TPM Reader JG takes a contrary view …
I think the post is only half right. When Obama got called on the NAFTA/Canadian contact and when the Rezko issue arose, Obama’s weak and confused response did tremendous damage to white middle-aged, working class voters. I think they are ready to support a black candidate, but they are going to hold him to a higher standard (at least until they establish a familiarity and a confidence in the candidate). Among these voters, they are going to be wary of a slick, young, black candidate.
Obama and Axelrod’s responses were inept, and they both had a deer in the headlights look about them in
responding. (I think I saw them both on Good Morning America) seemed defensive and incomplete. When the ABC reporter asked Obama about the Rezko loan — instead of taking charge of the question and putting the issue in context (I was buying a house and I didn’t want or need the extra lot and Rezko was a well known investor in that neighborhood and the transaction was fully disclosed and it was an arm’s length transaction from which I received no improper benefit from Rezko), Obama let the reporter control the discussion. Axelrod was equally inept at responding to the experience issue.You take a white, middle class, middle aged or older, blue collar worker in Ohio getting that kind of clue,
and they are not going to give the black candidate the benefit of the doubt.To put it another way, Obama is
the new guy, and he needs to define himself. It is incumbent on Obama to make clear that his skirts are
clean and that he is acting above board to keep this kind of voter. If Obama allows Hillary to rough him
up, it’s his fault for not responding more effectively.I’m a big Obama fan, but his campaign the last week or so has not been aggressive enough for my taste. I
thought his response to the 3 am thing was weak. He should have gone on the attack against Hillary and
strongly questioned her judgment. The Iraq vote is only one part of the equation, and he needs to
supplement his attack on her with additional examples of her poor judgment.
