Letters to the Editor
Brian - Seattle
Published Letters: 265 Editor's Choice: 8
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Obama's demographics
[Read the article: Obama wins Maine caucuses]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"If he keeps losing core Democratic constituencies by double digits in big-state primaries, I'd call it a flawed campaign. When, when is he going to make a serious effort to reach out to Latinos, working-class Dems, older Dems? Does he want their votes at all?"
I'm still not convinced these demographics really apply to this campaign. We see it somewhat playing out in some states, then in others it's not as obvious. Clearly the african american vote had an effect in LA and SC, but in other states? What about Washington state where I live? They explain it because we are all college educated and higher income, but the entire state but one district went to Obama. If you've ever been in eastern washington, you really don't get the impression that they are all stock owning, starbucks drinking, SUV driving people. We even joke sometimes that we should succeed from eastern washington so they can vote for republicans and we can vote for democrats.
As the media is trying to figure out who's voting for who, they might just be missing the mark all together. A quick exit poll analysis doesn't really get the full picture. What we really need is a nice full scale analysis by someone that actually knows how to read the data objectively to do a study. I'd really like to see those results.
I really hope I am right honestly. I'm getting tired of pundits putting us in these little sub categories like we all are for or against one another - within the same party! It would be great if in this election that, that categorization has lost most of it's relevance.
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Foreign Policy
[Read the article: Obama wins Maine caucuses]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"See, experience actually does matter. I know you Obamadroids don't like to hear it, but it does. Serving on the Senate Armed Services committee matters. Visiting Iraq more than once for a token photo-op matters. McCain knows that Clinton is nowhere near as vulnerable as Obama on foreign policy and national security issues. I strongly suspect the folks around Obama know it too. National-security doves do not win general elections. Good luck trying, though."
If experience mattered, we'd be discussion how Bill Richardson is going to do in the general election.
What matters is the vote on Iraq. You can explain it in detail, you can hash it out at the coffee shop, and you can go through all her votes on Iraq. But when it comes down to a 30 second add on national television, that vote will be a huge albatross. Most voters don't deal with this issue anywhere to the detail we all are today. They see 30 seconds with McCain - a picture of her vote - a sound clip of her saying Sadam must be taken out - it's all over. That commercial will get repeated again and again and again.
I normally don't debate the Iraq vote and it's not the primary reason why I'm supporting Obama. But to suggest that her involvement and experience is somehow going to get to voters and her real reasons for voting for authorization will be explained is a foolish. John Kerry had the same exact problem in 2004. When you start to explain yourself and go over a minute doing it, people turn off because they think you are just trying to weasel your way out what you did.
I know what you are saying and you have some justification for saying it. The problem is a typical voter won't have a clue what you are talking about and it will be a problem for her.
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@Bill Sterns
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way.
The big issue right now is how we can stop this bickering between the two candidates. I think a little more honesty and objective analysis of what we read is order for both sides, not just respining the previous weeks spin again and again. We are both guilty of it to some extent. Think it's time to lay down the gloves and talk about real issues with the candidates so we can have a solid coalition in the fall to ensure a landslide win over McCain.
The country is certainly ready for it, we need to deliver.