Race Is All the Clintons Have Left

Sitting there on the set, listening to the endless wrap-ups and explanation of the exit polls, I was on the verge of faking my own death on national TV in order to go talk to myself about the obvious, unspoken equation in the little there is left to this fight between Obama and Clinton. The beast that is nearly always there in American life, the danger that rustles the shrubs at the edge of our daily existence -- race -- was routinely ignored in the recitation of numbers pouring out of North Carolina and Indiana.

Now, faced with a mathematical mountain climb that even Stephen Hawking could not ascend, the Clintons -- and it is indeed both of them -- are just about to paste a bumper sticker on the rear of the collapsing vehicle that carries her campaign. It reads: VOTE WHITE.

That's the underlying message propping up a failed candidate. Check it out, you superdelegates: the buttoned down black guy is having trouble with blue collar white guys so cast your vote with the white chick who has transformed herself into an arm-wrestling, shot and a beer, kitchen table advocate for the working class and now it's on to West Virginia and Kentucky where she'll prove it.

So, after all the years they have been with us, after all the triumph and tastelessness, the accomplishments and embarrassments, we're about to watch them act out an updated, mixed gender re-make of Thelma and Louise with Bill behind the wheel, the two of them sharing a knowing look, a wink, in the front seat as they take the Democrat party right off the cliff, the whole thing crashing and burning in a racial divide both he and she sought to heal all those years ago in Little Rock and then Washington.

Look at the numbers, the Clintons say: Your son didn't get into the college that was his first choice but the black kid with lower SATs did? Your brother didn't get the civil service slot on the fire department because he was white and there is an unspoken quota? You didn't get the promotion because corporate diversity policy mutely suggested a person of color get it? Your kid is being bused an hour and half a day to a public school with low reading scores?

Scratch a sore, baby. Vote for Clinton.

Her campaign began -- When? Last year? Last century? It moved across the landscape a summer ago like a cash cow, arriving at each stop surrounded by an air of incumbent expectancy, never sensing, never seeing the black guy who had the audacity to get in her way.

It was a campaign run and dominated by a fat, arrogant pollster, this Penn who once conspired to concoct a question in order to figure out where the Clintons would swim one summer. Martha's Vineyard or Wyoming? In the past few weeks, Geoff Garin has turned Hillary Clinton into a very formidable candidate by doing something that apparently never occurred to the numbers cruncher Penn: Having her behave like a human being. Clearly, if Garin had been in the driver's seat from the start of this spectacle, Obama would have a lot more time to watch White Sox home games.

But presidential politics does not exist in the land of 'what if.' It is an exhausting, seemingly endless process, fueled by money and ego and an ability to withstand mistakes of commission or omission as well as hands coming out of the recent past, like the strangling grip of Jeremiah Wright, a racist himself, who still might inhibit any chance of an Obama success.

It's been an amazing ride, this whole campaign. It has three actors left on the stage, all with compelling personal stories to tell in this land of ours, itself the greatest story ever told. Everyone knows McCain's history, an epic of the age. And more and more are getting to know Obama's; a black guy from Chicago who, two, three years ago, would have had difficulty hailing a cab on a rainy afternoon in midtown Manhattan because of his skin color, suddenly within striking distance of being nominated for president by one of our two major political parties.

And Hillary Clinton, always ambitious, an over-achiever, tough, smart and resilient. And now on the edge of writing a truly ugly chapter for all to see.

Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to the Indiana and North Carolina primary results


Comments

[ssg13565]

> Jeremiah Wright, a racist himself

Sorry, Mike, I cannot let you get away with that one.

Don't fall for the propaganda your buddies are feeding you. I can't blame you for falling for it, even Obama seems to have been somewhat fooled by the big lie. I know you are a busy man, but do your own research and see what Wright really said. Here is a page of links to help you get started.

http://ssgreenberg.name/PoliticsBlog/?p=82

After you arm yourself with the facts join the effort to stop the propaganda. Don't be a promoter of propaganda.

[TRYKER]

Jeremiah Wright, a racist himself"..­.

