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A Mystery Meeting -- A Moment In History
I'd just walked in from one of those terribly long days, put my feet up to listen to more bias, more hatred on television only to have my heart moved by Maya Angelou. Her intelligence, beauty, depth and fondness for both Clinton and Obama gave me the hope about which Barack Obama has been speaking - the hope that hatred will not win, that all the disparaging, gratuitous, despicable speech might dissipate - melt in the hands of those whose primary interest is the future of this country.
None of us knows what Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have spoken about this night, but there is a feeling in the air that perhaps ignorance, arrogance, and cheap put-downs will cease to amuse - cease to raise ratings. Perhaps all of us will sense that the struggles by Hillary and Barack have been firsts in their own right worthy in both cases of praise.
I doubt he will choose her given his recent words. But if he does it will speak volumes about him and his sense of what matters most.
In any case, Angelou's words below should give us pause. Hatred is an awful master. Respect, especially among differences, is far more impressive and reliable. Angelou's words, I hope, serve as a balance to so much of the anger, so many of the insults, the cheap attacks and innuendos, and remind us that much is at stake -- that we can't leave our futures to those for whom ignorance and hatred are paths to profit and a twisted means of joy.
"You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise."
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Still no one, not Clinton, not Obama and not Bernie Sanders has bothered to mentioned the chronic basic problem. Dancing around the issue as he has in his recent HuffPo article "Collapse of the Middle Class" has been disappointing. It is well understood what has happened in the US. If progressives such as Clinton, Obama and Sanders continue to dodge the basic problem, the future is indeed bleak.
The fundamental problem in the US is the concentration of political power in ever fewer hands brought about by the concentration of wealth. In my view public officials who do not publicly acknowledge this deep-seated decadence are complicit in its perpetuation.
I have read an awful lot of Hillary supporters blaming Obama and his supporters for things that the media has said about Hillary . Now it seems they want to act like they never said all those horrible things about Obama and his supporters and make themselves out to be victims.
Neither Obama or his supporters are responsible for anything media has to say ! Remember media also tried to do a job on Obama over the Rev Wright speach repeating it day in and day out and a good deal of Hillary supporters climbed on that band wagon as well as Hillary herself who used it as fuel to fire up her campaign and supporters.
Lets not forget that both sides were damaged with all this mud slinging .
Obama is a good candidate and by all means 1,000,000 times better than McCain .So it is my guess that those who would rather vote for McCain have either been 1. Republican all along ,2.racist ,or 3. childish and ignorant of what a McCain presidency will do to this country which has already been damaged by this Bush administration and servants in both the Congress and the Senate who have forgotten their job is to serve the people and are more interest in serving themselves.
So what kind of country do you want ? Is your anger worth the price you will pay for it by distroying this country with a McCain presidency ?
It might be best if Hillary Clinton is not selected as the VP Candidate; she would be sure to bear the brunt of any eventual loss resulting from Obama's lack of appeal to the working class and independent voters. He has been described as an elitist, and I am not sure that is the issue. Let's face it. He was reared by a Caucasian mother, grandmother and grandfather and an Indonesian Step-Father. Mores are different from race to race, and his experiences would have been different from an African-American couple's upbringing. When African-Americans saw him as their chance to take their "turn in the barrel," they overwhelmingly voted for him, thereby polarizing the white vote who might have seriously considered and voted for him otherwise - mostly out of fear. We have a serious race problem, second to tfemale gender, in this country. How primitive is that for such a world power populace?
We must stop buying into the idea that Obama can't get
white working class voters and independents. We were being
fed tripe from the media and talking points from the Clinton campaign.
Black people who are only 12% of the population are the ONLY ones voting for him?
This was idiotic and divisive and not taking into consideration it would be different in the general. Silly talking points-- and everyone bought into it. All those states he won don't have "working class people"?
I live in Ohio--and interesting enough, many "working class people"
who voted for Clinton--now that HE is the nominee, are totally on board.
They are DEMOCRATS. True Democrats.
