
designed to exploit Obama’s gaffe a fortnight ago, when he described some
rural Pennsylvanians as bitter, and as “clinging” to some traditional
identities because they feel left out of economic and social change. It was
a stupid offhand comment, easily misinterpreted, and Obama deserved a hit.
But this is what the Clintons’ actual advertisement says, voiced by several
unidentified Pennsylvanians: “I was very insulted by Barack Obama.” “It
shows how out of touch Barack Obama is.” “The good people of Pennsylvania
deserve a lot better than what Barack Obama said.”
This is a swing state. For the Clintons baldly to coopt exactly the kind of
antielitist rhetoric used to marginalise Democrats by Republicans for three
decades is to take the campaign warfare to a whole new level of
earth-scorching.
For good measure, the ABC News debate last Wednesday night could have been
crafted by Rove. For the first three-quarters of an hour, every conceivable
personal attack on Obama was aired by the moderators, including former
Clinton protégé, George Stephanopoulos.
Obama was asked if his failure to wear an American flag lapel pin at all times
was a sign that he didn’t really love America. He was asked if he was an
elitist. He was asked if he secretly condoned domestic terrorism, on the
grounds that an old 1960s Weather Underground radical had sponsored a
fundraiser for him. He was asked whether his former pastor, an ex-marine,
was a patriot. And on each occasion, Clinton jumped in to exploit the
attacks by the ABC moderators. It was so brutal and unrelenting that you
almost looked away.
Obama, moreover, wilted. He didn’t punch back. He seemed completely exhausted,
drained, almost detached. I’ve seen him this way before, but never before
10m viewers in prime time. It was his worst performance yet.
In one debate, all the tactics deployed by Republicans since Lee Atwater ran
George Bush Sr’s guns-and-flags-and-taxes campaign in 1988 were unloaded on
the rookie. Clinton grinned. The next day, her husband said she “did great”.
There was almost a liberated sense in the Clinton camp that, finally, they had been able to do to a Democrat what Republicans had done to them for the
past two decades: insinuate treason, lack of patriotism, elitist snobbery,
countercultural deviance, and every other red-blue hot-button meme that
could stroke some electoral erogenous zone somewhere.
Not since the Clintons ran radio ads in 1996, bragging that they had defended
American values from homosexuals, had the adoption of pure Republican
tactics been so obvious. And this time, it was against a Democrat.
This, the Clintonites tell us, is what the Republicans will do to Obama this
autumn. So we’re only showing you! The strategy is to persuade
super-delegates that only the Clinton brand can withstand Rove-style
attacks, and so foment a revolution before or at the convention to dislodge
the candidate with the most pledged delegates and the greatest number of
popular votes.
They are, of course, only doing this for the sake of their party, their
country and the world. That the tactic also correlates with the Clintons’
recapturing control of a party that was finally moving past them is pure
coincidence.
And that’s why Tuesday will be so instructive. Hillary Clinton should win
Pennsylvania easily. She had a 20-point lead until relatively recently. And
if the Clintons are right about their classic Atwater-Rove tactics, she will
win by double-digits after throwing the kitchen sink, the boiler, the couch
and the septic tank at her opponent.
However, if Obama keeps her lead to single digits, if he goes on to win in
North Carolina and Indiana, if the momentum of the race does not change,
something else will be shown.
It will show that the crisis America is in now has made the kind of tactics of
the past two decades moot. It will show that the issues of the Iraq
occupation, the teetering economy, the unsustainable debt, the collapsing
dollar, the constitutional disarray and the moral collapse of the torture
programme are now more salient than cultural identity. It will show that the
voters actually want to debate something more than lapel pins and who is or
is not a secret Muslim or patriot. It will show we are in a new era.
Maybe we’re not. Maybe the old politics and the old patterns have one more
turn of the screw to go. Maybe the Clintons are right. And that’s the beauty
of democracy. On Tuesday, we will go a long way towards finding out.
Hillary WILL take most of your wages for her Mandatory Health Plan and we are complaining about lack of money now due to a slow down in our economy. Remember, Mandatory means you no longer have the Rights to choose. Remember the Constitution? Freedom to choose? Think...
Lucien Beauley, Manchester, U.S.A.
It is alarming to see someone who is voting for Clinton because she is dirty. That is what is wrong with America today.
Are you willing to keep things as they are? Do you want better? Are you SO afraid to try for a better America?
I have been wondering why people still support her and thought it might be the gender issue, but I see now that the dirty issue is a part of it.
I am sad.
Beck, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thank you, Andrew!!! I have seen you many times and many times disagreed with you---but this article says it perfectly!! I've had the wind knocked out of me by the vicious tactics of the Clintons. I don't understand why she isn't running AS a Rove Republican!
Robin, Phoenix, AZ
I was surprised that immediately after the debate I got a call from my mother in law...saying that she has switched from Hillary to Obama. Surprised because I had reasoned with her for the better part of 10 months, with no success. She was true blue Hillary. She said that the debate was the last straw, and that Obama would have one more vote in Indiana now.
