Shut Up, Larry

When I read Lawrence O'Donnell's post calling John Edwards a "loser" and threatening a lifetime of infamy if he doesn't get out of the race, I immediately went to O'Donnell's bio to see his party affiliation. I was sure it would say "R" -- but it didn't. It didn't say anything.

However, I am fairly sure in my own mind that Karl Rove paid him to write that post. Look at it this way: O'Donnell attacks the only candidate in the race with explicitly progressive policy positions, and the only candidate in the race who hasn't accepted corporate money, and the only candidate in the race who understands how corporations are poisoning American politics and American life with their unrestrained power and influence.

In addition, O'Donnell maintains that the only two candidates we can have to choose between are Clinton and Obama. Both Clinton and Obama have serious electability issues. If you believe that there was no Diebold factor in New Hampshire (something that I think requires further investigation but will not get it, I am sure), then you have to acknowledge and fear the Bradley factor -- that there is a core group of American white voters who will not vote for a black man no matter what they say to pollsters. By the same token, polls among voters of all types have shown that Clinton has the highest negatives -- the highest number of voters who will not vote for her under any circumstances.

Hillary Clinton aroused incredible antagonism in the 1990s. The antagonism she aroused was not rational, but then, neither is voting. So, what O'Donnell proposes is prematurely reducing the choices of Democrats to the two candidates that are, on the face of it, the least electable. It was clear from the op-ed that Rove wrote a few weeks ago that the Republicans, whose own candidates run the gamut from the ridiculous (Fred Thompson) to the psychopathic (Rudolph Giuliani) and the theocratic (Huckabee) have already begun to see finagling the Democratic primary race as their only chance. If O'Donnell happens to be a Democrat and he buys into this strategy, then the infamy is his.

But I thank him for one thing -- he persuaded me to send a nice fat donation to John Edwards.


Related: Lawrence O'Donnell: John Edwards Is A Loser

Comments

[gramofsam1]

I'm a white grandmother of 4 fabulous kids, 2 of whom are African-American (they were adopted as infants). According to Jane Smiley, when I tell my grandkids that they live in a country of endless possibility where anyone can grow up to be president, I really should caution Sammy and Maya that this doesn't really apply to them. Because they're, you know, not electable. Because they're, you know, not white.
But help me out here-- what do I answer when they say "But Nana, more people have voted for Obama than for Edwards?" Whaddya say, Jane?

[TellitLikeItIs]

It's sad to say, but just yesterday an acquaintance told me that the blue collar Dems (all male)that he works with have already stated they will vote Republican before voting for a woman or a black candidate for President. And we do not live in the old South. Prejudice and oppression are indeed alive and well in middle America. Since the media has done such a fine job of making a farce out of Kucinichs' candidacy, who will these men vote for if not Edwards?

[FredFnord]

Honestly, I would say that they aren't the two least electable we have. The media has managed to make Kucinich look crazier than any of the Republicans running. Which was a hell of a feat.

[hannityhater]

"Look at it this way: O'Donnell attacks the only candidate in the race with explicitly progressive policy positions, and the only candidate in the race who hasn't accepted corporate money, and the only candidate in the race who understands how corporations are poisoning American politics and American life with their unrestrained power and influence"

Ironic that most people will agree with Edwards' position, yet they still insist on voting for the "ROCK STARS." They want change but don't understand that will never happen as long as we have lawmakers who are owned by special interests.

Wake up America! Lawmakers don't take millions from special interests and then offer them nothing in return.

Edwards is our best hope for "real change."

[truthyguy]

You hit it right on the head, Jane.

Hillary is not electable in the general. Something I have been posting for months now. Her inevitability - as people like O'Donnell called it - was proven wrong, as will her electability be if, God forbid, she is the Dem nominee.

As for Obama, I would like to think the country as a whole has progressed to the point of being color blind. But, one of the few things I agree with Hillary on is that it is not. Which is evident from Hillary's subtle race baiting tactics and some of the email swift boating items already being forwarded ad nauseum by republicans.

On the issue of what is going on in America with large corporate interests using an unlimited amount of money and lobbyists to get what they want when it is clearly not in the interests of the vast majority of the people - you are correct: It is Edwards, hands down, who has focused on this threat to the core of democracy - the people's right to be heard. But the media has stifled his campaign (as it did and does to others they deem unworthy) by not giving him news time and by trying to marginalize him by painting him as a loser and far out nut case who should not be taken seriously (unlike someone whose vast experience is sleeping for 8 years in the White House with someone who is fucking an intern and anything else he can get his hands on). Personally, if Clinton is the nominee, I am voting for whoever is the republican nominee and hoping for a Dem controlled veto proof congress.