Mike, mike mike...com­e on. The gist of your post left me thinking you were gung ho for this racism and if it wasn't a factor, you by God were going to make it one.
It seemed like a waif's cry for just a little more mercy and sympathy and please mister, don't let (my momma) Hillary lose. Please don't let them drive off a cliff, waaaa, vote for Hillary.
The Rev Wright has been slaughtered by you all in the media...bu­t I'm glad you brought him forward, he was a breath of fresh air.
We need to hear more diverse voices from all the spectrum and it is exciting to hear a man so well educated and bold and nonuncletommy speaking across TV everywhere. Hooray.

[daddigrace]

More on Dr. Leonard Horowitz, the WHITE scientist who works provided the basis for Wright's remarks:

http://len.healthyworldblog.com/ev/Symptom_of_a_Rigged_Election.html

[S1m0n]

Hot damn you've penned the perfect epitaph:

"So, after all the years they have been with us, after all the triumph and tastelessness, the accomplishments and embarrassments, we're about to watch them act out an updated, mixed gender re-make of Thelma and Louise with Bill behind the wheel, the two of them sharing a knowing look, a wink, in the front seat as they take the Democrat party right off the cliff, the whole thing crashing and burning in a racial divide both he and she sought to heal all those years ago in Little Rock and then Washington­."

[CTmom13]

It is sad but this really does say it all

[Moncar]

Reading through these comments is, on the whole, a saddening experience. Almost as saddening as Mr. Barnicle's article. To support Senator Obama over Senator Clinton is fine and as American as apple pie. But, to trash, vilify and pistol-whip her as so many do here, today and for the past year, is symptomatic of a terrible sickness.
I consider myself a bleeding heart,knee-jerk liberal. But, I'm not nuts. Obama is not my choice but he appears, for whatever the reasons, to be the candidate-apparent and I'll certainly vote for him. Meanwhile, Barnicle and his ilk - found everyday on MSNBC as well as this screen - are now needlessly not only ripping Clinton but her supporters, as well.
If Obama has wrapped up the nomination, Barnicle and his pals only serve Senator McCain with this bile. And, in my view, stated around here before, that's just what Barnicle, Russert, Matthews, Cafferty and et al have always had in mind.
The worst president in the country's history is running out the clock. Barnicle and his pals, sailing under false colors, are out to save McCain. Let's see how it plays out.

[k6007]

You don't get it, you watch msnbc and are offended. Obama's supporters watch msnbc, and are offended. It's because they're useless, one and all. If you focus on the issues, you'll see just how irrevelent they have become.

[Moncar]

No, k6007, I don't watch MSNBC. Haven't for about 6 weeks when I had enough. I also tune out CNN when Cafferty shows up. I'll try 'em again in October to see whether they've run up the Jolly Roger and are openly plugging McCain.
Olbermann, who's clearly auditioning to be Obama's press secretary, may be the only one of the bunch still holding course.

[Gma11]

There isn't an aspect of our society that is not tinged/tainted by racism. Only a small portion of it is conscious. Most is unconscious. And we hate to see it in ourselves. It is part of our great shadow, individually and nationally, and it will continue to haunt us until we become aware of it and deal with it.

[oafishcad]

Unless the Obamabots start giving some RESPECT to the voters who voted for Hilary, Obama will lose. To say they voted out of racism is just a way to ignore why they voted for her, and a personal insult to every Hilary voter. Insults will not win others to your side. People voted for Hilary because they felt she could better get things done and is a fighter. Tell me she isn't a fighter. Obama may lose if he gets painted with the wimp brush, like Dukakis, McGovern, even Kerry were. No way Hilary was ever considered a wimp. Maybe the Obama supporters should stop bullying those who disagree and try and understand why they do disagree.

[BigBen]

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

HORSERACE

Kennedy Went to the 1980 Convention Trailing By 756 Delegates

Fun Foreshadowing Fact of the Day: In 1980, Ted Kennedy came into the Democratic convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City with 1,225 delegates to President Carter's 1,981 and 122 uncommitted.