Todd, Dallas,
I'm 67 and a white male. I am not a fan of those awful people. I think McCain is a decent man as is Obama- I do not think the Clintons are. They are an embarrassment to all Americans, as are their surrogates who fanned racial flames and then cried foul when the obama camp mentioned it. One of Obama's advisors said she was a monstor- I think she understated the case. And none of it is accidental. This is who they are.
davie, West Hartford, CT
What is overlooked in "Obama is outspending her" is first Obama donors are supporting him in record numbers, and that means he has money to spend. She does not.
Obama did not have the name recongition and polictal establishment behind him. Having governor campign for you side by side for a year is priceless. Obama has not once started with the negative ads, but since we are in a race, he needs to defend his terrority and thats what he is doing... and quite well I might ad.
Gail, dayton , oh
Well said, Mr. Sullivan! I look at Hillary Clinton and all I see is the Democratic Party's version of George W. Bush. Incompetence, arrogance, divisiveness, secrecy -- they're all there, in spades. Eight years of that garbage is enough. America doesn't need another cynical partisan with low animal cunning pretending to run the country merely to salve their own wounded ego and try to overshadow or erase past family mistakes. Obama in '08!
Eric Scott, Bloomington, California, USA
First off, this is a great article. Thanks for writing it.
This is what many democrats are feeling. The only reason she is doing this, some have concluded , is because this is her last chance to become President. If Obama wins and serves 8 years she will be nearly 70 years old in 2016. Too old for a democrat. No democrat has ever been elected to the highest office at that age.
Obama is a once in a lifetime leader and we would be lucky as a nation to have him represent our highest office after the disaster of the Bushes. And dont forget that Bill Clinton lied to your face too. Hillary is no better than Bill, in fact she is worse. She is running as a woman scorned, as someone who expected that this time was her time. She is running for the wrong reason and it shows.
We are all waiting for her to get out. If she wanst a Clinton you can bet the whole democratic party would be putting enormus pressure on her to get out already.
Peter, Tucson, Az
As a Democrat, I have to say that Judgement Day looms for the Democratic Party if we are foolish enough to nominate
Barack Obama. Obama is totally out of touch with working
class voters, the main base of the Democratic Party. We lost in 2000 and 2004 because we ran candidates who were out of touch with the values of the working class people of America.
The working class Democratic base wants a candidate whose patriotism is not in question, who understands the importance of religious faith to Americans, and who upholds the Bill of Rights of our constitution. As part of those values, my great, great, great, great, great grandfather fought for the freedoms in the Bill of Rights in the American Revolution. I cannot, and will not, vote for Barack Obama if he is the Democratic nominee.
In good conscience, I cannot vote for McCain either. If Obama is the nominee, I will not vote on amyone for the office of president in November. I encourage Hillary to stay and fight for us.
Brian McKee, McConnelsville, Ohio
N.Dianne, Tacoma-"The U.S. is unified already?!" Only ,I think,unified in the belief that George W. Bush has Smashed the countrys' Respect and Good standing in the World to an All Time Low. As for Mr. Obama , by not wearing a flag-pin, being depicted as Unpatriotic! It seems to me to be symptomatic of the Small-minded Jingoism that infects countries when they'rer either scared or in (percieved) danger . Are you saying Mr.Obama Doesn't love his country ,or that he is Un-American through lack of a lapel-badge? Alternatively does wearing "Old Glory" make Governor Shwartzenegger MORE Patriotic or Pro- American than Senator Obama? Think about it.
Nigel, Whitby, u.k.
Dear Editor,
I am a just-retired Georgia school teacher who is a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton. I taught school in Athens, GA which is home to the University of Georgia. The University is the largest employer in Athens. The poultry industry is the largest non governmental employer. As a result of this we have a high minority and high poverty enrollment in our public schools. During the 90’s I read Hillary Clinton’s book, IT TAKES A VILLAGE. It was and is probably the most important book for people who are interested in helping solve the poverty problem in the United States. It outlined the ways that our government can support women who are working low paying jobs. After school programs were started in Athens in the 90s which helped provide care for children whose parents were working. Mrs. Clinton also could have had health care for all citizens if the Republicans hadn't blocked it. Elect Hillary on Tuesday. You and I need her to be President to straignten up the GWB mess.
Nancy Seagraves, Nicholson, GA, United States/Georgia
Since when is finding out the truth about candidates a bad thing. Hillary Clinton should stop campaigning and hand the nomination over to Barack Obama even though as time has gone by, we have been continually finding out distressing things about him. I know the Clintons have some baggage but that is out in the open. Obama has ties to organized crime, is deeply associated with a known racist (yes it is just as bad to be a racist against whites as blacks), and now he has the audacity to treat us poor, bitter midwesterners like a bunch of rubes. Sorry I will stick with Senator Clinton who has demonstrated a fighting spirit, who has the better health care proposal, and who will know what she is doing when she takes the oath of office in January.
