Clinton Black Supporters Feel Pressure To Switch

Washington Post:

You can see the confusion on some of their faces, hear the concern in their voices. How in the world do we deal with this?...

...Which brings us back to the dilemma facing some of Clinton's high-profile black supporters -- those with titles and constituencies of their own. They are feeling some kind of crazy pressure. Last Friday, about 25 of them held an hour-long conference call to discuss what one described as an effort to "pester, intimidate, question our blackness" for not supporting Obama.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Nivramel]

How many people out there recognize that this is Black history month? Have you noticed how seldom that this event has been mentioned by the news media? I don't keep up with every word that Senator Obama says but, how often does he remind us that this is Black history month? Doesn't any of this make black people in America question why is it so much white support for Senator Obama? I don't know whether it is a good thing or a bad thing I'm just asking questions I just know that this is the case and if Senator Obama is elected president of the United States of America, will this election be the beginning to the end of Negro history? Is being above race a good thing?

I am left to believe that some are you black voters think you are going to be as lucky as Monica Lewinsky that President Obama is going to blow you your reparations and your 40 acres and a mule from on the Oval Office desk?

[mindact]

All this groaning and moaning by the feminst is getting out of hand. A rejection of Hillary's candidacy is not a rejection of female candidates, it's a rejection of Hillary. Last time I cheked, 53% of the voters so far are females. is the suggestion that their husbands or male figures are forcing them to vote for Obama? If the feminists want to talk about accomplishments, experience and all the other good stuff, Hillary's name doens't come on top. It's Joe Biden and Chris Dodd that should still be in the race. did they ask why Hillary was ahead of them in the polls, despite having less experience and accomplishments? To say the least this is totally absurd.

What's happened is that candidate has come out and captured the imagination of America. As early as November, Barack was 30 points behind Hillary in the polls. Today he's either neck and neck or slightly ahead. That's the Obama phenom. Deal with it....

[AC500]

Just because Hillary is female does not mean she is feminine.

Femininity is something you develop ... or not. Hillary is a good ol'boy in a pant suit.

Believe it or not I don't mean this disparagingly (being a 50 year old woman myself).

But it is obvious that in playing a man's game in Washington (patriarchal based on competition) for so long she has had to harden herself against her femininity. She is not a FEMALE leader because she leads in a masculine way. She doesn't know the true meaning of her femininity (or has kept it a well guarded secret). Who wants to follow a second rate male when you can have the real thing?

When we have a woman leader who has developed her femininity and KNOWS her strengths as a feminine being, who knows the gifts of the feminine and who can bring those gifts and talents and strengths to bear ... NOW, that is an authentic FEMININE leader and a formidable force to be reckoned with. Men and nations would fall at her feet.

THAT is the kind of feminine leader I look forward to one day championing.

[bauersox]

This thing about "femininity" is incoherent? What are you saying here? Exactly what form does your idea of femininity take?

[bauersox]

Jesse "Hymietown" Jackson has apparently been chosen by the Obama campaign to threaten black politicians who prefer Hillary. The Washington Post story this comes from says:
" In an interview Palmer (Doug Palmer, Mayor of Trenton, NJ) still sounded riled about a few things he had heard about. One of them, reported by the Associated Press, was a private conversation between Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), a Clinton supporter, and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), one of Obama's national campaign co-chairmen. Both lawmakers are superdelegates. Jackson had asked Cleaver if he wanted to go down in history as someone who prevented an African American from occupying the White House for the first time. Separately, Jackson told the AP that supporting Clinton in districts where Obama won overwhelmingly might place those politicians at risk of a primary challenge."

Not the first time Jackson has pulled this stunt. The last time he did it, it backfired when crowds hissed and booed Coretta Scott King, who was supporting Walter Mondale, and not Jackson.

[MNmommy]

I think you are confusing generations of the Jackson family.

[bauersox]

I'm referring to the Rev. Jesse Jackson who carried South Carolina, who is now working for Obama and who refers to Jews as "Hymies" when he thinks no one is listening. You know, the guy who fathered a "love child" after advising Bill Clinton -- as a minister -- about how to straighten out his personal life.

