Playing Dirty?

For Democrats this week started with a bang and promises to end with an equally loud boom tomorrow as South Carolinians go to the voting booth. The week started with the sound of a boom mic in the face of each major candidate and will conclude with the quite punching of keys on a computer screen or a pen selecting a name. Either way, the one word everyone following Democratic politics learned (or re-learned) this week is dirty.

The claim of throwin and doin dirt started on Sunday when Senator Obama whined about campaigning against Senator Clinton AND her spouse. I use the word 'whine' with full intent and knowledge, but also because of it is appropriate. Camp Obama claimed that Camp Clinton was playing dirty by using the candidate's spouse on the campaign trail. Camp Obama said the Hillary's husband was too vocal, too one the scene, and made distortions. I guess someone forgot to tell the Senator from Illinois that is par for the course to have an opponent's spouse campaigning on their behalf. Dick Polman discussed the implications of Obama's whining in a post on his blog called "The alumnus as alpha dog" Stop whining and deal. This isn't your kindergarten teacher you're talking to here.

On Monday Camp Clinton decided that they too could and should whine. The afternoon found Senator Clinton's husband restating claims that the vote in Nevada was suppressed. The Senator's spouse said that he just could not by and watch his wife be attacked.

Monday night the playing dirty continued. Senator Obama called Senator Clinton a corporate attorney for Wal-Mart (a favorite shopping location for South Carolinian blacks and most people, so not quite sure of the slander) and she replied that he represented slum lords in the inner city of Chicago thereby implying that he hurts his own people.

By all accounts, she went too far when she said he doesn't take responsibility (even I recoiled at this one.) After a week of accurate but poorly timed less than racially sensitive remarks, Camp Clinton capped them all by saying that a Black man (who happens to be half white, but that is me not her) won't take responsibility. Ooohhh....can we hear 'dead beat dads' and 'can't keep a job' or how about 'probably will be in jail one day' in those words? Although that was probably not the intent, that's what many heard behind those words.

Let's not forget Senator Clinton's spouse saying that he felt like Obama put a hit out on him. Damn those pesky spouses. Come on Mr. Clinton, we all thought your wife was going to execute a hit herself 10 years ago, so shouldn't Mr. B. Hussein Obama be able to do the same?

And so on and so on....

My question is, when is politics clean? Democrats, ask Carter, Dukakis, Kerry and definitely Al Gore about whether or not presidential politics is a clean business. They all will tell you no! A decorated Vietnam Vet being 'swift boated' by a draft dodger who happened to have pulled off the greatest heist in American history with the 2000 election? Not nice.

My advice: Grow up, stop complaining and move forward. Senator Obama, you may be able to replicate the feeling and impact of sympathy from black voters in South Carolina that Senator Clinton received from women in New Hampshire, but it will not sustain you. Senator Clinton: using your spouse is fine, but PLEASE take some cultural sensitivity lessons.


Update @ 11:52am- Apparently Mrs. Obama has decided to join the fracas and become more vocal. Looks to me like Camp Obama is seeking to turn this into a dual duel, on one level having the white couple take on the black couple and on a second (and more clever level), forcing a man to take on a woman.

Why do this? To secure the black vote beyond South Carolina and to split the woman vote. Watch for Mrs. Obama to speak not only about her husband, but about traditional women's issues. Also look for her to reprise Senator Clinton's role as defender of the mate that she perfected in the 90s. Interesting development. 11:54am.

Update @ 1:37pm
Senator Kerry, STFU. Ok, once you lose, your voice really goes silent. I am really surprised that he was able to take a break from wind-surfing. You did not mention African Americans in your convention speech and COMPLETELY neglected African American issues in that same speech. I am not altogether certain why Camp Obama would embrace the endorsement of someone who neglected Black issues.
1:40pm

Update @ 9:59pm
Let me add former Clinton staffer and number 1 Clinton hater Dick Morris to the crew that needs to stop whining. He has taken his hatred of the Senator and her husband to a new level with his daily blogs. Time to close the books Dick and stop implying dirty play.
Recommended Reads:
Clinton, Obama Back Off Attacks
Black America Feels the Sting
Kerry Whines about Obama being Swiftboated