The Method to Bill Clinton’s Meltdowns

Bill Clinton has a negative outburst a few days before each state race in the Democratic primary. There was "roll the dice" before Iowa, and "fairy tale" in New Hampshire. A few days before Nevada voted, he aggressively confronted a reporter on camera, and just pulled the same stunt on a CNN reporter in South Carolina. Each time, the media fixates on the spectacle, dutifully debating whether he is too angry or too misleading. But as Clinton knows, it doesn't even matter what people say, as long as they are talking about him and his latest attacks on Barack Obama. Like clockwork, these supposed outbursts give airtime to attacks while pulling attention away from Obama in the crucial, closing days of each primary.

Yet while much of the media hangs on every Clinton complaint -- from old school networks to new school blogs -- it turns out many voters want to hear from the people who are actually running for President. This week, a 34-minute video of a new Obama speech, laying out ideas to resolve America's "moral deficit," shot past shorter, spicier items to become the third most viewed item on YouTube. It even beat several clips of another media darling, Britney Spears, an unprecedented feat for a long political speech.

Many commentators said 2006 was the first "YouTube election" because Sen. George Allen was damaged by his offensive "Macaca" recording. But after another week of media coverage of non-issues and non-candidates, this could be a more profound turning point in YouTube politics: The public is seeking out serious political information that TV won't provide.

That doesn't mean people will vote for who they watch online. Or vote at all. But it does reveal that some of the television media -- which can provide a vital democratic service by directly reporting on the candidates -- is underestimating the public.

Bill Clinton's latest attack was on both Obama and a CNN reporter, whom he blasted for focusing on Clinton's misleading statements about Obama, instead of issues. "This is what you want to cover. This is what you live for!" he chided, adding that voters' concerns are "not going to be in the news coverage tonight because you don't care about it."

But as Clinton understands perfectly, now the "news coverage" is once again about his latest outburst. Even his advisers admit that some of "his criticism of Mr. Obama" are "choreographed" with Hillary's campaign. It has worked well every week since the race began in Iowa. Now the "news coverage" is not about Obama's new speech -- which is literally breaking records in public viewership. It's not about John Edwards' stimulus plan –- which has driven the economic policy debate since he unveiled a populist proposal weeks before any other candidate. Come to think of it, the news isn't about that other candidate for president, either. It's all about Bill Clinton's attacks. And as he said, that's a bad thing. Except for the frontrunner in this race.

--

UPDATE: Nation reader "FRITZTHECAT" asks how this post "is different from other media outlets" reporting on the same attacks from Clinton. It's a good point. Media criticism can risk repeating or inflating the very faults that it aims to expose. Loudly debunking a smear, for example, can simply give the smear more attention. But maybe if people see President Clinton's outbursts for what they are -- a "choreographed" series of attacks timed for maximum damage before each state votes -- then the attacks could be more readily discounted like any other political stunt. And we could even focus on the candidates who are running for President.

Comments (35)

1. Ari, I like a lot of your stuff but your reporting on this is different from other media outlets....how?

   Posted by FritztheCat at 01/24/2008 @ 1:48pm

2. We all underestimated them...even me.

   They're good and smart at campaigning. And know their Sun Tzu as well as their Machiavelli. All warfare is based on deception, etc.

   Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 1:54pm

3. well, nothing lasts forever, not even bill clinton's magic aura. could indeed backfire. soon to see...

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 2:05pm

4. "OBAMA PORTRAIT MUSIC VIDEO" on Youtube - Don't Miss It!

   For those of you who still have not heard:

   There is a WONDERFUL and INSPIRING music video on Youtube.com entitled "Obama Portrait Music Video by Bjarne O." You can use the free downloaded high-quality stereo version from the composer's website in DVD form to show at house parties and fundraisers. Even people who knew nothing at all about Obama have been moved: either a thrilling introduction, or further inspiration for those of us who already know and fight for Obama. The music soundtrack, which incorporates excerpts from the famous 2004 speech, can also be downloaded separately in high-quality.

   So please, SPREAD THE WORD!

   http://youtube.com/watch?v=mCPwbozpIzM

   YES WE CAN

   Anne

   Posted by annevilla at 01/24/2008 @ 2:05pm

5. It's all about Bill Clinton's attacks. And as he said, that's a bad thing. Except for the frontrunner in this race.

   Obama's message of hope is too powerful for the Clintons to handle. There response is therefore to try to change the subject, and waste Obama's media time on responding to attacks on his record that they know are false.