Nancy Smith, Cleveland, Ohio
Clinton did not choose the line of questioning, the moderators did. She did not insinuate about his associations with people that are questionable. The media has shown those associations to be true regardless of how close he says he is to them. Clinton did like any other politician and questioned the things that will be questioned by the Republicans in November. They are already digging up dirt on him and keeping a list of all the untrue things he has said but that the media do not hit him with like they do Clinton. We know about Hillary Clinton. It is Obama that we do not know the true story. I just hope it is not too late when we learn.
As far as what he can accomplish that is yet to be determined. What she has done: pro bono work for women and children, making major improvements in rural NY as senator, trying to get healthcare reform and more. Yes, like all us humans she has made mistakes. Hopefully, she has learned from her experience, much before he was born.
Lyn, FT Worth, TX
Barack Obama has been fighting this bout with one hand tied behind his back. He set a higher bar for the sort of politics he would participate in early in this campaign, and apart from a scant few instances plucked from his surrogates, he has managed to hold his offensive tongue, lest he dirty the air around him. If you go and look on Hillary Clinton's website, she's got a quiz up asking about the attacks the Obama camp has leveled at her (just answer Obama for everything and you'll pass with flying colours). Note that every last one of them has to do with her honesty. Nothing about the shady connections the Clintons have had over the years. None of the scandal she could be facing and would be in the general election. Apart from calling her a liar (in kinder words), Obama has kept that back hand back, because it's what he wants for the country.
Even with the handicap of clean politics, he's cleaning her clock. This must end before any of the bad seeds she's planted take root.
Bradley Lyons, Aiea, HI
I hear that a large percentage of Democratic supporters will not vote for the opposing candidate should he/ she get the nomination and this alarms me. Remember that you're not only voting for political, social and economic changes; you are voting to save the lives of many soldiers who will otherwise die next year and in years to come if McCain becomes president. No matter what, you need to remember this simple fact when you vote or choose not to vote later this year. Remember that the death toll is now at 4000+ because of how your nation chose to vote the last time - the war would have been ended already. For your sakes I hope you can make that happen.
Andrew Jackson, St. Augustine, Trinidad, West Indies
An excellent and damning editorial. Like many independent voters in the US, I have become so alienated by the Repubican party and everything it has become responsible for that I know I will probably never vote Republican in my lifetime again unless the Republican party undergoes a radical transformation brought on by a massive electoral defeat and many years of political exile. And like many Democrats, earlier in this primary season I was excited that the Democratic Party was fielding two such intelligent and extraordinary politicians. I voted for Barack for the reasons so many have, that he has the chance to unite the country and get us past the kind of politics that Andrew describes here and which has soiled this country for the past 20 + years. But I always had a great measure of respect for Hillary. No longer. I have become totally disgusted at the way this race has unfolded and I now want to see Hillary and Bill sent off into exile as much as I do the Republicans.
Guy Wiggins, NYC, USA
Thank you. Watching Hillary self-destruct would be entertaining if the stakes for the country and the world were not so great. But who can help but laugh at the following, from today's LA Times coverage of her campaign? Enjoy:
""I was raised by my family to say what I mean and mean what I say," she told a crowd in Bethlehem on Sunday."
This is beyond shameless, and clueless. She really does inhabit a different reality from the rest of us. Bosnian snipers suddenly make sense -- they SHOULD have been there you see! And everyone must see how Obama complains about how the last debate was conducted -- what could be worse than THAT? I, Hillary, am no wimpish patsy for the Rovians who cannot take a little heat. And this is all about delegates! No, it's about popular vote! No, it's about winning the big states! No... it's about winning... no.. yes... no... yes...
Bill in Beijing, Beijing, China
The Democrats has been incharge of the upper house & the lower house, the writers needs to ask them selves the question, every body needs to ask them selves before they vote, why am I really voting what and how do I want my future to be like, do I want the same system that is taking us all to hell in a hand basket. If the Democrats has been in charge of both power house, and since then have they been able to stop Bush forcing through any of the world crippling policies. I know I have only heard one person who has recogonised that fact, without a new leader with a different Approach, it will not make a blind difference if it is Hillary or McCain, because they do not want Change, it will be just a different face with the same ideas, as for health care Hillary does not even know how the money will be injected into Hospitals, does not know how it will be administrated, she decided to run on Obamas Policies to cause distractions, she tried the Health care thing once and it never worked.
Daphne Kenward , Cambridge, UK
Do you ever question your own judgement? If I had beat the George Bush/ conservative/democracy on the march drum as loud and as long as you have I would have a few doubts as to my own analysis. You are as ga-ga over Obama as you were Bush. Kool-aid is Kool-aid no matter what the flavor. Any Ex-Bushiet is the last person a Democrat should listen to. Obama is a guy who doesn't want his picture taken with gays!
Kathleen Campbell, Portage, PA
Senator Obama is hurting himself.
His associates, His words and His judgement.
