The Incredible Impact that Hillary Clinton Has Had On This Election Year

Hillary Clinton has had more impact on this election than anyone else. According to the early polls Hillary Clinton was supposed to be the Democratic nominee. As the primaries unfolded she moved away from her first persona as the candidate of experience and moved into the role of the woman candidate. With this new designation came a more radical movement, and an allegation that the media showed sexism in their coverage of her candidacy.  Since Clinton’s run the media has re-examined the way they cover and will cover women candidates. Other candidates including Sarah Palin will benefit from this. On Friday while discussing the Palin candidacy Pat Buchanan referred to her as a “gal” and he was immediately corrected by the host of Hardball, Chris Matthews.  Matthews said it was inappropriate to call a woman running for vice-president of the USA “gal”. Hillary Clinton was the first one to use the experience argument against Barack Obama.  Throughout her campaign she questioned Obama’s experience, and now we are seeing clips from Hillary Clinton questioning Obama’s credibility as material for John McCain commercials. When Clinton finally withdrew from the campaign she suggested that her supporters needed a “catharsis”. She and her husband were given high-profile slots at the Democratic convention last week, but that still was not enough to satisfy the true hardcore. The true hardcore would have only been happy with Clinton as a candidate or at the least the number two position on the ticket.  So when that did not happen you have a group of unsatisfied voters who might vote for Obama, not vote at all or might look at the McCain ticket again. Enter John McCain with Sarah Palin. In response to this group McCain chooses a woman  candidate who might make his ticket more attractive to this disaffected group. The first time we heard her speak she immediately evoked the name of Hillary Clinton.  So even though Hillary Clinton is no longer on the campaign trail, but her influence is still being felt by both parties.

Why Did John McCain Pick Sarah Palin?

People Magazine was first to interview McCain and his vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. One of the questions they asked the Senator was why did he pick her? He had only met her once before and talked to her on the phone and he was comfortable enough after that brief “courtship” to invite her to be a part of the GOP ticket. His response to the question was this “Obviously, I found her to be very intelligent and very well-versed on the issues. But I think the important thing was that she’s a reformer. She’s taken on special interests since she ran for the PTA and the city council and mayor. The courage, I guess, is what most impressed me.” I have great respect for the PTA as a matter of fact I join every year at our local school, but I would hardly look at leadership on that level as adequate preparation for the vice-presidency. She has also had experience on the local and the state level, but does this make her qualified for this position? McCain has hammered the experience argument over Sen. Obama like a battering ram, but now he says forget that I’m recruiting a “reformer”, but the irony of this argument is this reformer is under investigation.  What does this say about McCain’s judgment?   

Don’t Get it Twisted the Republicans Are Just Using Hillary’s Name

You would think Hillary Clinton was the patron saint of the GOP party. John McCain has been paying deference to her during and after the primary. He has used her campaign stump statements as ammunition against Barack Obama. Today we heard her name evoked in that admiring way that has become common among GOP circles. Gov. Palin praised Clinton and said “we” women are going to do even greater things. Let’s get serious. The Republicans have used the Clintons as poster children for all the ills of the world, and now Hillary Clinton can do everything, but walk on water. People don’t believe the hype. This is political theater at its best. While Palin praised Hillary today last March she called her a “whiner”. It’s funny how her perspective changed so drastically in 5 months, could it possibly be linked to her becoming the vice-presidential nominee, and the fact that maybe they can peel off some of the Hillary supporters that will not support Barack Obama.  Palin also brings a strong conservative background to the ticket. She is the kind of person that brings a smile to the face of James Dobson and his crew.  So when you hear them lavishing praise on Hillary don’t believe the hype they still hate her, but they don’t mind using her name.

Make No Mistake Sarah Palin is No Hillary Clinton

John McCain pulled a rabbit out of the hat with his selection of Sarah Palin for vice-president. I can’t say I know alot about her but one has to look at this strategically. All week we have heard that Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty were on the short list. We never heard Palin’s name until today. McCain is hoping that by choosing a woman he might have a chance of getting some of the Hardcore Hillary voters who have vowed not to support Barack Obama. Geraldine Ferraro said in response to the selection ‘Without Hillary being the nominee it’s really quite equally as important. There are a lot of women who are disaffected by how Hillary was treated by the media, by how she was treated by the Obama campaign … not speaking up when sexism raised its ugly head in the media.” So there might be a group of women out there that will be moved to the McCain camp by this selection, but before they jump ship take a real look at the Republican agenda. Are you ready to give up a woman’s right to choose, are you ready for the Supreme Court to move further to the right and are you ready to be in Iraq for 100 years? If you say yes then vote for the McCain/Palin ticket.  Remember this woman is no Hillary Clinton.

