Craig Crawford: Yes We Can WHAT?

[laststeamtrain]

Yes We Can WHAT?

By Craig Crawford | February 18, 2008

The news media’s long-awaited scrubbing of Barack Obama’s concrete plans for governing has begun and, not surprisingly, it doesn't take long. The Democratic presidential contender’s famously inspirational speeches offer little sustenance for wonks.

In a rare and much-heralded policy address last week, Obama attempted to get specific on economics but the details turned out to be so reminiscent of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s proposals that an aide to Republican nominee-to-be John McCain stepped in to cry foul. “He basically took Clinton's words and Clinton's policies and called them his own,” McCain economic advisor Kevin Hassett said.

Obama’s supporters and advisers refer pesky policy inquiries to the campaign web site, but it is difficult to connect the dots between this internet data dump and a candidate whose public comments reveal little evidence that he has read it himself. As Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, an Obama fan, concluded after examining the web site, “I'm still puzzled about where to locate Obama on this policy map.”

No one expects Obama to use every opportunity to wade through the policy thicket that Clinton seems to enjoy navigating in her often mind-numbing stump speeches. The Illinois senator apparently intends to be a motivational president who stays above the fray. But on the stump he provides little guidance to the occasional voter who might be curious about exactly what he would do as president.

Politically speaking, it is probably true that Obama does not need to sweat the policy details. He has so far made it to the brink of success in the Democratic race without specifics. Instead, his admiring crowds appear content to chant “Yes We Can” without bothering to finish the sentence...http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/02/yes-we-can-what.html
*
Edited to include my response to the responses so far:

LET'S ALL GO WILDING!!!! :crazy: :silly:

[thevoiceofreason]

1. Let's start with:

An energy plan that actually represents the 21st century, instead of borrowing on worn-out bs from the 70's and 80's.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. Worn out BS from the '70s?

You mean, like mandating higher fuel efficiency standards? Encouraging consumers to conserve energy? Giving incentives for people to generate their own, environmentally-sound electricity?

[rodeodance]

54. really read Clinton's new energy-enviromental plan--

[jefferson_dem]

2. Craig "Taylor Marsh with Testicles" Crawford has zero credibility.

He is a longtime Obama-bashing Hillbot....one of the lone apologists for Bill Shaheen's slimy "he used drugs" smear.

Fuckhim.

[flyarm]

13. so who "does have credibility " to Obama people today?

larry Johnson..nope

Joe Wilson...nope

Valerie Plame..nope

John Edwards..nope

anyone who tells the truth about Obama..nope...

we get it..

this is just like little lord pissy pants..he said ..Larry Johnson had no credibility...he said Paul O'Neil had no credibility..he said Richard Clarke had no credibility..he said Joe Wilson had no credibility...does no one see a familiar pattern?

[jefferson_dem]

15. Did you just equate Craig Crawford with your avatar hero?

Dude. You just might want to rethink that one.

[stillcool]

19. Who has credibility?

I thought that "Opinion" pieces were "Opinions". Do you find a public figure's "opinion" either always credulous or always not? Is your world that black and white? Always or never? I don't blame the people you mentioned for supporting a candidate, and writing a hit piece. It's what they do. And I don't blame Hillary's supporters for dragging the names of Kennedy and Kerry and every other person on the planet that dares to endorse Obama through the mud. That's what they do. And I don't blame Hillary for running the type of campaign she has. Obviously it's what she does..and she has lost all credibility.

"I'm sorry"

Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama Ad to Nazi March
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080201/cm_thenation/45278988_1
Fri Feb 1, 2:23 PM ET

The Nation -- On a media conference call organized by the Hillary Clinton campaign today, Clinton surrogate Len Nichols compared an Obama health care ad to Nazis. The ad features a couple at a kitchen table, which some Clinton supporters said was reminiscent of "the famous insurance-industry-financed 'Harry and Louise' ads against the original Clinton plan," as The Politico reports, and Mr. Nichols said it "personally outraged" him.