He needs to grow up and stop complaining. This is politics. If he can't stand the heat he needs to get out of the kitchen. I question his endurance. This is not a job for the weak. He has to be strong.
Senator Clinton has already shown her strength time and time again.
Sorry, I'll go with the proven record versus the pretty speeches.
Keicha, Slidell, LA
I know I WAS going to Vote for Hillary, but I can't now.
She showed how DESPERATE she is by taking the endorsement of a VERY Conservative paper that is OWNED by the guy who PAID for the impeachment trials for Bill Clinton?
Why would she accept an endorsement from a man who put America thrrough 15 monts of HELL about a fallatio act?
I'm casting my vote for Senator Obama tomorrow
Fred - Scranton, PA
Fred, Scranton, PA
Obama will survive no matter what wrecking she does.
We shall win Congress and Clinton will be blamed if we lose the White House.
If Obama wins the White House, it will be in spite of the Clintons/McCain/Rove.
She will be lucky if she is not removed from the Democratic Party as Joe Lieberman has been--that is up to New York.
She seems to believe it is 'win or destroy' since she cannot even get the VP slot.
Who would want her?
2012 or McCain's VP?
She is dreaming if she thinks we Democrats will not hold her accountable or that McCain will put her on his ticket.
Expect her to endorse McCain if Obama wins the nomination.
This is the Democratic battle of the classic Democrats vs the Clintons similar to the true Conservatives in the Republican Party vs the Bushes.
It is time to cleanse both parties so that we Americans can all have real choices of policies and decent candidates who represent US.
susan trevelyan-syke, london , UK--IL
there was a time I had admiration and respect for the clintons.. sadly that time has passed... they now represent everything I abhor about politics... my hope is for Obama to win and pull us out of this cess pool. Since when are stupid trivia talk points more important than real issues?
Levi Cro, Madison, Wi
Tomorrow I will proudly cast a vote for Obama in the Pennsylvania primary. But I have to say that, speaking as a white, middle-aged woman, I have been annoyed by Sullivan's treatment of Hillary Clinton as the devil incarnate. She's a politician, not a Sunday-school teacher! Of course Obama doesn't need to go negative -- he has you, Chris Matthews, and a host of others to do it for him! Please cool it, Andrew, you're not helping Obama, at least not here.
B.A., Philadelphia region, Pennsylvania
If Sullivan hadn't been proudly proclaiming his hatred of Senator Clinton for lo these many months, this might have had impact. As it is, though, he's become repetitive and induces mego.
Gene Touchet, Palm Springs, California, U.S.A.
Do you truly believe Obama's ideals are so different? The things he wants for his country are so different? He espouses our hopes and dreams beautifully. But he is not the package he sales. If he was, he and his followers wouldn't be so cruel-hearted and mean-spirited. If he was, he'd handle these things more in accord with a true spiritula leader. But he isn't a spiritual leader, and he is showing that he isn't ready to be our country's political leader yet, either. His blind ambition an arrogance have created so many myths in our culture about him, his opponents, the Democratic Party, Americans, and race that there is a danger of these myths becoming fact because he sells them. It is harmful to us all.
Yael, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
If you think Obama is nothing but a pretty speech maker, you have not done your homework. I've seen the results of his efforts on the South side of Chicago first hand. As Editor of the Harvard Law Review, he could easily have picked a quieter, more lucrative job in a white shoe law firm- he chose to roll up his sleeves, put his money where his mouth was, get in the trenches, and contribute.
The man is a proven leader, of character and substance, and he has run a class act of a campaign. People who support him do so because they recognize that, not because they are some brainwashed cult. Is he perfect? No. Will he magically make every problem and ugliness in politics go away? No. But he is a leader, he is what this country needs, and I will be proud to call him my President.
Chris M, Potsdam, NY
"the most promising candidate since Kennedy"? Since when Kennedy became promising? What kind of promise? Geez.
MK, tecate, California
Great piece,
I wish things were different, but American politics unfortunately is driven by fear; about terror, about race, about guns, about religion. The Clintons will rule like it or not. I see little difference between Americans and Zimbabweans (who still vote for Mugabe decpite the economic pain, you would think he wouldnt get a single vote).
Obama is good, but Americans will not let him rule, for racial reasons which they hide in calling him a moslem or Obama bin Laden, an Elitist etc.
DD, Philly, PA
Really must we always trash Clinton She did not pick out Obama friends you think he would have had more common sence and than to blame it on Clinton Fox news has brought out most of the negative stuff on Obama they sure don't want to go up against Hillary . The truth is Hillary is the best out of all three of them.
sharon, Dacula, USA/Ga.
Obama is no Kennedy!!! Senator Obama has been talking out both sides of his mouth. He calls the people of PA "Bitter", and then says he didn't mean that. He says he never heard Rev Wright deliver hateful speeches, and then he says he did hear some. He says he doesn't take money from lobbyist, then it is reported he has taken millions from people who work for lobbyist (splitting hairs??). If we believe he will beat John McCain in Sept., we are fooling ourselves!!! Wake up Democrats!!!!
