...being a white person, if I can follow this bizarre statement from Hillary Clinton:
"I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on," she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article "that found how Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me."
I'm not one of those people who thinks that Clinton needs to leave the race, but statements like this may change some people's minds.
Posted by Will Bunch @ 9:58 AM
Permalink |
25 comments
As much as I want her to leave the race, I have to give her the benefit of the doubt here. She is not saying that only white Americans are hard-working. She is listing various groups who she believes will not support Obama but will support her, and the groups listed are not mutually exclusive. It's certainly an odd statement, but any attempts to spin it as racist are incorrect, imo.
I agree. I am clearly an Obama supporter, but I have no problem with her staying in the race, just keep it clean. Attacking Obama on associations, experience, etc is a loser. In the end, I think she'll more than redeem herself (and add to her legacy) by helping Obama close the rift within the party.
Regardless of the holes in his base, Obama has consistently remained ahead of Clinton in the popular vote. Clinton has held the advantage in this group more by smear than by actual appeal. Her presence in the race will only prolong that division for the Democrats and give Obama less time to make his own progress.
Yes, I'm sure that all the middle class white women will decide to let anti-choice John McCain become President and add more anti-choice justices to the Supreme Court simply because they're miffed that Hillary ran a horrible campaign and spent $100 million going from presumptive nominee to also-ran. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face - anyone who makes that decision deserves what they get. And the "working class" will decide to go with "four more years" of failed Bush policies, because, you know, they've worked so well. Come November everybody will be focused on what this election really means and the hand-wringing, foot-stamping and pouting of May will be long forgotten.
The whole sad joke of this is we constantly read that "it's not about race". Talk about lying to yourself. This country has one HUGE CASE of self-denial.
In the same breath in which she claims a much broader base of support, she then narrows her base by alienating black voters.... as if she wouln't need them in November. That's what's so bizarre, especially for a Democratic presidential candidate.
Can I get an explanation for why my comments aren't getting posted?
Ok, that one got through. let me try again. Will, this post is hypocritical. You were "outraged" by the irrelevancy of the debate questions - and then you post this PC garbage. Clinton's comment here is no different than Obama's "typical white person" statement. Criticize Clinton on the substance of her statement if you want - but going after her for the supposed racism in her comment here is a joke. Practice what you preach.
Obama never implied that he didn't need to have working white folks to have a winning coalition. You can argue over racism, but the real issue here is Hillary's sheer political ineptitude - did she really intend to write off black voters for a "winning" coalition? No, one would hope not. Then why does it come off that way? Because she's not ready for prime time? Or that she's so deep into desperation that she doesn't care anymore? That's the message the undecided superdelegates are getting from this.
Not to over simplify. There is a convention comming up, the purpose of which is to chose a candidate. Why should a candidate quit at this point?
Let the process play out, be a good winner or loser and go on to the election.
Comment removed.
A candidate would quit at this point to help heal a rift within his or her party. Frankly, I doubt that will matter this time because I'm sure democrats will unite behind Obama and defeat a third term for George Bush (in the body of John McCain). I can't see Americans continuing the failures of the last almost 8 years. When Americans aren't happy, they vote to change course. Just ask George Bush Sr.
"There is a convention comming up, the purpose of which is to chose a candidate."............Go Mitt!
Actually I heard a compelling argument yesterday that Clinton quitting now could actually do harm. This is because she is likely to win WV, and if she drops out now and still wins WV, that will make Obama appear weak.
Comment removed.
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About Will Bunch
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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