The Future: Poignant and fraught with opportunity for the Democratic Party

This poignant moment is revolutionary for Democratic politics, if we only step back from the dramas unfolding. It is the story of the valiant fight by the first woman to hold the highest office in this country. And moreover, this is the time for the first African-American candidate to compete with this woman for the highest office and responsibilities. Instead of reveling in this mysterious and marvelous convergence of events, we Democrats are allowing the daytime soap operas to play out across the screens of global television. We are allowing political reporters to wallow in this muck, rather then the miraculous opportunities before us.

Instead of seeing the poignancy of the woman's husband fighting to protect her honor, he is demonized and condemned every time he trips, leading with his heart rather than the brilliance of his mind. And then there's the Reverend Wright polemic for the African-American candidate which unfortunately will not go away, regardless of the candidate's renunciation of his long time religious and spiritual mentor. Poignant and terribly unfortunate this event is fodder for the Republican attack machines against this candidate.

Yet somehow all of this must be put aside as we reach beyond and step out of the muck, and dramas which are a very real distraction for winning this election, November 2008. Repeat this often when getting sucked back into the daytime soaps that have become American political television reporting.

We could win this race. It is much bigger than this woman and this man. If all of this is put aside, we will be able to hear and listen to the whispers (that are not so quiet) in the wind. The American people are crying out for change and teamwork, and there is chance for hope. Democratic politicians stop stepping on your own feet and stumbling. Stop the attacks on the woman once and for all. It is humiliating to hear and watch.

Revolutionary actions should, and must be taken. Swords must be put down, teamwork must ensue and the spring of discontent buried. It is the darkness before the glorious sunrise, and a time in which these two magnificent candidates must find a way to win this election letting go of all the drama and words, placing one foot in front of other. What is at stake is not just one four year term, but four consecutive terms. It is our future and let it not go asunder because of ego, racism or misogyny.

Listen to the winds of change, and let this be the true revolutionary moment in which this country again reaches for prosperity and world leadership. Stop the soap operas. Stop the playground bullies. Stop the demonization. Stop the attacks. That is for daytime television, not the leaders of the free world. We have a chance to reach for it now. Reach up and take it. This is revolutionary moment in time!

Comments

[LizM]

I guess it's just too bad that this happened to be the year that we were in desperate need of the most qualified candidate for POTUS and leader of the free world.

[randyjet]

When Obama first announced I was for him, then I looked at his web site and programs. I left and supported Edwards. Clinton took up most of his programs and showed a real concern for the ordinary people. From what I have seen of Obama and his program is little better than McCain except for the Iraq war. As far as his programs go he is still a corporate lawyer like his wife and he thinks along those lines.
His health care plan is only for the poor and those who have health insurance while lying about his being in favor of universal health care. He shows NO concern to take on the oil speculators who are reaping billions by the old Joe Kennedy scam. He agrees with Bush on taking oil OFF the market and putting into the SPR and keeping gas prices high. He shows no concern for the problems of working men and women. THAT is why I will not be voting for Obama. I will be voting for Nader. I will not support another corporate lawyer who touts the interests of the rich as being that of the rest of us. When Democrats decide to return to the ways of FDR, and supporting the views and interests of working people, then I will support them.

[Krikkit]

Cable news is bad news. My advice to everyone is to shut off the TV, put down the remote, and back away. There are much more reliable ways to get your news that don't entail an artificial narrative imposed by corporations seeking to maximize their profits through making controversy where none existed.

[2Nurselady]

What the Superdelegates fail to understand is that MORE THAN HALF of the Democrats in this country voted for Hillary Clinton and even though Barack Obama has denied Florida and Michigan voters their voice, those voters WILL have a voice in the General Election and I do not think it will be good for Barack Obama, the Superdelegates, or the Democratic Party if he has stolen the nomination by disenfranchising them.

I am here in California where we are starting a movement to WRITE-IN HILLARY CLINTON on the General Election ballot if her name is not already on it. We are starting new blogs and getting the word out.