Rob, New York, NY
I think Obama talked about changing dirty politics because he didn't want anyone looking into his past and his opportunist ways - and it almost worked.
Susie, Pittsburgh, PA / USA
Tomorrow I plan to do what I can to change politics as usual when I vote for Senator Obama. I have not been proud to be an American for a long, long time. I believe Obama can lead our nation out of the economic, environmental, and foreign relations gutter.
Thaddeus Stevenson, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
This tells me even more that Obama should be the democrat's sole candidate. If he survives the Clinton smearcampaign, then the stronger he will be for it. Not that many stones left to throw for the republicans after the ones Hillary filled her basket with.
Yong, Brussels, Belgium
Being a citizen of that almost-other-Pacific state of the USA, Australia, I find that distance in some sense clarifies what's going down in this Democrat Nomination scramble. Obama is the best thing for the Democrats since Kennedy. Clinton must stop her insanely destructive attack on Obama. The nation must be given the chance to vote for the guy who has the best opportunity to build on the direction a bullet in a Dallas street cut short.
We can see what the last several Pepublican administrations have done for the nation, and the world's view of the nation, through their policies of exclusive belligerence. The nation aches, the world aches, for the election of the man with the best chance ever of implementing policies of inclusive growth. That's not you, Hill. Butt out.
Eddiie, Warwick, Qld, Australia
Eddiie, Warwick, Qld, Australia
I don't agree with this article. It is obama hurting obama not anyone else. I don't agree with his tactics. Hillary would be the strongest between the two. She can win in November better than Obama. I will not vote for him in November.
sharon , cambridge, oh
Obama is a very compelling candidate. I have to admit I'm intrigued. The Clintons aren't doing anything they haven't done before, to characterize their tactics as "Rovian" is ludicrous. This stuff has been around for decades. If Obama is to be our president he must learn how to deal with it.
anyone who is willing to change their citizenship because their "candidate" didn't make the cut should do us all a favor and move NOW. Who cares if you have dual citizenship, Who cares if you will move to GB if Obama isn't the candidate? This is no different than an 8yr old saying that if he/she doesn't get their own way they will take their toys and go home, and in your case apparently your parents support these actions.
Keith, Anchorage, AK
Hillary Clinton would not have needed the kitchen sink if she hadn't taken the electorate for granted in the first place. If her administration resembled her campaign, God help America. Her husband isn't helping with several ill-judged remarks. Barack Obama is appealing to many people for what he is not - a typical mudslinging self absorbed egoist, who thinks he is the only person with the brains to lead America.
If electors want a clue, think healthcare. Hillary had her chance during her husband's tenure and could not build a consensus. Given her current scorched earth campaign, this is no surprise. She turns on those she regards as disloyal, reminiscent of Bush and Colin Powell when the latter tried to inject reason into the rush for war with Iraq. HRC may have an excellent command of policy, but the president needs to be a diplomat who brings people along - not beat into submission. Many Democrats must be stunned at how the Clintons have burned bridges and harmed the party.
Diane M, London,
As an Independent senior citizen white woman that once actually voted for Bill Clinton...I have no idea how I could honestly go into a voting booth this November and vote for Hillary Clinton. A month ago? I would have, not now - she (and Bill) have lost this white granny's precious vote. I pray for my grandkids sake that the Pennsylvania voters vote in record numbers and put an end to the Clinton Machine on Tuesday!
Mary from TN, Maryville, usa/TN
In the eyes of this 48 year old woman from Massachusetts--where politics is bloodsport--Clinton's behavior the past month, since the roll out of the 3 am phone call, has been numbingly revealing of all that is wrong in our political system. Clinton has, in my eyes, become the embodiment of everything that has to change, and hopefully before any more of us lose our jobs, health, homes and heart. This uber-Rovian hypocrite has also, in my opinion, revealed that many of the party's leaders are wimps. (Not my two senators, of course). Obama needs to arrive at his moment in time with as much of his heart and soul intact as is possible, and the sooner the bankrupt (in all ways, according to the latest FEC reports) legacy of everything Clinon is returned to its rightful place in history, the sooner we can begin the work at hand. Like the soldiers on the way to beaches at Normandy, its probably a good thing if we all feel a little hope and common purpose.Andrew, you are almost always right.
Irene P. , Westport, Mass. USA
I think Obama should be the next President for severals reasons:
ran the better campaign by a mile,
had better foresight (i.e, figured that the campaign might not be over on Super Tuesday),
spent less money on luxuries, "street money" for volunteer and more on advertising,
had extensive grass-roots support,
used Internet in a way that will be taught in political schools,
lied minimally compared to Hillary (http://www.factcheck.org/default.html) ,
I don't think he is a Prophet or that he walks on water, I think he is a human being with qualities and shortcomings. I am enthusiast at his proposals, even if I know that it is extremely unlikely that he will be able to put them in application. I mean, he has a lot of work to do just to bring back the USA on an even keel.
