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Deepening Democratic Dilemma [Robert Novak]
Real Clear Politics ^ | March 24, 2008 | Robert Novak

Posted on 03/24/2008 2:33:33 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Barack Obama's speech last week, hastily prepared to extinguish the firestorm over the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, won critical praise for style and substance but failed politically. By elevating the question of race in America, the front-running Democratic presidential candidate has deepened the dilemma created by his campaign's success against the party establishment's anointed choice, Hillary Clinton.

In rejecting the racist views of his longtime spiritual mentor but not disowning him, Obama has unwittingly enhanced his image as the African-American candidate -- not just a remarkable candidate who happens to be black. That poses a racial dilemma for unelected super-delegates, who as professional politicians will pick the winner since neither Obama nor Clinton can win enough elected delegates to be nominated.

Super-delegates, though they were inclined to Clinton no longer than three months ago, now flinch at rejecting Obama. They fear antagonizing African-Americans, who have become the hard-core Democratic base. But what if national polls continue their post-Wright trend and show Obama trailing both Clinton and Republican John McCain in popular support? The Obama strategists' hope of reversing that trend depends on his eloquent race speech, which he continued to reprise on the campaign trail all week, overcoming the video exposing his pastor's demagoguery.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas; US: Hawaii; US: Illinois; US: New York; US: Pennsylvania; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 2008; 911; africanamericans; aids; barackhusseinobama; barackobama; bigotry; billclinton; blacks; blacktheology; bobnovak; brokeredconvention; chicago; christians; church; clinton; clintons; columnists; demchaos; democraticparty; democratparty; democrats; denver; dinosaurmedia; drivebymedia; drugs; election; electionpresident; elections; floorfight; gop; hillary; hillaryclinton; hussein; husseinobama; ihaveanexcusespeech; jeremiahsmessiah; jeremiahwright; johnmccain; liberalracism; liberationtheology; massmedia; mccain; media; msm; newspapers; nobama; obama; obamanation; operationchaos; opinion; pa2008; philadelphia; primaries; racepimps; racism; religion; republicans; reverseracism; robertnovak; rush; rushlimbaugh; rushthevote; saulalinsky; superdelegates; talkradio; television; trinityucc; tx2008; typicalwhiteperson; typicalwrightperson; whitehouse; whites; whitey; wright; wrightwingconspiracy
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Democrat Chaos, The Continuing Saga. Have we enough popcorn?
1 posted on 03/24/2008 2:33:35 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
t one longtime associate said this of the Clintons in private conversation last week: "They will do anything -- anything -- to get nominated."

Of the Clintons ...

2 posted on 03/24/2008 2:47:04 AM PDT by BunnySlippers (Buy a Mac ...)
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To: BunnySlippers

So this is new?


3 posted on 03/24/2008 2:48:06 AM PDT by societygirl
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

4 posted on 03/24/2008 2:56:42 AM PDT by Bobalu (What do I know, I'm a Typical White Guy)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Mrs. Clinton and Osama bore the bleep out of Americans, so drama must be brought in to keep the sheeple from wandering off.
5 posted on 03/24/2008 2:57:49 AM PDT by kcm.org (Now unto Him)
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To: kcm.org; All

Obama — We Are Building A Religion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xtNr5-up0U


6 posted on 03/24/2008 2:58:32 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (http://www.fourfriedchickensandacoke.blogspot.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The consensus among knowledgeable Democrats is that Obama will win over enough super-delegates to clinch the nomination before the national convention in August, partly because of fear for the consequences if they do not.

So Democratic insiders feel they will have to nominate Obama, regardless of his electability (or lack thereof), partly because they are afraid of Obama supporters rioting in the streets if he is not nominated? Reminder to oneself: stock up on popcorn and ammo.

7 posted on 03/24/2008 3:05:35 AM PDT by IndyTiger
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I ran out of popcorn and Im reduced to dry cat food


8 posted on 03/24/2008 3:06:13 AM PDT by woofie
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

>>>But what if national polls continue their post-Wright trend and show Obama trailing both Clinton and Republican John McCain in popular support?

Enter Al Gore, “reluctantly” dragged back to save the party, and in so doing, save the nation. Theatrically and loudly placing his duty to both over his expressed desire to leave the political arena. In the days since the Obama speech I have noticed the Draft Al Gore campaign again ramping up after months of inactivity.


9 posted on 03/24/2008 3:08:55 AM PDT by tlb
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
This was a great article. I found the comments regarding the super-delegates, and their reluctance to disappoint Obama and Reverend Wright, not only probably true, but very disturbing. Are they, honestly, only afraid of alienating their African American base, or is it something even more frightening?

I wonder just how honest they've REALLY been with themselves?

