Category Archives: Hillary Clinton

Discrimination

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Now that Hillary Clinton has “suspended” her campaign for the Democratic nomination for president, millions of angry, white women are turning their disappointment-led ire toward Barack Obama and assuming that it is his responsibility to heal the party:

Obama is the victor, now let’s see what he does. The burden is on him as it should be.

Now let’s see if Obama can deliver. He has much to do and undo. Yes, his unfortunate comments “Hillary, you are likeable enough” spoke volumes. He was some work to do.

First, let’s get one thing straight: Barack Obama did nothing to Hillary Clinton or her supporters that he should or could undo.

  • One Democratic candidate said that the Republican presidential candidate was obviously qualified to be president and suggested that the other Democratic candidate was not.
  • One Democratic candidate repeatedly claimed that the other Democratic candidate might not be able to beat the Republican.
  • One Democratic candidate derided the other Democratic candidate’s capabilities (and, by extension, that candidate’s supporters) as nothing more than empty rhetoric.
  • One Democratic candidate’s campaign was dismissive of the other Democratic candidate’s numerous state primary/caucus wins.
  • One Democratic candidate’s campaign implied that racial bias was behind their successes and failures.
  • One Democratic candidate tried to change the party’s rules mid-race to boost their campaign.
  • The other Democratic candidate said that candidate one was, “likable enough”.

In fact, Obama only brought up his opponent in response to the most unfair and divisive rhetoric (see above), rhetoric that is dangerous to the party and the country come November.

This TPM reader and Hillary supporter at least gets it half right:

She did so much “just right” and could have won it had she not had the rough treatment from the media.

This person at least understands who was unfair to Hillary. But it is a wild stretch of the imagination to say that she “could have won it” if not for the misogyny and Clinton-animus displayed by a number of prominent media gasbags. In fact, backlash against this unfair treatment may have been a driving force behind Clinton supporters and is widely credited for her late, come-from-behind victory in the New Hampshire primary. Her campaign might have been over many months ago had she not won that contest.

Finally, this Clinton supporter lobs one additional insult at Obama supporters:

If there are those Democrats who still feel it is necessary to denigrate Senator Clinton and her run for the Presidency, I would ask them to think about the change they advocate and the no more politics as usual. The only way to say no to the Washington politics of the past 20 years is to stop hating and start moving forward.

Every man that has lived with a woman knows about resentment built on perceived slights. And it isn’t surprising that this Clinton supporter should project her resentment on Obama supporters. But the truth of the matter is that most Obama supporters seem heartsick (perhaps I’m projecting somewhat here), not hateful, about what the Clinton campaign did to the Clintons and yearn for the party to unite against our common enemies.

And, incredibly, this last Clinton supporter seems to think that saying “no to the Washington politics of the past 20 years” requires Democrats to “stop hating” when it should be obvious, particularly to a Clinton supporter, that the politics of the past 20 years has been all about Republican hatred of liberals and Democrats and the abject failure of the corporate media. It will take everything liberal Democrats can do to overcome this deep ignorance and mass media turpitude and teach even many Democrats who our real enemies are.

[Cross-posted at Dispassionate Liberal]

Hillary: A Post-Mortem

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Lots of “look-backs” today at the failed candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I don’t want to dwell on the past so I’ll just say a few things and move on…

IMHO, the biggest reason Hillary lost (bigger than her vote on the AUMF) was that she forgot that campaigns are about the future, not the past. Obama knew that; it’s what “Change” means. The irony, of course, is that Hillary should have known better, too. Bill always did. When he ran on “Change” in 92 his campaign song — “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” — was a careful reflection of that.

But Hillary? She might as well have sung from the Prince songbook — “Party like it’s 1999.” Bad idea, no matter how good the go-go 90′s looked, especially compared to the Bush/Cheney regime.

Of course, she was hobbled by other things as well — a disastrous campaign plan (no Plan B after Super Tuesday) and her stubborn insistence that the presumptive Republican nominee was a better choice for President than her Democratic opponent. That’s the kind of talk that, if she were a Republican, would have gotten her serious consideration for the position of Vice President on McCain’s ticket. Instead, it just poisoned the well — for her and perhaps even Obama and the entire Democratic party. She made a lot of enemies with that one. A lot of enemies.

