Politics Daily
Inside Politics Daily
D.C.'s Powerful Women Honor the Rebecca Project
The Not-So-Simple Life of Pastor Rick Warren
At Fort Hood, America Needed a Hero, Quickly
NASA Declares It's Not the End of the World (Whew!)
No, the Church Is Not Threatening to Abandon the Poor over Gay Rights 
Britain Plans to Tighten Rules on Immigration
Greg Craig Out as White House Counsel, Replaced by Bob Bauer
Peter Galbraith -- Rich, Dedicated, Sleeping Easy
National Donor Sabbath: Organs not Alms
Do Leaked Cables Mean Obama Is Rethinking Afghanistan?- Tax Hikes on the Wealthy May Bankroll Health Care Reform
Levi 'Is Part of the Family,' Palin Tells Oprah
Hillary Won't Say When She Packed Heat Last
As I reported here yesterday, Hillary Clinton is trying to out-Romney Romney, saying in a press conference 
Saturday that she had received firearms training as a youngster. I questioned the wisdom of the move, as the role of Varmint Hunter didn't do Romney's candidacy any favors, and Hillary Clinton is unlikely to out-gun John McCain. In a press conference yesterday, this seems to have been borne out. From CNN:
There's no way her campaign was not prepared for this line of inquiry, which begs the question of why they would not have her ready with chapter and verse on this.
PD toolbar!
The Clinton campaign has employed two basic strategies in dealing with these sorts of things. They either deflect or ignore. In this case, they're combining the two approaches into a kind of Bad Idea Fudge Ripple. This follows a series of missteps by her advisers that I detailed yesterday:
What the Democrats fail to realize is that they are never going to be gun-nutty enough for the NRA crowd, so even a war hero like Hohn Kerry looks silly in a duck hunting getup. What they should be doing is some effective messaging on 2nd Amendment issues. Most Americans are right there with the Dems' modest goals on gun control.
Of course, this situation also differs significantly from other "Dems-withGuns" moments in that usually, the Democrat in question is locked and loaded to fend off a GOP opponent's attack of weakness, rather than as an offensive maneuver against a fellow Dem. Kinda makes it hard to feel sorry for her.
Follow PoliticsDaily On Facebook and Twitter,
and download the new Politics Daily toolbar!
Saturday that she had received firearms training as a youngster. I questioned the wisdom of the move, as the role of Varmint Hunter didn't do Romney's candidacy any favors, and Hillary Clinton is unlikely to out-gun John McCain. In a press conference yesterday, this seems to have been borne out. From CNN:Hillary Clinton said Sunday a query about the last time she fired a gun or attended church services "is not a relevant question in this debate" over Barack Obama's recent comments on small town Americans.Hillary is not the first Democrat to try on the holster and spurs, and surely she won't be the last. It remains to be seen if she will be the first to succeed by strapping on the firepower. Senator Clinton, though, has the distinct disadvantages of an already unfriendly press, and of already having weathered one Dukakis Moment just a few weeks ago. To think that the press won't pick at this, and be satisfied with an answer like, "So?"
"We can answer that some other time," Clinton said at a press conference held in a working class neighborhood here. "This is about what people feel is being said about them. I went to church on Easter. I mean, so?"
There's no way her campaign was not prepared for this line of inquiry, which begs the question of why they would not have her ready with chapter and verse on this.
PD toolbar!
The Clinton campaign has employed two basic strategies in dealing with these sorts of things. They either deflect or ignore. In this case, they're combining the two approaches into a kind of Bad Idea Fudge Ripple. This follows a series of missteps by her advisers that I detailed yesterday:
When Saturday Night Live pointed out, accurately, that the media was going at her like ants on a damp lollipop while giving Obama a free pass, her strategists scripted an awkward joke for her to drop into the debate at the worst time.
When questions about the inspirations behind Barack Obama's speeches were getting some play, again, the little Mark Penn on her shoulder was like, "Do a Xerox joke!"
After her 3am ad seemed to resonate with Big State voters, she pronounced John McCain "King of All Commanders-in-Chief."
Perhaps the problem here isn't her advisers, but rather that there's less to Hillary's gun experience than even her very meager claim. Either way, this is a losing proposition for her. The best she can hope for is to produce a grainy old picture of her pre-teen self, straining against the weight of a Winchester or something. Actually, that would be kind of adorable.
On the other hand, the press and the Youtube crowd are having, and will continue to have, a field day with this faint boast, doubtless generating conflations with Tuzla, comparisons to Cheney, perhaps a parody of "Full Metal Jacket."
"This is my rifle, this is my gun..."