But you are correct. Even if Obama doesn't take her as a running mate
(and I hope he doesn't) and the worst happens--she will be blamed. And yes-
-primitive--that's our American culture. But some of us are trying to do better.
During debates, Hil wanted to come across as the mother type figure, I suspect the private talk was to inform her once thought of not ready for prime time acquaintance, she's available to assist him in making PROPER choices to win. The fact that she did not concede,and was mow ed down for that, she got her chance to do a comparable job doing this in private. Then she can say that she has spoken to Obama and they agree now on this or that. however, We as voters of our party, should give her the benefit of the doubt for suspending, and allow Obama to talk to voters that he could not reach while Hil was a vibrant rival. He will do better than the media is giving him credit for. We women will not let JMcBush win in Nov. we do not want 4more years of Bush, no reversal of Roe vs Wade, our troops staying 100 yrs in Iraq,Iran or Afghanistan, and we do not want to send the wrong message to the providers of Health Care and overseers of our Planet Healing. There are so many things we, women and men, do not want to turn us around another century because of BushCheney and McCain.
and on another note, what ever Obama and Hillary talked about, it appeared to make both laugh, now isn't that alone, a change we can welcome and believe in? Let's be positive and enthusiastic as we go into this GE.
Yes, nice words, enjoyed your post very much. As time goes on I am liking Obama more and his supporters less and less. The hate against Hillary is much more to do about them. Yes, this has been a heated debate and it has got somewhat ugly from time to time, but that is the nature of politics and Obama had his moments as well. I can hardly read many of these posts filled with hatred and ire. Chris Matthews today was spitting his hatred and I had to change the channel within about ten seconds. These are sad times for Democrats. They seem to hate Bill Clinton, when he was a excellent president. The nineties were great years for both the country and for the Democratic party. Monica was such an idiot wind, I mean who cares how someone gets their rocks off? Its none of peoples business!! The hypocracy is mind boggling! With a Republican coming out of the closet ever other week it seems! Any way, I enjoyed your lovely words, I too hope there will be peace and saneness restored in the media and that the bile is tossed by the wayside.
Obama is the finest person to be the Democratic nominee in my lifetime of 63 years. Beginning with that "speech in 2002" Hillary talked about, I saw how he might be able to change America for the better. Prior to his announcement of his candidacy I signed onto an on line group seeking to get him to run. My only disappointment with him was that he wasn't as "out there" about Hillary as she was about him; but that was part of his platform: no more politics of "personal destruction" in spite of the fact that it was used against him as "not ready to be Commander in Chief," etc.
He will win big; and the USA will be the better for it as will the world.
From being on Senator Obama's website for almost a year, where some of his most ardent supporters congregate; I can tell you that they are for the empowerment of women. The number of women in government should mirror the percentage of women in the population, if it doesn't, there needs to be a good excuse.
Absolutely correct. And it is shameful that there hasn't been a woman chief executive in America, given the fact that the rest of the world has been doing so since Golda Meier, Indira Ghandi, and Margaret Thatcher (and many others). It amazes me on this blog how even in defeat, the writers can't stop kicking Hillary and Bill while they're down. What poor sports Obama supporters are turning out to be. Don't think the Republican and Independent voters aren't taking note of the anger and meanness exuded by "the winners." Is that the "change" Barack was talking about?
I can't believe there is some much hatred out there for both, Clinton and Obama.
Lets try to remember what is important here, to win back the White House. The more you put down Hillary, the more you alienate her supporters, and the more you put down Barack, the more you alienate his supporters.
Could we possibly wait till Saturday to listen to what she has to say. You may just be surprised. Is it possible to put ourselves in each other"s shoes. Stop dividing the Democratic Party and let's unite around them both.
As my mother's use to say, "go to your room and reflect on what you just did, and when you're ready to act as a human being again, you may come out". Please, stop all the ridiculous mud slinging and let's move on.
This is not your choice or mine as to who he picks, it is his. Are you trying to win the battle but lose the war.
