Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

What a difference a year makes.

OK, sometimes you write a diary and check back and - boom - there it is, someone posting on the exact same subject. But really, that shouldn't negate all my hard work should it?:D - or the significance of this cover.

Millions of people see Time Magazine, even those who barely follow politics and just glance at the cover in the checkout line at the grocery store. Some will say the media is doing Obama's bidding, but really, folks, the writing is on the wall at this point. The more public opinion solidifies around the notion of Obama as the nominee, the tougher it will be for Hillary to convince the superdelegates to overrule Obama's insurmountable pledged delegate and popular vote lead. A deal will be made on MI and FL later this month and that will be the final nail in the coffin of Hillary's campaign.

It's been an amazingly hard-fought primary, in my opinion not because Obama is a weak candidate but because Obama and Clinton are two incredibly strong candidates. In any other year either of them might have swept near-instantaneously to victory following a win in Iowa. But at this point, I hope Clinton supporters begin to realize that this thing is in Obama's hands. The remaining contests have largely been predicted in advance, and therefore it would be hard for either candidate to gain momentum from them even IF their results could change the larger metrics of the race.

And for those who say Obama is a fatally flawed candidate and we are doomed in the GE - you are missing (and probably want to miss) the big picture. How were Obama's chances looking in November/ December of last year - just five months ago - when he was trading the lead in Iowa with Clinton and had a solid lead in only ONE other state, South Carolina? How likely a nominee did he seem when he was 20 points behind Clinton in the national polls for almost all of 2007? Even now, with the Democratic party arguably at its most divided and the left declawed against John McCain, Obama leads the Republican nominee in the national polls and just about breaks even in the electoral vote. Let's see where those polls end up after the party comes together and Obama gives a historic speech at the convention.

Personally, I am incredibly excited about the GE because I believe the country is on our side with the issues and we have the opportunity and - thanks to the power of online fundraising - the resources to make gains like never before. Not only that, but we have an intelligent, charismatic and inspirational candidate to lead us forward. 2008 will be a Democratic year on all levels!

Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, TIME Magazine (all tags)

Comments

63 Comments

Awful

I know that she only has a slim chance at this point but...

that's really wrong of Time.  They should have waited until it actually ended.  This is like politics of personal destruction.  It's like someone at their editorial board not only wanted to rally opinion around BO, but more importantly they are denying Hillary the autonomy and grace to exit on her own terms.

Seriously, awful.  

by BPK80 2008-05-07 09:47PM | 0 recs
Re: Awful

The Media has been in this game the entire time for themselves. The more divisive this campaign got, the more money they made. Why stop now?

by ragekage 2008-05-07 09:51PM | 0 recs
nothing new from time

remember their fucking "shrinking President" cover? i swear i wanted to get violent with them for that, and still want to. It really angers me how the media destroyed Hillary and the Clinton's reputations. They are the only reason Barack Obama got this nod. remember the feeling up Matthews leg? Or Jack Cafferty's daily pro Obama rants? Commentators like Roland Martin and Jammal Simmons hogging all the time on CNN? Tucker Carlson's Clinton hating? Keith Olbermann? The media handed it to him. They perpetuated the Clintons being racists story that they've hurt their standing, and finally may have achieved bringing the Clintons down. I dont' know why they hate them. I think the problem is that over the years, us Bill and Hillary Clinton supporters never bitched and moaned about the media and politics the way conservatives did. we didn't flood the switchboards the way conservatives and Bush supporters have done since Reagan during the Clinton years, we didn't write letters to the networks enough during the Clinton years, and there are barely any real Bill Clinton partisans with blogs like the Daily Kos. I mean I consider myself loyal, but many of us Clintonites are at fault. We didn't stand up for them the way conservatives bashed them and stood up for themselves over the years. This may have played a part in the media's continuing hate of them for so many years.

by DiamondJay 2008-05-07 09:53PM | 0 recs
Re: nothing new from time

The Clintons, for all of their ascent up the American ladder, are not from Establishment pedigree.  They never fit in with the overly formalistic D.C. establishment.  It was in many ways an insult to their culture than an outsider from Arkansas and his middle-class wife from Chicago got to the Oval Office.  

Hillary isn't getting a fair treatment at all.  

