I am struck somewhat by the silence of the Obama campaign regarding Hillary's ridiculous claim about criticizing the war before he did. Yesterday, I diaried an article from Jake Tapper, which deconstructed why her claim is wrong with various quotes from early 2005. It made the rec list and we all talked gleefully about what a liar Hillary is.
Meanwhile...crickets from the Obama campaign! I know that they provided the media with all the proof that she was lying, but there was, for example, no Obama soundbite "Hillary says she criticized the war before I did. Now that's a fairy tale!" Ok, he doesn't have to use the fairy tale line... but this is a great chance to, again, differentiate himself on the war, to point out that Hillary is a liar, and to make this be a really big story that would make it to network news.
Anyway, as I was fuming over this missed opportunity, it occurred to me that Obama NEVER goes on the offense. He deflects her attacks brilliantly, but he never attacks on his own, other than by indirectly pushing the media narrative. So...why is that?
I know that a major part of it is that Obama preaches a "new politics", and I certainly respect and embrace that. I can't imagine that I would be happy with the Obama campaign doing even a tenth of the underhanded tactics that the Clintons regularly engage in.
Yet, I think that going on the offense, especially on a huge issue like Iraq wouldn't fall into that category inasmuch as what Obama is calling for is a debate that centers on "the issues". Iraq is certainly a huge issue; would he really open himself up for hypocrisy by mocking Hillary for her lie? I guess one problem is that Hillary is shameless in pulling stunts like the "Shame on You" tirade--one of the few times he went slightly on the offense was blown up by her into an unfair attack.
I guess another reason is that, of course, he's trying really hard to not piss of her supporters, who are already resentful of him for the pure fact that he's beating Hillary.
Anyway, my concern in all this is that a week before Pennsylvania, Hillary will undoubtedly unleash another "kitchen sink" and, as we saw in Texas and Ohio, that works. I feel that the only way to really fight back IS to go on the offense, and I am really curious about what that will look like for them. What is off-limits? Is an ad that plays Hillary's Bosnia lie out of bounds? Even if it's just playing what she said alongside footage of her trip? What about an ad showing footage of her comments supporting the war, alongside his comments opposing it (in 2005)? Or an ad debunking her claims about NAFTA or Northern Ireland?
Will Obama to go on the offense before Pennsylvania, or are his hands kind of tied? Hillary didn't even let him get off on his bad bowling! Surely he can point out some of her whoppers. Anyway, do you guys think he will?