Who are you referring to?

[bauersox]

"Last Friday, about 25 of them held an hour-long conference call to discuss what one described as an effort to "pester, intimidate, question our blackness" for not supporting Obama."

It would be great to have a transcript of that conference call, wouldn't it?

[Jazz42]

You are quoting is old news, anything about what issues your candidate discussing? Your candidate is so consumed with trying to make Senator Obama look bad, she has abandoned all the issues she suppose to care about. Every speech is so trivial. I cannot stand to watch anymore.

[MNmommy]

Quoting of an article in today's WaPo is *old news* now?

Heh, I think it has more to do with it being negative about Obama's campaign and tactics then the *age* of the news.

[bauersox]

She doesn't have to make him look bad. He looks like a turkey to everybody who isn't intoxicated with "dreams" and "inspiration."

[nihilon x]

Yawn.

About as nonsensical as the "is he black enough" foolishness.

Get back to the issues (war, economy, health care, jobs) media.

[butchie65]

One lady here in Wisconsin said she didn't like Clinton. She said she would vote for Obama, but, she thinks he will get shot if he gets the nomination. She is voting for Hillary. Dah !

[nihilon x]

They do the same thing with women -- as if women have to vote for Hillary based on gender alone.

Its not as "agonizing" an issue as they are trying to make it and this election is about a lot more than just race and gender.

Unfortunately, these kinds of stories persist while the real issues take a backseat to sensationalism.

[MNmommy]

Why pray tell, is this buried here?

Didn't we get above the fold feature stories about Rep. Lewis last week?

How predictable.

Interesting to note the parallels once again to the Mondale/Hart primaries of 1984.

[RHM]

Don't you think those who feel "pressured" to switch to support the black candidate are probably offset by Clintonian pressure on other blacks to "pay them back" for all they have done for them (whatever that would be)?

The media is injecting race and gender into this election much more than necessary.

[PTTY]

http://trailblazers.beloblog.com/

Professor says if experience counts, Hillary should vote for McCain

David Davenport is a former president of Pepperdine University, where he still teaches public policy, and a research fellow at the conservative Hoover Institution at Stanford University.

He's bemused by Hillary Clinton's argument that she deserves the Democratic presidential nomination because she's so much more experienced than Barack Obama.
"Hillary Clinton says experience counts, but what is her experience, really?" he says in this short audio commentary for Townhall.com.

"Eight years in the U.S. Senate (compared to four for Obama and 22 for McCain) and eight years as the first lady.

"I asked my wife, who was close by when I served as a university president for 15 years, whether she felt prepared now to run a college. She correctly said, 'No.' "

If experience really counts, he concludes, "look for John McCain to be our next president."

[bauersox]

Yeah, well *Pepperdine University." No wonder he's "bemused." Wow. I'm so impressed. I bet his wife could run it if she had a little "inspiration." Yes she can.

[veracal]

Shouldn't elected officials be pressured to vote in a way that actually represents the will of their constitutents? Too many elected officials ignore the voters wishes with impunity and then are shocked when they actually are called to account.

But I am totally and completely disgusted by black people who question other african americans blackness. It makes me want to slap someone.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

If you truly believe this, than Kerry and Kennedy must switch sides. Can't have it both ways.

[bitabingbitabangbitaboom]

Why switch Barak Obama is Half White?

[camanoone]

I heard Oprah say " it's ok to change your mind you don't have to vote for Hillary just because your a woman". What I have never hear and once again the media and all the Obama ring kissers never say is...."just because your black doesn't mean you have to be for Obama". I wonder why? I have said on this post before and I'll repeat it now. Obama and his inner circle, including his wife, who brings a new meaning to the word "bitch" have made this whole campaign abour race.

[JerfyT]

Until Clinton started making racial statements and discounting the black vote, she actually led in the black vote.

She only has herself and her campaign to blame

[savertime]

What a stupid comment, full of bitterness and hatred. The Obamas did not make this campaign about race, the Clintons did that by playing the race card which played to their demographic base.

The "B" word is usually the term used to decribe HRC. Never heard it used to describe Michelle O. First time for everything.