Ellington

In his current New York Times column, Frank Rich dives into the racial fray that Republicans are facing in trying to campaign against Barack Obama:

When Mr. McCain jokingly invoked the Obama slogan "I am fired up and ready to go" in his speech Tuesday night, it was as cringe-inducing as the white covers of R & B songs in the 1950s — or Mitt Romney's stab at communing with his inner hip-hop on Martin Luther King's birthday. Trapped in an archaic black-and-white newsreel, the G.O.P. looks more like a nostalgic relic than a national political party in contemporary America. A cultural sea change has passed it by.

The 2008 primary campaign has been so fast and furious that we haven't paused to register just how spectacular that change is. All the fretful debate about whether voters would turn out for a candidate who is a black or a woman seems a century ago. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama vanquished the Democratic field, including a presidential-looking Southern white man with an enthusiastic following, John Edwards. What was only months ago an exotic political experiment is now almost ho-hum.

Given that the American story has been so inextricable from the struggle over race, the Obama triumph has been the bigger surprise to many. Perhaps because I came of age in the racially divided Washington public schools of the 1960s and had one of my first newspaper jobs in Richmond in the early 1970s, I almost had to pinch myself when Mr. Obama took 52 percent of Virginia's white vote last week. The Old Dominion continues to astonish those who remember it when. [...]

[...]For all the changes in Virginia and elsewhere, vestiges of the Southern strategy persist in some Republican quarters. Mr. McCain, however, has been a victim, rather than a practitioner, of the old racial gamesmanship. In his brutal 2000 South Carolina primary battle against Mr. Bush and Karl Rove, Mr. McCain's adopted Bangladeshi daughter was the target of a smear campaign. He was also pilloried for accurately describing the Confederate flag as a "symbol of racism and slavery." (Sadly, he started to bend this straight talk the very next day.) He is still paying for correctly describing Jerry Falwell, once an ardent segregationist, and Pat Robertson, a longtime defender of South African apartheid, as "agents of intolerance." And of course Mr. McCain remains public enemy No. 1 to some in his party for resisting nativist overkill on illegal immigration.

Though Mr. Bush ran for president on "compassionate conservatism," he diversified only his party's window dressing: a 2000 Republican National Convention that had more African-Americans onstage than on the floor and the incessant photo-ops with black schoolchildren to sell No Child Left Behind. There are no black Republicans in the House or the Senate to stand with the party's 2008 nominee. Exit polls tell us that African-Americans voting in this year's G.O.P. primaries account for at most 2 to 4 percent of its electorate even in states with large black populations. [...]

As some Republicans drift away in a McCain-Obama race, who fills the vacuum? Among the white guys flanking Mr. McCain at his victory celebration on Tuesday, revealingly enough, was the once-golden George Allen, the Virginia Republican who lost his Senate seat and presidential hopes in 2006 after being caught on YouTube calling a young Indian-American Democratic campaign worker "macaca."

In that incident, Mr. Allen added insult to injury by also telling the young man, "Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." As election results confirmed both in 2006 and last week, it is Mr. Allen who is the foreigner in 21st century America, Mr. Allen who is in the minority in the real world of Virginia. A national rout in 2008 just may be that Republican Party's last stand.

Previous Comments

ID

117207

Comment

I also like the part about the changing demographic (and attitudes) of younger voters: Whatever the potency of his political skills and message, Mr. Obama is also riding a demographic wave. The authors of the new book “Millennial Makeover,” Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais, point out that the so-called millennial generation (dating from 1982) is the largest in American history, boomers included, and that roughly 40 percent of it is African-American, Latino, Asian or racially mixed. One in five millennials has an immigrant parent. It's this generation that is fueling the excitement and some of the record turnout of the Democratic primary campaign, and not just for Mr. Obama. Even by the low standards of his party, Mr. McCain has underperformed at reaching millennials in the thriving culture where they live. His campaign's effort to create a MySpace-like Web site flopped. His most-viewed appearances on YouTube are not viral videos extolling him or replaying his best speeches but are instead sendups of his most reckless foreign-policy improvisations – his threat to stay in Iraq for 100 years and his jokey warning (sung to the tune of the Beach Boys' version of “Barbara Ann”) that he will bomb Iran. In the vast arena of the Internet he has been shrunk to Grumpy Old White Guy, the G.O.P. brand incarnate.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-18T10:56:07-06:00