I'm actually not sure who she is talking about here regarding lies etc. She is not very clear....
Laid-off worker trashes Clinton campaign office, screaming "It was mean to be Hillary's turn!"
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/108653.html
Both sides supporters have been hateful, disrespectful, and at times makes me want to abandon the party. . While Obama did slight HRC, Clintons 9HRC and BIll) slighted Obama a number of times. Some Obama supporters were sexist and some Clinton supporters acted like George Wallace supporters in 1968.
Get over yourselves. It is now about this country, not about you or your hurt feeling.The primary contest was never about women power or black power, it was about moving this country forward for most voters.
Clinton supporters suck it up and get behind the nominee. Obama supporters STFU or move on to McCain.
Yes, I am angry.
It is true that there were slights on both sides, though frankly I think the Clinton campaign was well within the normal tolerances of a primary (I guess everyone has forgotten the battles of '68, '72, and '80 not to mention 1844 and 1860). Clinton's challenges to Obama clearly made him a much better campaigner.
The nasty, sneering sexism on the part of the media and some Obama supporters was not, however, within the bounds of propriety. It should have been offensive to everyone, not just to some women. Similarly blatant racist attacks on Obama would never have been tolerated.
The fact is, though, that now Obama is the nominee. Therefore it is up to him and his supporters to begin the healing. The sort of stupid backbiting that this blog seems to reflect has lost the Democrats election after election after election.
I don't agree with you plwalsh ! I am 63 years old and in my entire lifetime I have never seen such a nasty campaign between two leaders in the same party . I have to say the worst was done by the Hillary campaign which is what made Obama supporters so angry with Hillary.
Time to end all the nasty words but I don't agree that its up to Obama to do that because he wasn't the one who slung all the mud and he never said anything about Hillary to his supporters to egg on their anger towards her as Hillary has to her supporters and on live TV suggesting Obama cheated in this election. So I suggest Hillary is the one who really needs to rally her supporters !
I beg to differ... the bloggers have been trashing Clinton for good reason... the Obama campaign and the nominee, himself, has never done that.... do not confuse what we rabid Obama supporters say on these blogs with what the candidate believes in.....
and for you Hillary supporters that are going to divorce yourselves from the Democratic party to vote for McCain.... welcome to basement abortions with coat hangers and knitting needles... welcome to the biggest oppression of women that we have seen... welcome to more of our precious children dying in Iraq in an occupation (this is not a war).... welcome to the decline into the depths of the netherworld of the USA................. Can you say.... I HATE AMERICA????
that is what you will be saying when you cast your vote for McCain....and may the god and goddess save us all from you........
Only in your mind...
"I beg to differ... the bloggers have been trashing Clinton for good reason... "
The rhetoric is tiresome. All these assertions, with very little back up. I'm not one to say the negativity towards Hillary has its genesis in misogyny, but I've never understood the hatred towards HRC. Like Bill Mahler. a vocal supporter of Obama said, if you hate Hillary its more about you...! How true. No sane progressive Democrat is going to vote for McCain, but Obama needs to adapt the so called "bread and butter" issues that created a major platform and why 18 million people voted for HRC. "The rabid" Obama supporters sometimes flaunt their ignorance by not recognizing the strength and fortitude of Hillary. Quite sad really.
Unfortunately, we have had too much abusive language going on between supporters of both candidates, with one becoming the Nominee. Now, we must support him to not end up with another Bush Administration by proxy.
What I heard on either Hannity or The Savage Nation Talk Radio, we might not be out of the woods still. One pundit called in to report that Karl Rove has a videotape of Michelle Obama making a speech wherein she trashed white people and the U.S. government two years ago at the "God-forsaken place" Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois. He has been using that at the 527 Group Fundraisers, and reportedly, the money has been pouring in. The reported intent of Karl Rove is to wait until Obama has cinched the nomination at the Convention to release the videotape with the purpose in mind that the white people who are afraid of his candidacy and Independents would be spooked into voting for McCain. If that is the truth and he has his facts straight, we do have a battle on hand, even if Hillary is selected to be his running mate. She would be the least of his problem. To be honest, we still have a huge race problem in this country.
