Obama's aside hashed over

For two days running, some nationally syndicated columnists have taken Barack Obama to task for a sentence he uttered -- not much commented on at the time -- during Saturday's night debate among the Democratic presidential candidates in New Hampshire.

So it goes when you lose a primary that had been virtually conceded to you.

Obama's gaffe -- which is how it's now widely perceived -- occurred when one of the debate questioners asked Hillary Clinton about her apparent "likability" problem with many voters. She responded deftly. Rather than take umbrage, as some might have anticipated, she coyly (and with a smile on her face) said, "Well, that hurts my feelings. But I'll try to go on."

She also acknowledged that Obama scores high on the likability charts, which is when he stumbled. "You're likable enough, Hillary," he interjected.

He later said his remark was meant as a "gesture of graciousness." But his delivery of the line was more churlish than friendly. As E.J. Dionne -- one of those commenting on the comment, following Tuesday's upset win by Clinton -- wrote: "Gestures of graciousness shouldn't have to be explained."

Dionne made only a brief reference ...

to Obama's aside in a column appearing Thursday, noting that "many saw it as snarky."

Count columnists Richard Cohen and Charles Krauthammer among those.

Cohen, reflecting on the moment in a piece appearing Thursday, termed it a "patronizing dismissal" of Clinton by Obama. He also opined that it "showed a side of Obama we had not seen and it might not have been characteristic."

Krauthammer, in a piece that appeared Friday, used similar phrasing as Cohen's -- though he didn't cut the candidate a break on whether the remark was in or out of character. He wrote simply that it "showed a side of (Obama) not seen before or since. And it wasn't pretty."

Cohen and Krauthammer each speculated that Obama's faux pas contributed to the burst in support from women voters that powered Clinton to victory in New Hampshire, that it joined with her now famed misty-eyed moment to spark that surge.

Who knows? But chances are Obama will resist the temptation to chime in unnecessarily in future debates.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Inaru]

I'm phonebanking and canvassing for Obama for what he will do for our state, our country, our planet, not for whether or not he responds to a ridiculous show of girlie cuteness in a way lazy, allergic-to-research pundits think is right. These pundits are the very reason Obama is such a relief and utterly necessary.

The media doesn't love Obama, look carefully. Why are they constantly trying to sow doubt? Because Obama will make them lose millions upon millions of $$$s. He won't let them charge for political ads anymore. He'll require equal time for each candidate. He'll end media conglomerates and free the airwaves for community use. Go see his website barackobama.com and look at his Issues Technology site for an eye-opener these "journalists" never cover!

And Obama trains us to be activists now and forever. This campaign has been a lesson in civics we'll never forget, the tens if not hundreds of thousands of us volunteering all over the country. We'll join the service corps he's expanding to include people of all ages and yes, we will change the world, one block, one precinct at a time.

We'll influence our local political landscape with our neighbors for a change. We'll throw out the bought-and-paid-for politicians and replace them with those who, like Obama, get their campaign contributions with transparency and limits from their supporters, not lobbyists, not PACs, and not from side deals with 527s to swiftboat even other party members.

This kind of so-called "reporting" from the pundits who slice and dice us is exactly why we need Obama, now, not 4 years from now, not 8 years from now, right now! Mail those absentee ballots out and let's get it started!

[Len Edgerly]

I've never seen Obama's full comment quoted by the pundits: "You're likeable enough, Hillary, no doubt about it." You can hear the "no doubt about it" in the video, and those words make it more difficult, it seems to me, to call his comment snarky. http://tinyurl.com/3yt6df

What I saw was him defending her against a creepy question. If he'd lacked grace, he would have simply kept his mouth shut instead of interrupting her when she was saying nice things about him.

[katharine]

I just watched the video, link provided above. This was a moment of gentle humor, and Hillary accepted it as such. She says, Thank you, I appreciate it. Obama even has a slight smile on his face- nothing snarky at all, and makes his comment in response to her saying he is likeable. I cannot see anything wrong with it at all. What, he did not bow down and kiss her feet? This is one of the mildest exchanges ever seen in a primary debate, and they use this to call Obama less than gracious? Must be al they have......

[jo]

The only reason people support Obama is because he is half African and speaks in the empty platitudes that Americans like.

[Apphouse50]

Well, whatever he meant here, I think he gets a pass considering the hatchet job the Clinton campaign has tried to pull on him over his admissions of drug use in earlier life and for god's sake, even what he said in kindergarten. I'm surprised he didn't deck her when he had the chance.

