On Hillary Clinton, Her Comments On Iran, And More
Last week, I posted that Hillary Clinton had completely lost me when she said that if Iran did anything Israel didn’t like, she would have no trouble annihilating a country of tens of millions of people. Before that, I’ve been hopelessly deadlocked between both remaining challengers: Barack Obama and Mrs. Clinton.
Well, I still utterly despise what she said. I’d like her to eat it, actually.
But as much as I wrestle with the decision - and I believe I am very right in thinking that to blow away another country is NOT any adequate foreign policy outside the Bush Administration - I still feel torn.
As Vermont’s junior Senator, Bernie Sanders (I-Socialist - no, really, he is), stated on The Colbert Report last Monday night, no matter which Democrat wins the party’s nomination, we simply MUST be far better off than if ANY of the Republicans won, and especially since it would be John McCain.
I can live with Hillary if she’s the candidate though I’ll ride her rump if she pulls any Bush tricks in office, the same as I would if Obama wins. But if the general election were tomorrow and I could only vote between Obama and Clinton, I just don’t know how I’d vote (and eeny-meeny-miney-mo and rock-paper-scissors just seem a bad way to choose).
Anyone else, like me, caught between Iraq… er… a rock and a hard place? Let me hear from you and what issues for you are causing the big divisions.
| Kate Chase |
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Personally, I’m still torn as well. I can’t stand the negative politics that have predominantly appeared in the Clinton campaign, the recent comment about Iran. I also have issue with Obama’s lack of political capital and what his ability to “get things done” will amount to should he be elected. I believe they would both be exceptional leaders.
Unfortunately, even if shady dealings take place at the convention, I’m going to end up voting for the Democrat because McCain would destroy us all, potentially physically.
April 28th, 2008 | #
I’m also torn, which is really sad for a loyal, yellow-dog Dem like me.. Over the past few years I wanted Hillary or Edwards, ideally on the same ticket (I’m a FOB and get quite sick of the ’90s-like insults). I enjoyed seeing DK and the other candidates push them on issues. In the past year, Obama’s inspiring speeches swayed me enough to vote for him in my state’s primary. But now its months later and I’m still having “where’s the beef?” thoughts. His debate performances haven’t helped,
But I do have major issues with the “Obamaniacs” who, in my opinion, are hurting Obama’s image and may hurt us in November. I’m seriously starting to regret my vote because of them. Passionate defense of your candidate is one thing, but calling Hillary “evil”, “whore”, “monster”, etc. will never be a positive for Obama. I’ve seen Clinton’s hardball questions as legitimate and I want answers. I’m with Paul Begala, its a fight for the most powerful job in the world, it should be hard. If Obama can handle it, he may have a chance against the rethugs.
Personally, I have great respect for women and believe that if more were in power, there would be fewer wars, health care for all, and educational opportunities that would surpass that of most other countries. In my view, words like “evil”, “whore”, and “monster” are always over the line.
I live in a state where there are tons of retirees. I listen to my elderly mother and her friends talk (all in their 60’s and 70’s) and they associate those awful comments with Obama, the candidate. I think women in their age group are universally offended by those remarks against women, from either party. They like to say they “vote for the person, not the party” and they intend to vote for Hillary or McCain. That’s a huge problem. And I’m unable to make the case that they should vote for Obama in light of those remarks, as well as Obama’s pastor’s remarks and how it relates to the black experience in America, the “bitter” remarks, etc., I suspect that’s why he’s losing the white working-class vote, as well.
Now, if Clinton isn’t the nominee, can Obama win-over the white working-class and elderly women vote in time for the November election? Absolutely. But its going to take, in Obama’s words, “change”: rein-in the Obamaniacs, get rid of the stuffy suits (flannel shirt and khakis worked well for Edwards), and adjust your speech to your audience (i.e. don’t speak like a literature professor to the blue-collar crowd).
My predictions? The November election will be much closer than we think. Obama will likely win the nomination and if he wins in November and can turn campaign rhetoric into action and truly change “politics as usual”, most of us lefty bloggers may have to close-up shop (because we are “politics as usual”). If he loses against McCain, we’ll be in business a while longer.
April 28th, 2008 | #