Letters to the Editor
kenkapkk
Published Letters: 131 Editor's Choice: 13
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Pennsylvania
[Read the article: How will Barack Obama get to 270?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I live here. Pennsylvania was a false positive for Clinton. Not only did the demographics line up for Clinton, she had the entire party apparatus and infrastructure behind her, especially the two mayors (who Kos has correctly pointed out have far more influence than Senators, etc because they influence machines.) Nutter, the Phila African- America mayor held Obama to about 70% of the AA vote in Phila as a Clinton surogate. "Bittergate " hurt as Obama was closing in on holding her to a 5 point margin.
If you think Ed Rendell, a tireless, popular Governor plus the entire party apparatus is going to let a Republican in THIS election take Pennsylvania, you are delusional. How is McCain who has vowed to overturn Roe vs Wade going to win in the Phila suburbs? Murphy, in 2006, anti war and pro choice beat unexpectedly a very popular but pro life Mike Fitzpatrick (endorsed by the Sierra CLub) in my district that straddles Montgomery and Bucks County. Curt Weldon, a long term incumbant, went down in flames in Delaware County
Plus I agree with many that this kind of analysis, although an interesting starting point, is basically meaningless. This is not a conventional election. McCain is horribly saddled with and chosen alignement with policies that are despised. In addition, he will be a horrible campaigner. He can't walk and chew gum at the same time. He has nothing to offer the country except fear from the 2004 playbook which is already being trotted out.
Obama will outperform these predictions and McCain will under perform. Over 300+ EV easily for Obama. A democratic sweep.
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Open my eyes
[Read the article: How much can John Edwards help Barack Obama?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]This is an incredible admission by Joan and ecplains a great deal-from her response
"It may be that more religious and conservative voters will separate Wright from Obama, in a way **I haven't been able to**, because they would never leave their church over something a pastor said -- unlike someone who's an ambivalent, mostly secular holidays and special Sundays Catholic like me!
For suupposedly a savvy, liberal, columnist whose bones editing this site would be to get beyond the surface and hysterical CW responses, I find this to be most telling.
I am sorry but two things stand out. One is an unbelievable ignorance and inability to deal either with the complexity of a cross cultural issue, and the other is what should be a basic ability to deal with the context not only of some of the remarks, but of their place within a 30 year career. And not respond to the cultural noise of especially American myth and the right wing machine. That Clinton hopped on this train was despicable.
Joan, are you even aware of the incendiary speeches that Martin Luther King gave in the year of his death? Are you aware even that the speech he WAS to give before he was assassinated was very close to some of Wright's comments that have been considered the most odious?
Secondly, Hillary Clinton is no angel bathed in purity when it comes to comments about America, or others, as we have particulary seen lately. As I have mentioned here several times her "screw em" comment about blue collar whites in 1995 makes her stand as champion of thst group hypocritical, although I do not doubt her basic sincerity for helping others.
Your take on "voice" is senseless and baseless. Both Clinton and Obama took on Edwards populist stance when he dropped out of the race and Obama's populism, based on HIS roots, was taking hold in Pa until the "bitter" remarks, remarks, as I have mentioned, have been echoed by not only Hillary, but Bill in 1991, and other "elitist" Democrats like (sic) Jim Webb. Also, when Obama's "change" message really began to pick up speed. all we heard from Hillary for weeks was a parrot like bleet- "change, change".
Its very sad, really, that someone of such limited intellectual scope has risen to this position of prominence of this magazine.