Hillary to AK, ND, NE, ID, Caucus voters: You don't matter.

I expected something tone-deaf and insensitive from the Hillary Campaign after her absolute trouncing this weekend. I did not expect anything as tone-deaf and insensitive as this. Wow. I was shocked. Off the CNN ticker:

Hillary dismisses weekend losses

Take a look at how, instead of regular standard political spin, she tries for an outright tale spin.

WHITE MARSH, Maryland (CNN) — Hillary Clinton on Monday explained away Barack Obama's clean sweep of the weekend's caucuses and primaries as a product of a caucus system that favors "activists" and, in the case of the Louisiana primary, an energized African-American community.

Translation: If you are black or if you are somebody energized and interested in the political process, enough so to go out there and vote, your vote doesn't count. Hillary just wants voters who shut up and pull the lever and trust her to know best.

She told reporters who had gathered to watch her tour a General Motors plant here that "everybody knew, you all knew, what the likely outcome of these recent contests were."

coughMAINEcough

Pre-primary season polls in Maine... she lost 5% since October, and everbody else possible went for Obama.
http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/...
Critical Insights
Mid-date: 10/24/2007
Hillary Clinton 46%
Barack Obama 10%
John Edwards 5%
Unsure 35%
Other 4%

Critical Insights
Mid-date: 4/24/2007
Maine
Hillary Clinton 39%
Barack Obama 22%
John Edwards 16%

American Research Group
Mid-date: 2/4/2007
Hillary Clinton 41%
Barack Obama 17%
John Edwards 14%

"These are caucus states by and large, or in the case of Louisiana, you know, a very strong and very proud African-American electorate, which I totally respect and understand."

"I respect African-Americans, just not enough to expect them to vote for me or to do anything more then just write off their votes."

She must be in a tough spot, she needs to win Ohio and Texas, and the biggest chunk of Dem voters in Ohio is AA, while the biggest chunk of Dem voters in Texas is Hispanic. This is a tough spot... who does she pander to?

Clinton has publicly dismissed the caucus voting system since before Super Tuesday, seeking to lower expectations heading into a series of contests that played to Obama's advantage. His campaign features what many consider to be a stronger and more dedicated grassroots organization than Clinton's.

Noting that "my husband never did well in caucus states either," Clinton argued that caucuses are "primarily dominated by activists" and that "they don't represent the electorate, we know that."

Translation: If you went to a caucus, even if you went to a caucus in support of Hillary Clinton, you are an "activist" and your vote doesn't count. Because to Hillary, it only counts if she wins. If your state is a caucus state, your voice and your vote does not matter.

The New York senator went out of her way to say she was "absolutely" looking forward to the Ohio and Texas primaries in March, where she believes voters are more receptive to her bread-and-butter message.

Translation: If she doesn't win there, she's done, and she knows it.

She also downplayed many of Obama's Super Tuesday victories, describing them as states that Democrats should not expect to win in November.

"It is highly unlikely we will win Alaska or North Dakota or Idaho or Nebraska," she said, naming several of Obama's red state wins. "But we have to win Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Michigan ... And we've got to be competitive in places like Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma."

This is a middle finger to Dean's 50 state strategy. It's also possibly one of the stupidest things I've ever heard a politician say. It is one thing to say that every state should be a battleground state. It's another thing to say that Idaho doesn't matter because we can't win Idaho, but Oklahoma, now, that is gonna be a competetive state right there!

Remember, if your state votes for Hillary, it matters. If it doesn't, your state doesn't matter.

Good luck to us if she is the primary candidate. And good luck to those down-ticket dems in Alaska, North Dakota, Idaho, Nebraska, Maine, etc. You're not a state where Hillary thinks Democrats can win. Save money and stop trying now.

UPDATE: I sent the story to a friend of mine who was present at the very exciting WA caucuses. Here's what he had to say:

Clinton argued that caucuses are "primarily dominated by activists" and that "they don't represent the electorate, we know that."

That's true.

Problem with that logic?

a) You know the activists will vote. You don't know, for certain, how many of the other people will. Many don't. And yes, many more people are likely to vote this time around, but that brings me to point b (the better point)...

b) This time, A LOT MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING ACTIVE. Those caucuses were filled with first-timers of all ages. People are going to come out more to vote, which somewhat defeats point a...but it also means usually-not-so-active people are getting involved at earlier levels. Like, for instance, caucuses.

I mean, really...when was the last time the whole damn country was this riled up over this part of the process? When was the last time everyone was paying such close attention?