Obama Camp First Boos and then Woos Clinton Supporters

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, photo by Getty


Two days after thousands of rabid Obamaphiles at a Michigan campaign rally rudely booed the state’s governor, Jennifer Granholm, for mentioning Hillary Clinton’s name, the Obama team was on Capitol Hill to court Clintonites.

Amie Parmes at Politico reports:

“Sen. Barack Obama and top campaign aides were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday as part of a full-scale offensive to win over the hearts and minds of those who supported Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“Clinton herself was nowhere to be found.

“Obama met Tuesday night with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, many of whom had long and friendly relationships with the Clintons. On Thursday, he’ll meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus, one-third of whom backed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. More meetings with more Democratic groups are also on the schedule.

“Obama’s chief strategist, David Axelrod, spoke Tuesday to Democratic senators gathered for their weekly policy lunch.

‘“…Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that Axelrod had been “extremely positive” about Clinton, but the junior senator from New York didn’t hear Axelrod’s words because she didn’t attend the lunch.”

According to Parmes’ account, Philippe Reines, Clinton’s spokesman said, “Sen. Clinton took some well deserved R & R with her family last week, and she’ll be back here before you know it. In the meantime, she continues to work for New York and America, and she’ll be fighting harder than ever for the issues she has throughout her public life.”

Other glaring contradictions in the Obama team's treatment of Clinton supporters appear as it attempts to pull Democrats together and move forward. The Huffington Post, the left wing’s mirror image of the Drudge Report (the two infamous blogs share a dismissive attitude toward ethical standards in news reporting), can’t seem to make up its mind as to whether or not to stop sliming Hillary Clinton or attempt to show respect to a former presidential candidate who still commands the respect and allegiance of millions of voters.

Along with its sister blog in the left wing of the Democratic fold, the Huffington Post served as a major mouthpiece for the Obama campaign throughout the Democratic primary.

In this morning’s edition of the Huffington Post (you’ll have to Google it; for obvious reasons, I don’t link there), a banner headline linking to the Washington Times screams: “GOP recycles Clinton's attacks against Obama.” The article reminds voters that early on party leaders warned Clinton about daring to oppose Obama in the Democratic primary. It’s as if the party elite were all muttering to themselves: “Who the hell does this woman think she is to challenge our hand-picked candidate? Doesn’t she know the Republicans might use her words as sound bytes in the general election?”

I mean - it’s not as if talking points from other presidential primaries have been used against opponents in the general election, and you have to notice the Democratic party leaders in this case assumed - long before the people were given a chance to vote - that the first viable female candidate was going to lose.

Let me repeat: these same party bigwigs in league with the Obama team and its media allies made sure their guy took home the prize.

Well, here’s what I’m thinking: since it appears the Obama camp is conflicted about its need for the allegiance of Clinton supporters in the general election, I feel a corresponding ambivalence, and I’m still strongly inclined to remember in November to vote present.

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