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Hillary Clinton's Nuclear Option
American Thinker ^ | May 09, 2008 | Ned Barnett

Posted on 05/09/2008 12:25:39 AM PDT by neverdem

Most pundits are telling Senator Hillary Clinton that it's all over but the shouting.  The math is against her.  However, the math is also currently against Senator Obama -- neither candidate can earn the needed majority in the remaining primaries.  The decision will be made by the Democrats' superdelegates, who are not obligated to decide whom they support until the convention. And they are empowered to change their allegiance at any time, based on their "read" of what's best for the party.

This means that until the first ballot in Denver in August, Hillary still has a chance.

Conventional wisdom among those who pretend to know why Senator Clinton is hanging in there say she's waiting -- and hoping for -- an Obama scandal that will make Reverend Wright look like a footnote.  Because Senator Obama is so little known among the public, they've got their fingers crossed that some scandal that's worse than Reverend Wright will surface, and surface soon enough to persuade the superdelegates that Obama can't win.

The "sitting and waiting" strategy is out of character for the politically-savvy Clintons. It's possible they may be shell-shocked from the primary campaign's insane roller coaster ride.  However, once they have caught their breath, they may decide that the prize is worth exercising Hillary's "nuclear option" -- in effect, using surrogates to nuke Senator Obama so thoroughly that they will create that Obama Can't Win scandal out of what is already out there.

In this option, Clinton surrogates -- those public figures who are obviously in the tank for the Clintons, such as Lanny Davis and Paul Begala, as well as those who are not so obviously affiliated with the Clinton campaign -- will carry out the "nuke Obama" strategy on Senator Clinton's behalf, leaving her hands clean and her reputation unsullied.

What constitutes the Nuclear Option?

Senator Obama has gotten such a near-universal pass on his background that there remain potentially troubling elements to his career and life-story.  Bringing these forward now and painting them in the worst possible light could have a "death by a thousand cuts" impact on the largely untried Senator from Illinois, who has already shown that he's not at his best in responding to harsh and unexpected criticism.  Keeping Senator Obama dodging and ducking and bobbling defenses creates two opportunities:

Both options are long shots, to be sure, but there may be enough out there with which to criticize Senator Obama to make the nuclear option at least plausible.  Some might even say that the nuclear option campaign has already begun with Paul Begala's public pronouncement that the Party Can't Win by relying on white eggheads and African-Americans, a bombshell he dropped on CNN in a "debate" with Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.

What are the issues that could be included in the Nuclear Option?  Here is a sampling:

- Comb the archives of Trinity Church for a DVD that shows both Reverend Wright making yet one more of his offensively over-the-top statements ... and showing Senator Obama in the congregation, listening to his preacher. Senator Obama skirted responsibility for Wright, in part, by claiming that "I never heard him say that." Prove this defense wrong and it will not only tie Obama to Wright, but will paint him as a lying politician, and one not particularly adept at lying.

- Comb sources for home video of a speech that Senator Obama gave in conjunction with unrepentant Weatherman domestic terrorist Bill Ayres, and in this way, tie Senator Obama more tightly to this radical who's helped to kill Americans on American soil. Senator Obama has persuaded the media that he and Ayres are just neighbors, but video that would show them sharing a platform as allies could shake that excuse -- and Obama's credibility. With such a thin track record, the hope he is offering the Party and the American voters rests on a thin reed of credibility.

- Assuming that Tony Rezko is found guilty in his fraud trial, find some way to pressure prosecutors to offer Tony Rezko a sentencing deal in exchange for offering incriminating testimony that will tie Senator Obama far more closely to this shady political fund-raiser (currently in the midst of a bribery trial). The Rezko story has been largely overlooked by the media. Few voters understand the nature of the Rezko/Obama connection. But this Chicago politics as usual story of sordid minor-league corruption will further shake the Senator's image of electability.

