Letters to the Editor
ljwalker53
Published Letters: 559 Editor's Choice: 9
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@ Reality-based Liberal: May I Try?
[Read the article: Some free advice for Obama]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You have made several references to Clinton's comment about national security expertise. How civil liberties got entangled in this, I don't know. The question asked was about national security and foreign policy experience.
I don't believe that Sen. Clinton "endorsed" McCain over Obama and I think it is disingenuous of Obama's followers to imply that. She made a point about experience and whose experience would serve the country best. I saw her comments about McCain as being almost tongue-in-cheek. At the same time the image she drew was one of McCain being "over the top" in terms of experience, Obama being light, and Clinton being "just right." I'm sure you will see this differently.
On another note: I asked a question yesterday (in this letters thread) about why it is acceptable to call into question Hillary Clinton's loyalty to the Democrats because of her McCain comments, but John Kerry's loyalty isn't questioned for asking John McCain to be his running mate in 2004? As far as I can see, John McCain hasn't changed for the better since then.
So, why is it not acceptable to criticize John Kerry (who endorsed Obama)? To me this IS a question of judgment, not a matter of comparisons.
My second point is this: If it is acceptable for Obama to appeal to Republicans to vote for him -- which he does all the time -- then why is it not acceptable for Hillary Clinton to make an accurate comparison between herself, McCain and Obama?
I'm leaving now, but I certainly hope you'll think about answering these questions...
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@ manos (and others who engage in hatred on Salon)
[Read the article: Obama, Clinton and the black-brown divide]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]You are a small minority of posters on this site who seem to think that calling other posters "racist" or "bitches" or "hags" or other names, and falsely claiming that we/they refer to Obama posters here as "obama maniacs" or other derogatory tags helps your arguments. It doesn't.
I have never posted a racist OR sexist comment on this site and I have NEVER referred to Obama's followers as "obama maniacs" or used any such derisive adjectives.
On the contrary, I have always given credit to Sen. Obama where credit is due, while raising legitimate questions and concerns about him and his record. I have used factual information to support my arguments in favor of Sen. Clinton and to raise questions and concerns about Sen. Obama.
Unfortunately, you and several others -- (tom payne, madamefauntroy, shawnwm to name but three) -- seem to think it is acceptable to use racism and sexism, to engage in ad-hominem personal attacks, to engage in race and gender baiting, to use red herrings and generalizations, and to use other extremely dishonest, hostile and abusive language to get your points across. I have no tolerance of such behavior and care not which candidate you support.
The type of posting you engage in is not only dishonest, it is divisive; it is extremely personal; it is extremely abusive. It isn't hopeful; it isn't articulate; it does nothing to advance the conversation or to answer HONEST questions and concerns.
You seem to believe that if you use hateful words and language about others long enough and often enough, the strategy will work. I guarantee you this is not the case.
I call on you here and now to STOP the personal attacks, to stop using racist and sexist comments about posters and about candidates, and to end your dishonest, hostile, inappropriate and dangerous language to further divide us.
I challenge supporters of BOTH CANDIDATES to call these posters and others on their words and behavior.
Anybody who uses raciscm, sexism and other "isms" to fuel hatred and division must be called on it. Ignoring it, as history proves, does nothing to eliminate it!
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@ shawnwm: If the Shoe Fits
[Read the article: Obama, Clinton and the black-brown divide]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I have already said that I don't care whether you support Clinton or Obama. If you engage in race-baiting, it is wrong. If you use factual information to point out specifics, I have no problem with that.
I really don't care if you think I'm condescending. I happen to be a good writer. I'll be d***** if I change that. It's the skill I have used to make change and to earn a living. If you have a problem with that, there is really nothing I can do or say.
No. I'm not a Republican. I'm a proud progressive Democrat who has spent 30 years working for progressive concerns like pay equity, unionizing, health care, equality for minorities, women, the elderly, and children, and against discrimination against others in any form. And I cut my teeth in the political realm during Martin Luther King's and Bobby Kennedy years on this earth. I spent 20 years in Washington working on these very same concerns because I care about the future of our country and the world.
I will say it again: IF you are using racism, gender, agism, or any other "ism" to divide and fuel hatred, I will call you on it. It does not belong in an honest discussion about either candidate, their supporters/followers, their policies, or their record.