Clinton campaign believes Obama is illegitimate and shouldn't be here in the first place

This article notwithstanding, I have heard the same sentiment from many a Clinton supporter here on DU. Also, note that Ickes worried that the Lewinsky scandal would damage the Democratic party.

Michael Crowley, The New Republic Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008


"The Clintons aren't just reprising the political strategy that helped them survive impeachment; they're also re-enacting certain critiques of their opponents. They believe that Barack Obama, like the '90s-era House Republicans, has abused the system. They fume that he ran up his delegate lead in low- population red-state caucuses like Nebraska, Idaho, and Kansas with the help of activists who don't represent average Democratic voters. After losing Iowa, Hillary complained that its caucuses weren't accessible to night-shift workers and military personnel. At one February fund-raiser, Hillary said the pro-Obama group MoveOn.org had "flooded" caucus sites and to "intimidate people who actually show up to support me." (It's not clear whether Hillary recalls that MoveOn.org was founded a decade ago to defeat impeachment.) Obama wants to "disenfranchise" Michigan and Florida voters, the Clintonites say, by not seating those states' contested delegates. Though the Clinton campaign doesn't often invoke Ken Starr or Newt Gingrich these days, in at least one case Hillary's people have played the impeachment card. After the Obama camp hammered Hillary for delaying the release of her tax returns, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson exclaimed, "I for one do not believe that imitating Ken Starr is the way to win a Democratic primary election."

"As they did during the late '90s, the Clintons also rage at the perceived hypocrisy of their opponents. Back then, it was the sexual infidelities of some of their top Republican persecutors, including Henry Hyde. Now Obama is the hypocrite. He attacks Hillary for running a negative campaign even as he trashes her ethics and honesty. His allies accuse Bill of playing the race card even as, Bill is convinced, they are playing the race card on him.

"Beyond those particulars, however, one gets the overall impression that the Clintons feel Obama shouldn't be here in the first place--that this "young man's" very claim to power is itself questionable. In this sense, the Clintons may be victims of their own sense of victimhood. The vileness of the Clintons' past enemies seems to have convinced them that their enemies always are, by definition, in the wrong. And that Obama's candidacy is almost like another illegitimate attempt to steal a White House that, in some sense, belongs to them.

(cut)

"But not everyone in Clintonland felt that way. One such person was Clinton loyalist Harold Ickes, a top Hillary adviser. As Congress was readying for impeachment, Baker writes, Ickes "considered the current scandal a dire threat to the Democratic hold on the presidency." He told senior Democrats that they needed to push Clinton out of power for the sake of the party--a now familiar line of argument. Needless to say, Ickes's advances went nowhere, and, as he'd feared, Al Gore lost. We'll see in November if the Clintons' refusal to quit has the same effect again."


http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=7aa100ee-a34d-4fa9-b041-154139207075


:wow:

them.

Their air of superiority is what got them in to this mess and it will be the deciding factor in their failure.

And then, of course, they're bewildered and infuriated that someone might dare to beat them by drawing on the voters they had long since written off.

You might want to consider re-wording it.

n/t

being illegitimate.

Cheap shot. Disingenuous at best. At best!

The article states:

"Obama's candidacy is almost like another illegitimate attempt to steal a White House that, in some sense, belongs to them."

The link also has another reference to the Clinton campaign finding Obama's campaign (not birthright) as illegitimate.

Not his candidacy - his person.

Your statement: "Clinton campaign believes Obama is illegitimate and shouldn't be here in the first place.

YOU said it - not the article, and no amount of "what, who... me?" is going to change that factoid.

Not even a fucking froggy leap, but an Evil Knevil jump. Like I said... you know exactly what you posted and why you posted it. Bullshit is bullshit no matter who posts it, and I'm an equal opportunity bullshit caller. Bullshit!

You're silly.

Chill out.

You've contributed nothing to the discussion between the OP and myself. :eyes:

*edited to add the sentence above.

I see no reason to "prove" your inference of the OP's title, since you clearly misread it before becoming hysterical.

