(If you are still undecided today then here’s a thought: If you want ‘change’, and we all do, then you have to have a change agent that knows the system and has the contacts to create that change. Perhaps my thoughts as I did a 180 degree turn to support Hillary Clinton will be helpful.)
So how did I come to a momentous change 180 degree change? Since I am grounded in Practical Politics, my first concern in any election is winning.
Whoever we pick as the Democratic nominee will be attacked as if they have stinking, slimy baggage by the Republican Party, the nominee and, more importantly, the slimy political world that surrounds the GOP. These ‘independent’ organizations have a sole purpose: to attack relentlessly, in the most vicious possible ways, the Democratic nominee. There will never be a ‘clean’ candidate that is exempt from their attacks.
Who, then, I began to think is best equipped to handle the vicious, continuous attacks that the other side will launch? So who could best stand up and fight?
Hillary Clinton has, as she has said, taken this incoming fire for 15 years or more. She’s had her patriotism questioned, her sexuality questioned, been accused of being a murderer, been accused of much more and yet she’s still the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination.
She’s tougher than boot leather while having a human side. Those are assets that our candidate needs. Hillary Clinton has developed thick skin and the ability to remain calm in campaign combat. Yet, she also knows how to listen to the American people.
Qualifications? She’s a successful, liberal US Senator. She’s won a Senate election that was none too clean by fighting back and campaigning in the non-traditional places in NY. She went to conservative, Republican based northern rural areas and won them over with smart policies, substantive talk and the fact she simply listened! In that most unlikely of places, she won with 67% of the vote. And then in 2006 she won re-election.
I like that she sticks to policy and not continuous personal attacks when she talks, but I also like that she also takes the time to listen when she’s campaigning. (I can testify that having a candidate disciplined enough to force herself to listen to others when it would be so much easier to rush to the next event is unusual in itself.)
I am convinced that Hillary is strong where others, including Barack Obama, would be weak and inexperienced. She will fight the filth machine of the other side with vigor and calmness. She knows how to outmaneuver them.
She’s a warrior. It’s a term seldom applied to women. Yet being a warrior is what she’s been from her Watergate committee staffing experience, through several terms as the First Lady of Arkansas, working on multiple corporate boards fighting for equal rights for workers and women and during her years as First Lady of the US traveling the world. She learned first hand in those travels the foreign issues and realities. Hillary Clinton has made the personal contacts that are will be so valuable in the White House. She has consistently fought for the underdog and the American people. She was a warrior without anyone using the term.
Hillary Clinton knows how to form coalitions on Capitial Hill to get the job done! She has, that ‘bad’ word this election cycle, ‘experience’. JFK, perhaps one of the most inspirational speakers in his day, had 8 years US Senate experience and had taken a run at the Vice Presidency in 1956. He knew government from the inside.
JFK was not an outsider condemning the system and all those in it. If you want change in government you first have to learn how to operate from the inside to get the laws and policies changed. We learned this time and time again from JFK to Bill Clinton.
Hillary Clinton, to use her term and much to my surprise, is ‘my gal’. I will vote for her today and in the general election.
Sphere: Related Content
Related posts:
“”If we give her credit for her husband’s accomplishments, we can
thank her for … ”
Managing to be part of the only Democratic administration that actually succeeded in winning an election, gosh isn’t that awful.
At this point, taking advice from anyone BUT the Clintons on getting into office is like taking advice from the Buffalo Bills on how to win the Superbowl. (In four times, choked four times, for those who don’t recall, and my sincere apologies to any Bills fans, but the analogy fits.)
“Just read about his Exelon dealings.”
We won’t need to, Emily. If Obama gets the nom, we’ll hear about them nonstop every single night on every news station in existence, starting the day after the convention closes.
“Tonight on Hardball — new allegations of corruption against Democratic golden boy Barack Obama! Could this spell the end of his rock star campaign? Next up after a word from our sponsors!”
