The XX Factor : "cling", '08 election, Barack Obama

What Would Saul Alinsky Do? (A Way-Out Way Out for Obama)

Melinda Henneberger — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:01:00 GMT

Until he walked into a manhole with his remarks about bitter bumpkins, the genius of the Obama campaign was in throwing away the playbook. He regularly violated the time-honored wisdom of Rules #1 (Treat voters like idiots at all times.) and #2 (When...(read more)

Bonbons for the GOP

Emily Bazelon — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:29:00 GMT

Great framing, Rachael , and evidence that the real beneficiary of Obama's comment will be not Hillary but McCain, for whom it is a bag of bonbons to be snacked on all fall. Part of what's prompting the wincing and deep doubts, I think, is that Obama...(read more)

Condescension or Pandering: What's It Going To Be?

Rachael Larimore — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:04:00 GMT

Wow, Melinda , I don't think I could have put it any better. Like you, I hail from a small town whose most vibrant days are well in the past. Downtown was on life support long before Wal-Mart came to town seven or eight years ago; the schools aren't what...(read more)

The Worst Thing I've Heard Obama Say

Melinda Henneberger — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:34:00 GMT

Yes, it is galling to be tagged as out of touch by Hillary "Is that sniper fire I hear?' Clinton. Only, she happens to be right: Barack Obama's suggestion that economically suffering small-town Americans are haters who cling to God and guns out of bitterness...(read more)