So far, this Time magazine cover is the worst of the worst.  

by BPK80 2008-05-07 09:58PM | 0 recs
Re: nothing new from time

I know exactly what you mean, which is, in my view why Washington loves Obama and hates the Clintons. Its also why I think Bill had trouble with health care in his own party. He wanted to reform things, and they didn't. They are also jealous of how he beat them all in 1996. He landslided a senator of 40 years, even after such a crushing congressional defeat. My point is I know they've never gotten good treatment, but many of us failed to stand up for them in the '90's thru now strongly enough, when it would have made a big difference We didn't do what conservatives did for their people and against Clinton. We didn't bombard switchboards, flood mailing rooms, and rally back then. If Clinton supporters had done more of these things, the media would have shown them more respect. you can bet your ass Obama supporters do this all the time. I guess thats the price you pay when you represent moderatism instead of ideologues and people with lives who can't attend caucuses.  

by DiamondJay 2008-05-07 10:07PM | 0 recs
Re: nothing new from time

Moveon.org was created to defend Clinton.  The idea was to organize and pressue congress to censure the president and then move on.

by shalca 2008-05-07 10:35PM | 0 recs
what about every other

conservative action committee, anti Clinton hate group, think tank, PACs against him that got created, and all the pro Bush, Pro war, pro religious right pro GOP groups, partisans that Bush got for 2000 and 2004? Please, don't try to tell me that liberals stood up loudly enough for the Clintons in times other than impeachment

by DiamondJay 2008-05-08 09:54AM | 0 recs
nobody stood up

for his policies and character on the Democratic side like they did for Bush. there were more times other than impeachment during his term that libs could have stood up for.

by DiamondJay 2008-05-08 10:00AM | 0 recs
Re: Awful

The media has been doing its very best to pick our nominee throughout this whole process.  This is merely a drop in the bucket.  It's the cherry on the sundae.

I have nothing against Barack Obama but I have a lot against the media.  This wasn't right.  And anyone who expects them to fact-check John McCain the same way they pored over Hillary's every comma is a fool.

by Steve M 2008-05-07 10:05PM | 0 recs
Re: Awful

For the most part, the media has been in the tank for Obama. Russert claimed the primary over the other day. I didn't realize the media has the right to do so. I wrote Russert and asked if he'd give us a heads-up in advance when it's over during the general election so I won't have to waste my time voting.

by soyousay 2008-05-08 04:05AM | 0 recs
Re: Awful

I understand that this is your perspective. But I don't understand how non-stop coverage of the Wright issue and the terrible ABC debate pre-PA demonstrate a media "in the tank" for Obama.

by politicsmatters 2008-05-08 04:16AM | 0 recs
by soyousay 2008-05-08 04:39AM | 0 recs
TIME


   jumped the gun. It's not over til Obama hits 2,025 or Clinton ends her campaign on her own.

  I hate the media declaring winners. It's ridiculous, particularly when they jump the gun.

by southernman 2008-05-07 09:51PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

yeah that was a pretty 'bitch' move coming from TIME.

you got to admit that its wrong.

by amde 2008-05-07 09:52PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

It was a ballsy move, no doubt. But can you deny their logic? How does Clinton win at this point?

by animated 2008-05-07 09:56PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

still they could have a little

R E S P E C T

[in my best tina turner sing voice]

you cant deny the logic but its a 'douche bag' move. its a good thing i dont read TIME.

by amde 2008-05-07 10:00PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

try your best Aretha Franklin sing voice instead.

by toyomama 2008-05-07 10:44PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

hahhaaa, i knew i had it wrong.

by amde 2008-05-08 07:11AM | 0 recs
Time mag is loony

by TeresaInPa 2008-05-07 09:53PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

I'm not sure that is a real cover, and, it is astericked with a qualifier at the bottom of the page.  Was on Halperin's site before with no explanation.

by mady 2008-05-07 09:54PM | 0 recs
Disgraceful.

we should really write letters to them about this, and call their lines about this. This is wrong, and who the hell made them the deciders. This is not democracy. they are clearly trying to tell us who the nominee is.

by DiamondJay 2008-05-07 09:55PM | 0 recs
Re: Disgraceful.

 Could be a Dewy wins moment
by gunner 2008-05-07 09:57PM | 0 recs
Re: Disgraceful.