   This is just more of the same gutter politics that you would expect from Penn & Co. They are completely clueless on how to run a positive campaign, so they do what they know best - smear your opponent and have him focus on undoing the damage of "your" smear.

   If I were Obama, I would run "one" commercial, over and over again, each time Billary comes up with another smear:

   "Hillary and Bill Clinton are at it again. They continue to distort my record rather than focusing on the issues you and I care about. The reason they do this is because they are afraid if you knew more about what I want to do as president, and what they failed to do when they had the chance, that you will vote for me instead of Hillary.

   It is time to turn the page on this negative approach to politics. Americans are yearning for a much better country - one that is united in its purpose and in its resolve to move past the Clinton/Bush era. The Clintons had their chance to bring healthcare for all, and they failed. They had their chance to to create an ethical government, and they failed. They had their chance to prevent war in Iraq, and they failed. And they had their chance to break our dependence on foreign oil, and they failed.

   So rather than waste another moment defending myself against another distortion of my record by Hillary Clinton or Bill Clinton, I ask you to reflect on this simple point: The Clintons have already had their chance to change America, and they failed."

   Posted by Metteyya at 01/24/2008 @ 2:06pm

6. Posted by METTEYYA 01/24/2008 @ 2:06pm

   METTE, Obama's "invuerability" to the Clintons will soon be tested.

   Not South Carolina, that's a gimme. He'll likely win it by 15 points or better.

   But Super Duper Tuesday. If he scores a 40-45% delegate count, he can fight it out til the bitter end, maybe force a "Clinton/Obama Unity Ticket" ("unity tickets" being one of John Nichols' faves).

   If he scores 50% or more, he's the nominee and your claim to his "power of hope" will prove true.

   If he scores LESS than 40% (one or two wins, but She wins the rest)....it's finished.

   Saturday is meaningless, but a week from next Tuesday, will be the proof of the pudding.

   Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 2:11pm

7. Oooh, oooh, watch this. I can get RIO BRAVO to retract something that he posted....

   "The greatest deciever of all is Alibama"----Posted by RIO BRAVO 01/24/2008 @ 2:10pm

   He's a greater "deciever" than....Hillary?!?!!?

   heheh

   Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 2:12pm

8. He's a greater "deciever" than....Hillary?!?!!?

   heheh

   Posted by MASK 01/24/2008 @ 2:12pm |

   guess he thinks "alibama" is going to win...

   strange when i'm hoping rio is onto something...strange days indeed!

   Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 3:06pm

9. Billary & Obama slug it out performing for pretty much the same owners. Edwards marginally less so. Kucinich the Principled is squeezed out. And so there we are, fellow citizens. If we get stuck with Billary again, may the gods help us & much of the rest of the world. The great Clinton Chaos will be our lot. We who read The Nation, and certainly these threads, are a miniscule minority. Hope, our last resort.

   Posted by sloper at 01/24/2008 @ 3:17pm

10. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 01/24/2008 @ 3:06pm

    Given the 0/1 decision-maker, DOS programmable 16K Ram chip that IS the RIO BRAVO mind (available at your nearby Radio Shack in 1988)....

    just imagine how hot the processor got when he realized he called OBAMA "the greatest 'deciever' of all"...and then had to put Hillary in SECOND place!

    LOL!

    Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 3:44pm

11. Posted by SLOPER 01/24/2008 @ 3:17pm

    well...its not gonna be denny, and looking like not edwards either.

    how did barry o get to this point, still very much in the game? i'll tell you how, at least in part...

    he, at least to some extent, has "played the (hated) game". yes, he has schlobbed a scmoed to an extent, kissed the babes, made tentative alliances with semi-sketchy types, etc...all the things that one must do to have a shot at winning in this corrupt and corrupting sleazhole mess known as american politics...

    and i can tell...it grates on him and he hates it...but he hates the thought of someone who has no problem with such winning even more, and i must agree with him. regardless he seems to have maintained a remarkably unsoiled interior moral compass and sense of purpose. he seems to hate what he has had to do and hope that once in power he may be able to actually change some things so that such will not be neccesary in the future.

