Euthanize the Democratic Party?

Of all the analogies Hillary Clinton could have picked last week for her attempt to win the Democratic nomination, it turns out that she couldn't have picked a worse one than Eight Belles, the filly who ran her heart out in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, finished second behind the favorite, Big Brown, only to collapse moments after passing the winning post, and have to be euthanized on the spot. It was a horrible moment for horse racing in this country.

Hillary Clinton's insistence that she will stay in this race, no matter what, is, in itself, not a great moment for the Democratic Party either.

Hillary Clinton's game plan is to continue to sow seeds of doubt as to Barack Obama's electability in the fall. (The very catchy "buyer's remorse" approach). That's the pitch she is making to superdelegates, to whom she spoke directly during the ABC News debacle before the Pennsylvania primaries, and which she continues to make now. Along the way, as we all know, she is providing ample fodder to the Republican Spin Machine: The Commander-in-Chief issue, the he's not a Muslim "as far as I know" ridiculousness, the "plagiarism" attack and her delight in spinning out the "elite-can't-connect-with-lower-income-voters" line that the media loves to hash and rehash.

Along the way she is also managing to divide the Democratic Party. The longer this goes on, the harder it is going to be to find an Obama supporter who will vote for Clinton in the general ... and vice versa.

But, here's the thing that Hillary Clinton chooses to ignore and shouldn't. The superdelegates will break for Barack Obama. How could they not? The future of the Democratic Party is voting for the Junior Senator from the State of Illinois with the funny name. The past is voting for Hillary Clinton. Look at the numbers, the youth vote, the newly registered voters, many of whom are coming into or re-entering the Democratic Party, primarily because of Barack Obama. Look at his ability to out-raise her in this primary campaign, and the promise that holds for the general. And if you're looking for another tangible difference in the appeal these two candidates have, look at the support they are garnering from this country's cultural figures: the icons of America's present and future support Barack Obama -- think Will.i.am, John Legend, George Clooney; the icons of America's past support Hillary Clinton -- think Jack Nicholson, and Elton John. If Hillary Clinton manages to persuade the superdelegates that for some reason her baggage will not weigh as heavy as Barack Obama's baggage in the fall, there is no telling what kind of damage this will do to the future of the Democratic Party.

And so, while Hillary may run her heart out and finish a close second in this race, what will the cost be both to her, and to the Party. She and her husband's relationship with the African-American community has already been seriously damaged -- if not irreparably so (consider James Clyburn's comments about the Clintons), she's alienated herself from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, (consider her disparaging remarks about MoveOn.org), she's using the Karl Rove playbook to score political points against her Democratic opponent, (an anathema to any self-respecting Democrat), and all the while, she is letting John McCain make his case, and stake his claim to the White House. (Yesterday he was kicking back in Arizona watching the Diamondbacks get beaten by the NY Mets ... ).

So, watching the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, and seeing Eight Belles fight so gallantly to the finish, really and truly run her heart out, I didn't want her to win, only because the superstitious in me didn't want that analogy to translate into the polls on Tuesday. But I didn't want her to collapse and die either.

Horse racing lost a beautiful, talented filly on Saturday afternoon in Louisville, Kentucky, and opened itself up to a whole lot of (warranted) questions and criticism about just how much care is taken of those most beautiful of creatures.

The Democratic Party could well lose its stars -- and it's future, if Hillary stays in the race for too much longer.

Comments

[altohone]

Lucy-

The only problem with your post is that since Hillary was pretending to be to the left of Obama, any voters who care about policy are unlikely to actually support McCain.

If she had run as the right wing Democrat that she is, her "base" would actually consider McCain.

[Misanthropicus]

I guess that's why they call it the blues...
Lucy honey, it's simply beyond me (and any other normal person) how you can find a meaning in Clooney's vs. Elton John's political options - but since you you list among your credentials a stint with Air America that probably explains why that station is gone for good.
People vote how they want, those bastards! and not as you, Thomas Frank and David Brancaccio desire - and when you throw in the mixture rev. Wright and Ayres, they will do even more so.
Dear Lucy - keep eating, drinking, shitting and fighting injustice, and get a karaoke machine and start rehearsing "I guess that's why they call it the blues." As an Obamista, you'll have opportunity aplenty to sing it in November - a capella with the rest of the anti-Hillary crowd.

[klintonista]

Maybe there is no future to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party? It's happened many times in our history just not recent history, so why not allow it to happen? It might actually be good for the country to have a grand realignment of parties and voters. Most voters feel out of touch with their party of choice anyhow.

