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[UPDATES] Obama Buys Ad From Drudge, Who Hits New Lows (if possible)

By SusanUnPC on January 2, 2008 at 4:25 PM in Advertising, Clinton, John Edwards, Obama

(That image is snipped from ABC News‘s image.) How ~~low~~ Republican can you go than to advertise on Drudge, the rightwing’s hatchet man? Right along with Obama’s ad, is a photo that is blatantly sexist and disgusting (more below the fold). [UPDATE: Taylor Marsh writes, "To contrast this news, I want to draw everyone's attention to Hillary Clinton who did a big BlogAd buy to liberal blogs across the spectrum." FYI: Hillary's on Letterman tonight. Then there's the Obama campaign's abysmal handling of its blog outreach and firing of its 'net director.] Writes ABC’s Jake Tapper at his blog, Political Punch:

Given Senator Barack Obama’s recent comments about Gore and Kerry, trial lawyers and others, he has aroused the wrath of the liberal blogosphere. Daily Kos, Atrios, and others. The "netroots," as they call themselves.

So it was unusual to see that Obama was advertising on the Drudge Report, …

Obama’s ad will come as no surprise to Whiskey Fire‘s Molly Ivors:

A serious question: what the hell is up with Barack Obama?

I don’t get the guy. Is he a Dem? …

Ivors continues:

[B]etween his health plan, attacks on Social Security and unions, and now Al Gore and John Kerry, he sounds like nothing so much as a Republican.

It’ll come as no shock to anyone that Drudge doesn’t have ethical journalistic standards. But displaying this nasty, sexist image? (Ordinarily, I wouldn’t post such an image, but need to make sure it’s preserved as “evidence” that Obama will PAY his donors’ money to advertise on such a contemptible site.

Above is more evidence of how Drudge “pays back” those who advertise on his site. These are the headlines in the top frame of his site — all the stories and links are anti-Edwards and anti-Clinton. (Gee, if Clinton had bought an ad on his site — which she’d never do — I wonder how Drudge would have shifted his headlines to please his customer, as he’s pleased his customer, Barack Obama.)

I just heard Hillary speaking to an Iowan crowd via CNN’s Situation Room, and I typed as she spoke — boy, were there ever truer words, especially in the context I’ve just given you above:

They’ve been coming for me for 16 years, and much to their dismay, I’m still here. … Stand up for me for one night, so that I can stand up for you and together we’ll make progress in America. Thank you and God bless you!

Here’s more from Molly Ivors, whose blog I’ve just discovered and have bookmarked. The writing is crisp and passionate:

We here at the Whiskey Fire Institute are quite sympathetic to the argument that politics as usual is not really, shall we say, working. The Dem majority in Congress wears on their collective forehead a bigger buckle than John Fucking Alden’s hat. But the answer to this problem is to be proud and unapologetically progressive, not to attack your teammates and fuck over the people putatively on your side.

Let me state the obvious: Dude, the people you are trying to appeal to are never going to vote for you. Despite what David Broder says, there’s not really some mushy middle waiting to be addressed by you. If acting more like Republicans were really the key to victories, then why is Harry Reid not King of the Fucking Universe?

I’ll tell you why: because it’s a bullshit argument. People know that we’re in a heap of trouble in this country. The planet is melting and our jobs are evaporating and we’re in a stupid fucking war breaking young men we aren’t bothering to help fix. It sucks. And sucking up to and adopting the framing of the people who brought us global warming and rewarded outsourcing and lied us into war and smeared vets who dare to speak out is pretty fucking useless, and no way to actually address any of these problems. …

You go, Molly. You go.

MORE ON THE UPDATE VIA TAYLOR MARSH:

Clinton has given Drudge stories, but when it came to spending advertising dollars her team bought on BlogAds. Frankly, I expect Democrats to give stories to gigantic sites like Drudge because eyes on his page matter.

Taylor adds, “I was amused when I got off the air and had received the following statement from Obama’s campaign”:

“Someone is circulating a screengrab of an Obama ad on drudge. Even if it’s true, it wasn’t intentional, the site isn’t on the approved list of sites we advertise on.”

Taylor notes:

Even if it’s true, it wasn’t intentional?

Oh good grief, another Obama quote classic. No doubt they bought the ad before he didn’t. It got on top of Drudge somehow.

It’s yet another epiphany moment, no doubt, for the bloggers who are finally waking up to Obama the Independent one day before the Iowa caucuses. The truth is, which I’ve also written about, is that Mr. Obama and his team don’t care about the blogosphere. That was evident with the horrendous handling their first blog outreach coordinator faced and the treatment he got when he was axed. Again, the gods smile on Obama so he don’t need no stinkin’ blogosphere. He only needs the aura of him.