What the Democrats fail to realize is that they are never going to be gun-nutty enough for the NRA crowd, so even a war hero like Hohn Kerry looks silly in a duck hunting getup. What they should be doing is some effective messaging on 2nd Amendment issues. Most Americans are right there with the Dems' modest goals on gun control.
Of course, this situation also differs significantly from other "Dems-withGuns" moments in that usually, the Democrat in question is locked and loaded to fend off a GOP opponent's attack of weakness, rather than as an offensive maneuver against a fellow Dem. Kinda makes it hard to feel sorry for her.
and download the new Politics Daily toolbar!
-
PRINT
-
IM
-
E-mail
37 comments
+ add your own
Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is a freelance writer, blogger, and online journalist based out of New Jersey and Washington, DC...more
Comments (37)
richard
3:03PM Apr 14th 2008
jane smiley- huffington post-----------------
You know, I just spent seven and a half years disagreeing with the administration that has given us an unprecedented military and economic mess. I saw it coming, it came, and in some ways it was worse, and promises to get worse, than I foresaw. I the course of these seven years, I have had my patriotism questioned and demeaned fairly often. I was even put in a book, as one of a hundred people who were hurting America. When I got into this book, my relatives worried that I would get shot by some rightwing nut, even though several of them were and are rightwing nuts themselves (and they carry guns). All this time, though, I considered myself a patriot and a loyal American because I was able to see the destruction that was being wreaked upon the nation, and in particular, upon the middle and working classes, by the Republican liars and war criminals and job outsourcers and health care destroyers and army wreckers and infrastructure ignorers and media whores and agriculture blackmailers (see this month's Vanity
Fair).
So now, Barack Obama tells the truth about conditions as we know them--that the countryside and the small towns are dying in many places in our country, and that the corporatocracy doesn't care enough to do a thing about it. He points out that immigrant-baiting, gay-baiting, gun-baiting, and religious pandering have helped to destroy those towns and that countryside, that those being destroyed have been cynically enlisted by their very own destroyers to provide the votes that help accomplish the destruction. And this is what Senator Hillary Clinton says about it: "Senator Obama's remarks were elitist and out of touch. They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans."
From Senator Clinton's remarks, I infer that to actually see what has gone on in the US in the last 20 years is unAmerican. It doesn't matter who you are, where you were born, what you pay in taxes, what else you might have contributed to the culture, how you vote, who you support. If you don't support fundamentalist religion, job outsourcing, and free access to guns, then you are not even American.
I cannot believe how angry this makes me. I cannot believe that after the last seven and a half years, I can even get this angry. Yes, I know she is pandering to her audience. Yes, I know she will do anything to get elected. Yes, I know that she and Bill Clinton are corrupt to the core, and that I should have never expected anything better of her. But, please, any of you angry white women who still support this craven shill, don't mention it to me. Do me the following favor -- apologize to your children for not stopping the war that HIllary voted for, the war that is going to impoverish them. Then apologize to them for the effects of global warming that are going to make their lives hell. Then apologize to them for the school shooting they may someday see, the one where the kid gets the guns out of his father's gun case, or buys at a gunshow. Apologize to them for the meaningless wars they are going to fight and pay for. Then tell them that "American values" killed their hopes and maybe killed them. And ask them if they think it's going to be worth it.
You know, I just spent seven and a half years disagreeing with the administration that has given us an unprecedented military and economic mess. I saw it coming, it came, and in some ways it was worse, and promises to get worse, than I foresaw. I the course of these seven years, I have had my patriotism questioned and demeaned fairly often. I was even put in a book, as one of a hundred people who were hurting America. When I got into this book, my relatives worried that I would get shot by some rightwing nut, even though several of them were and are rightwing nuts themselves (and they carry guns). All this time, though, I considered myself a patriot and a loyal American because I was able to see the destruction that was being wreaked upon the nation, and in particular, upon the middle and working classes, by the Republican liars and war criminals and job outsourcers and health care destroyers and army wreckers and infrastructure ignorers and media whores and agriculture blackmailers (see this month's Vanity
Fair).
So now, Barack Obama tells the truth about conditions as we know them--that the countryside and the small towns are dying in many places in our country, and that the corporatocracy doesn't care enough to do a thing about it. He points out that immigrant-baiting, gay-baiting, gun-baiting, and religious pandering have helped to destroy those towns and that countryside, that those being destroyed have been cynically enlisted by their very own destroyers to provide the votes that help accomplish the destruction. And this is what Senator Hillary Clinton says about it: "Senator Obama's remarks were elitist and out of touch. They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans."
