Hillary Has Cynically Turned to the One Argument She Has Left: Race

[crankychatter]

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/28/8579/

"Hillary Has Cynically Turned to the One Argument She Has Left: Race
She failed to convince the electorate of her own viability. Now her team claims that voters won’t back a black candidate
by Gary Younge"

<snip>

At issue is the insidious and racist manner in which his candidacy is now being framed as that of a nefarious, foreign interloper whose allegiance to his country is inherently inauthentic and instinctively suspect.

Some of these charges have long emerged from familiar and predictable places. As early as last year, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News falsely claimed that he had attended an Islamist madrasa while a young boy in Indonesia. When rightwing radio hosts refer to him they generally emphasise and repeat his middle name — Hussein — even though Obama rarely uses it.

But soon these attacks shifted from the political margins to the mainstream. During the recent ABC debate, Obama was grilled about his refusal to wear an American flag tiepin. One of the moderators asked Obama of his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright: “You do believe he’s as patriotic as you are?”

Having given up on the African-American vote, the Clintons have clearly decided that it makes more electoral sense to collude with these attacks than it does to raise the tenor of the discussion and challenge them. During the ABC debate, Hillary applauded the line of questioning. “You know, these are problems, I think these are issues that are legitimate and should be explored.”

Being foreign, Muslim or unpatriotic should not be treated as slurs. But in a post 9/11 framework, the Clintons know full well how these allusions will be understood and what the consequences might be. When asked whether Obama was a Muslim, Hillary said that he wasn’t: “There is nothing to base that on — as far as I know.”

<snip>

Unable to beat Obama on delegates and still unlikely to beat him in the popular vote, Hillary Clinton has just one strategy left — to persuade superdelegates that Obama is unelectable. She has tried branding him as inexperienced and slick-tongued, and neither of those have worked. At this stage she has just one argument left: his race. For several months now, her aides have been whispering to whoever would listen that America would never elect a black candidate. In desperation, some are now raising their voices.

<snip>

much more of interest at the common dreams link above

[msongs]

1. did you run out of toilet paper? nt

[babylonsister]

12. Did you run out of excuses? nt

[TwilightGardener]

2. Yep--that's all she's down to now, with the aid of the GOP and the media.

[chimpymustgo]

3. Obama CAN'T be elected. And I'd prefer not to lose the House and Senate as well.

[reflection]

4. Sure he can.

At the very least, he's earned the right to try.

[YOY]

5. Yeah all those massive numbers of new voters registering...

They're all coming for Hillary! :sarcasm:

[ccharles000]

18. I am a new voter.

I voted for Hillary.

[YOY]

22. Consider yourself an exection to the rule:

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/04/12/new_voters_flood_upcoming_primaries/

[uponit7771]

6. I just don't see America being that intrenched with racist ...I don't see it. The media is DIFFERENT

...though

[crankychatter]

8. one thing I will never know, uponit

is how a conversation is changed, by my absence...

I would not want to share with you some of the base racism I've witnessed among some highly educated, professional people...

most commonly, I admit, it's usually simple classism...

but just under the surface... like a sleeping dragon... racism will rear it's ugly head...

[stillcool]

34. I agree with you....

the racists have the microphone. And I have a hunch they are playing racists, to stir up any racial discord that lies dormant beneath the surface. I have no doubt that there still exists a degree of racism, but not at the level some would have us believe. I have read posts here, where people assert the population of this country are 80-90% racist. I have to wonder why one would say that.

[cali]

9. oh, stop your ridiculous hysterics.

There is virtually no way we're losing the House or the Senate. Educate yourself as to why that's so true. And Obama can certainly be elected. Don't know if he will be, but it's entirely possible. I suspect your real problem is you resent Obama for "stealing" the mantle of anti-Hilly candidate from Edwards. Hard to ascribe your HATE to anything else.

[dionysus]

10. yeah, let's replace him with edwards, who couldn't get elected dogcatcher...

