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Ed Koch: Obama can’t win, ergo, Hillary must rock on

posted at 8:59 pm on May 7, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Indeed, Ed Koch. Rock on she must.

“I believe Obama probably will win [the Democratic nomination], although in politics you never ever can count anybody out,” said former New York Mayor Ed Koch. “I think Hillary is doing a magnificent job and is a great candidate and if anybody can pull it out, she can. But my honest opinion is, it probably won’t happen. And that he will be the candidate and that he will lose.”…

“I am shocked, without knowing the reason that it is happening, that none of the allegations with the respect of Wright, his former pastor, have had any impact on his polling,” said Koch. “I’m absolutely surprised because I think that all the things that Wright says — and nobody believes that Obama supports those statements — but he didn’t have the courage to stand up and object for twenty years. If you are running for president, you can’t be like some other poor guy in the pews who is afraid to stand up or even say something privately to the minister. You’re the guy who wants to lead the country and you have to have courage to stand up and lead your own pastor. He did not exhibit that. But the fact that the Democratic constituency doesn’t seem to care is a shock to me, but I’m certain that the overall constituency voting in November will care and that it will make the difference in the adverse way to his candidacy.”

I’m skeptical, but the early numbers sure are promising. Buck up, Ed; it sounds like her meeting with the superdelegates this afternoon went smoothly with no awkwardness at all. Exit question: If bold, courageous leadership in the face of leftist orthodoxy is the standard for a nominee, how come Her Majesty didn’t follow Koch himself last year in lowering the boom on MoveOn for their “Betray Us” cretinism”?


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Is Koch part of Operation Chaos?

jgapinoy on May 7, 2008 at 9:03 PM

MoveOn sucks.

BadgerHawk on May 7, 2008 at 9:07 PM

If you are running for president, you can’t be like some other poor guy in the pews who is afraid to stand up or even say something privately to the minister. You’re the guy who wants to lead the country and you have to have courage to stand up and lead your own pastor.

Pretty good insight. Good thing it came from the left, or else it would be racist.

BadgerHawk on May 7, 2008 at 9:08 PM

Ha! if you look at the comments in the link to the meeting between Clinton and the super delegates, you’ll find this gem by Lila:

I thought that the nomination is to be decided through the ballots. It’s almost like the deliberations of the traditional tribe councils in Afghanistan!!!

Heh. Where has she been!?

Weight of Glory on May 7, 2008 at 9:10 PM

this for all the whiny ‘conservatives” who are ready to curl up into the fetal position

NC and VA make an excellent, nearly ideal side-by-side comparison in terms of demographics. These 2 contests clearly show a significant increase in support for Sen Clinton and a marked decrease in support for Sen Obama.

These figures are taken from the NYTimes Exit Data:
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-gui de/2008/results/states/NC.html
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-gui de/2008/results/states/VA.html

VIRGINIA (2/12)
Final Results:
64% Obama
36% Clinton
Obama won by 28pts

Obama won 67% of White Men (27% of total)
Obama won 45% of White Women (35% of total)
Obama won 93% of Black Men (13% of total)
Obama won 85% of Black Women (17% of total)

NORTH CAROLINA (5/6)
56% Obama
42% Clinton
Obama won by 14pts

Obama won 40% of White Men (28% of total)
Obama won 33% of White Women in NC (35% of total)
Obama won 91% of Black Men in NC (13% of total)
Obama won 91% of Black Women in NC (20% of total)

Obama lost ground among:
White Men (-27)
White Women (-12)
Black Men (-2)
He gained among Black Women (+6)

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/7/165116/9291

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM

Damn, Drudge really hates Hillary. I wonder if she did something to cross him.

ninjapirate on May 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM

before all the tough guy “consevatives” curl up into the fetal position:

In fact, Obama’s showing in NC last night is CONSIDERABLY weaker than his showing in neighboring VA 3 months ago. In my opinion, we should all be asking WHY and also wondering about what this decline in numbers means in terms of the GE?

