Here’s an old Clinton hand on Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Barack Obama:
” ‘An act of betrayal,’ said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton and a friend of Mr. Clinton. “Mr. Richardson’s announcement came right around the anniversary of the day whenn Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic.’ ”
As someone who has been approached several times over the years and asked if I was James Carville–yes, really; no, I don’t see the resemblance–I’ve always felt a certain kinship with him. I can be nasty and mean-spirited, too, just like him. And it’s always been nice to know that the Democrats have someone who can match the nastiest of the right wingers in any venom-spewing contest.
But the act is tired. His issue is personal loyalty, and he’ll savage anyone who crosses his line. If Obama wins, it would be nice to think Carville would get flushed out of the Democratic Party for good.
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It’s really a pain to see Carville using that sort language, but he always had a gift for hyperbole. Well, with all the time and dough these guys have tied up in this election you can expect this kind of thing. And I always liked Carville when he picked on the Republicans…he was good for a one-liner and a laugh. But the Judas thing is a bit much. I can see how the Clintons would be bitterly disappointed with Richardson, but he was probably making the right move by endorsing Obama. Frankly, it is hard to see how Hillary is going to pull off the nomination. I have no objection to her other than the war powers vote in 2002. That one might have finished her for a lot of voters. It was so craven (politically) that it makes you think that she will compromise anything to get her way. Obama, on the other hand, gave that speech the other night in which he took the risk of seriously addressing issues when he could just as easily have punted, uttering a few empty platitudes–or tossed the good minister overboard.
Anyway, if you think Carville is bad just wait until the Republicans get their turn. They’ll make James Carville look like Peewee Herman.
I loathe the whole Republican/right hate machine, and sure, it will be rolling into high gear any time now. But I’ve never liked the idea of answering that kind of crap in kind. I don’t see where it gets you. When Clinton outmaneuvered Gingrich et al. after the “Contract with America,” he did it by beating them to the punch on some of their own program; he did NOT do it by out-nastying them, and in the end they proved they could not be out-nastied. I think Carville is probably a brilliant campaign strategist, but he’s also bitter, angry and inflammatory, and he just handed his candidate’s opponent a “can you believe these guys?” moment. The person on the left who I think has the consistently best and most creative responses to the baiters from the other side is Al Franken.
Clever and appalling, all in one breath!
I for one will be glad when the primary season is over and all this venom is flung at the other side.
Dan, you’re right — Franken is consistently creative. Let’s hope the voters don’t hold his comedy credentials against him.