This observation from one of Andrew Sullivan's readers strikes me as dead on:
The second generation story emerging from yesterday's Billy Shaheen story is that African Americans are up in arms over the insinuation that Obama will be asked if he was a drug dealer. On African American radio stations, callers were correctly observing that not even the most in-your-face reporters asked Al Gore or George W Bush if he actually sold drugs as opposed to using them. Why is a black candidate who admitted to youthful drug use expected to answer such questions? I truly think Hillary needs to fire Shaheen to repair the potential rift, and not just make him apologize, which is what they've done. This story really could cause the first serious black flight from Hillary.
Clinton has already apologized, but it may be too late. This story is going to have very long legs in the African American community for precisely the reason this reader describes. Bush got a free pass on his cocaine use, so even the hint of a double-standard with Obama will be huge news. Not only will talk radio cover this one, but other stations will no doubt pick up on it too. In fact, I suspect that if you are in DC and turn on WPGC tonight you're likely to hear one of the DJs make reference to it.
This was a very, very stupid move on the part of the Clinton campaign. Very stupid.
I'm standing by my previous out-on-a-limb prediction: Clinton will come in third in Iowa, and her campaign will collapse. Part wishful thinking, I will admit, but nevertheless, there it is. Mark it down and hold me to it.
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