HILLARY IS READY TO BEAT McCAIN and TO BE PRESIDENT
- Strengthening the Middle Class
- Providing Affordable and Accessible Health Care
- Ending the War in Iraq
- Promoting Energy Independence and Fighting Global Warming
- Improving Our Schools
- Fulfilling Our Promises to Veterans
- Supporting Parents and Caring for Children
- Restoring America’s Standing in the World
- A Champion for Women
- Comprehensive Government Reform
- Strengthening Our Democracy
- Reforming Our Immigration System
- An Innovation Agenda
- Creating Opportunity for Rural America
LOOK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlATFrHhMQc
I donated $200. to Hillary Clinton. I am a 50 year old working woman and living on a tight budget but it was worth every penny donating it to Hillary. I am computer savy and donated on-line.
Hillary is a strong candidate and knows the issues that are important to Americans. She is an amazing debator and can discuss issues clearly and in detail.
It will take a woman to clean up after GWB……….
I want the Democratic Dream-Team:
Clinton/Obama ’08
If Hillary is the nominee, this ticket is possible.
HILLARY is not only a woman,
SHE is THE WOMAN !!
Well, I’ll start by saying I am currently an Obama supporter. First off, I don’t support him because of any media hype. I became interested before the media glorified him, and I personally think that the media has done him a disservice by not focusing on the content of his policies, and instead focusing on the whole “hope/change” thing. The “hope/change” thing is just a fluffy sort of bonus in my opinion.
I’ve seen a lot of people criticize Obama for not having “content.” Have you actually gone and read his policies? Not the quick summaries that are around everywhere, but the papers that he’s written up and provided for people to view?
Here’s a comparison:
(Note, I’m not saying Hillary is “content-lite’ or anything, just that they are equal)
Hillary Clinton’s plan for Rural America: 6.5 pages
Barack Obama’s plan for Rural America: 14 pages
Hillary Clinton’s plan for Energy/Environment: 14 pages
Barack Obama’s plan for Energy/Environment: 18 pages (Two documents)
Those numbers are based on the “Read the full plan” links on both candidates websites.
I’m not anti-Hillary, and I’m not even trying to convince you Obama’s policies are better (I think so, but do your own research), but I feel it’s fair to dispel the whole “content-lite” myth. If you have evidence that proves I’m wrong, please, tell me. But don’t claim without doing any sort of research.
Um … I have, Trevor. And if you could gauge them by the page count, doctoral committees’d weigh papers to decide who gets a degree and who doesn’t. Instead, they have this little thing called a defense where you have to DEFEND your ideas and show that you don’t only have the most words but the best ones.
Hillary’s plan has the RIGHT 6.5 pages. Obama’s goes nowhere in 14.
Well Janis, it’s your right to say what you think about them, and to defend them. I don’t think anywhere in there did I try to convince anyone that Clinton’s plans were the wrong ones. The point I’m trying to make is not about who is right or wrong. The point is that the content is there for people to make a decision (as you have done). I think Obama has a perfectly sound plan, and you think Hillary does (who said I don’t agree with you either?). Don’t belittle people just because they have a different viewpoint than you do. You’re ignoring the reason I posted so that you can turn it into an argument of “he’s right” “she’s right.”
Hey! What’s up with FL and MI? If those delegates counted, she would be A LOT farther ahead! It’s only because OB has been able to benefit by the state to state differences in the delegates he’s doing so well. Almost like GWB in the re-election, with all those ‘late votes’ made us take another term of this c***! It’s been a great term for all the oil people and the defense people, the rest of you just go work at some bull**** job and try to forget how these people basically took your freedoms and your money, too! This wonderful woman has the expertise and experience to make this corporation of America work for the ‘shareholders’ not just the corporate big-wigs. God bless Her, and the American Dream!!
Trevor
First – understand that in reality neither Clinton or Obama wrote those plans. They were no doubt written by policy people on their teams. They each I am sure contributed to the plans, stated their visions and goals, but aides write those things.
Second – you made the page count status statement here – I think Janis’ reply is valid. Because your statement came off sort of like “his is bigger.” Substance over style. Substance over size.
