Obama My Obama

One of the tactics being employed by the Clinton Campaign is to suggest that Bernie Sanders is anti Obama. This is for the purpose of motivating what they believe to be the Obama coalition, including African Americans, to vote against Sanders. It might seem like a good idea, but it's not. Clinton is wrapping herself around President Obama in spite of her own disagreements with him. For the Democratic Primaries it may be successful but in the general election this fall her portrayal as a third term of Obama will backfire. The Republicans are already emphasizing it and Clinton is giving them plenty of ammunition. What we know for certain is that Barack Obama has no coattails to ride.

Bernie Sanders is not anti Obama but he has criticized him when he feels it's warranted. That is part of his authenticity. He has been attacked for his suggestion in 2011 on a radio program and in response to a question, that Obama should potentially face a primary challenge. There is nothing wrong with that statement and while high ranking party officials don't like this, there is precedent for it and no sitting President should believe himself or herself so untouchable that they cannot face a rebuke from their own party. In 1980 Ted Kennedy ran against President Carter for the Democratic nomination because he believed Carter would not win the general election. He knew that he would be unpopular in some circles and that his own past carried problems but his instincts were correct. Kennedy did not weaken Carter, he made him a better candidate. He was also right about what was going to happen.

When Pat Buchanan challenged President Bush in 1992, it was the same scenario. Buchanan made Bush a better candidate. The biggest problem for Bush was that he and his team did not take Bill Clinton seriously until it was too late. Ross Perot played a role in that campaign but Bush would still have lost even if Perot had never run.

Liberal radio show host and long time Democratic activist Bill Press has written a new book titled "Buyers Remorse" about the progressive movements disappointments in Barack Obama. Press is a friend of Bernie Sanders and in fact played an early role in putting together the meetings that ultimately helped Sanders to decide to run for President. Press asked Sanders to write a blurb for the cover of the book, that's what friends do. Clinton has made an issue of this, in spite of the fact that the blurb is fairly innocuous.

The White House doesn't really like the Press book but they have made no assertions that there are unfactual things in it, because there isn't. No one likes to be criticized but if it bothers you intensely, politics might be a path you should avoid. I haven't read the book yet but I will in time because I'm a junkie for this stuff. I voted for Obama twice and while I have no buyers remorse, I am not in agreement with him on a number of issues. In 2008 John McCain had an even chance of getting my vote, in fact more than even because Obama never truly excited me. Unfortunately McCain did two things that convinced me Obama was the better choice. The first was his complete disconnect from the economic collapse that was occurring. The second was his selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate, that very poor decision made me question his judgment. In 2012 it was a no brainer. My negative opinions of Mitt Romney were well formed in 2008 and he continued to reaffirm those opinions during his 2012 campaign.

Clinton needs to make it clear that her Presidency would be a new beginning and not a continuation of Barack Obama. She doesn't have to, nor should she, throw him under the bus but her identity must be clearly defined apart from him. The Republicans are going to fight their general election as a referendum on Obama. Whether it is Clinton or Sanders facing them they must be able to turn it against their opponent and say you are stuck in the past fighting ghosts and I'm fighting for the future of the American people.

You're welcome and I'll be expecting your check.