NC and VA make an excellent, nearly ideal side-by-side comparison in terms of demographics. These 2 contests clearly show a significant increase in support for Sen Clinton and a marked decrease in support for Sen Obama.

These figures are taken from the NYTimes Exit Data:
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-gui de/2008/results/states/NC.html
http://politics.nytimes.com/election-gui de/2008/results/states/VA.html

VIRGINIA (2/12)
Final Results:
64% Obama
36% Clinton
Obama won by 28pts

Obama won 67% of White Men (27% of total)
Obama won 45% of White Women (35% of total)
Obama won 93% of Black Men (13% of total)
Obama won 85% of Black Women (17% of total)

NORTH CAROLINA (5/6)
56% Obama
42% Clinton
Obama won by 14pts

Obama won 40% of White Men (28% of total)
Obama won 33% of White Women in NC (35% of total)
Obama won 91% of Black Men in NC (13% of total)
Obama won 91% of Black Women in NC (20% of total)

Obama lost ground among:
White Men (-27)
White Women (-12)
Black Men (-2)
He gained among Black Women (+6)

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/7/165116/9291

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 9:19 PM

Damn, Drudge really hates Hillary. I wonder if she did something to cross him.

ninjapirate on May 7, 2008 at 9:17 PM

What makes you say that?

Seven Percent Solution on May 7, 2008 at 9:19 PM

Obama’s chickens are Koch-ed!

Fight on, Rodman!

Let no mere tyro push ahead of your destiny in the line of History!

Crush Barry like a pusillanimous pismire!

profitsbeard on May 7, 2008 at 9:19 PM

oops sorry for double post, actually there are some who need to read it twice

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 9:20 PM

rock out with your electoral c%%k out!

blatantblue on May 7, 2008 at 9:21 PM

He’s repeating what Rush said earlier today.

SouthernGent on May 7, 2008 at 9:23 PM

Rock on with your bad self, Hillary!

NickTx on May 7, 2008 at 9:27 PM

Koch is jealous of Giuliani and really hated him. Koch was a decent mayor, Rudy was a great one. Koch can be small minded and petty.

Hilts on May 7, 2008 at 9:36 PM

When the Dems figure out, if they can before it is too late, all that must be done to defeat B. Hussein Obama is for the 527s to run TV ads of Wright’s speeches, Ayers’ dancing, Farrakahn’s march and B. and M.’s hovel in Chicago, gotten with partnership with the soon to be convicted Tony Rezko. Windandsea can put up all the stats in the world. Voters will not vote for a man who associates with these haters. I loved the speech by Michele O. about B. Hussein’s mother being someone trying to get a head. She was a hippie with a taste for foreigners, and parents who co-dependented her.

Zelsdorf Ragshaft on May 7, 2008 at 9:36 PM

This next song is dedicated to Hillary. It goes out from from the former NY mayor Eddy K. He says to stay cool, baby. Stay cool.

Weight of Glory on May 7, 2008 at 9:38 PM

Go to Cnn.com and vote for Hillary to stay in…

NickTx on May 7, 2008 at 9:39 PM

So Ed koch is really saying is Hillarys DOOMED!

The way the media sounds, Obama is their nominee.

If any Superdelegets,get lost in a moonlit stroll in a
park in the wee hours of the night,or a car accident
or airplane accident,then will know who is getting
real desperate!

Time for SNL to step up to the plate,have Obama on the
show,poke fun at HiLRod,and seal the deal!

But this nominee horror story looks like the last chapter
will be written in Denver!

canopfor on May 7, 2008 at 9:40 PM

Every other Tuesday is Groundhog day. The cycle goes from “she’s toast” to, “well maybe not,” to “he can’t win.”

Wake me up for the Denver Circus….

ParisParamus on May 7, 2008 at 9:45 PM

If I were a dem, I’d think like Ed K.

But the fact that the Democratic constituency doesn’t seem to care is a shock to me…

Not to me Ed, but I know the sinking feeling that comes from disillusionment.