If Kennedy could take it to the convention when he trailed by 756 delegates, Hillary can go to the convention trailing by her current 150 or so.

[CanuckforObama]

And the Dems were subsequently creamed in the general.

[RealistDem]

Respect is a two way street. You may want to give the Obamabots label a rest now. I respect Hillary supporters and hope everyone realizes the task now it to defeat John McCain and his George W Bush third term. A lot of us on both sides have put our hearts and souls into our candidates. But in the end, when this comes to a conclusion, the hurt feelings need to be put aside. As most news analysists have said for months now, Obama and Clinton agree on over 90% of the issues

[tbone99]

Do you really think an article calling her racist is an effort in that direction?

[savethecountry]

And here's the seemingly obligatory Clinton-supporter "Obamabot" insult again. You all want respect, then you'd better start giving it, oafishcad. Your right to it is NOT greater than my right to it.

The reason, I suspect, that many Obama supporters (not "Obamabots") are a little peeved is because of what your candidate CONTINUES TO DO (see Huffpost story on the Clinton campaign still looking for trash to use against Obama, an "October Surprise" in May, as the most recent example). YOUR CANDIDATE is still in attack mode. You can't have it both ways, oafishcad.

[RobtBrock]

Barnicle knows a lot about being a loser. He is one - and a really mean one.

[Mesaywar]

Mr. Barnicle, I was going to start answering a few of the more ignorant responses to your post in a way that probably would not have helped much. However, I've decided to simply thank you for having the guts to point out the uncomfortable facts you've pointed out. There are many people here that will go to their graves denying what they've seen, making excuses for it, or even worse, not being aware enough to notice the disrespect of the last few months of the Clinton campaign. Racism survives not because a few people in white sheets march occasionally and shout "White Power," it survives because too many people accept and internalize the unspoken tenets of a system which help keep economically, socially, and politically marginalized groups at each others' throats and oblivious to obstacles the other faces.

[intellifem]

Barnicle, you're disgusting. Hil and Bill have done more for blacks than any other pair in the White House. EVER. Most of the blacks in BO's campaign got their start in DC due to Clinton appointments. They're all backstabbing traitors if you ask me.

BO has played the race card brilliantly. See Princeton professor Sean Willentz's articles on this.

BO is nothing more than the affirmative action candidate who could only win by disenfranchising MI and FL. Hell will freeze over before they go for Obama. Hello President McCain.

Mike Barnicle shows yet again that he doesn't know what he's talking about.

[Gma11]

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

[Zunian]

Yep, we're all backstabbing traitors. Clinton was good to us, how dare we reject them after they've clearly rejected us?

Given the tone of your comments, I know that I won't persuade you of anything, but I write this for others who may read.

The Clintons have shown themselves to be Machiavellian opportunists in this election. When we (Black Americans) were convenient to have on their side, they allied themselves with us, but then they started race-baiting arguments as early as Nevada, trying to sow division between Blacks and Hispanics and then Blacks and Whites, and so on. That's offensive.

Divide and conquer may have worked for Julius Ceasar, but it's very distasteful in the world we're trying to make. It doesn't mean that one group is on top and another is on the bottom, it means that we want to sit at the table together. That's the core idea behind Obama's message. I wish you would have understood it.

By the way, there's no such thing as affirmative action for the president. Obama and his organization has worked _very hard_, as has Clinton's. Be respectful.

[liberalghost]

Well, I don't know where you keep your brains, I have a suspicion, but nowhere but cable TV news shows did I hear anyone claim Clinton expected a coronation. Maybe you watch too much TV.

Or maybe you are too "working class" to vote for someone who describes themself as "most qualified.­" Whether she is/was is open to question. But all Obama ran on was "change." Whether he can "lead" is, similarly, open to question.

