Disturbing if True
Posted: October 28, 2010 Filed under: Surreality, Team Obama, The DNC 61 Comments
Bill Clinton pushed Kendrick Meek to quit the Florida Senate race (via politico).Bill Clinton sought to persuade Rep. Kendrick Meek to drop out of the race for Senate during a trip to Florida last week — and nearly succeeded.
Meek agreed — twice — to drop out and endorse Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent bid in a last-ditch effort to stop Marco Rubio, the Republican nominee who stands on the cusp of national stardom.
I had heard rumors the White House was pushing for this but was unaware that former President Clinton was involved. Meek may be the underdog in the race, but pushing Crist to block Rubio is over the top, imho. They’ve been doing this for Lincoln Chaffee’s gubenatorial bid also. Caprio’s losing steam now since he told POTUS to ‘shove it’ and the independent Chaffee’s embracing Obama in TV ads.
Exactly what is going on here?
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Sky Dancing 
I hope that’s not true but I could believe it in a heartbeat. Seems all my political idols have feet of clay.
Aye yi yi. You know I love Bill and he’s the savviest pol out there besides Hillary herself. But this reeks and just makes me cringe even from a purely pragmatic perspective. The movement progs don’t even appreciate all the work Bill is doing, they still run around calling him failed president.
I really wish he would stay away from doing Obama’s dirty work. But like I said, the Clintons are savvy. Meek deserves better though.
I know they’re afraid of Republican take overs, but how is eating your young a productive strategy? This just stinks!
I guess I have a different take on this.
I don’t know who said this but for what it’s worth, “politics ain’t bean bag.” And, this is the side to politics that makes me cringe. But, it happens all the time. This is not the same as the dirty tricks shit of Nixon or more recently of Lee Atwater who served at the pleasure of both Reagan and Daddy George. And, let’s not forget TurdBlossom who learned at Atwater’s figuratively dirty feet.
That being said, this sort of back of the smoking room politics goes on and has gone on since we were founded as a nation. And, it’s done by everyone. The sad fact is no one is pure in politics and sometimes things need to be done for the greater good. Like what LBJ did to some in Congress to get the Civil Rights Bill passed and even with Medicare. He wasn’t shy to basically blackmail some of them into getting their vote. It was an awful thing to do but without those tactics we wouldn’t have a Civil Rights Bill or Medicare.
So, I’ve learned to accept this side of politics, the wheeling and dealing and persuading people to do things for what appears to be the greater good. I am not talking about dirty politics (and LBJ did play it dirty), I’m talking about what Bill was alledgedly asked to do to convince Mr. Meeks to hang it up to make way for Crist to defeat Rubio. That has gone on in politics for ages and I don’t have a great problem with it because it’s not dirty tricks politics, it’s just a different way play the tactical game. Do I like it and wish it wasn’t so, yes, but it doesn’t upset me as the LBJ/Atwater/Turdblossom dirty politics does.
What does upset me is that the Obama Administration is using Bill in this way because they know he has sway over Meeks given that Bill has a solid relationship with his family going back to Meeks’ mom, Congresswoman Meeks standing up for Bill during his impeachment. I also don’t know if Bill could have said no. I don’t know for sure if Hillary was still a pol if she was asked to something similar she would have agreed to do it. I have never seen Bill and Hillary as the same person as some people have done. They are not the same and that goes to their politics as well. One of their major differences where I believe that she would have made a better POTUS than Bill is that Bill has this need from his childhood to be loved by a lot of people, while Hillary doesn’t.
Anyway, those are just some of my thoughts about these events this evening. Its the dirty part of politics that I find vile not these intraparty negotiations. I may not like it and wish strategy-wise it wasn’t necessary at times, but it doesn’t upset me when it happens.
Also, Meeks is young enough to run again. And, it didn’t seem he had a chance to win over Rubio so he wouldn’t have been Senator whether or not Bill tried to convince him to step down.
So you see this more as stopping Rubio? You think Crist will eventually be expendable? I imagine Meek will get some administration position or something if he plays along and then can go back and ask for more if he runs again, but this still is just too sleazy for my tastes. Pragmatic, yes, but it still has a high yuck factor.
I do, Dak. So that Crist can supposedly caucus with the Dems. I think that is the mission here. Thing is how much do we trust Crist. I don’t and what will happen is that Crist will be king of the road much as the Maine Sisters were for a while. And, Liberman as well. And, I don’t trust any of those people either and with good reason as we all saw over these last two years. I don’t trust Blue Dems either and I don”t see Crist as being the Dems savior here but who knows perhaps Crist is so furious at his erstwhile party that he will caucus with Dems.
What is Crist’s position regarding DADT and DOMA? If he can caucus with the Dems on those two bills if they come up for a vote as I hope they do without being filibustered to death, then it would be a good thing. Perhaps if the Maine sisters vote against these filibusters we could get 60 votes to not filibuster. But, that also depends on how many seats the Dems lose on Tuesday and how many we need to get to 60. I have a feeling getting to 60 will not be a walk in the park for the Dems. And, Obama and the Dems brought it on themselves. It makes me sick to even think about this any more. Big Sigh.
