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[Sharkey]

Did you just call that chick the whore of Babylon? Not that I mind particularly.

[Guild]

Thank you for knowing that.

[Arc]

Today being the last day of the month, I'm usually prone to donate to a campaign. Threw some moola over towards Ben Chandler via Act Blue.

With netroots like these, the Democrats won't be in a hurry to enact public financing.

Spent last Saturday on Campus with a Voter Registration Group. The lucky catches were the Out - of - State students who hadn't thought to register yet.

[Arc]

Clinton Advisor: Indianans are "Shit", "Worthless White Ni**ers" w/ Video

Can't wait for the prerequisite 'This bitch is toast.' comments to fly elsewhere, only to have her carry the state all the same.

[Royal☭]

It's kinda funny, really.  This is probably all I'll hear about this one.  But when Barack makes comments about the Pennsylvania it's all over the news.  Or his pastor sad inflammatory stuff a few years ago, nobody shuts up about it.

When did this sea change in media occur?  Barack used to be the untouchable Golden Boy who could sweep aside controversy and nobody would care, while the press hounded Hillary.  I know at one point people start pointing out that everybody was criticizing Hillary and not Barack, but we didn't need a complete 180.  Somehow Clinton has manged to go from being the establishment candidate who suddenly couldn't deal with an up-and-comer to being the underdog valiantly holding her own against the champ.

How did they completely swap roles?  It's not and never will be amazing that Hillary Clinton is still campaigning this far into the race.  What's amazing is that people are considering this a victory for her.  That someone who was once the only person talked about as the Democratic candidate is struggling to overcome another candidate who leads her in the polls, delegates, the popular election, number of states, and even the Republicans are basically treating him like the nominee.

It's like Hillary Clinton is trying to start the New Democratic Party.  Where the Old Democratic Party was spineless and found it difficult to win races, at least some of them had no trouble holding on to those values that separated them from conservatives.  Now Clinton comes along and is willing to use every political trick in the Republican handbook, including a determination to steal an election out from under the popular vote, to become the Democratic candidate so she can have a shot at losing to McCain.  I was mostly ambivalent towards Hillary before the primary began.  I didn't like her that much, but I would have voted for her if she'd been the Democratic candidate in '08.  But now, I loathe her and find her almost indistinguishable from McCain.

"Twelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike.    No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs.  The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

[Arc]

When did this sea change in media occur?

Almost exactly two months ago, on March 1st. CNN & NPR were striven to create a horserace, even after an eleven victory blowout by Obama that ended the actual race. MSNBC tried to play nice to the Clinton Campaign, but haven't been as subservient. FOX could care less either way, and just embellishes any dirt that arises. ABC clearly overplayed their hand with their 'debate', and yet are still hosting a free Hillary 'Town Hall' With Ex-Clinton Campaigner George Stephanopoulos this Sunday.

It's like Hillary Clinton is trying to start the New Democratic Party.

Shades of the 'Connecticut for Lieberman' party abound.

[François]

Protracted races benefit the media. It may be the cynicism talking but I really think the closeness of this struggle is manufactured from top to bottom.

This is probably too hasty a conclusion, but spending any time at all reflecting on the situation sickens and depresses me. I consider myself fortunate not to be forced to.

[Disposable Ninja]

Is there an different source for the video? Seems I have to be Digg's friend or something to watch it.

EDIT: Holy shit, dude. Did a Youtube search for the video (Mickey Kantor Indiana) -- half the videos were removed.

[Dooly]

I'm having a hard time matching the guy's lip movements with the spoken words "worthless white nigger."  He definitely said Indianans are shit, but the other phrase seems almost added in post-production.

[Thad]

He definitely said Indianans are shit

No, he did NOT definitely say Indianans are shit.  He said "THOSE PEOPLE" (emphasis mine), not "Indianans", and if you listen closely, what he says matches the official transcript, "Those people are shitting, excuse me...in the White House."  And the "worthless white nigger" part is DEFINITELY doctored.

The movie is 15 years old, and yet this clip didn't surface until days before the Indiana Primary.  It reeks to high heaven.

Come on, guys, I expected better.  I don't like Clinton either, but seriously, keep fresh batteries in those bullshit detectors.

Bottom line is, this thing's gotten ugly.  And it's only going to get uglier after the nomination is decided.

[Arc]

The idea that there is an 'official' anything on this is bizarre, and doesn't account that he felt he had to whisper.

This is one of those times when bullshit could be called on bullshit (his defense has changed depending on the source multiple times today), but we would still be left with bullshit.

[Thad]

The idea that there is an 'official' anything on this is bizarre,

Not really.  Somebody had to write the subtitles for the video release of the film.

and doesn't account that he felt he had to whisper.

Occam's razor: he said "excuse me," turned away from the camera, and started mumbling because he had just unintentionally used profanity while being filmed for a documentary.

