MyDD :: It's called Character Assassination

It's called Character Assassination

by catilinus, Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:22:46 PM EST

(Cross-posted at the big orange.)

It's about Character Assassination, not physical assassination.

Hillary isn't calling for you to assassinate Obama, she's calling you to THINK and WORRY about it.

She doesn't think he'll be assassinated, as far as she knows.
He's not a Muslim, as far as she knows.
He doesn't have the support of working whites, as far as she knows.

It's just another part of her "waiting for the horse to talk" strategy.

Hodja Nasruddin once told a story:
A thief was caught stealing a loaf of bread and brought before the Caliph for judgement. The Caliph, in his standard manner, said "Off with his head" and turned to other matters. "Wait," the thief cried. "I have the power to make your favorite horse talk." The Caliph was interested in this and asked, "Just how do you plan on doing this?" "It is a secret and takes a long time, Sire, but I can do this!", exclaimed the thief. The Caliph believed the thief, ordered him to perform this task within one year, and then ordered him off to spend the year in the barn with the horse. As the thief was being dragged off to serve his sentence, the guard said to him, "You must be mad! No one can make a horse talk!" "Well," the thief said, "much can happen in a year. I may die, the Caliph may die...or the horse may talk!"

What Hillary wants is for Obama's character to be assassinated so badly, that the SDs will switch en masse to her in a last resort. She could drop out and just wait, hopefully, for that to happen. However, she's a fighter and wants to do her bit to help contribute to heat and controversy surrounding Obama.

Call it what you will. Stroking the fires. Putting out the fire with gasoline. Keeping the temperature turned up. Putting his feet to the fire. Dwelling on negativity.

It's a Mark Penn inspired strategy. Remember the TV interview that featured Axelrod & Penn live on location? It's the one where Apoplectic because Penn brought up "cocaine" 3 times. Axelrod called him on it, and explained why he was doing it.

It was "cocaine" back then, then Wright, now assassination. If she's allowed to go on, tomorrow it will be something else.

It'a all about the desperation of her waiting for the horse to talk, and helping to create an atmosphere where you begin to think it might happen.

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Mark Penn (all tags)

Permalink :: 37 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: It's called Character Assassination (none / 0)

It's time to stop waiting for the horse to talk, and just quit.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:23:31 PM EST

Re: it's called -- (none / 0)

"Time for Obama to show some maturity, rather than knee-jerk reactions spouted by children."

"knee-jerk reactions" indeed.

Obama hasn't committed on any of Hillary's assassination references.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Sat May 24, 2008 at 03:42:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: it's called a Karl Rove trick (none / 0)

"Obama's latest reactionary remarks..."

I love how you make that statement, & then don't even bother to state what remarks. It's as if merely the accusation is sufficient.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Sat May 24, 2008 at 03:44:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

question: (2.00 / 2)

does it sustain you?

"Democracy! Bah! When I hear that I reach for my feather Boa!" Allen Ginsberg

by canadian gal on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:25:33 PM EST

Re: question: (none / 0)

Hope sustains me.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:34:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: question: (none / 0)

Hoplessness certainly isn't.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Sat May 24, 2008 at 03:44:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

absolutely right - poor Hillary is a victim (none / 0)

there's nothing she could say that would often you (intentional or negligent).

yet, the outrage on this blog over the mythical "he gave her the finger"

"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!

by Al Rodgers on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:36:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: absolutely right - poor Hillary is a victim (none / 0)

who said that where? link? or just more

crickets

by zerosumgame on Fri May 23, 2008 at 10:07:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: nothing presidential about mocking Hillary (none / 0)

"gestures throughout the campaign to mock Hillary!"

Oh, it's snark.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Sat May 24, 2008 at 03:45:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (2.00 / 2)

And yet, she isn't assassinating his character. That's strictly your imagination.

by glitterannebegay on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:25:51 PM EST

Re: It's called Character Assassination (none / 0)

I've imagined the whole thing....

I created Mark Penn and his "cocaine" routine.
I created "as far as I know."
I created today's comments.

Sigh.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:42:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: you're wrong (none / 0)

""Of course not," followed by, "as far as I know."

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Sat May 24, 2008 at 03:47:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: you're wrong (none / 0)

I'm perpetuating a lie merely by quoting Hillary?
Lol.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Sat May 24, 2008 at 06:10:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama is always a victim.... (2.00 / 3)

Obama supporters help make Obama look weak by always placing him in the role of a victim.

by soyousay on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:28:45 PM EST

Re: Obama is always a victim.... (1.00 / 0)

Obama will be the nominee, not the victim.
He's not a victim of character assassination.
He's just a target of unsuccessful attempts.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:36:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is always a victim.... (2.00 / 0)

He may be the nominee, IMO, he won't be the president. For the most part, polls show him losing when up against McCain. Good luck with that.

by soyousay on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:10:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama is always a victim.... (none / 0)

Campaigning against McCain is all good. That will be the good fight.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:24:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

that's a hot one (none / 0)

the outrage over "he snubbed her at the SOTU"

"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!

by Al Rodgers on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:37:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (2.00 / 4)

This is what Clinton said in March 08 in an earlier interview , why the hell didn't anyone cry foul then.

TIME: Can you envision a point at which--if the race stays this close--Democratic Party elders would step in and say, "This is now hurting the party and whoever will be the nominee in the fall"?

