MyDD :: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore

Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore

by Big Tent Democrat, Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:06:06 PM EST

This is too stupid for words:

Barack Obama may have won the most delegates in Saturday's Nevada Caucus, even though Hillary Clinton bested his statewide turnout by about six points. . . . Barack Obama released an official statement celebrating a delegate victory . . .

So Obama is trumpeting LOSING by 6 points while spending the week crying about voter disenfranchisement? The Democratic voters of Nevada clearly chose Clinton and Obama is celebrating that the intent of the voters may be thwarted by these atrocious caucus rules? This is pathetic, insulting and ridiculous. Shame on the Obama campaign for this.

Tags: Election 2008, Barack Obama (all tags)

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I don't get why he hopped on a plane (none / 0)

Surely he must have thought he had a chance to win in NV. If he had won, not giving a victory speech would have been a huge mistake.

I also think it's poor form not to show up and thank your supporters after they vote.

See if Saxby Chambliss is helping you.

by desmoinesdem on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:14:51 PM EST

Re: I don't get why he hopped on a plane (none / 0)

Well he does have two children at home still. He said it had to do with family, so that seems understandable if he feels they need his attention for some reason. Just sayin'

by Mike Pridmore on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:18:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

If I am not mistaken, (none / 0)

not counting MI because Obama was not on the ballot there, Obama may have:

more raw votes than HRC
equal or 2 more delegates than HRC

when one combines the results from IA, NH and NV.

If this is (and can be) confirmed to be true, well, Obama would be marginally ahead on both measures, cumulatively speaking.

I consider the results so far to be a close tie b/w Barack and Hillary.

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:17:34 PM EST

Not in Nevada (none / 0)

which is what this is about.

by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:21:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, Wolfson was spinng the delegate story (none / 0)

after Iowa. Why shouldn't Obama campaign reciprocate in kind?

And, your own schpeel could be turned to:

Hillary Trying To Play Bush To Obama's Gore

by Big Tent Democrat, Sat Jan 3, 2008

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:27:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Well, Wolfson was spinng the delegate story (2.00 / 1)

It is one thing to point to the delegate count as a silver lining. It is quite another to claim that the delegates make you the WINNER when you lost by 6%.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:34:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You're misrepresenting what Obama is saying: (none / 0)

Barack Obama Wins Delegate Battle in Nevada

Statement from Barack Obama...

We're proud of the campaign we ran in Nevada. We came from over twenty-five points behind to win more national convention delegates than Hillary Clinton because we performed well all across the state, including rural areas where Democrats have traditionally struggled. The reason is because tens of thousands of Nevadans came out to say that they're tired of business-as-usual in Washington and ready for a President who can bring this country together, take on the lobbyists and special interests, and end the politics of saying and doing whatever it takes to win an election. It is the kind of politics that feeds our cynicism and distracts us from taking on the real challenges facing America - an economy that's left working families struggling, a broken health care system, and a war in Iraq that must end.

We ran an honest, uplifting campaign in Nevada that focused on the real problems Americans are facing, a campaign that appealed to people's hopes instead of their fears. That's the campaign we'll take to South Carolina and across America in the weeks to come, and that's how we will truly bring about the change this country is hungry for.

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:42:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You're misrepresenting what Obama is saying: (none / 0)

I think your headline confirms that I am being quite accurate about what Obama is saying.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:48:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It says they won the delegate battle (none / 0)

didn't say they won NV which is what you claimed.

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:50:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It says they won the delegate battle (none / 0)

They are claiming victory in Nevada.

by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:53:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It says they won the delegate battle (none / 0)

You are being very silly. When you say nothing about your loss in the popular vote, and your sole claim is how you won the delegate battle, then you're trying to spin yourself as a winner.

If you don't think the Obama campaign is trying to spin this as a win, could you point me to where they acknowledge it as a loss?

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:54:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Dude, I gave MY take on the race so far (none / 0)

considering all the three states of IA, NH and NV, the cumulative results are a close tie b/w Obama and Clinton. That's my take and that's all I actually care about.

The rest of what I am saying is my pointing out the hypocrisy flying around, as is, depressingly, usual in politics.

"If you don't think the Obama campaign is trying to spin this as a win, could you point me to where they acknowledge it as a loss?"

Why should I? I pointed out Wolfson saying that they did great on delegate count.

Do I think that HRC won NV? Yes. But, then I am going to point to what Wolfson was spinning after HRC's clear defeat in IA.

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:11:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dude, I gave MY take on the race so far (2.00 / 1)

As I said like five posts ago, I have no problem with pointing to the delegate count as a silver lining. Obama's campaign is going well beyond that tonight and they are looking silly as a result.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:13:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dude, I gave MY take on the race so far (none / 0)

They're reciprocating to the pathetic Wolfson and the Clinton campaign. IIRC, Hillary started trashing IA caucus system shortly after she lost it. Cry baby.

