MyDD Todd Beeton: Obama "reactionary AND stuck in reverse..."

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Mon Sep-03-07 09:47 PM
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MyDD Todd Beeton: Obama "reactionary AND stuck in reverse..."

Breaking: Obama Warns Of Divisive Politics

by Todd Beeton, Mon Sep 03, 2007 at 08:27:24 PM EST
It's always interesting to see which traditional media stories about the presidential campaign emerge as major online headlines. Today, the so-called first day of the final stretch of the presidential race, the yahoo frontpage featured a headline that read "Obama Warns Of Return To Divisive Politics," which was subsequently changed, it appears, to "Obama Critiques Clinton." (article is here.)

The point, of course, is that neither of these things amounts to news in and of itself, although Obama's comments featured within the article arguably do insofar as they represent a new formulation of his call for a new kind of politics married with his persistent attempt to knock Clinton down a peg.

"As bad as this administration has been, it's going to take more than just a change in parties to truly turn this country around," Obama told supporters at a Labor Day rally.

"George Bush and Dick Cheney may have turned divisive, special interest politics into an art form, but it was there before they got to Washington. If you and I don't stand up to challenge it, it will be there long after we leave."

While Obama doesn't mention Clinton, the article makes clear that these remarks were in direct response to comments that appeared in Clinton's new stump speech, which she unveiled in New Hampshire yesterday:

"I've learned you bring change by working in the system established by the Constitution. You can't pretend the system doesn't exist," she maintained, seeking to counter arguments by rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards that she has been too cozy with the Washington establishment.

A new way of expressing her theme of experience = change. But while the article portrays the speech as a response to Obama and Edwards, I see it as more of a taunt. Clinton has seen the pattern -- she is attacked and her poll numbers rise; so why wouldn't she want to invite more? And today Obama took the bait. Clinton is clearly driving the debate at this point and Obama here appears reactionary AND stuck in reverse. The fact that he returns to the same language he was using in March tells me he really hasn't come very far in building a case for his candidacy rhetorically. Where's the forward momentum on this day, that is supposed to represent a new phase in the campaign? Hillary Clinton spent yesterday and today campaigning with Bill in New Hampshire and Iowa launching a new stump speech. John Edwards spent his Labor Day accepting the endorsements of The United Steelworkers union and the United Mine Workers of America in Pittsburgh. And Barack Obama spent his in New Hampshire yet again reacting to Clinton by yet again warning of division in politics.

For someone as inspiring as Obama is, I'm not feeling terribly inspired.