:rofl:

[AllexxisF1]

11. This by far the most retarded argument ever.

If he has been overwhelmingly elected by the party voters then how pray tell would he not be elected in the General election? Considering the fact that there are more Democrats in this country than Republicans. Republicans are at an all time low and Obama is a magnet for Independents.


So please tell me how the hell can he not be possibly elected?

[babylonsister]

13. Why CAN'T he? What's your problem? nt

[bigwillq]

14. Why do you say so?

:shrug:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

15. So would I. Hillary Clinton is POISON to down ticket races. nt

[TahitiNut]

23. Y'all just keep on blowing that "Racism-by-Proxy" dog whistle.

Disgusting. :puke:

[Leftist Agitator]

26. "Obama CAN'T be elected."

Do you want to explain why you believe that he can't be elected, or do you want to help yourself to a nice cup of "shut the fuck up"?

:shrug:

Either elaborate, or STFU. I have a strong feeling that I know why you believe that Senator Obama can't be elected to the office of the Presidency of the United States, but I'll let you try to explain your position before I jump to any conclusions.

[Texas Hill Country]

32. bingo

[crankychatter]

7. one shameless self boot... because I think this whole article is fascinating

well worth the read...

begins with the issue of racial equality being considered part of the communist agenda, way back during the McCarthy Hearings of the early 50s.

[babylonsister]

16. It was good here, too...

I wish more people would visit Eds. But I agree, and am glad you got it the attention it deserves!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x356015

[crankychatter]

19. oopsie

I'm embarrassed

[babylonsister]

24. NO!

Don't be. This is a different forum, and I'm glad you posted it.

[knixphan]

17. K&R

[TragedyandHope]

20. Alienating life-long, loyal Democrats and Clinton supporters

What a brilliant strategy. The best part is, she's doing it for the good of the country!

[crankychatter]

25. Supporting Clinton to appease some non-existent Reagan Democrat Base

brilliant strategy

BTW, How's that race baiting and fearmongering strategy workin' out for ya?

if we keep giving in to the few, that believe whole heartedly that CORPORATIONS SHOULD CONTROL OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS

THEN

we have endless War and the Bill of Rights will be a happy bedtime story for our grandkids

KEEPING THE PARTY SMALL IS THE STRATEGY THE ELITES USE TO RETAIN POWER

If YOU think you can win the GE without African American and PROGRESSIVE support...

YOU are flippin' dreaming

[NashVegas]

21. No: Obama Has

Change? Off the table. Hope?

Turns out the only thing "hope for change" meant was "let's get a black president. That'll look different without actually being different."

[babylonsister]

27. You are gross, Crisco, if you think that. So is your pic. Ignore is

my friend, and I'll use it now so I don't have to suffer through your insufferable posts until Clinton figures it out and goes away.

[NashVegas]

29. Pot Meet Kettle

I've been on mostly good behavior for four months while the Kool-Aid drinkers simultaneously slimed HC with everything they could, while claiming the moral high ground.

Your hero was offered a moral challenge this weekend and he slunk away.

[americanstranger]

28. I wonder if she carries one of these to her campaign appearances now.

- as

[crankychatter]

30. is puttin in pictures for premium members only?

I dunno how to do that...

[TahitiNut]

33. Anyone can do it.

Find an image on the Web (or put one of your own on some web server) and merely paste the URL of the image into your DU post.

No pseudo-HTML (bracketed meta-commands) is required. Depending on your browser, merely copy the URL. I have Seamonkey/Firefox/Mozilla ... and all I need to do is right-click and select "Copy Image" from the pop-up menu. Alternatively, just display the image bare in your browser and copy the URL from the bos at the top of your browser window.

[crankychatter]

35. too many words and I ended up just staring at your purdy colors

lol

I cut n pasted the instructions thank you

with that and a kid on the phone... I'll be grossing everybody out in no time

[Yossariant]

31. Oh noes! Don't tell us that she's stealing barack's only argument.