After the Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama unity fest, a GOP video recalls other recent days
With all the sudden emergence of unity talk and who should be president at today's long-awaited endorsement of Barack Obama by Hillary Clinton, it's easy perhaps to forget that it wasn't so long ago that these two -- plus others involved in this historic Democratic nomination contest -- had some contrary, not-so-nice things to say about the party's new presumptive nominee.
Now here, like clockwork in the two-party political system, comes the Republican National Committee, which has cleverly assembled a series of film clips of both Clintons, John Edwards and Joe Biden talking about Obama in unflattering ways from the not-so-distant past. It has also created a lengthy web display of transcripts and videos here of Clinton's many criticisms of the man she now heartily endorses.
As these tit-for-tat political ploys go, this one packs a bit of a punch. Here's a little piece of timing to ponder. You remember how long it feels since that cold caucus night in Iowa when Obama took first and Clinton's third-place finish foretold fundamental troubles that ended with today's euthanasia of her flailing campaign?
Well, we're not quite halfway from that night until election day Nov. 4.
And in the remaining 21 weeks until then, we're pretty sure to see this video or pieces of it many more times.
--Andrew Malcolm
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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One word Iraq.Note everyone in the video lost the nomination.Is it the plan to restate what didn't work in the primary? Go for it.
Posted by: joseph marcucilli | June 07, 2008 at 04:10 PM
I was voting for Hillary Clinton...I absolutely WILL NOT VOTE for a black president....NO TO OBAMA.. As much as I 've had it with the republicans...They get MY VOTE or I will vote independent...
Posted by: Zach | June 07, 2008 at 04:27 PM
The problem with this attack ad is Obama won against all of these heavey hitters. This video proves how strong he is. Maybe the GOP didn't realize it, but this ad makes Obama look like a gaint. One man beat the best of the best. This ad will probably help Obama.
Posted by: Trey | June 07, 2008 at 04:30 PM
The pro-Obama biased media sabotaged Sen. Clinton's campaign from beginning to end. The result is the enormous campaign debt.
With Sen. Clinton's exit, the Democratic Party can kiss the White House goodbye. Today is a sad day for the future of America. What could have been with President Hillary Clinton...hopefully, she will be a presidential candidate in 2012. For 2008, I will volunteer and vote for John McCain. "Unity" is simply a pipedream.
Posted by: crat3 | June 07, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Hillary's criticism of Obama rings true even now!
Posted by: armold lidsky | June 07, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Yeah, I've already posted a few weeks ago about Clinton's VP viability and the L.A. Times 'top of the ticket' veiled anti-Obama postings, all said in a beign manner:
Hillary has been shown on (numerous) video tapes throughout the Democratic primaries, dissing Obama. The most prominent video was the one where she said herself and John McCain were more "qualified" to lead the nation and more experienced on national security matters.
If Obama puts Clinton on the ticket, the Republicans can thank the MSM and YouTube for all those video clips; basically using Clinton's and Obama's words against each other in McCain’s political advertisements, ending each political ad by saying "I'm (hahhaaa) John (hahahaa) McCain and I (hahhaaa, sorry I can't stop laughing) approve (hahhaa) approve this Message (hahahahahha ROLMAO)".
Posted by: 08vote | June 07, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Obama stole his candidacy just as he stole it when he got elected as senator.
It is clear that there are nefarious players behind the scenes. How is it he could have so many criminal and fanatical connections and still be in the running? I am convinced that those of the Middle East who wish to destroy this nation have found a way to do it from the inside. We as Americans all know the power of money and who has more of it than those of the Middle East. Somehow they have jerry rigged the media to make Obama a Teflon Obama and now they are playing with the economy such as raising the gas prices so as to put the republican administration in a bad light. It is the Trojan horse again and most Americans seem too stupid to recognize it.
Posted by: Carol Stavor | June 07, 2008 at 07:14 PM
I'm white male and 46 and will vote for Obama. If you vote for McCain then you are voting against Hillary Clinton. So if you claim to be her supporter and vote Republican then you are not helping her cause.
Posted by: Rich | June 07, 2008 at 07:27 PM
Zach says
...I absolutely WILL NOT VOTE for a black president....
One word-Racist
Posted by: Rich | June 07, 2008 at 07:30 PM
It is sad to see that people like Carol Stavor who are completely fooled by the GOP. No wonder we had a Bush in the White house for 8 years and look where our nation is. People love to shoot themselves in the foot.
Posted by: Ann | June 07, 2008 at 08:43 PM
This was a forced unity speech. Hillary Clinton's speech was forced on her by MSNBC, George Soros, Huffington Post and the top of the democratic party too afraid to lose George Soros and his money.
This isn't over. Fair Reflection is why this isn't over.
http://www.caucuscheating.com
http://www.Florida-Michigan.com
http://www.Fair-Reflectoin.com
http://www.Hillary-Wins.com
Posted by: Alessandro Machi | June 07, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Obama 2008!
Yes We Can take back the White House for Democrats!
Yes We Can!
Posted by: Jaime Rivers | June 08, 2008 at 12:06 AM
It seems race is all Obama''s supporters care about, even stooping low enough to falsely accuse the Clintons of racism! the Clintons, who have stood up for blacks and against racism for so many years! I will NEVER vote for Obama now, he and his foul minded supporters don't deserve my vote, or the votes and support of any of Hillary''s supporters. Sorry Hillary, unless he chooses you for the other half of this ticket, I cannot support him even if you ask me to, can''t do it.
Posted by: Hillary All the Way | June 08, 2008 at 04:07 PM