- Push forward another story that has been largely ignored by the media: Senator Obama's radically permissive position favoring "birth control abortions," on-demand, for minors, and his related view that babies, including his own future grandchildren, are "punishments." As explained in American Thinker - one of the very few political media which even noted this statement  - in late March, Senator Obama said:

"Look, I got two daughters - nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby." 
This is a position that would prove widely unpopular among moderate "values" Democrats and most independents in a general election with a pro-life candidate, this issue could be a political deal-breaker.
- Comb Senator Obama's voting record in the Senate and in the Illinois legislature and find every issue he's voted for (or against) that - if the vote were known - would make moderate Democrats and Independents uncomfortable with the Senator. Where possible, find video showing Senator Obama advocating these politically extreme or unpopular positions, making it hard for the Senator to deny that he was "in the pew" when those issues came up for consideration.


These five possibilites, along other issues that cast a bad light on Senator Obama, constitute Senator Clinton's "nuclear option."  These issues have been largely ignored, minimized or "put to bed" by the national mainstream political media, including media opinion leaders ranging from the New York Times to CNN, MSNBC and the broadcast news networks.  However, these same issues can be advanced by Clinton surrogates in a way that will force the media to take another look ... and force the super delegates to re-think their ultimate choice. 

That is Senator Clinton's last chance.  She has the opportunity, she has the strategy, and she and her advisors have the savvy to see how to raise these (and other) issues without leaving finger prints.  Independently, these individual issues are unlikely to be deal-killers,  but taken together, they might give Democratic Party superdelegates reason to reconsider Senator Obama, and favor Senator Clinton.

Senator Obama may declare victory on May 20th, but he may not have an easy three months until the Democratic National Convention in Denver.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: clinton; hillaryclinton; obama; yobama
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To: Fresh Wind

Boy, he can be bought cheap. Does he fix parking tickets for a five-spot ?


21 posted on 05/09/2008 3:32:19 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Well, he’s a first termer. He’s spent the last two years snuggling up to Pelosi and Murtha. If he survives, you can be sure that his vote in 2012 or 2016 will cost a whole lot more.


22 posted on 05/09/2008 3:48:51 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
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To: neverdem
Comb the archives of Trinity Church for a DVD that shows both Reverend Wright making yet one more of his offensively over-the-top statements ... and showing Senator Obama in the congregation, listening to his preacher.
I'm sure the process of acquiring and watching video is an ongoing one in the Clinton camp.
23 posted on 05/09/2008 3:51:21 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: neverdem

Overall this seems pretty thin gruel for Hillary. I think she would need something really explosive, like an extramarital “affair” with a teenage boy, or something like that.

But for the general election, on the other hand, the list of possible Obama weakness presented here is something the McCain camp should be looking at very seriously. But they probably aren’t. That’s out of keeping with the true spirit of reaching across the aisle.


24 posted on 05/09/2008 3:55:20 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: garylmoore
Look, I got two daughters - nine years old and six years old. I am going to teach them first about values and morals...
... by sitting them down in front of a pastor who screams "G-d D-n America!" at them.

What a dad.

25 posted on 05/09/2008 3:56:45 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: fieldmarshaldj

Oh, he also took a wad from Obomba in 2006. Hussein has been lining up his ducks for a while now.


26 posted on 05/09/2008 3:56:52 AM PDT by Fresh Wind (Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.)
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To: Fresh Wind

Sestak, Murphy or Carney ?


27 posted on 05/09/2008 3:59:16 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: samtheman

With Michelle as wife, I doubt Obama has affairs,,she would be formidable. Besides he doesn’t look like the womanizing type.

I don’t think they have a goods on him, she would have used it. And I suspect the oppo research team has been on this since day one.

Obama is very slick, much slicker than Bill.

Hill wants her campaign debts paid, 11 million bucks and counting. That is why she is in this.


28 posted on 05/09/2008 4:12:05 AM PDT by cajungirl
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To: cajungirl

You’re probably right on all counts.


29 posted on 05/09/2008 4:15:56 AM PDT by samtheman
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To: neverdem

None of this will work. She’ll have find something a lot more radioactive. Like Barry in bed with Bill. But that will only help in the general election.