CLINTON: No, I really can't. I think people have short memories. Primary contests used to last a lot longer. We all remember the great tragedy of Bobby Kennedy being assassinated in June in L.A. My husband didn't wrap up the nomination in 1992 until June. Having a primary contest go through June is nothing particularly unusual.

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/ 05/hillarys_bizarre_rfk_comment.html

I don't remember any uproar then.

Its not a neccessary comment to be making but she clearly was talking about the lenght of the process

Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.

by lori on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:32:54 PM EST

we were distracted (none / 0)

we were distracted by the outrage over Hillary being snubbed at the SOTU.

"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!

by Al Rodgers on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:39:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (2.00 / 4)

Isn't the pot calling the kettle black?

It is the Obama folks who are trying to assassinate Hillary's character. Get it straight.

This line of attack will only destroy the party. I'm all for supporting the Democratic nominee, but I will not support this type of attack on one of our great Democratic leaders.

On the train thanks to HRC...

by BRockNYC on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:36:51 PM EST

Re: It's called Character Assassination (none / 0)

"Isn't the pot calling the kettle black?"
How so?

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:38:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's okay if Hillary does it (none / 0)

it's okay for Hillary to attack (I won't use the other word) Obama for bittergate, to slime him with William Ayers and Farakahan at the ABC Debate, to use a phrase that even Charles Rangel called dumb, "hard working white voters" - there's nothing Hillary can say, intentional or by accident, that is out of bounce.

"McSame: He's Constipated and Ready to GO!

by Al Rodgers on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:45:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Please just STOP this (2.00 / 3)

Clearly, the context here is Hillary discussing previous examples of races that had continued into June, including her husband's 1992 campaign and the 1968 campaign. She mentioned the assassination because it was a memorable event that most people could recall happened in June to back up her asssertion. That's all there was to it except for those who always have their knives out and ready to twist anything she says or does into a prosecutable crime punishable by death.

by phoenixdreamz on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:38:20 PM EST

Re: Please just STOP this (2.00 / 1)

You didn't read the whole diary, or you are responding to another. I didn't accuse Hillary of any "prosecutable crime." Lol.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:40:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I rec'd your comment to be civil (2.00 / 2)

This, if true, would certainly be something to worry about:

"she's calling you to THINK and WORRY about it."

That's just not the case. You'd have to divorce her comments from their context. Her own husband's campaign extended into June, and she mentioned him too you know. Just sayin'.

by phoenixdreamz on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:45:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I rec'd your comment to be civil (2.00 / 1)

Thanks. You're right. Bill continued into June for a # of reasons. Anything could happen. We have to wait and try to find out more about Obama...that's the meme I heard. Wait, investigate, and worry.

It wasn't a call for him to be assassinated, and I didn't claim it was.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:01:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

EVERY one of these diaries gets one of these: (2.00 / 1)

Even John McCain lusts after teh engels.

by sricki on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:40:59 PM EST

Re: EVERY one of these diaries gets one of these: (none / 0)

I love the video.

However, the "waiting for the horse to talk" is the great shark jumper of all time. Lol.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:45:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

As we speak Anti Obama diaries (none / 0)

and hit pieces are making their way to the Rec.List.

Why?

Mooseburgers? Careful Sarah. Moose bite back!

by spacemanspiff on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:42:01 PM EST

Re: As we speak Anti Obama diaries (none / 0)

...trying to make the horse talk.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:47:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (2.00 / 2)

Obama is the eternal victim. Today we find out that he did not take his name off MI in compliance with DNC but he did not even try to get his name on MI ballot because...he did not think he had a chance to win there.
But speaking of character assassination why are these people who made character assassination under the guise of victimhood still with the campaign?

Jesse Jackson Jr

Candice Tolliver

Steve Cohen

Merrill McPeak

These are the most egregious ones, not to mention instances of race-baiting and sexism from BO, his wife, David Axelrod. But then again these are Obama rulez!!

by tarheel74 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:47:07 PM EST

Re: It's called Character Assassination (none / 0)

Obama isn't a victim, won't become one, and doesn't want to play one.

He's been winning without offering anyone pillows....

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:48:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (1.00 / 0)

hahaha, that was a hoot. That is why before southern election with a big AA population we had his minions coming out with fake stories of racism. Oh he plays the victim alright. That is the only way people can overlook his slim policies, his complete lack of progressive ideology and still vote for him.

by tarheel74 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:54:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (none / 0)

Can I add your use of "minions" with the "nefarious" comment below? I just love the way "nefarious minions" sounds.

"Nefarious minions." Lol.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:05:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's called Character Assassination (2.00 / 3)

Yes, it's truly 'character assassination', but it's being accomplished by Obama operatives against the Clintons,not as you pose in the diary.

Today's 'outrage' over words twisted to be something nefarious is on par with every dirty scheme that the GOP tried out on the Clintons in the 1990's. What's next, your own version of 'The Clinton Chronicles'? A claim that Hillary killed Mother Theresa?

This kind of muckraking by the Obama supporters is definitely driving a larger divide in the party.

Hell's bells, even the GOP didn't have to crucify Eisenhower's record in order to make Reagan their 'saint'. We can have two great ones, you know?

by emsprater on Fri May 23, 2008 at 06:53:18 PM EST

Re: It's called Character Assassination (none / 0)

Lol, I don't recall twisting Hillary's words today. I recall saying they weren't about trying to kill him.

"nefarious." Lol.

McCainuire, The Wrath Of Not Enough Naps.

by catilinus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:03:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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