How?

Coupla thoughts (0.00 / 0)

First, the story may be a little bit "inside baseball." It got plenty of attention in the blogosphere, but less in traditional media. The NYT covers it, but it's perhaps 6th to 10th most prominent political story today.

Second, and maybe more interesting: the blogosphere has completely changed the news cycle. The same print story that reports Shaheen's remark also reports the Clinton camp calling them unauthorized. The firestorm in the blogosphere forced a quick disavowal.

According to the campaign this was a slip of the tongue, not a planned story. But in the past, campaigns have managed to get a story or comment in print, let it bubble for a 24-hour news cycle, then respond to complaints by disavowing it.

That doesn't work anymore. The Huckabee slip on Mormonism is another example. A relatively small group of activists gets early access before the papers and news shows, and forces immediate "clarification." The same wide-distribution stories that report the charge also report the response and the disavowal. The whole thing backfires.

Maybe I'm being Pollyanna. But it seems to me that the rules have changed, for the better.

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 06:29:18 AM CST

fp'd in the Monitor w/retraction n/t (0.00 / 0)

We represent the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop Guild, the Lollypop guild.

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by: JonnyBBad @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 06:59:29 AM CST

[ Parent ]

True (0.00 / 0)

this might be inside baseball but I would expect someone whose playing that kind of game to .... well know how to play the game.

Speaking of baseball, Manny and Papi are not the list.  

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by: mbair @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 12:12:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

But Rich Garces Is... (4.00 / 1)

...which is hilarious.  You have to, y'know, lift weights, El Guapo.

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by: johnkfrisbee @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 12:25:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

And El Tiante is campaigning for Richardson (0.00 / 0)

Who was the greatest Hispanic Red Sox player?

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 13:49:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

randomly (4.00 / 2)

I met him at Foxwoods a couple months ago...

Disclaimer - Don't know if I technically still need one since no longer work in NH, but am paid staffer at AFL-CIO :)

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by: EVale @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 15:15:02 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The Greatest Hispanic Red Sox Player? (4.00 / 2)

Not even close...

Ted Williams

His mother was Mexican.  

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by: Tim Ashwell @ Fri Dec 14, 2007 at 10:05:35 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Mistake (4.00 / 2)

The last thing the Clinton campaign wanted the 24 hours news shows to be talking about today were comments made by Billy Shaheen, and the fact he made a mistake - and, while Billy has worked really hard for the campaign, what he said was not only unauthorized, not part of a strategy, and not something condoned by the campaign, it was a mistake. What we were hoping to talk about today was Hillary's experience and leadership.




"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 07:43:44 AM CST

You've been calling out some good news for Clinton (4.00 / 1)

here in the various - and impressive - labor and education endorsements. It must s&ck to have that buried.

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 07:51:24 AM CST

[ Parent ]

No kidding (0.00 / 0)

The sad thing is that Hillary is such a great candidate, and, as evidenced by the reaction below from sleepyguy, there will be people who will believe this was part of some master strategy.  It wasn't!  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:57:11 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The mistake was letting Bill Shaheen be the state (0.00 / 0)

chairman, or whatever, for the Clinton campaign.  I don't know much about the man, but the first time I heard him speak (in Derry, I think), I got the impression that he's got some deep-seated resentment about his spouse the governor, hiding his sense of impotence by undermining her reputation as a decision-maker.  I realize that men routinely put each other down in a joking manner to assert their dominance.  It was not an attractive spectacle seeing a man denigrate a wife who wasn't even there.
At a reception in Hampton, Clinton dealt with his apparent need for recognition by acceding to his demand that she actually ask people for their vote because "Billy would be mad at me" if she forgot his directive.  Women are used to displaying mock subservience; but it's not good for the men.

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by: hannah @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:09:26 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Kid Gloves with the good china (0.00 / 0)

It is very unfortunate that these words puked forth from Mr. Shaheen. Since he is so highly regarded in, a small circle of "friends" (not Phil Ochs' circle) it makes it difficult to pummel this story and wring every drop from it.

So, "timing is everything" and "location, location, location" come to mind for applicable cliches.

As far as the "mistake" claim, there may have been one. I would speculate that Mr.Shaheen misread his orders and reached for the gun when the campaign wanted a knife brandished.

All the evidence points to Team Clinton escalating the "negatives" to match the slope of Hillary's polling data.

So what was the mistake? Doing it or just doing it poorly?
Hint: Rhetorical question.

Clinton to go negative in NH? (0.00 / 0)
Clinton readies New Hampshire 'firewall' to slow Obama post-Iowa

By Beth Fouhy, Associated Press Writers  |  December 11, 2007
MANCHESTER, N.H. --Hillary Rodham Clinton's backup plan if she falters in Iowa can be summed up in two words: New Hampshire.