30 posted on 05/09/2008 4:26:19 AM PDT by AdaGray
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To: neverdem

31 posted on 05/09/2008 4:28:10 AM PDT by jws3sticks (Hillary can take a very long walk on a very short pier, anytime, and the sooner the better!)
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To: neverdem

For this strategy to work, Obama would have to be involved in something that would be scandalous to Democrat voters and delegates. That rules out treason, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, or anything like that. Maybe Hillary has secret video of him telling veterans he loves America with all his heart and has only been hanging around with the likes of Pastor Wright and Dick Durbin to trick leftists into electing him. That would surely do him in.


32 posted on 05/09/2008 4:32:08 AM PDT by puroresu (Enjoy ASIAN CINEMA? See my Freeper page for recommendations (updated!).)
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To: Hugin
I still get angry at the thought of the Clinton's skating away from their numerous crimes.

And here at FR, there are many who equate The Beast with John McCain. Fools all.

33 posted on 05/09/2008 4:43:22 AM PDT by Jacquerie (The Clintons - America's preeminent crime family.)
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To: neverdem
They left out the Farrakhan Connection.

ML/NJ

34 posted on 05/09/2008 5:20:26 AM PDT by ml/nj
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To: puroresu
For this strategy to work, Obama would have to be involved in something that would be scandalous to Democrat voters and delegates. That rules out treason, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, or anything like that.

Bingo! I was thinking along the same lines. Anything juicy the Clintons could come up with would be a resume enhancer for a Democrat. If it's more stuff on Wright, Ayers or Rezko, Obama and his DBM sycophants can just say "old new" - let's move on.

In the end, I just can't imagine the superdelegates would risk alienating the most reliable voting bloc in their party - blacks - by ditching Obama. They just won't do it, even if it means suicide for their party in Nov. Conventional wisdom is it wouldn't matter, blacks would just fall in line for Hillary anyhow, but I disagree. There would be a civil war in the Democrat Party which would last for many years.

35 posted on 05/09/2008 5:22:13 AM PDT by randita (I'm a "typical white person" and I voted for Lynn Swann.)
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To: neverdem
Auchi.

If they connect the dots between Barry-O, Rezko, and Auchi he's done.

36 posted on 05/09/2008 5:47:58 AM PDT by paddles
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To: puroresu
For this strategy to work, Obama would have to be involved in something that would be scandalous to Democrat voters and delegates. That rules out treason, adultery, homosexuality, abortion, or anything like that. Maybe Hillary has secret video of him telling veterans he loves America with all his heart and has only been hanging around with the likes of Pastor Wright and Dick Durbin to trick leftists into electing him. That would surely do him in.

LOL!!! Or a recording of him saying something NICE about BUSH!!

37 posted on 05/09/2008 6:01:19 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....The Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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To: neverdem

Even if she doesn’t do this directly, or have democrats do it, the Republicans have to start doing it at some point.

Remember that the SBVT worked over the summer to get the truth out about Kerry.

The Democrats have two candidates who can claim victory at the convention. The superdelegates exist precisely to override the will of the people when necessary.

So if we target Obama over the summer, and manage to score a direct hit, it is the JOB of the superdelegates to step in and pick Hillary.

And if we DON’T target Obama, it will be too late in September.

If Obama was Bill Richardson, this would be really good for the Democrats.

our only saving grace is that Obama is the hero of the black Democrat. So no matter how much he is discredited, they will NEVER believe he has been discredited, nor will they accept others making that determination.

So if Hillary replaces him, we probably will win, because McCain is not someone the black community despises.


38 posted on 05/09/2008 6:07:37 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: neverdem
... leaving her hands clean and her reputation unsullied.

Waaaay too late for that.

39 posted on 05/09/2008 6:12:59 AM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (There was once consensus that the world was flat.)
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To: Jacquerie

Google “Keating Five” sometime. And understand that McQueeg somehow was the only pol to survive that scandal with a career. And now the GOP, based on the votes of independents and crossover ‘rat voters, are putting that filthy, paranoid slimeball up as “our” nominee.

We’re dealing with whores here; every last blessed one of them. It is only a question of negotiating the price and who is doing the negotiating.

Plebes like you and I are not welcome in the DC flesh market.


40 posted on 05/09/2008 6:18:46 AM PDT by L,TOWM (Liberals, The Other White Meat)
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