Jack & Jill Politics

Michelle,

I just saw the Toni Morrison story and came to post the link–you beat me to it! This is a delicious!

I think I’ve seen the speech a half dozen times, and I still love it. He’s finding his voice. He’s growing into the role.

Oh that was a wonderful speech! He lifts my heart and soul! When I was a delegate for Deval Patrick at our state convention and he spoke, I felt so much positive energy and enthusiasm in that room. Like we could do anything. Obama inspires that same feeling. That our country really can change for the better. He makes me believe.

They have to come out negative, there’s nothing left. Early on the candidates staked out their territory and Obama chose the high ground of aspiration and generational coming of age. His victory speech in SC forewarned such attacks. Billary have to exploit sectarianism by appealing to Latino fears of Black ascendancy and the large reservoir of apprehension and skepticism in the over 50 crowd.

Rikyrah knows electoral details better than I do but I don’t think Bill Clinton ever won a majority in the national races. He was the originator of the the GW Bush method of triangulation and carving out narrow margins of victory.

The challenge will be for Obama. How does he respond to the assaults? If he’s too aggressive than he becomes another angry black man. But he can’t idly stand by and be swift-boated. A real balancing act is required. He needs a real pitbull or enforcer similar to James Carville or Dick Morris to act as a surrogate. A bad cop to counterweigh Barack and Michelle’s good cop role. Maintain dignity and poise while Billary get ruffled up in the ring with someone else. Another thing he should do, sadly, is raise the specter of marital infidelity and moral laxity. Don’t go overboard but be subtle about it. The way GW was when he would talk about restoring honor to the White House.

The endorsement of Democratic stalwarts like Leahy, Kerry, and Kennedy signals a clear rejection of the Clintons. Barack has to play this one smart.