BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

CAN WE CALL AMERICANS RACIST
AND STILL EXPECT TO GET THEIR VOTE?

Michelle Obama made a simple statement--"For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of this country"–and one would have thought she declared a jihad on America. FOX news,  Rush Limbaugh, and the various other Republican conduits have been harping on it for months now, trying to convince the American people that she’s hated America all of her life. But the fact is, when Michelle Obama made the above statement she was actually complimenting America.

So, periodically I head over to Corrente or Talk Left just to see what's up. It never ceases to amaze me how differently they see the world, but it's left me wondering about my own perspective in deciding who's a concern troll and who's genuinely worried ....

There comes a time when even the most die-hard fan must realize that his team is not going to win the pennant or be in the Super Bowl. It is one of life's unpleasant realities. Now let me say that I really, really like Hillary. I think she is the stronger of the two candidates and the one most likely to win in November. Unfortunately, regardless of what I think and feel, Obama will be the nominee.

I read an article over at Realclearpolitics.com that was talking about Hillary Clinton staying in the race to run for VP and if she wants it, the party will almost have to give it to her.  

Browsing the 'net over the course of this election season, it doesn't take long to witness the same widening gap between Obama and Clinton supporters that happened here taking place in the comment sections of major newspapers, on internet forums and YouTube, even between close family members. On Friday the hostility found its way into the presence of the former President. I've been reading the front page of DailyKos for a while, but only recently began sifting through the discussions, and I have to admit to being dismayed. I'm a loyal progressive, and was out in the ice canvassing for Senator Obama here in Maryland, but I cannot condone any more flame-fanning by my fellow Obama supporters.

Senator Obama has this nomination locked up. Clinton supporters are understandably upset, dismayed, disheartened, and bitter. In my mind, being a compassionate human being means having the capacity to put yourself in other people's shoes, and in the blogospere there has been far too little energy expended on bridging the demographic divides that have remained remarkably resilient throughout this campaign for the nomination.

   All of the MSM news coverage of late has been about the "Wright controversy" and how divides the along racial lines, which Clinton has used as an oblique message to say Obama is unelectable because he is black. He is the "Black" candidate. Obviously, this has been very divisive among party leaders and even the nation at large fueled by the MSM. This is not the story I want to tell. Faced with real issues, we have been distracted by manufactured issues. So give me the chance to share with you a very personal story which demonstrates Obama's ability to unify the country. This is the story of my 70 year old mother which addresses race in the heartland of America and the hope of bridging the gaps. This is where "silent segregation" is addressed.

"Hillary-haters."  "Obamabots." Krugman-bashing.  Scorched-earth tactics.  "Judas." "Tonya Harding strategy."  "Greviously, morally wrong."  Daily Kos writers' strike.  "Won't vote for Clinton in the general."

Wow.  Some heavy Shakespearean fireworks over our big tent party.  But what does it mean for our future?

When the primary battles are over and the bodies left for the crows, when the Democratic nominee has gone on to give McCain such a shellacking that he makes Bob Dole look like a success, when the new POTUS begins to tackle the immense problems of Iraq, the economy, global warming and health care, all under continuous Republican sniper fire, will Democrats hang together or hang out separately?

Part of why I moved to Canada a year ago was because I was fed up and concerned about the conduct of democratic institutions like what I witnessed tonight by ABC News.

Soon after the move, I was asked to speak on Fox Radio on why I decided to leave.  My answer: Because I love America and the values that are America should be what protect people like me from being excluded and denied my civil rights.  The weakening of the American democracy had reached a point where its promise was no longer standing up for what was right. It had become too painful to be a direct target in the divide and distract politics of my nation, the same politics used to threaten the core ideals of American and that were making me a political football for being gay.  

Watching tonight's debate from my new home in Toronto was another painful reminder of these dangerous assaults against republican ideals and democratic values, against people like me and a lot of other Americans and others throughout the world.  And - most of all - against America itself, as an idea and a nation.

Yes, I changed the title because I thought it was being misunderstood.

I got a smack down from Barack Obama yesterday and he made me proud of him (and not for the first time in my adult life).

My very first diary entry ever was given the business yesterday by Barack Obama.

You can read the transcript of his response to my diary or if you are lazy and/or prefer something more inspirational you can view the video.

Election divides Democrats by race, sex
Obama, Clinton struggle to transcend historic alliances, prejudices

Just came across this article that says basically what I have here...not that anyone will ever see this.

...we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation....

                                          -Barack Obama

Do you remember being inspired by these words?
I was deeply moved by these words.  So were millions of others.  But there are still millions more that have voted for Hillary Clinton since then.  I continually ask myself how this is possible.  And constantly answer myself, too.

According to TPM, in a private meeting on March 12th, Hillary Clinton gave a pep talk in which she predicted "We're gonna win this" Follow me over the fold for some insight into these Clinton strategy meetings.

All the news networks chop and divide the electorate into different groups.  There is the Latino vote, the ethic white vote, white males, white female (as though female/male weren't enough division), catholics, blacks, etc.  

I for one am tired of the division in our country, and it really disgusts me that the MSM is trying to divide us further.  It is not true that "catholics" have some bias for Clinton.  It is only mildly interesting that latinos "have" supported HRC.  Separating white female voters from all other female voters only serves to divide us more.  

TAKE II

The attacks on Barack Obama have begun to finally hit and stick a bit in the last 10 days. It seems Hillary's "kitchen sink" strategy is beginning to bear fruit for her campaign in the short term. The recent polling in Texas and Ohio have consistently showed an up-tick in her chances to win not only one, but both of those delegate rich states in today's Super Tuesday II primaries.
By all accounts her campaign has received a jolt of energy from recent national press clippings as they have started to take a closer look at Barack Obama, a charge she has been championing since the vote returns from the frozen tundra of the Iowa caucuses.
Despite all of the blog and talking-head talk of Hillary getting out after tonight's results, she has a good basis now to stay in the race. A new Washington Post/ABC Poll reveals that a mere 29% of Democratic voters think Clinton should leave the race if she wins one of the big two states at stake tonight. Unbelievably, still only 51% think she should throw in the towel if she loses BOTH states tonight.

The question remains, however...is this prolongation of the race, and critical nature of Hillary's attacks, GOOD for the Democratic Party, and will it help their chances in the General Election?

Bear with a very short story:

    There has been a lot of ink and paper used up to explain the South Carolina primary and what it means to the candidates and the electoral process. The two facts that I think South Carolina makes abundantly clear are that the voters are rejecting the politics of divisiveness and the idea of a co-Presidency. Now while much will be made of the fact that the majority of Democratic voters in South Carolina are black, I believe that there is still data that can be gleaned from the results and despite the fact Bill Clinton made absolutely clear that Jesse Jackson carried South Carolina the electorate today was different than when Jesse ran.

Get ready for George W. Bush's third term.

The outcome of the 2008 Presidential election is rapidly being written into the history books.  Oh, yes, there are some blanks left to be filled out: the name of the triumphant Republican, and the name of the vanquished Democrat haven't yet been decided.  There's always the possibility of a third-party candidate, or an independent bid.  But those are details.

The election, for all intents and purposes, is over.

Who wants to hear a joke?

Knock Knock, Who’s there?

Ann Coulter.

Hilarious, isn’t it? For any of you still scratching your heads, allow me to explain how Ann Coulter is a joke, only not quite as funny as she is sad.

Every Republican, including Novak and Drudge, would dearly love to see the Democrats divide over personality and style. This post is a reminder to those whose candidate of choice is not Sen. Clinton not to drink the GOP
kool-aid.