ID

117208

Comment

I saw Frank Rich on the Today Show this morning. Until the Republican Party disavow themselves from class/race/gender wedge issues, they will continue their gradual slide slide into oblivion. Should Obama end up as the Democratic nominee, the Republican attack machine will go after him a vengence. I believe his campaign will bring out some of the worst among his Republican detractors and I fear it will get very ugly. Maybe one of the ugliest attacks I've ever seen.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-18T12:59:25-06:00

ID

117209

Comment

I think so, too, golden. And I believe/pray that it will nail the coffin closed on coded (and not-so-coded) race strategies. They ought to pay attention to the millennials' attitudes on immigration, while they're at it. What I love about this generation is that they believe they can change things; they're not just cynical and disengaged. They are "civic," and not just about empty rhetoric (of the left or the right). I must say, it's my favorite generation of my lifetime. I believe they will prove to be the new greatest generation. They sure have inherited a mess to clean up.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-18T13:05:11-06:00

ID

117210

Comment

I know I'm stepping on the holy grail for some of you, but we didn't learn recently that change, just for the sake of change isn't always a good thing? Think.little.frankie.melton. Obama isn't any more quailfied to be president than little frankie is to be mayor.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2008-02-19T06:56:31-06:00

ID

117211

Comment

To tell you the truth, "change" is a very overused cliche. Almost every election has someone talking about change. And somebody please--PLEASE--stop telling me that every presidential election is the most important election in our history. I'll probably hear that again four years from now. One more point: the deal with qualifications is overrated, too. To be president, all you have to be is 35 years old and a native-born citizen. Of course, I don't want to see some blithering idiot in office who probably has no business being there (see Frank Melton), but it is what it is (another overused cliche).

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-19T09:34:56-06:00

ID

117212

Comment

Cliff Cargill, is this a racist assessment based on shear ignorance and arrogance? Do you really believe that Black = Inferior, bad, incapable, dirty, criminal or unqualified? Can you really evidence facts that would equate Obama to frank melton? The only alikeness they have, in my opinion is skin color; however, the germ of Obama's birth was out of the womb of a White woman. It is so sad to read comments like these from Mississippians. This is one of the very reasons that this State stays on the bottom of every thing.

Author

justjess

Date

2008-02-19T10:46:19-06:00

ID

117213

Comment

I'm with justjess, Cliff: Why in HELL would you compare a man with Obama's public-service background with Frank Melton, who had never run for or been elected to a public office, and didn't even take time to vote, and who has lied repeatedly during his campaign and time in office, and who has a documented drinking problem, and blames everyone for his problems, and, and ... You need to think long and hard about this comparison. It is more offensive than Bill Clinton comparing Obama to Jesse Jackson, although that was disgusting enough. The truth is, Obama has plenty of specific ideas, should anyone–including the lamestream media–actually give a damn enough to do the homework. Bush, on the other hand, was going to be a "compassionate conservative," a la Orlansky, and the media never bothered to figure out what the horrendous, Orwellian meaning of that was, either. I kinda think an apology is in order on this one, Cliff, whether you meant to send the message you sent or not.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T10:56:29-06:00

ID

117214

Comment

To add another point, there are still far too many Whites in this community who absolutely hate well educated successful African-American males. This is one of the very reasons that Johnson was defeated by frank. melton was the type of black that too many, blacks and whites felt confortable with: Jim Crow is still alive and well. If you speak up and out and do what you know is best rather than what you are told to do, it's all over. For some blacks, you must be able to talk sh!t, get down in the gutter, nasty dance with any woman who is willing, throw wild parties and drink until the alcohol has slipped down your throat and stolen away your brain. This is the reason we have frankie: This sterotypical, negative evaluation of black folks and trying to make successful competent blacks melton's carbon copy is all done by design. Think about it.

Author

justjess

Date

2008-02-19T11:04:30-06:00

ID

117215

Comment

I think what Cliff is trying to say is that people are so feed up they would take anybody other than another Bush or McCain and that Obama is still a neophyte (I'm still voting for him regardless, JFK was not that much more experienced). Hiowever, I am so sick and tired of someone not being able to say the simplest thing without someone racism. The race card is getting played a bit too much here I think. Once its played the original poster has to spend an inordiante amount of time refuting silly charges of racism. If one has to resort to playing the race card all the time maybe that person relly does not have anything intelligent to say.