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:20:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dude, I gave MY take on the race so far (none / 0)

"As I said like five posts ago, I have no problem with pointing to the delegate count as a silver lining. Obama's campaign is going well beyond that tonight and they are looking silly as a result."

You repeatedly have cast the 51%-45% as the "popular" vote. It isn't. Its the number of caucuses won. And there are (at this point unconfirmed) reports that Obama actually won the "popular" vote, as a result of narrow defeats in the big cities and strong victories in rural areas. But the numbers aren't in yet.

And as for looking "silly," maybe we should ask President Gore how "silly" it is to focus on the people who actually choose the nominee...

by davey jones on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 09:48:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Dude, I gave MY take on the race so far (none / 0)

Fine, I surrender. Obama won Nevada.

Why, it even says so on his website.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 10:17:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama was the Loser today (none / 0)

and he was so shook up by it and such a sore loser he couldn't go on TV and acknowledge his loss and congratulate the winner. That's amazing.

ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party.

by MollieBradford on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 01:42:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Howard Wolfson: 'This is a race for delegates' (none / 0)

Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers

by NeuvoLiberal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:52:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Howard Wolfson: 'This is a race for delegates' (none / 0)

it is a race for delegates but Obama lost in NV today and he should acknowledge that fact. He is being a sore loser.

ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party.

by MollieBradford on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 01:42:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You're misrepresenting what Obama is saying: (2.00 / 1)

You must not have pasted the entire Obama statement. I don't see the part where he graciously congratulates Hillary Clinton on her win in Nevada.

by hwc on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:56:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Well, Wolfson was spinng the delegate story (none / 0)

What Steve M. said.

by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:52:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (none / 0)

There is such a thing as going overboard with your spin. I'm sure there's plenty in the results that the Obama campaign could spin as a positive, like strength in the rural counties, crossover votes showing GE strength, whatever...

But trying to call it a win is just dumb. I'm imagining what the reaction of Obama supporters would be if their candidate had won by 6% and Clinton was trying to call it a win based on delegates. You could hear the derisive laughter from here to Carson City.

The thing is that the media loves Obama, hence they never ridicule him for ridiculous stuff, hence they get cockier than they have any right to be. If the Clinton folks wanted to play hardball with this situation, they could make Obama's silly spin into the subject of every late-night joke for the next week.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:26:57 PM EST

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (none / 0)

Clinton may do just that.

She was asked about Obama's claim at a press avail from the Las Vegas airport. She bit her tongue, but it was pretty clear she was pissed.

by hwc on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:58:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Seems more like Kerry to Hillary's Bush (1.00 / 1)

She may have won more votes, but the methods she used to win them are questionable.

by Drew on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:48:13 PM EST

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (none / 0)

Agreed BTD. The headlines tomorrow will read Hillary wins NV by 6%.

by lonnette33 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:57:24 PM EST

Bill was right and the media attacked anyway (none / 0)

Caucuses are unfair.

A 5% win in politics is pretty solid, and for Obama to lose by 5% and get more delgates in unfair, shameful, and undemocratic.

by dpANDREWS on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 07:59:20 PM EST

Re: Obama (none / 0)

Well I have been seeing Obama=Bush 2000 for quite a while now. It's almost verbatim.

No longer a Democrat, now proudly an independent voter!

by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:03:08 PM EST

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (none / 0)

KOS is now spinning an Obama win. Has he no shame?

by lonnette33 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:35:41 PM EST

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (none / 0)

Actually, he's not. If you read the diary , Kos is saying it's absurd for Obama to be claiming a victory.

Update: Since I was obviously not clear enough and many didn't get it, the headline was ironic, the last sentence was supposed to give it away.

Yeah, Hillary won the state. But under her earlier rules, all that mattered was the delegate count. So everyone wins. Or no one wins. Or whatever. Like I said, absurd.

In practical and political terms, Hillary wins. She gets the little checkmark next to her name in the results. Losing the delegate count is inside-baseball. But the delegate thing -- assuming it holds up and confirmed -- is worth a psychological boost to Obama and his supporters.

This would be reason #296 why caucuses should be eliminated.

No Way. No How. No McCain.

by Denny Crane on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 10:45:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BTD: Hyperbole much? (none / 0)

The Obama campaign ought to concede defeat though. I doubt their spin is going to do much.

by Korha on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 11:41:50 PM EST

Re: BTD: Hyperbole much? (none / 0)

Great comment Korha. Considering, I believe you are for Obama. Sensible comment, thanks.

by lonnette33 on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 08:34:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (2.00 / 1)

He is so petty and ungracious- each contest reveals that more and more.

by reasonwarrior on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 11:58:27 PM EST

Re: Obama Trying To Play Bush To Hillary's Gore (none / 0)

The contrast between this and Hillary's classy, gracious concession speech in Iowa is just STARK. Obama is really looking like a petulant brat here.

by WMCB on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 01:20:22 AM EST

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