The Nutroots can’t be be bothered with distractions such as values. They’re too busy winning the next election so they can engineer more of their ’social justice’.

petefrt on May 7, 2008 at 9:47 PM

Windandsea can put up all the stats in the world

what a genius! how did you figure out I was supporting Obama by listing exit poll data that shows his support among huge GE voting blocks is cratering??

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 9:49 PM

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/7/165116/9291

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 9:19 PM

And you seriously want us to use mydd as a source? NOT! Don’t forget those polls are based on Dem voters, not all the Repubs and Indy’s. The big picture will surely change in the GE.

Big John on May 7, 2008 at 9:50 PM

If you are running for president, you can’t be like some other poor guy in the pews who is afraid to stand up or even say something privately to the minister. You’re the guy who wants to lead the country and you have to have courage to stand up and lead your own pastor.

Easy for a Jew to say. We’re always telling our rabbis they’re full of it.

Attila (Pillage Idiot) on May 7, 2008 at 9:54 PM

Koch,regardless of his liberal views in most matters,is a patriot, so naturally he looks kind of odd to modern Dems. Who could trust a guy like that?

steve007 on May 7, 2008 at 9:58 PM

windandsea,
Well, I understood that you were pointing out Obama’s weaknesses and not his strengths, but it seems some don’t read so well.

Buford Gooch on May 7, 2008 at 9:59 PM

Ed Koch: Obama can’t win

It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment.

Holmes on May 7, 2008 at 9:59 PM

And you seriously want us to use mydd as a source? NOT! Don’t forget those polls are based on Dem voters, not all the Repubs and Indy’s. The big picture will surely change in the GE.

Big John on May 7, 2008 at 9:50 PM

is this Hot Air for dummies night?

the post at Mydd is by a Hillary supporter showing how Obama has lost a lot of ground in some huge voting blocks

Hint: this could be good for Republicans in the GE

Hint#2: publicly stepping on your dick in front of a large audience can be embarrassing

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 10:00 PM

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 9:15 PM

My dumbass inlaws all voted for Obama in the VA primary to “send a message to Hillary” … ugh.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:03 PM

Well, I understood that you were pointing out Obama’s weaknesses and not his strengths, but it seems some don’t read so well.

Buford Gooch on May 7, 2008 at 9:59 PM

thank God there are a few here who actually read and comprehend before commenting

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 10:03 PM

windandsea LOL hey, you’ve got the heart of a teacher, I suppose.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:04 PM

Allah,
Why do you keep using the scarecrow pictures?

Travis1 on May 7, 2008 at 10:10 PM

Koch understands what most of the MSM don’t — that Obama is too far to the left of most American voters. When most voters get an up-close view of Obama’s concept of “social justice,” they’re going to be appalled. So far, Obama’s been able to cloak his radical views with platitudes and vague generalities (hope! change!), but when he gets pinned down on specifics — which will happen in the GE (at the debates, or in interviews with reporters eager to make a name for themselves) — most moderate Dem and independent voters will be turned off.

AZCoyote on May 7, 2008 at 10:13 PM

If bold, courageous leadership in the face of leftist orthodoxy is the standard for a nominee, how come Her Majesty didn’t follow Koch himself last year in lowering the boom on MoveOn for their “Betray Us” cretinism”?

So failing for 20 years to either confront the pastor or quit a church where racism, anti-Americanism and crackpot conspiracies theories are preached from the pulpit is on par with remaining silent about a despicable ad run by part of your political base now?

Taking such a pastor as a mentor, naming a book after one of his sermons, and implying he represents the entire black community and refusing to disown him is the same thing as refusing to denounce and ad by a well funded smear group?

Having said pastor marry you, bless your home, baptise your children and forcing your children to listen to his rantings week after weeks is equivalent to not publicly denouncing an ad about a grown man?

To make such a comparison trivializes the significance of Obamas behavior and judgment. There’s a big difference between being a political coward and embracing whole heatedly a man you preaches hate for whites and America.

