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Message to Obama: Time to Remind People of What they Don't Like About Hillary


One of Obama's greatest strengths is that he is simply more likable that Hillary is.  And let's not underestimate the extent to which presidential elections are popularity contests.  If experience was all that mattered, Al Gore would have won the 2000 election in a landslide.
And what is it that people don't like about Hillary?  She's a liar (a trait she shares with Bill).  She's thin skinned.  She's vindictive as hell.  She's paranoid (remember the right wing conspiracy remark?).  She's secretive to a fault, always acting like she's got something to hide.  And she plays dirty (Florida and Michigan, turning pledged delegates, etc).
Let's see: dishonest, think skinned, vindictive, paranoid, secretive, plays dirty.  Hmmm . . . reminder you of anyone else?  Ok, remind you of anyone besides Dick Cheney?  Yep, Hillary Clinton is Richard Nixon in a pantsuit.  
Whenever the Clinton campaign attacks you (which is pretty much all the time to day), in addition to challenging the merits (always to this), you need to need to turn the argument back on them by showing how their behavior exemplifies one of Hillary's many character flaws.

If Hillary's camp goes ballistic over some crude remark by an Obama staffer or the press, you need to make the case that a president is going to face such attacks all the time, and question whether Hillary is temperamentally suited for the job.  And if this provokes even more outrage from Hillary's camp so much the better -- it only proves your point.
If Hillary's camp overstates its case (e.g., a lifetime of experiences versus one speech, a request for tax returns being a Ken Starr fishing expedition), you need to pound away at how Hilary likes to play fast and loose with the truth.  And goad the press into investigating her statements rather than printing them verbatim.
Finally, keep hammering away at her unwillingness to disclose her tax returns immediately, the Clinton's refusal to reveal the identities of the library contributors, and their footdragging on the release of Clinton administration records.  The Clintons have always been a little tone deaf on the issue of transparency (going back to the secret meetings of the the health care task force) -- they instinctively act as though they have something to hide.  So this will be a gift that keeps on giving.

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I can't tell you how much I disagree with you on this. Obama has to remind us of what we like about HIM. Hillary is doing a great job of reminding people of what we don't like about her.

Well said.

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Another agreement here. I wish we could still rate comments, because yours is golden.

yeah, I kinda agree. he should step up his case for himself, and in the meantime his supporters and campaign should remind people what's wrong with her as a candidate. the many, many things wrong with her as a candidate.

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Ha! My thoughts exactly.

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(As I wrote on another thread) it's like the parable of Solomon faced with two women claiming the same child. He recognized that the women who would rather see the child dead if she could not have it could not be the real mother. The Democratic Party, including superdelegates, should recognize that the candidate willing to destroy the value of the nomination if she cannot win it has no legitimate claim. To change metaphors, we've come through too long a drought to watch Clinton pour the Party's water into the sand.

While I don't believe that Obama should start digging up dirt on her and stoop to her level, I do believe he should call her out on her tactics and ridicule her for it. Systematically take apart all the false claims she makes.

Make her out for what she is: a Joe Lieberman Democrat/John McCain Republican.

Are you a current Obama supporter who (for any reason) will not vote for Hillary Clinton in the general election if she gets the Democratic nomination for President?
Then please take a moment to sign this petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/obama725/petition.html

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dolstein

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