Letters to the Editor
burlydee
Published Letters: 284 Editor's Choice: 7
-
I thank God I don't have Cable
[Read the article: Various items]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The endless television coverage of the presidential election is really breathtaking. I thank god I don't have to listen to James Carville, Chris Matthews or Wolf Blitzer opine daily on the election. Any time I go to a bank or some other public place that has MSNBC or CNN on the air, they are always talking about Obama, Clinton or McCain. Almost all other news is blocked out.
I usually spend a lot of time on newspaper websites and online mags like Salon but lately I find myself completely avoiding them as well. We are entering the 5th year (is seems strange to type it) of a war with no end. Our government wants vast new powers to spy on Americans. We are entering a recession and the person who drove us into it is asking for more tax cuts. Yet I know far too much about Mark Penn and some woman named Powers who called Hillary a monster - as if far worst things haven't been said by people in the media.
I wonder how many people know about the recent tension in Israel? Or the bomb attacks in Iraq? All the talking head want to talk about is this election. I think if Democrats got some perspective on what we were fighting for, and not who we were fighting over, a lot of the shrillness would probably die down. Instead, voting for Obama or Clinton is more like rooting for a sports team.
The focus on the horse race and narratives helps Republicans. Its take the focus off the issues and instead we are herded off into some sort of tribal frenzy where we reflexively route for our team. If the media talked about the reality on the ground in Iraq, I have a feeling McCain's poll numbers would drop, no matter who the nominee is. And if they mentioned the economy along with McCain's position on the economy (which I think is no position at all) he would further plummet. But if we only talk about the shrill Hillary, the inexperienced Obama and the war hero McCain - well he has an obvious advantage.
In this climate, it really takes a savvy media reader to ferret out all the bs and get to real stories. I just fear most people don't have the time.
-
@ Joan
[Read the article: Obama, Clinton and the black-brown divide]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I haven't read any of the other letters, so I don't know if anyone has addressed this, but the black-brown divide is seriously misrepresented in the media.
First I would say the black-brown divide is much more prevalent in the West Coast, specifically California, although it is starting to take hold in some inner cities in the midwest and East.
Second, a lot of the black-brown divide comes from gang tensions that use race as a convenient, easy target. When I lived in Phoenix, the "race-riots" at the local high schools between black and brown students always started because of gang tensions. It is a bottom - up phenomenon that too many leaders in poor neighborhoods have not addressed. Instead they wallow in it, sometimes exploit it.
Third, the black - brown divide is mostly a Mexican - African-American divide. I have never seen high tensions between Puerto-ricans and african-americans. Also
Lastly, I don't think its a competition for jobs as much as its a competition for political power. And in that sense, it is saddest of all. When Democrats (and I'm not mentioning any names) play these communities against one another it hurts both communities because they have so much in common, and in the long run it will hurt the democratic party.
-
Twice in one week, Ferraro has made
[Read the article: Bush twists the facts on Iraq]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]inappropriate comments about Barack Obama. As much as Salon loves the he said / she said of politics, I don't know why they choose this to leave this story alone.
Ferraro: If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.
Ferraro: "Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let's address reality and the problems we're facing in this world, you're accused of being racist, so you have to shut up," Ferraro said. "Racism works in two different directions. I really think they're attacking me because I'm white. How's that?"
A former democratic vice-presidential candidate, and advisor to Hillary Clinton is going on right wing shows and race-baiting. I'm sorry, but I thought the people who read the War Room might want to know. Or are we going to be treated to more posts about Powers?