10 posted on 03/24/2008 3:11:30 AM PDT by singfreedom
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Deepening Democratic Dilemma [Robert Novak]....

so what’s the problem???????????


11 posted on 03/24/2008 3:23:19 AM PDT by nyyankeefan
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
our young people really give America hope as they aren't falling for the elite's tricks and deceptions the elite used to skate by on.

The demoncrats' scams of the past will be exposed by our young men and women.

12 posted on 03/24/2008 3:23:50 AM PDT by kcm.org (Now unto Him)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obama’s message of Hope and Change seems to resonate well with the Liberal Base. Is this because they have no HOPE because they lack salvation? I’m not seeing or hearing any of my Christian friends taken in by this message of Hope. We have Hope already! It is always the Godless that lack hope in our society. As for the message of change... just cover for “Anyone but a Republican”.


13 posted on 03/24/2008 3:34:48 AM PDT by Jumper
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obama’s message of Hope and Change seems to resonate well with the Liberal Base. Is this because they have no HOPE because they lack salvation? I’m not seeing or hearing any of my Christian friends taken in by this message of Hope. We have Hope already! It is always the Godless that lack hope in our society. As for the message of change... just cover for “Anyone but a Republican”.


14 posted on 03/24/2008 3:34:48 AM PDT by Jumper
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As much as I deplore the fact that I will be forced to vote for John McCain, this has got to be the most entertaining election year yet—and it just keeps getting better. First you had liberals twisting themselves into knots trying to reconcile the Victimhood Pecking Order. White woman or black man? Then we had Bill Clinton finally wearing out his welcome, as millions of black voters suddenly realized the first black President was really just a lily white cracker. And now we find the DNC in the most excruciating predicament, caught between political expediency and social responsibility. I’d like to think they will go with the latter, but they are Democrats, so...


15 posted on 03/24/2008 4:11:05 AM PDT by giotto
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To: BunnySlippers
Photobucket
16 posted on 03/24/2008 4:29:13 AM PDT by preacher (A government which robs from Peter to pay Paul will always have the support of Paul.)
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To: IndyTiger
What's so interesting about this dilima the DBM/dems are having is there is no way Hillary can win the nomination by the numbers. Nominating either one of these losers will be a disaster for this country. I don't believe Hillary has the same kind of American Bashing Hate in her as Obama does though.

Here's what many people see:
Obama can get up there and make as many speeches as he wants with thousands of American flags wrapped around him, but past actions indicate he is of the Anti-American crowd. His liberal voting record in the senate is the highest of any senator.

If these SD's turn around and give Hillary the nomination after Obama clearly has won, all those Obama supporters just may vote for McPita. That would be a slaughter for Hillary in the general election.

As much as I detest McPita, and will not be voting for him, at the very least I know he cares more about his country than he does about getting elected. No matter how WRONG he may be on some issues, or disloyal he is to conservatives, he would be a better President, but not good enough.

17 posted on 03/24/2008 4:39:59 AM PDT by sirchtruth (No one has the RIGHT not to be offended...)
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To: singfreedom
This was a great article. I found the comments regarding the super-delegates, and their reluctance to disappoint Obama and Reverend Wright, not only probably true, but very disturbing. Are they, honestly, only afraid of alienating their African American base, or is it something even more frightening?

I often speak with a friend who has been active within the Democrat party for decades. He's close to eighty years old now and is rather conservative socially but a fiancial liberal (a big New Deal Dem). He says thinks that the Dems have become too reliant on the black vote and thinks the party should do more to court the Hispanic votes. His big fear is that the current "experiment" with Obama will drive Hispanics from the party. Then, as demographics shift, the black population will decline as a percent of the total population while Hispanics increase as a percent of the population. In his opinion this bodes poorly for the Dems over the next 10 or 20 years.

18 posted on 03/24/2008 4:52:09 AM PDT by NRG1973
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To: Jumper

You expressed very well what my own thoughts have been: BECAUSE of their lack of salvation, they seek social acceptance and control instead. It’s like chasing after gilt because it looks like gold.

People of faith have real joy, hope, and work for real change.


19 posted on 03/24/2008 4:52:32 AM PDT by alwaysconservative (If marriage qualifies as "experience", then Yoko Ono is qualified to become a Beatle.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Furthermore, one Democratic operative who is inclined to Obama warns the issue will be raised in much harsher terms by Republicans during the general election campaign.

No it won't, since McCain wants a friendly campaign and has been throwing his supporters under buses who dare to attack Obama and Hillary.

I predict that Obama won't have a thing to worry about from McCain.

20 posted on 03/24/2008 4:56:28 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner ("We must not forget that there is a war on and our troops are in the thick of it!"--Duncan Hunter)
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