Integrity, class, honor and character are all things that Hillary lacks. You are right that HILLARY IS UNFIT TO LEAD not just the Democratic Party but also the people of this great land. She is a dishonest, manipulative, power hungry coward and fraud. My gutt tells me that Hillary has over played her hand in Pennsylvania and she will be rejected by the fine people of that state. They know that she is just winking to them with the "hey, I am the white person in the race and you blue collar folks can trust me, not the elitist black guy." That is the crux of Hillary's message. There are certainly pockets of Pennsylvania that will be fooled by her hollow rhetoric but in the end ultimately, having lived in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and having traveled through the heart of the state, I think that Pennsylvanians know better. Pennsylvanians know Hillary is a fake, a fraud and is running an old style politics campaign in an era when so many people are living on the brink.
Hill, You've Got $100 Million; Show Some Class
She had her chance at being part of the Dream Team, although not at the top of the ticket as she had hoped, however her Swiftboating of Obama with her "bitter" new ad campaign sank any hope she might have had of rescuing her campaign from abject defeat. I'm not a Hillary hater and have defended her against months of unfair and often misogynistic ad hominem attacks but this latest round of ugliness from her side has proven that she is unfit to lead the Democratic party.
Yes, Obama's gaffe was a big one and as his opponent she has every right to go after him but she never coupled that with an even more devastating critique of McCain. She is the weakest link in a three-way-race right now so her labeling Obama "elitist" carries much more water for McCain than it does for her slim-to-none chance at victory. An opponent who understood the larger goal of electing a Democrat to the White House would have said to rural Pennsylvanians, "Obama doesn't get it, McCain certainly doesn't get it. However I understand your pain and promise to fight to bring jobs back to America's industrial heartland."
Of course this is not the first time she's played nasty. Saying that only she and McCain were ready on day one was her second strike in my book. Her first came earlier, when 60 Minutes asked her if she thought Obama was a Muslim. Her crack that he wasn't, "as far as I know," made me originally suspect her integrity.
Look, Obama is going to have real problems with this snob issue during the general election. (Note to HuffPost editors, try to avoid using any more of those photos of him with his nose in the air. They make him look like Louis XIV's love child.) This "elitism" is a narrative that began with his "You're likable enough," crack which may have helped him lose New Hampshire, to the gutter ball (please, sir, never again bowl in a tie), to "bittergate." In the short run polls show he's already recovered from the comment and the 24-hour news networks' orgiastic fixation with it seems to have already backfired on Tricky Hill.
Obama can win over enough of the rural and the rustbelters by being his authentic, down-home self. I remember years ago seeing him at a fundraiser in LA for his Senate campaign and he said that the whites of southern Illinois were flocking to his rallies. His state is not all that different from PA. Voters just need to be assured that he is regular folks. When they offer him chocolates he's gotta eat them. Drink the beer. He needs to be less professorial and more cool high school science teacher/basketball coach ("Hey, Mr. O! Mr. O! My frog's legs are still kicking.") They need to see him, tie off, jacket off, shooting free throws with a rural Pennsylvania high school basketball team. Obama needs to run for president as if he was running for the mayor of Altoona, PA.
And Hillary needs to go on a long vacation.
Trey Ellis is the author of Bedtime Stories: Adventures in the Land of Single Fatherhood.
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(cont'd from previous)
I'v walked out of 3 different church services when Pastors started bashing "librul Democrats" too vehemently, two of those I was a guest. (Walking out on my own pastor no easier.) One of those "guest" times was when I escorted my grandmother to her Mother's day service! After it was over, I was able to corner the pastor, and explain to him that my Grandmother had personally told me of surviving for weeks at a time with no meat during the Great Depression, and how if her husband had not gotten one of Roosevelt's alphabet-soup of government sponsored jobs, she doesn't know how her family would have survived
We Americans enjoy HELLFIRE & BRIMSTONE sermons because that is the foundation of both Christian and Jewish faiths, that the worthy will find favor with god while those who are excluded from favor are to be shunned.
Pat Robertson prayed up DAMNATION for Orlando, Florida, praying for a hurricane to punish Disney World for sponsoring Gay Pride Day; JERRY FALWELL said that (paraphrasing) "GOD DAMNED AMERICA on 9-11" by (direct quote) "LIFTING HIS VEIL OF PROTECTION".
There are FOUR BIG ISSUES this election:
#1. economy (jobs, housing prices, industry, deficits, weakening dollar);
#2. Iraq war & genuine national security;
#3. long-term environmental concerns, including gas prices, global warming, +++
#4. Health Care.
The Democratic candidate MUST be able to turn ANY STUPID, INANE QUESTION _BACK_ to HIS talking points on these "Big Four" instantly & effortlessly, on a dime!
