Is Obama Too Soft?

"After a season of Barack Obama as the nominee and his serial gaffes and contortionist flip-flops, it's easy to forget that Hillary could have been even worse for the Democrats. Early on, Republicans salivated at the thought of having Hillary as a fundraiser, tapping into the palpable hatred of the Clintons to fire up the base regardless of who the GOP nominated to run against her. Thanks to the long track record of the Clintons, they had plenty of ammunition to remind people just how tawdry their first occupancy of the White House turned out to be."

Could Hillary spell trouble in Denver? Right Wing Nuthouse resident Rick Moran thinks so, but not necessarily on the floor:

"Even though these Hillaryites don't have a ghost of a chance in overturning the nomination of Obama, that doesn't mean they can't cause loads of trouble for the nominee in Denver -- especially if they get anywhere near a microphone. And I will guarantee you that every network and reporter covering the Democratic convention in Denver will actively seek out the grumblers, the apostates, the bitter enders for Hillary, and any other delegates who will offer a dramatic counterpoint to the lovefest offered up by the Obama campaign.

"The nominee may control the floor. But he and his people have absolutely no say in what goes out over the airwaves. And since conventions aren't 'news' in the true sense of the word but rather 'entertainment,' networks will seek out controversy in order to offer 'drama' to the viewer."

The latest evidence that You Are What You Watch comes from this Rasmussen survey:

"Eighty-seven percent of Fox News viewers say they are likely to vote for John McCain, while those who watch CNN and MSNBC plan to support Barack Obama in November by more than two to one.

"A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of CNN voters plan to vote for the Democratic candidate versus 26% who intend to go for the Republican. Similarly, MSNBC watchers plan to vote for Obama over McCain 63% to 30% . . .

"Seventy percent of those who watch CBS' Katie Couric every day plan to vote for Obama, as do 71% of the daily viewers of ABC's Charles Gibson and 67% of those watching NBC's Brian Williams."

It's a fragmented universe out there. No wonder Obama won't go on the "Factor."

You may have noticed that much of the campaign coverage lately involves . . . Paris Hilton. At times it seems to be more Paris than politics. Who's to blame for this? Arianna Huffington has two targets:

"Our energy policy and a good deal of this presidential campaign are being discussed through the lens of Paris Hilton. What a big goof it all is! If you just ignore all the soldiers and civilians dying in the Mideast, and all the millions losing their homes and their jobs at home, you could really see the lighter side of it all . . .

"It is still a sad spectacle to see John McCain going along with it with such glib eagerness. The man who once pledged to run a 'respectful campaign' and who said that Obama 'would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign' has made it clear that he'd rather lose everything he has stood for than lose the White House.