Now that the Democratic nominating process for president has effectively ended with Barak Obama securing enough delegates to claim the nomination it is time to look back at the primary campaign and forward to the general election. The Democratic Primary was a hard fought primary that in the end showed us the best of what America can be by producing its top two candidates in a woman, Hillary Clinton and a black candidate, Barak Obama.
Never before had a woman or a black had a chance to get this close to becoming the president of the United States. Today, one woman almost got the chance and one black man will get the chance to win and occupy the Oval Office.
During the campaign there were allegations that the Clinton’s were playing the race card and Obama was using sexism to beat Clinton. While each candidate used some questionable tactics at times and there were statements made that were used by the media to create a larger rift between the candidates than might have happened, in the end both Clinton and Obama desire only one thing, that a Democrat occupy the White House in January 2009.
I was attacked recently for a post asking Clinton’s women voters to put aside and bad feelings and help elect Obama. I was called sexist among other things. My attackers missed a couple of things. One, I was an Edwards supporter not an Obama supporter. Two, I am about as sexist as those that attacked me. And three, if Clinton had been nominated I would have written the post aimed at Obama’s black supporters asking them to support Clinton. My one and only goal is to elect a Democrat in November because that is what is best for ALL of us.
So with an exciting primary behind us and a brutal fight with the GOP ahead of us I can only hope that Democrats of different views and desires can come together to help elect Barak Obama.
You thought you were “attacked”? Those were love kisses compared to the treatment Clinton supporters endured.
You had the ego to presume you could impart wisdom to us poor, misguided, female voters.
Go away.
Comment by bittershaman2 — June 7, 2008 @ 9:08 pm
So because Hillary isn’t the nominee you plan to act in a way that assures that the GOP remains in control of the Executive Branch?
Explain how that works exactly?
–Volt–
Comment by Volt — June 7, 2008 @ 9:35 pm
And snotty remarks will get me to the polls how?
Comment by bittershaman2 — June 7, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Volt Since you are so all knowing and presume to read our minds and know what we women plan or don’t plan to do, YOU EXPLAIN IT!
No one “attacked” poor little Mr. “I’m so wise and wonderful macho man”! He did attack every other poster on that thread in a thoroughly obnoxious manner! I can’t imagine how I ever managed to vote in EVERY election for 57+ years without his patronizing ‘guidance’ and belittling, snide comments! He demeans only himself with his pomposity and constant whining over attacks that did not happen! I’ll bet he nags the living hell out of his wife, or maybe she won’t let him and that is why he is trying to do it here.
Comment by kerry — June 7, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
Kerry-
How is this not a personal attack, they are your words
“No one “attacked” poor little Mr. “I’m so wise and wonderful macho man”! He did attack every other poster on that thread in a thoroughly obnoxious manner! I can’t imagine how I ever managed to vote in EVERY election for 57+ years without his patronizing ‘guidance’ and belittling, snide comments! He demeans only himself with his pomposity and constant whining over attacks that did not happen! I’ll bet he nags the living hell out of his wife, or maybe she won’t let him and that is why he is trying to do it here.”
If you don’t like my politics (interesting since I am a life long Democrat) that’s fine but again attacking me personally has no purpose. If you don’t agree with my post on coming together than listen to your own candidate who on Sat. endorsed Se. Obama.
So lets take this back to politics. Do you really believe it would be better to elect McCain? If yes why?
Comment by N — June 8, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Bittershaman2-
Since Bart asked me to do opinion and political posts for him that is what I do. There was not intent to be condescending in either post. As I have said again and again it is in all our best interests to elect a Democrat in Nov. Since the post was an opinion piece that is my opinion. You don’t have to agree with me. You don’t have to read my posts. All any of us has to do is decide what we individually feel is the best way to vote and then go vote.
Comment by N — June 8, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Your opinion is fine. Your word choice left something to be desired. Your entire post had the feel of one of those “I’m sorry if anyone was offended” non-apologies people throw out when they’re not really sorry.
Go to alternet, go to buzzflash. Read the comments and imagine you’re a fifty year old woman. (For that matter, imagine trying to get a job or health insurance if you’re a 50 or 60 yr old woman.)
Women don’t survive by being silent.
If you want to help bring the party together, give the Clinton supporters a reason. Or a way to save face.
Comment by bittershaman2 — June 8, 2008 @ 11:27 am
Bittershaman2-
Clinton supporters have no reason to save face. You supported a very good candidate who ran an okay campaign.If Clinton had campaigned all primary season long like she did in the end then she would be the nominee. Though not a Clinton or Obama supporter, I would have been happy to support either one. Certainly women should not be silent believe me my wife never is and that is what I love about her.
As for a reason to vote for Obama I think there are many. Obama and Clinton are not that far apart in policies. The one reason I will come back to for supporting a Democrat is that the next president will nominate 2-3 justices. With an already conservative majority, if a Republican were to select the next justices we would have a conservative majority for a very long time. For that reason anyone that cherishes their rights regardless of sex, religion, sexual orientation or race should be concerned about McCain becoming president.
Comment by N — June 8, 2008 @ 1:15 pm
N,
I can honestly say, with the utmost sincerity, I was not attacking you with my reply to your article.
My point was, and still is, that your come-together attitude was at best premature, given the hostility of the recent primary campaign, and at worst condescending.
I’m certain you meant no disrespect in pointing out that a vote for McCain would be disastrous for women, but your vehicle for conveying those ideas was insulting.
At the time of your post, HRC hadn’t even given her concession speech (not that it wasn’t a foregone conclusion anyway, but I digress), and some of us were/are still feeling the emotions involved.
My main point of contention with your post wasn’t that BHO won and that HRC lost, and neither do I believe it was yours, but that you -and you’re not at all alone- felt the need to point out to women specifically whom they ought to vote for and why.
It was demeaning, even unintentionally.
I hope you understand now, after all the replies, what I and the others were trying to tell you.
We get that Obama is the guy to vote for whether we like it or not, simply to keep McCain out of office, but we neither needed nor appreciated the paternalistic attitude.
Comment by Greepin868 — June 9, 2008 @ 11:29 am
I’m a semi-coherent smartass and it sounded like you were calling out my momma.
Comment by Danger Bear — June 9, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
Greenpin686-
I dont think I was premature. The battle has just begun and we will have plenty of time to mourn our individiul candidates later. I did target women because you were HC largest voting block and in order to BO to win he needs your votes. If HC had won I would have aimed a similar post at black voters for OB to join HC. I am a pragmatist. My candidate didn’t win but one with similar ideas can and thats better than any GOP canidate.
The reason I felt the need to target the post to women was the fact that on TV and in personal coversatoin with women I kept hearing that they were so for HC that they could never vote for BO and would either stay home or vote for McCain. Now for the sake of my two beautiful daughters ages 16 and 6 and my beautiful wife I felt it necessary to send out that post. Again there was nothing paternalistic about my post just raw pragmatism. OB is not my favorite by a long shot but having a Dem in the white house in 2009 is. I also never just make a post that says “do this” I give reasons. IF you found that too much pandering then I apologize again I was trying to be pragmatic about the situation.
Comment by N — June 10, 2008 @ 3:10 pm