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February 20, 2008
Flies like a butterfly; stings like a bee
Posted: 11:52 AM ET

It wasn’t your typical pre-game speech for a Hillary Clinton rally.
 
In remarks before Hillary Clinton came on stage here in Youngstown, Ohio  — and just as the news shows were projecting a Wisconsin win for Barack Obama – Thomas Buffenbarger,  International President of the Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, addressed the crowd and ripped into Barack Obama. He described Clinton’s opponent as “Janus, the two-faced god of Roman times… just a trained thespian, a terrific shadow boxer.” At one point he called for the crowd to “boo” obama and they obliged – briefly.

Recall, Clinton tries not to refer to Obama by name. And the campaign insists they keep their criticism on the substance.

Not Buffenbarger. Some choice lines:

ALT TEXT

-”Watch the junior senator from Illinois carefully. As he delivers his best lines, he cocks his head back lifts his nose up and turns his ear so he hears the roar of his adoring crowd. It’s a trained thespian’s move. But unlike some, we in the machinists union have seen this act before.”

-”He can act like a friend of the working man even as he dances to the tune dictated by billionaires.”

-”There he is with his nose in the air pontificating when the coast is clear, and as soon as anyone throws a punch, he’s in a bum’s rush to get away from a conflict.”

Apparently, not a lot of love lost there.

His main gripe? Obama didn’t intervene in a labor dispute. He apparently blames him for lost jobs and damaged lives.

And then there was this – read into it what you will: “What is new and novel and unusual is Barack Obama’s boxing show… Outside the ring he pretends he can float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.  Great moves, great combinations, great footwork. But brothers and sisters, I’ve seen Ali in action.  He could rope-a-dope with Foremen inside the ring. He could go toe-to-toe with Liston inside the ring, he could get his jaw broken by Norton and keep fighting inside the ring. But Barack Obama is no Muhammad Ali. He took a walk everytime there was a tough vote in the Illinois State Senate, he took a walk more than 130 times.  That’s what a shadow boxer does.  All the right moves, all the right combinations, all the right footwork, but he never steps into the ring.”

A few minutes later, the crowd drowned out Buffenbarger, chanting, “Hillary! Hillary! Hillary!” The next speaker introduced the New York Senator who subsequently took the stage – with no mention of Janus or the shadow boxer.

 -Jessica Yellin, 360° Correspondent

7 Comments
Filed under: Jessica Yellin •  Raw Politics
7 Comments
Delores Pyle   February 20th, 2008 12:01 pm ET

Did anyone see Michelle Obama stand up and say that ‘this is the first time in her life that she has ever been proud of her country’? I wonder why the media is not picking up on this seemingly anti- American comment?

Lydia Fortune   February 20th, 2008 12:10 pm ET

Buffenbarger’s attacks on Obama are mild compared to the racial nastiness that I am expecting to rear it’s incognito head as the race gets tighter. I’m pleased by the multi-cultural coalition that is backing him considering this country’s historical and still peculiar relationship between whites and blacks. One question: What fuels the constant media counting of how many African-Americans support Obama? Whites have always been free to support white candidates without nary a thought.

Smart AJ   February 20th, 2008 12:14 pm ET

I am an Independent voter but what is going on now is that the Republican Party are voting for Obama thinking that they can easily beat him when it comes to general election. These Republicans will never vote for Democrat in General election.
The republican could gamble anyway thinking that Obama may not win. But I am sure the Republican plan is to tear Hilary Clinton down and vote the person they think they can beat.

I think the Democrat must be careful or else they will loose the general election. Do you think Democrat can ever win Utah? We know Democrat can win New York or California.
Democrat beware ! This is your chance do not blow it. I wish Senator Lieberman or New York Mayor is running anyway, let’s wait and see. Obama can never match up to John McCain and I don’t want to waist my vote, I may have to vote for McCain now and in the general election.

Smart AJ
Texas
Obama winning Streak

Lois Dill   February 20th, 2008 12:18 pm ET

Hillary Clinton is the best person for the job. The media is not treating her fairly. Women, as usual are treated as 2nd class to men. I am tuning out the news channels these days because of biased comments in favor of Obama. Anderson, I am counting on you to bring fairness back into reporting as you have done with other issues in the past.

Donna H. Chicago, IL   February 20th, 2008 12:22 pm ET

Barack is a great thespian. But as we all know that is not the true individual. His speeches some from other people are inspirational but where is the substance? What is he going to do for the country and ALL the people? Why was there such an outcry over a snipit of President Clinton’s comment regarding “a fairytale”. Now Michelle Obama makes the most ridiculous comment regarding only now be proud of the US. Why, why are reporters to quick to point out that her comment is being taken out of context. There definitely is a double standard and reverse discrimination at play here. The media is definitely promoting one candidate over another. Isn’t the media supposed to be unbiased and report all the news? Guess not!

Giovi   February 20th, 2008 12:45 pm ET

Hi Anderson,
I would like to know why Obama considers and sells himself as black.
If a person has a white mother and a black father is he/she black?
why ? because he looks more like his father than his mother?

Talk about using the dominant color of your skin - in this case to win votes from others who share the darker skin color.

This - from people who want the world - not to “judge them by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”
(not verbatum- but attributed to MLK)

Obama is using and has been using the “race card” since day one.

No one has addressed this .

I hope you will.

Betty Martin   February 20th, 2008 2:30 pm ET

America will be disappointed with Obama. Look at what he did last night. He started his victory speech before Hillary finished her’s. Politeness dictates that the loser go first and finish their speech before the winner starts their remarks on election day. He didn’t do this. He showed his true colors which is that he’s a petty and divisive as the next politician. His soaring words, don’t match his actions. He’s a phony, and America should wake up before we elect another Republican. McCain has integrity. If Obama doesn’t have it, they’ll see right through him.

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