Letters to the Editor
Atlanta214
Published Letters: 15
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Elevating the political dialogue in the Democratic Party
[Read the article: Obama and Clinton on Reagan and Republicans]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Joan,
Thank you for your clarity. Most of the media's condemnation of the Clintons has been so over-the-top that you have to question their objectivity. I say that as a former journalist, I might add.
I've never seen the media take up for a candidate like they have with Obama. Bill Clinton is right about the fact that media are just eating up whatever the Obama camp serves up in the way of spin and whining and moaning. The result is very slanted coverage.
I would have been much more receptive if Obama had delivered a measured message of turning the page without disrespecting the progress made and the significance of that era --and disrespecting the contribution that the Clintons made. Why isn't somebody acknowledging that? Obama lifts Reagan up at the same time he's slamming the Clinton administration. Why doesn't the media pick up on all that and start presenting a more balanced picture? Instead of all the schoolyard bitching and moaning that Obama's being picked on. Grow up! I'm tired of Obama's whining. It's time to turn the page on his very tiresome whining. He's just proving to us that he's unable to stand up to the Republican attack machine in the fall. This is mild stuff compared to the under the radar and over the radar Swift Boating he would see in the fall.
Joan, I do think you bring up an important point about Obama's comments during the Reno interview about leaving the Sixties battles behind. That should have been the focus of the ad that the Clinton campaign ran in S.C. -- and a counterpoint voiceover stating that we're not ready to give up on women's rights, civil rights, fighting for the middle class and the poor, gay rights. We can't afford to completely give up those battles because the Right Wing will continue to try to push back progress on Civil rights, women's rights, etc.
And that's exactly why Obama turned me off early on with his anti-Boomer message. He seems to have disdain for Boomers -- even though technically he is one having been born in 1961.
From the start, his "turn the page" message was negative rather than a positive hopeful one, because it slammed the Boomer generation and seemed to slam all the important battles of the '60s and 70s and all the achievements of that era. Yes, there may have been excesses, but those battles were necessary for progress. To deny that those battles continue today is extremely naive -- and it worries me that Obama may not be enough of a fighter to defend and work to advance those things like women's rights and gay rights that are important to the Democratic party.
Anyway, it's "ill advised" to bring up the "generational angle" because 1) he's a boomer himself 2) the voters who show up at the polls are Boomers and older and many have misgivings about giving up on the "battles of the Sixities" because they continue today. We can't take progress for granted -- we have slipped backward under GOP administrations.
Again, Joan, thank you for your clarity and your dedication to digging for the truth. I enjoy your appearances on Hardball and wish they would let you talk more! You're the best!
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Preview of GOP attack line in the fall
[Read the article: Obama and Clinton on Reagan and Republicans]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How about this for truly Hardball politics -- a preview of McCain's fall attack strategy (if he gets the nomination). This is an outright lie, besides which being wrong. We left Vietnam and called it a day. Obama can't possibly withstand the GOP attack dogs and that is why he won't be our nominee.
See below from the New York Times "The Caucus" blog:
"Senator John McCain launched into a pointed critique of his Senate colleague Hillary Rodham Clinton today, saying that “for the first time in political history” a presidential candidate has called for outright surrender in a war.
“Candidate Clinton has called for surrender and waiving the white flag,” he said during an appearance in West Palm Beach. “I think it’s terrible. I think it’s terrible.”
His remarks come as he is campaigning hard in Florida, hoping to defeat Rudolph W. Giuliani and keep the momentum from his victory last Saturday in South Carolina. In his remarks, he seemed to suggest Mrs. Clinton would be the nominee, and was perhaps using her as a vehicle to rally Republican voters in the run-up to the primary.
“I look forward to the debate with Senator Cinton on that issue. Americans don’t want to throw away the hard-earned gains we have made against Al Queada and Iraq. If Senator Clinton has her way, Al Qeada will trumpet to the world that they have beaten the United States.”
“For us to do what Senator LCinton wants us to do - - that is to waive the right flag – I can not guarantee United States seciurity"