Read other letters about this article

• Wednesday, April 16, 2008 04:31 AM

  Oh jeez, not this sh*t again...

  Walsh is being ever more careful in her parsing. I give her credit -- she's learning to be more clever and covert.

  But I think Walsh got burned one too many times by Obama supporters in the comments threads. Now she takes every opportunity to mock the worst among them. Obama supporters "shriek," she says. (Sigh: imagine the fun feminist fallout from anybody saying Clinton supporters "shriek.") Again and again, Walsh seems blind to the behavior of Clinton supporters...

  Earth to Joan Walsh: You okay there?

  My secret for telling when Walsh is about to put one over on me, rhetorically, is whenever she uses the word "fair." For example, Walsh says that Clinton's pouncing on Obama's "bitter" remarks is unfair. But just a paragraph or so later, Walsh finds a way to suggest it is, ultimately, fair, because it's an electability issue. (That's Clinton's talking point, too. Funny, though....Obama's electability does not seem to have been hurt by this.)

  Walsh also repeats an argument that she's used time and time again, whenever Clinton's tactics are questionable: Instead of just saying "Clinton's tactics are questionable," Walsh offers a backward support of them in the form of, "Whatever Clinton might dish out, the GOP will dish out something 1,000 times worse."

  Look: Wrong is wrong is wrong. Clinton's tactics are either valid or they're not. Likewise, the GOP's upcoming tactics are either valid or they're not. Will you be arguing against them when the time comes, or will you be calling them fair play? Will everything be fair play?

  If Clinton were to call Obama a tax-and-spend communist who wants to turn America into a giant hippie commune, would you defend Clinton because "the GOP will do the same thing 1,000 times worse"?

  I'm tired of the mental backflips. I'm tired of the roundabout rationalizations. You've learned to be more clever and careful, Walsh, but you haven't learned much beyond that. You're stung by accusations of shilling, you're poised to defend people's projection, but you don't seem to actually be listening to the rest of us -- the ones who bring up the same points in response again and again, only to have you ignore us again and again.

  To repeat: What is it with you pointing out the bad behavior of Obama supporters but never acknowledging the constant crap being pulled by the Clinton supporters around here? Come on, you can't tell me you don't see it.

  And I've got to laugh when you bring up Obama's "six-shooter" mistake in the same breath that you admit what a non-gaffe that is. Or when you claim that Obama answered criticisms well in the same breath that you complain he didn't do enough to address the tone of the word "cling." It's like you're in a state of self-satisfied self-contradction.

  Come on, Joan Walsh, work with us here. Stop being defensive and TALK TO US. Do you really think Obama supporters don't see what's going on? Do you really think that Obama supporters don't understand how the political games work? Sure, Obama needs to keep sharpening his game, and learning to keep his foot well away from his mouth. But if Clinton's only positive effect nowadays is helping Obama learn to fight better, doesn't that say it all?

  You can be sure that Obama supporters are ready to extend the olive branch to Clinton supporters. Don't make it harder for us! Step back, look around.

  It's like you're so busy following the horse race up close with your binoculars, that you aren't even aware of the people sitting next to you.

  —Xrandadu Hutman Read Xrandadu Hutman's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel