New Jersey for Democracy

RE: 'Race' is not the Obama campaign's issue

rosi — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:06:33 GMT

Well, I have to say I agree with a good number of points made in this post. Not that if it came to it, that I would ever vote for McCain over HRC ... no no no.

But I do agree that the Clinton campaign has once again very carefully crafted what amounts to scorn and belittling of her opponent- not on the basis of his positions but of his color. Like her minion James Carville calling for Gov.Dean's dismissal after Dems took both houses of Congress (another colossal error in Clinton judgment), this stuff is carefully designed so that the candidate herself can claim distance, and innocence.

This time she really got called on it. And I think it's because voters can see that if disrespect is evident then it may fall on them too.

But Elizabeth is right. It's so typical of the press in their insane attempt to be value-neutral, they report this as little more than a mudfight, a she-said, he-said, without much analysis of what it signifies that a candidate for president engineers these things to be said on her behalf.

'Race' is not the Obama campaign's issue

elizabeth — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:50:05 GMT

It is the Clinton campaign which has made the issue of race so contentious. Some pundits are claiming that both campaigns need to plug it on this issue, but the reality is that the individuals who took Clinton's camp to task for making possibly race-charged remarks, do not work for Obama nor are they 'surrogates' of Obama's campaign.

It's Bill Clinton who has been calling talk shows like Sharpton's and making an issue of race. Also, it was Bob Johnson speaking at a Clinton rally, who has made truly derogatory and racially charged comments about Obama, alluding to him as a former drug addict and hinting that he was some kind of neighborhood drug-pusher. The Clintons are dredging up some of the worst racial stereotypes of young black men, and engining this whole topic as a vehicle for their political points.

Even the elements of the black community who have discussed the issue of race in the context of Bill's comments about Obama's campaign being a "fairy tale" have been very measured. Anyone who reads my contributions on this site might note that I am not particularly tolerant of the issue of race being exploited by anyone. The Clintons' are orchestrating this whole 'debate' which is just another petty smear campaign, and a triangulating manipulation.

Are they furthering our interests as democrats in this primary campaign? Is exploiting the issue of race, which is what the Clintons are doing, not the Obamas, going to help us win a general election?

At this rate we will have a disaffected or possibly embittered or divided black electorate and a party full of wounds when the general election rolls around. John McCain is gaining in the polls and he could easily win over the center if we don't re-focus our own message.

I can speak for myself and for some other long time loyal democrats who have admitted that they would rather vote for McCain than Clinton. What does that portend about what 'the other side' will do if Clinton becomes the nominee?

Nominate the uniter, not the divider, and a candidate who can bring some independents and 'center' people in to help us win the presidency.

Democratic Primary Poll

bkofman — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:09:28 GMT

Who is your first choice for the Democratic nomination?

I Slept With The Boss To Get My Job!!!!!!

elizabeth — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 05:19:36 GMT

This to Gloria Steinem's Op-Ed to the NY Times, asserting that no woman who had spent only two years in Washington would ever be getting the clout to run for president:

Did Barack Obama sleep with the most powerful male in the country (and world) to get where he got?

Did he offer up the (black) welfare mother as the scapegoat for corporate greed in America during his spouse's term? (That group of people, and indeed, all of recipients of welfare in the mid-nineties, made up a minute percentage, probably not even 1%, of the pie of government expenditure during that time. Pay-offs to military industrial companies like Halliburton made up among the largest, if not the absolute largest slice of the pie, if I recall correctly. It has come out recently that Hillary Clinton orchestrated this scapegoating perpetrated by her husband.)

Did Barack Obama get where he got by cozying up to the very corporations that Hillary Clinton has been 'in bed with' throughout her tenure in the senate? (Hillary Clinton's name does not appear in the movie 'Sicko' in the middle of the list of recipients of the health insurance companies' welfare, but right among the very top.)

Jane Fonda called Hillary Clinton a "ventriloquist for the patriarchy in a skirt." A mercenary, soulless tool for the abuses of the system and a male apologist who 'stood by her man' when he announced, as president, to a nation full of young girls that when a man sticks his penis down their throats that that isn't "sex."

Who will go out and stand for "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party" to quote Howard Dean? This country gave Hillary "so many opportunities" as she tearfully, and manipulatively, 'emoted.' So many opportunities to show she had some kind of spine.

Nancy Pelosi took that opportunity and stood for that wing when she questioned the pseudo-evidence put forth by Cheney and Bush that convinced the country, and Hillary Clinton, to invade Iraq. Thousands of people have died in this war, thousands of families and girls have been forced into desperate circumstances where, among others, a daughter is a sex slave to keep food in her sibling's mouths.

The suffragists who fought for the right for women to vote were led predominantly by single women who had the bravery to stand up against sexism, and who did not hide behind powerful men.

Dodd, Biden, Richardson & Kucinich supporters

rosi — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:24:02 GMT

I'm curious ...

Dodd & Biden supporters, who are you jumping to now that your candidates have dropped out?

Richardson supporters, do you think your guy makes it all the way to Feb. 5?

Kucinich supporters, does Dennis asking his Iowa caucusers to join the Obama caucusers in Iowa make you think he's dropping out? Does his recommendation lead you to consider backing Obama in the NJ Primary Feb. 5?

National polls strongly favor Obama v. all Republicans

elizabeth — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:27:46 GMT

Tim Russert announced this past week that national polls reflect that Obama wins versus every lead candidate that the republican party has. He comes out clearly ahead of both Clinton and Edwards in the polls that measure democratic versus republican candidates.

Just another point to make on behalf of Obama, and something to think about looking ahead to the general election.

NJ4D members: Who's on your horizon?

rosi — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:42:35 GMT

DFA leaders & members all over New Jersey:

Who's on your horizon? Who are the local candidates you're gearing up for? Are any of them your own DFA members? We'd love to know about them right here, and hope you'll make sure they post a candidate page on DFA-Link here:

http://www.dfalink.com/new_candidate3.php

RE: Thank you, NJ4D

jeff — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:07:10 GMT

and it will be great to see you to congratulate you in person!

Anyone looking for more info:

December 7: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25733

December 8: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25761

RE: Thank you, NJ4D

The Pollster — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 03:35:57 GMT

Thanks!!

I hope that you will be at the DFA events on Dec 7 and 8. It will be great to see you and spend some time catching up.

Linda

RE: Thank you, NJ4D

jeff — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 03:11:49 GMT

Thanks for making us proud!