Clinton's Democratic team is preparing television ads here criticizing Barack Obama's health care plan and working to build what campaigns call a firewall. If the Obama presidential campaign ignites in Iowa, she wants to be ready to cool him off in a state where her organization is strong and her support has proven durable.

This past weekend, the Clinton campaign already had volunteers going door-to-door with fliers criticizing Obama on health care, and possible TV ads against him were screened for focus groups.

Advisers to the New York senator acknowledge there's been uneasiness as Obama has risen in national and several early state polls, including Iowa and New Hampshire. But they insist their master blueprint -- emphasizing Clinton's experience, toughness and ability to withstand Republican attacks -- remains sound.
-snip-

Although Team Clinton-NH proports to emphasize the positives, it seems that when it comes to the "master blueprint" that they are right on message.

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Tue Dec 11, 2007 at 19:03:22 PM EST

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:22:56 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Republican politicians (0.00 / 0)

Republicans have made an art of talking about the other side, the opponent, the liberal.  It's what their supporters expect.  I suspect that the message it sends to their supporters is that the speaker is observant, interested in the other side, and inclined to be helpful and warn them away from the abyss.

Democrats engaging in delivering bad news about each other or even Republicans don't get the same reaction, because the expectations are different.  What Democrats want to hear from their candidates is what the candidates are going to DO about certain problems and issues.

How do Democrats appeal to Republican voters?  My guess would be that they need to address shared values and keep away from choices.  Calling the Republican bluff on values might not be bad, either.  Republican voters seem to appreciate the truth, even when it comes to taxes.  Deep down they know that the Republican promise to cut taxes is a lot of malarkey.

This time around we've actually got a wonderful issue in health care.  We can talk about eliminating the bureaucracy to our heart's content and promise to eliminate waste without fear of contradiction.

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by: hannah @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 07:53:09 AM CST

The Kind of Mistake that Gets People Fired (4.00 / 1)

I'm not an Obama supporter but for Billy Shaheen to infer to the Washington Post that an African-American running for president - an African-American who not only owned up to past drug use but is continually vetted by the press and bloggers -- had been a drug dealer in his youth, it's the kind of mistake that calls for Billy's yahoo head. The man should be fired.

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by: MondayMorning @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:06:33 AM CST

Interesting Distinction, Eh? (4.00 / 2)

I think it's worth saying that it's pretty unlikely this would happen to a candidate with white skin.  As much as we didn't like George W. Bush, I can't recall ever hearing anyone musing aloud about whether or not he sold drugs. (The author of this diary seems to agree, by the way.) I'm not saying Mr. Shaheen is a bad man or a racist, but I do believe that there is a quiet, even unconscious, racial assumption beneath this.

Incidentally, anyone who fails to see a pattern in the spate of recent whispers about Obama from Hillary's campaign is fooling themselves.  And I think that the argument that there was somehow a "favor" done by bringing this out in the open now is nonsense; the GOP didn't bring this up in Obama's 2004 Senate campaign, and there's no reason to think - given Obama's previous candor on this issue - that it would be a major issue in the general election.  Thanks indeed to Bill for introducing some "fun" new terms, though.

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by: johnkfrisbee @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:22:57 AM CST

I do not think it was a mistake (0.00 / 0)

as Dean wrote- the "rumor" gets out-
just like the kindergarten report was a joke- C'mon.

Oopsie sorry- I didn't meant to say that"- can't take these things back.
I have been open to Hillary Clinton all along.  And I assume that Jeanne will be the nominee- and they will both have my unwavering support.  But this kind of stuff really angers me.  It is cheap and feels like a stunt born of desperation.

Hillary is a far better and stronger candidate that her campaign is putting across.  

I saw last night that Obama is winning over the indies in NH.  This is not a way to make gains in that regard.  

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by: Kathleen O'Donnell @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:31:45 AM CST

reading that gave me deja vu (4.00 / 1)

Hillary is a far better and stronger candidate that her campaign is putting across.

Replace "Hillary" with "Kerry Healey", that's a statement I heard so many times last year leading up to the governor's election here in Massachusetts. Healey's campaign played into a lot of racial stereotypes, (far, far dirtier than what Bill Shaheen said or anything the Clinton campaign has done), but it destroyed any chance of her succeeding Romney as governor, and beyond being wrong, it is straight up bad tactics. This kind of stuff would backfire on the Republican candidate if done in the general, and the Clinton campaign should definitely stay far away from even going near this.

Go 'Bama!