Author

iratetoday

Date

2008-02-19T11:08:11-06:00

ID

117216

Comment

Nope, irate, I don't agree on this one. There was NO reason to compare Obama to "Little Frankie." None. I'm not saying he intentionally set out to be offensive, but these are the kinds of things that we have to call out and get people to think about. It's not "playing the race card" to call out playing the race card. What are we supposed to do–be so afraid of hurting a white person's feelings that we never broad the subject of race, even when it is so offensive to a smart African American just as justjess? The white guy wins the comfort game by default? Nope. Not playing. We've played that game long enough in this state. It's time for change. In fact, a much better comparison–should I believe that Obama is such a neophyte, which I don't–would be George W. Bush. Or, closer to home, Haley Barbour–unless one thinks that being a lobbyist and a political operative (who perfected the use of race coding for the GOP) is the best resume to run a state. (Which is clearly has not been because he has brought his style of scorch-and-burn partisan politics home to Mississippi, as expected). But, no, the comparison is the most ludicrous, and offensive, one I could think of–to a man who regularly lies and shows no hesitation to order police officers to help tear down the homes of poor residents. (Oh, and I betcha money Obama knows the name of the leader of Pakistan, and various other countries in the Middle East. And I really can't wait until he is in the position of chief negotiator for this country. We need his level of intellect in order to trust that he won't surround himself with idiots like Dick Cheney and believe anything Paul Wolfy-witz and the neo-cons, tell him. "Shock and awe, dude, that's what it'll be.") Go, Obama.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T11:20:24-06:00

ID

117217

Comment

Call it what you will or may, iratetoday. If you are "so sick and tired" or just reading, can you imagine how one must feel who is the object of this thought process and must live it daily????????? I know it's hard to feel pain if the tight shoe is on another person's foot. Only Cliff knows what he means and from my reading of his blog, he was pretty certain and clear.

Author

justjess

Date

2008-02-19T11:27:50-06:00

ID

117218

Comment

Race??? Who said anything about race? I said I didn't think he was quailfied to be president. This is hilarious. Sorry, I won't indulge.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2008-02-19T11:46:45-06:00

ID

117219

Comment

To add to justjess' comments ... it would be different if there were any comparison between Obama and Melton. No one is saying not to be critical of black men in a real and fair way, but we must constantly challenge our own kneejerk reactions and ask why in the world we would even attempt such a comparison of an obvious apple and orange. The problem is how often it happens to African Americans–I mean even "America's first black president" did it when campaigning for his wife. It is incumbent on us ALL to confront and challenge our socialized instincts and assumptions. I was raised to fear being around groups of black people, as most white Mississippians are and have been. Even as I loathed prejudice and racism, after moving back to Jackson, I was aware when I was the only white person in a room or an area. When Todd and I first started distributing the JFP in West Jackson, I would look over my shoulder for no reason, even sitting in front of the Piggly Wiggly on Meadowbrook. Why? Just because I was in the minority where I was. But I noticed that about myself, and I don't do that any longer. Now, I'm lucky if I notice. Although I must admit feeling uneasy in an all-white group–precisely because it's in those situations that *some* people let their guard down and say racist things they assume I agree with. And there is nothing I hate more than people of whatever race assuming I believe certain things because I'm white. On the other hand, I don't mind being challenged for assumptions I make because of my upbringing in a white dominant culture. I've learned so much that way, and I'm still learning.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T11:49:39-06:00

ID

117220

Comment

Cliff, you should "indulge" long enough to explain why you chose Melton as a comparison point. You didn't have to stoop to such an unmatched comparison to make your point. That should be obvious to you. And there is nothing hilarious to people black and white who have watched this kind of insult define us for so long. If you didn't mean it the way it sounds, then why not say that and apologize. Denying that it an offensive comparison just makes it look either on purpose or that you're in denial and don't want to probe your own stuff. That's your choice, of course, but there is a better way to get to where we all really want to be. You included, I believe.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T11:50:41-06:00

ID

117221

Comment

No. I'm not in the habit for saying I'm sorry for something I didn't do. I'll not start now.