[elizaW]

Barnicle,

It's so obvious that your hatred for the Clintons has made you blind to who Obama really is. My theory is that if Hillary drops out of the race and the Clintons are no longer a factor, Obama will start looking a whole lot less appealing to you. All the angry bitter over-educated attention-deprived pseudo intellectuals who have been downloading their frustrations on Hillary will in a short amount of time start downloading on Obama. it might not happen this month or next but it will happen. There's no way Obama can't disappoint you and there's no way guys like you won't turn on those who no longer feed your fantasies. In the meantime many democrats will side with McCain.

[JohnDewey]

"BO is nothing more than the affirmative action candidate.­.."

You don't even understand that your comments expose your narrow-minded bigotry, do you?

"Most of the blacks in BO's campaign got their start in DC due to Clinton appointmen­ts."

Name them. Do you really think that your nonsense is true because you say so? If you're going to make an assertion like that, then back it up. Give us the names.

"Hil and Bill have done more for blacks than any other pair in the White House. EVER."

Once again, name them. List these things that the Clintons have done for the African-American community. In particular, what has either of them done that didn't carry an expectation of repayment or was accomplished at an actual cost or risk to the Clintons' careers? Both Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson did more for equal opportunity & justice under the law with a stroke of the pen than either Clinton did in all their years in various powerful political positions.

[k6007]

Don't forget the Republican, Eisenhower.

[liberalghost]

Your argument would be more persuasive if you were honest and logical. Truman's act,as praiseworthy as it was, was an executive order to integrate the military, not legislation. Unless you're referring to something else. LBJ had a democratic Congress with liberal (Rockefeller) republicans. Bill Clinton had a heavily racist Congress.

[utd]

You're right the Clinton's did the AA community the biggest favor ever.. they galvanized them against the Clinton's by treating them much in the same respect you are treating Senator Obama right now.

It's amazing how often you people talk about how he will lose the election against McCain without even so much as a rudimentary understand of the people you are counting on to give said election to McCain.

[mslindab]

Thanks, Barnicle! I scream at the tv every time I hear the question about the working class whites' votes when RARELY do they question the opposite: how will HRC recover the black vote?

[tbone99]

well , its been quite clear from groups like"Color for Change" and posters here that it is an all or nothing game. I think the working class vote is still up for grabs, though.

[rwe]

this is the pandering racism that eminates from the ELITIST WHITE INTELLECTUALS OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN. 93 % of the black vote in NC went to Barack... Any pontifications on racism there? or are you one of those that says only whites can be racist?

[4wehttam]

Are you honestly going to sit there and tell me you don't know the difference? That blacks are voting against Clinton because their racist???? You have got to be from Generation OLD, because this generation does not buy that argument whatsoever. Finally, AA have a strong, decent, smart, VIABLE candidate they can have pride in saying he could be the next potus, you think they should just sit on the sidelines of this historic moment? If it was just because he was black is one thing (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton); but it is because he has a GREAT chance and they believe in him.

If Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Asians and American Indian voters had the opportunity to vote for a VIABLE candidate (in their demographic) that inspires them and they truly believe in, you think it wouldn't be the same? You CANNOT compare the minority vote to the white vote so easily when these objectives are put in. It has nothing to do with racism, it has to do with pride, inspiration and hope.

I feel sorry for you and anyone else that believes otherwise.

[tbone99]

There's no question he's a good candidate but ask yourself if you, his African American supporter are doing him justice.He­'s trying to unify and too many seem to be trying to divide, We are going to need all the help we can get to win in Nov. and yelling 'racism" every thirty minutes is not going to get the job done.

[Gma11]

rwe doesn't understand the psychosocial dynamics of majority and minority groups.

[rwe]

Finally AA have a strong decent smart VIABLE candidate"­... kind of like Biden calling him clean and articulate­....Be serious, with his credentials or lack of them in his brief history in Illinois he is not credible . Ferraro was correct (sorry , being correctdoes not a racist make).No , this is pandering racism by the elitist intellectual prograssive whites . AHHNOLD had better credentials to become governor than Barack had to become a senator

[elizaW]

4wehttan

How about this? Why don't you find your own inner sources of pride, inspiration and hope so you will be free to vote for the best candidate not the person who makes you feel safe. If you don't master that then you're just a slave to any guy with a good speech and a good PR package.