It’s just about the numbers to them. The principles don’t matter.
I’d be okay with it if it went as Meek is saying. If it went more the way the rumors made it sound, that wouldn’t be Clinton’s finest hour.
l never buy into Clinton rumors, Wonk. The source is almost always suspect when it comes to either Clinton where rumors are concerned. I have the TV on but I haven’t seen the Meeks interview. I’ll look out for it.
I generally feel the same way about the Clintons and the media. 🙂
The unsettling part for me here is mostly McKenna’s involvement in confirming the rumors, if politico is even being accurate there in characterizing what McKenna said that way.
ndd,
I kinda agree with pretty much everything you said here. Solid analysis. (@ 9:41)
Kat,
I think Crist will have to play ball with the Dems. By now, there’s no love lost between him and the Rs.
Speaking of no love lost, anyone care to guess how Murkowski will act in the Senate if she ends up winning in AK? I would have rooted for her, but now I think the Dem in the race (McAdams) has a shot.
Just heard this 30 minutes ago and felt a gnawing in the pit of my stomach. Et tu, Bill?
I am currently in denial.
Kendrick has called a press conference for 9:30 pm. Guessing he is leaving the race.
That’s a shame. I assume they’re expecting Crist to be another Lieberman or Specter. I hate it when the Democratic party eats their young for power reasons.
Sigh.
It’s what the party establishment did to Hillary, albeit not on the same scale.
Exactly. That’s why it sucks so much. Not to mention it cheats the primary voters of Florida.
It seems like the voters in Florida get shafted a lot.
I think that Crist is the only one who has a chance against the Republican in FL, so I’m guessing that it was practical to ask the Dem to step aside so as to send more votes to Crist. As we know, FL can be a game changer in a national election, and the Republicans tend to have better “luck” in the state when there is a Republican governor. If Obama asked Big Dog to talk to Meek, I have no doubt that Big Dog would do whatever his President asks. It’s politics. Not pretty, but it’s the smart thing to do from the standpoint of the Democrats.
I agree with the decision.
JFTR – didn’t Obama have a secret meeting with Crist several weeks back?
Meek says rumors of deal with Clinton ‘absolutely not true’ :
Well thanks for posting this, Wonk. Very interesting. I wonder who is floating these rumors? My first thought was Obama’s people because it makes Big Dog look conniving, but the more I think about it, if it’s Florida, Roger Stone could have a hand in it. He despises the Clintons and there is no level too low for him to stoop.
According to Politico, Clinton spokesperson McKenna was involved in spreading these rumors :
Again that’s according to that report– And, it’s sly beause it’s saying McKenna “confirmed.”
I think Greta S interview Crist and he spoke about the situation. I didn’t watch it, but I’m going to try to find the video. This story is going to have legs.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that Meek can’t win. BC is only stating the obvious. Crist is drawing too many Democratic voters that are trying to stop Rubio and see a vote for Meek as a waste, but I think that even if Meek drops out, Rubio will win. Rubio is a very strong candidate. FL is lost to the Republicans, imho.
That’s the bottom line which brings me to the question of why they’d try this end run around Meek and risk alienating the base some more.
That’s a relief! I really like this congressman. He’s a fighter like his mom!! We need more of him, not less! Rubio is a nasty one, but I really don’t want the likes of Crist around even if he adds to the numbers.
They’ll manage to hold on to committees anyway. I’m tired of them taking in moderate Republicans just to fluff the numbers. It’s like adding more Ben Nelsons.
Primary voters of Florida should feel relieved their votes weren’t stolen this time. I really like Meek. I wish I could vote for him.
Shades of Joe Sestak? Bill Clinton is too devoted a Democrat not to follow up on a request, but he also strikes me as someone who would never pressure anyone, regardless of what the DNC might want. He might deliver the message, but I’m pretty sure he’d make it clear that he’s *just* a messenger, not an arm-twister. After all, he had plenty of people tell *him* he didn’t have a prayer when he decided to run for Pres. Meek sounds like a pretty decent candidate from what little I’ve read about him.
I agree, grayslady, with what you said about Bill. Well said.
That’s a good point. He was asked to deliver the message and probably laid out the options for Meek, but that was it. It’s a difficult position the Democrats put on Bill Clinton, if that’s what happened.
Thats basically what I think too. Here’s what I posted on elsewhere about it:
I think the WH has been using BC as a go-between, like with Sestak, and that there are sticks we are not hearing about.
Such as, “if X candidate insists on running and loses, he will face such-&-such consequence from the WH”. In that scenario, I can see BC taking stock of a candidates chances of winning vs the cost of losing and advising him to pick another, more winnable, battle.
Roland Martin just tweeted he’s going to be on AC 360 to talk about this and his conversation with Meek. Maybe something new will be revealed.