TM.com readers, you should pat yourselves on the back. You knew his candidacy was a scam from the start, even when no one else would believe what I was writing and reporting. You’ve kept me going through the worst. You are quite simply the best.

Read all of “Obama Spends Money on Drudge While Clinton Buys BlogAds on Liberal Sites.”

MORE ON THE UPDATE: Taylor has much more on the Obama campaign’s abysmmal handling of its blog outreach and firing of its Internetdirector. They wouldn’t let the guy do his job — dissed his efforts, then canned him. In a YouTube video, both TPM’s Josh Marshall and Kos discuss how poorly the Obama campaign has treated blogs and reached out to blogs. Both Marshall and Kos agree that the Clinton campaign’s Peter Daou, the brilliant writer formerly with Salon, has done a stellar job.

Shirin

OK, Susan, I think we get it now. Obama sucks! Next topic, please. }

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

The problem is all the non-Democrats who are gaga for him and don’t know any of this. That’s why I won’t quit until this starts to filter down to those non-Democrats .. the DMR poll showed that 40% of his support comes from independents, and 5% from Republicans. First, it’d be astonishing if all of them show up at a time-consuming caucus. But, more importantly, they need to get over being “in awe” and take a SOBER look.

One thing for sure: NONE of the other Democratic candidates are pulling this shit. And I will keep calling out Obama on it.

Shirin

It’s your call, of course, Susan. But next time you accuse me of hitting people over the head again and again, I will remind you of this! ;o}

And speaking of people being in awe instead of taking a sober look, what about the pedestal people keep putting Al Gore on, conveniently overlooking reality, of course.

And then there are those who are in awe of Hillary as well (I am not referring to present company here), and who ought to take a sober look there too.

Unfortunately, it looks like the awe-holders outnumber the sober lookers all around.

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

All of us women should be appalled by Drudge’s use of that photo. You can bet the Republicans are chuckling over all of this — especially Obama’s fans on the right like David Brooks, Broder, Matthews, Tucker Carlson, et al.

Cee

I’m not. I don’t know any women who give a damn about a bad photo!
What is with Hillary today saying that women won’t be comfortable with the Iowa causus system?
I’ m not shy about speaking my mind (as you folks know) or letting anyone know who I support. The same goes for my friends.
What kind of women is Hillary talking about or is she preparing to not do well in Iowa?

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Are we talking about the same image? I’m talking about the one I displayed in the story that talks about two small breasts and two fat thighs. That is 100% sexist in my book.

http://www.theliberaloc.com Andrew Davey

OK, Obama’s starting to remind me of that cheesy ’70s disco tune:

How low can you go? How low can you go?

Any guess as to how low Obama can go in trashing progressives and throwing our party under the bus?
DCDemocrat

Having watched Obama’s campaign, I have a sense of a right wing insurgency trying to wrest the nomination from the hands of real Democrats.

Cee

Lock-step Democrats. Fuck that.

http://democratsagainsthillary.blogspot.com Democrats Against Hillary

Actually…it was all a mistake. See Ambinder for the update:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/obama_advertises_on_drudge.php

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

That’s rich. Now he’s denying it. Right.

Mr.Murder

“Statement by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey Regarding the Opening of an Investigation Into the Destruction of Videotapes by CIA Personnel”
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-02-2008/0004729501&EDATE=

“Durham is neither an “outside,” nor “special,” nor “independent” prosecutor. “Durham will still report to the Deputy Attorney General, who in turn reports to Judge Mukasey.”

http://tpmmuckraker.com/

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Mr. Murder, you have an open post now to discuss Mukasey and more. Take it away.

Mr.Murder

Clinton was not wrong on Musharraf, his election to lead the Legislature is the loophole for his end run on Executive term limits.

Minus that goal he’d be likely to impose his will through extra-constitutional measures.

Needless to say, Joe ‘cool’ Biden is being obtuse to state otherwise, it works in the short term or he would not have waited so late to say it…

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Right on. He misstated what she said. I know Biden would like to be viable in Iowa, but these last-minute false tactics discourage me. I still respect his knowledge of FP, even if I don’t always agree with him … and so does Hillary Clinton.

Mr.Murder

As for the Executive trying to appoint Special Counsel, it would have to be appointed elsewhere to be Independent, he wants counsel to report through Mukasey.

Bush’s attempt to wage war on the CIA. Using an appointed prosecutor with a rep for ball breaking, then arming him with the FBI.