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by: alexwill @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 09:55:14 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Bill Shaheen (0.00 / 0)

I've known Bill Shaheen for many years, and I think he is a class act and a very caring guy, just like his spouse.  In the middle of campaigns sometimes one says something that shouldn't be said.  He apologized for his comment about Barack Obama, and I think that apology is heart-felt.  Comments like those will be made by all sides during the balance of this campaign, and we have to be willing to focus on the positives, and accept a slip-up from time to time.  It happens.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:33:01 AM CST

Sorry Jim but the damage has been done (4.00 / 2)

This isn't just an isolated slip-up either.  These comments appear in the context of a week where we've heard reports of a similarly focused "whisper campaign" conducted by Hillary campaign members and media surrogates.

I'll take Kathy (and the campaign) at her word when she says these comments were not authorized.  What that does not answer, however, is whether or not Clinton's campaign was encouraging people to make mention of Obama's drug use to the media this week.

What Bill said has cast a dark shadow on the state of New Hampshire, and, for reasons listed above in johnkfrisbee's comment, are not words that can be taken back once they're uttered because they without a doubt will arouse some racial stereotypes in a state that is 96% white.

Either this reveals some subconscious racially-inflected thought process of Bill's, that could be seen developing in real-time as he spoke to the press off-the-cuff.  Or there is the possibility that, being a seasoned campaigner who had a feel for what he was going to say to the press ahead of time, he knew the power of these words and he said them anyways because he thought it might produce a net benefit for Hillary, here in New Hampshire.

Whatever the case may be, these words hurt. A lot. The damage of these remarks and the regressive attitudes it can unleash in the minds of voters cannot be reversed by an apology or a retraction.  I join many others in the netroots nation when I say that Bill Shaheen should be fired.  

If the Clinton campaign does not fire him, they are essentially saying does not deserve it because...

A.) He was actually helping Hillary, thus fulfilling his duties to the campaign.
or
B.) Though what he said was an embarrassment for the campaign, it really wasn't all that bad...

It's time we steer by the stars, and not the lights of every passing ship

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by: Andy Edwards @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 09:56:54 AM CST

[ Parent ]

PS (4.00 / 1)

I don't mean to overpost but bingo to the poster who said that no one ever wondered if George Bush sold drugs when there was talk about his youthful hazed indiscretions. Interesting, especially when one considers who would actually sell them a load of crack, Bush or Obama.

In terms of Hillary's campaign, I'm reading a lot about letting Hillary be Hillary...if only we got to know her we would love her.

I haven't made up my mind yet. So okay, show me the Hillary. Cut Billy and all those overpaid consultants telling you what to say because they are afraid people won't like you -- and run.

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by: MondayMorning @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 08:50:24 AM CST

Motive, clear as a bell (0.00 / 0)

Make no mistake about it, at this debate, the pot will boil over. Hope Barack doesn't sell himself short. Why don't we all just have a coke and a smile.

The Register Debates


SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 09:42:06 AM CST

Since Dean mentioned polling trends... (0.00 / 0)

Extrapolation, straight line based on aggregate data on pollster.com. Currently Obama is well placed for a  Jan 27 Primary....

Hillary=Purple, Obama= Orange

Based on the moving average the latest poll results are not a heavy factor. If the next round of polls come in with similar results we will see the slope change for Obama (steeper up) and (Hillary steeper down), which will being the "Intersection Date" closer to Jan 8. Will be interesting for sure.

Not an expert, pollster or statistician, yadda yadda...


Hope > Fear




Create a free Blue Hampshire account and join the conversation.

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by: Mike Hoefer @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 10:09:45 AM CST

Unlike some here, I give the 'mistake' claim some credibility (4.00 / 2)

It's hard for me to imagine the planning session that would lead to it.

Okay, we'll suggest that Obama is vulnerable because rumors could crop up that he sold drugs.

When should we do it? How about 18 hours before the next Democratic debate - where Hillary will be asked directly about it and Obama can confront it? Oh, and the debate is in Iowa - they'll love the negative campaigning.

How should we spread it? A friendly columnist? "Sources close to the campaign?" No, let's have Billy say it on the record. After all, we don't need to worry about the Shaheen brand in New Hampshire, do we?

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 10:15:56 AM CST

What if... (0.00 / 0)

They cede Iowa and fall back to NH.

Will "nativist" support for Mr. Shaheen translate into a "firewall" for Clinton?

I take no joy in this, no matter what the professional contrarians try to spin here on BH. The Shaheens are credited with carrying Jimmy Carter in NH, for which I and the world will be forever indebted.

Search: Carter

95 hits in comments, used by me 12 times and very likely all glowing or holding him up as a standard.

Half of my inner Carville is in complete opposition to the other half. Comity war, but these are the times that try mens souls.

