Letters to the Editor
sesanders
Published Letters: 308 Editor's Choice: 18
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Clinton must take advantage!
[Read the article: Clinton's nondenial on Obama pastor]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It would be absolutely stupid of Hillary's campaign not to capitalize on the Rev. Wright brouhaha. Moreover, she was correct to say that she is more electable and to try to convince superdelegates of that fact. It worries me greatly that many Dem's assume that Obama is more electable.
I have two basic reasons for supporting Hillary. Number 1, she is more experienced...number 2, she is more electable. I have always felt that way because my gut tells me that racial reservations on the part of many independents, even those who say they want Obama, will cause them, in the end, to vote Republican. They will not be loyal when the going gets rough. Additionally, Democrats favor Clinton over Obama and are more likely to stick by her when McCain pours on the heat. Plus, Hillary is a fighter to the core!
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McCain is media choice
[Read the article: Politico: "Clinton has virtually no chance of winning"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If Clinton has no chance of winning, how come the people have not decided to quit voting. Could it be that they no longer trust media soothsayers who don't know what they are talking about? Are Michigan and Florida just going to have no say at all?
Talk about angry voters...if the superdelegates hand this over to Obama, there is going to be a furious outcry from Clinton supporters.
At any rate, with the media acting like this, it is looking more and more like McCain is their choice.
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Racial considerations
[Read the article: Moving beyond Obama and race]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Racial considerations are not going away for Obama. The Rev. Wright connection continues to haunt his candidacy. Rasmussen today shows a further decline in his favorable ratings: 46% favorable to 51% unfavorable. Fifty-six percent remain concerned about his association with Rev. Wright though they commend Obama's speech on the subject. Actually, there has been a decline for Obama going on for some time now beginning in late February, according to Rasmussen polls.
Being from the South, I know better than to discount the factor of race...it is always under the table, if not on it. Obama's reference to his grandmother is a heartfelt example of the racial divide even in Obama's own family. I do not object to his reference to her feelings. In fact, I think Obama gave a great speech on the subject; however, I do not believe he is the most electable of the Democratic candidates. Hillary who has greater and longer experience, who has put in her time gaining this exceptional experience is the more electable despite her gender. Obama should have served at least one term before jumping into presidential arena...he is absolutely too inexperienced, and along with the racial baggage, he will not do well against McCain.
If Obama does become the nominee, get ready to hear the same media which has shown partiality for his candidacy in the race thus far, to begin talking about his lack of experience in relation to McCain. Added to that, the press will use the word, liberal, about forty times a day to describe his politics. Older Democrats may vote for McCain believing him to be the more qualified and wise.
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Iowa is given too much weight!
[Read the article: The Democrats' anti-momentum]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think the long Democratic primary race actually shows how dissatisfied the voters are with their candidates. Many of us are not happy with Obama being the nominee and even though we don't want to see a fracture, we are very adamant that Obama is a poor choice for the nomination. We do not believe he can win in November over McCain; hence, we continue the struggle to get Hillary who has a longstanding relationship with Democratic voters.
It is not right that Iowa has so much say by being first...that is why Michigan and Florida rebelled. Iowa which is likely to vote for McCain has given us Kerry and Obama. Moreover, the caucus system is deficient because it usually means going to the polls on only one day, is attended by party insiders, and is little understood by the public at large creating a climate where voters are reluctant to participate because they don't understand the system. On the other hand, a primary is participated in by many more voters because of early voting and the voter can cast his vote in privacy. In my view, the more Democrats who vote in the nominee selection process, the more likely they are to be satisfied with the outcome.
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Nomination is not decided
[Read the article: "Clinton will not be able to win the nomination"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]From my vantage point, Obama is desperately trying to keep his head above water. Rasmussen polls today show him trailing Hillary 46% to 44%. The Rev. Wright thing is a big deal and even if Obama can make his supporters forget about it, Hillary's supporters are not about to nor will McCain's.
Despite Richardson's endorsement which possibly kept Obama from drowning, Obama's claim to supremacy is out-sized and overstated nor do I think the nomination is decided.