At the same tame that I can state I am sick and tired of the Clintons, I can also state I fully understand the frustration of Clinton supporters:
Here are some of the rules that Obama and progressives should look to enforce through to the General Election:
1. Rezko is a nonissue and bringing it up is a slimy personal attack on Obama. This one has the virtue of being true. Let’s get that enforceable against John McCain and the other Republicans.
2. Discussions of experience and youth are, at the least, vaguely racist, and a personal attack. When a candidate touts experience or points to Obama’s lack of it, they are expressly arguing for a return to the past as opposed to looking to the future. It means they are opposed to change. Indeed, it expressly means for Republicans that they want to continue the policies of the Bush Administration. For Republicans, this also has the virtue of largely being true. The GOP field is indeed basically arguing for a continuation of Bush policies in most areas – tax cuts permanent, continuatio of the Iraq Debacle, less government regulation, etc.
3. What Obama Meant. Any review of Obama statements or past votes is subject to an explanation by Obama of what he REALLY meant. Any criticism of Obama’s statements which do not take into account Obama’s clarifications and explanations of what he REALLY meant are unfair personal attacks and the attacker is a “liar” who will say and do anything to get elected.
4. Obama’s attacks are always fair and merited. Any suggestion otherwise is, at the least, vaguely racist.
Can we get these rules enforced in the Media in a General Election? Let’s hope so if Obama is the nominee.
As for those of us who have been trying to push Obama to be more of an explicit partisan Dem well we can give that up now. He does not even have to give that concern a second thought. Obama can not be criticized period now. We must operate on faith now.
I understand the frustration. Obama is, in my mind, getting a free ride in the media right now, and the behavior directed at the Clintons has been unhinged. I saw this Craig Crawford piece yesterday, and thought there was a lot too it. It is amusing listening to Joe Scarborough, one of Gingrich’s foot soldiers, lament how “divisive” Bill Clinton can be. Actually, it is absurd.
I am tired of the Clintons, but I sure understand why they think they are getting a raw deal. They are. Maybe during the general election, when the Republicans are unloading some truly vicious bullshit on whoever the democratic candidate might be, the folks will look back and re-evaluate their attitude towards the Clintons.