Obama: "I'd get different treatment if I lost as much...I'm the insurgent — she's, she's the champ"

[jefferson_dem]

Obama: I'd get different treatment if I lost as much as Clinton
Posted: 06:44 PM ET

Obama said Saturday there would be more pressure on him to drop out if he had lost as many contests as Clinton.

(CNN) — Hillary Clinton's campaign says it remains upbeat about the New York senator's White House chances, but rival Barack Obama said Saturday he would likely be treated differently if his campaign had suffered a similar string of losses as her's.

Asked in Ohio by a reporter if he would be treated differently had he lost as many contests as Clinton, Obama said, "Yes."

But Obama said he understands why the treatment is different, saying it would require a knockout blow for Clinton to quit because she's "part of the Democratic network in Washington."

"Look, I'm the challenger, I'm the upstart," he said. "I'm the insurgent — she's, she's the champ. She's part of the Democratic network in Washington and, you know, if you're the title holder then you don't lose it on points. You got to be knocked out."

After essentially tying Obama in the string of states that voted February 5, Clinton has suffered 11 straight losses to the Illinois senator, most recently in the Democrats abroad contest earlier this week.

In a conference call with reporters earlier Saturday, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson denied reports some Clinton backers feel Obama has all but locked up the nomination, and said voters in the March 4 primary contests won't base their vote on his string of victories.

"The mood is upbeat, Sen. Clinton is working hard everyday," he said. "Momentum is a media storyline, but that is not an issue on which voters vote."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/23/obama-id-get-different-treatment-if-i-lost-as-much-as-clinton/

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ingac70]

2. He's right...

he would have been strongarmed to drop out by now had she been the one with 11 straight wins.

[carlotta]

3. um, not the best choice of words for Obama

Calling himself an insurgent at a time when out troops are fighting the insurgents is a little risky. And calling Hillary a champ? Okay, I'll second that.

This is what happens to Obama when he's off script.

[TwilightGardener]

5. What? "Insurgent" was the word used to describe Huckabee's campaign, and no one cared.

on edit--it's not an Iraq- or war-exclusive word.

[Yael]

6. You do know that "insurgent" has meaning in a political race

of the up and comer against the establishment candidate, right?

[ingac70]

9. That's not what Rush told her. n/t.

[carlotta]

10. sure, but considering that it's a word in the news everyday....

in reference to the War, I think it was a bad choice to use. He could have said "challenger" or "underdog" or any other number of words to convey the same thing.

[ingac70]

8. The only people who would make a big deal..

over the word "insurgent" are jingoistic right wing nuts.

insurgent: 1. Rising in revolt against established authority, especially a government.
2. Rebelling against the leadership of a political party.

[Danger Mouse]

4. Well, yeah, that's the truth.

Obama is still the upstart. The race is not over.

[ginnyinWI]

33. I really liked his comparing it to a boxing match.

He keeps winning rounds; it'll be a TKO pretty soon, by the looks of things. :)

[apocalypsehow]

7. He's right.

n/t

[BeyondGeography]

11. Great answer...the bar is higher for him and he accepts it

The funny part is people will still get pissed at him for saying Hillary deserves preferential treatment.

[JI7]

12. he would have been pressured to drop out if he lost South Carolina

[ErnestoG]

13. "Momentum is a media storyline" unless you are leading.

[journalist3072]

14. Uh, newsflash, Barack: You are a U.S. Senator. Which makes you part of the "Democratic network in

Washington" as well.

You are NOT some Washington outsider.

[Yael]

17. Do not underestimate "Clinton fatigue"

From either side of the aisle...

[NorthernSpy]

26. hey -- he called your candidate "the champ"!

Didja notice that?

[Forkboy]

15. And he's right.

[DemGa]

16. "I'm the insurgent"

You are proud of this? Barack Obama sounds like an arrogant ass.

[bridgit]

19. I wish I could walk through a car wash and not get wet

:cry:

[Yael]

20. Do you know what "insurgent" means in this context?

[DemGa]

23. Of course I do

And it's also a very poor choice of a word, especially in today's context.

[Yael]

24. Question for you

will you vote for our nominee, even if it isn't your choice?

I know you are an Edwards refugee like me -- I am just curious.

[DemGa]

31. I'm a Clinton supporter

I admire Edwards because he is a real Democrat.

Barack Obama used the effects of the right-wing machine's attacks against Hillary when he labeled her "polarizing and divisive"; that she would "unite the opposition." But these perceptions were due to those right-wing smear campaigns that Hillary endured.

I cannot support this betrayal of Democrats. If it is Barack Obama, the answer to your question is no.

[monomach]

34. Have fun in Canada

We won't miss you.

[Barack_America]

18. Thank you WOLFSON for outlining how you fucked up Hillary's campaign!

"Momentum is a media storyline, but that is not an issue on which voters vote."

Um yeah, it kinda is. Politics 101 and all that. :eyes:

Can anybody remind me how much this assclown is being paid for his sage advice?

[FrenchieCat]

21. Hell, he would have been history if he had come in 3rd in Iowa.....

let alone anthing beyond that!

[bridgit]

22. As charged a word as "insurgent" is these days, I would not have advised him...

to even "rif" on the concept

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

25. FACT

If Obama had tanked that first set of post-Super Tuesday contests like Clinton did, he'd be being treated with Ron Paul levels of seriousness by the national media, and rightly so.

She's not just lost, but been blown-out, 11 fucking elections in a row. That the vultures are just circling now, when things are all but certain, is proof of how much the press corp fears the retaliation of the Clinton machine in the event of a comeback.

[grantcart]

27. With this and Hillary's PC in juxtaposition, HRC is providing a great service

Obama's Grace Under Fire


For those who wonder how he will fair when it starts to get hot you only have to watch CNN today.

Hillary launches a strident attack on mailers that have been used for weeks that simply quote her positions on two issues

NAFTA and Health Care Mandates. She goes completely off the edge by comparing him to Karl Rove (without attributing the author

of that note)

Obama's response: restrained, calm and reasoned. Then when the reporters try and get him to unload on Hillary Clinton by asking

him if he had lost 11 primaries in a row wouldn't there have been a roar to get him to stop his campaign. He refuses to open up

on her and letting her have it on an easy issue he takes the high road, "but that's ok. she's earned her status. . . I am the

challenger . . its up to me to knock her out . . I have to prove myself" (paraphrased don't have the script).



Graceful, intelligent and our party's new leader. Hillary should stay in as long as she can pay the bills. Without her he would

not be on CNN every five minutes. She just makes him look better and better. She is providing a great service.

[frakus6]

28. I don't think "insurgent" is the appropriate word

Underdog yes, but insurgent is a bit risque

[bridgit]

32. "insurgent" is too Al-Q in America, I was surprised with all the words availble...

he would have chosen that one...strange

[ElsewheresDaughter]

29. "she's "part of the Democratic network in Washington."...ah so the wolf sheds his lambs wool!......

no wonder he cares more about Republican voters and issues than the Democratic policy for UHC


he seems to have admitted with this statement that he is NOT really a Democrat at all...no wonder he admires Raygun and courts the rethugs

on second thought that statement sounds exactly like george bush's line back when he was campaigning for POTUS

[Recursion]

30. A lot of Democrats aren't happy with the party right now

We elected a majority in both houses a year and a half ago to stand up to Bush rather than give him more blank checks.

If you want the base to support you, follow their lead.

[Hippo_Tron]

35. That's true but it doesn't really matter, Obama will probably win Texas and possibly Ohio

He will run the table after that. Either way, elections aren't won in March and April they're won in Septebmer and October. Not having a nominee until April or May won't kill us.