Hopefully, we will not have to do this!

GO HILLARY!!!

[OtayPanky]

Dear 2Nurselady -

I'm with you. We'll NEVER, NEVER, NEVER allow that phony B. Hussein Obama-Drama to win in November.

If he's nominated we'll work our hearts out to make sure McCain is elected

SO WHAT if he appoints more justices to reverse Roe V. Wade. Let them eat coat hangers.

SO WHAT if he starts a war with Iran. We've got plenty of bullets left.

AND SO WHAT if he avoids doing anything about the health care crisis. Let the poor take aspirin.

If our gal doesn't get the nominaion, let them ALL eat scorched earth sandwiches.

Those creepy Obama people think they can keep us from having our way? Well - they better think again, because we''re gonna have the last laugh.

Sincerely,

Your Friend Otaypanky

[FogCityJohn]

Okay, I'm going to say this one more time in the (vain) hope that Clinton supporters will listen. Barack Obama did not "disenfranchise" anyone. Michigan and Florida, with full knowledge of the consequences, decided to violate Democratic Party rules and hold primaries before February 5th. The DNC then voted to deny these states their delegates as punishment. Now, Clinton supporters, read the next sentence VERY carefully.

EVERY SINGLE CLINTON SUPPORTER ON THE DNC, INCLUDING HAROLD ICKES, VOTED TO DEPRIVE MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA OF THEIR DELEGATES.

Got that? Hillary Clinton's supporters on the DNC unanimously voted not to seat the delegates selected in the illegally timed Michigan and Florida primaries. So, as much as Clinton would like to write Russian history on this one, she agreed to these rules. She decided this was "disenfranchisement" only after she started LOSING.

So, write in Hillary's name in California. And in so doing, vote to continue the Iraq war, for a Supreme Court that will overturn Roe v. Wade, for more unfair trade agreements, and for doing nothing about global warming. But when those things all come to pass because you couldn't get over the fact that Hillary lost, then please don't bitch about any of them, because YOU will have helped bring them all about.

[Krikkit]

So you're turning Hillary into the Ralph Nader of the 2008 election? Nice move.

[FearlessFreep]

Sore losers.

[Gma11]

Yes, we have two firsts - a female and and African American candidate.

One represents the future, one the past. In this sense they are elementally different.

"Two pioneers on a westward track. One looked forward, one looked back." Don't know who first said that, but it seems to be metaphoric of our current dilemma. Both are pioneers, but both would lead us very differently.

[michellekraus]

Beautifully stated and thank you. Though if one considers them both looking forward, one can clearly see the backward glance of the opposition.

[2Nurselady]

We have two candidates: An inexperienced African-American candidate and an experienced female candidate.

And...we have learned that misogyny is a bigger problem in this country than racism is.

[FogCityJohn]

Don't worry, 2Nurselady. Hillary's trying to make sure that racism remains a big problem. And she may succeed in exacerbating racial tensions within the Democratic Party enough to help defeat Obama. Then we'll have President McCain. He won't be female, of course, but at least he'll be white. So you can take solace in that.

[clevelandchick]

Ma'am, with all due respect Bill isn't just "tripping up" when he's defending his wife's honor - he's been blatantly race-baiting and disengenuous. He was in WVA this weekend telling voters there that Obama is 'mocking' them, stoking the fires of racial hate. I'm beyond appalled by both the Clintons at this point and I used to highly respect them.

Obama had a plethora of pretty ugly things from Hillary's past and present to be frank, but he didn't use any of it. I'm sure there were people in his campaign that advised him to, but he kept the contest to the issues. I watched Obama today on CNN refuse to answer questions about VP selection because as HE put "out of respect for Hillary and the contest is not over". That is total class. I don't know where these HIllary supporters get their "Obama is attacking Hillary" B.S. because I've never once heard it or seen it. I've only seen him be completely respectful. I wish I could say the same for the Clintons.