It might be best if Hillary is not his running mate so she cannot be blamed for his eventual fate, I am afraid.
If it is indeed "about this country, not about you or your hurt feeling", who exactly are you preaching to? If we are to move this country forward, we don't need angry Clinton supporters to tell Obama supporters to "STFU", and I certainly don't foresee any Obama supporters wanting to "move on to McCain." I suggest you quell your anger to clear your head. Then, you might make sense.
Please feel free to check my profile and previous posts then come to your own decision who I was supporter. It will take only only a couple of clicks and maybe 20 seconds.
Since 1956 elections where candidates talked about the future and how the country will move forward on its most important issues usually won.
When Maya Angelou, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Maxine Waters, Judge Judy
et al endorsed Hillary, I enjoyed being in such good company. Catching Maya the other night
on Larry King reminded me of why I felt so pleased... Obama is not the pure fellow that
his believers see, follow the money beyond the Exelon/GE 12/11/07 contract for nuclear reactors at
taxpayer expense which he voted for and Hillary voted against which set her up to be smeared
non-stop by GE entities such as Newsweek, MSNBC and The Washington Post where Eugene
Robinson came to join Keith Olbermann and so many others who need their jobs now that GE
is divesting their appliance division and losing money... I followed the money, determined who
benefits and noticed the 59 delegate gratuity that the DNC arranged to put Obama over the top.
No surprises here. Hillary lost the battle because she would not agree to nuclear energy at
taxpayer expense, as usual, and Obama did. Just ask Rezko and others who fueled his meteoric
rise. Check last month's Atlantic for the promises made to Silicon Valley boyos...
Why is this posted TWICE... You can exaggerate anything you want. What about Hillary's close ties to MONSATO...the agricultural firm, that has been destroying and bullying small farmers around the world. When you are a major politician you have a lot of ties, and associations. The main thing is not to be OWNED by your associations and sponsors. Whoppi Goldberg loves money and is owned by her sponsors, so are other TV personalities. Senators are owned by their sponsors and you don't the The Clintons are owned by theirs. You are mighty naive.
I'll see your Whoopi Goldberg & Judge Judy, and raise you a Joan Baez, Bruce Springsteen, Ken Burns, Maria Shriver and Jimmy Carter.
Your attempts to connect some whacky GE conspiracy are about as laughable and viable as the Clintons' claims they somehow represent "Change Politics" (unless your talkin' about the kind in your pocket)!
You need a new hobby.
Bill and Chelsea Clinton made a campaign stop in our town, and as a volunteer for the event, I was given a T-shirt to wear to identify the volunteers from the crowd. On the T-shirt these words were written these words taken fro a poem written for Hillary by Maya Angelou:
_________________________________
Rise
Hillary
Rise
___________________________
Maya Angelou.
I shall value and treasure it very much. Maya Angelou is not only the most loved black writer, but she has a sense of loyalty not based upon the flavor of the moment. Thank you, Maya, a great lady.
And to be aligned with Obama is to see him as
"a flavor of the month"?
OMG. You start off with an inspirational post, then
you get nasty. What is the problem?
When Maya Angelou, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Maxine Waters, Judge Judy
et al endorsed Hillary, I enjoyed being in such good company. Catching Maya the other night
on Larry King reminded me of why I felt so pleased... Obama is not the pure fellow that
his believers see, follow the money beyond the Exelon/GE 12/11/07 contract for nuclear reactors at
taxpayer expense which he voted for and Hillary voted against which set her up to be smeared
non-stop by GE entities such as Newsweek, MSNBC and The Washington Post where Eugene
Robinson came to join Keith Olbermann and so many others who need their jobs now that GE
is divesting their appliance division and losing money... I followed the money, determined who
benefits and noticed the 59 delegate gratuity that the DNC arranged to put Obama over the top.