TheBigOldDog on May 7, 2008 at 10:15 PM

I disagree with Koch on almost every political position.

But he has balls. And speaks his mind.

I like that.

Professor Blather on May 7, 2008 at 10:17 PM

I have said before and I will say again. The democratic party will NOT allow any black, or appearently black man or woman to hold a office higher than their own.

Oboma came out of nowere they did not expect a “clean and articulate” yet black person to get anywhere. The DNC is quaking in their closets not knowing what the hell to do about this. The must stop it, but how?

Hell even the super delagates cannot handle this situation (as they were designed to do). Sharpton has threatened promised national riots if Oboma does not win the primary. If oboma loses the primary the DNC loses 20% of its underserved base.

By the way Sharpton was arrested today.

allrsn on May 7, 2008 at 10:19 PM

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:03 PM

I learned a few things this cycle:

1) CDS is every bit as real and strong as BDS
2) Many people, due to either their utter hatred for the Clintons, fear, or the abstract nature of it, have a hard time wrapping their head around the strategy and how it actually benefits McCain.

Professor Blather on May 7, 2008 at 10:17 PM

One of my favorite movie lines of all time is, “Private Joker is silly and he’s ignorant but he’s got guts and guts is enough.”

TheBigOldDog on May 7, 2008 at 10:24 PM

Hillary is like the gal who didn’t get invited to the prom, but she just can’t believe it, so she shows up anyway.

MB4 on May 7, 2008 at 10:33 PM

Koch was a good mayor for his first six years in office. After he lost the gubernatorial race to Cuomo, meh. But he did get to see New York City’s version of Obama, David Dinkins, up close and personal when Dinkins won the ‘89 mayoral primary and then beat Giuliani in the general election, and knows that, as decent a guy as Dinkins might have been, a leader with feet of clay is eventually going to be tested by every alpha male in his jurisdiction, and if they don’t push back, they’re going to lose control of the situation.

For Dinkins, that meant Crown Heights, the Korean grocery battles and the rise of Al Sharpton and the city’s crime rate. Not good, but nowhere near the risk the country would face if a President Obama delivered a similar performance.

jon1979 on May 7, 2008 at 10:33 PM

Key is that Obama is finaly being vetted by the Press… and he’s looking more and more like a standard politician as time passes.

He has some SERIOUS skeletons in his closet that are going to be cannon fodder for the 527s.

McCain is playing it smart, by condemning adds now he gives himself cover later, for when we start to get REALLY Ugly.

“Sen. Obama? Why on your application to Graduate school did you put down you were black? When legaly you are an ARABIC AMERICAN? And did this, through affirmitive action help you get into school?”

Romeo13 on May 7, 2008 at 10:36 PM

I learned a few things this cycle:

1)CDS is every bit as real and strong as BDS

TheBigOldDog on May,2008 at 10:24PM.

TheBigOldDog:

I got the CDS,but BDS is Bush Derangement Syndrome

or Barrack Derangement Syndrome?
Ha Ha!

canopfor on May 7, 2008 at 10:37 PM

So failing for 20 years to either confront the pastor or quit a church where racism, anti-Americanism and crackpot conspiracies theories are preached from the pulpit is on par with remaining silent about a despicable ad run by part of your political base now?

Taking such a pastor as a mentor, naming a book after one of his sermons, and implying he represents the entire black community and refusing to disown him is the same thing as refusing to denounce and ad by a well funded smear group?

Having said pastor marry you, bless your home, baptise your children and forcing your children to listen to his rantings week after weeks is equivalent to not publicly denouncing an ad about a grown man?

To make such a comparison trivializes the significance of Obamas behavior and judgment. There’s a big difference between being a political coward and embracing whole heatedly a man you preaches hate for whites and America.

TheBigOldDog on May 7, 2008 at 10:15 PM

Damn, TBOD, that’s good stuff.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:38 PM

Koch wrote a very good article about Michelle Obama recently. It contained a passage about her disgusting bitching about having to pay back educational loans or something.