From Senator Clinton's remarks, I infer that to actually see what has gone on in the US in the last 20 years is unAmerican. It doesn't matter who you are, where you were born, what you pay in taxes, what else you might have contributed to the culture, how you vote, who you support. If you don't support fundamentalist religion, job outsourcing, and free access to guns, then you are not even American.
I cannot believe how angry this makes me. I cannot believe that after the last seven and a half years, I can even get this angry. Yes, I know she is pandering to her audience. Yes, I know she will do anything to get elected. Yes, I know that she and Bill Clinton are corrupt to the core, and that I should have never expected anything better of her. But, please, any of you angry white women who still support this craven shill, don't mention it to me. Do me the following favor -- apologize to your children for not stopping the war that HIllary voted for, the war that is going to impoverish them. Then apologize to them for the effects of global warming that are going to make their lives hell. Then apologize to them for the school shooting they may someday see, the one where the kid gets the guns out of his father's gun case, or buys at a gunshow. Apologize to them for the meaningless wars they are going to fight and pay for. Then tell them that "American values" killed their hopes and maybe killed them. And ask them if they think it's going to be worth it.
RATE THIS COMMENT:
(0)
(0) 
buckskin711
3:04PM Apr 14th 2008
so....is this your vain attempt to get the heat off snobama and divert his remarks or try to change the subject ? you are just like the press attempting to move on....its just like the wright scandal it doesnt realy go away. people are starting to see obama for what he really is. words mean things,he hung himself with his own damning words about a segment of our society, small town america. when they vote, they will remember those words. and the super-delegates will see the damage obama himself created.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Isabella Ardolino
3:05PM Apr 14th 2008
I feel sorry for you, if this is the best you can come up with in perpetuating you Hillary bashing campaign. Your commentary is ridiculous.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) JOHN
3:16PM Apr 14th 2008
Trinity United Church of Christ
Obama mentioned his church during his appearance with Oprah. It's the 'Trinity United Church of Christ'.
It is very alarming. Barack Obama is a member of this church and is running for President of the U.S. If you look at the first page of their Web site, you will learn that this congregation has a non-negotiable commitment to Africa. No where is America even mentioned. Notice too, what color you will need to be if you should want to join Obama's church? Does this surprise anyone?
Doesn't look like his choice of religion has improved much over his Muslim upbringing. This guy wants to rule America while his loyalty is totally vested in a black Africa !
I cannot believe this has not been all over the TV and newspapers. This is why it is so important to pass this message along to all our family and friends. To think that Obama has even the slightest chance in the run for the presidency is really scary.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Final Word
3:28PM Apr 14th 2008
John McCain Should Go on Vacation, Hillary Clinton is Doing His Job for Him by cynically twisting Obama's comments about small town voters in a way that confirms every right-wing demagogic caricature of her own Party, Hillary Clinton has adopted the frames, lies, stereotypes and destructive clichés long embraced by the likes of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove. She has clearly decided that the road to victory runs through scorched earth. The question is, if she succeeds, what kind of Party will she be left to lead? She's burning down the village to save it -- or to prove that she would make the best fire chief. But the village won't be saved; only one house will be left standing. A house with room for just two occupants: Hill and Bill.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Final Word
3:14PM Apr 14th 2008
John McCain Should Go on Vacation, Hillary Clinton is Doing His Job for Him by cynically twisting Obama's comments about small town voters in a way that confirms every right-wing demagogic caricature of her own Party, Hillary Clinton has adopted the frames, lies, stereotypes and destructive clichés long embraced by the likes of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove. She has clearly decided that the road to victory runs through scorched earth. The question is, if she succeeds, what kind of Party will she be left to lead? She's burning down the village to save it -- or to prove that she would make the best fire chief. But the village won't be saved; only one house will be left standing. A house with room for just two occupants: Hill and Bill.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Wanda
3:22PM Apr 14th 2008
Ok, this is a nonissue since it will not mean anything with the Republicans. You have to start picking on Obama and make him accountable for something soon, or this is election will be handed to McCain. Obama has some major negative issues, let's address these instead of just picking on Hillary! Or are you just assuming he will use his "words" to get out of whatever they dig up about him?? He is good with words, but not that good!!!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Diane
3:27PM Apr 14th 2008
Obama is a double talker. You are a typical Obama supporter trying to turn the tables on Hillary. His inexperience is showing every time he opens his mouth.
http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com/
http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com/
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Isabella Ardolino
3:30PM Apr 14th 2008
Final Word,
Your remarks have given new meaning to the word "cynicism". You on the one who is in dire need of a vacation. Preferably from yourself!
Your remarks have given new meaning to the word "cynicism". You on the one who is in dire need of a vacation. Preferably from yourself!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) PA Voter
3:32PM Apr 14th 2008
To: Isabella Ardolino3:30PMApr 14th 2008
>
If you want a woman for president, let's get the best one!