I think the “content-lite” myth stems not from his having plans, but from his speeches and the debates. I was a writer and a moderator for the Kerry campaign blog in ’04. I can not tell you how many times people would say on that blog, but he doesn’t have a plan. On Kerry’s care, it was different, he was full of details in his speeches and debates, but the media suppressed a lot of his message.
When Hillary Clinton speaks at a rally she has a stump speech filed with substance. She also out debates him because she knows her stuff and rattles it off, where as Obama mulls things and responds frequently in platitudes. A lot of people see this.
Obama supporters should not be offended but instead they should speak up and say we want more from our candidate.
I really appreciated this. I agree with you…Hillary for President!
The Democrats need to head the Republicans off RIGHT NOW with this “surrender” slander thay are already trying to swiftboat Democrats with. They need to be given hard rebuttal right back, right now. Remind McCain of his speech to the Senate in 1980s when he was one of three Republicans who opposed Reagan in going into Lebanon.Everything he said then could be asserted of the Iraq war now and it shows what a flip flopper and hypocrite John McCain is. The Democrats had better not let the Republicans get a jump on them. Please stand up and fight NOW, not later, and don’t let this surrender thing (slander attack) get put into the public mind. If we didn’t learn from John Kerry’s being slandered, when will we ever learn anything? You need to remind the public that it was Republicans who surrendered and cut and run in Vietnam. It was a very similar situation to that we have now, which the Republicans well know. Don’t let 24 yours go by without a reunttal on this kind of slander or else Democrats will lose the election again by being passive and letting the Republican dirty tricks go unanswered.
HILLARY WILL WIN SHE BE THE PRESIDENT OF TIME. BILL CLINTON WAS A GREAT PRESIDENT AND WHAT HAPPEND IS HIS PRIVITE LIFE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT HE DID FOR THIS COUNTRY. THAT WAS NO NOES BUSINESS JUST THIERS. I BELEIVE HE WAS SET UP ANYONE THAT WOULD SAME SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR HER MOTHER IS SICK IN THE HEAD. HER MOTHER SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF HER LOL.. HILLARY DIDNT DO ANYTHING TO ANYONE JUST GET HURT AND HER DAUGHTER ALSO. HILLARY HAS MY VOTE I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR A REPUBLICAN AND NEVER HAVE. HILLARY IS WITH OUT A DOUBT IN MIND THE BEST CANDIDATE. I ALWAYS THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE A GREAT PRESENDENT, AND SHE WILL SHE IS A VERY SMART LADY! SHE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE THAT REPULICANS WOULD NOT EVER. HILLARY YOU OUR PRAYS AND THE LORD NOES THIS COUNTRY NEEDS OUR PRAYS AND YOU TO RUN IT. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND EVERYONE I NO YOU HAVE THERE VOTE TO. GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!
SORRY FOR THE TYPEOS I VERY TIRED AND COULD WRITE A BOOK OF WHY I THINK HILLARY SOULD BE PRESIDENT. I AM SURE PEOPLE SOULD GET MY POINT SO SORRY.
Thanks for the reasoned response Pamela, I can see how what I said might have come off a bit like that. If anything, I wish the numbers had been closer, I wasn’t trying to imply anything based on them except that they both had plenty of information. I didn’t mean to imply that they were written by the candidates themselves (although I do admit I worded it that way).
If the issue was with he said in debates, I wonder why that wasn’t mentioned earlier. I’m going to say I disagree with you about them, but the debates are more a matter of perception in my opinion.
Hi Angie
Welcome to The Dem Daily. It’s easier to read when you don’t type in all caps.
Trevor
I’ve seen others say they don’t think he’s as strong in the debates. Once we set our hearts on a candidate, however it’s often easy to to blinded by our support. I’ve been there done that. I prefer Hillary in the this election, I think she’s the stronger candidate on many levels. I’ll be happy to support whoever the nominee is and work to get that person in the White House. I hope Obama supporters will feel the same way, if the nominee is Hillary.
John Lorenz
“If we didn’t learn from John Kerry’s being slandered, when will we ever learn anything?”
Good question. We need to gear up to fight the machine. The longer this drags out the tougher.