Veracity,
That list may need one more issue...#5-Immigration
I think you are correct. The candidates seem to be running "AGAINST" one another
instead of "FOR" the Presidency.
Great commentary, Trey. Senator Obama has amazed me thus far with the depth, agility, and power of his organization, so it is time to take this (his campaign) to the next level.
Obama needs to do what Hillary, Bill, Pelosi, all the other Dem candidates, and the vast majority of Democratic candidates and leaders have not done to date: Take ANY Republican (right-wing, or even intra-party) attempt at a snear or snide put-down, and IMMEDIATELY turn it on the questioner.
You want to ask about wearing flag-pins? OK - "Flag pins are a symbol, they are a symbol that people believe in "WE THE PEOPLE," and they are expressing HOPE that we can come together to provide the things in life that it is getting harder for isolated (by economic conditions) to provde: health care for families, higher education for graduating students, job opportunities here in America, rebuilding our infrastructure, investing in renewable energy, etc."
See that ? In one sentence, you can go from flag pins to investing in Americans!
Another example: Rev. Wright. Am I the only one to notice the BIG SECRET here in America - that on any given Sunday, 10,000 (literally) pastors, preachers, and Reverands ARE CALLING HELLFIRE AND DAMNATION DOWN on someone or some group in America!
I do not understand why people keep referring to "Obama's gaff" as though he had made a misstatement. Who here doesn't think what he said is correct? Obama's 'gaff' wasn't the content of his statement but the lack of political calculation behind it. This is the difference between simple honesty and craven political posturing (Hillary saying "i don't know anyone who 'clings' to their religion". Give me a break).
What gaffe? Obama's only mistake was speaking truth during a time that Conservative Political Correctness won't allow such truths to be spoken.
Has every person who totes guns or gets into religion done so because of bitterness/apathy? No. But IMO, his statement applies to a hell of a lot of 'em.
Same with Wright's "unacceptable" statement. By artfully conflating the country and the bastards who tend to run the government, it becomes unacceptable to criticize because such criticism can be foisted off to "the country" and allow everyone to get righteously, Nationalistically indignant.
But, such is the fate of Truth-tellers, it seems.
Your suggestions as to how Obama could win votes are good ones--only one major problem--authenticity-he would be uncomfortable hanging out with people from middle class America and it would show thereby leaving himself open to more criticism. It would be just as uncomfortable for someone with a high school education to hang out in the faculty lounge at Harvard. Some people can transition easily but it's a rare gift--a gift that Bill Clinton has and BTW a gift that my son's Yale neurosurgeon has.
re - Bittergate.
Obama was asked why the white working class voters were voting for Clinton instead of him.
With his answer including "Antipathy for people not like them", which he has never addressed, he was saying that whites wouldn't vote for a black man.
If Clinton had been asked why she wasn't winning the black vote and had said anything similar, she would have been called racist and had been crucified by now. She would have not been give the chances that Obama has been given to explain himself. And, no one in the media would be atking her side as many ar for him.
A Hamas problem for Obama?
by Mosheh Oinounou
While Sen. Barack Obama sought to improve his relationship with the Jewish community today by meeting with leaders Philadelphia, comments by a Hamas political adviser this weekend could potentially hurt the Democratic presidential candidate.
During an interview on WABC radio Sunday, top Hamas political adviser Ahmed Yousef said the terrorist group supports Obama"s foreign policy vision.
"We don"t mind"actually we like Mr. Obama. We hope he will (win) the election and I do believe he is like John Kennedy, great man with great principle, and he has a vision to change America to make it in a position to lead the world community but not with domination and arrogance," Yousef said in response to a question about the group"s willingness to meet with either of the Democratic presidential candidates.
(Full interview)
The USA and Israel are separate countires, perhaps with many integrated and common interests. The only way for Israel to ever have a sense of Peace will be when the American government is neutral in it's position to resolve the Palistinian, and Israeli issues without bias. 50 years of aparttied is not Peace. Before 1948 there was no Israel. Unfortunately for the same amount of time the Islamic religion has spread hate amongst it's worshippers to what we have now, this jihad crap. Think strong, yet versitile, it will accomplish much more.
$100 Million and degrees from Wellsley and Yale Law School.
Puts me in mind of talking pots and kettles.
You know i have often wondered why anyone would want to run for president with that kind of money?
Trey, you are so right! Obama was man enough to say what he said tonight about Clinton's gaffe, but she isn't woman enough to do the same for him. Where do her $$$$$$$$$$M come into this. She and Bill are out there begging for money! Since she wants the presidency so badly, let her put some of her $$$$$$$$$$$$M into her own campaign. I have nothing but hate and contempt for those lying, evil Clintons
Money and class are two entirely different things. Just take a look at Donald Trump.
The Donald and the Hillary remind me of school at 3 am...no class.
