Letters to the Editor
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Who's on First?
It is hard to understand why Hillary is getting bashed for fighting for what she believes to be true and just. The latest slam because she called out hard working white voters is scam by the media to make more rifts in the democratic party or create more news.
The fact is...she is talking about hard working white voters. What is the problem with that? We seem to be able to call out black urban voters, but not rural white voters. Has anyone considered what happens if you disinfranchise the white voter? We may have some backlash or "whitelash" againist the democratics come November.
WV primary is a very good indication of where this election is headed. You have an entire state that is down on its luck. They are fighting to survive. The gas prices are at the nations high, more citizens per captia have been given thier lives for the war in Iraq, and no president has won the White House since 1916 with out West Virginia.
As far as super delegates are concerned, Senator Jay Rock has pledged support to Obama and the Governor is uncommitted. Talk about a disconnect with the voters. They may seem themselves on the outside looking in if in if they ignore the votes of their people. Thats news....not the word "white"
What we really need to ask ourselves is who is the best candidate? Many WV's will vote for McCain in November is Obama is the Democratic choice. If you look at the national polls you see Hillary beating McCain. Obama can't beat McCain. Everytime race is thrown back in as a wedge on the Clintons, the Democrats loose more conservative democrats. Those are the same Democrats that cling to guns and religion. Those are the Democrats that voted for George Bush.
Rank the candidate by who's in first with the American Public? 1. Clinton 2. McCain 3. Obama
Hillary Clinton is who is on first. We are playing with political fire if we try to force her out or "fix" the election process. Are we going to steal the election from the hard working white American?
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AnaHadWolves
I have read your various screeds and it isn't like you have any room to speak.
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@Taliesen
"@AnaHadWolves...I have read your various screeds and it isn't like you have any room to speak.-- Taliesan"
Then, as a staunch Obamabot, you'll understand why I and many others may well just sit this one out and prepare for 2012. In any event, have a nice megalomania.
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texasmountaineer
There are a few problems with Hillary's statement.
First she equates hard working with being white and uneducated.
Then it also states that in essence, that Hillary's supporters would much rather support someone with the same skin tone whose policies are opposed to her own, than someone who happens to hold pretty much the same policies as her who just happens to be black.
IE: She just called the hard working, white working class in America racist - a charge which in itself is racist because it makes a judgement on a whole segment of the American population based on race. This is part of what resulted in a portion of the blue collar white populations coming on and posting that they were voting Obama.
Of course, this judgement is not unique to Hillary, it is indicative as to the way the media in America views whites that race is considered to be one of the big issues amongst whites when it comes to who they will vote for.
And just as obviously it is wrong, once you move beyond what idiots try to post online as "Or else" threats. The new "silent majority" out there is not racist, sexist or any other form of ist, it is going to vote for the best available candidate. Why? Because there are simply bigger issues in contention than whether or not your ego got bruised.
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Thanks, AJ!
Sorry the response is so late. Don't know if you're still reading this thread. But I appreciate it.
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AnaHadWolves
Thankyou for proving my point.
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Death with dignity? Would someone euthanize this article, please? And put a fork in the whole "triumph of hope over experience" myth while you're at it.
Uh, Walter, could you have written a worse opening paragraph than this one? You give us an entire paragraph about West Indian birds? I realize you are trying to be droll, but it didn't work...at all...no...not a bit.
Also, given your role as a regular Salon shill for Hillary, don't think we didn't notice your passive-aggressive dig.
"So what will it take for Obama to finally be allowed to celebrate the triumph of hope over experience?" -- you write, most passive-aggressively.
Again, may we remind you, Walter, that Obama -- with years of experience in state and national legislature, community organizing, constitutional law, a global world view, and the good judgment to have opposed the war from the start, is about more than "hope."
And Hillary's "experience" includes being a political wife, dodging imaginary sniper fire, bungling health reform, and voting to authorize the war in Iraq -- AND then doubling down by voting for Iran.
To continue to position Obama's triumph as the "triumph of hope over experience" betrays a Hillary-centric labeling of the candidates and their positions -- it's right out of her campaign playbook.
Enough already, Walter.
E N O U G H !!!!!
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@Taliesen
You have a point, as well, but, if you comb your hair differently, perhaps no one will notice.
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AnaHadWolves
Again, you prove me right. Carry on.
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Joan Walsh & Respect
The lack of respect for Hillary Clinton by Taliesen, et al, and the potentially deleterious effect its having on the Obama campaign, is underscored by this Joan Walsh opinion piece; I agree with her analysis completely:
"I have occasionally wished Obama himself would say something about the often-sexist viciousness Clinton has faced, but it's probably too much to ask in a campaign this contentious. Certainly Ted Kennedy didn't help Obama on Friday when he said Clinton wasn't a good candidate to be Obama's running mate and suggested that she wasn't "in tune with his appeal for the nobler aspirations" of the American people. Rep. Rahm Emanuel slapped Kennedy on Sunday, telling the New York Times (probably to make up for sounding like it was all over for Clinton on Friday): "I have a lot of respect for Ted Kennedy, but I don't know how the hell he comes off saying that. The gratuitous attack on her is uncalled for and wrong. He is a better senator than that comment reveals.”
I've talked about Clinton's need, in the closing days of the campaign, to improve her tone; clearly Obama too needs to work not to alienate Clinton supporters. He's done a great job being gracious all week, from his victory speech in North Carolina May 6 to his remarks to CNN's Wolf Blitzer that she'd be on "anybody's shortlist" for vice president. But Obama should be careful to make sure surrogates like Kennedy don't squander the goodwill he's trying to build. I'm not sure Clinton merits or wants the V.P. slot, but she at least deserves more respect than Kennedy showed while both campaigns figure out what comes next. It would be a shame if McCain's campaign did a better job feigning respect than Obama's did actually showing it.
-- Joan Walsh"
Amen, Joan!