Accusing political opponents of Nazism is an outrageous smear. Raising the specter of a Nazi march in response to a health care mailer that evokes the insurance industry is so absurd, it would be hard to take the attack seriously, were it not launched from a high profile national campaign conference call in this crucial stretch of the presidential race. And political observers know, of course, that the Clinton Campaign regularly arranges opportunities for surrogates to launch these kind of smears, which are later followed up with apologies. (See: Bob Johnson, Bill Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, and Francine Torge, to name the most recent offenders.) For his part, Nichols did not immediately return a call requesting further comment.
-------------------------
Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program, stated, "For nearly 17 years I have worked tirelessly to reform our nation's struggling health system. Today my passion overwhelmed me. I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused. I made unfortunate comments that do not accurately reflect my bipartisan conviction, political philosophy, or most importantly, my opinions about Senator Obama and his historic campaign for the United States presidency."

Clinton adviser steps down after drug use comments
Earlier Thursday, Clinton personally apologized to rival Obama for Shaheen's remarks.
Obama accepted her apology, according to David Axelrod, the top political strategist for the Obama campaign.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/clinton.obama/index.html

January 6, 2008, 5:18 pm
Edwards: No Conscience in Clinton Campaign
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/edwards-no-conscience-in-clinton-campaign/
By Julie Bosman
KEENE, N.H. – John Edwards angrily took on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at two news conferences in a row on Sunday, saying that her campaign “doesn’t seem to have a conscience.”

COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama, for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.

Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-johnson-apology_N.htm?csp=34

December 10, 2007
Third Clinton Volunteer Knew Of Smear E-Mail

A third volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign was aware of a propaganda e-mail alleging that Barack Obama is a Muslim who plans on "destroying the U.S. from the inside out."

"Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential Candidacy," the email reads. "Please forward to everyone you know. The Muslims have said they Plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at The highest level."

Two Clinton volunteers, Linda Olson and Judy Rose, have already been asked to resign from the campaign for their roles in forwarding the e-mail. The AP reported yesterday that Olson, a volunteer coordinator in Iowa County, sent a version of the e-mail to 11 people, including Ben Young, a regional field director for Chris Dodd's campaign. Young passed it on to the AP.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/hillary_adviser_harold_ickes_t.php

Hillary: Sorry for Any Offense Campaign (Bill) Has Caused
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB65wJ6Rcfs

Bill Clinton Asks for a Second Chance
By Liz Halloran
Posted February 11, 2008

The morning after his wife, Hillary, was routed in three state contests by Sen. Barack Obama in their dead-heat battle for the Democratic nomination, former President Bill Clinton made his case for her before a packed Sunday service at one of the largest black churches in Washington, D.C.
But first he offered an apology of sorts for racially tinged comments he made about Obama and his candidacy that have triggered a backlash in the black community and among many other Democrats.

Clinton invoked his "worship of a God of second chances" in pronouncing himself glad to be at the Temple of Praise, which claims nearly 15,000 members. His invocation of second chances echoed comments he made early last week at black churches in California, where he campaigned for his wife before that state's Super Tuesday primary, which she won.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/02/11/bill-clinton-asks-for-a-second-chance.html

Bill Clinton To Apologize At LA Black Churches
Once again, Bill Clinton is ready to repent.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/02/bill-clinton-to-apologize_n_84573.html
On Sunday the former president is scheduled to visit black churches in South Central Los Angeles, where he's expected to offer a mea culpa to those who "dearly loved him" when he was their president, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) says.

Watson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), tells us she'll usher the former president to more than half a dozen churches in her district where she says he needs to "renew his relationship" with congregants who were turned off by his racially tinged comments in the days leading up to and following the South Carolina primary. (Such as when Clinton compared Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory to Jesse Jackson's wins in 1984 and 1988.)

Source: Hillary Adviser Harold Ickes Tells Surrogates To Refer To Super-Delegates As "Automatic Delegates"
By Greg Sargent - February 12, 2008, 11:43AM

In a sign that the spin war over the significance of super-delegates is underway in earnest, Harold Ickes told assorted Hillary supporters on a private conference call yesterday that the campaign wants them to start referring to super-delegates as "automatic delegates," according to someone on the call.