    denny is a great little guy, but his unwillingness to "play the game", even reluctantly, can sit morally smarmed on the sideline warm in the knowledge that he remained pure as arctic snow while someone else took the prize and dirtied himself up a bit in the process...

    sometimes too much goody goody purity, though it may get you a front seat to heavan or a fortunate rebirth, actually aids and abets evil in this world and is therefore foolish.

    obama is no fool. in fact, much to the bafflement of cynical schmuk nation, the guy is indeed exactly the moral uberman this country needs...uncomfortable with the sketchy crap one must engage in to get elected in this corrupt and corrupting electoral and political system, yet willing to sully himself (as little as possible) in order to reach a position where he can bring change.

    the "white" knight is indeed in the tournament (he's the mulatto) and many cynics and purists (and cynical purists) have a hard time understanding this. the tourney is violent, not very chivalric, and ugly.

    honestly a big chunk of the anti-obama vitriol issuing from the left resonates to me as the typical ignorant "everything suxism" that ultimately accomplishes nothing more than the further enabling of evil by those who most oppose such. it is emblematic of a petulent adolescent impatience to flip the table and change everything in one mighty stroke - and anything less is some kind of "sell-out".

    as one who has seen the inner workings of a campaign and indeed been repusled, i goota say that all things considered obama has resisted the evil lure of the shadow while walking amongst shadow remarkably well and if he doesn't sound like a denny kucinich out there on the campaign trail, well...

    thank god! he might actually get elected!

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 3:49pm

12. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 01/24/2008 @ 3:49pm

    Keeping the "pure progressives" holding out for Edwards (even Kunicich!!!) is a planned or un-planned advantage to HILLARY!

    It splits their vote long enough for her to beat Obama in Super Tuesday, and shove him aside.

    If the Kucinich, even Edwards' folks (say a day after New Hampshire) had joined forces with Obama....he might stand a better (if not good) chance.

    Yes, yes....this sounds like METTEYA, but it's true. Unlike METTE, I won't attack Edwards (another play right into Her Nibs' hands...he spent time worrying about Edwards, while HRC was running the table in NH and Nevada).

    But right now, if the "purists" don't wake the f**k up and solidify behind "Somebody Other Than Hillary" (and that's likely got to be Obama)...."Akasha" becomes our new Queen.

    Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 4:04pm

13. Posted by MASK 01/24/2008 @ 4:04pm | ignore this person

    i saw obama the other night being interviewed by couric and was struck with his obvious distaste for fundraising and walking in the shadow that has been necesary for him to get to this point in the campaign. i sense the rare combination of true decency and idealism on the one hand and understanding of the ugly nature of reality on the other...

    and the realization that he must indeed walk in some shadow in order to reach the light.

    thats just exactly the same dilemma everyone has to face at some point in their lives as the reach adulthood and i find it a tad sickeningly hypocritical for pie in the sky lefty dumpster divers and bong smoke philosphers to expect some kind of unsullied saint to waltz through a filthy mess completely undirtied...absurd.

    i've been looking for a real saint for years who maintains his/her interior moral compass while sludging through the muck and thereby acheives the prize and position that will enable him to clean up the filth...at least as much as possible...

    and here he is!

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 4:17pm

14. Hey, hey....FRITZ gets an Update Mention....attaboy, Luther!

    Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 4:43pm

15. i've been looking for a real saint for years who maintains his/her interior moral compass while sludging through the muck and thereby acheives the prize and position that will enable him to clean up the filth...at least as much as possible...

    and here he is!

    Well said, IBB!

    I got completely our of politics for that reason - I realized that I could not progress without being compromised so I quit!

    Obama is a much better man than I am, as I know what he has gone through to get to where he is. It truly is unfortunate that American politics is so filthy and corrupt. If Obama doesn't succeed in making it to the top and changing it, then no one can.

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/24/2008 @ 4:45pm

16. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 01/24/2008 @ 4:17pm

    They wasted time on the Blogosphere discussing how "Dennis COULD win if we do _____ and ____, and he gets _____ and ____".

    The saner ones stuck with Edwards, but even if he resurrects himself Saturday with a good 2nd or even WIN in South Carolina, again, all it's done is split the "anti-Hillary" vote and she wins on Super Tuesday with Obama and Edwards people fighting, and Kucinich's pups trying to stay in the dog-fight.

