Letters to the Editor
ljwalker53
Published Letters: 559 Editor's Choice: 9
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When Idealism Trumps Pragmatism
[Read the article: McCain targets Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I won't go so far as to say that it's all over for HRC's campaign, because we still have primaries to go. Both candidates are still in a dead-heat, delegate-wise, with Obama having about 40 more than HRC. Unless Obama sweeps Ohio and Texas -- unlikely at the moment -- the delegate count will remain deadlocked, fluctuating a few up or down for each candidate.
HRC has proved many times before that to count her out is to completely underestimate her. She's a fighter who has been knocked around politically for years; she's still standing.
On an Obama-McCain matchup: Many of the comments here remind me of "me" before I got schooled in reality and pragmatism.
There are very real reasons for concern about Barack Obama, regardless of the overly-optimistic "poll" watchers (and Tarot card readers?) who believe that he can win in November.
McCain's age aside -- which is something I think we should be ashamed of ourselves for even bringing up -- he is a war hero; he has a long, distinguished Senate record; he has stood up to the far right-wing of the GOP for choice and with regard to civil unions for LGBTs, as well as the immigration debate. Whether he morphs farther to the right on these issues is a question mark at this moment.
That aside for the moment, Democrats are being foolhardy to underestimate how "middle America" -- those who don't sit around computers blogging all day long, and those who actually work at 8-4 or 9-5 jobs, or who hold two jobs -- votes. They vote their pocketbooks. They vote their fears. They vote their immediate, day-to-day concerns. Hope? Change? These words mean nothing to them when it comes to deciding who can handle their day-to-day problems and make real change.
Barack Obama can't do that because he does not have the political experience and record. He doesn't have "chits" in Washington, D.C., and he hasn't been there long enough to have cultivated the support and clout he needs to make real change happen.
He can inspire people, he can draw them to rallies, he can make them feel good momentarily. But at the end of the day -- when the rallies are over and we still have to figure out how to keep our homes from being foreclosed, and how we're going to make it through the end of the month, and how we're going to afford the fuel for our cars or our homes -- we choose presidents based on what they can do to help us in the here-and-now. That record comes from experience, not "change".
John McCain has only just begun to hit Barack Obama. It will only get worse if he remains the frontrunner. I'm afraid that Obama, because of his political inexperience, will never withstand the continued assaults he will receive if we select him as our party's nominee.
It's all well and good to point to the "red state" victories, the "white" voter victories, the "independent voter victories" and the few "Republican" voter victories Barack Obama has scored in the primary race. Those are not general election victories. And as previous experience has shown over and over again, most Independents and most Republicans are moderate, not liberal. When it's a choice between a "latte-drinking liberal" and somebody with experience and solid credentials, they will back experience and credentials every time.
For all of you telling yourselves that Barack Obama can withstand the hits to come, I suggest you get far more realistic than what I have seen thus far.
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DISTORTIONS OF FUNDRAISING AND VOTING RECORDS
[Read the article: Obama's surge extends down the Potomac]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hillary has been taking more lobbyist money than any other candidate. Also, some of her votes in Congress have been very disturbing, such as the bankruptcy bill. Why did she vote yes. Ever since that vote, I have lost faith in her.
First, on fundraising: I think you need to take a look at the fundraising record of Barack Obama. HRC has taken more lobbyist money?? By what measure? She HAS raised more money from business/industry, but not by much. I use actual sources for my "facts". How about you?
Second, on the "bankruptcy bill": Clearly you believe whatever Barack Obama says. It would just be too hard to actually check the voting record...
I'll make it easy for you: Here is the link:
On bankruptcy measure:
SOURCE: http://votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=55463 (Business and Consumers)
BARACK OBAMA CORPORATE/WALL STREET CONTRIBUTORS:
Goldman Sachs $421,763
Ubs Ag $296,670
Lehman Brothers $250,630
National Amusements Inc $245,843
JP Morgan Chase & Co $243,848
Sidley Austin LLP $226,491
Citigroup Inc $221,578
Exelon Corp $221,517
Skadden, Arps Et Al $196,420
Jones Day $181,996
Harvard University $172,324
Citadel Investment Group $171,798
Time Warner $155,383
Morgan Stanley $155,196
Google Inc $152,802
University of California $143,029
Jenner & Block $136,565
Kirkland & Ellis $134,738
Wilmerhale Llp $119,245
Credit Suisse Group $118,250
TOTAL = $75,696,000
SOURCE: http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008
HILLARY CLINTON CORPORATE/WALL STREET CONTRIBUTORS:
DLA Piper $471,750
Goldman Sachs $413,361
Morgan Stanley $362,700
Citigroup Inc $350,895
Lehman Brothers $241,870
JP Morgan Chase & Co $214,880
EMILY's List $213,266
National Amusements Inc $210,010
Kirkland & Ellis $179,676
Greenberg Traurig Llp $177,800
Skadden, Arps et al $167,796
Merrill Lynch $165,042
Cablevision Systems $145,313
Time Warner $144,977
Microsoft Corp $143,459
Bear Stearns $141,835
Latham & Watkins $138,598
Patton Boggs $137,200
Ernst & Young $126,865
PricewaterhouseCoopers $121,939
TOTAL = $92,246,187
SOURCE: http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.asp?id=N00000019&cycle=2008
I swear, some of Obama's supporters also seem to act like Republican "shills" -- throwing out distortions passed off as "facts". You're entitled to your opinion, but you are not entitled to your "facts".
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A Lot Of Silence From Wisconsin's Governor
[Read the article: Obama response to Clinton debate ad]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Finally, today, after months of listening to windbag Chris Matthews tear down Hillary Clinton, he asked Gov. Jim Doyle what Barack Obama had done -- "specifically" to help the working and middle class and the economy.
Doyle's answer: A lot of uncomfortable silence, followed by some "uhs" and a whole lotta nuthin'.
Yeah, Barack Obama's 'da man, alright...so much so that his endorsers can't even point to any real accomplishments in his state senate record or his U.S. Senate record!
Keep it up, media. Soon enough Obama's supporters will see what a whole lotta nuthin he really is.