The person I spoke to paraphrases Ickes, who is spearheading Hillary's super-delegate hunt, this way: "We're no longer using the phrase super delegates. It creates a wrong impression. They're called automatic delegates. Because that's what they are."

The worry appears to be that the phrase "super-delegates" implies that "they have super-powers or super influence when they don't," the source says, describing Ickes' thinking. In other words, the phrase suggests that they have greater than average clout and that they have the power to overrule the democratic process, giving it the taint of back-room power politics
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/hillary_adviser_harold_ickes_t.php

[flyarm]

46. ahhh excuse me..i do not in any way support Hillary...and where in my post do

you see me refer to Hillary?

i despise Hillary..so don't go putting words in my mouth where they do not exist.

i asked a simple question..who do you obama people find credibility in..i just also saw on a post Obama people calling Elizabeth Edwards names..where do you people draw a line?

fly

[stillcool]

49. Do you see me referring to you

..as a "Hillary" supporter? No. But anyone who disagrees with your interpretation of who deserves credibility is an Obama supporter? What is this? Elizabeth Edwards made claims that were not accurate. That is no reason to slime her or anyone else. It's a human condition. But that's what happens when people are eviscerated time and time again for pointing out inconsistencies, or mis-statements. An eye for an eye...and all that.

I thought that "Opinion" pieces were "Opinions". Do you find a public figure's "opinion" either always credulous or always not? Is your world that black and white? Always or never? I don't blame the people you mentioned for supporting a candidate, and writing a hit piece. It's what they do. And I don't blame Hillary's supporters for dragging the names of Kennedy and Kerry and every other person on the planet that dares to endorse Obama through the mud. That's what they do. And I don't blame Hillary for running the type of campaign she has. Obviously it's what she does..and she has lost all credibility.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

51. Only people who also looove Obama. It's called cognitive dissonance.

n/t

[Andromeda]

37. Craig Crawford is probably

one of the last honest journalists who reports on the FACTS instead of rumors and innuendo that seem to be coming out of the Obama campaign.

[peoli]

3. "Yes We Can" shove it up Craig Crawfords ass.

[Auntie Bush]

16. Yes You Can do What?

What may I ask what can you do? Is that too much to ask? :shrug: I have no idea what he's planning to do with all that Indi and Rethug support.

[rodeodance]

24. HUSH---not suspose to ask that.

[Auntie Bush]

34. Why not? No one else is!

Hope all is going well with you.

[rodeodance]

40. I will proudly cast my vote for HRC tomorrow. How about you?

[Auntie Bush]

41. Unfortunately , I can't vote in that Primary.

I would if I could.

[rodeodance]

42. :-) l will take your good karma with me. best.

[tularetom]

4. I notice that giggling asshole has been conspicuously absent

from Olbermann's show lately. Not that I'm complaining.

[TexasObserver]

5. Craig Crawford is just mad because Lanny Davis beat him for Hill Shill of the Year.

I've heard smarter things come out of a horse's ass than come out of Craig's mouth.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Craig "Taylor Marsh with Testicles" Crawford has zero credibility.

I'm just plagerizing a good line from other poster in thread! :rofl:

[grantcart]

11. what evidence is there that he has testicles?

[ZinZen]

47. Who can take Craig Crawford seriously?

After all, he is hooked up with the truly delusional Taylor Marsh. Craig, you just jumped on the crazy train.

[MadBadger]

7. Actually, Obama did finish the sentence in the NH speech.

Yes We Can to Opportunity and Prosperity

Yes We can Heal this Nation

Yes We Can Repair this world

Yes We Can

[high density]

9. Craig, you're a bit late to this party

"Politically speaking, it is probably true that Obama does not need to sweat the policy details." -- Umm, yeah, that's true for any politician. I've never heard a stump speech that lays out minute policy details. Hardly anybody wants to hear that, and those that do can get their fill and then some on his website.

[Windy]

14. Thank you. I've listened to HRC's stump too... no specifics that I could detect...

This is a line the she hopes, if repeated over and over again, lemmings will believe!

