Negative Feelings Abount Clinton Increasing

I thought this article was pretty interesting. Apparently Clinton is even losing ground with women. I wonder why negative opinions about her are on the rise, but Obama is still fine. Do you think she is (or is perceived) to be more negative in the battle between her and Obama?

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB120657171729866843-8cJolllJIL0b0_Tbt4nHsgn6pLw_20080426.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

Obama's speech on race

This speech has been getting alot of play in the press. I thought people might want to see it and talk about it. Does it dovetail with issues we've already been discussing? Does it raise new issues? As usual, I find it to be rather inspirational. Does anyone think that the line he is toeing on race is too dangerous? I don't find anything he has said particularly controversial, but I can imagine people who might. Do you think he played it safe or took some risks? I think, if interpreted in a particular way, this speech can be considered a strong defense of Reverend Wright-not a defense of the words but a very strong defense of the man. As I listen to the speech I think it is ripe for all sorts of rhetorical analysis too. A strong case for the rhetorical situation? He situates the speech firmly in the current political climate, the broader historical climate, the particular geography (convenient that the Constitution Hall is in the state he is currently campaigning?), the context of race in the campaign and probably lots more...and that's just the tip of the ice berg. What about apologia? Differentiation and transcendence seem clear strategies to defend his image against the beating it has been taking in the press because of the incendiary comments made in Reverend Wright's sermons. Anyway, there is a lot here and I thought I would post it up and unload some of my thoughts. Maybe it will finally catalyze some on-line conversation :)

Bush caught on tape

President Bush caught on tape singing about Michael Brown and Scooter Libby. 

Mondale Ad

I found the Mondale ad from 1984:



It does have a weird front and back, but the ad is there.

Red phone

Here is the original Clinton ad:



Here is the Obama ad response



For extra credit: Walter Mondale, 1984 versus Gary Hart. I couldn't find that ad on livingroomcandidate though, it looked like they didn't have any primary commercials (but I only looked for a minute).

One thing is clear, Obama does not want to make the Kerry mistake of being slow to respond: how long has it been and there are already in speech and press conference responses as well as an ad running in response to it. Here is him talking about the ad