Obama: How does he respond?
Posted: Monday, March 17, 2008 9:05 AM by Mark Murray
This was easily Obama's toughest weekend as a candidate. This is a test for him as a candidate. Does he wilt or does he get back up off the map and fight on without losing who he is?
The AP's Fournier writes, "Arrogance is a common vice in presidential politics. A person must be more than a little self-important to wake up one day and say, ‘I belong in the Oval Office.’ But there's a line smart politicians don't cross — somewhere between ‘I'm qualified to be president’ and ‘I'm born to be president.’ Wherever it lies, Barack Obama better watch his step."
More: "Obama's cool self-confidence got him into trouble in New Hampshire when he said Clinton was ‘likable enough,’ faint praise that grated on female votes who didn't appreciate him condescending to the former first lady. Privately, aides and associates of Obama tell stories about a boss who can be aloof and ungracious. He holds firmly to views and doesn't like to be challenged, traits that President Bush packaged and sold under the ‘resolute’ brand in the 2004 election. For Bush, those qualities proved to be dangerous in a time of war and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.”
“If arrogance is a display of self-importance and superiority, Obama earns the pejorative every time he calls his pre-invasion opposition to the war in Iraq an act of courage. That may seem unfair to a candidate who's running against Clinton, the former first lady who is the model of overbearing pride. This is a woman, after all, who claims experience from her eight years as first lady but won't release her White House records; who trails Obama in delegates but deigned to suggest he'd be her running mate; and who has more baggage than Samsonite yet says Obama lacks ‘vetting.’ But voters expect arrogance from Clinton and her husband, Bill. It's part of the package. It's a 90s-thing. The Clintons' utter self-absorption comes with a record of achievement and brass-knuckle passion that Obama cannot match — and that Democratic voters know could come in handy against GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain.”
Tom Edsall looks at the real problem Rev. Wright's comments are causing Obama -- the general election should Obama become the Dem nominee.
The New York Times’ Kristol writes about Obama's Rev. Wright issues and concludes, "The more you learn about him, the more Obama seems to be a conventionally opportunistic politician, impressively smart and disciplined, who has put together a good political career and a terrific presidential campaign. But there’s not much audacity of hope there. There’s the calculation of ambition, and the construction of artifice, mixed in with a dash of deceit — all covered over with the great conceit that this campaign, and this candidate, are different."
From the Obama campaign: There is a report on Newsmax’s website, which is repeated in Bill Kristol’s column today, that says Obama was in church to hear a sermon on July 27, 2007. But that report is inaccurate. He was not there; he was traveling to Miami.
The New York Times’ Roger Cohen writes more extensively about Obama's family, including discovering he has a half-brother living in China.
Have you not gotten enough on Rezko? The Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times posted full transcripts (and even audio) of their Friday interviews.
The Chicago Tribune editorial board was impressed with Obama's candor, though it said it was late. "Barack Obama now has spoken about his ties to Tony Rezko in uncommon detail. That's a standard for candor by which other presidential candidates facing serious inquiries now can be judged."