[rodeodance]

25. CLEAN YOU THY EARS--or maybe you just want NOT to hear.

[durrrty libby]

10. Thank God ...a journalist not chomping down the Mescaline

[AX10]

12. Also, he is untested on the national stage.

[smoogatz]

17. But still handing Hillary her ass.

Mighty impressive, I'd say.

[rodeodance]

28. Might impressive--so far Obama has had to add specifics to his speeches & apologize

GO HILL---OBAMA is listening to you

[smoogatz]

33. More frickin' snow!

Can you believe it?

I actually don't think it's a bad thing if the candidates learn from each other. Hill's working on the public speaking, Obama's filling in a few policy blanks. All good.

[smoogatz]

18. Make the government not suck?

Just a wild guess.

[rodeodance]

20. LETS HAVE A 1000 THREADS OF OUTRAGE TOWARD MCCAIN-STEP RIGHT UP!

COMEON- ALL THE SLIME YOU USED FOR CLINTON--USE IT ON MCCAIN--LETS HEAR.




“He basically took Clinton's words and Clinton's policies and called them his own,” McCain economic advisor Kevin Hassett said.

[rodeodance]

21. hoot: "Obama’s supporters and advisers refer pesky policy inquiries to the campaign web site,"

WHAT--SILENCE???

[anamandujano]

They probably all have you on ignore. They can't take anything

but unconditional praise for the Emperor and his New Clothes.

[rodeodance]

31. but look here:

I listened to obama speech from Ohio today--Lehrer news hr played a big segment.

He was very defense--said clinton said he had no specifics--then spent last 5 minutes with none. It was a hoot.

Might impressive--so far Obama has had to add specifics to his speeches & apologize



GO HILL---OBAMA is listening to you

[calmblueocean]

43. I've answered this question until my fingers have bled. No one cares.

Seriously, the whole, "Yes we can what?" question has been asked about a million times on DU by folks who it turns out *already know the freaking answers*.

Every time, I get drawn into it, though. I go over Obama's government transparency agenda, and how important that will be to increasing accountability in the future; I go over his health care plan and why it is superior to Hillary's and covers more people; I talk about the American Opportunity Tax Credit and how it will make college more affordable.

Then I realize I've been rickrolled into answering a question the questioner didn't even care about in the first place.

Ha ha. Ho.

[saltpoint]

22. Does anyone know Craig Crawford's wife's name and job?

I can Google this, but thought I'd ask here first.

[Medusa]

26. Good luck on that one.

CC is gay. Lives with his long-time partner.

[saltpoint]

27. Really? Well, honestly, I did not know.

[Medusa]

32. Yep.

FOAF knows him and his partner well.

[saltpoint]

36. Well, damn. I feel like such a provincial dolt.

Thanks for the info.

[rodeodance]

23. “He basically took Clinton's words and Clinton's policies and called them his own,”

In a rare and much-heralded policy address last week, Obama attempted to get specific on economics but the details turned out to be so reminiscent of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s proposals that an aide to Republican nominee-to-be John McCain stepped in to cry foul. “He basically took Clinton's words and Clinton's policies and called them his own,” McCain economic advisor Kevin Hassett said.

[tishaLA]

29. You DO know that those policies he spoke about have been

on his website the better part of a year, don't you?

[rodeodance]

38. I refer you to his website.

[tishaLA]

39. That's where politicians often put info

So people can learn about them. Is that a problem? And the fact that he rolled out his economic policies before Sen Clinton did?

[Seabiscuit]

48. Ah, yes... his website: "it is difficult to connect the dots between this internet data dump and

a candidate whose public comments reveal little evidence that he has read it himself.”

:hi:

[Yossariant]

30. Yes, he did! Yes, he did!

It's one more reason why the "plagiarism" charge causes his fans to get their panties in a such a twist.

[rodeodance]

35. HE DID WHAT??-oh oh

[LadyVT]

44. Thanks for the post

[laststeamtrain]

45. You bet. Welcome to DU. n/t

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ShortnFiery]

52. Crawford is of the ilk of James Carville - he's a shameless Clintonian hack of the smarmiest order.

:thumbsdown:

[rodeodance]

53. yep--typical --right from Rove's playbook--KILL THE MESSENGER