Letters to the Editor
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Gams on Glass
I wouldn't dare suggest anything as I'm just a "shrinking violet" from the Emerald Isle. I've just mentioned some colours and I hope that's OK because I'm scared of the whole lot of you. Forgive my ignorance, but I had an idea that "gams" once meant "legs" in America. Why would they be ON glass, I wonder. If they were in a glass case for some special reason it might make sense to me. You wouldn't want to pay much heed to me anyway because I've a wicked imagination which sometimes wanders into bizarre notions. For instance, I've convinced myself that Mitt Romney has been embalmed and I'm fascinated by that great head of hair he has which scarcely has a grey root. I suppose you know that Oscar Wilde was Irish and that it was he who wrote "The Story of Dorian Gray"? This is scary stuff, quite in line with your 2008 election.
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Race is always an issue
It takes a different form in 2008 because one of the presidential candidates is black, but honestly, is the current level of racial discourse worse than when Bush pere ran that Willie Horton ad? Or when Clarence Thomas was being nominated? Or basically at any time under Reagan?
In another generation, Obama's ducklike ability to let it all roll off him (at least in public) will be regarded in hindsight as one of those catalysts that finally forced public consciousness of race to evolve, in a similar way to how Kennedy's defense of his religion in 1960 ended anti-Catholic bigotry as it was then known in America.
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We need to think about the general election!
It is a terrible truth, but race is still front and focus in this campaign and the media can be prime instigators in the phenomenon. However, with the all the racial prejudice out there (we are still up to our eyeballs in it), it is difficult not to mention it. And even if the media neglect to bring it up on some occasions, the commentors on the websites start the racial slurs which are often shocking.
This country is disappointing. With all our high-flying talk of democracy and equal chance, the rampant dislike of blacks, gays, and Hispanics is an underlying theme and becomes a big calling card for bigoted Republicans to garner support. It is all coded, of course, but there is no doubt about it. Usually, it is couched in terms of not paying taxes, taking welfare, wanting hand-outs, and closing our borders. However, the crowning slur involved Hurricane Katrina. After the Katrina disaster, there were a complaints amongst the right wingers that the people in New Orleans were unwilling to go back there to clean it up! Incredible!
With this kind of backdrop, I fear Obama doesn't stand a chance in a general election. It is possible that Hillary as a woman doesn't, either. In many ways, I am disappointed that Hillary and Obama did not sit out this election so that the Democrats could stand a better chance at the White House. As it is, I fear we are going to get another Republican because the Democrats again managed to wrest defeat out of the jaws of victory.
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The Clinton's are Dirty Politics
The Clinton's have dragged this race into the mud, and they have done so purposely. Anyone who doesn't see that, is deluding themselves. Why do you think Bill was going around saying "The press is treating Obama with kid gloves because..." HINT, HINT. They have been using coded language the entire time.
As to Hillary's infamous quote, you can bury your head in the sand if you want, but beyond the race-coded language, is more truth than anyone knows.
Anyone who would credit LBJ more so than MLK with the Voting Rights Acts is a fool or is dealing from the bottom of the deck. Plain and simple. First of all, why would a presidential candidate compare themselves, in a time of War, to LBJ who resigned because of Vietnam. So either she is a fool, or there was something more to the story.
Why, when the campaign is turning to South Carolina, would Clinton equate MLK to LBJ, when she KNOWS such a thing may offend African-Americans, who make up large part of the voting Dems in SC? So either she made a bone-headed statement or there is something more to the story.
Plus, what does Hillary's quote say about her perspective presidency? I have no big ideas, but when a big idea gets to my desk, I'll sign it. I have the vision of a bureacrat?
And lastly Joan, you are simply misreading history. When the voting rights act passed, 70% of white Americans favored it. It was 9 years after Brown v. Board of Education, after the Southern Manifesto which voters rejected, after the Supreme Court took the lead (among government entities) on racial equality. Was there obstruction in Congress? Of course? There are always some fools who are on the wrong side of history. Hillary's comments are the equivalent of women crediting Woodrow Wilson for the passage of the 19th Amendment. Its insulting and Clinton knew this. She knew she was going to lose in South Carolina, indeed all the South. So she gave herself an excuse. Race. But if she thinks Democrats are going to come running to her in a general election, she is sadly mistaken. She shouldn't even be running for President. Two families shouldn't control the presidency for 24 years.
Nominate Clinton, and McCain will win.
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Obama is too polite
Clinton has the reputation for being brilliant--but this is in comparison to the man in the street. Clinton is a policy wonk; Obama is smarter and has been too polite in this campaign. Dismissing Clinton's racially tin ear was a miscalculation. Much too polite.
He needs to have his operatives go for the jugular: that Clinton installed her lesbian lovers in the cabinet during her husband's presidency, and so on. He shouldn't leave that to the Republicans.
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KcM
Rove, as distasteful as his clients are, is a farging brilliant political strategist and campaigner. You have to give him that. Any politician who's been "Roved" - as the Clintons have - who doesn't study and learn from Rove's tactics is a naive fool.
Obama needs to suck it up and stop whining about being "double-teamed" by the Clintons. Did he think he was running for senior class president? He should be grateful for the chance to practice defending himself and for the opportunity to get all his closet bone collections examined now and not later.
He should also, BTW, be more grateful to Senator Clinton, who graciously mentored him when he was a Senate newbie.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/clinton-obama
If you think what the Clintons are doing now is Rovian, you ain't seen nothing yet. If he ever makes it to the GE, THEN he will see what real Rovian tactics are.