[glad to see some media is raising questions about obamas plans, experience etc]

I'm glad to see some media is raising questions about obamas plans, experience etc... We have not heard much from his campaign other than lets change things, but he never tells you what those changes are?? Yes it great he got young voters out in IOWA, but more voters are older with serious concerns on how to pay a mortgage, health care, gas etc...Obama tells you nothing other than we can change things. I believe that Hillary Clinton has the power and backing to get change done immediately and she will because the stakes are higher for woman in politics than men, even black men. Look at the difference in media coverage. Yes, obama he can give a beautiful inspirational at times speech, but that’s not going to help with foreign policy or our economy. Obama mandates that ONLY children will be covered under his health care plan, but what he doesn’t tell you is how a parent would be forced to pay for it, by cutting their food bill or gas bill? Black Americans need to really think this through and not get caught up in a media drive to elect a black man based on color of his skin only, but a Person who has a plan of action, which we have not seen from obama and is why he lost NH. Experienced voters have been asking for substance since the Oprah show turned his campaign attention to a race on race, which was a big mistake for us. I’m a black woman with young children and I have firmly decided to support Clinton; she has proven that she can get things done. I cannot in good conscience support obama just because he is black, it’s my children’s welfare and future, which as a mother is more important than an inspirational speech. These are the reasons our country faces allot of the troubles it has today. Obama may be a great president in few years. With the current state of affairs in other countries, I fear he isn’t ready and I personally DO NOT want to wait 4/8 yrs for him to leave the position like we have been doing with bush/chaney.
As a black woman I was torn between the two and again decided on Clinton. I honestly believe that she is the better fit for our great country right now. Maybe obama in a few years. I hope and pray that ALL voters will look past color and gender and see what’s really important. Ignore the media, who should be ashamed by putting every black news anchor on TV exploiting race. We do not want obama pushed down out throats. They should be reporting facts so educated voters can make a wise decision. Thank you

[Mark]

Obama admits campaign/PAC donation linksBad news for the Barack Obama camp and his politics of hope clean-guy image.The Washington Post reveals today that there was, indeed, close coordination between the Illinois senator's presidential campaign and his leadership PAC, Hopefund, in deciding which local, state and federal politicians around the country were to receive thousands of dollars in contributions from Obama's PAC.Such coordination appears to be forbidden under Federal Election Commission rules because it, in effect, would give a candidate another, less regulated financial fund to influence the outcome of his own campaign. But Obama officials express confidence they violated no rules. The Post's John Solomon reported the other day that Obama's Hopefund had distributed money in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire to people like New Hampshire state Sen. Jacayln Cilley, who got $1,000 from Obama last summer. Six days later the Democrat in the nation's first primary state announced her endorsement of his candidacy because she said she believed in him.Likewise, Obama's PAC gave $9,000 to U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes, who was New Hampshire's first congressional member to endorse Obama. In the earlier story Obama spokesmen denied any connection between the PAC and Democratic presidential campaign.But today's piece alters that account and says the PAC has distributed $180,000 to groups and candidates in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa and another $150,000 to similar destinations in states with primary balloting through mid-February.Bob Bauer, private counsel for both Obama's campaign and PAC, named names of those from the campaign who'd help select the PAC's recipients and professed confidence the Obama entities had met all FEC regulations.But Scott Thomas, a Democrat and former FEC chairman, says: "He is clearly pushing the envelope."

[cookclaudia@hotmail.com]

For the first time, I read a very insightful scrutiny of Barack Obama in Union Tribute Editorial yesterday - http://www.bendweekly.com/index.php?news=12089&vote=5&aid=12089&Vote=Vote It adds to Obama analysis, so far very thin. Time should really be given to press of all leanings to scrutinize the record, background and personal file of Obama before any de facto coronation or nomination. If the democrates don't at this juncture, the Republicans sure will, at time time that may be too late or when situation is ill-prepared.

[Terri]

Oh for heavens sake. Isn't this typical of the kind of story spun out of sheer nothingness. Does everyone remember how Michelle Obama was accused of referring to Hillary when she said 'if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House'?

Here is her exact quote:

" That one of the most important things that we need to know about the next President of the United States is, is he somebody that shares our values? Is he somebody that respects family? Is a good and decent person? So our view was that, if you can't run your own house, you certainly can't run the White House. So, so we've adjusted our schedules to make sure that our girls are first, so while he's traveling around, I do day trips. That means I get up in the morning, I get the girls ready, I get them off, I go and do trips, I'm home before bedtime. So the girls know that I was gone somewhere, but they don't care. They just know that I was at home to tuck them in at night, and it keeps them grounded, and, and children, the children in our country have to know that they come first. And our girls do and that's why we're doing this. We're in this race for not just our children, but all of our children."

As usual, the pundits pull out a partial comment and spin a totally different story out of it. It is a shameful practice by a media who has long left it's responsibility to inform at the roadside and took up the mantel of sensationalism for ratings-sake.

Len Edgerly has it exactly right. What the talking heads don't seem to understand, probably because they are so unaccustomed to it, is that Barack Obama is a man of integrity. It is pretty shameful that those lacking that quality are questioning his.

[Jacqueline Hill]

Interesting. When I first heard the remark I thought it was Obama trying to ease tension surrounding a ridiculous question that should have never been asked, and I disagree; the remark was reported by television pundits over and over again, notably far more than the wonderful remarks made by Obama about Biden, when Biden was asked about his past comments on ethnicity in a debate. I actually think that there are notable differences between Clinton and Obama on how they have handled the historical nature of their candidacies of "firsts." Clinton has complained of being attacked by "the boys." Mitt Romney didn't make such statements about gender when the heat was turned up against him during debates. Bill Clinton said "I can't make her younger, taller and male" implying that gender, age and appearance explained Obama's success. Clinton ultimately, although inadvertently, used tears to gain sympathy. It is refreshing that Obama has never used race to explain his successes or failures. Yes there are burdens to being candidate for president who is also a woman, as there are burdens to being a candidate for president who is also African American. As an example, he could have "cried" about the fact that his secret service detail was doubled because of racist threats on his life. He said, when asked about the results in New Hampshire, that the American people do not want anyone "anointed " as president. He has said if he does not win the nomination, it would be because he didn't give the American people compelling enough reasons to vote for him. I haven't heard Clinton make a similar statements about gender. I believe that the media had undue influence on the outcome of the New Hampshire election by stoking the sympathy vote for Hillary, because of their harsh and unfair attacks on her, however it is quite notable that Obama had nothing to do with those attacks. I'm on the same page with that the woman who first asked Hillary "How she did it," I felt compassion for Clinton as a person, but as that woman revealed, she voted for Obama.

[CutTheSpin]

Gracious and kind remark said with kindness from Obama. To say otherwise is just media spin against him. Why doesn't the media play the question from C. Gibson over and over, that is the only utterance that was inappropriate.

[gandalfff]

It was a nasty little comment and a side of Mr. Perfect that we hadn't really seen before..

I'm really sick of people giving this guy a pass on everything, as though he is some kind of saint.

Google Alice Palmer, Google Tony Rezko....people should actually do some research on this guy's background before they hand him the most important office in the world because he makes them feel all warm inside.

[keller]

I'm an Obama supporter and it was snarky, surprising and unfortunate. He made the comment without being prompted, dismissively, and while looking down and writing. Had he bothered to at least peer up at her and smile just a bit it would have seemed playful, but certainly not gracious.
Small moments matter, probably more than they should (remember Bush checking his watch during a debate in '92?).
Hopefully, he'll learn.

[El]

I'm with Goodness Graciousness. Why isn't anyone asking these candidates about policy points so that voters might actually make informed decisions about whether or not we want to give any of these people the power to lead? I don't care if Hillary cried. I don't care who cuts John's hair. I don't care if Barack thinks Hillary is likeable enough. I care whether or not any of these people has a clue how to lead us. I care whether or not any of these people has even one good idea about how to solve the serious problems we all face as a nation. It's frightening to me that so many US citizens seem to be busy worrying about tears, haircuts, and posturing and so few seem to focusing on the fact that our nation and our world are in very serious trouble...

[Susan]

Jessica,

I think many people take issue that HRC is ONE of the men "for the last 200 years have screwed and messed up the USA". She is a man who just happens to wear women's clothes. We need a president for the times; voting for HRC just because she is a woman is extremely narrow minded and self serving.

The first time she does a "womanly thing", she does it because she is sad about losing the job she personally covets and has for a long time; she's not sad for the state of the country. She's single-handedly undoing years of hard work by we true feminists.

[Pat]

It's difficult to get around the irony of the Obama assurance to Hillary of the remark that she was likeable enough.

One imagines whether it would have been acceptable to say to a person like Laura Bush, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, etc., in the reality that they are all former first ladies too.

Somehow, the arrogance of an Obama who chooses to grace Hillary with such an endorsement (as an opponent who also is being received as black) somehow seems disrespecting of her status as former first lady, and disregards that status as irrelevant, as if she was merely another woman who needed reassurance from the power authority or establishment, which he proposes to symbolize or represent.

