Joan:

I admire your writing and I find it comes closer to my views than most, but I think you have a case of myopia when it comes to Hillary and Bill. There's a reason why Ted Kennedy got angry about Clinton's brandishing of a Jesse Jackson comparison to Obama: it was an attempt to tarnish Obama in the Jewish community. That may sound harsh but all last week, former Clinton adviser and somewhat psycho anti-Hillary pit bull Dick Morris was praising Clinton's genius in his use of the Jackson thing and that by paining Obama black in SC, the Clintons was guaranteeing victory everywhere else on Super Tuesday. The Clintons were doing this for "fun." (Hillary's description of negative campaigning). There is a dark side to the Jesse Jackson analogy and that was the extent to which Jesse Jackson became anathema to the Jewish community because of perceived anti-Semitism, aggravated by his infamous description of New York as "Hymie Town."

Would you really doubt that B. Clinton, the great triangulator, was unaware of this. And, by the way, do you doubt that Teddy Kennedy, whose been around for a few years in politics, isn’t aware of the unfortunate connotation attached to Jackson's name by some older Jews - particularly I can assume - the ones retired in Florida by the hundreds of thousands, maybe millions.

Having spent the last 38 years of life in the Bronx and seeing the "Scoop" Jackson" 1976 Democratic primary vote in Coop City, I can assure that the Jesse Jackson as enemy mentality was prevalent at the time. Coop City is largely Black and Latino now. The Jews who lived there have either died or moved – to Florida.

Given the enormous micro-polling that goes on in the Clinton campaign orchestrated by Mark Penn, I'll betcha lunch at a fine New York restaurant (which I really can't afford) that a poll of Florida Democrats revealed (would have revealed) that among the Jewish emigres from New York, Jesse Jackson had strong negatives. Ergo, link Obama to Jackson repeatedly and often. if you have ever taken, or answered a poll, you know how its done. Also of names is read and for each name you are asked: “If XX is endorsed by YY, would it make you more or less likely to vote for him?” Or simply: “Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of YY.” In this case “YY” would be Jesse Jackson.”

I had a dental appointment this morning. My Dentist is second or third generation Jewish and marketed tested this theory on him and he agreed immediately that by linking Obama to Jackson Clinton was playing to the Jewish vote, including his.

The fact that Bill Clinton and Hillary can express amazement that anyone could believe that it was deliberate ploy is testament to there acting ability and their low estimation of the intelligence of the American voters. They should win an Oscar, not the Presidency. I only hope that Jewish voters don't fall for it.

Of course, Obama has another Jewish issue going for him: The more he talks about his mother and father and his love and respect for them and his roots, although different from typical Jewish roots, it plays to the strong sense of family that underlies Jewish culture. That’s targeting with a heart. "He's such a nice boy."

One of the problems of single issue movements is that they sometimes blithely support candidates who may actually be more inimical to that goals than others who "are not like us." It seems to me that there was an outcry against Hillary a few years ago for attempting to find common ground with pro-life forces on doing things to prevent abortion in the first place by preventing unwanted pregnancies. She had the temerity to suggest that abortion is not necessarily a good thing.

Now that is forgotten and those who oppose Hillary and those who point out that Billary are when pushed to the wall without scruple, are obviously sexist.

Actually, I am one who was disappointed in 1992 when Pat Schroeder abruptly dropped a nascent bid for the Presidency. I will certainly support Hillary over any foreseeable Republican nominee but I reserve the right to critique Hillary and Bill.

It is self-defeating to attack allies just because they have a different opinion. Should we not label anybody who opposes Obama as racist? That would include me because my candidate is Edwards. Is Edwards sexist and racist for seeking the presidency?

Some years ago, I saw Latinos line-up behind a Latino judicial candidate for "looks like me" reasons. He was probably the worst possible candidate for the Latino community because he was a notorious "hanging judge." He also writes novels including Q & A which became a movie.

Was I racist for not supporting him? I don't think Hillary's supporters are racist. I don't think that Edwards supporters like me are either racist or sexist. I think all of us are making the best choices we can. Sooner or later, I expect to support Obama if Edwards withdraws. That doesn’t make me a sexist it only makes someone who will not put up anymore with the crafty manipulations of the Clintons. See Denise and Mark Rich. I am truly appalled by the Rich pardon and never heard a defense of that on the merits.

Give me the right to make a choice free of invective. In 1972, I was a pre-Roe v. Wade, pro choice candidate for the NYS Senate and paid a heavy price for that. I was pro-choice then, and I am pro-choice now. But spare me and other Edwards and Obama supporters the invective, when our political choice is not yours.

http://johnklotz.blogspot.com