Moveon Backs Clark

by: Matt Stoller

Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 17:00

I got an email today from Moveon asking me to sign this petition against various media outlets for distorting Wes Clark's words. The subtext here is that Moveon is standing by Clark while Obama disavowed him, an implicit statement from Moveon leaders that they've had enough triangulating nonsense from Obama. And Obama gets it, fortunately. Conservatives have been using Clark to attack Obama, and Obama responded by wisely bringing Clark in from the cold. This is very good on all counts. I'm impressed with Obama's reversal, I'm pleased that Clark stood up for himself, and of course, the subtext here was Moveon's savvy counterpunch against Obama for his patriotism dig yesterday at Moveon.

They couldn't respond directly, even if they wanted to. Obama's speech attacking Moveon for their Petraeus ad left the group vulnerable, because their members would probably prize loyalty to Obama over loyalty to a questionable campaign tactic. With FISA and Clark, Moveon is on more solid ground. It's good leadership on Moveon's part, and a nice tacit reversal from Obama.

A terrific surrogate in Wes Clark and a great possible cabinet appointee has been rescued from dumb media oblivion.

Matt Stoller :: Moveon Backs Clark

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Moveon Backs Clark | 9 comments

Good news. (0.00 / 0)

I'm glad.

by: Tom Wells @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 16:10:49 PM CDT

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Obama needs to do more (4.00 / 2)

During the Primary season, Obama showed himself to be very good at verbal jujitsu, turning attacks on himself into attacks on his opponents. The attacks by McCain on Clark and now Webb smack of overreach. McCains attacks on Obama's failure to control surrogates should be used as openning to attack McCain's use of the Swift Boat Liars and his supposed inability to stop racist ads from running in N. Carolina, Lieberman, Chuckie Black etc.

by: surfk9 @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 16:25:05 PM CDT

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If you ask me .. (4.00 / 1)

Petraeus left himself open to MoveOn.org type stuff .. IIRC ... Petraeus has been on Hugh Hewitt ... so that means he is stepping over the line .. as I was typing this .. I looked .. and what do you know .. Hewitt did indeed interview Petraeus:

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com...

Just about a year ago(I remember Greenwald mentioned it) .. and it goes back to Webb's point last night on KO(and what has McBush upset today)

by: Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 16:35:10 PM CDT

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Obama is also backing off of his (4.00 / 1)

repudiation of Clark.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/0...

by: Jerry 101 @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 17:13:27 PM CDT

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This guy needs more practice (0.00 / 0)

what is up with Obama - why can he not do debates and talk to the media like he's talking to a crowd of 100,000 people. He gets all wordy and over thinking. this was better than yesterday but not great. Its not that hard to just denounce this non-sense, defend the core analysis that McCain's service in the military has clearly not helped him develop better judgement, and the press should stop wasting everyone's time and talk about the cagillion dollars we're wasting in Iraq and the health care nobody has. Gee wiz!

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

by: Will @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 18:01:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

and, if I could read (0.00 / 0)

I would have already known that. Many apologies.

by: Jerry 101 @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 17:15:18 PM CDT

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Huh? (0.00 / 0)

Ok... I guess... The reasoning here leaves my head spinning, but I guess if the folk here are happy, that's great!

I don't see how anything really has changed between yesterday and today, but hey, I'm glad people are happy, 'cos they were definitely overreacting yesterday.

As long as Obama keeps himself out of this fight, he'll be good... and he's still doing that, so, that's great!

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

by: lord_mike @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 20:00:53 PM CDT

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backing Clark (4.00 / 1)

Obama can back Clark to the point of selecting him as VP if he wants to send a message back into the face of those attacking Clark at this time,

by: wind off the lake @ Tue Jul 01, 2008 at 20:03:48 PM CDT

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I don' think (0.00 / 0)

Obama changed his position on Clark.