Manfred Mann, 1976.

This is an open thread. See you all tomorrow.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

While I think this Wall St Journal blog post Jeralyn pointed out to me is right that ARG is a lousy pollster, I do find it ironic that Survey USA's poll ranking survey is referenced, but its Pennsylvania poll showing Hillary Clinton ahead by 18 is not. Instead, this strange comment from the Quinnipiac pollster is featured:

I don’t see that much movement in Pennsylvania myself,” Mr. Richards said by phone from Harrisburg on Monday. . . . Both pollsters agreed that Sen. Obama hasn’t been hurt much by his remarks about small-town Pennsylvania voters last week. . . . Mr. Richards said, “My hunch is [the remarks] won’t make much of a difference because most voters who might feel insulted by his comments were already Clinton voters or [R]epublicans who weren’t going to vote for him, anyway.”

(Emphasis supplied.) I never trust a pollster who is providing me with punditry. Mr. Richards lost a lot of my trust with that. In addition his expectations of what tonight's polling is going to be also is bothersome. SUSA is the world's greatest pollster right now based on the record and based on behavior. Maybe the Media will notice some day.

By Big Tent Democrat

Jay Rosen writes a great piece on the relationship between the media and blogs and the Obama Gaffe. I can't do it justice. Read it all.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Josh Marshall, not surprisingly, misses the point:

So, with the obligatory, yes, he could have worded it better, do I think it was offensive and condescending? No. I don't. Do I think it can be spun into something offensive and condescending? Sure. . . . [S]peaking for myself I've spent too much time over, what, 15 years now? ... defending both Clintons from similarly ginned up nonsense [not much time spent in the last 15 weeks though. Seems Marshall has become the ginnee] to have much energy left to help out as they pull the same puffed up outrage act against another Democrat. I guess I'm just not feeling it.

(Emphasis supplied.) I actually have criticized Clinton for her charges of "elitism" against Obama. But the point here is not whether Josh Marshall is offended or whether he will "help out" the Clintons (like anyone is expecting that). The point is did Obama do his job as a politician? The answer is of course not. He committed a gaffe. Hopefully not an "I voted for it before I voted against it" gaffe, but a gaffe nonetheless. He has expressed regret. Let's hope this story goes away (Marshall skepticism about whether this story "really" hurts Obama notwithstanding.) Attacking Clinton on it, as TPM has done, does NOT help Obama. It really does not.

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Hillary Clinton should suffer with Democratic voters for her attacks on Barack Obama regarding BitterGate. To speak of him as "elitist" is just the type of character attack that Dems should not use against fellow Dems.

By the same token, Barack Obama should suffer for his continuing use of this Right Wing talking point, one he has used since October 2007:

Sen. Obama accused Sen. Clinton of playing politics, and his campaign said she would say or do anything to get elected.

I condemn both Clinton and Obama for using right wing character attacks against fellow Democrats. Anyone think the "Creative Class" blogs will do the same? Me neither.

Update (TL): Comments now closed.

The comments keep coming on tonight's Faith Forum. Here's the final thread -- it's also an open thread if you want to discuss other things.

Also, if you prefer Dusty Springfield singing it, here she is.

By Big Tent Democrat

CNN:

The Democrats will discuss faith, politics and policy tonight on CNN at a forum co-sponsored by Faith in Public Life. The event will air beginning at 8 p.m. ET

Campbell Brown will moderate along with Newsweek's Jon Meacham. Jeralyn and I will live blog this event.

Let's make this an Open Thread.

John Mellencamp performing "Small Town" at the DNC in Boston, 2004.

Obama tries to cover his Gaffe (video)-- did he succeed? Seems to me he sidestepped his insults as if he never made them. Where does he address, let alone apologize for this comment?

And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

This is an open thread.

Update: Hillary and McCain respond to Obama's Indiana remarks about his S.F. statement: [More...]

By Big Tent Democrat

Again Paul Krugman demonstrates that he gets it:

Not long ago, a young Ohio woman named Trina Bachtel, who was having health problems while pregnant, tried to get help at a local clinic. Unfortunately, she had previously sought care at the same clinic while uninsured and had a large unpaid balance. The clinic wouldn’t see her again unless she paid $100 per visit — which she didn’t have. Eventually, she sought care at a hospital 30 miles away. By then, however, it was too late. Both she and the baby died.

You may think that this was an extreme case, but stories like this are common in America. . . MORE

By Big Tent Democrat

Speaking for me only

Here is a fine example of how stupid the political Media can be. Walter Shapiro writes:

There is a danger in political reporting in placing too much stock in street-corner and restaurant-booth interviews. (The risks of worshipping at the shrine of polls are perhaps even greater.) But still, there are hints that Obama, who is narrowing the gap against Clinton in recent statewide polls, may be tapping into something even here in Altoona, where the 19th century offered more promise than the current one.

Shapiro has no clue whatsoever if Obama is tapping into anything. In fact, he ignores his own warning and is worshipping at the shrine of polls. The funny thing is he seems to have no understanding of polls at all. Consider this question, is it true that Obama has been "narrowing the gap?" Recently, it is not true. In the last few days, in every poll showing a result that can be compared to a previous poll by the same POLLING OUTFIT, Obama has lost ground. He has lost 6 points in the SUSA poll, 8 points in the Insider Advantage poll and 5 points in the PPP poll. Instead of narrowing the gap in the polls, Obama is actually losing ground in the polls.

Shapiro not only fetishizes polls, he fetishes them without understanding them. Bottom line? Political reporting is almost always incompetent.

The LA Times says the good news for Barack Obama is the speech will take place five days after the PA primary. Via the AP:

The Detroit branch of the NAACP said Thursday it has selected the embattled former minister of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama as the keynote speaker at its 53rd Annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner.

"Reverend Wright has challenged the nation, challenged our comfort zone and stimulated nationwide discussion on the issue of how we should move forward together as both a nation and a people," the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People branch said in a statement Thursday.

The dinner has been attended in years past by 10,000 people. Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton have also been keynote speakers at the dinner.

Anyone watching American Idol Gives Back? Last year it was great. Annie Lennox is singing now.

They just did a segment on the millions of kids in this country without health care and showed how the donated dollars have made difference in New York. A very moving piece.

This is an open thread.