February
19 Badgering

Updated

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

As Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sparred over the weekend in advance of today's Wisconsin primary (with some schoolyard-level back and forths), the Republican National Committee was in Los Angeles at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, plotting its campaign against either of the candidates, with attendees ranging from Karl Rove to "Tonight Show" segment producer Dave Berg.  It should come as little surprise that things look pretty negative come the general election, whether the candidate is Clinton or Obama.

Jeffrey Ressner of the Politico writes that the "winter retreat" included a Power Point presentation of how to run against Obama.

"The first called for pointing out what the GOP views as a seeming incongruity between Obama and the mantle of commander in chief. The second point harkened back to Obama’s days in the Illinois state Senate, noting how his “pattern of voting ‘present’ offers many openings to question his candidacy.” The third offered hope to the GOP faithful that “we can be confident in a campaign about issues.” A fourth bullet point relayed how “undisciplined messaging carries great risk,” while the fifth and final attack point stressed, “His greatest weakness is inexperience. He is not ready to be commander in chief. He is not ready to be president.”"

(As Time's The Page points out, Obama, in an interview with "Today," seems to be anticipating such attacks).

Berg called "There Will Be Blood" "another example of the Hollywood left's contempt for capitalism," and was scathing in his assessment of the Writers Guild. “The WGA cut a side deal with David Letterman but not with our show. We had to go back to work as the No. 4 network with no writers and no stars. Actors would not cross the line. I didn’t read this anywhere, but they were threatened with blackballing if they crossed the line to do our shows.” Ressner writes that Berg thinks this is ironic since Hollywood is “obsessed” with the 1950s blacklisting era of Joseph McCarthy. “The true threat of McCarthyism,” he says, “is coming from the left.”

Spike Lee for Obama: The director tells a University of Dayton audience he's supporting the Illinois senator and he urges them to "do the right thing" and vote.

Another Apology: Chris Matthews apologized on Monday when MSNBC mistakenly inserted a photo of Osama bin Laden in a story on Barack Obama and his use of some of Deval Patrick's phrasing in his speeches.

The Video: Will.i.am talks to John Harwood of the New York Times about the "Yes, We Can" video. "It struck an emotional chord with people," he says.

Quotable: “It gets expensive in a big hurry and if you’re not careful you can alienate some Swedes. If word gets out to Stockholm that we’re using Abba music, then there’ll be a
worsening in U.S.-Swedish relations.” John McCain, lamenting the group Abba's objections to his campaign's use of the song, "Take a Chance on Me."