Spin it however you want, but Obama's message boils down to white people living in rural and smalltown America cannot understand the complicated world around them. The message Obama is sending may not be elitist, but it is certainly Obama looking down on some of the more important folks in this nation.
And Obama will never hear this from the MSM, who have given him a pass while attacking Ms. Clinton for anything, but he should be asked about his comments as they were directed at Bill Clinton. During his administration empoyment in PA rose by more than 500,000 jobs, which lowered the unemployment to 4.1%. Obama won't be called to task for the misinformation he has shared, but he should be.
You are the one guilty of spin: Obama was saying exactly the opposite of what you claim. He was saying that people realize that the politicians will promise to improve working people's lives but they never do and THAT WORKING PEOPLE AREE SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THIS SO THEY NEVER EXPECT ANY POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR ECONOMIC SITUATION TO COME FROM GOVERNMENT POLICIES!
You have misrepresented what Obama said and what I wrote. Typical of Obama supporters. When you can't argue with what has been said you amke up something you can argue against.
Obama clearly said smalltown and rural Americans cling to guns and G#d out of bitterness. And he falsely claimed folks in PA fell during the Clinton years. In point of fact, over 500,000 jobs were created in PA during the Clinton years which caused the unemployment rate to fall from 7.3% to 4.1%.
So, next time try to be at least semi-accurate.
and so , based on Obama's theory, these people votes on values issue, and must believe that Hillary is better on those issues than Obama? Becuase they are supporting her over him? Is that what you think he meant?
He also said in his statement that the Clinton admin failed these people, so again, why would the support Clinton over him if the Clinton admin already failed them?
Makes no sense....
What he meant was white people wouldn't vote for a black man.
If Hillary had said she wasn't getting black votes because she is white, she would have been crucified for it...
Holy non sequitur Batman! Or should I say "Strawman."
Your post is BS on so many levels so I'll just point out the most egregious.
"What he meant was white people wouldn't vote for a black man."
He has been saying just the opposite of this and the facts support him. Yet you still falsely attribute this reprehensible sentiment to him and then whine that it's unfair because Hillary couldn't get away with saying the converse. You should be ashamed of yourself.
And I'd like to remind you that she was winning among black voters until Bill decided to go racially nuclear. So even if she said " she wasn't getting black votes because she is white," it wouldn't be true.
P.S. Can't let this one go "He also said in his statement that the Clinton admin failed these people, so again, why would the support Clinton over him if the Clinton admin already failed them?"
Not exactly what he said. He said that jobs left small towns during the both Bush and the Clinton administrations, and that a fact. And the whole purpose of the "bitter" comments were an attempt to explain why some of these people might not be voting their economic interests. And what he said isn't new: much of the critic of "What the Matter with Kansas" centered around the same argument.
Apparently you missed this.
You nailed it, except perhaps for labeling Obama's statement as a gaffe. It wasn't. But both Hilary and Obama should be campaigning against John McCain at this point in the game. Put their values ahead of themselves.
It was only a gaffe in that he didn't realize how his words would be distorted. But it's hard to say much of anything meaningful if you've got Hillary in your party. She's gotta be captain or the boat gets run onto the rocks and all the people get killed.
Hey Trey.... have some class and quit propogating lies.
From the March 2 edition of CBS' 60 Minutes:
KROFT: You don't believe that Senator Obama is a Muslim?
CLINTON: Of course not. I mean, that's -- you know, there is no basis for that. You know, I take him on the basis of what he says. And, you know, there isn't any reason to doubt that.
KROFT: And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not a Muslim.
CLINTON: Right. Right.
KROFT: You don't believe that he's a Muslim --
CLINTON: No. No. Why would I? There's no --
KROFT: -- or implying, right?
CLINTON: No, there is nothing to base that on, as far as I know.
KROFT: It's just scurrilous --
CLINTON: Look, I have been the target of so many ridiculous rumors. I have a great deal of sympathy for anybody who gets, you know, smeared with the kind of rumors that go on all the time.
When you say "as far as I know" it does imply that maybe there is information out there that you don't know. "Is that store having a sale on shoes today?" "As far as I know they're not." That means maybe they are having a sale on shoes but you haven't heard about it.
This entire thing is just crazy and so offensive to Muslims in this country.
KROFT: And you said you'd take Senator Obama at his word that he's not Jewish.
ClINTON: Right. Right.
KROFT: You don't believe he's Jewish and you're not implying he's Jewish?
I'm sure Jews wouldn't like that very much.
And what does the word "scurrilous" mean anyway? Does that mean it's insulting to be called a Muslim? As if it might ruin your reputation?
U know I actually do agree with Amminadab on this one (I wouldn't call Trey a liar though). If somebody ask me one question several times in a row I might tag "as far as i know" at the end of something unconsciously, or just to get them off my back. if you've watched the interview, she isn't saying it with a wink & a smile or anything. I mean, it's extremely stupid, but I could see it happening to any person with an average speaking ability.