    Obama CANNOT be perfect, no candidate can. Even Edwards isn't...I don't trust his "Bobby Kennedy from the Pamlico Sound" "new" John Edwards. And Dennis "Dondi" Kucinich is a nice guy, but a joke about UFOs and Shirley MacClaine waiting to happen.

    I just fear its too late...and She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed....WILL Be-Obeyed.

    Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 4:47pm

17. This just in:

    By JOE MILICIA, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

    CLEVELAND - Democrat Dennis Kucinich is abandoning his second, long-shot bid for the White House as he faces a tough fight to hold onto his other job -- U.S. congressman. ADVERTISEMENT

    In an interview with Cleveland's Plain Dealer, the six-term House member said he was quitting the race and would make a formal announcement on Friday.

    "I will be announcing that I'm transiting out of the presidential campaign," Kucinich said. "I'm making that announcement tomorrow about a new direction."

    Kucinich has received little support in his presidential bid; he got 1 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary and was shut out in the Iowa caucuses although he has a devoted following.

    Kucinich, 61, is facing four challengers in the Democratic congressional primary March 4, and earlier this week he made an urgent appeal on his Web site for funds for his re-election. Rival Joe Cimperman has been critical of Kucinich for focusing too much time outside of his district while campaigning for president.

    His decision comes a month after his youngest brother, Perry Kucinich, was found dead.

    Kucinich said he will not endorse another Democrat in the primary.

    Kucinich brought the same sense of idealism to his second run for president as he did in his first bid. He said he was entering the race again because the Democratic Party wasn't pushing hard enough to end the Iraq war.

    Once dubbed the "boy mayor" of Cleveland, he made an unpopular decision to refuse to sell a publicly owned utility that pushed the city into default and drove him from office.

    After the city's financial troubles, the mayor faced death threats, and was forced to wear a bulletproof vest when he threw out the first ball at a Cleveland Indians game. He barely survived a recall vote.

    But he lost his bid for re-election as mayor of Cleveland in 1978 to Republican George Voinovich, who went on to become governor and then U.S. senator. His life and his political career were derailed. Kucinich spent more than a decade trying to get back into politics -- traveling around the country and then working as a teacher, consultant and television news reporter.

    In 1994, Kucinich was elected state senator and he then won a seat in Congress in 1996. His once unpopular stand against the sale of the municipal electric system was praised as courageous. In 1998, the Cleveland City Council issued him a commendation for having the foresight to refuse to sell it.

    During his time in Congress, Kucinich has been one of the most outspoken liberals, opposing international trade agreements like the North America Free Trade Agreement and marching with protesters in Seattle during a meeting of the World Trade Organization.

    As a presidential candidate, he has proposed a Department of Peace, backed universal health care and supported gay marriage. He also pushed for impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

    Kucinich married British citizen Elizabeth Harper, in 2005, ensuring his 2008 campaign would have one dramatic difference from his first campaign. Kucinich told New Hampshire audiences during the 2004 race that he was seeking a mate. Women then vied for a date with him during a contest arranged by a New Hampshire political Web site, but nothing romantic evolved from Kucinich's breakfast with the winner.

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/24/2008 @ 4:50pm

18. Ever since he opened his mouth to start slamming Barack Obama, it's amazing the "cool points" that Bill Clinton has lost in my circle of friends.

    If he and Hillary aren't careful, black folks may decide that it's not in our best interest to come out and vote should she win the Democratic nomination.

    While Hillary will have that steady base of what my Significant Other describes (derisively) as "Civil Rights Negros", those of us who aren't still pimping our "I marched with Dr. King" bonafides may decide to do something else on Election Day 2008.

    There aren't enough women voters to make up that deficit.

    So if she's smart, and she wants to retain any "cool points" that she may have had with this block of voters, she'll tell Bill something that she probably hasn't told him enough during the course of their marriage:

    "Shut the fuck up!"

    Posted by edwriter at 01/24/2008 @ 4:54pm

19. she'll tell Bill something that she probably hasn't told him enough during the course of their marriage:

    "Shut the fuck up!"

    Or: "Zip the fuck up!"