Janis,
Are you one of the unpaid staffers? Do you just blog pro-Hillary junk all day? So, let me get this straight: Hillary should not be honest and say her vote on Iraq was a mistake because it would feed the Republicans? Stooping to their level is the way to go? That is the kind of leadership we need? Give me a break!
HILLARY NEED TO RELEASE HER TAX RETURNS!!!
Mike Remer
Are you an unpaid staffer for Obama? Or maybe you are a paid staffer for the RNC? Why do you come here with this anit-Clinton tripe?
You insult our readers with that line of B.S.
I’ve noticed something that both sides tend to do, but sadly it’s predominantly done by supporters of the candidates, not the candidates themselves. Both sides tend to get amazingly defensive every time their candidate is criticized, and then proceed to criticize in the exact same way. I see nothing wrong with criticism, as long as it is based on facts.
One of the reasons that I don’t support some of the Clinton claims is the way in which they twist (ie horribly mutilate) facts. I’m not trying to say that the Clintons do this this all the time, or even most of the time. But some of the comments made just point out to me that they’re willing to ignore the truth so that they can twist things. (As a lawyer herself, and obviously an intelligent person, it should have been clear to Hillary that Obama did not represent a slumlord).
What differentiates the two candidates in my mind is that while Obama has been against using negative tactics, when he does use them they are based on solid fact (from what I’ve seen). Now, how that fact is spun, that’s for people to argue over, but he doesn’t twist the facts. The Clintons have blatantly done so on a couple occasions, such as the Rezko thing and the comments about Reagan. I’m not saying they shouldn’t have brought them up, in fact, I encourage it. What I am saying is that they should have brought them up in a way that was truthful. The way that they have done it I think will only weaken them in my opinion.
I’m attempting to remain civil, because I think that when we start sniping at each other it causes conversation to degenerate into meaningless back and forth bickering. (In response to the unpaid staffer remarks)
I think it’s sad that anyone who seems to hold a differing opinion is immediately labeled and ridiculed. This applies both ways. I want to hold an intelligent debate. If you can convince me that I should vote for Hillary then do so, but don’t alienate me and others by belittling us and stating things in absolutes. Obama supporters are often guilty of this as well, please don’t take this as a personal attack on Hillary supporters, I just prefer it if discussion is based on reason rather than gut punches.
Oh I do hope that Hillary wins!!! I think.. no .. i know she’s the bset for the job!!! Go Hillary!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlATFrHhMQc
If you want Democrats to WIN the 2008 election in November, you got to vote for Hillary. There is no one, no one better than Hillary to beat McCain! I’m glad you made a 180 degree turn, and i’m glad that you had this vision. I am a HUGE supporter of Hillary! I casted my vote to Hillary on Super Tuesday in NJ. She earned my highest respect!
HILLARY WILL BE THE NEXT PRESDENT! I
GO HILLARY!!!!!
It was so refereshing to come to this site and read positives about Hillary. I am so personally involved in this campaign. I can’t wait to go home and turn on the TV but then I hear MSNBC and CNN Hillary Bash. Almost worse that FOX. It sickens me. Except for Dan Abrams. He is fair. He even has been calling out the pundits for Hillary bashing. He said Obama’s positive press was 81% to Hillary’s 53%. He wants to know why too!
Bill Clinton gave me hope in the 90′s. I felt safe, secure, I felt like I could pay my bills, afford gas, the nations around the world loved us. The last 7 years has been hell on earth. I want that “feeling” again. I know I will have that with Hillary. I have never donated to a campaign before. When I read about her running low on money I went right to the computer and gave $100 and bought some hats and stuff. I felt like I helped because hours later on the news they said the Clinton campaign reported generating $4,000,000 in February too. I hope other people help with donations too! I also watched on MSNBC last night Headliners and Legends “Hillary Clinton”. How fascinating a woman she is. If you just listen to what she has done, not just in the last 15 years but since she was a kid. She knew then she was destined to dedicate her life to causes. One of her friends mothers was quoted as saying that “when she listened to Hillary’s commencement speech, her daughter told her, listen closely, she will probably be President of the United States someday!!!! GO HILLARY!!!
