Letters to the Editor
JD_Johnson
Published Letters: 12 Editor's Choice: 1
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Obama the Moderate
[Read the article: Obama's plan to change the economy]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]When you compare Obama and Clinton on health care, and now on financial market reform, you start to see how Republican claims that Obama is the most liberal senator on the floor are so much hot air. Few would mark Clinton with this label and she is significantly to the left of Obama on both of these issues.
Moreover, she is less realistic. A universal health care mandate would have gov't bureaucrats diving under bridges to strongarm the homeless into signing up for insurance. Likewise, a rate freeze would further dry-up the already barren mortgage market and increase the severity and length of the housing crisis.
Fundamentally, there's a big difference between regulating the rules of the game and attempting to regulate the rules of economics. That Obama understands this, and Clinton does not, makes him the favorable candidate.
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Settle down and think
[Read the article: Hey, Obama boys: Back off already!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The thing about us progressive men is that we can be a pretty vitriolic bunch. Whether it’s Anne Coulter suggesting that we’re less masculine than our conservative counterparts or others on the right labeling us as henpecked pushovers, we tend to get a bit cagey when our identities or intentions are called into question. So, when we get a little jazzed about a candidate like Obama, it’s hard to swallow our pride when a woman from our camp suggests that our motives might be fueled by sexism. Having said that, I think Ms. Traister has a point.
No, we are not, all of us, 100% fueled by sexism in our support for Obama or our relative disregard for Clinton. But, when we stamp her with the “b” word, refer to her with derogatory terms like school marm, or even confess without introspection to hating her, how are we advancing the notion of gender equality in politics? And, let’s be clear, it’s part of the burden of progressivism to ensure that everyone; regardless of race, creed or gender, has an equal opportunity to lend their voice to the political process without fear of prejudice. We do nothing by spouting glib epithets about Ms. Clinton. I’m not suggesting that we cloak our language in political correctness. I’m suggesting we move this debate to higher ground.
Each of these candidates has the will, the intelligence, and the leadership skills necessary to turn the dark tide of the previous 8 years. Let’s embrace their individual strengths and, more importantly, their shared values. Let’s also make sure that their differences don’t become so amplified in the heat of battle that we start to equivocate the less favored between them with the unfavorable alternative running against them.
One last thing, it breaks my heart to hear that a young girl can admit to disapproving of Ms. Clinton's candidacy simply because of her physical appearance. It devalues Ms. Clinton, specifically, but all women, more generally. I hope all of us with daughters can think about how our girls can grow up clinging to such a superficial brand of self-image and how we can counteract these perceptions in our own homes. We can start by showing more respect for our female leaders.
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The case for Obama in Michigan
[Read the article: Night lands Clinton closer to oblivion]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Let's play pretend for a second and assume that Hillary gets her wish for a Florida and Michigan re-vote (her ultimate wish would be to seat these delegates according to the earlier votes, but let's at least stay within the outer realm of possibility). Would Obama's have a fighting chance in Michigan? It's not impossible, and it's highly likely that the race would be close. Consider the following factors:
Race & Ethnicity
Michigan has a higher percentage of African Americans than the adjacent states of Wisconsin (where he won) and Ohio (where he lost). The city of Detroit, in particular, has a very active African-American political machine that will get out the vote--especially considering that: (A) African-Americans were prevented from voting for Obama in the previous primary, and (B) they would be disproportionately responsible for sealing Obama's candidacy. Moreover, Michigan has a much larger percentage of Arab-Americans. While a small population overall, they would lean heavily towards Obama and might provide crucial swing votes in a close primary.
Economic Make-up
Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin are all similar in terms of income and occupational breakdown, but Michigan does have a slightly higher percentage of people who earn between $100,000 and $150,000 per year. This is the key upper-middle class demographic that has tended to favor Obama.
Momentum
If Michigan votes after the remaining primary states, Obama will have all but locked up the nomination and the pressure for Hillary to back down will have reached a fever pitch. Granted, she probably will have won the West Virginia and Kentucky primaries, but statewide party leaders Michigan would probably feel increased pressure to campaign less vigorously for Hillary, especially considering their reliance on African-American votes.
Warchest
As in all modern national elections, the money trail will increasingly flow to the presumptive nominee and away from the presumptive also-ran. Considering Obama has won the purse battle thus far, a further boost would allow him to outspend Hillary by huge propotions; that is, if Hillary has any campaign funding left to spend.
Wright Fatique
By late-June/early-July (the presumptive time frame for a re-vote), the Rev. Wright debacle will have become the "My Heart Will Go On" of political stories. People will be begging to hear a different tune already.