*note to self: The concept of a cogent argument is not understood by the above poster. *plonk* it where it belongs.

*edit: context is everything.

I instantly saw "Illegitimate" as in his candidacy, not him personally, but then again my meds are taken every day.:shrug:

It's all over DU and the blogosphere. That's okay though, it was probably due to your meds. ;)

*On edit: Here are some links, there many others- search is our friend:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5940931

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5945761

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5943539

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5945847

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5944035

But the second clause of the OP's title rather obviously refers to his candidacy.

:shrug:

I'm so sick of the Clinton soap opera, the unending drama. We do need a period of calm in this nation--a time to heal.

Which is why I pray Michelle puts her foot down and tells Barack NO WAY to having the Clintons anywhere NEAR the ticket and the White House.

Their dysfunctional drama is just sickening. It's completely overshadowed even Bush these days!

:hi:

more than they ran against Gore.

thwarted by those you've fucked over.

It must be really pissing the Clintons' off.

Gee - now, why would BushInc and Clintons share the same Dem enemies?

Either you understand the difference between "illegitimacy of candidacy" and "illegitimacy of birth" and therefore you're a liar for posting it this way, or you don't understand the difference because you're a moron. Which would you prefer we think?

However, reasonable people recognize the difference.

Glad to know some Obama supporters are still reasonable. :)

Like I said above, I'm an equal opportunity BS caller... the OP supports Obama too. I appreciate your calling her out on it as well. :hi:

Bornaginhooligan is NOT a Clinton supporters. Please don't identify us with the likes of him!

:hi:

And it has nothing to do with which candidate somebody supports, a nasty piece of work is a nasty piece of work no matter what. I've been here a long time - nothing to recommend that poster.

:shrug:

Never seen that one before from Obama supporters!

Wait.

Nobody said "illegitimacy of birth."

Talk about being deliberately obtuse.

Another tactic I've NEVER ONCE seen from an Obama supporter.

Wait a minute...YOU GUYS.

I mean besides you or Melinda?

If they did, please point it out. I missed it.

But here you go, because...well, because I'm tired of you and I'm exiting this thread.

The title of the thread says "illegitimate" and "shouldn't even be here". It does not mention the word "candidacy". If you saw the word "illegitimate" what would you assume it meant? Especially with the enormous bullshit (yes I do think it's bullshit) business about Obama's birth certificate in the past week? If you actually honestly think we are deliberately misinterpreting the intention of the OP in using that subject line (and I might point out there are two Obama supporters in this thread who are noting the same thing), then I submit your hatred for Hillary supporters has blinded you to common sense.

"If you saw the word "illegitimate" what would you assume it meant? "

Well I wouldn't, like you, assume it means "birth."

Frankly, I think:

1. The use of the word "illegitimate" to describe children of unwed parents is rude and antiquated.

and

2. Given the second clause of the OP's title, it was clear he was talking about the campaign.

"If you actually honestly think we are deliberately misinterpreting the intention"

I sure do. Maybe you fucked up the first time you saw it, but you saw your own mistake as soon as you read the article.

Now you're just digging yourself into a hole, because you can't admit you're wrong.

"I submit your hatred for Hillary supporters has blinded you to common sense."

Ah, wrong. It is because of my common sense that I don't care for Clinton supporters.

You're acting like an ass. Color me shocked. It's so unlike you.

Wait.

Dost thou not suspect my place? dost thou not
suspect my years? O that he were here to write me
down an ass! But, masters, remember that I am an
ass; though it be not written down, yet forget not
that I am an ass. No, thou Clinton supporter, thou art full of
piety, as shall be proved upon thee by good witness.
I am a wise fellow, and, which is more, a teacher,
and, which is more, a householder, and, which is
more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in
DU, and one that knows what the word "legitimate" means, go to; and a
rich fellow enough, go to; and a fellow that hath
had losses, and one that hath two gowns and every
thing handsome about him. Bring him away. O that
I had been writ down an ass!

when it's only the 14th

Again, just a guess.

more of the same... who needs a knowledgeable and engaged electorate...