Obama may have blown it
So I'm a big Obama fan, but as of today I'm officially worried about his prospects. I wasn't seriously worried when Clinton won Texas and Ohio. I wasn't seriously worried about the flap with his pastor, especially not after the speech he gave on race in response. But now he's gone and stuck his foot in his mouth about the values of rural America, which is perhaps the worst single thing a candidate can do (short of an actual legal/moral scandal), especially a Democratic candidate.
For those who missed it, Obama essentially discussed why the Republican "God, Guns and Gays" wedge issue strategy works with donors behind closed doors in San Francisco. The Huffington Post promptly ran a transcript, and Hillary Clinton danced with glee because this is the fumble she's been waiting for all this time, and she hasn't let up on it since. I must say the spectacle of seeing someone who has actually called for taking a stand against the gun lobby reminisce about being taught how to shoot by her father as a means to shore up her gun credentials is a bit hard to swallow.
But that pretty much sums up my attitude towards Clinton. A bit hard to swallow. Sadly, I can't say that she's at all wrong to pounce on this. While she's taking a very Republican attack line, it's a legitimate fumble in a way that the pastor story never was. Clinton's been trying to make a case for unelectability by association. But this is a direct quote that, while subject to spin, can't be easily denied.
We'll see what happens. I hope Obama comes up with another brilliant speech, this one about religion and values and how they are part of American society (I have no idea what would be in this speech, as I am a queer godless San Francisco liberal ;-) But I can see a scenario where Obama's numbers drop badly enough as a result of this in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Montana that it's clear that there's permanent damage by the end of the primaries. I would not be surprised in this scenario if Obama then yeilds the nomination to Clinton. Because while Clinton may legitimately prove to be the better candidate based on this, Obama is still the better person.
For those who missed it, Obama essentially discussed why the Republican "God, Guns and Gays" wedge issue strategy works with donors behind closed doors in San Francisco. The Huffington Post promptly ran a transcript, and Hillary Clinton danced with glee because this is the fumble she's been waiting for all this time, and she hasn't let up on it since. I must say the spectacle of seeing someone who has actually called for taking a stand against the gun lobby reminisce about being taught how to shoot by her father as a means to shore up her gun credentials is a bit hard to swallow.
But that pretty much sums up my attitude towards Clinton. A bit hard to swallow. Sadly, I can't say that she's at all wrong to pounce on this. While she's taking a very Republican attack line, it's a legitimate fumble in a way that the pastor story never was. Clinton's been trying to make a case for unelectability by association. But this is a direct quote that, while subject to spin, can't be easily denied.
We'll see what happens. I hope Obama comes up with another brilliant speech, this one about religion and values and how they are part of American society (I have no idea what would be in this speech, as I am a queer godless San Francisco liberal ;-) But I can see a scenario where Obama's numbers drop badly enough as a result of this in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Montana that it's clear that there's permanent damage by the end of the primaries. I would not be surprised in this scenario if Obama then yeilds the nomination to Clinton. Because while Clinton may legitimately prove to be the better candidate based on this, Obama is still the better person.