Forthcoming Swiftboatery

HRC, who is essentially a centrist Democrat, is widely perceived as a divisive and polarizing figure. Why so?  Because she's a woman, because she's married to Bill, but mostly because  for twenty years now, unscrupulous Republicans have been investigating, castigating, and smearing her. Is there a more vilified politician in the world? She's a murderess, a lesbian, an adultery-enabler, a frigid bitch... etc. etc. 

Barack Obama is not perceived as a divisive and polarizing figure, but only because Karl Rove and his cruel band of conscienceless propagandists haven't yet gone to work on him. I guarantee that right at this very moment there's a room full of "conservative" operatives who are brainstorming the most vile imaginings about Obama. Think Willie Horton, think swiftboat. They are forging documents, photoshopping pictures; they're developing sick fantasies about Obama's sex life, his wife, his children, his parents, his patriotism, his education, his finances, and certainly, his religion. Don't dare to imagine that racism is dead; the Rovistas will give it new life. 

And don't think that you are able to anticipate the attack. It will be disgusting beyond anything that ordinary people are capable of inventing. And it will be cloaked by 527s or disseminated anonymously or leaked.      

And then Obama too will become a divisive and polarizing figure.         

Comments

[Otis Jefferson Brown]

I agree with everything you say, except the last sentence.

Whether the nominee is Clinton or Obama, she/he will be subjected to vicious, under-the-radar smears of one kind or another. I think Clinton and Obama are strong enough to withstand them. Remember, Obama played schoolyard basketball and has shown he’s got some pretty sharp elbows. With the economy tanking, war without end, and the GOP in a condition that reminds me of the Dems c. 1972, either Dem will win the general election. (In my opinion, Obama would win bigger, with bigger Congressional majorities.)

The above-the-radar GOP attack has already been signaled, by Mitt Romney in his “concession” speech and by presumptive nominee McCain, and it’s as despicable as the attacks you describe. Romney equated a vote for Clinton or Obama with surrendering to terrorism; McCain railed, as he always does, about “running up the white flag of surrender.” This blunt instrument, a McCarthyite attack reeking of the early 1950’s, is the only weapon the Republicans have; and the Republicans, being Republicans, will use it.