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Critical Mass

The question for Hillary is how soon Obama’s poor choice of associates hits critical mass.

Let’s see, there’s Wright, Rezko, Ayers … that’s hit three major hits right there from black liberationist wackjob to sleazy wheeler dealer to smug America-hating former wannabe 60s terrorist. Now we’ got this guy who hangs with Hamas, and scroll down a little at the link for the bit about Zionist-bashing Rashid Khalidi. No pervs yet, correct me if I’m wrong. Times of London:

One of Barack Obama’s Middle East policy advisers disclosed yesterday that he had held meetings with the militant Palestinian group Hamas – prompting the likely Democratic nominee to sever all links with him.

Robert Malley told The Times that he had been in regular contact with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is listed by the US State Department as a terrorist organisation. Such talks, he stressed, were related to his work for a conflict resolution think-tank and had no connection with his position on Mr Obama’s Middle East advisory council.

“I’ve never hidden the fact that in my job with the International Crisis Group I meet all kinds of people,” he added.

Malkin with a little more on what he’s not hiding.

I’m sure that’a all well-intentioned and respectable, but under the bus he goes. Not a good time to be tipping the hand. OK, a little back story:

Mr Obama, who has been trying to assuage suspicion towards him among the influential Jewish and pro-Israel lobby, spoke at a Washington reception marking the 60th anniversary of Israeli independence on Thursday when he promised that his commitment to the country’s security would be “unshakeable”. However, Mr McCain has high-lighted the Democrat’s pledge to negotiate directly with nations such as Iran – whose leaders talk of wiping Israel off the map – and a statement from Hamas saying that it hoped that Mr Obama would win the presidency.

This was denounced as an offensive smear by Mr Obama, who repeated earlier statements saying that Hamas was “a terrorist organisation [and] we should not negotiate with them unless they recognise Israel, renounce violence”.

He went on to suggest that Mr McCain’s attack showed that he was “losing his bearings”. This remark triggered a furious reaction from Mark Salter, the Republican’s senior adviser, who said that Mr Obama was “intentionally raising John McCain’s age as an issue” – a claim the Democrat vehemently denied. The intensity of this dispute reflects both Mr Obama’s desire to move beyond his battle with Hillary Clinton and how Republicans are already beginning to train their sights on him.

Re critical mass, when its hit, I’m guessing not soon enough for Hill, but McCain’s gearing up to have a good time.

Randy Scheunemann, Mr McCain’s foreign policy chief, suggested that Mr Malley was part of an emerging pattern in which other advisers had been repudiated after throwing confusion over policies on trade and Iraq. “Perhaps because of his inexperience Senator Obama surrounds himself with advisers that contradict his stated policies,” he said.

That’s being charitable, or maybe condescending.

Anyway, about Hill, I was having a chat with another right-leaning co-worker the other night. We were marveling at what huge Hill fans we’ve become. Hill defenders, anyway. Do we actually want her to be the candidate? Theoretically no, but frankly, I’m not sure I care at this point, nor is that what this has been about. You can play the numbers game about who beats who, but from this end, no one knows? It’s a crap shoot.  I just like watching them beat each other up, and would prefer not to sit around waiting for the August coronations.  That, and I also enjoy pointing out the rank hypocrisy of people who call themselves the Democratic Party like they have a grasp on it, let alone a monopoly. The Clintons are absolutely right.  If they want to stay in, whose business is that but theirs? Theirs and a couple hundred superdelegates who are afraid of getting their eyes gouged out, also millions of voters who have indicated in the polling places and in the polls that they are of two minds on the issue. Did someone die and make Obama the nominee? Not that I know of, but given how sleazy his associations are turning out to be, I’m not going to rule it out yet.

Topics: pols

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:55 am on Saturday, May 10, 2008

4 Responses to “Critical Mass”

1. Fatty Bolger Says:
   May 10th, 2008 at 1:32 pm

   You don’t quit the race when the finish line is in sight.

2. Vanguard of the Commentariat Says:
   May 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

   Well said JC, not to mention how much fun it is to finally see the Democrat Party having to air out their truly divisive race, gender, age and class policies and special interest pandering for all the world to see.

   Especially after projecting the same on the Right for many years .

3. RebeccaH Says:
   May 10th, 2008 at 8:49 pm

   If nothing else, moderate Democrats are going to be forced to rally ranks and either save their party from the loons, or build a whole new, third party. Either way is fine with me.

4. Robert Says:
   May 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm

   Could it be that the Clintons are just staying in until Obama agrees to pick up their campaigns debt, which is mostly to the Clintons?

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