I can tell you all as someone who did vote for Obama in one of the early primaries, his allure does fade. Idealism is great if you are Oprah, and can afford it, but how many of us on here can actally afford to be idealistic right now? We need a plan and Hillary has it. If you’re still undecided, go out and look at their voting records. That’s what I did after I blindly voted and then realized I had made a mistake. And by the way to the man in Georgia, my husband and I were a house divided, too. He voted for Hillary. I voted for Obama and now he’s saying, “I told you so.”
Oh, well, I guess he can be right once in a while. ;.)))))))
Another point to argue. Kerry was up about 15 points ahead in March of 2004 over Bush. Enter Swiftboat. Need I say more?
Don’t look at those matchup polls from “Time.” Instead, think about what’s happened in past campaigns and how dirt is likley to be flung. We already pretty much know everything about Hillary. And Remember, folks, the Clintons survived three investigations and they could pin NOTHING ON THEM excect for Bill and Monica Lewinksy. If you watched that bio on her on MSNBC last night, she was devistated over that. You can’t blame a woman for her husband’s indescretions. A lot of us have been there, and a lot of men have been cheated on, too, so think of how you felt.
Also, Hillary can stand on that stage next to John McCain and say, “I voted for the war, too, John. I wasn’t soft on terror. Now, it’s time to bring our troops home.” Barack can’t make that argument, and that is the argument John McCain plans to make against him if he runs. McCain made that point yesterday.
I encourage everyone who is thinking of voting for Obama to do yourself a favor. Think about how campaigns are run historically, and think about who really has the means to get “change” done in Washington. Read their voting records. Don’t get caught up in the spin or who is “cool.” Don’t give your vote to the wrong person like I did.
Mike, I blog pro-Hillary sense from time to time. When you clearly spend a deal of your time blogging just as well, that’s a bit like the pot and the kettle, now isn’t it?
Trans.: “How dare you blog at all when you disagree with me!”
Yea, I am glad to find this site too as my usual progressive spots (Daily Kos, Buzzflash, Air America) are all swept up in Obama-mania.
I read from a Florida voter that though none of the candidates campaigned there, citizens could on their own read up on the candidates and vote for them. Hillary won there by a lot. What’s controversial about how those votes were tallied?
I feel she is getting the shaft by the media and unbelievable hostility from Obama supporters, but she is gracious and standing up as she has done for 15 years. Go Hillary!
Don’t you people understand?! She authorized the WAR IN IRAQ! Obama spoke out against the war at the height of insanity AND won a seat on the U.S. Senate. Barack Obama is a candidate who can be RIGHT and WIN. Moral courage in the face of overwhelming pressure isn’t something that comes from experience.
The People need a distinct candidate that contrasts McCain who voted for the war and mentioned staying in Iraq for 100 years. Do you think he’s going to let the public forget how Hillary voted on the war? Can anyone say flip flopper?! How about calling Iran’s army a terrorist group? It almost seems like Mrs. Clinton WANTS another war.
Barack Obama has the moral high ground and the capacity to bring voters outside of the Party into the fold. We don’t need a MASTER of a corrupt system that ties money to influence. We need a REFORMER who will challenge the system while simultaneously promoting greater participation. Only HOPE and INSPIRATION can turn voters out in such huge numbers. Honestly, how has Hillary Clinton improved your attitude?
What? You dislike Bush even more? Bush/Cheney/Rove merely took advantage of the system. Removing them doesn’t change that and electing Hillary would perpetuate that system (why change the rules when you know you can win as they are?). We need someone who will open the government and return it to the People. (One example of this is Obama’s plan to hold the negotiations with the drug and insurance companies public when crafting universal health care policy. How is that for bringing the sunlight of TRUTH to Washington?)
COLMustard159
Do you think McCain will let the public, particularly the Republican voting public forget that Obama claims to be the “anti-war candidate” but he voted to fund the war and voted against Kerry Feingold?
He will hit Obama with that over and over and over again, painting Obama as a “flip-flopper”.
