Letters to the Editor
-
Put the blame where the blame lies.
With the precinct captain. Why does the MSM expect every candidate to a) be held responsible for the actions of an overzealous volunteer and b) respond to every little slight, leaving voters to complain that they don't hear enough substance? Obama has been the principal victim of this, and he and his campaign need to find better mechanisms for handling issues like this and quickly shifting the focus back to policy and his message.
That said, Senator Obama has my vote.
-
the same
HRC and Obama (or at least their campaigns) are equally culpable in slamming each other. There is no point in saying s/he is better, or worse, or more vicious, or less accurate, or s/he started it.
Those who consider themselves Democrats need to demand the leading candidates stop rendering each other unelectable.
Here's a letter I wrote. I'd like to petition the party to declare a moratorium on trash talk/tactics. Rovism shouldn't be our style. Cal me Pollyanna if you must, but help me get the ball rolling.
I am a registered Democrat in the state of Connecticut. I am a working mom, an educator, a wife, and the manager of a middle-class home. I am a staunch progressive. And I am a talker: I discuss politics and social issues with friends, family, colleagues and students.
I am so excited about the 2008 election. The idea of a woman, a minority, a ground-breaking progressive -heck, just a Democrat!- in the White House truly makes me optimistic about our future. Any one of the front-running candidates would make a terrific Chief Executive, and a vast improvement over the current occupant.
But, I am becoming increasingly disheartened at the sniping between HRC, Obama and Edwards. I am getting worried that these three gifted, visionary, contenders will damage each other so much that by the time the conventions roll around, the electorate will give up on the party and support the Republican candidate over the Democratic nominee. (I have already heard a few Salonistas say as much in the political columns this week: "If Hillary is the nminee, I will vote for McCain").
This would be disastrous. Not only for the party, but for the country and the constitution. (And - I don't think I am waxing hyperbolic when I say this - the world). This is alarming. We can't afford the Democrats to self-destruct.
Last night, I wrote an email to both the Obama and the Clinton campaigns (and today I'll send a copy to Edwards as well). I begged them to refrain from petty attacks on each other. I asked the candidates to pledge that they would stick to their own records, policy ideas, and vision for America. I challenged them to speak to pundits about their Democratic opponents in this way: "S/he is great. I think either one of us would make a fantastic President. Let's face it, any one of us make a better President than the one we have now, or the candidates from the other party. I have the utmost respect for my colleague's vision, passion and patriotism. I think, in the clinch, I have an edge. And this is why: I did this, I think this, I plan to do this, and I promise never to do this....."
The electorate doesn't want to hear the Clinton campaign make catty references Obama's past personal life, nor do we want the Obama campaign to distort Clinton's remarks. And for pity's sake, we don't need Edwards, of all people, suggesting that a woman isn't "strong" enough to be a leader. We can't afford to be petty. I break out in a cold sweat thinking that this tactic will draw swing voters to the "affable" Huckabee or the "straight-talking" McCain. Can America truly afford another 4 or 8 years with the Republicans in control? I think it might destroy the Republic, Roman-fashion.
So, I write to you because I'd like to start a petition. I suspect many Democratic party members feel as I do. Could we start a grass-roots campaign, asking the Democratic candidates to publicly promise not to eat their own? I don't really know how to get started (I suppose I could start a chain letter on my email, but .. I hate chain letters, plus I suspect your address book is a little bigger than mine!) Please help!
-
Get right in there, Tim, and defend Obama
If anyone on Hillary's team did this there would be no defense of Hillary from Tim Greive.
"I may have to resign" said the errant campaign worker.. and what does Obama say?
Silence.
Tim wants us all to know that Barak is innocent. He had NO KNOWLEDGE of this what-so-ever.
But if any shenanaigans like this happen in camp Hillary... she will be PERSONALLY to blame.
-
what Tim forgot to say:
"My name is Barak Obama and I approve this ad".
-
At least SPELL his name correctly.
I can't think of anything lazier than misspelling the name of a presidential candidate. For goodness' sakes, people - it's not "Barak". It's "Barack".
-
Barack
barack barack barack barack. Barack Hussein Obama.
-
Obama volunteers
I know Obama volunteers are asked to be positive and talk about about Obama'strength's and not criticize other candidates. GOTV has these goals. Make sure people are registered to vote, and know the election date, Get the Democrats out to vote, get the undecided to vote for your candidate, don't be negative about the other candidate, in fact don't mention their name.
-
I'm going to have to stop blaming GOP dirty tricks for the Obama Campaigns stupid moves ....
seriously...
are we really really certain this guy isn't a mole?
Getting his campaign staff on message ... and standing up and taking responsibility for stuff done in his name would be a great way to demonstrate -- rather than just talk about -- leadership (but I said that days ago and was disappointed by his "statement" yesterday) ...
Sigh. I was kind hoping to vote for him ... but I think he's sabotaging his campaign more than Clintonian smears could hope to do.
Maybe someone can prove this "volunteer" is a closet "clintonite" (so many players, so many teams, need a scorecard)
-
Volunteer coordinator repsponsibilty
In every campaign you have loose cannons. Precinct captains are volunteering, so it is good idea for the person in charge of training volunteers to make sure that the precinct captains are using official cmaong materials and the right talking points.