Right leaning Dems and Left leaning GOP = 1 party
Left leaning Dems = 1 party
Right leaning GOP = 1 party

Read The Clintonista Post @
http://clintonista.wordpress.com

[ebanks84]

I fear the damage already done in the Democratic party is irreversible now. She has done a wonderful job in separating the races if nothing else. After all these years, I thought Whites and Blacks were doing fine and respecting each other more with love, honesty, and understanding. When you get to know people, it's really wonderful to know they are so much like you, inside and out. I respect people and it doesn't matter about a color. Never did and never will. But now, some mean, nasty things have been said on these post about the Negroes. And I haven't heard that word used in years until this election. Just because Barack is Black, we have been separating ourselves into two people, when Barack should be the link between both. He is as much White as he is Black. There's nothing but racial ignorance that separates us when we should be coming together because he's a part of all of us. Whites should be as happy as Blacks. He's making all of us proud and handling himself with total respect and as nice as anybody could be. I'm proud to know he's half of my blood. I'm proud to know he has not disrespected Hillary no matter what she has done or said to him.

He is a man of honor and character. And that means more than all the money in the world when you have someone you can finally trust.

[RichLiberal]

The Democratic Party is definitely going to divide as a result of this primary. The middle class working people are going to go one way, the liberal elite and the cross-over red state Republicans are going to go another way. Which one will carry the Democratic banner is still open to question, but in either case, Obama has turned this into a winner take all campaign at the expense of the Democratic Base, which will either claim its party now or in another way before the November election.

[altohone]

That's what all the pundits will be insisting.

It's the establishments only hope of maintaining their grip on power.


Of course, unsubstantiated claims and assumptions from those hoping those assumptions will come true should always be taken with a grain of salt... particularly when the media goes out of their way to frame the debate in such a manner.

[Cairene]

Well said. I couldn't agree more. Once upon a time Hilliary Clinton looked like a true leader, but this race has shown Americans why the Democratic party, specifically, and the US political system, in general, need new leadership in order to take the US in a new direction.

[shm259]

Great Article Lucy :)

[VeggieVeal]

Hillary is realistic enough to see that Obama is indeed unelectable. If she were to relent and let him have the nomination, what's left of the Democrat Party will be crushed by the rightwing juggernaut in November. Don't forget for one moment that Obama cannot even win his own party, much less the GE.

[Stillhere29]

? Not enough iron in your diet!

Obama 2008

[papasalas]

"Don't forget for one moment that Obama cannot even win his own party, much less the GE."
But your logic doesn't apply to Clinton? I mean, she's behind in the nomination, you haven't noticed?

[ebanks84]

And you think Hillary can after she has seriously ruined whatever relationship the Clintons had with Blacks. She needs the Black vote and she won't get it, I'm afraid.

[Heika]

If you think that Hillary can win having alienated African Americans and most progressives, who didn't particularly like her scathing remarks about "activists," then you haven't been paying attention to how she has run her campaign, Talk about "unelectable."

[hopeless277]

Why do you hate Hillary? She has done nothing to you. She will win the nomination because she knows what the American people want: magical solutions. She WILL cut the gas tax and force the oil companies to lower their profits so that Americans can drive more than ever. She WILL combat global warming by convincing Americans that they should drive less and walk more. She WILL end the war in Iraq by keeping American forces there for the foreseeable future. She WILL end politics as usual by making sure all the senators get their earmarks and have more time off. Hillary has solutions. Gun violence? Make sure EVERYONE carries a gun. Racism? Make sure America knows that it is not ready for a black presidnet. Taxes? Give corporate tax breaks and make sure big business pays their fair share. Hillary has solutions. All Obama has is integrity and honesty. No wonder he is unelectable.

[BassMent]

Hillary's going to give every American a pony too. I'm going to name mine Chelsea.

[ebanks84]

You mean to tell me integrity and honesty is at the bottom of your list? And you're for everything Hilliary; lying, cheating, racial, mean, nasty, and more lies?

Where is your integrity?

[mredder4]

My argument in this debate would be that just because Barack Obama inspires you, does not mean that he is inspiring. Quite the opposite, in fact. The zealots of the pro-Obama movement are very unpleasant in some of their remarks, casting their opponents as the worst sort of people, all while using the most hateful language possible without a hint of irony or self-examination. Hillary's a bitch, Bill Clinton is a bastard (as if you hypocrites didn't vote for him at least once, if not twice, or will you all claim to have sat out '92 and '96 or voted Republican then?), their tactics are distasteful and they're just plain MEAN to Barack Obama. I'm actually inclined to vote for every Democrat on my state's ticket except Barack Obama, if he gets the nomination, in protest of the hordes of people who spew hate in his name.

The big news this election has been that the Clintons are hard fighters who don't give up and will go the distance against their opponents, no matter who they are. This isn't anything that you didn't know. Let's be honest here. Feign shock at the tactics used by the Clintons all you want; these are people you've known for a decade and a half now.

Politics is a BLOOD SPORT, people. There are no silver medals, no runners-up, and no second chances. If you don't like the way the game is played, go home.