Yo’ Reality check. I know there is a lot of passion out there–some of it real and some of it paid for. But let’s face some facts, pleasant or not.
Obama has a couple big problems, facing him. And he may not be in this race for much longer because of them.
Being a self-proclaimed anti-Establishment candidate of change–who is unanimously praised by the Establishment media–is paradoxical–but not the Senator’s biggest problem.
Increasingly detailed reports appearing in the London Times, Guardian, and Independent on the Barry Obama’s borderline legal dealings with organized crime figure Tony Rezko are hard to explain away and will be in the US press soon enough. Karl Rove prays to his Satan for an Obama-Rezko ticket.
The Wall St./City of London nasties have Mussolini Mike Bloomberg waiting in the wings to capitalize if the Dems nominate Barry Obama, I fear.
Either as an independent or through buying a spot on the ailing, elderly McCain’s ticket–Bloomberg is the current fascist threat to succeed the fascist-leaning Cheney-Bush regime.
Janis:
Nice twist of words there, now I know you are part of HC’s campaign. Obviously you can tell from my posts which are all done at night when I am done working that I am not a pro/paid blogger. You are on this site all day. The “translation” as you call it in regards to me being against anyone with a differing opinion is misleading and false. I respect those with opposing views when they are backed by either intelligent insight and/or fact. You don’t answer my questions directly but prefer to dodge them and throw out other garbage to distract.
Pamela:
You insult your readers when you spoon feed them straight from the Hillary campaign press release room. You insult the intelligence of others when you have posts that describe Obama as a “Michael Jackson rock star” etc.
Fact is Hillary won’t admit her vote on the war was wrong, because it reflects poorly on her judgement. Judgement which Obama has and used to speak out when it was a political liability to do so. You say it is because the Repubs will be all over her. Doesn’t she say she is the ONLY candidate who can stand up to them and has been taking incoming for 15 years? Do you really think they won’t bring up that she voted for the war and then changed her mind when public opinion went the other way? And if she is going to take credit for having experience by being the first lady, should she not release the papers from that period of time (the papers her husband asked NOT to be released) so we can see how much influence she had? I already stated she did NOT have a security clearance, and we all know she screwed up her healthcare plan. As far as experience goes, Obama has been an elected official for longer. Obama has released his tax returns form last year and she says she WONT until she is the nominee. So much for transparency and change. How about the Nevada caucus where Hillary went around the union (who backed Obama) to try to change workers minds by buddying up to popular elected officials there. How about Bill showing up at 3 large casinos during the caucus. Don’t you think that is influencing voters? How about Florida where all candidates pledged NOT to campaign there, yet Hillary’s name was on the ballot and she declared victory there? Is this really o.k. with you?Deep down do you not feel a twinge of unease?
Mike Remer
FYI – Obama was also on the Florida ballot. Perhaps you didn’t know that, although you profess to know so much.
And as for Janis being “on this site all day” perhaps you haven’t spent much time around the blogosphere to know that plently of people are on blogs all day, that doesn’t mean they are paid bloggers for a campaign. The insinuation is quite foolish. But thank you so much for sharing.
Janis:
You STILL never answered my questions!!! She signed a PLEDGE in regards to Florida!!! Why not release the tax returns? I understand that many people blog all day who are not paid; question is are you? Is Janis? Answer ALL the questions please. Don’t change the subject or beat around the bush. Answer to my previous comment.
bjberrberg:
Politics of fear. That is what you preach. Where have I heard that from before? Nice try. It sometimes works – on uneducated voters. FYI, Obama has the majority of educated voters deciding in his favor. Could be they have done their research. Now there is a thought for you!
Janis:
Never stated I knew so much. You must have decided that.
Mike
Mike Remer
You are confused tonight, aren’t you?
Hillary Clinton did not campaign in Florida. Obama was also on the ballot – if the delegates are seated at the convention, if this primary season goes that long with out a decided nominee, Obama will get the delegates he is elegible for from the Florida vote. I hope that makes it clearer.