Author

Cliff Cargill

Date

2008-02-19T11:55:36-06:00

ID

117222

Comment

The truth is, Obama has plenty of specific ideas, should anyone–including the lamestream media–actually give a damn enough to do the homework. I ws watching Larry King last night, and he had five political "experts" on the show talking about Clinton and Obama. One guy in particular kept saying that Obama is just a man who give good speeches but has no real plan. I heard Hillary say this too. On Obama's Web site, there is an "Issues" section with bullet points and PDFs, the main file, "Blueprint for America" being 64 pages. Where is this "no real plan" thing coming from?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-19T12:05:55-06:00

ID

117223

Comment

Cliff, did you not compare Barack Obama to Frank Melton? That's the part that's offensive; not criticizing him for not being "qualified."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T12:13:24-06:00

ID

117224

Comment

Where is this "no real plan" thing coming from? The lamestream media, which don't bother to question false statements. And from people who pass them on out of ignorance.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T12:14:32-06:00

ID

117225

Comment

Oh, and from the Clinton spin machine.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T12:15:10-06:00

ID

117226

Comment

"No experience" and "no real plan" are going to be the two talking points from McCain--and would have been if Edwards got the nomination, too. And they were Daddy Bush's talking points against the first Clinton. That's how an old candidate tries to position himself/herself against a new candidate, and while the "quota hire" dimension is going to be there, the argument itself is not racist. The Frank Melton comparison, on the other hand, seems a little bit of a stretch. The funny thing is that Obama has a hell of a resumé. In fact, a regular reader of my Race Relations blog compared his Senate record to Hillary Clinton's and the results did not favor her: http://msladydeborah.blogspot.com/2008/02/just-some-food-for-thought.html This is not counting his record in the Illinois State Senate, his ten years of teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago, his work as a civil rights attorney, and his work as a community organizer. If the only relevant qualification for president is time logged as a national political figure, then I guess Clinton would have the edge, but I don't see what possible bearing that could have on presidential competency per se. The reason presidents tend to be longstanding national figures is because most of them aren't really smart or compelling enough to grab the nomination as quickly as Obama is doing; it's not because voters go "Oh, gee, s/he hasn't been there long enough. We should pass and choose somebody who has been in the Senate for at least seven years!"

Author

Tom Head

Date

2008-02-19T12:58:46-06:00

ID

117227

Comment

By the way, the funny thing about the Clinton "choose the more experienced candidate" argument...is that it favors McCain. Everything Hillary Clinton has said so far sounds like the talking points McCain would use against either Democratic candidate--herself included--in the general election.

Author

Tom Head

Date

2008-02-19T13:01:54-06:00

ID

117228

Comment

Saying "Unqualified" is reasonable --- although I disagree. Comparing him to Melton is so absurd it totally disqualifies the writer as someone who does not consider the candidate for some other unstated reason other than qualifications because clearly there is no reasonable comparison between the two. One can compare Melton and Bush. they both say they don't read the papers! Obama, is a Harvard trained attorney who has taught constitutional law. That alone is a good quality for a president --- to know and respect our constitution which clearly melton and current president do not. If they hate us for our freedoms, then why would you take them away with warrantly searches, wiretaps and home demolitions? He has written two best sellers. How many has our mayor read? I doesn't seem to be a lunatic...I'll let you all finish the thought.

Author

FreeClif

Date

2008-02-19T14:14:26-06:00

ID

117229

Comment

Should have been: Warrantless searches... and "He doesn't...lunatic.

Author

FreeClif

Date

2008-02-19T14:18:46-06:00

ID

117230

Comment

By the way, the funny thing about the Clinton "choose the more experienced candidate" argument...is that it favors McCain. Everything Hillary Clinton has said so far sounds like the talking points McCain would use against either Democratic candidate--herself included--in the general election. Ouch. Maybe she should stop using that one, huh?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-19T14:34:20-06:00

ID

117231

Comment

Cliff, your Melton-Obama comparison was weak, mainly because there's not enough similarity between their resumes to make a legitimate analogy. But if Obama's not your cup of tea, feel free to vote McCain.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-02-19T21:51:02-06:00

ID

117232

Comment

He wins Wisconsin, of course. And the iTodd called Hawaii for him hours ago. ;-) Meantime, download Obama's Blueprint for Change just to kick the sand into the faces of the idiots who try to tell us he does not provide specifics. That's a campaign meme–of his opponents. Don't believe the hype.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T23:22:26-06:00