Told you too many ass kissers were in place at FBI. Now they’re sharpening knives and looking for CIA whistle blowers. Expect the true trouble causers to be offered immunity, then do an Ollie North…

This could be a good opportunity to go after the man with a history of destroying records that Bush appointed at the National Archives should someone call on them for evidence.

Now AWOL can put out a gag order for ongoing investigations, and classify retroactively to withhold evidence and play the Security card, thereby hiding any real findings after extending this at least until he’s out of office…

Destroyed evidence is what it is. There can’t be too much room around that. It’s my opinion that spooks, or groups who did parallel contracting for them, and especially the NSA, can illuminate the dark swath of missing evidence.

Oh, a court also recorded the destroyed taped in transcripts.

So Bush is setting someone up to possible call Judges, Executives citing Privilege, potential reporters and journalists, whistle blowers, spooks, and shiny black FBI shoes to the stand on both sides of the trial.

Let’s see who lawyers up. This may be a way of driving broke a lot of career types as a warning to others not to corroborate on other items…

Cee

I’m still wondering if records were destroyed in the fire in the ceremonial offices of Cheney several weeks ago.

Also, thank you for bringing up a far more interesting topic.

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Looks like you guys need a new open thread. It’s totally cool to post all that here. Not a problem. I’ll post an open thread in a little while. Maybe I’ll just quote you and Mr. Murder, and let you two encourage the discussion from there.
http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Cee, the open thread is up now. It’s yours and Mr. Murder’s. Sorry for the delay!

http://www.food4humanity.org HoosierHoops

Hiya Susan..Now you know how the hoopster likes open thread..Are you sure?hehehe
Love all the work you’ve done lately but i have an issue about Ia. Why do they get any say?
Remember the super bowl? Hester ran the ball back for a TD on the kick-off..Some would have been discouraged..But it was only the first minute of the game. I’m a more super tuesday kind of guy..that’s when the real game takes place..
onward to open thread..

http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

The Obama campaign claims the Drudge ad was “a mistake” but doesn’t explain how it was a mistake,or exactly what happened. The explanantion they put out after the Iowa caucus is over (it certainly won’t come before) should be *interesting*, to say the least.

Obama is really playing with fire now.

For Democrats to be coordinating anything with Drudge is a major blunder. Hillary shouldn’t have been courting him recently either.

What planet are some of these folks on? Forget negotiating, coordinating, or triangulating with Republicans! How’s that been working out for Harry Reid??

With politicians engaging in this kind of stupidity it will be a miracle if we still have anything resembling a Democratic party in the future.

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

Exactly, Shoephone. They are playing with fire. And it is stupidity.

Say, I linked to Taylor’s older piece on blog outreach — it’s at the very end of my post. There’s a fascinating YouTube video there– Josh Marshall is interviewing Kos on how the candidates are doing on blog outreach. Obama’s people have been awful, the other candidates much better. They say Dodd’s person has been the best. Clinton’s Peter Daou very, very good.

I listened but — maybe I missed it — but they didn’t mention how Edwards’ campaign has done on blog outreach. I’d imagine it has been VERY good. Am I right? What’s your impression? I’ve certainly seen Elizabeth Edwards’ wonderful posts at Daily Kos, etc.

http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

I think the Edwards campaign has been pretty good on blog outreach, but I haven’t seen much from Elizabeth E. on Kos lately. I agree that Dodd has been the best. He has continually reached out to the blogs and used YouTubes to his advantage. (Having Matt Browner-Hamlin as his blog guy sure hasn’t hurt.) He really scored a win on the FISA filibuster by going straight to the blogs first for messaging and support, because the mainstream press sure as hell wasn’t interested!

*These are just my personal impressions, not coordinated responses from any campaign.

mudkitty

Try not to bruise him too much, in case he does get the nod, which, don’t worry, he won’t.
Cee

Susan,

Please stop. I last I read at Talking Points Memo about this indicated that there is no proof that Obama bought any ad space on Drudge.

Secondly, the tactic of trying to demonize Obama for reaching out to some in the GOP, Libertarians and Independents is sure way to lose support for your candidate.

http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

The primaries and caucuses are designed for the political party members. This is when the candidates always do their most partisan campaigning. It’s in the general election that they need to reach out to so-called “independents”, not before.

Sorry, but Obama is creating a lot of bad blood by courting Republicans during the primary season. Reminds me a lot of Lieberman.

Cee

He’s not courting the Republican leadership. He’s courting citizens who see that they have made a mistake. Who are fed up and are desperate for change.

