Reply #18: I so disagree with this

[Samantha]

Obama reached a point where he absolutely HAD to stand up for himself. If one is campaigning to become POTUS, he or she cannot be in a position that paints him or her as a wimp. That's a big NO SALE to the American public.

I heard one of the talking heads discussing this last night. (Might have been Craig Crawford.) His observance was that part of Obama's appeal is that "mystic" that he has been carrying over him for some time - I am civil, I am dignified, I am taking the high road, I do not have to get down and wallow in the mud because I have charisma. That mystic is gone, a deliberate result of the Clintons' baiting to knock him off his game. That is why Obama's campaign has gone downhill since Iowa. Thus went the reasoning.

Barama is dignified, yes, and he has constantly expressed an overwhelming desire to unite the American people. And, yes, that was one of his most attractive pitches. But when one finds oneself in a literal dog fight with two, count 'em, two pitbulls, charisma and dignity are not the operative words. Maintaining one's self-esteem in purely rotten situations is an investment one offers to those whose support he or she seeks. Yes, Barack stood up to Hillary in a ferocious manner, but it was long overdue.

Hillary was not "hurt" by his words; she was simply playing a role. Acting. I looked closely at her face to see signs of anger or hurt as she responded to some his accusations. She was very deliberate, calm and collected at some points, seizing him up and looking for another spot to hit. After he offered an explanation to her charge, she pretended not to understand his explanation, as if it was fuzzy. As I watched her perform, I felt real disgust. This is an ugly side of the woman I really don't want to spend the next 8 years observing. A "win at all cost" approach to winning an election might result in a desirable outcome for the candidate; but over the ensuing period of time that follows, there is indeed a price to pay. Just ask George Bush*.

Obama made a mistake? I don't think so, he made a course correction. There is no dignity or appeal in continually talking a pummeling from a political street gang without taking whatever steps are necessary to protect one's self-respect.