Obama did run ads in Florida, FYI, via a multi-state ad buy. Both Obama and Clinton held fundraisers in Florida – which were permissable under the pledge they both agreed to.
Mike Remer
“educated voters” – are they the only ones who count?
I find it ironic that Obama supporters make this argument, as though “uneducated” voters, votes should not count because heaven forbid, they are just not smart enough to know better.
Very condescending statement to be made about the masses.
Very condescending indeed – as condescending as your assumption that anyone here blogging for Hillary Clinton would only do so because they are paid.
FYI, if you bothered to read this blog you would see there are multiple authors here, some of whom came out in support of Obama and Edwards before he dropped out.
And finally regardless of who the nominee is, I plan to support that nominee. And I quite certain that all of the authors here, will do the same.
I do hope you will as well. What is tantamount is putting a Democract in the White House. My personal preference is that Democrat would Hillary Clinton, but honestly, I’ll be happy with either Hillary or Obama. Extrememly happy.
Janis and Pamela,
You are both brilliant and clearly well-informed, unlike some of the pro-Obama folks posting on here.
Personally, I think it’s AMAZING that Hillary’s staffers are willing to work for free. That says so much to me about how much they admire their boss. And, I think it’s amazing that Hillary’s so-called poorer, less-educated base has rallied around her in the past few days to donate over $10 million dollars. Obama’s getting his money from a bunch of latte-drinking rich folks who don’t care about substance because they aren’t dealing with the real issues impacting those of us actually experiencing the results of electing an arrogant, inexperienced man to the highest office in the country just because he was likeable. Nice…
Sandra, while I know you didn’t say that “only” pro-Obama folks are uninformed, you did imply it (at least to me, if I’m wrong, let me know). I don’t know about the idea that Hillary has a poorer and less-educated base, that strikes me as simplifying to an extreme that makes it untrue. Also, the idea that Obama is getting his money from “latte-drinking rich folks” is actually rather insulting to me (plus downright wrong). The majority of Obama’s money comes from a huge number of small donations. I’m not saying that the Clinton campaign doesn’t get small donations, or that Obama doesn’t get large donations, but a much higher percentage of Clinton’s money comes from people who donated the max ($2300).
Oh, and even if they were “latte-drinking rich folks” (which they aren’t) why would that exclude them from caring about substance or any of the other issues?
Trevor
Pollsters now use a lot of target demographics in polls and exit polls. “Latte drinkers” or Starbuck” Democrats or Republicans is one of the common terms. Campaigns also use this info to target voters. A very good book on the subject is Applebee’s America.
Of course it doesn’t mean that all Obama supporters fall into the demographic – it is just one that he polls higher in. Likewise Hillary polls higher in the lower income or Dunkin Donut demographic category. See this post.
What I was taking issue with wasn’t breakup of demographics, rather, it was the idea that thats where he was getting all of his money. Sandra’s assumptions weren’t based on fact and I was merely trying to point out where they were wrong. Yes, Obama is more popular with “latte drinkers” and Hillary is more popular with the lower income bracket (according to polls), I’m not denying that. I was pointing out that her points about funding were off.
Also, Sandra manages to say that anybody who drinks lattes is not only rich, but doesn’t compare about “substance” or “real issues.”
I’m not trying to argue there aren’t differences in their support bases, but Sandra offended me for multiple reasons. I live in Seattle, even if we don’t like coffee we’re considered to be “Starbucks” democrats. I’m also from a low-income bracket, ie broke. So, do I care about issues because I’m poor? Or do I not care because I like Starbucks?
The last few weeks have revealed that any comment perceived as comment could even be remotely construed as criticism of Senator Obama provokes well-organized responses.
Varying from being accused of being racist, muslim, m***** F***** from those who proclaim support, to assistance from Obama-friendly commentators who will use sexual innuendas to slight your daughter, the range is endless.
What puzzles me is how a candidate who has seemingly revelled in such support hopes to be able to build coalitions !
