Letters to the Editor
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Congratulations
"He won black voters, who are roughly a third of the state's Democratic primary electorate, by a 91-7 margin. White voters, who make up just over 60 percent of the state's Democratic voters, backed Clinton 61-37.
In Indiana, Clinton appeared headed for a more modest 2 point or less victory. There, she won 60-40 among white voters, who made up 80 percent of the turnout, while losing black voters 8-92.
Clinton's success among white voters is very likely to continue to raise questions concerning Obama's viability among whites, who play a larger role in general elections than in Democratic primaries."
Enjoy your "victory......."
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Well, in fact
Bill Clinton may or may not have "reached across" to all voters, but in fact, he didn't win a majority of the electorate either time he ran and probably owed his first win to the presence of Ross Perot in the race. I say that as someone who voted for him in '92 and refused to in '96.
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Joan- YOU GOT IT WRONG
Please start the colloquy from the initial remark made by Donna, to which Paul thereafter responded.
All that is necessary is to find Donna's initial remark, and report it verbatim. Then, and only then, can we place the debate (which you've transcribed) between her and Begala in context.
I find this oversight on your part curious and disappointing, as I was watching the exchange last evening and I know that without the original comment, there is no context.
I expect you, as a journalist, to have the same level of approciation for honesty and accuracy.
Jeez.
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NYShooter Thankyou.
That you summarise Barrack's entire candidacy as being based on his race, and not say, his vocal opposition to the war, his unwillingness to pander with issues, or even to be honest, the opposition Hillary has met from people who do not want an unapologetic hawk in office after the Iraq mess is enlightening.
As is your list of just who you think is supporting Obama - and why you think they are doing it. Your insults and hatred for your own party, coupled with your sense of your candidates entitlement shows exactly why Obama's supporters have gotten angry.
Thankyou for showing exactly what you Hillbots are all about.
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@Weeping (thanks for the tube)
appreciated!
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going to get a t-shirt
Apologies if someone's already proposed this (just don't have the energy to read all the letters) but I'm think that it's time for me to get a t-shirt printed up that says "Egg-heads and African-Americans for Obama."
I know it's a little immodest (because if you saw me, you'd immediately deduce that I am not African-American) but despite the best efforts of Republican and Clinton campaign consultants, I just don't feel guilty about having gone to grad school - which, along with my Starbucks promotion card, is about to get me a free cup of coffee.
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Hmm
I find it interesting that instead of writing on the primary, which, by most measures, looks like it could be the beginning of a quick end for Senator Clinton, you chose instead to post the transcript of a bitchy conversation between two cable television pundits. This is exactly the kind of empty "political coverage" that your own Glenn Greenwald constantly criticizes (and rightly so).
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From Joan Walsh
banyantree, I paraphrased Brazile's comment about the party not needing to rely so much on white working class and Latino voters, because it's expanded to include young voters, urban voters and some suburban voters, in the introduction to the transcript. Did you miss that? There was no transcript of that segment of the hour available when I posted, though I believe there now is, and I'll look for it and grab it. But I did not leave it out: I know exactly what provoked Begala. I like Donna and I can only imagine it didn't come out exactly the way she meant it.
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democrats and voting
I think there's another constituency that is always overlooked.Many,many women voted for George Bush because they felt that security was an issue.I know many women and older voters(2 constituencies that always show up to vote,by the way)who very simply will NOT cast their ballot for Barack Obama because of his youth and inexperience.Sorry, guys but I feel the Democrats are making a big mistake if they think that they will automatically get these voters to change their minds.It is a reality that no one cares to address, but it is still there.Unless, the Democrats feel they can win without this constituency, white men, Hispanics, and many Jewish voters.That is an example of math that doesn't work for me.
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some politicians really are different
Lincoln, for instance.
As several people have warned in this thread, there's no advance proof that if Obama gets in the White House, he won't have a disappointing presidency. Maybe his ability to inspire and his skill at articulating a national vision won't translate into effective leadership.
But maybe it will. Gary Wills has compared Obama to Lincoln. Is this just overheated Obama worship? Could be. But he bases it on a close and reasoned analysis. In Lincoln's case, his ability to craft moving, incisive speeches reflected the canny mix of pragmatism and idealism he used to govern. That Obama could turn out to be that kind of exceptional politician, who truly leads people to a new a way of thinking and seeing national politics, is what is so exciting about Obama.
And it's not necessarily a pipe dream--it has happened before, why not now?
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Dishonest Joan: It was a smackdown - of the Republicans.
Note that Walsh doesn't include what Brazile said prior to the excerpt - just like other sensationalized posts about this exchange.
Walsh provides no links to the full transcript or video and I question if her version what Brazile really said,
In reality, this wasn't a smackdown, it wasn't "a glimpse of the deep tensions rending the Democratic Party".
It was "a vigorous agreement" about how the Democratic party has always been "not the monochromatic Republican Party".
The only smackdown came when Brazile and Begala united to strike at Republican spin.
This wasn't "worrisome politics" except for fans of one candidate who can't stand discussion which respects both. Or if you're in the habit of using overblown language to get reader reaction.
Maybe what disturbed Joan was Brazile's point that Obama couldn't have gotten this far if his appeal was limited to stereotypes.
Only fanatics believe either candidate has an exclusive coalition.
Walsh has become a lazy media type who imposes her predetermined dramatic narrative - Democrats doomed by division - no matter what is observed.
She could still express her worries and/or prefer Clinton in this post, but her dishonest presentation makes it infuriating.