Doubtful.  Within the realm of remote possibility, though.

by bjones 2008-05-07 10:10PM | 0 recs
Within the realm of remote possibility

Yes. There could be an asteroid with Obama's name on it hurtling toward the earth at this very moment.

by Kobi 2008-05-07 10:30PM | 0 recs
Re: Within the realm of remote possibility

lol!

If you ever watch LOST, that post just made me think about Hurley, the Chicken Shack, and an unfortunate journalist named Tricia Tanaka...

If you've never watched that show, never mind.

by bjones 2008-05-07 10:35PM | 0 recs
sorry

no have seen.

by Kobi 2008-05-07 10:48PM | 0 recs
Re: Within the realm of remote possibility

Haha!!  Yes.

I believe he decided to buy the Chicken Shack so he could eat there whenever he wanted.  I guess "the island" didn't want it, so HELLO ASTEROID!  :)

by cotasm 2008-05-08 07:34AM | 0 recs
Re: Disgraceful.

"Within the realm of possibility?"

Um... no.

by cotasm 2008-05-08 07:32AM | 0 recs
Re: Disgraceful.

This is not democracy. they are clearly trying to tell us who the nominee is.

Oh, c'mon now. The voters have already done that!:D

by animated 2008-05-07 09:58PM | 0 recs
its not over yet. He is not yet king

and the superdelegates will decide this thing, not pledged delegates. he hasn't won anything yet until he has the required number, which will be higher when MI and FL get counted. half of the voters in this contest voted for his opponent, and he still will likely get stomped in WV and KY and PR. we'll see how he does in the rest.

by DiamondJay 2008-05-07 10:01PM | 0 recs
Re: its not over yet. He is not yet king

Hey, I've been following this thing. I know how it shakes out. But (and I feel almost like a robot typing this for the ten millionth time) most people understand that overruling the pledged delegates is no easy task...and now Clinton's last chance to demonstrate real momentum is behind her. Even Huckabee won a few at the end, you know:D

by animated 2008-05-07 10:07PM | 0 recs
Re: its not over yet. He is not yet king

there is still west virginia, kentucky and Puerto Rico. We need Latinos, and Obama will not carry them, and we need enough whites, and Obama is floundering with them. Those states matter. The only Dems to lose West Virginia in the last 50 years were McGovern, Mondale, Gore and Kerry. Gore could have gotten that state and won the white house. Carter and Dukakis even got that state, Carter twice. Bill Clinton got Kentucky twice. PR has latinos, crucial to our victory. this is not over.

by DiamondJay 2008-05-07 10:10PM | 0 recs
Re: its not over yet. He is not yet king

Puerto Rico doesn't vote in the G.E. last time I checked.

by cherrygarcia 2008-05-07 10:13PM | 0 recs
they have hispanics

who unlike the blacks, are actually a swing bloc. we need them to win, and to win them bigger than Kerry did.

by DiamondJay 2008-05-07 10:15PM | 0 recs
Re: they have hispanics

You know nothing of Puerto Rico do you?

I mean this in a well mannered way.

by cherrygarcia 2008-05-07 10:27PM | 0 recs
Re: they have hispanics

valuing votes according to the color of the skin that casts them. That's a good idea. Maybe we can get some fractions worked in here, just to make it formal.

by jaiwithani 2008-05-08 03:13AM | 0 recs
Re: its not over yet. He is not yet king

Right, but (and, like I said, I'm getting a bit sick of arguing this endlessly) that doesn't add up to a persuasive argument when Obama is even or ahead of McCain in the polls overall. Obviously not all of those who favor Clinton are abandoning him for McCain. He will do even better once the party unites (and the sooner, the better). Either way, it's hardly ENOUGH of an argument to justify the radical course you are suggesting.

Not only that, but Clinton would have a much higher moutain to climb, because the polls as they currently stand don't factor in what she would have to do to win the nomination, namely convince the supers to overrule the pledged delegate and popular vote winner. There would be massive fallout from that, believe me.

by animated 2008-05-07 10:20PM | 0 recs
Re: its not over yet. He is not yet king

"and the superdelegates will decide this thing, not pledged delegates."

I hate statements like this.

Yes, Obama will not reach 2025 on pledged delegates alone, but don't you understand that it's a lot easier to reach 2025 total delegates when you've got more pledged delegates?

Ok, there are 796 total superdelegates.  If Barack Obama were leading in pledged delegate count by 795, would you still say that "the superdelegates will decide this thing"?

See what I'm getting at here? Just because neither candidate will have enough pledged delegates to secure the nomination, that doesn't somehow make it an even playing field.

by chinapaulo 2008-05-07 10:19PM | 0 recs
Re: Disgraceful.

It is disgraceful.

It is what I've been complaining about since the beginning of the primaries.  The media is making the choice for president and Obama is in their "script" against McCain.

The MSM marginalized good candidates like Edwards and even Romney because it didn't fit in their "script" for the presidential election.

by stefystef 2008-05-08 03:42AM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

oh the media - the real villain in this primary.  sigh

by canadian gal 2008-05-07 09:58PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

Whine Whine it is over!  This isn't TV declaring a winner when there is an hour left to vote.

He needs 34 delegates to get the most in the primaries.  He needs to add about a 100 more super delegates to his total delegates to win. He will do that easily.

And do you really think Obama is doing anything to damage HRC when he could crush her.  Left handed non-existent gun made in Germany.  He could have made her a laughing stock.

The votes in Michigan and Florida aren't going to come into play.  Even if you did a re-rack like HRC would need to win those by about a 100 delegates  How likely is that.

Its over  

by jproctor 2008-05-07 10:11PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

i think your mad because HRC supporters refuse to concede.

Or

maybe because we refuse to believe??

by amde 2008-05-07 10:14PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

Obama has been damaging Clinton from the beginning.  It was covered up by the MSM that has had a love affair with Obama from the beginning.

Well, you know about "love affairs", they are really about lust.  The MSM LUSTS for Obama right now, but they really LOVE McCain.  All this warm, fuzzy reporting about Obama will go to pot when the MSM decide that they want McCain in office.  Republicans are far better media manipulators.

Then you will see the dismantling of the Democratic Party.  The Republicans will not go down without a fight.  Obama can't fight, he gets his surrogates to do it for him.  The Republicans are merely re-structuring.  They know they have a tough candidate to sell in McCain, but all they have to do is get the right people around him that makes the conservatives happy and all bets are off.

The Republicans will exploit the loopy left-wing fringe of the party (like in '72) and will push McCain to conservative Democrats and Independents (which Obama does VERY poorly in those groups).

And like Deval Patrick in Massachusetts, he will be a failure.

Sometimes, a society gets the government it deserves.

by stefystef 2008-05-08 03:38AM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

off topic:

i dont like him in this picture.

he looks like a creeper.

by amde 2008-05-07 10:12PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

You've gotta be kidding! I think it's a very charming picture.

by animated 2008-05-07 10:22PM | 0 recs
Hmmm

Don't hate on me (the messenger) but he looks like he's on a first date with the man of his dreams.

As a gay American, I know that look and that pose when I see it.

I think my fellow 'mo's know what I'm talking about.  I'm sure some women here recognize it too.  2008 might be the year of historic firsts for everyone in this country.  And it's about time!

by BPK80 2008-05-07 10:41PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

I don't think this is a real cover.  At any rate real or not it says at the bottom "Really, we're  pretty sure this time."  So maybe no need to get so upset.

by mady 2008-05-07 10:24PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

Humble me, not a national magazine, declares Hillary as the future winner of the race.

I know, I know, it's just me, and I'm no Time Magazine, but I do have my own opinion, and I bet on it.

by Gabriele Droz 2008-05-07 10:25PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner
Nice cover. Good for Time. The asterisk at the bottom is "Really, were pretty sure this time". Hopefully this will help rebuild Obomentum after the slime thrown at him by the repugs and Clinton camp the past few weeks. An odd alliance that. But, when winning at all costs becomes the mode of operation such things can happen. I've even seen posters on this site praising Fox news anchors!
You know, had Clinton been supportive of Obama during this whole Wright fiasco she would be thought of much better by a lot of folks. That's the whole problem with her campaign and a lot of her supporters. Doing the right thing is completely secondary.
by KttG 2008-05-07 10:35PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

Hillary was hardly bad at all during the Wright thing.  She said "he wouldn't have been my paster" and the day after Obama called the remarks "offensive," she responded to O'Reilley's question about Wright by saying exactly what Obama said: outrageous and offensive.