I’ll google it.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:41 PM

March 25, 2008
Why Obama’s Speech Was Unconvincing
By Ed Koch

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/obamas_unconvincing_speech.html

really good article

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:43 PM

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:38 PM

I left out, “and giving tens of thousand of dollars to the hate mongering, anit-American racist…” because I’m really tired and really, really, really in nasty flippin’ pain.

TheBigOldDog on May 7, 2008 at 10:47 PM

I mean, damn.

Rev. Wright’s sermons charge that the U.S. government gives African-Americans drugs, created AIDS and is deliberately infecting blacks with that disease. His sermons claim that the U.S. unjustifiably nuclear bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II, and that 9/11 and the deaths of 3,000 Americans were caused by U.S. foreign policy. He alleges Israeli state terrorism against the Palestinians; calling Israel a “dirty word” and “racist country.” He blames Israel for 9/11 and supports the divestment campaign against it, denouncing “Zionism.” His venomous thoughts are summed up in his most discussed sermon in which he says the U.S. government “wants us to sing God Bless America. No, no, not God Bless America. God damn America. God damn America for killing innocent people.”

Senator Obama in his speech acknowledged that the rantings of his minister are “inexcusable,” but stated, “I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.”

Before we discuss his grandmother, let’s examine the impact of Rev. Wright’s statements on the Senator’s two daughters. Nothing says it better than a song from the musical “South Pacific,” to wit, “You have to be taught to hate and fear…You’ve got to be carefully taught.” Few dispute that Rev. Wright’s sermons are filled with hate.

Why didn’t Senator Obama stand up in the church and denounce his hateful statements or, at the very least, argue privately with his minister? It was horrifying to see on a video now viewed across America the congregation rise from the pews to applaud their minister’s rants.

and

To equate her [Obama's grandmother's] fears, similar to Jesse Jackson’s, with Wright’s anti-American, anti-white, anti-Jew, and anti-Israel rantings is despicable coming from a grandson. In today’s vernacular, he threw her under the wheels of the bus to keep his presidential campaign rolling.
For shame.

What is it that I and others expected Obama to do? A great leader with conscience and courage would have stood up and faced down anyone who engages in such conduct. I expect a President of the United States to have the strength of character to denounce and disown enemies of America - foreign and domestic — and yes, even his friends and confidants when they get seriously out of line.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:47 PM

really, really, really in nasty flippin’ pain.

TheBigOldDog on May 7, 2008 at 10:47 PM

Oh dear. I hope it’s nothing serious.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:48 PM

and nobody believes that Obama supports those statements

Lots of people not infected with liberalism do believe he supports those statements. missus barry also supports those statements as well as his longtime supporters bill and bernadette. My guess is that there are other fetid skeletons in his closet that will not remain there for long.

peacenprosperity on May 7, 2008 at 10:50 PM

Uh not white men, up in those stats. White, formerly male, demwits.

And Koch just echoed what I keep saying, confirming it. Dems with a clue know hussein is toast. He is not able to get elected, because he’s stained with RACISM. The supers will give the nomination to the harridan.

dogsoldier on May 7, 2008 at 10:54 PM

If it’s Obama v McCain, I expect Koch to endorse McCain. Many of his generation will defect from the dems to vote McCain as well.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:57 PM

I think Hillary is doing a magnificent job and is a great candidate

Somebody’s been nibbling on cheese that went bad.

whitetop on May 7, 2008 at 11:05 PM

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 10:48 PM

Bad back and I grantee 100% that it is going to rain tomorrow in Boston. That’s the only benefit… I can predict rain or snow about 12 - 24 hours in advance…

TheBigOldDog on May 7, 2008 at 11:12 PM

Sorry to hear that. Back pain’s nasty and the meds don’t do much, if anything. My husband has back problems off and on…

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 11:21 PM

feel better…good night.

funky chicken on May 7, 2008 at 11:33 PM

If it’s Obama v McCain, I expect Koch to endorse McCain. Many of his generation will defect from the dems to vote McCain as well.

funky chicken

Right you are, my friend. I’ve happened to hear, over the last few months, several very clear anecdotal cases of just this phenomenon. Some real hesitations about Clinton among tribal Dems in deep blue states, but instant dismissal of Obama if he’s up against McCain.