Sorry. The Southern Strategy they subjected Obama to appears to be backfiring if the following is true

At a crowded and noisy Star Bar on Ingersoll Avenue, where the Biden campaign staffers were sipping champagne – or harder stuff – and waiting for their candidate, his wife, and the Biden Family to arrive for a New Year’s Eve informal gathering, Offthebus chatted with one of the Biden’s national consultants who wanted to remain anonymous:

“A decision will be made tomorrow about who we’ll encourage our supporters to stand behind if we aren’t viable in a precinct. Right now, I’d guess Obama gets our support because we’re more inline with his vision of foreign policy than any of the other candidates, and besides, we like him and how he’s run his campaign.”

“Is Biden angling for a Secretary of State position in an Obama Administration?”

The Biden consultant told Offthebus, “Well, Joe would make a great Secretary of State, wouldn’t he?”

Biden’s son, Joseph R. Biden, III is the current Attorney General for Delaware. Should Joe Biden resign his seat and accept a major post in the next Democratic Administration in Washington, his son is positioned to replace him in the U.S. Senate.

After attending the press party at the Temple for the Performing Arts, I headed over to Dos Rios, to pick up any additional bar talk conversations and dangle the Biden scoop.

Off-the-bus spoke with a national Obama staffer who confirmed, “We’ve heard that Richardson may also be telling his supporters to caucus for Barack if they aren’t viable. Nothing definitive but there’s a trend going on,” she added with a smile. Ah, that’s an understatement.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-davis/obama-on-track-to-win-cau_b_79308.html

http://www.evergreenpolitics.com shoephone

He’s not courting the Republican leadership.

I didn’t say he was. He is, clearly, courting Republican voters. And he wouldn’t have a chance at that unless they were far more conservative than the average Democratic voter. But, I repeat, the primaries and caucuses are for those affiliated with one party over the other. It’s when the parties choose their nominees, not when the voters choose the winner. If Obama’s strategy is so brilliant why aren’t the other Democratic candidates trying it? Maybe because they understand that primary seaason is for the partisans and the general election is for the whole enchilada.

The Biden tidbit is mildly interesting, but he’s only going to throw in with Obama if the latter comes in first in Iowa or New Hampshire. I don’t know if Biden is really planning on pulling his own candidacy before NH. And I wouldn’t be expecting Richardson to throw his support to Obama, especially since he served as Clinton’s energy secretary and in Clinton’s state department. Richardson is DLC, so is Hillary.

If it turns out I’m wrong about that, pop over to Seattle and I’ll buy you a beer.

http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

His non-denial denial doesn’t help his case. Read Shoephone’s post above. Shoephone knows her stuff.

Taylor Marsh also questions their hastily-written excuse.

TK

Oh for crying out loud — Drudge didn’t create that “photo” of Hillary you’re up in arms about — it’s running in mainstream newspapers and across wire services and it’s a photo of a joke promo taking place in Iowa. I swear. The Clintons and their supporters are fricken borderline racist and definitely sexist — heck the Clintons don’t even consider ANY woman except Hillary a woman but a bimbo.
Pingback: Mr. Murder & Cee’s Mukasey Open Thread : NO QUARTER
Taters

Obama is pond scum, to think I was getting behind this jerk at one point. Until I started listening to him. He really is a whole lot of nothin’!!
Bill Keyes

I still think it is absolutely amazing how so much time is spent on this blog ranting and raving about whose campaign said what about who, etc.

Do you people really think this is going to make one iota of a difference?

Leslie has said many times that while she is not thrilled with any of the Dems she will support the Dem nominee.

This is what is important people if we are going to win in November. All this bickering is very divisive and does little to unify our party. It is also exactly what the Repugs want because they always win when the Dems can’t get their shit together.

I have said it before and I will say it again Hillary is divisive and polarizing and she is exactly the candidate the Repugs want to win.

I also do not think that there are very many Leslies out there who after the bloodletting of the primaries are over will lockstep (no offense Leslie) behind the nominee. And what happens if there is not a clear winner? Will the fighting and bickering go on all the way through the convention? There is way too much importance put on the primaries as a gauge of who people will vote for especially this far ahead of the conventions.

People complain that the voter turn out in the US is terrible. The main reason is the immense amount of negative campaigning. There is nothing positive or uplifting about listening to all the constant negative bullshit. People are simply turned off and don’t vote, because they believe their vote doesn’t count because no matter who wins it will just be more of the same. And you know what they are right.

New boss….same old shit.

Larry Johnson (Bio)
@noquarterusa

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