Subject: RE: SOTU
From: "Begala, Paul" <[email-masked]>
To: "John Podesta" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:09:37 -0500

My hatred for the Clinton-bashing, hand-wringing, sanctimonious
commentariat outweighs all other considerations.  It's okay for Barack's
campaign to push reporters to pry into Clinton's sex life, but if
Clinton says Barack is fudging his story about the war, he's a racist?
Give me a break.  It's just like family:  we can complain all we want
about each other, but when outsiders do it, it's out of bounds.  And it
IS patronizing to Barack to suggest the only reason people voted for him
was because they were mad at Bill.  There's nothing in the data to
indicate that.  Maybe they just like Obama - despite their affection for
Bill, not because of any newfound animosity toward him.
 
That said, comparing Barack's S.C. win to Jesse's was really stupid.
They're not staffing him right, John.  He's just out there saying
whatever pops into his head.  As ever, he needs more scripting; she
needs less.
 
As for the SOTU thing, I think Barack wants to sit with Teddy.  But
sitting with Hillary would be a much bigger deal.  Any support you could
lend the idea would be appreciated.  It would really go a long way
toward unifying the party.  

 

________________________________

From: John Podesta [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 9:03 AM
To: Begala, Paul
Subject: Re: SOTU

Good idea. Was your nose growing long today on Today?  That was rough.

On 1/26/08, Begala, Paul <[email-masked]> wrote: 

	John,
	
	I'm pushing Barack and HRC to sit together at SOTU. Rahm is all
for it, as are Pelosi & Reid. Talked to Ax; he was open but noncomittal.
Both BC & HRC seem supportive - according to Doug Band and Bing, who is
pushing forcefully.
	
	What do you think?  I think it would blow Bush off the front
page and give the nets cutaways throughout -- so long as neither is
making bunny ears behind the other's head.
	
	Paul