He is definitely better than Hillary or McCain. There is no doubt about that.
Hey, he even has me wishing I was an American so I could donate, volunteer and vote for him.
Claude Moreau, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
Hillary does not deserve to win. She deserves to lose the nomination race and she deserves to lose her seat in the Senate. That goes for anyone in Congress who voted for the preemptive invasion of Iraq. Don't let us down, Pennsylvania.
Jeremy, Mississippi, USA
I am a dual US/UK citizen, who was born and brought up in the US.
I am almost out of faith in the US system, Obama is the only viable candidate to get the US out of the position it is in now.
I have recently applied for a UK passport (and received it) for the first time since I was a baby. Should the nomination to go HRC, I am prepared to cut my losses and start anew in the land of my parents. They support my choice and will likely join me as well.
Obama '08!
Robert, Burbank, CA
I think Andrew Sullivan is either too ignorant or is selective about facts while criticising a presidential candidate or has sold his conscience to the active courting of media personnel by the Obama campaign. For one who had followed this campaign from the beginning, it will be hard to miss the fact that it is the Obama campaign whol employed all kinds of negative tactics, which one can either call "insurgent" or "Karl Rovian" or whatever. During the Iowa campaign, it was Obama who introduced the subject of race, by calling Hillary "The senator from Punjab", indirectly lampooning the Clintons' associations with expatriate Indian nationals. It is Obama's campaign, who first introduced the subject of Hillary's tax returns (how is it relevant for this nomination battle, other than being a straight copy out of the GOP palybook of negative campaigning, to cast a slur on a person?). The reason Obama didn't criticise Jeremiah Wright enough, so that he doesn't lose African-American votes!!
Raju, Jabalpur,
It seems to me Andrew, that you & the Obama supporters want to have it both ways when it comes to cherry picking criticism. In early April at a McCain rally the person who introduced McCain said you can keep your Tiger Woods we've got McCain. No one seemed to take offense at that, but heaven forbid he get compared to a "rabble-rousing preacher Jesse Jackson",who is one of my heroes. He's done so much for civil rights and the common good, I can't believe that being compared to him is racist or an insult. Michelle Bernard of the Independent Women's Forum had this to say about the Tiger woods comparison on Hardball 4/08/08. She didn't think it was bad, "It would be different if he compared him to Al Sharpton or done one of Bill Clinton‘s things with Jesse Jackson winning South Carolina, but I don‘t think this hurts him." Maybe some blacks are too black for you and Ms. Bernard, too bad for you. By the way his healthcare plan leaves 15,000,000 uncovered (Paul Krugman, NYT, 2/4/08).
Marg M, Austin, Texas, USA
I'm an Independent voter supporting Senator Obama. What the Clintons and the Bushes have done to the country the last 20 years requires fixing. My hope is that my fellow Americans have had enough of the same old politics and political tactics as I have. Our country is in serious trouble domestically and internationally, economically, diplomatically, constitutionally, and morally. Our media corporations feed us pablum and expect our democracy to thrive. Madness has overtaken us.
D M Herzer, Mesa, Arizona/USA
Great piece, Andrew. I'm amused, as I read through the comments, how often critics of Obama refer to his supporters as deluded/cultlike. I have no illusions. Obama isn't perfect. But his message, that America needs to move beyond the sniping of the past two administrations and solve real problems, is too important to ignore. From health care, to years fighting Republicans (and her continued insistence on the need to fight), to her mismanaged campaign (a failure in both strategy, personnel, and money management), Hillary is rigid in her thinking and favors loyalty over competence or results. Her attacks on Obama are unconscionable because they legitimize right wingers. Imagine if she'd just said: although his pastor is inflammatory, I have no doubt that Obama loves this country. Or: Obama isn't an elitist, that phrase was clearly out of context. Put simply, they're on the same team, and when you're on the same team, you don't kneecap your friend right before the finals.
Nick, Spokane, WA
Please, politics is full of mud-slinging - its the nature of the beast - but the truth of Hillary Clinton's lifetime committment to improving education, heathcare, and human rights far outreaches any of the shallow rhetoric that is part of the ugly trail of campaigning. All being said, this is one of the 'cleaner' fights, Clinton and Obama actually have respect for each other - and simply need to play this unfortunate game of politics. When Obama arrived at the Senate, he singaled out Senator Clinton for advice about how to navigate his new position. And she, incidently worked hard to raise money for his campaing. Don't get blinded by the hype - and most of it is hype! Look at the record, not the headlines. Senator Clinton distinguishes herself again and again and it is my sincere hope that she will be our next President of the United States.
