Silly Season Scorecard

After the latest ridiculous statement from Howard Wolfson, I can't continue to stomach the fact that Hillary has owned the "victim" rhetoric. Who has really been attacking whom unfairly? Who is really engaging in Ken Starr / Karl Rove politics? Well, to be fair, neither of the Democratic candidates are that low. But my intuition tells me that one side is launching more petty political attacks than it is debating real substantive differences.

So...let's tally it up. Here is a list of the major "attacks" launched by both campaigns, on a scale of utterly petty, frivolous and misleading (10) to wholly substantive and dealing with the issues (1).

Clinton Camp - Total Silly Scale Points = 61 / Silly Scale Average = 6.78

- Obama has wanted to be president since Kindergarten. Who's the over-ambitious, entitlement-complex candidate now? Do we even have to address this one. Silly scale says: 10.

- Obama plagiarized from (his national co-chairman) Deval Patrick. I think Clinton's swan song remarks at the Texas debate that "plagiarized" both John Edwards and good ol' Bill were enough to put a nail in this one. Will give her points just because any possibility of plagiarism should be taken seriously. Silly scale says: 7.

- Obama's denunciation of NAFTA was mere political positioning. Points here for actually dealing with an issue whatsoever. Though, once again, the nature of the criticism was frivolous and unsubstantiated. Silly scale says: 5.

- Obama is all speech and no substance. This attack really really wants to be a substantive critique, but falls far short. If Clinton wanted to have debates on actual pieces of Obama's record, or the missing pieces of Obama's record, then maybe there would be some actual substantive critique. But a substanceless attack on substanceless is about as substanceless as it gets. Here are some cliffsnotes on the candidates' legislative records. Hillary, take a look. Then let's talk. (And while we're at it, a quick interlude about speeches and inspiration). Silly scale says: 7.

- The "Dressed" Obama Photo. No real confirmation that this came out of the Clinton camp, so we have to give her some benefit of the doubt. But taken in tandem with Hillary's bizarrely evasive response to whether Obama is a muslim, this seems like a pretty insidious attempt to drive people apart because of their religion, and to perpetuate internet rumors about Obama's secret Islamic extremist plan to destroy the country (Good thing we'll have John McCain to protect us if these attacks work and Hillary is the nominee!). Silly scale says: 7.

- Obama's health care plan leaves out $15 million people. Aside from the distortion that Hillary's plan, unlike Obama's, is "truly universal" there is real substantive debate here. While I may not agree, there is a legitimate question about the best/most efficient way to cover the most people. Silly scale says: 2.

- Obama is like Karl Rove for criticizing Hillary's mandates. Hillary finally seemed like she was talking substance on health care, until she couldn't actually have the debate without making the ridiculous comparison of Obama to Karl Rove. If anything, Hillary's attempt to pretend that Obama's plan is not true to core Democratic values is the more insidious attack. Silly scale says: 8.

- Obama is like Ken Starr for asking for the Clinton tax returns. Hmm...you're right Hillary, lack of disclosure and accountability has never been a problem in Washington. Guess we should let this one slide. Silly scale says: 8.

- Obama needs to come clean about Rezko. Two words: Peter Paul. Silly scale says: 7.

Obama Camp - Total Silly Scale Points = 12 / Silly Scale Average = 3

- Hillary's health care plan forces people to buy health care. This is just fact, and on topic. Hillary made mandates the centerpiece of the distinction between her an Barack's plan. Now she's dealing with the consequences and re-living one of the reasons she couldn't make health care reform happen in 1993. A point off for Obama using the language of "coercion" -- not inaccurate, but slightly inappropriate for such an advocate of the welfare state. Silly scale says: 2

- Hillary supported NAFTA. Again, just fact, and on topic. Hillary's record on NAFTA might have been more nuanced than Obama cared to put in a flier, but her support of NAFTA is undeniable. Silly scale says: 2.

- Hillary needs to release her tax returns. See Obama is like Ken Starr for asking for the Clinton tax returns. To be fair, if the tax returns show no abnormalities Obama's pressure will seem sillier than it does at the time of this post. Though I maintain, it does not make him Ken Starr. We'll leave this one as neutral for now. Silly scale says: 5.

- Hillary is part of the old-breed of politics that invented Silly Season. I have trouble sometimes with Obama's complete dismissal of the old when Ted Kennedy is one of his banner supporters. But if my silly scale is even remotely close to accurate, to Hillary, Silly Seaon is the most wonderful time of the year. Silly scale says: 3.


A few other Silly Season highlights...

Double Team

- John McCain will keep us in Iraq for 100 years. I know McCain is a hawk. So does most of the country. But peolpe must hear the "100 years in Iraq" comments and realize Hillary and Obama are spinning McCain's words. They both look like foolish politicians, and they should stop before it backfires. Silly scale says: 8.

The New York Times

- Vicki Iseman. The speculative reporting of John McCain's relationship with Cindy-McCain-doppleganger lobbyist Vicki Iseman made it nowhere near the 'news that's fit to print.' Again, a silly ploy that just makes liberals everywhere look desperate and foolish. Silly scale says: 9.


Alright, I'm throwing this list together somewhat haphazardly in response to Wolfson's comments. Please add your own, and comment on my ratings.

Happy Silly Season!