SCOTT MILLER
News Assistant
The current bombshell burning up the political news pages this week is the on-going feud between Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama over comments made by Clinton supporter turned Obama supporter and movie producer David Geffen. Although inconsequential, it nonetheless demonstrates the problems with the campaigns that have just begun.
Geffen is quoted by the New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd as making several negative comments about Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, calling him a “reckless guy.” This all came within a couple days of Geffen hosting a Hollywood fundraiser for Obama, which raised more than $1 million. So Clinton and her camp decided to demand that Obama denounce Geffen and his comments and return the money. Obama in turn delivered a jab to the Clinton camp saying that they had no problem with Geffen when he was giving them money and refused to apologize for someone else’s remarks.
First, the basis of the feud is null. Geffen reportedly called Clinton “incredibly polarizing” — something that is true. For years Clinton has inspired the anyone-but-her mentality that has become incredibly dangerous in contemporary politics. To acknowledge that fact is not mean-spirited or vicious, it is just being brutally honest. Yet Clinton still acted as though Geffen was spreading slanderous lies about her.
Clinton’s response was just ridiculous. As Obama responded, apologizing for someone else’s comments does not make sense in the least. What Geffen said is his opinion, not Obama’s, even if he is raising money for Obama. And giving the money back would be just as idiotic. The money was given by many different people, some of who probably disagree with Geffen as well.
However, when Obama had the chance to stand above the skirmish and let it go, he threw a barb at Clinton over one of her endorsements. South Carolina state Sen. Robert Ford, who said that if Obama won the nomination he would drag down the rest of the party because he is black, officially endorsed Clinton. So now critics are saying he contradicted himself from previous statements in which he proclaimed a desire to end “slash-and-burn” politics, and create more political harmony.
While the little argument going on has no real bearing on the campaign, it shows how something so small and pointless can create schisms between two fairly like-minded politicians. Instead of strengthening their relationship before the 2008 election, now these two possible allies are contending for donors and support. And all the while, GOP candidates are sitting back and watching as the Democrats bicker.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney is quoting as saying, “It’s great, isn’t it?” when asked about the feud.
Instead of pointlessly arguing and making enemies, Obama and Clinton need to suck it up and start acting like presidents, rather than petulant children fighting over the sandbox. As soon as they do that, the GOP will actually have to get off its laurels and actively oppose the Democrats.
03-01-2007