Cleo, Philadelphia, PA
This is one of the most interesting and fascinating articles that I have ever read about america internal politics. What makes it interesting is the discernment of the ways in which certain politicians across parties work together in sniky manner to keep the old style politics. Hillary and Bill are also part of this statusquo. When Obama and his team are talking about change, what they really mean is to change the way Washington is operating, the old style politics which is no longer suitable with national and international reality. I am not surprised at all about what Hillary is doing to Obama. This "boy" must be stopped, that is the mission given to Hillary and his Husband. Americans should realize that the statusquo is no longer working, the country should work for ordinary people rather that for powerful lobbies only, if they want to compete with China or India. America needs new idealism and new leaders. Let us wake up to the reality and embrace change.
Peter Frames, Florida, US
Great analysis, Andrew, as always. Interesting to see tho your Sunday Times colleague Sarah Baxter quoting Carl Rove at such length - he of the Bush victory and consequent Iraq war with 4,000 + US casualties, 350,000 - 1 million Iraq casualties and, hm-m-m- what WAS that UK figure? Originally from Pa., but London resident of many years, I have been keeping posted on Pa elections. Seems that most people are not fooled by the positively Orwellian charge that Obama is an 'elitist'. iin that fundraising polls in small Pa town following this charge show Obama outraised Clinton by a not insignificant margin. Hillary' image is suffering by comparison as is, albeit gradually her superdelegate total. I think we may be surprised on this side of the pond by, if not an Obama victory, then a damagingly small margin to Clinton. I voted for her twice for NY Senator, but am sorry to see her election tactics.
Vee Waller, London , W6 TN
Hilary Clinton is finished after this campaign. Thanks to rational thinking Americans. She has displayed an absolute disrespect for the intelligent of most Americans and lack of sensitivity for the legacy and struggles of millions of Americans who have slaved, served and died for this country. Only those who are in the gutter of ignorance for humanity which have kept us divided as a nation or and those in it for the payoff are hanging on to the threads of her disappearing skirt.
John Coffeeville, Charleston, South Carolina
What people are perhaps missing is that the Obama campaign is not so much about Obama himself, but simply the fact that he has presented a way to get us out of our political mess in this country. His supporters are behind him 100% and will not be dissuaded from this goal. He can have a night when he doesn't bite back, and maybe that makes him look less strong. He IS between a rock and a hard place because he is so determined to take the high road.
But he has millions of people completely comitted to taking this country back. Back to democracy. Why the young ones? Because they have been in school being taught about democracy and then they can't make any sense of how it workis. They get the idealistic pitch from their teachers and it is clear that the theory is good but the reality sucks. So they'd rather fight on the streets of America for their country than have to go to Iraq, or Iran, or heaven knows where else on that massive retaliatory strike that Hillary spoke of in the debate.
Cheryl, Walla Walla, WA
Obama would be a good president but Hillary's the best. I am tired of Obama's "Change we can believe in." There's no need to unify America, it has been long united ever since. What we need right now is solutions to our country is facing. I have not heard anything from Obama that is freshly his "own words" in this campaign,,, it has been said by someone elses. If you run for a president of USA, show your act of patriotism where people can tell you're doing it and not questioning you about it.
N.Dianne, tacoma, Wa, USA
Yes Hillary Clinton has planted alot of bad seeds that are now starting to harvest.
Make NO mistake...you reap what you sow!!!!
Neffty, Los Angeles, CA
Hillary Clinton is being despicable, but Barack Obama deserves everything he's getting. When I see images of him with a light retouched glow behind him it gives me the creeps. So does Kennedy. Kennedy was awful. Read about his administration, people. Anyone pretending to be a saint who is running for political office deserves to have the septic tank thrown at them.
That's why I like the Clintons. They're dirty, and obviously so. I think in a prize fight Hillary Clinton would bite someones ear off, kill a referee, anything. Did any of the Democrats voting for Obama in hopes of "bringing the country together" see what was going on in the last four years?
Specifically in the tactics the Republicans used to marginalize the Democrats? They were merciless. Obama's entire strategy of reconciliation is in essence, the children's film Babe the Pig.
Mark, Chicago,
This is the most biased piece of propaganda I've read...and boy have there been masses of biased propaganda. Barack walks on water. He is JFK, MLK and Jesus...Where is the evidence to substantiate this hyperbole? Nowhere.
The writer admits BO wilted in the debate. The President will not only make speeches. He/She will answer questions and have to react.
The USA doesn't need another charmer. Bush filled stadiums and talked in hopeful generalities. Where are the analogies to the vapid crowd pleasing idiot that America elected (mostly) twice in this love letter dressed up as journalism?
This candidate who says one thing in San Francisco and another in Pennsylvania. Who remains mute when Bill Clinton is called racist and then support a preacher who if muslim would have been arrested under the 'Patriot' Act.
You want BO elect him here. I want a real President this time and will happily support HRC or McCain...but not this manipulative man who stands for nothing.
Megan Karnes, London, England
Absolutely Brilliant!! Hillary, the American Iron Lady? Picture this metaphor:
Margaret Thatcher --- Hillary Clinton
H.M. The Queen --- The Democratic Party
Running Government --- Managing Presidential Campaign
Cabinet Ministers --- Super Delegates
Thatcher was pushed largely for her arrogance and utter disrespect for the Queen. She, however, run her Government very well. But her growing horns and self delusion that she was the Head of Government destroyed her. Her cabinet did the Julius Caesar on her. She deserved it to a large extent.