[michellekraus]

"Ma'am" you talking to me or my mother? We can choose to disagree and we do.

[BADEN]

"Listen to the winds of change, and let this be the true revolutionary moment in which this country again reaches for prosperity and world leadership. Stop the soap operas. Stop the playground bullies. Stop the demonization. Stop the attacks. That is for daytime television, not the leaders of the free world. We have a chance to reach for it now. Reach up and take it. This is revolutionary moment in time!"

Yes, Hillary Clinton...STOP it.

[michellekraus]

Hey this is what is wrong Baden. It's not her and it's not him. Don't feed the media beast. Find a way for this to work or we will have four to eight more years of what we have now.

[CindyV]

I read your column as a call to the Obama supporters to stop attacking Hillary. She is my candidate and will be to the end. In November, if I don't sit this out, I will write in her name on the ballot. The Obama supporters have turned me off to their candidate. I don't care what Obama says in his glorious speeches because his followers don't believe it either. If they did, they wouldn't trash Hillary the way that they do. They'd practice the "politics of change" he so embraces. Here on Huffpo I've read the comments calling Hillary a bitch, a murderer, the c word. I have seen so much hatred here that I cannot vote for Obama at all. When it comes to mending things up for the general election, Obama's people can talk the talk but not walk the walk. I even read here on Huffpo by Obama supporters that they don't need Hillary's supporters to win in November. If that's how you feel.....

[michellekraus]

Oh CIndy don't take your toys and go home. You read my words and the demonization of the firt woman candidate for president must stop. My piece is a call for coming together and an end to the mudslinging. My piece is about the future of this country and the promise of a good tomorrow. I want the Party to rise up to the challenge and find a way to allow this to happen.

[clevelandchick]

I will stop "attacking" Hillary when Bill Clinton stops attacking Obama. Fair?

[michellekraus]

The point is to stop "attacking" anyone on the same team.

[liberalghost]

Ms. Krause, have you noticed no one is listening? I agree on your point, but the label "democrat" isn't about having similar political ideas. It is about different groups, each with their own agenda. Franl Schaeffer in his book "Crazy for God" put it well in describing the hate between christian groups when they splinter into differrent sect. They hate and vilify each other because each thinks it's purer than the other.

[FogCityJohn]

Then perhaps it's appropriate to ask Senator Clinton to cease her thinly veiled racist campaign. Perhaps she could admit that "white Americans" are not the only people who are "hardworking." Perhaps Phil Singer could stop claiming that Obama has a problem connecting with "real Americans" and realize that the millions who support Obama are Americans just as much as those who support Clinton. Perhaps Bill Clinton could stop claiming that Obama is "looking down" on people. (That's a bit much from a man who charges $350,000 for a single speech, don't you think?)

I'm all for unity and reconciliation, but what bothers me is that Clinton supporters cheer Hillary's every vicious attack on Obama, they gloat at her race-baiting, they sneer at Obama supporters as "naive" or "cultish." Then they turn around and become indignant that some in the Obama camp get insulted and strike back. (Although Senator Obama himself has not done so.)

If Clinton supporters think we're impressed by their threats, I suggest that they consider what might happen if Hillary were to win the nomination after the campaign she's conducted. She's talked about the importance of the white vote, but assumed that African-Americans would vote for her. I've got some bad news. AAs don't like racism and won't forgive her for it just because she's Hillary Clinton. And without their votes, any Democratic nominee is toast.

[aceholiday]

it seems we are right where we 'should' be. an old-school candidate and a new-school candidate. to enter a new era is only a dream until it happens, usually not the way it was planned. clinton was expected to take everything, when all of a sudden this new guy swoops in, steals everyone's heart, and on into the 21st century of politics.

[michellekraus]

It seems to me that this is a time of great potential change when the "firsts" are all at the front of the line, and if we could blend them every vote has counted. With Party leadership, this could be magnificant for the Country and truly get rid of the real "old" school once and for all. That's my three cents!