No surprises here. Hillary lost the battle because she would not agree to nuclear energry at
taxpayer expense, as usual, and Obama did. Just ask Rezko and others who fueled his meteoric
rise. Check last month's Atlantic for the promises made to Silicon Valley boyos...
Is Maya Angelou the only sane person left in America?
When Maya Angelou, Whoopi Goldberg, Stephanie Tubbs-Jones, Maxine Waters, Judge Judy
et al endorsed Hillary, I enjoyed being in such good company. Catching her the other night
on Larry King reminded me of why I felt so pleased... Obama is not the pure fellow that
his believers see, follow the money beyond the Exelon/GE 12/11/07 contract for nuclear reactors at
taxpayer expense which he voted for and Hillary voted against which set her up to be smeared
non-stop by GE entities such as Newsweek, MSNBC and The Washington Post where Eugene
Robinson came to join Keith Olbermann and so many others who need their jobs now that GE
is divesting their appliance division and losing money... I followed the money, determined who
benefits and noticed the 59 delegate gratuity that the DNC arranged to put Obama over the top.
No surprises here. Hillary lost the battle because she would not agree to nuclear engery at
taxpayer expense, as usual, and Obama did. Just ask Rezko and others who fuled his meteoric
rise. Check last month's Atlantic for the promises made to Silicon Valley boyos...
BAD SIGN that Obama went to visit Hillary ----so early-on. Breaking the news that he consulted with many democratic supporters like Pelosi, Ted Kennedy , Howard Dean and Oprah so its been decided that Hillary may have been popular with 18 million people but not with her own leaders in the Democratic party. The fact she deserves the VP title doesn't matter a hoot or hollar.
To soften the blow--- Carolyn Kennedy ( why ??) was putting a LIST of potential VP's so a WOMAN could APPEAR to be involved in this important decision to quiet all those women who are "angry" .
Of course Carolyn doesn't want to actually pick a WOMAN ----to seem like she's picking a WOMAN cause SHE's a WOMAN !!
I'm sure we all understand the politics of it all. Don't we ?
Jeannekhan, the purpose of the article was to stop blaming one another if we are to win in Nov. the Democrats have to come together. The Democratic race is over, and it is time we come together. It is now time for the White House to be under new Management with Democrats back at home. This is no longer about our personal feelings, this is about the Party! It is now time to Unite as One! Maya Angelou"s poem cuts both ways. The words are applied to Obama as well. We have too much to lose if we allow McCain in the White House. In a race, someone wins and someone has to lose, but if we win the General Election we will all be Winners! I pray that everyone find it in their hearts to not take this personal where it will cloud our judgments because if McCain becomes President we will be sorry and the Republicans will be laughing at one of the biggest mistakes the Democrats could make because we were divided.
God bless us
The DLC -- not the DNC -- has fashioned itself as the kingmakers of the Democratic Party. Past chairmen of the DLC include Bill Clinton, Evan Bayh, Tom Vilsack, Harold Ford Jr., and Joe Lieberman. But for the record, the DNC was stacked heavily in Sen. Clinton's favor too.
Wikipedia: "Senator Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton are both prominent members of the DLC, while presumptive nominee Senator Barack Obama opposes the DLC - in 2003, he discussed why his positions against NAFTA, the War in Iraq, and in support of universal healthcare were at odds with the DLC, saying that "...these positions make me an unlikely candidate for membership in the DLC."
As for GE and the media, you need to read the survey conducted by the Pew Center for Excellence in Journalism and the Harvard Kennedy School, which found that coverage of Obama and Clinton was almost identical in positive/negative stories up until March 9 when Clinton criticized the press. After that Obama's coverage became much more negative than hers.
Also: "Network morning news is notable for the degree to which it offered an exceptionally positive personal impression of Hillary Clinton. Fully 84% of the assertions studied in those programs projected positive master narratives of the former first lady, some 20 percentage points more positive than about Obama." http://www.journalism.org/node/11266
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