[jerryatricks41]

WRONG TITLE,WRONG MESSAGE! Should have been: YOU'RE WRONG LARRY, AND HERE'S WHY. In checking your BIO you have written interesting works,some defending free speech even to the BK's and the RNC, defending their right to free speech. "Shut Up" is an immature expression of "dont want to hear what you have to say!". Larry is right.JE is destined to join Kerry and Howard Dean in the dustbin of Presidential campaigns, soon to be followed by Romney,Giu­lliani,Tho­mpson and hopefully, Huckabee and McCain. Whether or not he drops out of the campaign is not the question. Whether or not LO is a Dem is not the issue. Is John Edwards for real is the reality. So far, he hasnt proven himself electible (how long did he campaign in IOWA?) and he continues to demonstrate poor judgement with the cameras rolling, e.g. his classless comment re HRC's emotional moment, primping on U tube, and a 400.00 haircut.Plus he continually hammers away on the same Theme: Corporate America!Special Interests! These lapses total up to one loud Howard Dean scream for Edwards. Tactless maybe, but Larry nailed it!

[kcnativnla]

I'm sure I'm not the only African-American who finds this whole "John Edwards is the only white southerner in the race, so he's the only "electable" candidate" premise EXTREMELY offensive. Like there aren't plenty of black folks and women in the south! You can't claim to be electable when you're not even competitive in you're own party's primary - when you're 3rd in your own home state!

[teamsterwife]

Thank you! There are alot more of us Edwards fans out there than the media knows and/or cares to acknowledge!

[Rebelfriend]

Thank you, Jane Smiley, for calling O'Donnell out. I strongly urge you to look a bit deeper into O'Donnell. His past is dirty indeed. Talk to other writers who worked with him years ago. How any respectable media outlet gives him a voice is shocking to me. The "quality" of this disgusting article is simply a window into the soul of a man who sold it long ago to the highest bidder.

[mykulb]

Thank you, Jane.

No words to the article were needed. The title said it all. The man is in way over his intellect. I would guess a writers strike mediator with time on his hands. He should spend that time reading, certainly not writing.

[NightOwlCafe]

Thanks Jane, O'Donnell writes some idiotic posts. John Edwards has my support.

[LeftLeaner]

You are correct, Ms. Smiley - a very astute observation.

[doglove]

Thank you for speaking back to LOD.

What a stupid thing to do, he has not looked so bad since he swore Joe LIEberman would have to drop out of the last election in shame. "he'll never run", said Larry.

Did he not get it the other night? And Jane, in the future, when you say "as to the polls...", know this. Everytime I get the chance to take one to fuck it up, I do, Zogby, all of them. I answer the most bizarre things! That's what we all think of pollsters and pundits now!!! Worthless!

Larry looked stupid after NH, stupider with this and really almost to the Chris Matthews point, when he realizes the reaction to his words of wisdom.

Got to go answer another poll. Bye, bye

[Mariel]

Thanks for the link, Ides. I went there and perhaps it's changed, for I saw nothing on Obamas's position on Nafta.

Yes, Flatus, Nafta IS a Pandora's box but I think it could be heavily modified and perhaps eventually phased out.

[Sandy23]

Thank you for again saying what I've been thinking. Many years ago Vance Packard wrote a book called the "Hidden Persuaders" one of the first forays into advertising psychology and subliminal messages. He talked about something called "glittering generalities" I think about this every time I hear Obama. He talks about change, hope he is inspiriational (maybe) but I don't know what specific ideas and policies he is proposing. He has already said he can't say he will bring troops home during his first term. His health care plan is remarkably similar to John Edwards, and was a=unvieled after Edwards.

Bottom line, he is still taking corporate and PAC dollars. How is this a change. Are experience and change mutually exclusive.

I resent that the press is doing to the public in this election what it did leading up to and during the first 4 years of IRAQ. Instead of giving facts, they are telling us weeks and weeks ahead, who is going to win the nomination. 3 months ago it was all Hilary, then after one election the heir apparent was Obama, now they are again playing the ouija board of politically forcasting. I sick and tired of it. Let's start acting like grown ups and not like sheep. Let's not get fooled aqain.