> I deserve your vote to be president.
>
> I served eight years as the first lady - working on policy issues and being involved in the day to day working of the presidency.
>
> I served two terms as wife to a governor, also working on policy and promoting an agenda to help children and women.
>
> I have the experience to be your president!
>
> Vote for me.
>
> LAURA BUSH
>
If you want a woman for president, let's get the best one!
> I deserve your vote to be president.
>
> I served eight years as the first lady - working on policy issues and being involved in the day to day working of the presidency.
>
> I served two terms as wife to a governor, also working on policy and promoting an agenda to help children and women.
>
> I have the experience to be your president!
>
> Vote for me.
>
> LAURA BUSH
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) David S.
3:35PM Apr 14th 2008
Isabella: exactly how does one go on a vacation from one's self?
Maybe if you have multiple personality disorder?
Maybe if you have multiple personality disorder?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) politico
3:40PM Apr 14th 2008
PA Voter3:32PMApr 14th 2008
Laura Bush has my vote.
Laura Bush has my vote.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Still Hoping
3:45PM Apr 14th 2008
The Pennsylvania primary is around the corner, and with the votes of blue collar workers on the line, Democratic candidates are engaged in a full-blown beer-off.
Hillary started the weekend off right, chasing a shot of Crown Royal with a mug of Old Styles on Saturday.
Obama took some time during his Monday morning speech to the Alliance for American Manufacturing to question Hillary's swilling candor, as well as to attack charges that he is "out of touch" with the American public:
WHY DID HILLARY CHOOSE A CANADIAN WHISKEY OVER AN AMERICAN ONE. IS SHE SUPPORTING NAFTA?
Hillary started the weekend off right, chasing a shot of Crown Royal with a mug of Old Styles on Saturday.
Obama took some time during his Monday morning speech to the Alliance for American Manufacturing to question Hillary's swilling candor, as well as to attack charges that he is "out of touch" with the American public:
WHY DID HILLARY CHOOSE A CANADIAN WHISKEY OVER AN AMERICAN ONE. IS SHE SUPPORTING NAFTA?
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Isabella Ardolino
3:45PM Apr 14th 2008
Final Word,
Your remarks have given new meaning to the word "cynicism". You are the one who is in dire need of a vacation. Preferably from yourself! Oh, and by the way, take Jane Smiley, Richard and PA Voter with you.
DavidS. If you don't "get it" your as bad as OBAMA!
Your remarks have given new meaning to the word "cynicism". You are the one who is in dire need of a vacation. Preferably from yourself! Oh, and by the way, take Jane Smiley, Richard and PA Voter with you.
DavidS. If you don't "get it" your as bad as OBAMA!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) one not for pickler fan!
3:52PM Apr 14th 2008
T-
I am ticked off at you. How dare you put fudge ripple and bad idea in the same sentence. LOL!
Yeah, I think you are right. There are fanatics on both sides of the gun argument, but most of us just want reasonable stipulations as a prerequisite. She would appeal to far more voters just letting us know she is for gun ownership, but with prudent regulations. Hey you never know though….with all Bill has put her through, she may have a few iron surprises under those pant suits -LOL!
I am ticked off at you. How dare you put fudge ripple and bad idea in the same sentence. LOL!
Yeah, I think you are right. There are fanatics on both sides of the gun argument, but most of us just want reasonable stipulations as a prerequisite. She would appeal to far more voters just letting us know she is for gun ownership, but with prudent regulations. Hey you never know though….with all Bill has put her through, she may have a few iron surprises under those pant suits -LOL!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) one not for pickler fan!
4:27PM Apr 14th 2008
T-
I am ticked off at you. How dare you put fudge ripple and bad idea in the same sentence. LOL!
Yeah, I think you are right. There are fanatics on both sides of the gun argument, but most of us just want reasonable stipulations as a prerequisite. She would appeal to far more voters just letting us know she is for gun ownership, but with prudent regulations. Hey you never know though….with all Bill has put her through, she may have a few iron surprises under those pant suits -LOL!
I am ticked off at you. How dare you put fudge ripple and bad idea in the same sentence. LOL!