ID

117233

Comment

He's also leading in Washington state primary by a small margin, but from my understanding, no delegates are being awarded (delegates were awarded during that state's caucuses a couple of weeks or so ago), so he and Hillary are pretty much playing for style points. And in case any of you didn't see it, Hillary was giving a speech in Ohio, but Obama started his speech in Houston before she finished. All the cable news networks then switched over to Obama. While I will not count Hillary out, not winning Wisconsin and possibly losing Hawaii later tonight, along with being in a virtual tie with Obama in Texas, has made the hill even higher for her to climb. Now, I'm not so sure if it will come down to the convention and superdelegates.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-19T23:37:31-06:00

ID

117234

Comment

Just to give you the kind of attacks that we can expect to be hurled at and about Barack Obama, here's a snippet from Joe Atkins' column today: During a recent panel discussion on the campaign at the University of Mississippi's Overby Center, veteran Arkansas journalist John Brummett noted that the rumor mill is already gearing up to brand Obama a Muslim who'll use the Koran to take the oath of office if he gets elected. For the record, Obama is a Christian.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-24T21:33:12-06:00

ID

117235

Comment

Cliff, what's going on, man? Can you tell me what's going on. Obama probably has 3 times more sense than Bush ever had. Many of us knew Bush was a classic screw up before he won the first time. All of his supporters clearly knew this the second time but it didn't matter as Bush was an abominable republican just like them. Many of these same folks wouldn't vote for Obama under any circumstances and others only in emergency situations to save the country such as the immediate period after the Civil War (pre-Reconstruction). Moreover, many would refuse to participate in the political process if they can't dominate and control it at any point. Some things never change. This is why I always say, I hope things are better, but I need to see sustained proof for I know the lion isn't dead, only pretending to be sleep, waiting his moment to continue his past ways. We all know what the grand ole party is!

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-02-25T09:36:08-06:00

ID

117236

Comment

Man, Hillary was in her attack mode this weekend. She needs to strike a balance in her message because right now, if she were on the couch, one could easily defend a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In the words of a famous song writer: First you say you do, and then you don't; Then you saw you will, and then you won't; You're undecided now, So, What are you going to DO?

Author

justjess

Date

2008-02-25T09:55:05-06:00

ID

117237

Comment

Justjess, I think Hillary's having a difficult time accepting the growing realization that unless something major and catastrophic happens to the Obama, her presidential dreams will go unrealized this year. It must be hard on someone who has felt entitled to become President since she managed to be elected a Senator from NY. The media is declaring her candidacy DOA unless she wins TX and OH outright, and pundits are stating that she should drop out if Obama wins both of them decisively to avoid further embarrassment and allow the party to unify. She has to continue campaigning up until then on the chance that she can stop his momentum, and that requires hitting him hard to convince the swing voters that she has some fight left in her.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-02-25T10:25:32-06:00

ID

117238

Comment

Good point jeff lucas; however, "hitting hard" should mean hitting with the facts. On every score, even the plagarism charge, has beck=fired. As a matter of fact, Hillary used "WORDS" taken verbatim from her husband's speech during the Texas debate. Several of her lines came directly from Edwards speech. So much of this sounds petty. I must admit that I have been very surprised at the behavior of both Hillary and Bill Clinton. Could an ending of their support of others occur when they feel that you are standing in their way or taking something that they feel they are entitled to? Just asking.

Author

justjess

Date

2008-02-25T11:23:26-06:00

ID

117239

Comment

Speaking of entitlements, I'm amazed that the entitlement argument is so often made against Hillary by all kinds of people, including black ones, who rarely make the same claim against white males or republicans. While Hillary and Bill may appear to have some problems with with respect to the heart, mind and soul during this campaign, intelligent and reasoable people know the other party breathes, is fueled by, and couldn't rationally exist except for old time racism, divisiveness, wedge issues, slavery-time cognition and gutter style values - all dressed up and disguised for the gluttonous devouring of the dumb, greedy, racist, selfish, on-the-take, arrogant, soul-selling and wasteful people of the world. Some shallow people would defy logic and say this statement can't be truthful because of the membership of the grand ole party. But others would say when did color ever accurately define good or bad. Shouldn't deeds decide that? On this occasion, I won't even mention the extent of the corruption, immorality, pretense of values, perversion of religion, theft of resources and killing of good will throughout the world that the repugnant republican party has brought us and the entire world. I was in Arizona all of last week and learned Ed Meachum (spelling probably incorrect), ex-governor of Arizona, finally blessed the world last week by dying and joining Eastland, Helms, Goldwater, Reagan and similar trash like that in hell. Likewise, another repugnant republican congressman from Arizona named Rienzi or something like that has been caught being corrupt. Aren't they all that way? Cheers to all my friends. Any refutations?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-02-25T12:01:26-06:00