December 23, 1776

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 10:57:48 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Disagree on two fronts (0.00 / 0)

First, the only safe way to cede Iowa was to get Tom Harkin to run again - then everyone could skip it. Candidates who have skipped Iowa in the past have regretted it.

Second, there really isn't a racist vote to capture in the Democratic New Hampshire Primary. This is the party and state that put civil unions into place as soon as it won power. It isn't nobility; you can make a case that New Hampshire doesn't respond to racist campaigns because we don't have the same urban challenges as some other states - no busing like Boston, for example. But really, "the race card" doesn't win many tricks in the NHDP primary.

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by: elwood @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 11:13:15 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The cheerleaders won't say (0.00 / 0)

but IA is lost to Clinton and NH is slipping publicly, but lost by my accounts, so...

What is Clinton to fall back to SC?

Or Feb. 5th?

When falling out of a tree, slapping against branches as you go, do you inspect the ones you grab at?

SGS is Jack Mitchell of Lowell, MA. The symbolism of the "sleeping giant" is based on my HOPE for America.

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by: Sleeping Giant Stirs @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 11:29:59 AM CST

[ Parent ]

"Mistake," Sure... (4.00 / 1)

I don't think anyone put those words in Bill's mouth, no.  But there undoubtedly has been a tone and focus to this Clinton campaign - stay on the attack, keep people locked in on your opponent's weaknesses, DON'T allow yourself to get Swift-Boated - that I think lends itself to stuff like this and the "Muslim" email.  Whatever Bill was thinking, I very much doubt that this line of attack was conceived entirely independently, which this post seems to validate.

The constant mantra about the Clinton campaign thus far has been discipline, discipline, discipline.  This means that one of two things must be true: 1) the NH Clinton team must be aghast at one of their own going so far off-message - possibly enough to warrant Bill Shaheen's dismissal as co-chair, or 2) they must be aghast at the tone-deaf way he delivered the message.

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by: johnkfrisbee @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 11:05:58 AM CST

[ Parent ]

This is just...sad and ugly. (0.00 / 0)

Between this and the Mitchell report, should be a banner day.  

Cube-farm drone by day, Obama volunteer organizer by night.

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by: 2632 @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 10:46:55 AM CST

Bill Shaheen made a mistake (0.00 / 0)

And now, Hillary has apologized to Senator Obama personally:
From Mark Halprin a little bit ago:

On tarmac at Reagan Airport en route to debate, Clinton tells rival that negative, personal characterizations are not a part of her campaign.

And on the Hotline:

Today, Kathleen Strand, NH spokeswoman for Clinton, said the New York senator apologized directly to Obama this morning.

"Sen. Clinton personally apologized to Sen. Obama this morning, and reiterated that this was not anything that came from the campaign or that we condone," she told NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli.

I am very proud to be supporting Hillary Clinton for president. Billy's comments were not right, and they were not directed by, encouraged by, or asked for by the campaign.  I had previously said not authorized, but based on a couple of the comments above, some of our friends here don't understand that I don't do subtle, and when I say not authorized, I mean not directed by, encouraged, etc.  So, I thought I should make that clearer, although I alredy thought I was clear.

 



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

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by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 11:19:51 AM CST

Naivete (0.00 / 0)

To assume Shaheen's comments were "impromptu" and not cleared through the Clinton HQ is naive.  NO ONE at that level working for Hillary would dare make such an explosive comment unilaterally.  His was a planned trial balloon statement.  Pop! Crash! Bang! Burn!

Between the Clinton campaign and Dem infighting in DC this is starting to get fun!

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by: Psycho @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 13:27:01 PM CST

Not a Rouge Staffer Here (0.00 / 0)

I agree with Psycho completely.  This isn't a newbie here.  This is THEE professional.  He ought to know better and, I think, does.  Maybe he thought he was off the record when he wasn't.  But I doubt it was a slip of the tongue.

Co-Chair of the NATIONAL HRC committee, State Chair.  Come on...this is no "oopsie daisy" comment, and I for one am disgusted by it. It's racist. If it was any other campaign staffer saying those words, heads would roll as I believe they should.

Shame on you, Mr. Shaheen.    

Paula M. DiNardo
Dover NH

A Blue Hampster since 2007!

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by: pdinardo @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 15:29:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

A disgusting thing to say (4.00 / 1)

But I always hate to see someone taken down for saying one stupid thing.

We all say things we regret; most of us have the luxury of not getting tarnished in the media for it.  Ever said something really stupid that ate at you for a long time, that you cringe  thinking about even now?  Then give the guy a break.

Meanwhile, it would be unfair to pin this on the former Governor in any way.

--
"Act as if ye have faith and faith shall be given to you." -Aaron Sorkin

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Thu Dec 13, 2007 at 21:38:14 PM CST