Letters to the Editor
sesanders
Published Letters: 308 Editor's Choice: 18
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A gullible press
[Read the article: Media hypocrites love personality politics]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is a very interesting article about the fawning and idolatry of the press corp. The process discussed is alive and well in this campaign.
However, I'm looking at the phenomenon from an angle which Greenwald hardly intended. I think possibly the same tactics employed by Rove have been successfully used to destroy the candidacy of Hillary by Obama's campaign. Obviously Obama has many outstanding qualities which have attracted devotees from across the culture, but his campaign has used some calculated smears that I consider to be exaggerated claims about Bill Clinton, namely that he was race baiting. Even before I decided to embrace Hillary's candidacy, I was outraged at the notion that Bill Clinton had consciously and maliciously intended to relegate Obama to the status of the black candidate. He was answering a question posed to him by a reporter about Obama's So. Carolina win and from that encounter all kinds of sinister motives were read into it by an eager press corp dying for salacious and sensational news. The fact that the media picked up on it, spread it, furthered the notion of it, and spitefully used it to tar Bill Clinton with a racist brand was the principal design of the Obama campaign and the press fell for it hook, line, and sinker. This is what I think and I am furious that this line of attack was used. Perhaps the campaign was paranoid enough to believe the accusation but they were also responsible for using the media in a very calculated fashion. It has divided the Democratic Party and possibly imperiled a Democratic victory in November.
Campaigns can get bitter, yes, and Hillary's has done some things I wish it hadn't. On the other hand, there is enough blame to be spread around to all quarters...the media, the campaigns, and the candidates themselves. I guess I am angriest at the media because they have used their power to try to maneuver the outcome of this election. Their motive...plain old sexism, laziness, lack of willingness to be guided by ethical and substantive journalism which demands objectivity, and last, but not least, hubris!
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Complaining is double edged
[Read the article: Will Obama's debate stumble hurt him?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obama has been complaining consistently throughout this whole campaign, but he had a strategy for it...accuse the other side of race baiting. It has been effective, too. Bill Clinton was muzzled as a result and made out to be a racist. Now Obama supporters hate Hillary good and proper!
If anything has turned me off about Obama's campaign, it has been this one stroke which effectively divided the party hurting Democratic chances for a victory in November...that's the double edge.
Unfortunately, the race card will not be effective against McCain. That's not to say that racism won't be rampant. On the contrary, the Republican racists will lob their slurs in record numbers, Obama will complain, and McCain in a great show will say how terrible racism is. McCain will look like a hero to the country but essentially get the benefit from all the racist undercurrents flooding the political landscape.
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Democracy in action
[Read the article: Attention, pundits. It ain't over]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]It is heartwarming to see Democracy in action and to read about Hillary's dogged campaign in the face of calls from Obama supporters that she exit the race. Incredible! No way! Hillary should see it through...her supporters want her to and the Democratic Party should be glad that so much interest in their candidates is being generated.
I am happy to hear that Hillary devotees are being respectful of Obama and not parroting the vicious rhetoric I read in the comments section of CBS, ABC, and others where Hillary is described in the cheapest, most unfair, and most disrespectful terms by her detractors.
I hope she wins big because I still think she is the best choice.
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The people are speaking!
[Read the article: Clinton: "The tide is turning"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Tonight's win is indeed a victory and it confirms my opinion that Hillary is more attractive to Democrats than Obama who, of course, is by far more popular with black Democrats. It is very worrisome that he has not won one single big state except Illinois. Hillary asks why he can't close the deal...that is a telling question the superdelegates had better think about. Obama tried...he outspent her by huge sums and yet she wins by ten percent. That's big and I am impressed! It means something. I really hope the superdelegates will listen to the people, particularly the Democrats!
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The new man in town
[Read the article: What Pennsylvania tells us]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I think Hillary's win is huge...not only is it double digit; it is against a candidate outspending her three to one in advertising.
Hillary's question about why Obama can't close the deal is not just a political ploy; it is a valid consideration. I have always felt that Obama is too inexperienced and too unknown to the electorate--- and that is not even counting the racial divide.
Similarly, Hillary has the gender divide and admittedly it is big, but she is experienced and well known to voters, warts and all. People are suspicious of the new man in town. Unfortunately, that's what Obama is.
I hope Hillary is the nominee...I truly believe she stands a much better chance of winning against McCain. Actually, the polls reflect my opinion.
The superdelegates should think long and hard before they vote. To believe that Obama can defeat McCain when he has yet to win a big Democratic blue state, excepting Illinois, is a stretch. That makes me swallow real hard.
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GOP strategy
[Read the article: Anti-Obama ad a winner for McCain]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is exactly the way the Republicans will attack Obama if he is the nominee. There will be all kinds of negative advertising and McCain will denouce it. There will be negative slurs and McCain will say he doesn't approve, all the while benefitting from the furor. That way he can play innocent yet reap the benefits. The Republicans are masters at this kind of thing!