ID

117240

Comment

Justjess, The campaigns (not necessarily the candidates) have been hitting pretty hard this past weekend. Hillary Clinton accused Barack of lying and distorting her record in a mailing while the Clinton campaigned reportedly circulated a photo of Obama dressed as Somali Elder, presumably to play on fears of his so-called Muslim ties. You may remember that a Clinton volunteer county coordinator in Iowa sent out an email falsely stating that Obama was a Muslim, afterwhich that person was removed from the campaign.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-02-25T12:17:57-06:00

ID

117241

Comment

I say that because its not always the candidates themselves that engage in these kinds of attacks, but certainly Hillary feels pressure to fire back at Obama because she is clearly losing this one mainly because she allowed herself to believe that she didn't have to fight for this nomination. She's losing because she assumed that this fight would be over by Super Tuesday and she failed to put in the proper network beyond SuperTuesday to keep her campaign going, coupled with the damage that Bill's comments in SC had on her base. I've heard some insiders claim on TV that this is one of the worst national campaigns they've seen in part because of her shortsightedness and arrogance. THAT'S WHAT AN ENTITLEMENT MENTALITY LEAVES YOU WITH.

Author

Jeff Lucas

Date

2008-02-25T12:26:03-06:00

ID

117242

Comment

Ray Carter, that kind of "entitlement" is not only the expected, it has been the historical "GIVEN." It is always interesting to me what some people will do when their backs are against the wall. Maybe is is just my disappointment that Hillary and Bill have taken lessons and are now reciting script from that "REPUGNANT" book of ideas you so eloquently describe. For so long, these negatives have been given to Republicans only; when in actuality, there have been and remain corrupt, immoral, pretentious, religious perverts and theives of our resources, existing among us. We don't have the luxury of allowing anyone to destroy good folks with good heart and good ideas. There are so many young people involved in this process who believe that America can be different, better. These youngsters also know that it is their generation who will be called to serve during this inevitable DRAFT if McCain is elected. It is no way to continue that war in Iraq to the tune of $12Bil/mo and not destroy America. We are already 3 trillion dollars indebted to China and counting. So my message to Bill and Hillary and all others who would attempt to destroy the belief that we can be/do better is: YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING!

Author

justjess

Date

2008-02-25T12:47:58-06:00

ID

117243

Comment

I also think that is Hillary's main problem was that she would be the presumptive nominee. One year ago--strike that, six months ago, who would've thought anyone other than Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee? She had the name recognition on her side. I remember polls that were conducted last year that showed Hillary to be the prohibitive favorite to win the nomination, as she was the most popular Democrat in the field, but she also had the highest negative ratings as well. I felt that her high negatives would eventually play a role. Also, given that she thought she would be the presumptive nominee, she didn't have to raise as much money. Now, she had to loan her campaign money to stay afloat. We all know happens when we assume.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-25T12:49:35-06:00

ID

117244

Comment

I understand Justjess. Bill and Hillary have angered me too. I'm not even supporting Hillary any more. To me, though, neither Bill or Hillary have stooped to the level of the repugnant party although it's not even possible to stoop lower. The Clintons are operating on the fringes, and Bill might have gone completely overboard if someone hadn't stopped him. We can't forgot that there are repugnant republicans, being true to their nefarious natures, also playing a part or role in all of this (and others not in either party who favor republicans because they hate Democrats) who are all too happy to see what is going on between the Clintons and black people. The Clintons aren't perfect but they're no repugnant repubicans by long shot. In my opinion, we shouldn't be helping repugnant republicans in any manner. They hate and would harm us to no end! I'm convinced of that. I'm hoping Obama prevails so we can see what the repugnant party will do to stop him. Beleive me, they're going to do what the kind has always done. Good can't come out of bad so expect what's in them to come out. No amount of pretense will stop them. Limpbaugh, Can't-Get-A-Man-Coulter, Ole Liars Larson and the type wouldn't be around except for the repugnant party.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-02-25T13:20:48-06:00

