Legal Commentary

Obama's Job Is Politician

By Big Tent Democrat

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Josh Marshall, not surprisingly, misses the point:

So, with the obligatory, yes, he could have worded it better, do I think it was offensive and condescending? No. I don't. Do I think it can be spun into something offensive and condescending? Sure. . . . [S]peaking for myself I've spent too much time over, what, 15 years now? ... defending both Clintons from similarly ginned up nonsense [not much time spent in the last 15 weeks though. Seems Marshall has become the ginnee] to have much energy left to help out as they pull the same puffed up outrage act against another Democrat. I guess I'm just not feeling it.

(Emphasis supplied.) I actually have criticized Clinton for her charges of "elitism" against Obama. But the point here is not whether Josh Marshall is offended or whether he will "help out" the Clintons (like anyone is expecting that). The point is did Obama do his job as a politician? The answer is of course not. He committed a gaffe. Hopefully not an "I voted for it before I voted against it" gaffe, but a gaffe nonetheless. He has expressed regret. Let's hope this story goes away (Marshall skepticism about whether this story "really" hurts Obama notwithstanding.) Attacking Clinton on it, as TPM has done, does NOT help Obama. It really does not.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on April 14, 2008 (boomark / email).