I don’t like BC pressuring Meeks to drop out. Maybe it has to do with Hillary running again and preparing the best landscape for her run. The way Bill is behaving, it leads me to believe that he thinks there’s a chance that Obama may not get the support from the Democratic Party in 2012. I forget where I read it, but I understand that big donors are telling Obama that he must decide if he’s running by the end of December.
O/T — Dak, any thoughts about the headline below? The story is saying that the Fed will buy $400 B to $750 B in Treasury notes. My view is that the problem is not liquidity, and that more purchases of Treasury notes will create bubbles in the commodity and stock market and nothing else. Sure it will drive inflation, but that’s only going to hurt consumers’ purchasing power. What do you think?
Fed expected to make big bond buy; what will impact be?
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2010-10-29-fed29_ST_N.htm
That’s the first of the QE2 moves and it’s actually supposed to be inflationary because right now we’ve got deflation and we’re in a liquidity trap. It’s a dangerous move which sort’ve signals how seriously the FED’s still taking this economy and I think the banks are still in danger.
Do you have any good news?
oh never mind…
I’m just getting everything reading for meetings in January where hopefully I’ll see if there’s any good jobs out there and if I can afford to move. If not, I’ll probably teach on line and start up my consulting again. The one good thing I have going here is that my expense are low and my house is mostly paid for.
Good luck, Dak. I’m of the opinion that karma and effort is what matters, and outside forces, like a bad economy, do not matter.
You think is a dangerous move. Do you think it’s the wrong type of inflation? That’s my view. The Fed is throwing more money to the banks, and under normal circumstances, the banks lend and the economy moves, but right now the money is only going to go to oil and squeeze consumers at the pump.
Well, if the bank’s don’t lend, then the fed policy doesn’t transmit to the real economy and inflation doesn’t happen. If banks start lending like crazy and people have pent up demand for debt, it’s like a rubber band effect. It could be too much juice. It’s sort’ve a razor’s edge approach, I’d say.
I had a modest argument with a friend of mine this evening on the mortgage/foreclosure crisis (he’s a lifelong financial services exec., retired many years now). I maintained that the foreclosure crisis represents a systemic risk and that we should temporarily nationalize the banks in order to finally cure the problems that were swept under the rug by TARP. I actually think we’d have a competitive advantage in global financial markets if the world believed that the one trustworty, transparent system was the U.S. system. He maintained that any admission of weakness would lead to global war since so many countries despise us now. Might make an interesting post topic, dak.
That’s an interesting thought and you’re right, it’s worth exploring.
Just got this tweet.
benpolitico Ben Smith
Clinton: “I think he should be free to say whatever he wants to say about it.He’s the candidate, his life, his choice, his decision.”
Lol, the first thing I thought was…Big Dawg is using pro-choice rhetoric 😉
that’s at the core of life, at least it should be in the modern age, yes?
definitely. Unfortunately the choice principle doesn’t seem to rank very high for the DINOstablishment. Nor the concept of loyalty.
and that applies to the ridiculous slut slamming they’re doing with the Delaware witch project too
Sounds obvious enough to me.
maybe all of this is coming from the Crist camp
Which means the White House… I remember that it was posted a few weeks back that Crist had a secret meeting with Obama.
However, I think Bill and Kendrick have had discussions about the options. As I posted at the other place, Kendrick was in the family section with Bill at the Convention. They have been friends for many years and Bill loves him like a son and wants nothing but the best for Kendrick and his family.
Think what matters to me would be if Meek asked for advice or Clinton agreed to pressure him. My gut tells me that there’s still enough animus left over from 2008 that Bill wouldn’t do the WH dirty work but maybe I’m a naif.
here’s a link to Meek’s press conference tonight.
Well, CNN just put this up
kinda wonder what the ‘joint event’ is?
I’m glad that BC was only a sounding board giving his view. BC has done his best to help Meek, but it’s an uphill battle with Crist drawing so many D votes.
Meek has no friends in the WH.
that much seems obvious, doesn’t it?
Yup. It’s sad. To have a black president not help a good Democratic candidate. Not that color should drive the equation, but Meek needed all the help he could get. Obama only cares about himself. I hear that Pelosi is under the bus and angry with Obama.
well, Pelosi’s days of being useful are obviously gone. I guess nothing will get done during the lame duck session if that’s all true.
I can’t find the article. I thought it was Politico. It said that Pelosi would retire if she was not the speaker because she had no interest in being minority leader.
Obama would not support the Democratic candidate in RI because:
Hi, Kat, glad I found you! This example of attempting to suppress the will of the people who voted for Meek in the Democratic primary is why I no longer identify myself as a Democrat. Each of us has to identify a line in the sand over which we will not step for anyone or any party, and my line stops with the “end justifies the means” attitude so prevalent in the Democratic party today. Meeks won the primary fair and square and ran a clean campaign, to sacrifice him at the altar of winning at all costs for the purpose of pushing Charlie Crist over the finish line is abhorrent to me.