While she accepted his reassurance as gracefully as possible, one wonders what he was thinking at that time, and how generous the remark was. That such presumed authority could eclipse the status of a former first lady simply because she has chosen to run for public office like the Presidency may well be the greatest indicator of how audacious he is, and how within the title of his book, there is more arrogance than rationale.

It also questions the extent to which a former first lady or President can be, or should be, criticized in the field of politics for which they are held to, and generally embody higher ground than that ordinarily reserved for the political rough and tumble of future elections.

Is or should Hillary or Bill be somewhat insulated or have they opened themselves to unwarranted criticism now? Since there is no accepted protocol for such phenomenon, Americans may need to examine the principles by which these kinds of allowances are defined.

Though certainly not free from criticism, can Americans accept, for example, some of the unusually mean-spirited slurs and remarks made by talk show hosts which undoubtedly tarnish their own previous credibility and reduce it to ashes, particularly in the case of Hillary. Some remarks are especially shocking as well as malicious - unlike the Obama reassurance.

[Anna Karenina]

Obama, the morning after the NH primary, was on GMA and Diane Sawyer asked him about his comment. He said that it was a poor attempt on his part at being gracious. He said that he should of phrased it "you are plenty likeable." If you see Obama and his wife leading up to this, they say they will not win the election by carving up the opponent. They want to raise the bar on political discourse. Plenty of his staff want him to go after her, but he refuses to go that level.

The Clinton machine has got out their carving knives. So much for change... Wonder if they have Karl Rove working for them now?

[Tom J]

My take? Obama's wince was in reaction to the silly question Hillary was asked (first "pearls or diamonds", now "likeability"). This is a Presidential candidate forum, not the question phase of the Miss America pageant.

"You're likeable enough" reminded me of the play "Our Town" when the mother reassures her daughter that "you're pretty enough...for ordinary purposes". It's hilarious in the play because it reflects the typical New England approach - don't gush. The debate was taking place in New England - connect the dots.

The real question is...why are so many people so anxious to try to attach supposed 'snarky' comments and attitudes to the candidates? Wikipedians have an excellent motto: Assume Good Faith. I recommend it highly to voters.

(Assume good faith? In America? Today? What a revolutionary concept! But you're dead-on, Tom. Thanks for reading and leaving such a good comment.)

[Gregg Heacock]

Funny, how differently people can interpret the tone of a remark! I took Barack as being accepting of Hillary--that, despite all the attempts to misinterpret remarks he had made and stands he had taken, he was willing to concede that she was still likable. He did not leave her having to answer the question on her own without any supporting comment from someone else on stage. If he sounded less than gracious to some, it is even possible that it was out of some frustration that questions of greater importance were not being asked.

I am troubled that people are making so much out of minutia--how Barack sounded here or how Hillary dismissed King's role in getting the Civil Rights Act passed. Reporters need to look at the substance of the proposals made by candidates and ask them how there programs will be implemented. Then, we can see whether Barack's "hope" is an empty promise or whether, for all of her hard work, Hillary has the qualities of leadership to inspire people to stand up for her proposals so that Congress will pass them.

[autoprt]

omg, the only reason Hillary won was because of the phony crocodile tears.

she was only crying because she felt like she was losing control of her chances to get elected the only true thing she cares about. she doesn't care about this country.

[jeff]

Headline: OBAMA GETS TESTY, MAYBE EVEN SNARKY !!!!!!!!!

Big deal.

[Milli]

My first thought when I heard that aside was that Obama was making an inside joke ... although, perhaps, an ill-timed one.

I've heard pundits say in reference to Obama's not being as experienced as Clinton ... an idea which HRC regularly touts ... that voters just need to see a candidate as 'experienced enough'. Similarly, although Hillary isn't as likeable as Obama ... she IS 'likeable enough'.

[AL]

I guess I am the only person, along with my husband and son, who cringed at Hillary's "coyness" in this moment. I thought it was awful. I thought how un-Presidential. How lacking in dignity. She was laying it on a bit thick, like bad acting. But everyone skips over that moment and jumps on Obama. So does Obama come out and say everyone's picking on me? No, he just goes on, letting the pundits do there thing, and trying to talk about important matters. He is the one who is Presidential with his dignity intact.

[Roberto Clamanger]

Obama slimed her and he paid the price

[MissV-Raleigh]

As dismissive as Hillary Clinton has been of him since he first posed a danger, Obama's comment about her 'likeability' was more generous than deserved.