Hillary, equally arrogant with her deluded sense of entitlement, is now utterly disrespect for the Democratic Party - jumping into bed with the Republicans! Unlike Thatcher, she has completely mismanaged her campaign, which is in huge debt (while she claims she will be the best President?). The super delegates need to act NOW (and take out their daggers) to save the Party, for this lady is not for turning, until the disaster of a convention!
Dr Cahill, Letchworth, UK
Oh and Obama supporters have not been marginalized, say basically that anybody who supports obama, are blindly following him, or that were young and basically stupid and we don't know what's good for us and all that stuff. Please. You can't even ignore the fact that clinton herself stated that she was going to go through the kitchen sink tactic. I'd like to see you play that on off. Look maybe barack got it easy in the beginning don't forget he was not the only one in the race at that time and nobody new who he was the thought he was a nobody and not worth investigating, until he won all those primaries on super tuesday. once that happend and the shock wore off they have been hitting him hard. so all those clinton people talking about he is getting a better deal need to get over themselves. Obama supporters Chill. Obama does not even care, He knew this would happen, He expected it. Clinton is doing for him the one thing she said he needed. and that is to be Vetted. Well she is helping
kristy, phx,az,
To Meg and Adriane...
"Negative" is a big umbrella. There's a world of difference between a criticism and a smear (and no, that difference isn't just a matter of whose side you're on). If you don't see the difference between the two campaigns in this regard, I suggest you take a moment, try to set aside the instinct to defend, and look at the two campaigns as objectively as possible.
Dominic, Baltimore, MD
I like that you call it how it is. Exactly why I'd never vote for Hillary Clinton.
Judy, Port Orange, Florida, USA
That's democracy!
Roberto Peredo, Xalapa, México
Obama, I'm afraid, is not the miracle his supporters think he is. There is nothing new here - just a ton of charisma and then who knows? The various talking points involving his "character" leave more questions than answers, and we need more time to figure him out because it MATTERS. No wonder his supporters think Hillary should stop now. The more time passes, the more questions arise about him. This is not damaging his candidacy, of course. It is learning about him.
I think many of us on both sides of the spectrum felt bamboozled by the forces that put the current resident of the White House there. Over time we learned who he was, and found him wanting in the ways of running a government. This must not happen again. We must look before we leap.
Thanks for making it easy to comment here, and for your attention.
Casey Chapple, Burlington, VT USA
No better analysis of the situation here in Pennsylvania than this. Simply brilliant!
Chime Nnadi, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Hillary Clinton has lost my support. I gave her the benefit of the doubt with how she and hubby Bill showed off in South Carolina. After Pennsylvania ..... bring it on to North Carolina..... we'll seal the deal for Obama
Bruce, Raleigh, North Carolina
With all do respect, I would like to mention a few points. Namely;
(I) Obama campaign is outspending Hillary by 3 to 1. They are using very negative trend to attack her - thus Rove's analogy is equally applicable to Obama campaign.
(II) You idea about old and new politics arguments are not in concert with the reality of this campaign. Many of Obama's remarks (Change, movement, etc) are actually really old slogans that are used in various countries during 19-21th centuries. If you look into establishment of democratic party and their support for Obama, you will notice that the old guards are indeed with Obama. Hence, he does not reflect a new refreshing wave. He is merely using some nice old words, today for those who do not know much about history or politics :).
(III) There is no angle in this race, but I do not think that there is any one evil either.
Hillary Clinton may not be perfect, but is the best candidate in this race.
HIllary 08 :)
Meg, Toronto, Canada
Man! That is the best written essay I have ever read. It really captures the essence of why I switched from voting fro my life long dream of a woman in the White House to Obama.
Kate, Milton, USA Vermont
This article says it all, there is no more to add. Only, as a Democrat, I only wish I could be actively campaigning for Barack Obama (really for America!) right now. Oh to be in Pennsylvania!
David Irby, Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland
How you and I can watch the same thing and come to completely opposite points of view is astonishing... it also points up the fact that across this nation Democrats are split between Clinton and Obama.
Pundits have called for Hillary to withdraw since the very first primary in Iowa. She's been the target of rampant sexism ("witch", "cackling", "who wants to watch a woman grow old on TV", and literally THOUSANDS more), she's been raked over in 20 debates while Obama got lobbed softballs (otherwise the SNL sketch would not have made any sense), and her supporters have been belittled, marginalized and mocked.
The words you use about Hillary do NOT make it so to nearly half the Democrats in this nation. Repeating negative remarks about Hillary do NOT make them any more true. And those methods, sir, are exactly the kind found in the "Republican Playbook".
Isn't it interesting that headlines like your, that slam Hillary, talk about how negative SHE is.
Adriane C, Long Beach, CA