[liberalghost]

Lemme make it easy for you: Ain't nothing wrong with a identifiable group of Americans, after 300+ years of being not even second class citizens rallying to one of their peers who appears to have a real change of proving himself equal to anyone else. If Obama were as self-evidently stupid and insipid as George Bush, your argument would have merit.

[grendl]

Because 93% of the black voters in NC were able to see through Hillary Clintons thinly veiled insinuations, and realized she was in fact playing upon blue collar America's fear of a black man they voted in droves for Barack.

Don't piss on someone and tell them it's raining. Her kitchen sink approach included likening Barack's campaign to that of Jesse Jack ( no relation other than the color of his skin ), the absurd "not that I know of" Islamic connection, the 3:00 a.m. Brinks Home Security ads, and the insidious but powerful " He can't win".

And why is that Hillary? He'd managed to give you a thumping in enough states. What could you possible be insinuating by he "can't " win. What because he didn't have the experience you and Chelsea had battling 8 year old girls carrying poems across Bosnian tarmacs?

No, because he's black. That's what you, and Lanny, and Blake, mean. Black people know it, white people know it, but some aren't willing to acknowledge it because its subtextual.

NC read between the lines. And they didn't like what it said.

[tbone99]

" likening Barack's campaign to that of Jesse Jack ( no relation other than the color of his skin"

Jesse was an African American who ran an inclusive ( like Obama), presidential campaign . he was a frontrunner ( like Obama ) and was progressive ( like Obama claims to be.) So in fact they are several similarities.

"He can't win" - said by a every primary candidate in the book.

It's not her business to explain Obama's religion , it's his.

The 3 am phone call -maybe you're seeing what you want to see.

fighting about things that are so subtextual they're ambiguous, is is leading people to think Obama is going to be complaining about race over every little thing and turn them away. The Clintons certainly have enough other baggage to use.

[Dayahka]

You got that exactly right! Clinton was saying: it's always been a white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant male, and it's always going to be a white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant, so vote for me. Yes, both Clintons crawled into the gutter, but that's what happens when you sell your soul.

[tbone99]

Actually, I think selling your soul is when you throw your pastor under the bus after he's been forced into harsh scrutiny because of you..

[ljmck]

Check your own prejudice. Penn would be be arrogant even if he were skinny.

[WorkingClass]

HEY.......­..........­..........­..........­....I'm skinny.

[DennyCrane]

She's already made it about race. When she talks about working class voters, it's code for white folks who resent black people and all the special breaks they get. Why do you think Geraldine Ferraro implied Obama is the affirmative action candidate? Obviously, he isn't. I doubt white voters would go to the polls and vote for Obama just to see a black guy elected. But it was clever on Ferraro's part. By bringing it up, she reminds those white working class folks that blacks seem to get all the breaks. That stirs up old resentment and latent racism so that when Obama finally does show up in Pennsylvania or a similar state, he's already lost. And Hillary has been arguing this to superdelegates everytime she says Obama can't win working class voters. In other words, white people making less than 50K a year will never vote for a black guy, so nominate the white woman instead.

[lorla]

I think Barnicle is wrong to assume that a change in staff would have Obama sitting home watching sports.
He is underestimating the people who were just waiting for the day Obama would run for president. I remember reading about this guy from IL who was about to run, then won by a landslide in his Chicago election. I began inquiring about him way back then.
By the time he made his speech at the Dem convention, I was already very aware of who he was. I was blown away by his speech.
At first, I thought he was four years premature in his bid for presidency, but now I see that if he didn't run this time, another dem would have won. He needs the stark difference from bush, and unrest in society that we are experiencing right now , for people to embrace him even though he's black. 2012 would have diminished his chances.
So Barnicle, it would have taken more than a change in advisors to have sat Obama down.
Obama 08

[sneener2000]

what a racist you are, Barnicle..­...

[robXdion]

Funny, you describe a "racist" as a person that makes you feel uncomfortable about your own benign passive racism. Barnicle is just calling it for what it is.