Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Re: "Pattern" of Obama Borrowing   [Mark Hemingway]

Does anyone know where David Axelrod is? He, after all, would seem to be the obvious culprit on this "plagiarism" issue. He's been a consultant for both campaigns... it's an open secret that he's the one likely responsible for the similarities in language. You'd think he might want to clear the air.

He can't, of course, because such honesty would involve admitting that Obama's praised-to-the-heavens rhetoric isn't so divinely inspired, but rather calculated and focused-grouped over the course of several campaigns by a highly paid political consultant.

As I discussed elsewhere on NRO today, it's in Hillary's best interest to call attention to the substance — or lack thereof — in Obama's rhetoric. If Hillary really wanted to go on the attack she'd draw the comparison between the Obama and Patrick campaigns explicitly (though she's understandably not willing to flay too many Democrats in the process). She'd point out that Deval Patrick's gubernatorial campaign was basically Obama version 1.0. He campaigned for governor of Massaschusetts on hope and change and similar empty rhetoric. And what did that leave voters in Massachusetts with? His latest proposal to deal with his state's bloated budget involves expanding casino gambling in the state. That's not exactly indicative of a governor who has been making tough choices or offering smart solutions.

Hillary should insist Obama be very explicit about policy so voters know what they're getting. Otherwise — though she can't say this explicitly — you may wind up with a President Patrick. Once the conversation becomes about policy over rhetoric, then that's where Hillary thinks she has an edge.

And for that matter, McCain is already prepared to attack Obama over this. His victory speech in Virginia last week contained this overlooked bit:

To encourage a country with only rhetoric rather than sound and proven ideas that trust in the strength and courage of free people is not a promise of hope. It is a platitude.

That now seems pretty relevant as far as Obama is concerned. If he gets the nomination, my guess is that McCain will pound Obama on this point.

02/19 02:22 PMShare