"BIYATCH STOP ASKING THAT QUESTION!"
That was nice Trey. Nothing to add from my side; however you do bring up one thing, not really troubling me, but making me wanna go, "Hu-m-m-mm..."
I have been out of the States since 2003; and now live in South Africa¦ Don't own or watch television. Last year i was at a conference in Jordan. The hotel room had a television, and i happened to catch the soon to be President Elect on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He, Senator Obama, looked good with the no-tie motif. (Full disclosure here: don't wear ties myself; bad racial memories and all...) I like him immediately.
Anyway, later when i found out he was not into wearing America on his lapel, but in his heart... I thought, good for him, he's not a herd animal.
Now i hear the lapel pin is back and haven't seen the no-tie look in some time.
No, this will not change my view or my vote for his stewardship of the country; especially given how we are viewed abroad. Though i do hope these political cosmetic adjustments are only the superficial things "headline reading" voters seem to need to sway their minds, because i do believe in his heart he is a sincere person, fit and prepared to put us all on a course of reclaiming decency for generations to come.
In my opinion, "Bittergate" was much ado about nothing. He bluntly stated a fact:: many people in small towns are bitter about their plight and utilize different outlets to deal with it. Their outlets include religion, guns, and distrust of anything or anyone that's different. I spent my teen years in a small town and I can confirm the veracity of Obama's statement. He could have expressed himself better, but I doubt he expected his opponents to blow his statements all out of proportion. However, one thing I like about Obama is that he is always willing to apoligize. Hillary's never apologizes and seems to be one of these people who are always right.
He was saying those of us living in the middle of the country are not smart enough to e=understand the big picture. And he lied to make his point. The folks in PA did not fall during the CLinton years, 500,000 jobs were created in those years. Unemployment fell from 7.3% to 4.1% in PA. Obama, like his supporters, never seems to get anything right, yet they feel it is OK to point out the mistakes made by Ms. CLinton. Hypocrites = Obama supporters.
In my life of 41 years, I have never before witnessed a more disingenuous, patronizing and repellant Presidential campaign as that of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
I wasn't ever a Hillary hater, but lately the mere sound of her voice makes me cringe. More even, than Shrub.
She needs to have someone explain to her the concept of "Presidential demeanor".
I'm glad I've engendered such a response, and after watching last night's "debate" (whatever) my "cringiness" is at full sail.
To Blindboy: My Hillary-cringe response hasn't developed because of some MSM conditioning, her words, lies, condescencion, pandering and playing the politicky game of flogging meaningless issues (see Wright, weathermen, her "holy spirit experience", the "bitter" issue) has done it for her.
Should they not point the camera at her? Or let her speak? And should I not watch it or listen, and just do my duty to put her in the whitehouse because that's what she commands me to do? I'll leave that to the Hill-bots.
I could give a rats ass about what a bunch of talking heads think of Hillary, if she were the right candidate, or even close, I'd vote for her. But she's not. She is more of the same and I cannot abide more of the same.
And to those who say it's about gender, please grow the fuck up.
I am married to a smart, strong woman who is my equal in most ways and my superior in a few. She'd be a better candidate than Hillary and if she ran I'd vote for her in a split-second. Hillary makes her ill as well and for all of the same reasons.
beaux, you've been conditioned by years of hillary-bashing-media. Of course you cringe; you're just a different breed of pavlov canine.
blindboy,
you should read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keli-goff/not-just-any-woman_b_97044.html
Of course she makes you cringe - women should not be so loud. We should all be meek, quiet and unobtrusive and never, ever and I mean EVER try to do a job that a man should be doing.
And do not wear bright colors.
And do not let anyone know you're ambitious - only men are allowed to be that way. All woman want to do is take tropical vacations and work of their tan and not WORK so hard. Just let the men do the hard work.
And do not EVER try to be a late night talk-show host. Are you listening Rosie? Only overpaid white men can do that. And do not EVER try to be President - only men can do that. Don't ever complain. Do anything we ask you to. Keep your mouth shut. Don't tell anyone. We can call you "baby girl" and "princess" at your job even if we're younger than you.
This is a man's world. And don't ever forget it.
no--here is the rule Hillary broke -and it has nothing to do with the straw man arguements yo put forward....-
don't be a lying hypocrite willing to distort and or say anything to gain political advantage...
Obama does that, why do you give him a pass while attacking Ms. Clinton?
spot-on
What is a "straw man" argument?
What does money have to do with "class"?
And just what the hell does being "presidential" mean? Sounds like people like Harry Truman wouldn't qualify in the minds of the Obamanistas?
Posted April 16, 2008 | 12:12 PM (EST)