That said, I’m sure that she’ll be accepted back into the loving embrace of the Democratic party before too long. I look forward to her campaigning for Obama in the fall. She is just the kind of fighter the Democrats need to slash away at McCain the Republicans. And it’s what Obama needs to maintain his dignity and role as the good cop in the campaign.

And who knows — maybe there’s a reward for her, after she has proven her loyalty. I just hope she doesn’t settle for a cabinet position because (unless you’re AG, SecState or SecDef) that’s usually a career ender. Associate Justice of the SCOTUS has always been my fondest wish for her.

Good luck Hillary and remember: second-best in this field ain’t too shabby.

Democrats: Turn the page already

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I’ve been out of town for the last several days visiting family. I’ve followed the DNC meetings somewhat and the Puerto Rican primary even less. I’ve been reading a few online blogs. And it seems to me that the sweet milk of Democratic optimism has curdled somewhat.

Here’s my take on it:

Obama’s doing the right thing by moving on to begin his general election campaign. Perception is reality and the superdelegates know by now who does — and doesn’t — have the money, the direction, the agenda, the skill and the drive to get elected in November.

That said, I don’t see anything to be gained by continuing to fight with Hillary Clinton for the nomination. That goes for Obama’s supporters (and any other wise Democrats) who might want to destroy her campaign and sow her village’s farmland with salt. Enough already. Cartago Delenda Est does not a campaign slogan make. Besides, a scorched-earth strategy doesn’t suit Obama’s style — or his campaign’s larger themes. Nor does it suit the Democratic party. A good portion of the country will never vote Democratic and if you add in half the Democrats themselves scorning the party, well, that’s not good, is it?

So it behooves Obama to be more than magnanimous. The tough question is how to minimize the damage Hillary can do to his campaign when it moves on to the next phase. How to coax Hillary off the ledge? How to defuse the hostage crisis that lies at the heart of Hillaryland?

Now some of you might feel that Hillary really wants Obama to lose so she can run in 2012. I’ve felt that myself for quite some time. But after some further reflection, here’s what I found: if there is anything that Bill Clinton wants in life, it is to be loved and accepted. And becoming the next Ralph Nader will not do it for him. If Hillary fights Obama all the way to November, the Clintons can kiss their reputations goodbye — now and in 2012.

So what does Obama do?

Characteristically, Obama has shown some leadership on this. He’s been (and continues to be) respectful of her. And lord knows he has plenty of incentive to help her get whatever it is she wants (shy of the nomination). In so doing he’ll get what he wants: the nomination and the victory in November.

So I still think offering her the VP slot is the smart move for both of them. I don’t think many Obama supporters will jump ship (even if she shocks the world and accepts the slot). Furthermore, it allows Obama to show her the requisite respect that a large number of Democrats think she deserves. And (most importantly) from a tactical standpoint it calls her bluff. Because in the end, I think Bill will turn it down. Why? Because it will come with too many strings attached, e.g., full financial disclosure of the Clinton Library donors’ list, a radical reshaping of Bill’s extremely lucrative speaking (and travel) schedule for at least the next 4 years and so forth.

Of course, whatever she does, it remains to be seen if her supporters will follow her lead and vote Obama in November. What are their alternatives? I guess they could vote for McCain. But I think their passion for him might cool somewhat by October. Or they could stay home (especially if Obama pulls ahead in the polls and it looks like a blowout). I think the former is more likely than the latter. Or, even some combination of the two — in other words, it may not make a difference one way or the other what Hillary’s disgruntled supporters do in November.

So where does that leave us as Democrats? With two incredibly strong candidates each of whom has tens of millions of supporters who — if they wise up — can win a victory in November of truly immense proportions.

Bottom line: the stakes are very high. Just consider the kind of SCOTUS justices that McCain would appoint. That alone should scare y’all — all y’all — straight.