84,000 Flag Waving Americans No One Can Criticize That

Last night we saw 84,000 proud Americans cheering the Democratic nominee for President. It was an electric moment that you could literally feel in your own home. All week everyone has said what Barack Obama should say, but he came out and said all that he needed to say. He laid out his case for change but he did not do it in broadstrokes he did it with specificity and that is what made this speech so powerful. He criticized the policies of John McCain but he did not demonize his opponent. He talked about patriotism by affirming his own but never questioning his opponent. It was truly a study in contrast. Prior to the start of the proceedings Tom Brokaw questioned the venue by asking was it too much, but afterward no one could question the choice. The Republicans criticized Obama when 200,000 Europeans came out to hear him this summer they mocked him and called him a celebrity, well it would be a true insult to the spirit of Americans to try to diminish this gathering in any way. The only thing that I would have asked for is if he had spend more time talking about Dr. King’s contribution to this moment. Other than that I can only say I was proud to be an American and proud to see this day. It was a day for the history books.

What’s Missing From Election 2008? Respect

The Republicans are mocking the setting for Barack Obama’s speech. They have labeled it the “Temple Of Obama. ” There is real danger in this constant belittling of Obama. When you belittle him and call his followers names you are not just insulting the candidate you are also insulting fellow Americans. We might disagree with John McCain but that does not make us traitors. What has gotten lost in the process is respect. There is no respect on either side.  There used to be some kind of unspoken truce during the convention, but now we are seeing Republicans strolling through the convention halls and granting interviews as they bash Barack Obama. The cable networks have been complaining about the delegates when they conduct convention business. On CNN they asked the question Don’t they know we are hear?” The media has determined that they are more important than the convention participants. They are no longer observers they now want to orchestrate the proceedings. The cable networks are on 24/7 and they need information to feed the newscycle beast. It is truly a different kind of convention and in this case different is not good.

Republicans Need to Stop Mocking and Let America Enjoy This Moment

Tonight Barack Obama will accept the nomination in Denver’s Invesco Field. The stadium can hold up to 75,000 people. This venue will give thousands of Americans the opportunity to be a part of this moment in history. When they first announced they would be holding the acceptance speech in the stadium I questioned the wisdom of this decision. In one of my post I wondered why did they need to move it out of the auditorium? I now see why. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. This is the first African-American candidate to lead a national party and there is only one first anything and that makes its special. The Republicans have already started mocking the occasion and the setting. They have said it is a little over the top and it plays into their description of Obama as a celebrity. We all know campaigning is a dirty business and the low road can get you points for your guy, but this is not a moment to be mocked. You can campaign against Obama but this is a moment that all americans should celebrate and there is a line that should not be crossed. This is a special moment and it should be treated that way so my advise to the RNC is to watch your step this is not just Democratic history this is American History.

It’s Official Barack Obama is the Democratic Nominee

It is a day I thought I would never see. The first African-American was officially nominated to be the Democratic Party nominee for the highest office in America. It was a night for the history book. For African-Americans it was a threshold that many thought we would never cross. Today is the 45th Anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It seems like a lifetime ago when we were asking America to keep its promise of basic human rights and tonight we will have the opportunity to hear the candidate make a case for why he is the man for the job. My older relatives who voted for Hillary Clinton in the primaries now will have the opportunity to vote for a black man and for them this never seemed to even be a possiblity in their lifetime.  This is a great time to be an American.

Thank You Bill Clinton, Now Exit Stage Left

Bill Clinton has been coy in his support of Barack Obama, but tonight he came out strong for him. Clinton was back in the spotlight and he knew what to do with it. He came out hard for the candidate and he left no doubt that Barack Obama was ready to be the president. He made me believe him. It was not the lukewarm meely mouth proclamations that he has been uttering. He did a good job of making the case and that is enough. Now we have heard from both Clintons. Last night she had an opportunity to bask in her success and acknowledge her supporters, and tonight he got the opportunity to address the faithful. They played nice and we thank them for their participation, but now it is time to look to the future, and that future belongs to the Democratic candidate Barack Obama.  So to the Clintons we say good night and Godspeed.

Finally, We Can Talk About Barack Obama

Last night we heard from Senator Hillary Clinton the Democratic nominee for president. What she is not the nominee? Well then who is? Barack Obama. Really? You can not tell it by this 24/7 coverage of the Clintons. All week all we have heard is how are they doing, are they still angry, what will they do, what will they say? Last night Hillary Clinton delivered a good speech. She encouraged her supporters to support Obama. She did what any good Democrat would do. She mentioned Obama’s name a number of times, but she did not give us any real glimpses of her own relationship with the candidate. Her mission was more to say we need a Democrat and in this case Obama is that Democrat. Tonight we will hear from her husband and hopefully he too will be on script. We don’t need to see Bill Clinton, Unplugged. Once he is done hopefully we can start talking about the real candidate Barack Obama. This might not be the story the media wants, but it is the real story of this convention. Hillary Clinton lost and Barack Obama won and it is time for everyone to recognize that fact.