PrintJuly 16, 2008
Democrats Grumbling over Obama Snubs
There are some dark clouds in Obama land today. Politico is reporting that many Democrats are disgusted with the way Obama is running his campaign.
One Democrat said "“They think they know what’s right and everyone else is wrong on everything,” groused one senior Senate Democratic aide. “They are kind of insufferable at this point.”
"At this point?" The entire Obama campaign has been insufferable since day one with its arrogant belief in the candidate's superhuman abilities based on the thinnest resume of any presidential candidate in history.
A few things that are angering party members in Congress and the Senate:
One Democrat said "“They think they know what’s right and everyone else is wrong on everything,” groused one senior Senate Democratic aide. “They are kind of insufferable at this point.”
"At this point?" The entire Obama campaign has been insufferable since day one with its arrogant belief in the candidate's superhuman abilities based on the thinnest resume of any presidential candidate in history.
A few things that are angering party members in Congress and the Senate:
Until a mailing that went out in the past few days, Obama had done little fundraising for Democratic candidates since signing off on e-mailed fundraising appeals for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee immediately after securing the Democratic nomination.
Obama has sometimes appeared in members' districts with no advance notice to lawmakers.
The Obama campaign has not, until very recently, coordinated a daily message with congressional Democrats, leaving Democratic members in the lurch when they're asked to comment on the latest controversy between Obama and McCain.
Coordination between the Obama campaign and the House and Senate leadership is so weak that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) - who will chair the Democrats' convention in August - didn't know of Obama's decision to move his final-night acceptance speech from the Pepsi Center to Invesco Field until the campaign announced it on a conference call with reporters.
Disgruntled party members is an occupational hazard for presidential candidates. You have probably heard similar complaints about McCain's operation. But what makes this different is the belief by the Obama campaign that they will arrive in Washington not beholden to anyone for anything. This is all fine and dandy except the opposite is true as well; no one owes Obama squat.
This is a recipe for disaster if one remembers Jimmy Carter who also came to Washington as an outsider and failed to cement the loyalty of his own party on the Hill, failing miserably in passing any significant legislation. Obama could very well end up being a one term wonder if he's elected.
Let's hope he makes a better ex-president than the peanut farmer from Georgia.
