Hillary vs Obama

It has already started, the attacks and counterattacks, and all of the madness that passes these days for political campaigns. Spielberg, Geffen, and others hosted a fund-raiser for Barack Obama, apparently a very successful one where Obama gathered up 1.3 million dollars. Lots of stars and Hollywood bigwigs attended, paying 2300 dollars for their tickets (the limit allowed for such things). So now some are arguing that Hollywood is abandoning the Clintons in favor of Obama. Such nonsense, but that is what it seems to be all about these days - nonsense. If a bunch of Hollywood wealthy people want to pay $2300 to listen to a political candidate they know little about why does that translate into such a big deal. They pay much more than that to attend a prize fight or a concert. 2300 dollars for them is about the same as my paying 10 or 12 bucks to see a movie. Much ado about nothing - except...

for the fact that Geffen, who has always been a big supporter of the Clintons, has announced his support for Obama. And he gave an interview in which he bad-mouthed the Clintons big time. Under the guise of political analysis he also got very personal, accusing the Clintons of lying and such things. He argued, among other things, that the Republicans would allow Hillary to become the Democratic candidate and then, after she was definitely the candidate, they would go after the Clintons personal lives and attributes thus defeating her in the general election. This makes some sense but cannot explain the personal diatribe that, to me, has all the attributes of a vendetta. Geffen apparently was close to the Clintons for years, socializing with them and what not. He sounds somewhat like a jilted lover. He has now said that his interview represented his personal view. I guess that would be that - except...

the Clinton campaign reacted immediately with the demand that Obama distance himself from Geffen's comments and return his money (which of course assumes that Obama was in on this attack and that Geffen was acting on his behalf). If this were so it would mean that Obama is resorting to the dirty campaign tactics that he claims to be trying to eliminate. If the comments indeed merely represent Geffen's personal beliefs why should Obama necessarily be blamed for them? And why should he return the money? Obama has replied that he does not want to be caught up in a dispute between Geffen and the Clintons (a lover's quarrel?). So it stands - except...

for the fact that the Clintons are objecting to this on the grounds that personal attacks on them should be strictly off limits. Thus, according to them, there should be no mention of Bill's impeachment, philandering, their marital relations, and so on. While on the one hand I agree that personal attacks should be off limits, it is obviously the case that Republicans are not going to play along with such ground rules. Given the Republican attack machine, and the notorious foul play of Karl Rove, it would be exceptionally naive for Hillary to believe she will not be subjected to every lie and cheap shot the Republicans can dream up. If her campaign responds immediately to every attack the campaigns will be reduced to the nastiest, bitterest, most miserable of all time. So get ready - it's the American way.