Letters posted here are associated with the following Salon Premium Member:

Carol Richards

Published Letters: 517

Sunday, April 27, 2008 01:00 PM

Joan's Job

But you've gotta admit:

there is absolutely no evidence that Joan will use a different method for writing about this primary

Whether you agree with/enjoy/ appreciate how Joan is writing about the democratic primary, I don't think there is one jot of evidence that she will approach this in a different manner.

To that extent I think it is delusional to expect anything other than this type of response to the Wright interview. Remember:

Joan does not attack Obama. She never does. She gets worried about him. She gets disappointed by him. She gets extremely concerned by the type of awful (obviously she has no problem with his kind and normal supporters) person he inspires.

Obama makes Joan scratch her head. She wants to really get behind him, but she can't ignore that he really isn't this God that he tells us he is. No, not fair, Joan would not say that Obama comes out and says it like that, but she has repeatedly said that he is condescending and stand-offish in a manner that she thinks the average American does not like.

Let's remember that Joan does not attack Obama. She is mainly responding to him by head scratching and feeling saddened by him and what he is coming to represent. Also let's remember that she is ready to fight for him. She is ready to lay down her strategy of comparing a weakness-based Barack with a strength only Hillary once Barack is our only choice. And it might do us well to remember that if Hillary was winning the primary, Joan would be saddened by Hillary's failures. If Hillary was winning, we'd be reading how Joan is scratching her head at those who really think Hillary has this thing in the bag and she would be the first to point out that there are many reasons people don't like Hillary that don't all boil down to sexism.

When republicans agree with all of Joan's concerns about Barack and his awful supporters, watch what Joan will do: She will do what many are doing now. She will point out that the republicans only hope is to make us fear this bitter, snob called Barack. Joan will smartly point out why the republican focus will not be on his ideas and his capacity to enact them. She might even get saddened by the way people will focus too much on weakness-based Barack and Joan will point out that, sure, he's a human with human failings, but we are sure damn luck to have him as an option.

Joan is almost ready to support Barack based on ideas and reality. But remember: Joan said that it is her opinion that Barack is becoming an increasingly stronger candidate by the public's focusing on things like his association with Wright. I don't agree with Joan's approach for many reasons (not because I'm an awful and obsessed Barack supporter), but I look forward to when Joan will be ready to treat Barack like he's a guy running for president. And, yes, I understand that Hillary is under no obligation to drop out at any time. When it comes time for Joan to enthusiastically write about Obama, she won't have to retract any of her head-scratching or concerns related to the fact that he has weaknesses.

Most Active Letters Threads

475

The Weekly Standard's ACLU smear indicts only itself

Neoconservative contempt for the Constitution is not only un-American; it is al-Qaida's greatest ally
436

The Washington establishment suffers a serious defeat

Approval of the Paul/Grayson bill to audit the Fed is both rare and important in several ways
415

The administration guts its own argument for 9/11 trials

If some detainees get military commissions or indefinite detention, how can 9/11 trials be justified?
231

Palin-Beck 2012? Sarah says maybe

She'll never be U.S. president, but her star power ought to scare the hell out of her charisma-free GOP rivals
226

A letter to readers

On my current condition: Definitely treatable, definitely uncertain

View all »

Letters Help

Currently in Salon