Letters to the Editor
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Joe, you're too kind
I don't for a second believe that two politicians as experienced and calculating as the Clintons do or say anything by accident. Write one or two of these incidents off as foot-in-mouth syndrome, but over the course of the campaign there's been a repeated pattern by Clinton and her surrogates to suggest that Obama can't win because he's black. And in a year when everything is lined up for the Democrats, it's sad to see a candidate imply that her own party can't be trusted to support its nominee on the basis of race.
I don't think Hillary or her husband are racist. But they've proven themselves willing to exploit racist sentiment for political gain. In a way that's even worse - at least bigots have the courage of their misguided opinions. The Clintons just have a depthless narcissism and no inner guardrails to guide their increasingly desperate behavior. The party and the country will be better off when these two and their hillbilly psychodrama are no longer on the national scene. Good riddance.
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Isn't Obama GAINING among white working class voters?
If anything was clear out of this week's primaries, I thought it was that Obama was gaining support among whites, including those in the working class, and that his support appears to be climbing in almost every demographic.
As an Indiana native (though I haven't lived there full-time since the 80s) I can't imagine that Obama could have stayed within 25k votes of Hillary like he did without serious white working class support (after all, Indiana is 91% white) And from reports I've heard from family, friend and the media there, a pretty significant number of Hillary votes were Operation Chaos-generated.
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Amazed There is Not More Outrage to Hillary's Racist Comments!
I am astonished that more reporters and writers have not come out in outrage at Hillary's very offensive remarks about whites not supporting Barack which in reality she is alluding to racism. I am amazed at how she has been able to divide this country by race and gender with no apparent objections from the thinking public or congressman or reporters, that she has been able to run amuck like a hurricane or tornado and do damage with no one trying to stop it! Barack's message and actions have been one of Uniting, while Hillary's has been one of Division! I am proud of Peggy Noonan's writing who does speak against these racist remarks of Hillary's who is not only tearing the Democatic party apart but also the nation and Joe Conason, Salon, who also writes about the damaging effects of these remarks.
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Adesuwa
Umm, sorry?
If Hillary was the stronger candidate she would be the one in the lead, not Obama. That she isn't kind of does away with the claim that she is a better candidate - as running a good campaign is the core of it.
Now as you are a black woman I am sure that you are a hard working American posting online. I am just as sure that you resent the idea that white blue collar Americans are apparently the only hard working Americans out there if you read what Hillary said.
It was a racist statement, and it requires an appology. While I am sure Hillary is no racist, particularly seen as racism is what turned her away from the Republicans, her statement in its current form is racist - and speaks of a certain degree of desperation.
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Inner Vision
I gather that Joe Conason possesses the god-like power of being able to look into people's hearts and souls and see whether they are racist. Mere mortal that I am, I can judge someone only by their words and deeds.
And Hillary Clinton's words and deeds (and those of her campaign workers) certainly add up -- as Conason admits --to a pattern of race-loaded arguments, insinuations and suggestions. Her numerous comments about hard-working, white Americans who support her, leave no doubt as to the kind of Americans who supposedly support Obama: the lazy and shiftless ones, of a darker hue.
As other commentators here have already pointed out, I also object to Conason arguing that Obama has followed similar tactics without specifying what those tactics are or when he has used them. If Conason has something to say on the subject, then say it. Insinuation is far too lazy and weak for a writer of Conason's intelligence.
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If Hillary Really Wanted to Help
... she could make an appeal to this demographic in the name of the Democratic party.
While I respect her, if she doesn't at some point work to help the party, I fear she risks losing the respect of many.
I hope that at some point she decides to help out and work towards a united Democratic victory this fall. We need you, Hillary! Come help!
Best
Dave
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I gotta say...this should be bigger than Bitter!
If the Media does not devote at least as much time to this horrendous implication (Americans of Color are not Hard Working)as they did to bittergate. Then I just don't know what to say.
Racebaitgate, is by far a bigger scandel. Although we can and do dismiss it as a mistatement or at worst political pandering, we do know that this statement isn't new to Clinton or her Supporters.
Certainly you can argue it is less of a big deal that Hillary made this statement, since her chances of winning are so remote...but still, this deserves attention.
However, I think it's best we look at Hillary's entire argument.
1) count every vote
2) see who got the most white votes
3) ask the super delegates to over ride the non-white vote if it went differntly than the majority of the white vote.
I hope every West Viriginian tired of others prejudicial association of their state with a racist past, throw off this woman and vote for anyone other than Hillary.
Is Edwards still on the ballot in WV?
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Obama Now Has More Supers...
I just found this. I apologize if someone else already referenced this news. Obama now exceeds Clinton's superdelegates. Obama is the nominee and Clinton's very clumsy radio interview yesterday probably hastened that fact.
ABC report:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/obama-now-takes.html
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A little test
Forget, for a moment, that race exists. Forget that there are rich and poor, man and woman.
Who has more votes? Doesn't matter which subgroup of which subgroup voted for whom.
Who has more delegates?
Who has twice as many states?
Looks like more people voted for Obama. He's gotten more delegates, too. And more states.