[milo9]

I agree, Clinton's win will be catastrophic for the Democratic Party. Maybe it's time for it to implode. Who would have thought that a Democrat (Bill Clinton) would deal in coded rascism. Who would have thought that a Democrat (Jay Rockerfeller) would lead the effort to hide corporate crimes (retro-active immunity for telecoms) as well as limit civil liberties and promote a surveillance state. Something's not right.

[RichLiberal]

It is the Obama campaign reverse race baiting strategy aided by rabble rouser James Clyburn that has painted the Clintons as racists. It is the Kennedy liberals with their hatred of Hillary and their use of the unqualified Obama as a proxy whose only purpose was to stop Hillary that has brought us where we are today. A new Democratic Party will emerge from the ashes. There is no saving the Party in its current form. We will see if the Kennedy strategy of disenfranchising the Democratic Base will work. Given that Kennedy lost his backing of Obama by 15 points in Massachusetts, it is likely that John Kerry will be the first sacrificial lamb in this year's Senate campaign as the price Kennedy pays at home.

[altohone]

Richard Not Liberal... can I call you Rich?


I'd like my waffles without butter.

[milo9]

I can read the code. It was Bill ("First Black President") Clinton who I saw dealing in coded rascism to obtain a victory. I saw what I saw.

[BlueBerryPickN]

If Americans can't figure out that PARTIES aren't your biggest corruption problem...

..then they'll never figure out why & how MONEY & CORRUPTION aren't party-related.

corruption... USES party affiliation to 'brand' their corruption to suit their gullible audiences.

"a black man MAKES HISTORY"
"a white woman MAKES HISTORY"

jesus. Americans are dumb.

your **candidates* are negotiating your futures away with their corporate backers...

...& nobody is standing up & saying... what about REAL reforms?

nah... its enough to ride the "ITS HISTORY & CHANGE" bandwagon all the way to the privatized, BlackWater guarded Poor House.

Obama's your best best LEFT... shame nobody gave a shit about Edwards & Kucinich as much as they did "being on the winning team" that "'made history!"

Edwards, Nader, Kucinich... the BEST SOLUTIONS you'll NEVER BE *allowed* to have...

~~~
Spread Love...
BlueBerry Pick'n
ThisCanadian com
~~~
"We, two, form a Multitude" ~ Ovid.
~~~
"Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"
"Do no harm"

[ebanks84]

And you believe Edwards is not one of THEM? Then you haven't done your homework. Change is what we need. But It won't come from those who don't want change.

[bobbym]

It's hard to imagine Hillary conceding.
It may be face saving for her to be forced out somehow, then she and her supporters can always hold on to 'If only they would have... (insert your favorite rule manipulation here)'.
You know, like conceding that that there's nothing we're going to make the factions in Iraq like each other.
It's all cut from the same cloth.

[BadChristian]

I've about had it with the Democrats.
They campaign like crazy in suburbs and rural areas, while urban public schools and urban infrastructure is literally falling to the ground and our bridges into the water. Yet every election cycle, the conservatives (and now the Clintons) wheel out this hackneyed BS about elitist urban liberals. Billary is steadfastly ignoring urban areas, and the the Democratic Party has nothing to say about the way the most populated places in the country are being being handled. The arrest rates in urban America, income rates, price of living... The disparity in college admissions for urban children, the drop-out rates... Republicans are paying more attention to it than the Democrats, and all the the Democratic Party reps have to say is that it's about races, without once wondering where the most diverse populations in America are. Cities may have the most black residents... They also have the most of just about every other color, and they've ALL been Democratic strongholds forever.
I'll vote for Obama, but if the Democratic Party doesn't start treating the urban centers like something other than a vote warehouse, that warehouse is going to be filled with something other than Democrats.
Elitists live in the suburbs, that's where they go when they can afford to "Escape" what the Democrats have left of our "De-funded Zones."

[Syco]

you do realize that the truth is no one cares.

POLITICIANS DON'T CARE ABOUT YOU PEOPLE

[BadChristian]

Actually, I think that they DO care... About ignoring us. It suits out system to have the cities mostly poor, politically impotent masses, fed by fast food joints and liquor stores, then shipped out to what are becoming prison labor camps.

[Stillhere29]

Republicans are paying more attention...they see the poor as potential cannon fodder for future, misbegotten wars!

[BadChristian]

But I thought we were the "limosene liberals" and "elitists" who don't care about gas taxes (maybe because we ride public transit and don't commute an hour a day to live in a gated community).

Fodder for wars or prisons... Urban poverty has become a growth industry for both parties. Seems to me they both need to be euthanized. Look at New Orleans... Bush and his cronies couldn't have done that without the Democrats working the other side of that saw.
Giant Corporations need us or illegal immigrants.