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/24/2008 @ 4:58pm

20. Posted by METTEYYA 01/24/2008 @ 4:45pm

    lol - i love the look he gets when he has to deal with some sleazy accusation or has to tromp around in the filth. sort of a far away "i'm going to my happy place on the inside while i deal with this on the outside" sort of thousand yard stare...

    or when in a debate the wicked witch starts casting her "lie, smear, and bullshit" spells in an attempt to rattle and besmirch him. there's a brief moment where you can almost see him say to himself, "you lowdown, lying bitch! you didn't?", but then he gets that cold controlled righteous fury thing going and responds appropriately (while edwards, who i generally respect, flutters about gleefully sniping at both for squabbling at a debate...gee, fighting at a fight! how declasse!)

    but obama is the obverse of almost every candidate in the race now...his basic, natural honesty and decency shines through even his most shady platitudes and campaigny bs whereas the other candidate's shallow cynicism and true bullshitty bursts forth from behind even their best imitations of humility, decency and purity...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 4:58pm

21. Posted by MASK 01/24/2008 @ 4:47pm

    yeah...yup...

    but obama's only down by a touchdown in the third quarter right now. not a terrible place to be.

    Posted by METTEYYA 01/24/2008 @ 4:50pm

    so little denny has taken his ball and gone home to his hot young wife. good for him.

    not endorsing anyone? fine. perhaps his dumpster diving everything suxers will everything sux their way into self fulfilling prophesy by staying home during the primaries/election and bong smoke philosophizing about how everything sux cause they cant get everything they want right now, thereby ensuring the victory of their most hated enemies and thereby enabling them the luxurious excuse to sit around bitching about how everything sux for god knows how long - which they seem to prefer to actually doing something to change things and taking the responsibility of the results thereof...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 5:18pm

22. Posted by JOMAMMA 01/24/2008 @ 5:33pm

    Still a slim hope....very slim.

    Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 8:24pm

23. Also, as I've pointed out before, there is a concerted effort by republican leaning independents and crossover republicans to vote for Obama in the primary states where this is allowed, (a travesty in my opinion), in an effort to get Hillary out of the picture. Why would they do this you ask?

    They want to get her out of the way because she is a relic of the past...because she and her husband tied up this country in partisan food fights rather than getting things done...because they know the Clintons have already squandered their chance to change America, and have already failed to bring about healthcare for all, have failed to prevent the war in in Iraq, have failed to create an ethical government and reign in the special interests, and have failed to break our addiction to oil.

    On every platform issue that Hillary is pushing, the Clintons have already had a chance to enact this change, but failed!

    Posted by Metteyya at 01/24/2008 @ 8:25pm

24. "Hopefully, everyone understands why Barack Obama said that he thinks republicans had good ideas the last ten or fifteen years. ..."----Posted by FRANKGRITS 01/24/2008 @ 5:41pm

    Just so everybody understands...

    FRANK will tell BALD-FACED LIES now...to destroy his Mistress' enemies!

    Posted by Mask at 01/24/2008 @ 8:27pm

25. RE: The Method ... Hey, why not let Mr. Obama a snall win in a small state like South Carolina. The guy just looks desperate with no victory since the Iowa caucuses. Don't forget a desparate guy is a dangerous guy.

    -------------

    Obama: Clinton Will Say Anything, Do Nothing

    Thursday, January 24, 2008 1:56 PM

    Barack Obama fought back against rival Hillary Clinton with stinging attacks on her record Thursday as the Democratic rivals battled for votes in South Carolina and beyond.

    The two White House hopefuls have taken their war of words to the airwaves in this conservative southern state where polls show Obama with a double digit lead over Clinton ahead of a Democratic primary here Saturday.

    Posted by HelenDAO at 01/24/2008 @ 9:16pm

26. Posted by MASK 01/24/2008 @ 8:27pm

    just look at what happened to poor smeagal...

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 10:15pm

27. Given the 0/1 decision-maker, DOS programmable 16K Ram chip that IS the RIO BRAVO mind (available at your nearby Radio Shack in 1988)....

    Posted by MASK 01/24/2008 @ 3:44pm

    but that brain sure is a chick magnet. [ed-thelen.org]

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/24/2008 @ 10:15pm

28. Posted by JOMAMMA 01/24/2008 @ 5:30pm

    yeah...he ain't "the black candidate". which is good. anyone who stops to listen to him can see through that.

    not that it will stop blacks from voting for him...which is fine with me.