This is one of those times when bullshit could be called on bullshit (his defense has changed depending on the source multiple times today), but we would still be left with bullshit.

Occam's razor again: he can't clearly remember what he said or why he said it because it was 16 years ago.

At any rate, even in the YouTube clip, you can clearly hear the "-ing" suffix after "shit" and the words "White House" shortly after, and I think we can all reasonably agree that the "worthless white nigger" part was dubbed.

[Mongrel]

[Air]

Someone is mocking Obama behind his back because they can't say it to his face?

I was a Ron Pall type of guy myself, but I think Obama would probably be the best out of what we got. It's not like he can make this place any worse.

Also, something to keep in mind: Even if Obama was saying things like "white niggers" it was sixteen years ago. Think about how different you are now from than? I myself was four, so I know I couldn't have been the same as I am now.

[jsnlxndrlv]

Someone is mocking Obama behind his back because they can't say it to his face?

I was a Ron Pall type of guy myself, but I think Obama would probably be the best out of what we got. It's not like he can make this place any worse.

Also, something to keep in mind: Even if Obama was saying things like "white niggers" it was sixteen years ago. Think about how different you are now from than? I myself was four, so I know I couldn't have been the same as I am now.

How are you so goddamn efficient at misinterpreting the HELL out of everything around you?  You're intentionally doing this, aren't you?  That has to be an act.  It's too polished.

[Brentai]

I hate you all.

[Mongrel]

Also: Obama wins Guam by only 7 votes.

[Arc]

At any rate, even in the YouTube clip, you can clearly hear the "-ing" suffix after "shit" and the words "White House" shortly after, and I think we can all reasonably agree that the "worthless white nigger" part was dubbed.

We are are on entirely different wavelengths as to what was said. However, my greater point isn't what so-and-so said, but instead the after effects of such leaks, and quotes, and misquotes, and sound bites. I simply don't believe these guilt by association tactics honestly register to the level that the media would like to believe, and instead what has "hurt" Obama is merely that another choice is still on the ballot. Hillary was going to carry Ohio & Pennsylvania regardless of NAFTA & Wright, and I'd dare to say in similar numbers regardless. The difference is that they are allowing her to control the narrative, by ignoring the Texas Caucus, Wyoming, Mississippi, and instead focusing on Indiana instead of the much more delegate rich North Carolina.

Supporters & Columnists love to find silver bullets as to why their candidates didn't win, trying to find trends and behaviors with voters. This is how we inundated with the lame 'Value Voters' line of reasoning on November 3rd, 2004. These 'distractions' are played up to impossible heights, all while ignoring their minimal if not non-existent effect. The only thing this video has distracted us from is Carville's goofy hat.

[Thad]

I would agree, and add that it's hard to believe there are that many primary voters left who haven't made up their minds yet.  All the more reason Obama could have handled the latest Wright stuff better (though Wright DID sort of push him into a corner).

All that said, primary voters are inherently wonkier and more attentive than general election voters, though most of them are less informed than those of us posting in this thread (with perhaps two exceptions).  Whether that makes them more or less susceptible to tactics like this is hard to say.

That said, most of them are also more flexible and less partisan than we are.

What happens between now and November?  Assuming Obama gets the nom, Wright's going to keep talking, the Clintons are going to support him (which may not always be a plus -- I read a comment the other day that the person this primary season has hurt most is Bill, and I'm inclined to agree), and I think while on the surface he and McCain are going to play nice, their supporters are going to be bombarding us with YouTube videos (doctored or not), SECRET MUSLIM/ANGRY BLACK CHRISTIAN chains from the right, and "MCCAIN CALLED HIS WIFE A CUNT" allegations from the left.

I think Obama's record under pressure is spotty at this point; his response to the first wave of Wright controversy was downright inspiring but his response to the latest was disappointing.  McCain -- well, he hasn't really BEEN under pressure these last few months; he's just been grinning while the Dems fight amongst themselves.  Once things start to heat up, that may change -- I don't think he has a volatile temper so much as a tendency to make sarcastic remarks when presented with uncomfortable questions, but the media has already shown it's more than capable of spinning the latter into the former.

Of course, that brings us back to the "does the media spin matter to the voters?" question.  And of course only time will tell.

[Arc]

McCain -- well, he hasn't really BEEN under pressure these last few months; he's just been grinning while the Dems fight amongst themselves.  Once things start to heat up, that may change --

This must officially be the McCain Campaign strategy. Lay low, try to build even a quarter of the funding Dubya hauled in, and cross your heart that the media keeps reporting your press releases as news. On the surface, it appears the media is in the bag for McCain, but I'm beginning to lean toward the notion that they simply don't see him as a ratings gainer in any capacity. Which, if true, would put them in the bag for Obama. However, like numerous other industries this decade, looking beyond fiscal quarter profits simply isn't in the playbook.