See here and here for the fretting over Sen. Obama using the money people donated to him for its alloted purpose.
FLASHBACK: Remember another candidate spending lavishly on an election?
She had only token opposition, but Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton still spent more on her re-election — upward of $30 million — than any other candidate for Senate this year. So where did all the money go?
It helped Mrs. Clinton win a margin of victory of more than 30 points. It helped her build a new set of campaign contributors. And it allowed her to begin assembling the nuts and bolts needed to run a presidential campaign.
But that was not all. Mrs. Clinton also bought more than $13,000 worth of flowers, mostly for fund-raising events and as thank-yous for donors. She laid out $27,000 for valet parking, paid as much as $800 in a single month in credit card interest and — above all — paid tens of thousands of dollars a month to an assortment of consultants and aides.
Throw in $17 million in advertising and fund-raising mailings, and what had been one of the most formidable war chests in politics was depleted to a level that leaves Mrs. Clinton with little financial advantage over her potential rivals for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination — and perhaps even trailing some of them.
Geez Oliver!
I haven’t been here for a long time, (my last time before today was before you switched the design) but boy have you become a whiner. This is not a war.
I disagree with all the people who try to highlight the fact that Obama is spending all this money, more than anyone ever had, but that’s why you have the money. He is playing out his advantage just like Hillary would prefer to use her depth and breadth of knowledge.
For someone like me who has no problem with either of the candidates, the progressive blogosphere has become a nightmare.
As someone suggested a while ago, it would be better for the party if Hillary’s and Obama’s worshippers would get out of the race
Well, Oliver, I happen to agree with you; there is a double-standard at work. Part of the reason Obama can “buy the election” is that he was excellent at organizing and reaching out, and generally moving people to want to contribute to his success. And Clinton did the same, 3 x over.
It’s worship to point out something silly? No, it’s contrast. Do you think a primary process should just be an anointment?
Oliver, again you missed the point.
Who said anything here about anointment? I just said whining about every little thing is silly and not helpful. Where did you contrast anything?
Again, the viciousness with which both sides go at one another is disheartening.
I don’t understand what Obama worshippers think they get in destroying Hillary Clinton, a good a proud Democrat, a good ally to us progressives.
And I don’t get what Hillary worshippers think they get in destroying Obama, one of our brightest stars, and no matter what, one of our torch career in the future.
That criticism is valid for both campaigns.
I would like progressives to behave like your colleague Duncan Black and that’s what your blog used to be when it was red, and I hope we could get back to those days.
Btw what’s the point of your Walmart story?
Nice job staying on point, OW. Your observations are accurately aimed at their source.
GOPm sounds as though he hasn’t noticed all of Hillary’s lies, distortions and innuendos about Obama. “As far as I know”–was that added to her answer that Obama wasn’t a Muslim? Not to mention her lies generally. Do Hillary supporters hear these, choose not to, or assume Obama fabricates his own? The most remarkable thing about him is that he doesn’t.
I don’t know Oliver? I might be worried to when contrasting Hillary’s use of funds to build a 30 point margin of victory and your guy’s inability to even close out the primary. That is troubling and I can see why you are going on the attack like people do when they are behind instead of winning.
That is troubling and I can see why you are going on the attack like people do when they are behind instead of winning.
In one state.
Out of how many again?
Perhaps Obama learned a thing or two from watching how Hillary did it in NY. And of course, has the $$ to do it. Whereas, Hillary, not so much.
You’re completely correct to point out the ever-shifting set of rules that the Clinton supporters try to play by, Oliver. Keep up the good work and pay no attention to the concern trolls.
Something to remember when anyone memes Obama spent all of his Senate career preparing and running for president.
Oliver:
Would you please help anotherbozo with the “As far as I know” story. Your colleague Eric Boehlert did a sensational job on that.
One more thing anotherbozo, Obama is no saint and I don’t expect him to be, just as Hillary is not evil and is not trying to destroy the party.
Gawd! I have a headache alreaday.
Seems like damned if you do, damned if you don’t all the way around. If he spends the money and wins it’s “he bought the election”, if he spends it and loses it’s “he spent all that and still couldn’t win”, and if he doesn’t spend it on it then it’s “stupid campaign, they would have won/done better if they hadn’t sat on all that cash”.
What Schrute said. Clinton was in no danger of losing her seat in ‘06. The GOP could not find a credible challenger and she is a very popular senator (for good reason). She has had a 20 point lead in PA, and while Obama might chip in to it, she should still win in the double digits.
I don’t agree with Boehlert on the “as far as I know” story.
GOPm: I heard Hillary herself say “as far as I know,” and also heard it pointed out that Obama had previously joined her in many a senate (Christian) prayer breakfast. I don’t need anyone’s “help,” however “sensational,” in interpreting her remarks. It’s all of a piece with her husband’s praise for McCain and herself as “patriots,” leaving out, carelessly, the other Democratic candidate.
No, Hillary will not destroy the party; it’s just that if she’s not the presidential candidate, she doesn’t much care what happens to its 2008 nominee.
Take a Tylenol.
just as Hillary is not evil and is not trying to destroy the party.
As far as I know.
She ain’t exactly helping much, though.