Letters to the Editor
Christopher1988
Published Letters: 670 Editor's Choice: 46
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Joan, you've entered the realm of self-delusion.
[Read the article: Don't blame San Francisco for Obama's "Bittergate"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am very proud of Salon's coverage of the Democratic primary. We are not pulling for any candidate, or trying to correct for any impression that we're pulling for any candidate.
You're second sentence is incoherant, but as to the first: if you're proud of your work, you really need to re-evaluate your standards.
We're reporting the news fairly, and in our opinion columns, we're asking and trying to answer compelling questions other people aren't tackling. When we all look back in 2009, I think Salon will stand out for its fairness, especially when one looks at primary coverage on the Web.
You can say this in response to a column in which you use the term "Bittergate"? That word clearly implies something along the lines of the political corruption of "Watergate," both in terms of its effect on the national pyche and its depth of political corruption. This despite the recurring information from polls that the story has no legs with the American populace, and that the original incident in itself in no way involves any sort of poltical cover-up?
Watergate was the investigation of a crime, or don't you remember? "Whitewatergate" recieved its handle because it was an investigation into an alleged crime, one that similarly involved politica corruption. Do you imply Obama has broken the law, or affiliated himself with people who have broken the law? Why would you use such a loaded term (and not balance it with a similar "Bosniagate") unless you intended to seriously impair the integrity of Obama's campaign?
After reading Carol's first question in this thread: I think it's a fair question, to ask why I'm more disturbed by Obama's more vicious supporters than Clinton's. I'll give it some more thought. On first reflection, I think it's that Obama says he stands for a new kind of politics, but his slash-and-burn supporters are the worst of the old politics.
So it's okay to be antagonistic once you acknowledge you're playing politics-as-usual? You'll forgive Hillary's deceptions and her elitism, and the antagonism of her followers, because she's known as an "old rules" candidate? You consider that a moral stance?
I also think even some of his nicer, more well-meaning supporters represent another dead-end kind of old politics: the politics of liberal self-righteousness, where we know we're better than those benighted supporters of those other guys (or gals), and that cheers us, even if we can't convince a majority we're right.
So there's no self-righteousness to Hillary's campaign? There's no sense of superiority or greater in-the-know perspective from her supporters?
And I say "we" because, honestly, they/you are my people: San Francisco by way of Madison, Wisconsin kind of people (but yes, the dad from Ireland/the Bronx sent off to the Christian Brothers does mix everyone up, including me.)
If I read this right, you see yourself (and by extention, us) as elitist. And you don't like this. So you want to attack it in others (but only in one other, not in both candidates). That's some Nixonian argument. Maybe this is "Walshgate."
I'm just trying harder this election to see the other side. And honestly, some Obama supporters are making it a lot easier to see the other side. I promise to develop these thoughts at greater length soon.
This is just embarrassing. Trying to see the "other side" would mean having to look at the "other side" of both candidates, not simply rejecting and lambasting one in favor of the other. And how "some Obama supporters" do this, but no Clinton supporters do, proves your embarrassing slanted position.
That you can really look at your work and say you're unbiased proves you wear blinders when examining the race. That you can read the letters colums here and interpret them as you do suggest you look at them wearing a sleeping mask.
Your coverage of this campaign has been a travesty.
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Think you've got ESP, Ana?
[Read the article: Don't blame San Francisco for Obama's "Bittergate"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]What must be really galling to the Obamabots, however, is that he was recorded saying what he said and was blogged about...with attribution...on a much-read blog.
"Obama supporters." I guess that's what you mean by "Obamabots," since you don't suggest there's any other sort of person in favor of his candidacy. You seem sure of what's going on inside the heads of such persons.
Well, I can tell you, we aren't galled at all. We aren't bothered. And apparently, neither is the country at large. Only people already strongly opposed to Obama seem incensed by his remarks. And that seems to be an ever smaller portion of the Democratic party.
Perhaps that's what's "galling" to you?
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@ASylvan
[Read the article: Don't blame San Francisco for Obama's "Bittergate"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I agree. What's frustrating, and revealing, is to compare Salon's almost complete avoidence of the Bosnia incident, and then to let Hillary off the hook completely ("I don't think she actually lied...she remembered she misremembered" to quote Walsh) vs. the treatment accorded Obama on this issue. Bringing it up repeatedly, giving it the name "Bittergate," not taking a stand on what Obama actually meant. The whole slant is very obvious, and, as you point out, most readers are acknowledging that.