Letters to the Editor
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Coattails--the most important question for Clinton supporters
I've been mulling over this Reverend Wright stuff over the weekend, and having been raised by two very christian parents, I cannot help but think that Obama handled Wright precisely correctly. He condemned the sin, but forgave the sinner. Obama's christianity, which has been questioned even by members of his own party, is demonstrated by the way he handled this controversy. Will he still be attacked on it? Sure, just as Clinton will be attacked if she is the nominee on things that are unfair. Will the attacks have any merit? No, not for those who believe that a person should not be responsible for all of the statements or actions of their friends and associates. Obama is responsible for his own statements and beliefs--making him responsible for Wright's is a stretch that becomes harder when there's no justification other than his friendship with Wright to think that these ideas Wright has are shared by Obama.
However, leaving that aside for a moment, I believe that the single most important issue unanswered by Clinton supporters--and the number one reason that Clinton is not ahead in delegates, and ultimately will likely not win the white house is the question of coattails. Although the Clintons have maintained their popularity in the white house and outside of it, what about the recent study that said that an Obama presidency would have a better effect on those other Democrats running for office? We have already seen this in some of the politicians that obama has endorsed and campaigned for. The Clintons are not going to help the party if they are not able and willing to also help other Democrats win office (yes, even in those "little" states that apparently don't count). What are the Clintons going to do, what have they done to help Democrats other than themselves win office? I have read that both Kerry and Gore feel that the Clintons didn't help them when they were running for POTUS, and I can't help but think that this "the only Democrat that can win the white house will be a Clinton" is also disturbing. Has our party disintigrated to the point where we don't think that other Democrats deserve to win? That we can't imagine leadership that isn't coming from Bill or Hillary?
I also cannot help but notice that in all the polls that have shown Obama's strengths and Clinton's weaknesses, Clinton supporters have urged voters not to listen to the polls. The moment that Clinton, in one of Obama's no his worst week on the campaign trail, that he is behind by 1% or a couple of percentage points in one or two studies--Clinton supporters immediately jump on the "unelectability" bandwagon.
I will repeat the way I have felt all along: I don't believe either of these candidates is unelectable. I have more faith in the American people than to think that a black activist preacher's controversial statements are going to make one of the best political campaigns we've seen in years in terms of turn-out and enthusiastic support--disintegrate into nothing. Likewise, I don't believe that a politician as popular with many voters as Clinton is "unelectable" even if polls say that 50% of voters say she has "high negatives" and they won't vote for her.
So the number one question is, or should be, what is good for the party? How do Clinton supporters answer the question of coattails and how what has been good for the Clintons has not always been good for the rest of the party? How do supporters of the Clintons answer the fact that the Democrats in offices below POTUS actually lost traction while Bill Clinton was in office--even though he himself personally remained very popular? And how do Democrats who support Clinton believe that Hillary Clinton will be different, even though studies have shown that Obama, if elected, will likely have a more positive effect on other Democratic party wins?
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Just wondering.
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@tejano
what a wonderful idea! (richardson as obama's V.P.). not so much the latino thing, but richardson has gobs of experience and seems an easy going guy as well. nice ticket!
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Hear! Hear!
HOW ABOUT
"The Democrats present a full slate of candidates who are thoroughly vetted re background, voting history, associations, words, actions, platforms, possible contradictions, baggage real and imagined, and THEN everybody votes simultaneously in all 50 states - on the same day as the Republicans. Everybody receives an equal budget from a DNC fund for strictly noncommercial use (e.g., no ads with red phones, rippling flags, or bared fangs). A series of debates takes place with moderators chosen for their neutrality and aversion to witch hunts and dogfights. And MSM analysis is confined to an obscure cable channel that virtually nobody can find."
-- KateTex
Nice shootin' Kate!!!!
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The growing Anti-Obama effect
One peice of dangerous fallout from the continued primary season rumble to the convention is the disenfranchisement of voters on the Clinton side. You had mentioned the impact that was apparent if Clinton somehow became the nominee. There would be those that would claim "foul!" and not accept the candidate. The same is becoming apparent on the opposite side. As Obama's camp continues forcing it's way to the head of the class we are seeing more and more Clinton supporters being trampled in the process to crown their candidate.
The amount of vitriol being spate out on political blogs like DKos in favor of the Obama Campaign is deafening. As these two combatants are still marginally close in the popular vote this behavior has a way of damaging the party as a whole.
The largest issue that points to this is the 2008 version of the "hanging chad", the Michigan and Florida "do over" failures. These failures were largely attributed to the Obama campaign's instructions to stonewall the process in the legislature. Obama may have spoken on Larry King that he was all "for" a do-over in those states, but his operations on the ground and in the state senates were clearly told to oppose any "do over". This refusal to allow the citizens of these two large delegate states to be counted amounts to stealing the election much like George Bush did in Florida back in 2000. And we all know the animosity that grew out of that event.
We need to put these issues to rest before the convention and have a clear vote from all corners of the country before claiming victory for either candidate. To paraphrase Bill Clinton, "It's the Democracy, Stupid!"
Simply saying,
Wynter
Loudon, NH