She made it clear she wasn't going to take his bait and she said nothing more about Wright.

Despite a few flubs, more by her husband than by her, Hillary has mostly been a class act.  So has Obama.  In this hypersensitive age, it's easy to forget what a real negative campaign looks like.  

by BPK80 2008-05-07 10:45PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

whoa - hold the phone.  doing the right thing - LOL  are you kidding me?  

BO stood by in silence in the media destruction of HRC  by a national press corps rooted in misogyny and sexism.  his campaign's chilling acceptance of the gender bias stirred by the national media reminds many of Ronald Reagan's acceptance of the race-baiting southern strategy.

so i ask you - was he doing the right thing by not calling them out on it?  or rather, what does it say about him that he took advantage of it.?

by canadian gal 2008-05-07 10:57PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

You know, I'm female, and I even have to ask what instances you're talking about. "Chilling acceptance of the gender bias"? Can you give some sort of specifics?

by upstate girl 2008-05-07 11:08PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/7/14504 8/7823

for a sampling.

by canadian gal 2008-05-07 11:14PM | 0 recs
re

The media will turn on Obama the day after Hillary bows out and the Clintons are finished. Always remember the media is "McCain's base"

WHY have so many looking at you Daily Kos  forgotten how absolutely IN LOVE the media has always been with McCain? Its SO frustrating! Its like watching an accident in slow motion, THEY WANT HILLARY GONE so its safe to begin Operation Destroy Barack! As long as Hillary is hanging in there as an alternative to the party they won't do it but they are trying to get rid of her in full force now because the clock is ticking!

by rossinatl 2008-05-07 11:17PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

Come on people...we need to beat the Republicans...remember the last 7.5 years.  If Hillary had gotten it, I'd be all for her.  I have never voted for the nominee in the primary before.  I voted for Bradley in 2000 and Dean in 2004.  But I proudly cast my vote for Gore and Kerry in the general elections.  I would have done the same for Hillary.  Go Dems in 08!

by gorebeatbush2 2008-05-07 11:45PM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

You want to win the White House?
Back Hillary Clinton.

You want McCain?
Back Barack Obama.

The Popular Choice isnt' always the Right Choice.

Hillary '08- We can still make the Right Choice.

by stefystef 2008-05-08 03:30AM | 0 recs
We will defeat the cylons

by lizardbox 2008-05-08 12:07AM | 0 recs
I dunno if Hillary is a Cylon . . .

BUT OMG THAT PIC IS FREAKING AWESOME!

I would so back that ticket.

by Trowaman 2008-05-08 01:23AM | 0 recs
He is....

by lizardbox 2008-05-08 01:25AM | 0 recs
I am really excited about Obama's historic speech

that will happen on August 28th at the Democratic convention.  That will be the 45th anniversary of MLK's "I have a Dream" speech.

It will be simply brilliant!!!!

by puma 2008-05-08 01:44AM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

The MSM has always been behind Obama's campaign.  It sickens me that no one can see through Obama's lies and his inadequacies.  It has been the media who has decided the President in this country for the last 10 years.

Obama will NOT be the President of the United States.
The Democrats will commit suicide with this nomination.

By October, there will be serious "buyers remorse" with Obama.

Hillary '08!  We can still make the Right Choice!

by stefystef 2008-05-08 03:25AM | 0 recs
Re: Time Magazine Declares Obama The Winner

I'm sorry, I didn't know TIME Magazine -- "time, time mag, mag..." (remember Joan?)  anyway, I didn't realize they had a vote.

Another media company in the tank for Obama.

Who cares?

You might better spend time getting out the vote for him in the 3 upcoming states.  He's going to need your help.

by TexasDarlin 2008-05-08 06:23AM | 0 recs
MEMO TO TIME MAGAZINE

The Democrats choose their nominee when one of them has 2025 votes, or when all of the superdelegates have weighed in. Further, supers can change their votes up to the convention.

We know you have an Obama crush, but this is inappropriate. but don't worry, mainstream media is less and less credible. We don't believe you anymore.

by NY Writer 2008-05-08 10:04AM | 0 recs

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