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AdamCarlis-FirstPaper 42 - 11 Jun 2008 - Main.AdamCarlis
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| | | First, Clinton publicly discussed Obama as a potential Vice President as if to say, "You can have 'change,' feel good about bridging the chasms that divide us, and still vote for me." Obama, sensing potential damage to the central premise of his campaign, immediately rejected the VP job. Still, the seed was planted that perhaps Clinton could deliver on both her promise of leadership and Obama's promise of "One America." | |
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< | Second, the Clinton campaign directly poked a hole in the idea that Obama is somehow above the corrupting influence of politics. Despite her own shady land deals, Clinton pushed the Tony Rezko story, arguing that Obama is part of the same political muck that plagues Washington. This was a perfect attack on Obama's creed since it had the potential to a basic premise of his creed and therefore change the way voters perceived him. His supporters, enamored with a departure from politics as usual, were left questioning whether Obama was all that he claimed to be. | >
> | Second, the Clinton campaign directly poked a hole in the idea that Obama is somehow above the corrupting influence of politics. Despite her own shady land deals, Clinton pushed the Tony Rezko story, arguing that Obama is part of the same political muck that plagues Washington. This was a perfect attack on Obama's creed since it had the potential to undermine a basic premise of his creed and therefore change the way voters perceived him. His supporters, enamored with a departure from politics as usual, were left questioning whether Obama was all that he claimed to be. | | | Recently, Clinton shook the very foundation of Obama's creed by questioning whether he transcends race. By highlighting his pastor's divisive words, Clinton raised the question whether, deep down, Obama is actually an angry black man, poised to spill the secret shame of racism in this country. For white voters, such a charge brings with it serious misgivings. No longer was Obama a fearless leader ready to move the country beyond its racial divide. Instead, his campaign became, as Bill Clinton argued weeks ago, in many ways indistinguishable from Jesse Jackson's. Without racial unity and reconciliation, "One America" becomes many Americas again and the hole in the tent let votes escape. Obama's immediate damage control, including a major address on race, may have stopped the bleeding. Nevertheless, successfully wounding Obama invigorated Clinton's campaign and cleared a path for future attacks. |
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