by John M. Curtis
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Copyright March 6, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

en. Barack Obama (D-Il.) took off the gloves and plans to give Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) a dose of her own medicine. Raising issues about her tax returns and sources of funds to the Clinton library, Obama hopes to reverse Hillary's unrelenting attacks that helped her win Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island on March 4. Her impressive wins netted only four delegates, lagging over 100 pledged delegates behind Barack with only 16 contests left. Many experts believe Clinton can't make up the deficit and can only make a case to the remaining superdelegates by winning the popular vote and most populous states. When Hillary's campaign turned negative before South Carolina, she had little hope of stopping Barack's momentum. Whether admitted to or not, Hillary benefited from conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's call for Republicans to vote for the former First Lady.

      Limbaugh has been slammed by his own audience for encouraging the GOP to vote strategically for Hillary, believing, should she prevail, she'd be the easier candidate to beat in November. While Barack lost Ohio and Texas, he closed a wide gap before March 4, only losing by 3.5% in Texas and 10% in Ohio. Had it not been for Limbaugh Obama probably would have won Texas. As it turned out, about 134,000 Republicans voted for Hillary, more than she needed to win the state. She won Texas by around 98,000 votes, far less accounted for by crossover Republicans. If Hillary takes the nomination from Barack at the Democratic convention, offers him the VP slot and then wins the general election, Limbaugh's strategy would have backfired. Hillary was asked by a reporter what she thought of Limbaugh's support: She told Rush, “Be careful what you wish for.”

      For weeks leading up to March 4, Hillary slammed Barack for his lack of experience and preparedness for the Oval Office. As Texas and Ohio drew near, she accused him of hypocrisy on the North American Free Trade Agreement and questioned his business dealings with former supporter, Chicago real estate and fast-food mogul Tony Rezko, now facing trial for corruption and influence peddling. “This is not a question of trying to damage somebody—this is a question of trying to understand all the particular aspects of each of the candidates,” said Hillary senior advisor Harold Ickes, denying they ran a dirty campaign. Hillary's chief strategist Mark Penn called for “a fuller vetting process” for Obama, signaling, between now and Pennsylvania April 22, the campaign intends to stay negative. Waking up from his semi-torpid state, Barack now seems poised to fight back.

      When Barack raised questions about Hillary's's refusal, so far, to release he tax returns, her spokesman Howard Wolfson accused him of acting like Ken Starr, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate the Clinton's Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky fiascos. Hillary told a nationally televised audience at the Austin debate Feb. 21 that she was “honored” to share the stage with Sen. Obama. That's before Barack started the reverse “vetting” process, where he plans to ask plenty of questions about the former First Lady's credentials. “I for one do not believe that imitating Ken Starr is the way to win the Democratic primary election for president,” said Wolfson, lashing out now that Obama turned the tables. Obama hasn't yet brought up Hillary's 1993 “Travelgate” or 1996 “Filegate” scandals, where she was suspected in playing role in both controversies.

      Since Obama rolled off l1 straight primary wins after Feb. 5 Super Tuesday, the Clinton campaign turned ugly, hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink. Obama remained above the fray, believing his candidacy was about his charisma and positive energy. When Hillary's strategy worked March 4, Barack was forced to switch gears and respond in-kind. When Hillary attacks, it's called “vetting.” When Barack attacks back, it's called acting like “Ken Starr.” “There's not another shoe in her closet to drop. It is clear that too much is yet unknown about Sen. Obama,” said Ickes, continuing to excuse “the politics of personal destruction.” There's plenty of issues related to Hillary's involvement in “Travelgate” and “Filegate” to refresh voters about. Penn and Ickes concluded that if going negative worked in Texas and Ohio, it will work again in the remaining contests.

      Hillary and Barack have gone down a slippery slope, throwing mud before the last 16 primaries. With voters already jaded with the seemingly interminable campaign, they both risk, what Limbaugh wanted, mutually assured destruction. “It is absurd that after weeks of badgering the media to “vet” Sen. Obama, the Clinton campaign believe that they should be held to an entirely different standard,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton, pointing out that Hillary would surely face the same questions from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive GOP nominee, should she win the nomination. “The beating heart of Rome is not the marble of the Senate, it is the sand of the Colosseum,” said the slave owner Proximo to his gladiator Maximus, played by Russell Crowe in DreamWork's 1992 Best Picture “Gladiator.” When the dust settles with Hillary and Barack, neither may be standing.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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