I find this significant not because I expected it, or because I like to hear it’s happening, but because it does correspond to what I understand to be the predictable dynamics.

It’s seemingly fashionable among right-of-center pundits to attrbute great electoral prospects to Obama in the general, but I think there’s very real potential for an electoral blow-out against him. Against a candidate that McCain could be if he plays his cards right, Obama being viscerally unacceptable to many tribal life-long Dems (in PA, OH, MI, even NY and NJ) creates the possibility for a 40-state blowout. Even very sharp and prominent pundits on the right seem to be missing this these days.

IceCold on May 7, 2008 at 11:55 PM

“I am shocked, without knowing the reason that it is happening, that none of the allegations with the respect of Wright, his former pastor, have had any impact on his polling,” said Koch.

It’s like Ed Koch has never met a Democrat.

Newsflash: No matter what Reverend Wright says, Barack Obama will still be black. And no matter what Hillary Clinton says or does, she will still be a woman. So basically most liberal voters’ minds were closed when the first posters were hung.

The good news is that conservatives are capable of thinking outside of stereotypes. The bad news is that the Republican Party candidate is an old white guy who doesn’t really have much to offer besides that.

logis on May 8, 2008 at 12:01 AM

Here’s a semi-fresh insight: What is driving the Obama adoration/adulation among Liberals?
They are still wingeing about the Kerry debacle of four years ago. They were certain that they had the election won. This time, they want to avoid the emotional pain of losing another election,so they are heavily invested in Obama not disappointing them as Kerry did. They are driven by their own sense of self.
But they put their well being in the hands of a one term Senator with no accomplishments. It’s sort of like a woman who always seeks out the type of man who will abuse her.
Ed Koch is right-Obama can’t win. Buy pharma stocks now, as the market for anti-depressants will go through the roof in November.

Doug on May 8, 2008 at 1:38 AM

windansea on May 7, 2008 at 10:00 PM

Watch the language.. :{

Chakra Hammer on May 8, 2008 at 2:23 AM

I hope you folks who say Obama can’t win are correct. I have to wonder though, if there are enough old white guys alive who can balance out and surpass all those college kids who’ve recently registered to vote (Democrat).

poodlemom on May 8, 2008 at 3:46 AM

“He gained among Black Women”

Perhaps that’s because black women are (now more likely) to vote for Michelle, who (now more clearly) controls Barack. But does America really want a President that’s controlled by his Eve? She’s going to hold veto and override power over all his decisions. (Yeah, he may not know it… but I bet she loves her church and her pastor and drinks it in, so he sits quietly and suppresses the truth in his conscience until she tells him he can spreak….)

dtestard on May 8, 2008 at 6:12 AM

Is Koch part of Operation Chaos?

jgapinoy on May 7, 2008 at 9:03 PM

No, he’s Jewish, and unlike most liberal Jews in the US, Koch is politically savvy as sees the Dem’s abandoning the Jews for other leftist causes and groups. There’s a hierarchy of victimhood in the Dem. party, and Jews no longer are near the top rung.

JiangxiDad on May 8, 2008 at 7:11 AM

Ed Koch is sniffing funny fumes again.

pilamaye on May 8, 2008 at 7:20 AM

Here’s a semi-fresh insight: What is driving the Obama adoration/adulation among Liberals?
Doug on May 8, 2008 at 1:38 AM

According to Joe Biden, it’s because all Democrats are utterly amazed that a black man can somehow manage to bathe himself and speak coherently.

logis on May 8, 2008 at 7:35 AM


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