I”ve read a few of the posts and this is the first election I am engaged in. I just don’t understand how Hillary appeals to so many. I’m in Obama’s corner but I’d like to understand what Hillary fans see…
To me, Hillary has been knee deep in scandals since entering the public eye, 50% of the country doesn’t like her (which means they don’t trust her) and I view her as a typical calculating, divisive politician. I think we’d have four more years of them vs. us.
Please, in a civil way, enlighten me as to why you are a fan.
Thanks in advance for the civil conversation.
Seriously- Thanks!
There are two reasons, in my view to support Mrs. Clinton. Before I give them, let me say that I live in an integrated town on an integrated street and have for 18 years. We party and dine with everyone who lives here. A preamble to stave off being called a racist: after point #2.
I worked for the election of Jimmy Carter whose inept handling of the political realities of DC gave us years of Republican mismanagement, which in turn resulted in surplus dwindled to deficient and the economy into a shambles. The 80′s were great economically for those who knew which way blew the wind, for the rest, little was gained and much was lost. Check for yourself. Mr Obama is Jimmy Carter with a better tie, better diction, and better words. I can only see unending years of Republican rule should he be granted four years first.
Second, I can’t see what all the fuss is about. Had Obama been white and had he given the same marvelous speech four years ago, he’d be just another junior senator. But he is tall, and handsome, and part-black which in the US is all black. Such a grand combination for the knee jerk liberals marching eyes closed as t hey have before. Unlike some others I fear an Obama presidency. The last guy who ran as a uniter, let’s all get together and get things done, is still in the White House. His administration was sunk dead in August of 2001, resurrected only by a catastrophe. Recall how low he was in the polls before the attacks. Our next chief executive won’t have that dubious terrible gift. And if she or he is a democrat, there will be no lockstep party unity in Congress to smooth the way. we need a statesman and a politician, not a glib rookie.
Barrack Obama is the equivalent of a Second Lieutenant in our armed forces. (The lowest ranking officer!) We would never allow a Lieutenant to command a unit or squadron. WHY on earth would you promote this low ranking officer, to COMMANDER IN CHIEF? Hillary is the very best candidate for this position. She is well respected, she has plenty of foreign relations experience, (which is exactly what we need in a time of war) she has what it takes turn our economy around. Bill Clinton did it, she will do it better!
Hank-
Although I don’t agree with any of what you said, but let’s move past that. Why do you like Hillary so much? Forget about the elecvtion, forget about teh Repubs, jsut enlighten me was to why Hillary?
Also- our next president will face, I feel, teh most challenging four years of any recent president. I think it was Anderson Cooper that had a show on the other night called ‘Extreme Presidency.” Given the tag line is silly, but between the economy, world trade, nuclear threats, the war and a host of other major issues, it’s daunting for anyone. One person won’t be able to get it done and, her’ smy plug for Obama, the most important characterstic we’ll need ina leader is the ability to have people care, to be engaged with thier governemnt, and the ability to get all sides workign together. To me, Hillary is poiliticas as usual and people do not want to work with her.
Also- as far as experience, none of the candidates have dealt with pulling out of a civil war, a recession, nuclear threats, the pressures of a global economy, a moajof overhaul of our healthcare system and immigration reform.
Thanks for responding and let me knmow what it is about Hillary you like.
Allyson-
Bill didn’t do it and he is widely blamed for not taking a substanciative stand on terrorism. Plus a well know candidate said she’s running on her creditials, not his. Bill was also president during a technology revolution (if anythign, sicne Al invented the internet he should get credit for it….little humor there).
What foriegn relations experience are you referring to? Again- I think the best leaders on the planet had teh ability to get people to follo wthem, to be engaged, to be committed. If you want proven leadership, I’d say it’d be best to seek out a govenor, not a senator or congressperson. They are more accountable, can drive results quicker and not as committee driven.
So give me soem solid, factual reasons to feel good about Hillary. Not ill words about Barabk, but solid facts on Hillary.
Thanks for the dialog!
PS- Sorry about the spelling errors..I’m watching CNN & typing at the same time.
Steve Cohn
Perhaps what is outlined in this actual post as opposed to the comments provides some solid reasoning for Hillary Clinton:
Pamela..Thanks for sharing.