Thin Skinned Obama Fans
By Larry Johnson on March 9, 2008 at 4:17 PM in Current Affairs
Believe it or not, I do have friends who are fans of Obama. I don’t understand it, but I don’t condemn them for it. Here’s a taste from a now retired CIA colleague:
I agree that Senator Obama has less experience than I would like, but Senator Clinton also has no outstanding experience “managing anything.” The one thing both of them have managed is this year’s political campaigns and, from my perspective, Senator Obama has done a lot better job in planning strategy, raising and managing money, and providing leadership.
Still, I’m not arguing about his experience or substance. I’m not disputing the value of Senator Clinton’s experience or substance. One would always like more of both. My point is that Senator Clinton’s tactics threaten to destroy the chance of any Democratic nominee to be elected president. She is proclaiming that Senator McCain has more experience than Senator Obama–not what one says if you care anything about the party you represent–but of course Senator McCain has vastly more experience than she does, so she is undercutting herself as well. What sense does that make?
Then there was this note from a journalist buddy with Chicago roots:
This Chicago Trib piece underscores my point about both Clinton and Obama — you feign shock that Obama is a politician and that his advisors obfuscate and confuse. Look at Clinton. I had four years of covering these people, with their parsing, incompetence, and blowjobs. I’m no fan of Obama’s weak foreign policy team (tho you should note that Richard Clark is a key advisor) but Hilliary’s claim of experience is patently bogus:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-experiencemar07,0,51719.story
So let me try to address their criticisms and concerns. First, the Obama supporters need to stop whining about legitimate criticisms of their candidates. It is true that John McCain has more experience with national security matters than Obama. He served in the military, he was an officer, and he commanded troops. That is just a fact. Accusing Hillary of slandering Obama for pointing this fact out is like blaming Hillary for causing sunburns because she recognizes that the Sun shines during daylight hours.
Obama and his followers are having a tough time responding to Hillary’s attacks. Well, if they can’t handle that pressure what in the hell will happen when the Republicans launch a full scale attack on Barack HUSSEIN Obama, closet muslim, coke head, communist sympathizer, absentee legislator, Rezko buddy, and friend of those who hate Israel? Let’s watch Obama tap dance and explain why his grandfather was a polygamous muslim, his dad a serial adulterer and muslim, but he’s not.
So stop bitching about Hillary raising legitimate questions about Barack’s experience and judgment. Those are valid points worth debating. If nothing else, it gives Barack and his group of advisers a chance to hone their message. Because you can count on this–come September the Republicans and their 527 allies will pound the dogshit out of him. James Wolcott has an excellent, elegantly written post on the delicate nature of the Obama disciples.
Then there is the “experience” factor. I have never claimed that Hillary Clinton is the equivalent of Dwight David Eisenhower. Nor do I assert that she is perfect and has always made the right decision. But she has several things in her favor that Barack cannot begin to achieve. She has traveled extensively overseas and she has represented the U.S. Government in official diplomatic exchanges. While these were not negotiations with North Korea or the Palestinians, it still put her in the position of understanding how to interact appropriately in a foreign environment and make an effective case. She understand why it is foolish to agree to unconditional talks with Iran (or anyone else for the matter). She understands that there is power to be wielded in making the offer for talks and ways to achieve the interests of the United States without painting herself into a corner.
What happens if Barack is President and Iranian President Ahmadinejad announces on 21 January his readiness to meet immediately with the U.S. leader and oh, by the way, will also send arms to Hamas to help them defend themselves against the Zionists? Since Barack is already on the record for unconditional talks, how does he back away without discrediting himself. This plays further into the developing impression that he says one thing but means another. And every nation in the world–friend and foe–will try to exploit that to their own advantage. A seasoned leader understands you don’t paint yourself into such a corner.
Then there is Barack’s “I’m not a bureaucrat, I’m a visionary” nonsense. For the love of Christ!! What does he think government is? We have already witnessed the mess that George Bush created in Iraq by not settling the turf battle between the Department of Defense and State Department. Even today you have both bureaucracies claiming that proconsul, L. Paul “Jerry” Bremer worked for the other. Lofty speeches don’t get policy implemented. When you deliver a national budget you are forcing a fight among the various government agencies who will insist that their priorities are the most important. What in the hell is Barack talking about, letting someone else sort out what is important.
Hillary Clinton, whatever faults you want to focus on, understands the bureaucracies and understands the infighting that inevitably accompanies the task of governing. She is not going to need a crash program to understand the difference between CIA and DIA. She understands the mission and capabilities of NSA. She knows the difference between the Department of State and the Department of Agriculture. This is pedestrian experience, but is critical experience that someone who aspires to be an effective President must have.
So whine away Obama supporters. Let those crocodile tears cut ravines in your cheeks. Mean old Hillary Clinton dares to challenge Barack’s failure to hold hearings on Afghanistan, his failure to visit Europe, his failure to enforce discipline on his foreign policy advisors, and his refusal to take command of the bureaucracies that make up the U.S. Government? Well excuse me, but I think those are valid criticisms that Obambi better be ready to confront. If he cannot take a punch from Hillary, how in the world can he aspire to stand up to the likes of the Iranians or North Koreans. I just do not understand.
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