ID

117245

Comment

This is good for both parties. The leadership in both parties is changing, and things will be shaken up. This is one of the most important (and interesting) elections in quite a while. hopefully, the Republican party will understand the need to appeal to more than just affluant whites; and the Democratic party will learn that they must move beyond their traditonal coalitions. Frankly, I am very heartened by the apparent impotence of the Religious Right in this election cycle. An election with a serious discussion of issues rather than demogoguery will be welcome.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2008-02-25T13:45:54-06:00

ID

117246

Comment

Willie you always makes good sense to me. However, in this case, how is in-fighting within the Democratic party good for both parties? Surely this is not what you mean. In my considerate view, the Democratic party is the only democratic party of the two main parties with multiple hues, colors, races, agendas, concerns, options and arrays of opinions where everyone counts equally. It seems to me the Democratic party need to make little changes while the other party, which still looks pre-1863, needs to make multiple changes including an awakening to the 21st century truth of what it is, and an outing from the cocoon and abscess of blinding denial. I can even agree that both parties need to make some changes and seek out other people. What I loathe and can't accept (sinceI'm not that dumb) is the shallow and dishonest notion that both parties are the same and that neither is worse than the other. The two parties are as different as night and day - racially (I can see), ideologically, agenda-wise, purpose-wise. Even some black folks are dumb and placating enough to repeat the garbage about them being the same or no different.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-02-25T15:06:23-06:00

ID

117247

Comment

I understand what you are getting at. My point is that conflict like we are seeing is sort of a "growing pain." The Democratic party's main problem has been lack of organization and focus- this current primary battle is beginning to change that. The Republicans have been authoritarian and controlled by religious extremists (I am not sure that is changing as quickly). The parties are very different and they SHOULD be different. But as a new generation enters politics there is an opportunity to take politics to a different level.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2008-02-25T15:14:04-06:00

ID

117248

Comment

I'm hopeful too, Willie, for good changes to come about some day; and would be too happy to see the gap between the two parties close to an unrecognizable level. I just don't want to see my people or any minority people get duped, tricked or fooled over and over again. It seems to me despite all our so-called education these days or should I say our ability to reads words that we're more ready to be tricked than ever before. Yes we Democrats are unorganized and broke, but we have manpower. The same can't be said of the other party, and the other party is well financed, locked, coked and ready to rock, but it has no moral center and isn't concerned about right and wrong - only winning instead. Most of us have no idea how great the orgy of money, religious zealots, the religious right, corporate power structure, think tanks, media, colleges and schools, et al, have become for the purpose of screwing non-republicans, the poor and middle class. I can't wait until the rest self-destruct, just as it has been doing the last several years.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2008-02-25T15:33:47-06:00

ID

117249

Comment

I also hope that at some point working and middle-class whites will realize that they are being manipulated by big-money interests into voting Republican by dangling abortion, gay rights, and patriotism in front of them. If they wake up the GOP is toast.

Author

Willezurmacht

Date

2008-02-25T15:46:40-06:00

ID

117250

Comment

More of the kinds of attacks against Obama that I feared would happen. From Media Matters.org: As blogger Roger Ailes noted, on the January 6 broadcast of the nationally syndicated Live on Sunday Night, It's Bill Cunningham, conservative radio talk-show host Bill Cunningham repeatedly referred to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (IL) as "Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama." In fact, "Mohammed" is not a part of Obama's name. Cunningham also falsely claimed that Obama "was raised in madrassas in Indonesia" and accused Obama's church, the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, of being "black separatist" and "black racist." And when a caller said, "n my opinion, not the opinion of this show, in my opinion, Obama is a sleeper cell because his parents are Muslim," Cunningham responded, "Only one [parent]." While Cunningham did not respond to the caller's "sleeper cell" charge, earlier in the broadcast, he had asserted that "it would be a shock" "if Barack Mohammed Hussein Obama can be elected the president of this country in these difficult terrorist times." Later, Cunningham said: "I wonder if Barack Hussein Obama understands the danger inflicted upon the world by Muslim male extremists." This is, of course, followed up by Cunningham's comments today in Cincinnati.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-26T19:57:03-06:00

ID

117251

Comment

Sorry...please fix that link, please.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-26T19:58:14-06:00