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 10:18pm

29. Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 01/24/2008 @ 10:15pm

    maybe it's just that frank's been smokin' too much pipe-weed.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/24/2008 @ 10:20pm

30. MELBER: .....as Clinton understands perfectly, now the "news coverage" is once again about his latest outburst. Even his advisers admit that some of "his criticism of Mr. Obama" are "choreographed" with Hillary's campaign.....

    Well, it's better late than never.....for realizing Bill's "Method". Conservatives recognized this long before you folks.....like, 16 years longer.

    Posted by Happy at 01/24/2008 @ 10:22pm

31. Would it be feeding the destrutive news cycle to point out that another obvious aspect of this strategy is turning off independent voters and shifting some would be Obama supporters to the Edwards camp as they tire of the perceived tit for tat -- ?

    Posted by metaxy100 at 01/24/2008 @ 10:46pm

32. Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 01/24/2008 @ 10:20pm

    poor smeagol....

    Posted by ibbleblibble at 01/24/2008 @ 10:50pm

33. poor smeagol....

    Posted by IBBLEBLIBBLE 01/24/2008 @ 10:50pm

    well, at least HE got to touch his precious....

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/24/2008 @ 11:12pm

34. David Corn's quick take on "The Method".......

    Bill Clinton's Obama Attacks Producing an Anti-Clintons Backlash? Will It Matter?

    By David Corn | January 24, 2008 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (37)

    Is there a mini-neo-quasi-backlash setting in against the Clintons for their attacks on Barack Obama?

    The Washington Post reported on Thursday that some Democratic leaders were getting mighty peeved at the Clintons--especially him for unfairly assailing Barack Obama. (I've reported several times on how the Clinton camp has made false accusations against Obama regarding his position on the Iraq war. See here.)

    And there's a rather compelling video in which the former president of Chicago NOW says she has switched from supporting Hillary Clinton to backing Barack Obama because the Clinton campaign has disingenuously assailed Obama's record on abortion rights. It's powerful evidence for those who claim the Clintons are going beyond acceptable politics into the realm of slime and smears. Here it is:

    Will this nascent backlash matter? Well, there's not that much time between now and Supersaturated Tuesday on February 5. It's hard to see a full-scale Democratic rebellion against the Clintons emerging. Meanwhile, all this sniping is keeping Obama pinned down. That is, it's working for the Clintons. Their calculation is obvious: the heat is worth the gain.

    Posted by Happy at 01/24/2008 @ 11:23pm

35. perhaps mr. obama is a victim of his own hypocrisy. karma hates a hypocrite.

    "Over the years since I first saw Obama speak I met him about half a dozen times, often at Palestinian and Arab-American community events in Chicago including a May 1998 community fundraiser at which Edward Said was the keynote speaker. In 2000, when Obama unsuccessfully ran for Congress I heard him speak at a campaign fundraiser hosted by a University of Chicago professor. On that occasion and others Obama was forthright in his criticism of US policy and his call for an even-handed approach to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

    The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004 at a gathering in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. He was in the midst of a primary campaign to secure the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat he now occupies. But at that time polls showed him trailing.

    As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, "Hey, I'm sorry I haven't said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I'm hoping when things calm down I can be more up front." He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, "Keep up the good work!""

    ************************************************************************ ************************************************************************

    On Friday Obama gave a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Chicago. It had been much anticipated in American Jewish political circles which buzzed about his intensive efforts to woo wealthy pro-Israel campaign donors who up to now have generally leaned towards his main rival Senator Hillary Clinton.

    Reviewing the speech, Ha'aretz Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner concluded that Obama "sounded as strong as Clinton, as supportive as Bush, as friendly as Giuliani. At least rhetorically, Obama passed any test anyone might have wanted him to pass. So, he is pro-Israel. Period."

    Israel is "our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy," Obama said, assuring his audience that "we must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs." Such advanced multi-billion dollar systems he asserted, would help Israel "deter missile attacks from as far as Tehran and as close as Gaza." As if the starved, besieged and traumatized population of Gaza are about to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

    Obama offered not a single word of criticism of Israel, of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians.

    http://www.electronicintifada.net/v2/article6619.shtml

    Posted by frosty zoom at 01/24/2008 @ 11:32pm