Yeah, I think you are right. There are fanatics on both sides of the gun argument, but most of us just want reasonable stipulations as a prerequisite. She would appeal to far more voters just letting us know she is for gun ownership, but with prudent regulations. Hey you never know though….with all Bill has put her through, she may have a few iron surprises under those pant suits -LOL!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) J McMinn
4:38PM Apr 14th 2008
Mamma, who be dat in the wood ? Why Bambi, that's the great whiteassed hunter, Hillary Clintok. Mamma, is she bad person ? Can't get no badder Bambi, can't get no badder. Mamma, kin I get Roger the bear to kill her ? Sure, Bambi, you do what you want. Thanks Mamma, you're the best--ROGER, GET YOR ASS OVER HERE !!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) 1VOTE
4:53PM Apr 14th 2008
OBAMA AND HIS ANTI-AMERICAN WIFE SHOULD BE ASHAMED! SHE NEEDED MORE "WHITE" PEOPLE. HE NEEDS MORE "DUMB" PEOPLE!
THIS JUST IN: “WE NEED MORE DUMB PEOPLE”
OBAMA IS FORMING THE BACKDROP FOR HIS NOVEMBER ASPIRATIONS: 5 YELLOW PEOPLE, 4 BROWN PEOPLE, 20 WHITE PEOPLE, 1 BLACK PERSON, 4 GREEN PEOPLE, 20 PURPLE PEOPLE AND 55 “MILLION” DUMB PEOPLE REQUIRED.
THE OBAMA COMMITTEE WILL MOVE PEOPLE AROUND FROM WHERE THEY WERE SITTING TO HAVE MORE “DUMB” PEOPLE IN THE FRONT ROW, SITTING DIRECTLY BEHIND OBAMA, TO CHEER HIM ON.
OBAMA, MICHELLE, PELOSI, DEAN, REID, KENNEDY, KERRY AND JEREMIAH WRIGHT ARE STUCK ON STUPID!
DON’T YOU JUST LOVE IT!
HILLARY 2008!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) one not for pickler fan!
4:43PM Apr 14th 2008
T-
I am ticked off at you. How dare you put fudge ripple and bad idea in the same sentence. LOL!
Yeah, I think you are right. There are fanatics on both sides of the gun argument, but most of us just want reasonable stipulations as a prerequisite. She would appeal to far more voters just letting us know she is for gun ownership, but with prudent regulations. Hey you never know though….with all Bill has put her through, she may have a few iron surprises under those pant suits -LOL!
I am ticked off at you. How dare you put fudge ripple and bad idea in the same sentence. LOL!
Yeah, I think you are right. There are fanatics on both sides of the gun argument, but most of us just want reasonable stipulations as a prerequisite. She would appeal to far more voters just letting us know she is for gun ownership, but with prudent regulations. Hey you never know though….with all Bill has put her through, she may have a few iron surprises under those pant suits -LOL!
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) tzada
4:44PM Apr 14th 2008
Hillary has the Secret Service. Why would she need to pack heat? If she choses to, why should she disclose it?
It's no ones business if I do or I don't.
Do you pack Tommy? If you do careful Obama and Rev. Michael Pfleger may come take you away. Well the Rev would just have you snuffed.
America keep in mind Germany went for the guns too. Rev. Michael Pfleger is a German American too. Frank Marshall Davis, a communist, went to school in Germany. He was Obama's famous mentor mentioned in Obama's book.
It should be remembered that a majority of Germans never voted for Hitler. His high watermark was about four in 10 -- and that probably over stated his true level of support.
It's no ones business if I do or I don't.
Do you pack Tommy? If you do careful Obama and Rev. Michael Pfleger may come take you away. Well the Rev would just have you snuffed.
America keep in mind Germany went for the guns too. Rev. Michael Pfleger is a German American too. Frank Marshall Davis, a communist, went to school in Germany. He was Obama's famous mentor mentioned in Obama's book.
It should be remembered that a majority of Germans never voted for Hitler. His high watermark was about four in 10 -- and that probably over stated his true level of support.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (0)
(0) Add your comments
Politics Daily on Facebook
Now Commenting
- FOXYLYNX on:
Biotech Lobbyists Provided Grist for Lawmakers' Health Care Statements - god1slove666 on:
The Bishops are Back, For Now, Thanks to the Party and President They Opposed - greatqb44 on:
The Bishops are Back, For Now, Thanks to the Party and President They Opposed - Stan on:
The Backstory Behind the Decision to Try the 9/11 Plotters in N.Y. - bonbon on:
At Fort Hood, America Needed a Hero, Quickly - pgbrooke on:
Justice Scalia: 'I Have Religious Views...They Have Nothing to Do with My Job'
Submit Your Favorite Links
No.
Props
Props
- 25
- 55
- 31
- 30
- 26
- 21
Follow Us
Other News
- Obama to meet with Myanmar rulers
- Palin retakes center stage on book tour
- GOP sees little outreach in health care debate
- D.C. Mayor Fenty comes under fire
- Inside the Beltway
Politics Daily More Links