Obama supporter, slightly different take on the negative tactics

[casus belli]

I will admit, that initially I was more than slightly pissed off that Clinton's campaign was choosing to try to gain some traction with the plagiarism issue. I have thought, and still do mostly, that negative campaigning does more harm then good. But I had an epiphany today, and in a way I am glad that Clinton has decided to throw a couple hardballs. While it stings a little to watch your candidate of choice take some hard shots --fair or not-- ultimately, the more is dredged up now...the less traction any right wing issues will have come the GE. Now, that's not to say they won't have a battery of issues waiting in the wings to try and gain traction with, but ultimately taking those hardballs now is going to sting alot less than when the GOP smear machine bears its talons and starts shredding. This plagiarism issue, even though I reacted negatively at first, is probably a good thing if you're looking at the big picture. It's pulling issues out that could be used by the GOP and sterilizing them before they have a chance to give them any chance of sticking.

Now, that's not to say that I feel they should pull out the stops and start smearing each other at every turn - but I think if you really take a good close look at it, having some of these issues come up now is ultimately going to do our candidates some good in the GE.

Just my $.02....flame on....

[cooolandrew]

1. You have a very good point there we must be sure and ready with debunking video cds to give to RWS.

[tularetom]

2. Obama's campaign seems more than able to respond and deflect these

negative attacks. and in some cases to subtly turn them back on the attackers, and to stick the needle in so deftly that they don't realize their negative bullshit has backfired.

They are toying with Clinton and her "tough" campaigning.

[casus belli]

3. I agree...

that's partly why I had a change of opinion on this. I thought, why in the world would I want to shield him from this entirely when the blows are going to be far more frequent and pack more venom in the GE. The fact that he has so deftly handled all of these challenges and come out on the other side stronger only strengthens my belief that he can win the GE by a very large margin. he sort of eluded to that fact actually in a recent sppech when he said that the Clinton campaing wasn't "playing tiddlywinks" with their attacks and that, in fact, it sort of negated their argument that he hadn't been scrutinized enough.

[Cha]

6. I'm so happy that Obama's campaign artists

have been at the ready with Operation Boomerang.

[XemaSab]

4. Good to have some warmup in the batting cages before taking the field

:thumbsup:

[casus belli]

5. Yep. It leaves me wondering...

How much different things might have been if Kerry had to take on the swiftobating charge in the primaries instead of the GE. If we could have addressed that and countered it before the GE, it might have been an entirely different outcome. Though, there would definitely have been some hard feelings about using those tactics. I guess I'm sort of feeling at the moment, that taking a hard hit from someone your friendly with, is ultimately preferable to taking a shot from a stranger. Even though it hurts either way.

[XemaSab]

11. I think the answer in that instance is that it was a BULLSHIT fabrication.

Plus the fact that Kerry's biggest rivals in the primary (Dean and Edwards) didn't go to 'Nam so they sure as hell couldn't attack the man's war record.

I think it's more an issue of being willing to hit back HARD when they try to pull shit. And God knows, McCain ain't clean by a longshot, so we have stuff to hit with.

[tishaLA]

7. I said the same thing yesterday

I think the Obama campaign was very adroit in dealing with this.

[Johnny__Motown]

8. well if you liked that you should Love the next two weeks. Clinton Slime Machine In Overdrive

[casus belli]

12. Not that I'm liking it...

but I'm not losing any sleep over it. I think our natural instinct is to want to shelter our candidate from criticism and low-blows, but ultimately I think it strengthens their overall position to deal with this stuff early on.

If dirty campaigns truly did irreparable damage, then McCain wouldn't have stood a shot to win the GOP nomination. The Bush campaign really dragged him through the mud. It was painful to watch and I didn't even have a stake in the outcome.

[AtomicKitten]

9. I predict Clinton will get uber-ugly and Obama still won't take the bait.

[casus belli]

13. I think he's been handling it perfectly so far...

he's not refusing to respond, but he isn't reciprocating the underlying nastiness either. His responses so far have shown alot of maturity for someone they are trying to claim will fold under the pressure of a GE campaign.

[AtomicKitten]

16. He's walking the walk of his underlying campaign theme.

And I approve!

[DemGa]

10. You're not bothered that Obama lifted an entire campaign?

Be assured, if Obama gets the nomination, this story will be back front and center.

[casus belli]

15. I think the charges are grabbing at straws.

I'd be saying the same if it was Clinton. In fact, I have made the same argument in Clinton's favor when people have accused her of lifting from the Obama and Edwards campaigns. There have been countless instances of borrowing ideas and concepts which inspire you. there isn't anything that can be said that would be truly original, by ANY candidate. I think the bottom line here is credibility. He is campaigning on change, and he has a track record to back up that claim. I believe him when he says he wants to change the system in a way I don't think I could coming from someone with a long career in politics.

[TexasObserver]

14. Hillary is unwittingly serving the role of sparring partner, emulating McCain's moves.

The Champ needs a sparring partner who throws punches like his real opponent, and that's what she's doing. Bring it on! Bring on all the lame, dirty, tawdry, nasty, negative crap the Pukes will use against him.

Like a vaccine, it has an inoculative effect.

[casus belli]

17. That which doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger. ;) n/t